H. G. Francis
Encyclopedia
Hans Gerhard Franciskowsky (14 January 1936 – 3 November 2011) was a German author of popular fiction, notably science fiction
, and radio drama
s. He wrote pseudonymously, most often as H. G. Francis, or as Hans G. Francis, H. G. Francisco, Gunther Frank, Peter Bars, R. C. Quoos-Raabe, Frank Sky, Hans G. Stelling or Ted Scott.
Francis was one of post-war Germany's most prolific authors, writing more than 400 novels and about 600 radio drama plays. His written work includes about 300 entries in the Perry Rhodan
science fiction series and its spin-offs, as well as a young adult science fiction series of his own, Commander Perkins
.
In the heyday of cassette radio dramas until the 1980s, he wrote hundreds of adaptations or original plays for youth series such as Three Investigators
, The Famous Five
, TKKG
and Masters of the Universe
. In total, more than 120 million of his plays were sold. They reached gold status
120 times and platinum status
six times.
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...
, and radio drama
Radio drama
Radio drama is a dramatized, purely acoustic performance, broadcast on radio or published on audio media, such as tape or CD. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine the characters and story...
s. He wrote pseudonymously, most often as H. G. Francis, or as Hans G. Francis, H. G. Francisco, Gunther Frank, Peter Bars, R. C. Quoos-Raabe, Frank Sky, Hans G. Stelling or Ted Scott.
Francis was one of post-war Germany's most prolific authors, writing more than 400 novels and about 600 radio drama plays. His written work includes about 300 entries in the Perry Rhodan
Perry Rhodan
Perry Rhodan is the name of a science fiction series published since 1961 in Germany, as well as the name of the main character. It is a space opera, dealing with several themes of science fiction. Having sold over one billion copies worldwide, it is the most successful science fiction book series...
science fiction series and its spin-offs, as well as a young adult science fiction series of his own, Commander Perkins
Commander Perkins
Commander Perkins is a German science fiction series by H. G. Francis, published partly as audio plays and partly as a series of novels.-Background:...
.
In the heyday of cassette radio dramas until the 1980s, he wrote hundreds of adaptations or original plays for youth series such as Three Investigators
Three Investigators
The Three Investigators is an American juvenile detective book series first published as "Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators" but also expanded in Germany. It was created by Robert Arthur, Jr., who believed using a famous figure such as movie director Hitchcock would attract attention....
, The Famous Five
The Famous Five (series)
The Famous Five is the name of a series of children's novels written by British author Enid Blyton. The first book, Five on a Treasure Island, was published in 1942....
, TKKG
TKKG
The Junior detective series TKKG is a German series of audio dramas and novels created by "Stefan Wolf", a pseudonym used by Rolf Kalmuczak.- The characters and their creator :...
and Masters of the Universe
Masters of the Universe
Masters of the Universe is a media franchise created by Mattel....
. In total, more than 120 million of his plays were sold. They reached gold status
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
120 times and platinum status
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
six times.
Further reading
- Hans Joachim AlpersHans Joachim AlpersHans Joachim Alpers was a German writer and editor of science fiction and fantasy. Together with Werner Fuchs and Ulrich Kiesow he founded Fantasy Productions, which became one of the premier German RPG- and board game producers and retailers...
, Thomas M. Loock: Interview mit H. G. Francis. In: Hans Joachim Alpers und Thomas M. Loock (eds.), Lesebuch der deutschen Science Fiction 1984 (Edition Futurum Bd. 4), Corian Verlag, Meitingen 1983, ISBN 3-89048-204-X.
External links
- H. G. Francis on the website of the Perry-Rhodan series
- H. G. Francis in the Perrypedia wiki