Eric Frank Russell (EFR) was born in June 1905 in Sandhurst, Surrey, where his father was an instructor at the military academy. The Russell family moved around a great deal and EFR grew up in Egypt, Sudan and different parts of England. At college, EFR concentrated on science and technology and was later employed at various stages as a telephone operator, quantity surveyor and a government draughtsman. He served in the King's Regiment from 1922 to 1926 and in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. EFR came to Liverpool in the 1930s to act as a representative and trouble-shooter for the engineering firm Frederick Braby & Co., where he continued to work whilst establishing his literary career.
Possessing a lifelong interest in science fiction, Eric Frank Russell published his first story, The Saga of Pelican West in Astounding in 1937, becoming the first British writer to regularly contribute to the magazine. He particularly admired Charles Fort (1874-1932), the American journalist, author and chronicler of scientific anomalies whose influence on Russell is reflected in the recurrent theme of humans as helpless victims of external forces in his fiction. For many years, Russell was the British representative of the Fortean Society and was later invited to produce a biography of Fort, which was written instead by Russell's friend, the American author and editor Damon Knight.
EFR was also a member of the Science Fiction Writers of America and a founding member of the British Interplanetary Society (BIS), collaborating with the BIS Secretary, Leslie J. Johnson, to write one of his earliest stories, Seeker of Tomorrow (1937), for Astounding . The BIS also brought Russell into contact with other science fiction writers, such as Olaf Stapledon and Arthur C. Clarke. It was Russell who introduced Stapledon to science fiction pulp magazines in 1937 and provided Clarke with his first income from science fiction after selling a story based on some of Clarke's ideas.
EFR's first novel Sinister Barrier was published in 1943, followed by Metamorphosite (1946), Hobbyist (1947) and Dear Devil (1950). These novels were followed by a number of anti-war stories, including Late Night Final (1948), ...And Then There Were None (1951) and I am Nothing (1952). Yet, it is humour that is the most distinctive feature of Eric Frank Russell's writing and it was for the satirical short story Allamagoosa (1955) that he gained the distinction of being the first British writer to receive a Hugo Award. Eric Frank Russell's later fiction is regarded as less colourful but remains characteristically humanitarian. He also used the pseudonyms Webster Craig and Duncan H. Munro for several short stories.
The Archive contains 21 typescripts of Eric Frank Russell's fiction and non-fiction, plus offprints from various periodicals of some of his work. There is a large amount of papers relating to his literary career, including correspondence with agents, editors and publishers and a group of royalty statements and copyright agreements. The Archive also contains a large number of letters from family, friends, fans and fellow authors, as well as correspondence relating to Russell's role as British representative of the Fortean Society. Eric Frank Russell's personal library of books, magazines and fanzines and his Hugo Award are also contained in the archive.
The Collection is divided into six groups;
The Collection was donated to the University of Liverpool in November 1993 by Erica Metcalfe, daughter of Eric Frank Russell, received on behalf of the University by Dr David Seed
There are no anticipated accruals
The finding aid was created in 1999 by Sharon Maxwell and Paddy Collis. This collection level description was revised in October 2003 .
Access is open to bona fide researchers. Permission is required from the family of John W. Campbell prior to access to correspondence with EFR. Please contact the archivist for further details
Reproduction and licensing rules available on request
An electronic and hard copy finding aid is available in the reading room
The University of Liverpool Department of Special Collections and Archives also holds several other collections which contain relevant material
Tiffany Thayer Papers, ca. 1914-1956
Held at Manuscripts and Archives Section, New York Public Library , 5th Avenue & 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018, USA
Includes manuscripts of the fiction and non-fiction works of EFR and Off-prints of his fiction and non-fiction writing.
Material relating to EFR's literary work is divided into two groups: Manuscripts and Off-prints
This consists of manuscripts and typescripts of literary works by Eric Frank Russell, and includes short stories, novellas and novels, along with non-fiction articles and books.
Alphabetical by title. Where no date appears on the item itself, the date for first publication is given.
Article for Amazing Magazine, discussing readers' response to an earlier article.
Story for Other Worlds Magazine; cover page states "12,000 words".
Photocopy of a manuscript.
Article about the Mary Celeste and other maritime mysteries, with manuscript annotations.
Top copy and carbon copy of this manuscript.
The first item is a book on the subject of mass psychology and social conformity [presumably published as The Rabble Rousers , (1963)]. Ends with statement "material in this book has been taken from the files of the Fortean Society ". The cover page is stamped Laurence Pollinger Ltd . The second item is a typescript copy with manuscript annotations.
Top copy and carbon copy of this manuscript. Pages numbered 175-255.
Dictionary of Scouse vocabulary (possibly also known as The ABZ of scouse ); pages unnumbered; possible incomplete introduction.
Cover page has notes in manuscript stating "9000 words" and "July 1 , '58"
Cover page has manuscript notes stating "25,000 words" and "June 4th, '56".
Cover page has manuscript notes "June 4th, '64" and "Sold to Galaxy , Oct 7, '64 ($110)".
Cover page has manuscript notes stating "9000 words" and " JWC June 6, '58".
Cover page has manuscript notes stating "2,600 words" and "Aug 26, '56".
Typescript pages numbered 256-292.
Cover page has typed note " JWC Mar. 28 '59".
Collection dedicated to Maude Meagher [editor of World Youth Magazine ].
Typescript pages numbered 26-34 for an article about General Lord Kitchener . Also a photocopy of these typescript pages with manuscript annotations and a set of manuscript notes for the article; includes a newscutting entitled Zerah, the human computer , about a mathematical puzzle.
Essay on extra-terrestrial life and science fiction; cover page has manuscript notes stating "4,000 words" and "Jan 30th '61"; typescript pages are unnumbered.
Title pages for short stories Heart's Desire by Niall Wilde ( 1955 ), I Hear You Calling ( 1954 ) Sole Solution ( 1956 ), and for the collection Far Stars ( 1961 ); some pages from Learn Yerself Scouse ; contents page of a collection; single page (numbered 254) of unidentified fictional work.
Off-prints of fiction and non-fiction by EFR, originally published in various periodicals. Also includes several pages excised from periodicals.
Alphabetical by title.
Illustrated with photographic views of the Isle of Man , including one credited to EFR, and with a drawing by RRS showing a girl menaced by a space alien.
Source: World Youth Magazine January 1952 , pp22-34.
Illustrated by van Dongen .
Source: Astounding Science-Fiction Magazine February 1958 , pp46-66.
Illustrated by Orban .
Source: Future Magazine April 1958 , pp24-36.
Illustrated by Kramer .
Source: Astounding Science-Fiction Magazine March 1942 , pp116-130.
Illustrated.
Source: Planet Stories Magazine January 1953 , pp5-43.
Illustrated with astronomical images from various museums.
Source: World Youth Magazine June 1952 , pp20-30.
Illustrated
Source: Tales of Crime and Punishment Magazine ( Master Thriller no. 21 ) November 1937 , pp24-36.
This item was donated by Dr John Ingham in 1994.
Illustrated by Miller .
Source: Astounding Science-Fiction Magazine November 1950 , pp68-75.
Illustrated by Timmins .
Source: Astounding Science-Fiction Magazine March 1949 , pp40-47.
Illustrated by Dold .
Source: Astounding Science-Fiction Magazine September 1938 , pp110-117.
Source: IF Magazine March 1965 , pp41-53.
Illustrated by Freas .
Source: Astounding Science-Fiction Magazine January 1957 , pp54-116.
Illustrated by Freas .
Source: Astounding Science-Fiction Magazine June 1956 , pp6-51.
Manuscript note states that The Listening Post is the official organ of the Returned Soldiers League .
Source: The Listening Post August 1949 , p9 & p18.
Article about "phantom cyclists", suggesting a scientific explanation.
Source: Different Nov 1948 - Dec 1948 , pp23-25.
Story in three parts, with photographic illustrations courtesy of Fogra Failte [Irish national tourist board].
Source: World Youth Magazine Apr 1953 , pp2-12; May 1953 , pp22-35; Jun 1953 , pp38-46.
This contains correspondence with EFR's literary agents both British and American, the many editors and publishers of his work and the legal and financial aspects of EFR's writing, represented by royalty statements and copyright agreements.
The papers relating to EFR's literary career are divided into three groups: Correspondence with Literary Agents; Correspondence with Editors and Publishers; Legal and Financial Documents.
This group contains correspondence between EFR and his American and British Literary agents.
Material has been divided into two groups: Correspondence With American Literary Agent; Correspondence With British Literary Agent.
This contains correspondence between EFR and his original American literary agent Oscar J Friend, of Otis Kline Associates ( EFR/2/1/1/1-15 ). In 1957 EFR moves to the Scott Meredith Literary Agency corresponding mainly with Scott Meredith, himself ( EFR/2/1/1/16-29 ). The correspondence dates from 1947 to 1975.
Material is arranged first, by literary agent and then chronologically by year. Some overlap of years occurs during the move from Otis Kline Associates to the Scott Meredith Literary Agency. A large amount, (c.200 letters), of correspondence from the Scott Meredith Literary Agency is undated and can be found at the end of the group at EFR/2/1/1/29 .
Otis Adelbert Kline (1891-1946), an American songwriter, author and in his later years a literary agent forming the company, Otis Kline Associates. After his death in 1946, Oscar J Friend (1897-1963), became head of the literary agency. He became active as a writer from before 1920 and Editor for the Standard Magazine chain, including Thrilling Wonder Stories (1941-1944). (Correspondence at EFR/2/1/1/1-15 ).
Letter from Ora Rossini thanking EFR for his letter of sympathy over his fathers [ Otis Adelbert Kline ], death. Returns three manuscripts, Hully Gee , rejected by Esquire , Nostac , rejected by Science Fiction and Eventide , rejected by Astounding Science Fiction and Wierd Tales . Three manuscripts by EFR are still on offer Hells Bells , at Planet Stories , The Atompacker and End of the Road , at Wierd Tales.
Letter from Oscar J Friend , Director of Otis Kline Associates, referring to EFR as a former client of the agency and offering themselves to represent EFR, in the United States book publication market.
Letters from Oscar J Friend again asking to represent EFR; Sold the French Book rights to Sinister Barrier ; discusses selling The Illusionaries to Galaxy Science Fiction Magazine and adds critical comments of this story; discusses the sale of And Then There Were None to Astounding Science Fiction and the transfer of payments; includes critical comments on Ultima Thule .
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