Paul Ernst (Avenger writer)

Paul Frederick Ernst (born between 1899 and 1902[1] - died between 1983 and 1985[2]) was an American pulp fiction writer. He is best known as the author of the original 24 "Avenger" novels, published by Street and Smith Publications under the house name Kenneth Robeson.

Biography

Paul Ernst was born between 1899[3] and 1902[4], and "[took] up fiction writing in his early twenties."[4] Credited by pulp-expert Don Hutchison as "a prolific manufacturer of potboilers-made-to-order," his stories appeared in a number of early Science fiction and fantasy magazines.[4] His writing appeared in Astounding Stories, Strange Tales and Amazing, and he was the author of the Doctor Satan series which ran in Weird Tales from August, 1935.[4] His most famous work was in writing the original 24 The Avenger stories in the eponymous magazine between 1939 and 1942.

When pulp magazine work began to dry up, Ernst "was able to make a painless transition into the more prestigious "slick" magazines, where his word skill earned him higher financial rewards."[4] As of 1971, he was "still active as a writer," including penning "Blackout" for the July, 1971 issue of Good Housekeeping magazine.[4]

References

  1. ^ Ernst's birth/death dates are listed as being 1899-1985 in numerous places, including G.W. Thomas's "Copies in Bronze" page on his Of Men and Monsters website; by the Social Security Death Index as - for likely the same Ernst - January 10, 1900 - August 1983. In 1971, pulp-expert Don Hutchison gave Ernst's birth year as 1902. (Hutchison, Don The Great Pulp Heroes - 3: The Avenger in Peter Harris (ed.) The New Captain George's Whizzbang #12 (1971), p. 2)
  2. ^ G.W. Thomas's "Copies in Bronze" page on his Of Men and Monsters website suggests 1985; the Social Security Death Index gives a (likely) timeframe of August 1983.
  3. ^ G.W. Thomas, Of Men and Monsters: "Copies in Bronze". Accessed August 6, 2008
  4. ^ a b c d e f Hutchison, Don The Great Pulp Heroes - 3: The Avenger in Peter Harris (ed.) The New Captain George's Whizzbang #12 (1971), p. 2

External links