A. Langley Searles
Encyclopedia
A[rthur] Langley Searles (August 8, 1920 - May 7, 2009) was an American
chemist
, a science fiction
enthusiast
and bibliographer
and historian of the field, from Bronxville, New York
.
Searles is best known for the scholarly science fiction fanzine
Fantasy Commentator, which he published and edited. Searles published twenty-eight issues of Fantasy Commentator between 1943 and 1953, then resumed publication in 1978 with number 29; the last issue appeared in 2004. It was nominated for the 1946 Hugo Award
for Hugo Award for Best Fanzine
. The Immortal Storm, 1954, Sam Moskowitz
' pioneering history of science fiction fandom
, was originally serialized in Fantasy Commentator between 1945 and 1952. It was also the venue for publication of Searles' bibliographies of topics such as "Science Fiction in Blue Book
" and "Science Fiction in the Munsey Magazines
". Following the 1978 revival of his journal, he published it annually until 1990 and semi-annually thereafter. This incarnation of the Commentator was noted for the series of articles which eventually became two works on the genre by Eric Leif Davin, Pioneers of Wonder: Conversations With the Founders of Science Fiction, in 1999, and Partners in Wonder: Women and the Birth of Science Fiction, 1926-1965, 2006.
Searles was a chemist and professor
of chemistry, having obtained his B.A.
and Ph.D.
from New York University
(the latter in 1946). He began teaching at the College of Mount Saint Vincent
in Riverdale, The Bronx in 1956, and taught there until his retirement. He married Elizabeth Dew, a librarian, in September 1946; he divorced her in 1969 and married Mary Alice McFall Becker, a physician, on July 20, 1969. He died on May 7, 2009 of prostate cancer.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
chemist
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
, a science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
enthusiast
Science fiction fandom
Science fiction fandom or SF fandom is a community or "fandom" of people actively interested in science fiction and fantasy and in contact with one another based upon that interest...
and bibliographer
Bibliography
Bibliography , as a practice, is the academic study of books as physical, cultural objects; in this sense, it is also known as bibliology...
and historian of the field, from Bronxville, New York
Bronxville, New York
Bronxville is an affluent village within the town of Eastchester, New York, in the United States. It is a suburb of New York City, located approximately north of midtown Manhattan in southern Westchester County. At the 2010 census, Bronxville had a population of 6,323...
.
Searles is best known for the scholarly science fiction fanzine
Science fiction fanzine
A science fiction fanzine is an amateur or semi-professional magazine published by members of science fiction fandom, from the 1930s to the present day...
Fantasy Commentator, which he published and edited. Searles published twenty-eight issues of Fantasy Commentator between 1943 and 1953, then resumed publication in 1978 with number 29; the last issue appeared in 2004. It was nominated for the 1946 Hugo Award
Hugo Award
The Hugo Awards are given annually for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was officially named the Science Fiction Achievement Awards...
for Hugo Award for Best Fanzine
Hugo Award for Best Fanzine
The Hugo Awards are given every year by the World Science Fiction Society for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was once officially...
. The Immortal Storm, 1954, Sam Moskowitz
Sam Moskowitz
Sam Moskowitz was an early fan and organizer of interest in science fiction and, later, a writer, critic, and historian of the field.-Biography:...
' pioneering history of science fiction fandom
Science fiction fandom
Science fiction fandom or SF fandom is a community or "fandom" of people actively interested in science fiction and fantasy and in contact with one another based upon that interest...
, was originally serialized in Fantasy Commentator between 1945 and 1952. It was also the venue for publication of Searles' bibliographies of topics such as "Science Fiction in Blue Book
Blue book
Blue book or Bluebook is a term often referring to an almanac or other compilation of statistics and information. The term dates back to the 15th century, when large blue velvet-covered books were used for record-keeping by the Parliament of the United Kingdom.- Government :* At the European...
" and "Science Fiction in the Munsey Magazines
Frank Munsey
Frank Andrew Munsey was an American newspaper and magazine publisher and author. He was born in Mercer, Maine but spent most of his life in New York City...
". Following the 1978 revival of his journal, he published it annually until 1990 and semi-annually thereafter. This incarnation of the Commentator was noted for the series of articles which eventually became two works on the genre by Eric Leif Davin, Pioneers of Wonder: Conversations With the Founders of Science Fiction, in 1999, and Partners in Wonder: Women and the Birth of Science Fiction, 1926-1965, 2006.
Searles was a chemist and professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of chemistry, having obtained his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
(the latter in 1946). He began teaching at the College of Mount Saint Vincent
College of Mount Saint Vincent
For the university in Halifax, Nova Scotia, see Mount Saint Vincent University The College of Mount Saint Vincent is a Catholic liberal arts college located in the northeast corner of the Riverdale section of The Bronx, New York, adjacent to the Yonkers border. It is the northernmost location in...
in Riverdale, The Bronx in 1956, and taught there until his retirement. He married Elizabeth Dew, a librarian, in September 1946; he divorced her in 1969 and married Mary Alice McFall Becker, a physician, on July 20, 1969. He died on May 7, 2009 of prostate cancer.