Alexei Panshin

Alexei Adams Panshin (born August 14, 1940) is an American author and science fiction (SF) critic. He has written several critical works and several novels, including 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
*"Star Well"
*"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 ... [Star Well] is a gallery of gamblers, duels and double-crosses, 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". 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), which won a Hugo award for non-fiction in 1990. 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".

External links

* [http://www.enter.net/~torve/critics/Dimension/hdcontents.html#Contents Complete text of "Heinlein In Dimension"]
* [http://www.enter.net/~torve/contents.htm The Abyss of Wonder] , Panshin's site.
*isfdb name | id=Alexei_Panshin | name=Alexei Panshin
* [http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/authors/Alexei_Panshin.htm Bibliography at Fantastic fiction]
* [http://www.adherents.com/lit/bk_Pans_RiteOfPassage.html Review of "Rite of Passage" and comments on Panshin's writings generally]
* [http://www.thesustainablevillage.com/awrbooks/html/BooksinHTML/riteOfPassage.html Review of "Rite of Passage"]
* [http://www.strangehorizons.com/2003/20030324/villiers.shtml Review of the Villiers books, by Jed Hartman]

References

Notes

Bibliography

*cite book | title=Rite of Passage | location=New York | publisher=Ace Publishing Corporation | pages= | year=1968 | id=Ace 72781
*cite book | title=Star Well | location=New York | publisher=Ace Publishing Corporation | pages=157 | year=1968 | id=Ace G-756
*cite book | title=The Thurb Revolution | location=New York | publisher=Ace Publishing Corporation | pages= | year=1968 | id=Ace G-762
*cite book | title=Masque World | location=New York | publisher=Ace Publishing Corporation | pages=156 | year=1969 | id=Ace 02320
*cite book | title=Farewell to Yesterdays Tomorrow | location=New York | publisher=Berkley Publishing Corporation | pages=212 | year=1975 | id=ISBN 0-425-03211-6
*cite book | title=Heinlein in Dimension: A Critical Analysis | location=Chicago | publisher=Advent Publishers | pages=214 | year=1968 | id=ISBN 0-911682-12-0
*cite book | coauthors=Panshin, Cory | title=SF in Dimension: A Book of Explorations | location=Chicago | publisher=Advent Publishers | pages=342 | year=1976 | id=ISBN 0-911682-21-X
*cite book | coauthors=Panshin, Cory | title=Earth Magic | location=New York | publisher=Ace Publishing Corporation | pages=275 | year=1978 | id=ISBN 0-44118-120-1
*cite book | title=Transmutations: A Book of Personal Alchemy | location=Dublin, PA | publisher=Elephant Books | pages=214 | year=1982 | id=
*cite book | coauthors=Panshin, Cory | title=The World Beyond the Hill: Science Fiction and the Quest for Transcendence | location=Los Angeles | publisher=Jeremy P. Tarcher, Inc. | pages=685 | year=1989 | id=ISBN 0-87477-554-X