Hank Reinhardt
Encyclopedia
Julius Henry Reinhardt (January 18, 1934-October 30, 2007) was an American
author
, editor
, science fiction fan, and noted armorer and authority on medieval weaponry. He wrote as Hank Reinhardt, the nickname by which he was widely known. He was the husband of editor Toni Weisskopf
, formerly married to publisher Jim Baen
, whom she succeeded as publisher of Baen Books
.
. He served in the U.S. Army
in Europe in the 1950s. He later lived for many years in Alabama
. He was married twice, first to Janet, who predeceased him and with whom he had two daughters, and second to Toni Weisskopf. He died in Athens, Georgia
at the age of seventy-three of a staph infection contracted in the wake of heart bypass surgery. He was survived by his second wife, daughters Dana and Cathy, and two grandchildren.
Armories, facilitated by his friendship with Ewart Oakeshott
, the Armories' head curator, the firm was able to produce quality replicas, many made and tested by Reinhardt himself. He remained connected to the company as a consultant until his death, and also served as a consultant to other sword makers.
he edited the anthology Heroic Fantasy
(DAW Books
, 1979. He had a book on the history of the sword in progress at the time of his death. It was published after his death by Baen Books
as The Book of Swords. He also produced two videos on the sword with Paladin Press. In addition, he played an integral role in Reclaiming the Blade
, which includes an in depth interview detailing his experiences in Historical European Martial Arts
(HEMA).
as well. He served as a guest speaker, panelist on arms and armor, and demonstrator of medieval fighting techniques at many science fiction conventions. He also founded the Historical Armed Combat Association and branches of the Society for Creative Anachronism
in Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
, science fiction fan, and noted armorer and authority on medieval weaponry. He wrote as Hank Reinhardt, the nickname by which he was widely known. He was the husband of editor Toni Weisskopf
Toni Weisskopf
Toni Weisskopf is a science fiction editor and the publisher of Baen Books.Weisskopf is an alumna of Oberlin College, from which she graduated in 1987. She was immediately employed by Baen Books, where she served as executive editor up until the death of founder Jim Baen in 2006, at which point...
, formerly married to publisher Jim Baen
Jim Baen
James Patrick "Jim" Baen was a noted U.S. science fiction publisher and editor. In 1983 he founded his own publishing house, Baen Books, specializing in the adventure, fantasy, military science fiction and space opera genres...
, whom she succeeded as publisher of Baen Books
Baen Books
Baen Books is an American publishing company established in 1983 by long time science fiction publisher and editor Jim Baen. It is a science fiction and fantasy publishing house that emphasizes space opera, hard science fiction, military science fiction, and fantasy...
.
Life and family
Reinhardt was born and raised in Atlanta, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. He served in the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in Europe in the 1950s. He later lived for many years in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. He was married twice, first to Janet, who predeceased him and with whom he had two daughters, and second to Toni Weisskopf. He died in Athens, Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
at the age of seventy-three of a staph infection contracted in the wake of heart bypass surgery. He was survived by his second wife, daughters Dana and Cathy, and two grandchildren.
Career
Interested in knives and swords from an early age, Reinhardt furthered his education in arms during his Army service and through visits to various European museums. Back in America he held a number of jobs before joining in the 1980s with Bill Adams, president of Atlanta Cutlery, to establish Museum Replicas Ltd., a mail order firm specializing in recreations of medieval weaponry and armor. Thanks in part to Reinhardt's access to the Tower of LondonTower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
Armories, facilitated by his friendship with Ewart Oakeshott
Ewart Oakeshott
Ewart Oakeshott was a British illustrator, collector, and amateur historian who wrote prodigiously on medieval arms and armour. He was a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, a Founder Member of the Arms and Armour Society, and the Founder of the Oakeshott Institute...
, the Armories' head curator, the firm was able to produce quality replicas, many made and tested by Reinhardt himself. He remained connected to the company as a consultant until his death, and also served as a consultant to other sword makers.
Literary career
Reinhardt was a prolific author of articles on swords and knives, and wrote a column on swords in the movies for Blade magazine. Together with Gerald W. PageGerald W. Page
Gerald W. Page is an American writer of fantasy, science fiction, mystery and horror. He was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee on August 12, 1939. He sold his first story to the magazine Analog where it appeared in 1963....
he edited the anthology Heroic Fantasy
Heroic Fantasy (anthology)
Heroic Fantasy is an anthology of fantasy stories, edited by Gerald W. Page and Hank Reinhardt. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in April 1979....
(DAW Books
DAW Books
DAW Books is an American science fiction and fantasy publisher, founded by Donald A. Wollheim following his departure from Ace Books in 1971. The company therefore claims to be "the first publishing company ever devoted exclusively to science fiction and fantasy." The first DAW Book published was...
, 1979. He had a book on the history of the sword in progress at the time of his death. It was published after his death by Baen Books
Baen Books
Baen Books is an American publishing company established in 1983 by long time science fiction publisher and editor Jim Baen. It is a science fiction and fantasy publishing house that emphasizes space opera, hard science fiction, military science fiction, and fantasy...
as The Book of Swords. He also produced two videos on the sword with Paladin Press. In addition, he played an integral role in Reclaiming the Blade
Reclaiming the Blade
Reclaiming the Blade is a documentary produced by Galatia Films on the topic of swords, focusing on cinematic choreography of swordsmanship....
, which includes an in depth interview detailing his experiences in Historical European Martial Arts
Historical European martial arts
Historical European martial arts is a neologism describing martial arts of European origin, used particularly to refer to arts formerly practised, but having since died out or evolved into very different forms...
(HEMA).
Career in science fiction fandom
A pivotal figure in Southern science fiction fandom for more than half a century, Reinhardt helped establish ASFO, the earliest science fiction club in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1950. He subsequently co-founded the first such club in Birmingham, AlabamaBirmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
as well. He served as a guest speaker, panelist on arms and armor, and demonstrator of medieval fighting techniques at many science fiction conventions. He also founded the Historical Armed Combat Association and branches of the Society for Creative Anachronism
Society for Creative Anachronism
The Society for Creative Anachronism is an international living history group with the aim of studying and recreating mainly Medieval European cultures and their histories before the 17th century...
in Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana.
Recognition
Reinhardt received a number of awards in recognition of his fan activity and promotion of medieval weaponry, including the 1973 Rebel Award, DragonCon's 1990 Georgia Fandom Award (of which he was the inaugural recipient), and the 2006 Blade Show in Atlanta's Industry Achievement Award.Anthologies edited
- Heroic FantasyHeroic Fantasy (anthology)Heroic Fantasy is an anthology of fantasy stories, edited by Gerald W. Page and Hank Reinhardt. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in April 1979....
(with Gerald W. PageGerald W. PageGerald W. Page is an American writer of fantasy, science fiction, mystery and horror. He was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee on August 12, 1939. He sold his first story to the magazine Analog where it appeared in 1963....
) (1979)
Short stories
- "Fearn" (1978)
- "Farewell, Mars" (1970) (with Gerald W. PageGerald W. PageGerald W. Page is an American writer of fantasy, science fiction, mystery and horror. He was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee on August 12, 1939. He sold his first story to the magazine Analog where it appeared in 1963....
) (1970) - "The Age of the Warrior" (1979)
Nonfiction
- Commentary on Armor (1979)
- Commentary on Courage and Heroism (1979)
- Commentary on Swords and Swordplay (1979)
- Editor's Introduction (with Gerald W. PageGerald W. PageGerald W. Page is an American writer of fantasy, science fiction, mystery and horror. He was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee on August 12, 1939. He sold his first story to the magazine Analog where it appeared in 1963....
) (1979) - Hype - An Ancient an Art as Swordmaking
- There Is No Best Sword
- Hank Reinhardt's The Book of Swords (Baen, August 2009) ISBN 9781439132814
Reviews
- "An Army at Dawn - Rick Atkinson"
- "The Archer’s Tale - Bernard Cornwell"
- "The Barbarians of Asia - Stuart Legg"
- "Blood Red Roses - Fiorato, Boylston & Knusel"
- "Catatrophe - David Keys"
- "Demonic Males - Wrangham & Peterson"
- "Ghost Soldiers - Hampton Sides"
- "Guns & Violence: The English Experience - Joyce Lee Malcolm"
- "Jane Goodall’s Return to Goombe"
- "The Long Ships - Frans G. Bengtsson"
- "The Mighty Manslayer and The Curved Sword - Harold Lamb"
- "The Power of Logical Thinking - Marilyn Vos Savant & How To Think Straight - Robert Thouless"
- "A Short History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson"
- "Slander - Ann Coulter"
External links
- Official site, featuring links to articles and a gallery of his blade collection
- "Hank Reinhardt, January 18, 1934 - October 30, 2007, In Memoriam" - obituary by Jerry Proctor
- "Hank Reinhardt" - obituary on SFWA website
- Strock, Ian Randal. "Author and fan Hank Reinhardt dies" - obituary on SFSCOPE website