| Author | Message | ||
     Barbara Roden (Nebuly) Username: Nebuly Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 142.179.1.109 |
I'm sure most people who love genre fiction - mystery, fantasy, Gothic, supernatural, ghost stories, nineteenth century sensation novels, science fiction - will know the work of Everett F. Bleiler, whose outstanding introductions to so many Dover editions of rare and obscure books in these fields are, in many instances, the only serious critical appraisal of those books, and the authors who wrote them. He wrote several essential reference works about science fiction, but he's probably best known to people here for the indispensable GUIDE TO SUPERNATURAL FICTION. Bleiler died on Sunday at the age of ninety; but his work will continue to be read and enjoyed and appreciated for many years to come. I can't think of anyone else in our field with his knowledge and passion and love for the weird and wonderful byways of fantastic fiction. Thank you for everything you did, Mr. Bleiler. | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.72 |
R.I.P. Sad hear to hear this. | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 220.138.161.136 |
Oh, no. I grew up reading the Dover editions of Blackwood, Hoffmann, Bierce, Onions, Collins, Doyle, Dunsany and others, all with fascinating introductions by Bleiler that made me want to seek out more. He was a huge figure in the field of supernatural, fantasy, and science fiction. One of his greatest contributions is the 2-volume Supernatural Fiction Writers. What a sad loss to the field. | ||
| Mark_samuels (Mark_samuels) Username: Mark_samuels Registered: 04-2010 Posted From: 86.133.23.20 |
Yes, I've got a host of those Bleiler edited Dover editions on my shelf. His introductions were splendid. Saddened by this news. Mark S. | ||
| Joel (Joel) Username: Joel Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 91.110.191.38 |
Very sad to hear this. One of the last things he wrote was a splendid and audacious article on C.L. Moore for Wormwood. | ||
| Rhysaurus (Rhysaurus) Username: Rhysaurus Registered: 01-2010 Posted From: 212.219.233.223 |
Everett Bleiler was a gentleman and a genius. Although saddened by this news, I'm glad he reached such a venerable age. Although this isn't the place or time for self-promotion I am immensely honoured that he wrote the Afterword for one of my forthcoming books: he was one of those very rare critics who always judged work in a far wider cultural context than is normal in the genre. | ||
| Ramsey Campbell (Ramsey) Username: Ramsey Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.93.21.74 |
Alas! He was a crucial figure. At least he leaves us a huge achievement. On a personal level, his anthologies co-edited with Ted Dikty were among the greatest pleasures of my early childhood. His Dover collections of Blackwood and others are definitive. | ||
| Richard_gavin (Richard_gavin) Username: Richard_gavin Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 65.110.174.71 |
A real loss. Bleiler was a monument in this field, to be sure. RIP. |