Leon Stover
Encyclopedia
Leon Eugene Stover was an anthropologist, a Sinologist, and a science fiction fan
, who wrote both fiction and nonfiction. He was a scholar of the works of H. G. Wells
and Robert A. Heinlein
.
. His masters' thesis was The Chinese peasant family and communism; his dissertation, "Face" and verbal analogues of interaction in Chinese culture: a theory of formalized social behavior based upon participant-observation of an upper-class Chinese household, together with a biographical study of the primary informant. He was an instructor at the American Museum of Natural History
in New York City
from 1955–1957, and assistant professor at Hobart and William Smith Colleges
in Geneva, New York
from 1957 - 1963. He was visiting assistant professor at The University of Tokyo from 1963 - 1965 before being invited to serve as a professor of anthropology
at the Illinois Institute of Technology
where he taught from 1965 - 1995. In 1995 he became professor emeritus. It was a mention in Stover's unpublished biography of Heinlein [he had originally been authorized to write a definitive Heinlein biography, but later had a falling-out with Heinlein's widow] that led researcher Robert James to discover the hitherto-unpublished Heinlein novel For Us, The Living: A Comedy of Customs
. He published a criticism of Heinlein in 1987 when the book was actually read it was shown that he had made mistakes in every part of the book.
. His second wife was Takeko Kawai Stover whom he married shortly after completing his dissertation at Columbia University. They collaborated on many books together. He died of complications from diabetes at his home in Chicago
on November 25, 2006.
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...
, who wrote both fiction and nonfiction. He was a scholar of the works of H. G. Wells
H. G. Wells
Herbert George Wells was an English author, now best known for his work in the science fiction genre. He was also a prolific writer in many other genres, including contemporary novels, history, politics and social commentary, even writing text books and rules for war games...
and Robert A. Heinlein
Robert A. Heinlein
Robert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction writer. Often called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was one of the most influential and controversial authors of the genre. He set a standard for science and engineering plausibility and helped to raise the genre's standards of...
.
Scholarly career
He received his M.A. in 1952 and his Ph.D. in 1963 from Columbia UniversityColumbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. His masters' thesis was The Chinese peasant family and communism; his dissertation, "Face" and verbal analogues of interaction in Chinese culture: a theory of formalized social behavior based upon participant-observation of an upper-class Chinese household, together with a biographical study of the primary informant. He was an instructor at the American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History , located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States, is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
from 1955–1957, and assistant professor at Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Hobart and William Smith Colleges, located in Geneva, New York, are together a liberal arts college offering Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in Teaching degrees. In athletics, however, the two schools compete with separate teams, known as the Hobart Statesmen and the...
in Geneva, New York
Geneva, New York
Geneva is a city in Ontario and Seneca counties in the U.S. state of New York. The population was 13,617 at the 2000 census. Some claim it is named after the city and canton of Geneva in Switzerland. Others believe the name came from confusion over the letters in the word "Seneca" written in cursive...
from 1957 - 1963. He was visiting assistant professor at The University of Tokyo from 1963 - 1965 before being invited to serve as a professor of anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
at the Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Institute of Technology, commonly called Illinois Tech or IIT, is a private Ph.D.-granting university located in Chicago, Illinois, with programs in engineering, science, psychology, architecture, business, communications, industrial technology, information technology, design, and law...
where he taught from 1965 - 1995. In 1995 he became professor emeritus. It was a mention in Stover's unpublished biography of Heinlein [he had originally been authorized to write a definitive Heinlein biography, but later had a falling-out with Heinlein's widow] that led researcher Robert James to discover the hitherto-unpublished Heinlein novel For Us, The Living: A Comedy of Customs
For Us, The Living: A Comedy of Customs
For Us, The Living: A Comedy of Customs is a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein, written in 1938 but published for the first time in 2003...
. He published a criticism of Heinlein in 1987 when the book was actually read it was shown that he had made mistakes in every part of the book.
Non-Fiction
- Above The Human Landscape. An Anthology Of Social Science Fiction; Willis E. McNelly and Leon E. Stover, eds. (1972)
- La Science-Fiction Américaine: Essai d'Anthropologie Culturelle (1972)
- The Cultural Ecology of Chinese Civilization: Peasants and Elites in the Last of the Agrarian States (1974)
- China: An Anthropological Perspective; Leon E. and Takeko K. Stover (1976)
- Stonehenge: The Indo-European Heritage; Leon E. Stover and Bruce Kraig (1978)
- Robert A. Heinlein (1987)
- The Prophetic Soul: A Reading of H.G. Wells's Things to Come, Together with His Film Treatment, Whither mankind? and the Postproduction Script (Both Never Before Published) (1987)
- Harry Harrison (1990)
- Science Fiction from Wells to Heinlein (2002)
- Stonehenge City: A Reconstruction (2003)
- Imperial China and the State Cult of Confucius (2005)
- Things to Come: A Critical Text of the 1935 London First Edition, with an Introduction and Appendices, H.G.Wells (2007)
Fiction
- Apeman, Spaceman: Anthropological Science Fiction; Leon E. Stover and Harry Harrison, eds. (1968)
- The Shaving of Karl Marx : An Instant Novel of Ideas, After the Manner of Thomas Love Peacock, in Which Lenin and H.G. Wells Talk About the Political Meaning of the Scientific Romances (1982)
- Stonehenge: Where Atlantis Died; Leon E. Stover and Harry Harrison (1983)
- Island of Doctor Moreau: A Critical Text of the 1896 London First Edition, With an Introduction and Appendices; H.G. Wells; Leon E. Stover, ed. (1996)
- The Time Machine: An Invention: A Critical Text of the 1895 London First Edition, with an Introduction and Appendices; H.G. Wells; Leon E. Stover, ed. (1996)
- The First Men in the Moon: A Critical Text of the 1901 London First Edition, with an Introduction and Appendices; H.G. Wells; Leon E. Stover, ed. (1998)
- The Invisible Man: A Grotesque Romance: A Critical Text of the 1897 New York First Edition, with an Introduction and Appendices; H.G. Wells; Leon E. Stover, ed. (1998)
- When the Sleeper Wakes: A Critical Text of the 1899 New York and London First Edition, with an Introduction and Appendices; H.G. Wells; Leon E. Stover, ed. (1999)
- The War of the Worlds: A Critical Text of the 1898 London First Edition; H.G. Wells; Leon E. Stover, ed. (2001)
- The Sea Lady: A Tissue of Moonshine; H.G. Wells; Leon E. Stover, ed. (2001)
- Man Who Could Work Miracles: A Critical Text of the 1936 New York First Edition, with an Introduction and Appendices; H.G. Wells; Leon E. Stover, ed. (2002)
- Things to Come: A Critical Text of the 1935 London First Edition, With an Introduction and Appendices; H.G.Wells; Leon E. Stover, ed. (2007)
Personal life
He was of American-German background whose family was related to the Eisenhower family. He married Patricia Ruth McLaren, whom he met in drama class at Western Maryland College; they had one daughter, Laren StoverLaren Stover
Laren Stover is an American writer. She is the author of Pluto, Animal Lover , The Bombshell Manual of Style illustrated by Ruben Toledo and Bohemian Manifesto: A Field Guide to Living on the Edge . She won the Dana Award for the short story in 2001.-External links:** *****-References:...
. His second wife was Takeko Kawai Stover whom he married shortly after completing his dissertation at Columbia University. They collaborated on many books together. He died of complications from diabetes at his home in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
on November 25, 2006.