Alexei Panshin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alexei Adam Panshin (born August 14, 1940) is an American author and critic of science fiction (SF). He is perhaps best known for the 1968 Nebula Award-winning novel Rite of Passage.
Panshin is also noted for the cult favorite Anthony Villiers series which consists of three books
- Starwell
- The Thurb Revolution
- Masque World
The fourth volume of the series, The Universal Pantograph, never appeared, reputedly because of conflicts between the writer and his publisher. Of the Villiers series, noted SF writer Samuel R. Delany writes "It...examines the proposition that the world is composed of small communities of mutual interest...[Starwell] is a gallery of gamblers, duels and doublecrosses, a minuet of manners and manners mangled; the machinery of the universe is speculated upon; inspector generals arrive to inspect it. And Anthony Villiers, gentleman par excellence, dashes through it all, buckling a swash or two, bungling a couple of others."
Panshin published a study of SF legend Robert A. Heinlein, Heinlein In Dimension, which won a Hugo award. He also co-wrote Earth Magic with wife Cory Panshin. His general critical work SF in Dimension (1976) was also co-written with Cory Panshin, as was a lengthy theoretical-critical book, The World Beyond The Hill (1989). His works also include a short story collection, Farewell To Yesterday's Tomorrow.
Heinlein In Dimension first brought Panshin to wide public notice. Robert A. Heinlein objected strongly to it, and attempted to stop its publication, threatening to sue the publishers. As a result sections were published in fanzines, winning a Hugo award for best fan activity, which in turn helped the book achieve professional publication. Opinions are divided on the propriety of Panshin's research techniques and of Heinlein's response. Spider Robinson and Sam Moskowitz have strongly criticized both. Panshin's own views on the matter, along with some views by others, can be found on his website The Abyss of Wonder.
[edit] External links
- Complete text of Heinlein In Dimension
- The Abyss of Wonder, Panshin's site.
- Alexei Panshin at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
- Bibliography at Fantastic fiction
- Review of Rite of Passage and comments on Pahshin's writngs genererally
- Review of Rite of Passage
- Panshin entry at Fictionwise
- Review of the Villars books, by Jed Hartman
