Lloyd Arthur Eshbach
Encyclopedia
Lloyd Arthur Eshbach was an American
science fiction
fan
, publisher and writer, secular and religious publisher, and minister.
Born in Palm
, Pennsylvania
, Eshbach grew up in Reading
. He discovered science fiction at age 15 and began writing letters to the professional magazines, then started to write his own stories. The third story he wrote sold to Science Wonder Stories in 1929. While still writing his own stories and articles, he published two short-lived magazines in the early 1930s, Marvel Tales and The Galleon. He founded Fantasy Press
, a small press which published the work of authors such as E. E. Smith
, Jack Williamson
, Robert A. Heinlein
and John W. Campbell, Jr.. Fantasy Press published 32 books between 1946 and 1950, in limited print runs averaging 3,750 copies each. These constituted the first hardcover editions of many of these works, previously available only in used copies of magazines. Eschbach later formed Polaris Press in 1952 to publish 2 more books.
Eshbach was a church publisher from 1958 to 1962, then until retirement in 1975 he was a salesman for the Moody Bible Institute
. Upon his retirement, he became a pastor in the Evangelical Congregational Church and served churches of that denomination in Lancaster County
, Reading, and Womelsdorf.
His memoirs, Over My Shoulder: Reflections on a Science Fiction Era, were published in 1982; and his last novel, The Scroll of Lucifer, in 1990. Other books included The Armlet of the Gods, The Land Beyond the Gate, The Sorceress of Scath and The Tyrant of Time
. He also edited Of Worlds Beyond: The Science of Science Fiction Writing
(Reading, PA: Fantasy, 1947), the first book-length work on science fiction writing from a professional point of view.
An active member of First Fandom
, he was Guest of Honor at the 1949 World Science Fiction Convention and the 1995 World Fantasy Convention
.
as telling him in 1949, "I’d like to start a religion. That’s where the money is." He is not the only science fiction fan to allege having heard Hubbard make similar remarks.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
fan
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...
, publisher and writer, secular and religious publisher, and minister.
Born in Palm
Palm, Pennsylvania
Palm is an unincorporated community in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. It lies along Pennsylvania Route 29 between Hereford and East Greenville at latitude 40.4281539 longitude -75.5329608. It is located in Upper Hanover Township and the Zip Code is 18070...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, Eshbach grew up in Reading
Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading is a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, USA, and seat of Berks County. Reading is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area and had a population of 88,082 as of the 2010 census, making it the fifth most populated city in the state after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Erie,...
. He discovered science fiction at age 15 and began writing letters to the professional magazines, then started to write his own stories. The third story he wrote sold to Science Wonder Stories in 1929. While still writing his own stories and articles, he published two short-lived magazines in the early 1930s, Marvel Tales and The Galleon. He founded Fantasy Press
Fantasy Press
Fantasy Press was an American publishing house specialising in fantasy and science fiction titles. Established in 1946 by Lloyd Arthur Eshbach in Reading, Pennsylvania, it was most notable for publishing the works of authors such as Robert A. Heinlein and E. E. Smith...
, a small press which published the work of authors such as E. E. Smith
E. E. Smith
Edward Elmer Smith, Ph.D., also, E. E. Smith, E. E. "Doc" Smith, Doc Smith, "Skylark" Smith, and Ted was a food engineer and early science fiction author who wrote the Lensman series and the Skylark series, among others...
, Jack Williamson
Jack Williamson
John Stewart Williamson , who wrote as Jack Williamson was a U.S. writer often referred to as the "Dean of Science Fiction" following the death in 1988 of Robert A...
, 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...
and John W. Campbell, Jr.. Fantasy Press published 32 books between 1946 and 1950, in limited print runs averaging 3,750 copies each. These constituted the first hardcover editions of many of these works, previously available only in used copies of magazines. Eschbach later formed Polaris Press in 1952 to publish 2 more books.
Eshbach was a church publisher from 1958 to 1962, then until retirement in 1975 he was a salesman for the Moody Bible Institute
Moody Bible Institute
Moody Bible Institute is a Christian institution of higher education and related ministries that was founded by evangelist and businessman Dwight Lyman Moody in 1886. Since its founding, MBI's main campus has been located in the Near North Side of Chicago. MBI's primary ministries are education,...
. Upon his retirement, he became a pastor in the Evangelical Congregational Church and served churches of that denomination in Lancaster County
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Lancaster County, known as the Garden Spot of America or Pennsylvania Dutch Country, is a county located in the southeastern part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010 the population was 519,445. Lancaster County forms the Lancaster Metropolitan Statistical Area, the...
, Reading, and Womelsdorf.
His memoirs, Over My Shoulder: Reflections on a Science Fiction Era, were published in 1982; and his last novel, The Scroll of Lucifer, in 1990. Other books included The Armlet of the Gods, The Land Beyond the Gate, The Sorceress of Scath and The Tyrant of Time
The Tyrant of Time
The Tyrant of Time is a collection of science-fiction short stories by the American writer Lloyd Arthur Eshbach. It was first published by Fantasy Press in 1955 in an edition of 1,547 copies...
. He also edited Of Worlds Beyond: The Science of Science Fiction Writing
Of Worlds Beyond
Of Worlds Beyond is a collection of essays about the techniques of writing science fiction, edited by Lloyd Arthur Eshbach. It was first published in 1947 by Fantasy Press in an edition of 1,262 copies. It has been reprinted by Advent in 1964 and by Dobson in 1965.-Contents:* Introduction, by...
(Reading, PA: Fantasy, 1947), the first book-length work on science fiction writing from a professional point of view.
An active member of First Fandom
First Fandom
First Fandom is an association of experienced science fiction fans.In 1958 a number of fans at Midwestcon realized amid table-talk that they all had been active in fandom for more than 20 years. This inspired the creation of an organization for longstanding fans under the initial chairmanship of...
, he was Guest of Honor at the 1949 World Science Fiction Convention and the 1995 World Fantasy Convention
World Fantasy Convention
The World Fantasy Convention is an annual convention of professionals, collectors, and others interested in the field of fantasy. It places emphasis on literature and art, while de-emphasizing dramatic presentation, gaming, masquerade, and the like. The World Fantasy Awards are presented at the...
.
Hubbard quotation
In his memoirs, Eshbach quotes L. Ron HubbardL. Ron Hubbard
Lafayette Ronald Hubbard , better known as L. Ron Hubbard , was an American pulp fiction author and religious leader who founded the Church of Scientology...
as telling him in 1949, "I’d like to start a religion. That’s where the money is." He is not the only science fiction fan to allege having heard Hubbard make similar remarks.
Further reading
- Davin, Eric Leif. Interview with Eshbach, in Pioneers of Wonder: Conversations With the Founders of Science Fiction. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, 1999.