Henry Kenneth Bulmer (14 January 1921 – 16 December 2005) was a British author, primarily of science fiction.

Life

Born in London, he married Pamela Buckmaster on 7 March 1953. They had one son and two daughters, and were divorced in 1981. Bulmer lived in Tunbridge Wells

Royal Tunbridge Wells

Royal Tunbridge Wells is a town in west Kent, England, about south-east of central London by road, by rail. The town is close to the border of the county of East Sussex...

, Kent, England.

Career in science fiction

An extraordinarily prolific writer, Bulmer penned over 160 novels and innumerable short stories, both under his real name and numerous pseudonyms. For instance, his long-running Dray Prescot series

Dray Prescot series

The Dray Prescot series is a sequence of fifty-three science fiction novels and a number of associated short stories of the subgenre generally classified as sword and planet, written by Kenneth Bulmer under the pseudonym of Alan Burt Akers....

 of planetary romance

Planetary romance

Planetary romance is a type of science fiction or science fantasy story in which the bulk of the action consists of adventures on one or more exotic alien planets, characterized by distinctive physical and cultural backgrounds...

s was initially published as by Alan Burt Akers, and later as by the first-person protagonist of the series, Prescot himself.

Bulmer's works are popular in translation in some non-English-speaking countries, particularly Germany, to the extent that in some cases they have been published only in German editions, with the original English language versions remaining unpublished.

He also helped create the British comics antihero The Steel Claw

Steel Claw

The Steel Claw was one of the most popular comic book heroes of British weekly adventure comics of the 1960s and 1970s. The character was revived in 2005 for Albion, a six issue mini-series published by the Wildstorm imprint of DC Comics....

. Paul Grist

Paul Grist

Paul Grist is a British comic book creator, noted for his hard-boiled police series Kane and his unorthodox superhero series Jack Staff.-Biography:...

's comics series Jack Staff

Jack Staff

Jack Staff is a British superhero created by comic book writer/artist Paul Grist. Billed as "Britain's Greatest Hero", it is known for being in the style of an anthology title and for its multi-linear plotlines....

acknowledges this in the real name of its character The Claw, Ben Kulmer.

Bulmer was also active in 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...

, including travelling to the United States in 1955 as the TransAtlantic Fan Fund

TransAtlantic Fan Fund

The Trans-Atlantic Fan Fund, often known as TAFF, was created in 1953 for the purpose of providing funds to bring well-known and popular members of science fiction fandom familiar to fans on both sides of the ocean, across the Atlantic.-History:...

 (TAFF) delegate.

In the 1970s he edited nine issues of the New Writings in Science Fiction

New Writings in SF

New Writings in SF was a series of thirty British science fiction anthologies published from 1964 to 1977 under the successive editorships of John Carnell from 1964 to 1972 and Kenneth Bulmer from 1973 to 1977. There were in addition four special volumes compiling material from the regular volumes...

anthology

Anthology

An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...

 series in succession to John Carnell

John Carnell

Edward John Carnell , known to his friends as either Ted or John, was a British science fiction editor known for editing New Worlds in 1946 then from 1949 to 1963. He also edited Science Fantasy from the 1950s...

, who originated the series.

Pen names and imaginary biographies

Bulmer's pseudonyms include Alan Burt Akers, Frank Brandon, Rupert Clinton, Ernest Corley, Peter Green, Adam Hardy, Philip Kent, Bruno Krauss, Karl Maras, Manning Norvil, Chesman Scot, Nelson Sherwood, Richard Silver, H. Philip Stratford and Tully Zetford. Kenneth Johns was a collective pseudonym used for a collaboration with author John Newman

John Newman

John Newman may refer to:*John Newman , first Australian politician to be assassinated*John Newman , member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition*John Newman , U.S...

. Some of Bulmer's works were published along with the works of other authors under "house names" (collective pseudonyms) Ken Blake (for a series of tie-ins with the 1970s television programme The Professionals

The Professionals (TV series)

The Professionals was a British crime-action television drama series produced by Avengers Mk1 Productions and London Weekend Television that aired on the ITV network from 1977 to 1983. In all, 57 episodes were produced, filmed between 1977 and 1981. It starred Martin Shaw, Lewis Collins and Gordon...

), Arthur Frazier, Neil Langholm, Charles R. Pike, and Andrew Quiller. He also ghost-wrote

Ghostwriter

A ghostwriter is a professional writer who is paid to write books, articles, stories, reports, or other texts that are officially credited to another person. Celebrities, executives, and political leaders often hire ghostwriters to draft or edit autobiographies, magazine articles, or other written...

 books for Barry Sadler

Barry Sadler

Barry Sadler was an American soldier, author and musician. Sadler served as a Green Beret medic with the rank of Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War...

.

In some cases, Bulmer used not only a different name but also included in the books a detailed imaginary biography giving specific personal details substantially different from the true ones. For example, the Viking series published under the name "Neil Langholm" included biographical details intended to create the impression that the series – as appropriate to its subject – was written by a Dane:

"Neil Langholm was born in Copenhagen

Copenhagen

Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...

 in 1931, but was educated in England at Eton

Eton College

Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....

 and Oxford

Oxford

The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...

. He started his career as a veterinary surgeon but gave up in 1960 to begin writing full time. He is the author of several bestselling western and science fiction series, which he writes under a pseudonym. Mr. Langholm now lives with his wife and five children in Ruislip

Ruislip

Ruislip is a suburban area, centred on an old village in Greater London, and is part of the London Borough of Hillingdon.It was formerly also a parish covering the neighbouring areas of Eastcote, Northwood, Ruislip Manor and South Ruislip in the area. The parish appears in the Domesday Book, and...

. His hobbies are breeding dogs and archery." (From the introduction page to "Blood Sacrifice", 1975).

Dray Prescot series (written as Alan Burt Akers and Dray Prescot)

Consists of eleven cycles (the last is unfinished), four stand-alone novels, and three stand-alone short stories as noted below. The first thirty-seven volumes were published by 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...

 from December 1972 – April 1988; to date, print editions of the later volumes have been published solely in German translation

Translation

Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. Whereas interpreting undoubtedly antedates writing, translation began only after the appearance of written literature; there exist partial translations of the Sumerian Epic of...

 by Wilhelm Heyne Verlag from 1991–1998. English language ebooks of volumes 38–41 were later issued by the now-defunct electronic publisher

Electronic publishing

Electronic publishing or ePublishing includes the digital publication of e-books and electronic articles, and the development of digital libraries and catalogues. Electronic publishing has become common in scientific publishing where it has been argued that peer-reviewed scientific journals are in...

 Savanti from September 1995 – December 1998; ebooks of volumes 1–45 have since been issued by another electronic publisher, Mushroom eBooks, which projects issuing the entire saga in ebook form. While its website continues to list 2008 as the hoped-for completion date of the project, as of 10 August 2011 only the first forty-five books of the series are available from this source. A 3 October 2009 blog entry on the website cites family illness and difficulty in locating the manuscripts as responsible for the delay in publishing the remaining volumes. While some of the manuscripts were still missing as of 27 January 2011, the publisher hoped at that time to complete publication of the series in 2011. Bladud Books, a sister imprint of Mushroom eBooks, is currently publishing collected omnibus editions of each cycle in paperback and hardback.

Delian cycle

• 1. Transit to Scorpio
  Transit to Scorpio
  Transit to Scorpio is a science fiction novel written by Kenneth Bulmer under the pseudonym of Alan Burt Akers, volume 1 in his extensive Dray Prescot series of sword and planet novels, set on the fictional world of Kregen, a planet of the Antares star system in the constellation of Scorpio...
  
  (Dec. 1972) ISBN 9781843193333 (PDF)
• 2. The Suns of Scorpio (Apr. 1973)
• 3. Warrior of Scorpio (Aug. 1973)
• 4. Swordships of Scorpio (Dec. 1973)
• 5. Prince of Scorpio (Apr. 1974)

Collected in The Saga of Dray Prescot: The Delian Cycle (Apr. 2007) ISBN 9781843195573 (hbk)

Havilfar cycle

• 6. Manhounds of Antares (Aug. 1974)
• 7. Arena of Antares (Dec. 1974)
• 8. Fliers of Antares (Apr. 1975)
• 9. Bladesman of Antares (Aug. 1975)
• 10. Avenger of Antares (Dec. 1975)
• 11. Armada of Antares (Apr. 1976)
• "Wizard of Scorpio" (Jul. 1976, in The DAW Science Fiction Reader
  The DAW Science Fiction Reader
  The DAW Science Fiction Reader is an anthology of science fiction stories, edited by Donald A. Wollheim. It was first published in both hardcover and paperback by DAW Books in July, 1976, and reprinted in paperback a number of times since. It was the 200th title from DAW, and was intended to mark...
  
  ) (stand-alone short story)

Collected in The Saga of Dray Prescot: The Havilfar Cycle I and The Saga of Dray Prescot: The Havilfar Cycle II (Feb. 2009) (hbk)

Krozair cycle

• 12. The Tides of Kregen (Aug. 1976)
• 13. Renegade of Kregen (Dec. 1976)
• 14. Krozair of Kregen (Apr. 1977)

Collected in The Saga of Dray Prescot: The Krozair Cycle (Feb. 2009) (hbk)

Vallian cycle

• 15. Secret Scorpio (Dec. 1977)
• 16. Savage Scorpio (Apr. 1978)
• 17. Captive Scorpio (Aug. 1978)
• 18. Golden Scorpio (Dec. 1978)

Collected in The Saga of Dray Prescot: The Vallian Cycle (Apr. 2009) (hbk)

Jikaida cycle

• 19. A Life for Kregen (Apr. 1979)
• 20. A Sword for Kregen (Aug. 1979)
• 21. A Fortune for Kregen (Dec. 1979)
• 22. A Victory for Kregen (Apr. 1980)

Collected in The Saga of Dray Prescot: The Jikaida Cycle (Aug. 2009) (pbk)

Spikatur cycle

• 23. Beasts of Antares (Aug. 1980)
• 24. Rebel of Antares (Dec. 1980)
• 25. Legions of Antares (Aug. 1981)
• 26. Allies of Antares (Dec. 1981)

Pandahem cycle

• 27. Mazes of Scorpio (Jun. 1982)
• "Green Shadows" (Aug. 1982) (stand-alone short story)
• "Lallia the Slave Girl" (Sep. 1982) (stand-alone short story)
• 28. Delia of Vallia (Dec. 1982) (stand-alone novel)
• 29. Fires of Scorpio (Apr. 1983)
• 30. Talons of Scorpio (Dec. 1983)
• 31. Masks of Scorpio (Apr. 1984)
• 32. Seg the Bowman (Oct. 1984) (stand-alone novel)

Witch War cycle

• 33. Werewolves of Kregen (Jan. 1985)
• 34. Witches of Kregen (Apr. 1985)
• 35. Storm over Vallia (Aug. 1985) (stand-alone novel)
• 36. Omens of Kregen (Dec. 1985)
• 37. Warlord of Antares (Apr. 1988)

Lohvian cycle (originally published in German only)

• 38. Scorpio Reborn (Wiedergeborenes Scorpio, 1991; English ebook edition Sep. 1995)
• 39. Scorpio Assassin (Meuchelmörder von Scorpio, 1992; English ebook edition Feb. 1996)
• 40. Scorpio Invasion (Invasion von Scorpio, 1992; English ebook edition Aug. 1996)
• 41. Scorpio Ablaze (Scorpio in Flammen, 1992; English ebook edition Dec. 1998)
• 42. Scorpio Drums (Die Trommeln von Scorpio, 1992; English ebook edition Apr. 2008)
• 43. Scorpio Triumph (Der Triumph von Scorpio, 1993; English ebook edition Jun. 2008)

Balintol cycle (originally published in German only)

• 44. Intrigue of Antares (Die Intrige von Antares, 1993; English ebook edition Jul. 2008)
• 45. Gangs of Antares (Die Banditen von Antares, 1994; English ebook edition Jul. 2008)
• 46. Demons of Antares (Die Dämonen von Antares, 1994)
• 47. Scourge of Antares (Die Geißel von Antares, 1994)
• 48. Challenge of Antares (Die Fehde von Antares, 1995)
• 49. Wrath of Antares (Der Zorn von Antares, 1996)
• 50. Shadows over Kregen (Schatten über Kregen, 1996) (stand-alone novel)

Phantom cycle (published in German only)

• 51. Murder on Kregen (Mord auf Kregen, 1997)
• 52. Turmoil on Kregen (Aufruhr auf Kregen, 1997)
• 53. Betrayal on Kregen (Verrat auf Kregen, 1998)

Ryder Hook series (written as Tully Zetford)

The last six books in the series were published only in German, under Bulmer's real name. The first four books have also been published under his real name, collected in a single volume.

• Whirlpool of Stars (1974)
• The Boosted Man (1974)
• Star City (1974)
• The Virility Gene (1975)
  The Nova Man (Der Nova-Mann, 1987, Collection of the first four books)
• The Gervase Factor (Mission Galaxis, 1988)
• The Lost Fleet (Der Weltraum- Friedhof, 1988)
• Star Strike (Rebell der Sterne, 1988)
• Lure of the Novamen
  Space Pirates (novel)
  Lure of the Novamen is a science fiction novel written by Kenneth Bulmer, volume 8 in the Ryder Hook series. As of December 2005, it remains unpublished in English. It was published in German translation as Weltraum-Piraten in 1988...
  
  (Weltraum-Piraten, 1988)
• Citadel of Doom (Gefangen im All, 1988)
• Secret of the Novamen (Vermächtnis der Zukunft, 1988)

Keys to the Dimensions series

• The Key to Irunium (1967)
• The Key to Venudine (1968)
• The Wizards of Senchuria (1969)
• The Ships of Durostorum (1970)
• The Hunters of Jundagai (1971)
• The Chariots of Ra (1972)
• The Diamond Contessa (1983)

Odan the Half-God series (written as Manning Norvil)

• Dream Chariots (1977)
• Whetted Bronze (1978)
• Crown of the Sword God (1980)

Other science fiction novels

• Space Treason (1952) with A. V. Clarke
• Cybernetic Controller (1952) with A. V. Clarke
• Encounter in Space (1952)
• Zhorani (Master of the Universe) (1953) (as Karl Maras)
• Empire of Chaos (1953)
• Galactic Intrigue (1953)
• Space Salvage (1953)
• The Stars are Ours (1953)
• Mission to the Stars (1953) (as Philip Kent)
• Vassals of Venus (1953) (as Philip Kent)
• Challenge (1954)
• World Aflame (1954)
• Home is the Martian (1954) (as Philip Kent)
• Slaves of the Spectrum (1954) (as Philip Kent)
• Peril from Space (1954) (as Karl Maras)
• City Under the Sea (1957)
• The Secret of ZI (1958) (AKA The Patient Dark (1969))
• The Changeling Worlds (1959)
• The Earth Gods are Coming (1960) (AKA Of Earth Foretold (1961))
• Defiance (1960)
• Beyond the Silver Sky (1961)
• Land Beyond the Map
  Land Beyond the Map
  Land Beyond the Map is a short science fiction novel written by Kenneth Bulmer. It originally appeared in the magazine Science Fantasy in 1961 under the title "The Map Country". It was subsequently enlarged and published by Ace Books in 1965...
  
  (1961)
• No Man's World (1961) (AKA Earth's Long Shadow (exp 1962))
• The Fatal Fire (1962)
• The Wind of Liberty (1962)
• The Wizard of Starship Poseidon (1963)
• Demons' World (1964) (AKA The Demons (1965))
• The Million Year Hunt (1964)
• Behold the Stars (1965)
• Worlds for the Taking (1966)
• To Outrun Doomsday
  To Outrun Doomsday
  To Outrun Doomsday is a science fiction novel written by Kenneth Bulmer. It was first published in 1967.-Plot summary:The novel concerns "Lucky" Jack Waley, a computer salesman and conman unfortunate enough to be aboard the starship Bucentaure when the engine blows...
  
  (1967)
• Cycle of Nemesis
  Cycle of Nemesis
  Cycle of Nemesis is a science fiction novel written by Kenneth Bulmer. It was first published in 1967.-Plot summary:The novel begins in a near future world of ray guns and robots, but ends up marching all over time. Khamushkei the Undying, a horror out of space, destroyed an ancient civilization on...
  
  (1967)
• The Doomsday Men (1968)
• The Ulcer Culture (1969) (AKA Stained-Glass World (1976))
• Kandar (1969)
• The Star Venturers (1969)
• Quench the Burning Stars (1970) (AKA Blazon (exp 1970))
• Star Trove (1970)
• Sword of the Barbarians (1970)
• The Electric Sword-Swallowers (1971)
• The Insane City (1971)
• On the Symb-Socket Circuit (1972)
• Roller Coaster World (1972)

The Vikings series (as Neil Langholm)

• 1. Bllod Sacrifice (1975)
• 2. The Dark Return (1975)
• 3. The Sun In The Night (1975)
• 4. Trail of Blood (1976)

Wolf's Head series (as Arthur Frazier)

• 1. Oath of Blood (1973)
• 2. The King's Death (1973)
• 3. A Light in the West (1973)
• 4. Viking Slaughter (1974)
• 5. A Flame in the Fens (1974)
• 6. An Axe in Miklagard (1975)

The Eagles – Gladiator series (as Andrew Quiller)

• 1. The Hill of the Dead (1976)
• 2. The Land of Mist (1976)
• 3. City of Fire (1976)
• 4. Blood on the Sand (1976)
• 5. Sea of Swords (1976)

Captain Shark series (as Richard Silver)

• 1. By Pirate's Blood (1975)
• 2. Jaws of Death (1975)

Fox series (as Adam Hardy)

• The Press Gang (1973)
• Prize Money (1973)
• The Siege (1973) (AKA Savage Siege)
• Treasure (1973) (AKA Treasure Map (1974))
• Powder Monkey (1973) (AKA Sailor's Blood (1974))
• Blood for Breakfast (1974) (AKA Sea of Gold)
• Court Martial (1974)
• Battle Smoke (1974)
• Cut and Thrust (1974)
• Boarders Away (1975)
• Fireship (1975)
• Blood Beach (1975)
• Sea Flame (1976)
• Close Quarters (1977)

Sea Wolf series (as Bruno Krauss)

• 1. Steel Shark (1978)
• 2. Shark North (1978)
• 3. Shark Pack (1978)
• 4. Shark Hunt (1990)
• 5. Shark Africa (1980)
• 6. Shark Raid (1982)
• 7. Shark America (1982)
• 8. Shark Trap (1982)

Jubal Cade series (as Charles R. Pike)

• 11. Brand of Revenge (1978) (AKA Brand of Vengeance (1980))

Casca series (as Barry Sadler)

• 4. Panzer Soldier (1980)
• 22. The Mongol (1990)

Strike Force: Falklands series (as Adam Hardy)

• 1. Operation Exocet (1984)
• 2. Raider's Dawn (1984)
• 3. Red Alert (1984)
• 4. Recce Patrol (1985)
• 5. Covert Op (1985)
• 6. 'Ware Mines (1985)

The Professionals series (as Ken Blake)

• 1. Where the Jungle Ends (1978)
• 2. Long Shot (1978)
• 3. Stake Out (1978)
• 4. Hunter Hunted (1978)
• 5. Blind Run (1979)
• 6. Fall Girl (1979)
• 8. Dead Reckoning (1980)
• 9. No Stone (1980)
• 11. Spy Probe (1981)
• 12. Foxhole (1981)

Children's books

• The True Book about Space Travel (1960) (with John Newman
  John Newman
  John Newman may refer to:*John Newman , first Australian politician to be assassinated*John Newman , member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition*John Newman , U.S...
  
  , as Kenneth Johns)
• Pretenders (1972)

Anthologies

• New Writings in SF 22
  New Writings in SF 22
  New Writings in SF 22 is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Kenneth Bulmer, the first volume of nine he oversaw in the New Writings in SF series in succession to the series' originator, John Carnell...
  
  (1973)
• New Writings in SF 23
  New Writings in SF 23
  New Writings in SF 23 is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Kenneth Bulmer, the second volume of nine he oversaw in the New Writings in SF series in succession to the series' originator, John Carnell...
  
  (1973)
• New Writings in SF 24
  New Writings in SF 24
  New Writings in SF 24 is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Kenneth Bulmer, the third volume of nine he oversaw in the New Writings in SF series in succession to the series' originator, John Carnell...
  
  (1974)
• New Writings in SF 25
  New Writings in SF 25
  New Writings in SF 25 is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Kenneth Bulmer, the fourth volume of nine he oversaw in the New Writings in SF series in succession to the series' originator, John Carnell...
  
  (1975)
• New Writings in SF 26
  New Writings in SF 26
  New Writings in SF 26 is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Kenneth Bulmer, the fifth volume of nine he oversaw in the New Writings in SF series in succession to the series' originator, John Carnell. It was first published in hardcover by Sidgwick & Jackson in August 1975,...
  
  (1975)
• New Writings in SF 27
  New Writings in SF 27
  New Writings in SF 27 is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Kenneth Bulmer, the sixth volume of nine he oversaw in the New Writings in SF series in succession to the series' originator, John Carnell. It was first published in hardcover by Sidgwick & Jackson in 1975, followed by...
  
  (1975)
• New Writings in SF 28
  New Writings in SF 28
  New Writings in SF 28 is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Kenneth Bulmer, the seventh volume of nine he oversaw in the New Writings in SF series in succession to the series' originator, John Carnell. It was first published in hardcover by Sidgwick & Jackson in 1976, followed...
  
  (1976)
• New Writings in SF 29
  New Writings in SF 29
  New Writings in SF 29 is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Kenneth Bulmer, the eighth volume of nine he oversaw in the New Writings in SF series in succession to the series' originator, John Carnell. It was first published in hardcover by Sidgwick & Jackson in 1976, followed...
  
  (1976)
• New Writings in SF 30
  New Writings in SF 30
  New Writings in SF 30 is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Kenneth Bulmer, the ninth volume of nine he oversaw in the New Writings in SF series in succession to the series' originator, John Carnell, and the final volume in the series...
  
  (1977)

External links

• A wiki dedicated to Kenneth Bulmer's Kregen
• Mushroom eBooks – the current publisher of the Dray Prescot books
• TAFF Tales, Bulmer's report of his 1955 TAFF trip
• Obituary, The Independent
  The Independent
  The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
  
  , 20 December 2005