There are no answers to such questions.
To the extent that a maker of miracles succeeds in putting something of his or her persona into permanent or fixed form—a poem, a story, a play, a painting, a song—and disseminates it into some public forum, he (or she) has succeeded in doing something that 99.9% of the population cannot; and he (or she—or it!) has bought a chance at the golden ring of immortality, to the extent that “immortality” can be defined as an active memory of one’s work on earth.
When I set down my precious verbiage in printed form, it has some chance, however small, of being picked up and actually read by someone a century or two hence; and I may thereby have extended my presence into that future, although I myself, of course, won’t be there in any personal or real way to affect that outcome.
Of course, there’s a real risk that the values that I ascribe to my own work, or the materials that I myself regard most highly among my writings will not be so received by generations yet to come. By all accounts, Conan Doyle had come to detest his best-known creation, Sherlock Holmes, by the end of his long life; but the novels that he valued most highly of his own creations, the historical fictions, plus the serious psychic investigations in fairies and the like that he conducted during his final decade of life, are today held to be minor or even irrelevant to his overall career. He is remembered primarily for one character, Sherlock Holmes, and secondarily for his Professor Challenger stories. And he has nothing at all to say about this.
Which is, perhaps, just as it should be.
Readers ultimately choose what they wish to read. Sometimes they’re influenced by the scholars or the critics or the teachers, sometimes not. H. Rider Haggard’s two classic adventure novels, King Solomon’s Mines and She, are still enjoyed today, although not much taught in our schools; but the remainder of his vast output languishes, perhaps unjustly, in permanent obscurity. Yet even so, he is blessed beyond most of his contemporary brethren, in that any of his works are still read at all.
Of all my books, the one most likely to survive the test of time is The House of the Burgesses, my family genealogy, which will be passed down and cherished from generation to generation, and disseminated widely on the future equivalent of the internet. It isn’t my best work—thus far that accolade (at least in my opinion) must go to The Dark-Haired Man—but it touches the lives of tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands, of individuals, in an ever-widening circle that will never end, unless civilization itself should someday fall.
That one volume is my primary contribution to the world of letters. I already know this. The thought is even more humbling than my recent heart attack.
And so I say “Amen for now.”
I will write what I am allowed to write in the years I have remaining. I will continue to strive for unobtainable perfection, knowing that it can never be found. I may even produce a third edition someday of the Burgess book.
This series of autobiographical essays which commenced with a look at the history of Borgo Press must now conclude, as I move back into the crafting of “real” fiction.
I feel the juices flowing again. I think I can do this again. I know I can.
To those of you who have borne with me during these reminiscences of my earlier days, bless you all.
And amen for now.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Allard, Yvon. Paralittératures. Montréal: La Centrale des Bibliothèques, 1979.
Anderson, Poul. The Broken Sword. New York: Abelard-Schuman, 1954.
Annan, Ralph. The Spider-Men: A Science-Fantasy Adventure. New York: Vantage Press, 1979.
Anthony, Piers. Piers Anthony’s Hasan. San Bernardino, CA: The Borgo Press, 1977.
Arnold, Edwin Lester. The Wonderful Adventures of Phra the Phoenician. New York: Harper & Bros., 1890.
Ashley, Mike. The John Spencer Fantasy Publications. Wallsend, England: Cosmos Literary Agency, 1979.
Atwood, Margaret. Cat’s Eye. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1988.
Atwood, Margaret. The Edible Woman. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1969.
Atwood, Margaret. The Handmaid’s Tale. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1985.
Atwood, Margaret. Lady Oracle. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1976.
Atwood, Margaret. Surfacing. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1972.
Bangs, John Kendrick. A House-Boat on the Styx: Being Some Account of the Divers Doings of the Associated Shades. New York: Harper & Bros., 1895.
Bangs, John Kendrick. The Pursuit of the House-Boat: Being Some Further Account of the Divers Doings of the Associated Shades, Under the Leadership of Sherlock Holmes, Esq. New York: Harper & Bros., 1897.
Barringer, Leslie. Gerfalcon. London: William Heinemann, 1927.
Barringer, Leslie. Joris of the Rock. London: William Heinemann, 1928.
Barringer, Leslie. Shy Leopardess. London: Methuen, 1948.
Bellairs, John. The Face in the Frost. New York: Macmillan, 1969.
Blair, Karin. Meaning in Star Trek. New York: Warner Books, 1979.
Brand, Kurt. Blitzkrieg Galactica. Van Nuys, CA: Master Publications, 1979. Perry Rhodan #129.
Brand, Kurt. Peril Unlimited. Van Nuys, CA: Master Publications, 1979. Perry Rhodan #130.
Brand, Kurt. The Sinister Power. Van Nuys, CA: Master Publications, 1978. Perry Rhodan #124.
Brand, Kurt. Volunteers for Frago. Van Nuys, CA: Master Publications, 1978. Perry Rhodan #122.
Bretnor, Reginald, editor. Modern Science Fiction: Its Meaning and Its Future. Chicago: Advent:Publishers, 1979.
Bulmer, Kenneth, as Alan Burt Akers. Golden Scorpio. New York: DAW Books, 1978.
Campbell, Clive S. The Day the Sun Came Through. New York: Vantage Press, 1979.
Caprio, Betsy. Star Trek: Good News in Modern Images. Mission, KS: Sheed, Andrews & McMeel, 1978.
Carter, Lin, ed. Golden Cities, Far. New York: Ballantine Books, 1970.
Chalker, Jack L., and Mark Owings. The Science-Fantasy Publishers: A Critical and Bibliographic History. 3rd ed. Westminster, MD: The Mirage Press Ltd., 1991.
Cirilius, Marcus. Prehistoric Epic! New York: Vantage Press, 1978.
Coffman, C. C. Spacedust One. New York: Vantage Press, 1979.
Comeau, Alexander de. Monk’s Magic. London: Methuen, 1931.
Cover, Arthur Byron. Autumn Angels. New York: Pyramid Books, 1975.
Cover, Arthur Byron. An East Wind Coming. New York: Berkley Books, 1979.
Cover, Arthur Byron. Planetfall. New York: Avon Books, 1988.
Cover, Arthur Byron. The Platypus of Doom and Other Nihilists. New York: Warner Books, 1976.
Cover, Arthur Byron. The Sound of Winter. New York: Pyramid Books, 1976.
Cover, Arthur Byron. Stationfall. New York: Avon Books, 1989.
Darlton, Clark. Atom Fire on Mechanica. Van Nuys, CA: Master Publications, 1978. Perry Rhodan #121.
Darlton, Clark. Sentinels of Solitude. Van Nuys, CA: Master Publications, 1979. Perry Rhodan #127.
Davis, Lindsey. The Iron Hand of Mars. London: Hutchinson, 1992.
Davis, Lindsey. Poseidon’s Gold. London: Century, 1993.
Davis, Lindsey. Shadows in Bronze. London: Sidgwick & Jackson, 1990.
Davis, Lindsey. The Silver Pigs. London: Sidgwick & Jackson, 1989.
Davis, Lindsey. Venus in Copper. London: Hutchinson, 1991.
[De Morgan, John]. Bess: A Companion to Jess. New York: Norman L. Munro, 1887.
[De Morgan, John]. He: A Companion to She: Being a History of the Adventures of J. Theodosius Aristophano on the Island of Rapa Nui in Search of His Immortal Ancestor. New York: Norman L. Munro, 1887.
[De Morgan, John]. It: A Wild, Weird History of Marvelous, Miraculous, Phantasmagorical Adventures in Search of He, She, and Jess, and Leading to the Finding of “IT”: A Haggard Conclusion. New York: Norman L. Munro, 1887.
[De Morgan, John]. King Solomon’s Wives. New York: Norman L. Munro, 1887.
Diamond, Graham. Dungeons of Kuba. New York: Playboy Press, 1979.<
br />
Diamond, Graham. Lady of the Haven. New York: Playboy Press, 1978.
du Maurier, Daphne. The House on the Strand. London: Victor Gollancz, 1969.
Fanthorpe, Patricia, and Lionel Fanthorpe. The Black Lion. Cardiff, Wales: Greystoke Mobray, 1979.
Fanthorpe, Patricia, and Lionel Fanthorpe. The Holy Grail Revealed: The Real Secret of Rennes-le-Château. North Hollywood, CA: Newcastle Publishing Co., 1982.
Fanthorpe, Patricia, and Lionel Fanthorpe. Rennes-le-Château: Its Mysteries and Secrets. Middlesex, England: Bellevue Books, 1991; as: Secrets of Rennes-le-Château. York Beach, ME: Samuel Weiser, 1992.
Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. Herland. New York: Pantheon Books, 1979.
Grebens, G. V. Ivan Efremov’s Theory of Science Fiction. New York: Vantage Press, 1978.
Haggard, H. Rider. King Solomon’s Mines. London: Cassell, 1885.
Haggard, H. Rider. She: A History of Adventure. London: Longmans, Green, 1887.
Haldane, Charlotte. Melusine; or, Devil Take Her! A Romantic Novel. London: Arthur Barker, 1936.
Heron-Allen, Edward, as Christopher Blayre. The Cheetah Girl. London: Privately Printed, 1923.
Heron-Allen, Edward, as Christopher Blayre. The Purple Sapphire and Other Posthumous Papers Selected from the Unofficial Records of the University of Cosmopoli. London: Philip Allan, 1921.
Heron-Allen, Edward, as Christopher Blayre. Some Women of the University: Being a Last Selection from the Strange Papers of Christopher Blayre. London: R. Stockwell, 1934.
Heron-Allen, Edward, as Christopher Blayre. The Strange Papers of Dr Blayre. London: Philip Allan, 1932.
Hubin, Allen J. The Bibliography of Crime Fiction, 1749-1975: Listing All Mystery, Detective, Suspense, Police, and Gothic Fiction in Book Form Published in the English Language. Del Mar, CA: Publisher’s Inc., 1979.
Ingram, Eleanor M. The Thing from the Lake. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, 1921.
Isaac, Rondall. Stories of the Unforeseen. New York: Vantage Press, 1979. New York: Vantage Press, 1979.
Jenkins, Harry. An Affair of Survival: A Novel. New York: Vantage Press, 1979.
Kies, Cosette N. Supernatural Fiction for Teens: More than 1300 Good Paperbacks to Read for Wonderment, Fear, and Fun. 2nd ed. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 1992.
Knowles, Vernon. Eternity in an Hour: A Study in Childhood. London: Collins, 1932.
Knowles, Vernon. Here and Otherwise. London: Robert Holden, 1926.
Knowles, Vernon. The Ladder. London: Mandrake Press, 1929.
Knowles, Vernon. Silver Nutmegs. London: Robert Holden, 1927.
Knowles, Vernon. The Street of Queer Houses and Other Stories. New York: Boullion-Biggs, 1924.
Knowles, Vernon. Two and Two Make Five. London: George Newnes, 1935.
Kurtz, Katherine, and Deborah Turner Harris. The Adept. New York: Ace Books, 1991.
Kurtz, Katherine. The Bastard Prince. New York: Ballantine Books, 1994.
Kurtz, Katherine. The Bishop’s Heir. New York: Ballantine Books, 1984.
Kurtz, Katherine. Camber of Culdi. New York: Ballantine Books, 1976.
Kurtz, Katherine. Camber the Heretic. New York: Ballantine Books, 1981.
Kurtz, Katherine. Deryni Checkmate. New York: Ballantine Books, 1972.
Kurtz, Katherine. Deryni Rising. New York: Ballantine Books, 1970.
Kurtz, Katherine. The Harrowing of Gwynedd. New York: Ballantine Books, 1989.
Kurtz, Katherine. High Deryni. New York: Ballantine Books, 1973.
Kurtz, Katherine. In the Service of the King. New York: Ace Books, 2003.
Kurtz, Katherine. King Javan’s Year. New York: Ballantine Books, 1992.
Kurtz, Katherine. King Kelson’s Bride. New York: Ace Books, 2000.
Kurtz, Katherine. The King’s Justice. New York: Ballantine Books, 1985.
Kurtz, Katherine. Lammas Night. New York: Ballantine Books, 1983.
Kurtz, Katherine. Saint Camber. New York: Ballantine Books, 1978.
Kurtz, Katherine. The Quest for Saint Camber. New York: Ballantine Books, 1986.
Lang, Andrew. The Book of Dreams and Ghosts. London: Longmans, Green, 1897.
[Lang, Andrew, and Walter H. Pollock]. He. London: Longmans, Green, 1887.
LeBlanc, Richard. The Fangs of the Vampire. New York: Vantage Press, 1979.
Leiber, Fritz. The Sinful Ones. New York: Universal Giant, 1953. Bound with: Bulls, Blood, and Passion, by David Williams.
Leiber, Fritz. You’re All Alone. New York: Ace Books, 1972.
Macauley, David. Motel of the Mysteries. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1979.
Mahr, Kurt. The Beasts Below. Van Nuys, CA: Master Publications, 1979. Perry Rhodan #128.
Mahr, Kurt. Between the Galaxies. Van Nuys, CA: Master Publications, 1978. Perry Rhodan #119.
Mahr, Kurt. Fortress in Time. Van Nuys, CA: Master Publications, 1978. Perry Rhodan #123.
Marinelli, Jean. From Blight to Height. New York: Vantage Press, 1979.
McAllister, Bruce. Dream Baby. New York: Tor, 1989.
McAllister, Bruce. Humanity Prime. New York: Ace Books, 1971.
Moore, Ward. Bring the Jubilee. New York: Farrar, Straus & Young, 1953.
Morris, William. The Well at the World’s End. Hammersmith, England: The Kelmscott Press, 1896.
Nathan, Robert. So Love Returns. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1958.
Newbolt, Sir Henry. Aladore. Edinburgh: William Blackwood & Sons, 1914.
Nolan, William F. The Black Mask Murders. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1994.
Nolan, William F. Helltracks. New York: Avon Books, 1991.
Nolan, William F., and George Clayton Johnson. Logan’s Run. New York: Dial Press, 1967.
Nolan, William F. Logan’s Search. New York: Bantam Books, 1980.
Nolan, William F. Logan’s World. New York: Bantam Books, 1977.
Nolan, William F. Look Out for Space. New York: International Polygonics, 1985.
Nolan, William F. The Marble Orchard. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1996.
Nolan, William F. Night Shapes. Baltimore, MD: CD Publications, 1995.
Nolan, William F. Space for Hire. New York: Lancer Books, 1971.
Nolan, William F. Things Beyond Midnight. Santa Cruz, CA: Scream/Press, 1984.
Nolan, William F. 3 for Space. Brooklyn, NY: Gryphon Books, 1992.
Norman, John. Tarnsman of Gor. New York: Ballantine Books, 1966.
Page, Spider. Legend in Blue Steel. New York: Python Books, 1979.
Ragged, Hyder (pseud. of Henry Chartres Biron). King Solomon’s Wives; or, The Phantom Mines. London: Vizetelly & Co., 1887.
Reaves, Michael. The Burning Realm. New York: Baen Books, 1988.
Reaves, Michael, and Byron Preiss. Dragonworld. Garden City, NY: Nelson Doubleday, 1979.
Reaves, Michael, and Steve Perry. Hellstar. New York: Berkley Books, 1984.
Reaves, Michael. Night Hunter. New York: Tor, 1995.
Reaves, Michael. The Shattered World. New York: Timescape Books, 1984.
Reginald, Robert. Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature. Detroit: Gale Research Co., 1979.
Reginald, Robert. Stella Nova: The Contemporary Science Fiction Authors. Los Angeles, CA: Unicorn & Son, 1970.
Resnick, Michael. The Official Price Guide to Comic & Science Fiction Books, Third Edition. Orlando, FL: House of Collectibles, 1979.
Roberts, Keith. Pavane. Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Co., 1968.
Rosenberg, Betty, and Diana Tixier Herald. Genreflecting: A Guide to Reading Interests in Genre Fiction. 3rd ed. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 1991.
Sabrina. Witch Bitch, bound with Dance of Love, by Martine. New York: Pleasure Books, 1979.
Saxton, Mark. Havoc in Islandia. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1982.
Scheer, K. H. The Guns of Everblack. Van Nuys, CA: Master Publications, 1979. Perry Rhodan #126.
Scherwinsky, Felix. Der Neologismen in der modernen französischen Science-Fiction. Meisenheim am Glan, West Germa
ny: Verlag Anton Hain, 1978.
Schlobin, Roger C. The Literature of Fantasy: A Comprehensive, Annotated Bibliography of Modern Fantasy Literature. New York: Garland Publishing, 1979.
Schreuders, Piet, translated by Josh Pachter. Paperbacks, U.S.A.: A Graphic History, 1939-1959. San Diego, CA: Blue Dolphin Enterprises, 1981. As: The Book of Paperbacks. London: Virgin Books, 1981.
Smith, Lynn S. Space Voyages, 1591-1920: A Bibliography of Works Held in the Library of the University of California, Riverside. Riverside, CA: Special Collections Dept., University Library, University of California, Riverside, 1979.
Stableford, Brian. The Angel of Pain. London: Simon & Schuster, 1991.
Stableford, Brian. The Carnival of Destruction. London: Pocket Books, 1993.
Stableford, Brian. The Empire of Fear. London: Simon & Schuster, 1988.
Stableford, Brian. Journey to the Center. Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Co., 1982.
Stableford, Brian. The Werewolves of London. London: Simon & Schuster, 1990.
Stevenson, Noel C. Genealogical Evidence: A Guide to the Standard of Proof Relating to Pedigrees, Ancestry, Heirship, and Family History. Laguna Hills, CA: Aegean Park Press, 1979.
Taylor, R. G. Futura Man: An Orphan in Time. New York: Vantage Press, 1979.
Trainor, Sandy. Future Sex. New York: Pleasure Books, 1979. Cover byline reads Sharon Taylor.
Trainor, Starr. Pleasure Planet. New York: Pleasure Books, 1979. Cover byline reads Sharon Taylor.
Tymn, Marshall B., Robert H. Boyer, Kenneth J. Zahorski. Fantasy Literature: A Core Collection and Reference Guide. New York: R. R. Bowker Co., 1979.
Vinicoff, Eric, and Marcia Martin. Spacing Dutchman. Berkeley, CA: Aesir Press, 1978.
Voltz, William. Killers from Hyperspace. Van Nuys, CA: Master Publications, 1978. Perry Rhodan #120.
Voltz, William. Robots, Bombs, and Mutants. Van Nuys, CA: Master Publications, 1979. Perry Rhodan #125.
Waggoner, Diana. The Hills of Faraway: A Guide to Fantasy. New York: Atheneum, 1978.
Watson, Ian, ed. Pictures at an Exhibition. Cardiff, Wales: Greystoke Mobray, 1981.
Wisconsin State Historical Society, Madison Library Author-Title Catalog. New York: Greenwood Press, 1974, microfiche.
Xenograffiti Page 29