Edmund Cooper

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This article is about the British writer. For the U.S. politician, see Edmund Cooper (congressman).

Edmund Cooper (April 30, 1926 - March 11, 1982) was an English poet and prolific writer of speculative fiction, and other genres including children books, essays and one detective novel, published under his own name and several pen names.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Born in Marple, near Stockport, Cheshire, Cooper left school at age 15, worked as a labourer, then civil servant, and later in 1944 joined the Merchant Navy[1]. After World War II, he trained as a teacher and began to publish short stories. His first novel, Deadly Image (later republished as The Uncertain Midnight) was completed in 1957 and published in 1958.[1] A 1956 short story, Brain Child, was adapted as the movie The Invisible Boy (1957).[1]

In 1969 The Uncertain Midnight was adapted for Swiss television, in French.[1] At the height of his popularity, in the 1970s, he began to review science fiction for the Sunday Times and continued to do so until his death in 1982.[1]

[edit] Work and criticism

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Please improve this article if you can. (July 2007)

An atheist and individualist, Cooper's science fiction often depicts unconventional heroes facing unfamiliar and remote environments.[2] The colonisation of extraterrestrial planets is a common theme and is the basis of the Expendables series, published under the name Richard Avery. The Expendables is notable[citation needed] both for the diversity of its cast of characters and for the frank nature of their conversations and attitudes on racial and sexual topics.

Cooper's depiction of women often proved controversial.[citation needed] Several[3] of his books depicted future worlds dominated by women, often to the detriment of all. Cooper has been quoted as disparaging women's mental capacity: "let them have totally equal competition ... they'll see that they can't make it.[4]

[edit] Publications

[edit] Novels

Note that the given ISBNs and dates are mostly not verified and that book search engines sometimes return incorrect information.


[edit] As Martin Lester

  • 1954, Black Phoenix

[edit] As George Kinley

  • 1954 Ferry Rocket

[edit] As Broderick Quain

  • 1954 They Shall Not Die

[edit] As Richard Avery

The Expendables Series:

  • 1975 "The Expendables (1) The Deathworms of Kratos" Coronet edition, reprinted as The Deathworms of Kratos, 1979 ISBN 0-340-19472-3
  • 1975 "The Expendables (2) The Rings of Tantalus Coronet edition, reprinted as The Rings of Tantalus, ISBN 0-340-19889-3
  • 1975 "The Expendables (3) The War Games of Zelos" Coronet edition, reprinted as The War Games of Zelos, ISBN 0-340-19875-3
  • 1976 "The Expendables (4) The Venom of Argus Coronet edition, reprinted as The Venom of Argus, ISBN 0-340-19918-0

[edit] Short stories (collections)

[edit] Work adapted for the screen

  • 1957 Invisible Boy[12] from The Brain Child 1956[13]
  • 1969 The Uncertain Midnight (French)
  • 1978 Death Watch as "OBN in Arrivo", part of series: I Raconti di Fantascienza da Blassetti (Italy)"[13]


[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e Edmund Cooper's Biography, by Joe Smith
  2. ^ Ash, Brian: Who's Who in Science Fiction: Sphere Books Ltd; 1976 : "Cooper's forte is his portrayal of suspiciously Heinlein-type male heroes... and who act out their particular destinies (not always gloriously) against unfamiliar backdrops."
  3. ^ Five to Twelve, Who Needs Men? (Gender Genocide)
  4. ^ "We Must Love One Another or Die; an interview with Edmund Cooper by James Goddard page 3
  5. ^ The Uncertain Midnight publication history at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
  6. ^ Seed of Light publication history at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
  7. ^ Wish Goes to Slumberland - Picture Book 1960 children's book, info from Carnie Pollock
  8. ^ Transit publication history at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
  9. ^ All Fools' Day publication history at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
  10. ^ Edmund Cooper
  11. ^ Five to Twelve publication history at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
  12. ^ The Invisible Boy at the Internet Movie Database, written with Cyril Hume, directed by Herman Hoffman
  13. ^ a b Edmund Cooper bibliography by Jonathan S Farley page 4, Short Stories "Brain Child, The : The Saturday Evening Post (as 'The Invisible Boy'); 23 June 1956"; page 11, Filmography "Invisible Boy, The : Brain Child, The: Herman Hoffman; USA; 1957", "O .B.N. in arrivo : Death Watch: part of series ' Racconti di fantascienza di Blasetti, I':Alessandro Blasetti; Italy; 1978"

[edit] External links