Sterling E. Lanier
Encyclopedia
Sterling Edmund Lanier was an American editor, science fiction
author and sculptor who published as both Sterling Lanier and Sterling E. Lanier. He is perhaps known best as the editor who championed the publication of Frank Herbert
’s bestselling novel Dune
.
and lived in Maryland
. He was trained as an anthropologist and archaeologist, and educated at Harvard
, from which he graduated during 1951. He was a lifelong devotee of speculative fiction
, as well as a cryptozoology
enthusiast. Before beginning his literary career Lanier worked as a research historian at the Winterthur Museum from 1958 to 1960. He died in Sarasota, Florida
, at the age of 79.
.
He was with Chilton in 1965, when he was instrumental in persuading the firm to publish Frank Herbert
’s Dune
Having read Dune World in Analog
magazine, he was responsible for tracking down the author and conveying Chilton's offer. More than twenty other publishing companies had already turned the book down. Ironically, Lanier's brilliant insight on the worth of the book probably led to his dismissal from Chilton a year later because of high publication costs and poor initial book sales. Lanier also worked as an editor for the John C. Winston Company and McRae-Smith.
The most prominent of Lanier's own writings are his stories of the crypto-adventurer Brigadier Donald Ffellowes (told in the 'club story' style of Lord Dunsany's Jorkens tales), and the post-apocalyptic
novels Hiero’s Journey (1973) and The Unforsaken Hiero (1983). His short story "A Father's Tale" (1974) was a World Fantasy Award
nominee. His major works including Hiero's Journey, The Unforsaken Hiero and the Brigadier Ffellows stories are now available in an electronic version for Kindle.
. He specialized in miniatures, among which were a series featuring characters from J. R. R. Tolkien
’s The Lord of the Rings
. One set was given to Tolkien himself, with whom Lanier corresponded. Tolkien reportedly admired the miniatures but did not want them to be marketed commercially, a wish Lanier respected.
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...
author and sculptor who published as both Sterling Lanier and Sterling E. Lanier. He is perhaps known best as the editor who championed the publication of Frank Herbert
Frank Herbert
Franklin Patrick Herbert, Jr. was a critically acclaimed and commercially successful American science fiction author. Although a short story author, he is best known for his novels, most notably Dune and its five sequels...
’s bestselling novel Dune
Dune (novel)
Dune is a science fiction novel written by Frank Herbert, published in 1965. It won the Hugo Award in 1966, and the inaugural Nebula Award for Best Novel...
.
Life
Lanier was born in New York CityNew 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...
and lived in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. He was trained as an anthropologist and archaeologist, and educated at Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, from which he graduated during 1951. He was a lifelong devotee of speculative fiction
Speculative fiction
Speculative fiction is an umbrella term encompassing the more fantastical fiction genres, specifically science fiction, fantasy, horror, supernatural fiction, superhero fiction, utopian and dystopian fiction, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, and alternate history in literature as well as...
, as well as a cryptozoology
Cryptozoology
Cryptozoology refers to the search for animals whose existence has not been proven...
enthusiast. Before beginning his literary career Lanier worked as a research historian at the Winterthur Museum from 1958 to 1960. He died in Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is south of the Tampa Bay Area and north of Fort Myers...
, at the age of 79.
Literary career
Lanier's career as an author and editor began during 1961, when his first short story was published and he became an editor for Chilton BooksChilton Publishing Company
Chilton Company is a former publishing company, most famous for its trade magazines, and automotive manuals. It also provided conference and market research services to a wide variety of industries...
.
He was with Chilton in 1965, when he was instrumental in persuading the firm to publish Frank Herbert
Frank Herbert
Franklin Patrick Herbert, Jr. was a critically acclaimed and commercially successful American science fiction author. Although a short story author, he is best known for his novels, most notably Dune and its five sequels...
’s Dune
Dune (novel)
Dune is a science fiction novel written by Frank Herbert, published in 1965. It won the Hugo Award in 1966, and the inaugural Nebula Award for Best Novel...
Having read Dune World in Analog
Analog Science Fiction and Fact
Analog Science Fiction and Fact is an American science fiction magazine. As of 2011, it is the longest running continuously published magazine of that genre...
magazine, he was responsible for tracking down the author and conveying Chilton's offer. More than twenty other publishing companies had already turned the book down. Ironically, Lanier's brilliant insight on the worth of the book probably led to his dismissal from Chilton a year later because of high publication costs and poor initial book sales. Lanier also worked as an editor for the John C. Winston Company and McRae-Smith.
The most prominent of Lanier's own writings are his stories of the crypto-adventurer Brigadier Donald Ffellowes (told in the 'club story' style of Lord Dunsany's Jorkens tales), and the post-apocalyptic
Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction
Apocalyptic fiction is a sub-genre of science fiction that is concerned with the end of civilization due to a potentially existential catastrophe such as nuclear warfare, pandemic, extraterrestrial attack, impact event, cybernetic revolt, technological singularity, dysgenics, supernatural...
novels Hiero’s Journey (1973) and The Unforsaken Hiero (1983). His short story "A Father's Tale" (1974) was a World Fantasy Award
World Fantasy Award
The World Fantasy Awards are annual, international awards given to authors and artists who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in the field of fantasy...
nominee. His major works including Hiero's Journey, The Unforsaken Hiero and the Brigadier Ffellows stories are now available in an electronic version for Kindle.
Sculpture
Lanier’s sculptures have been exhibited at a number of museums, including the Smithsonian InstitutionSmithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
. He specialized in miniatures, among which were a series featuring characters from J. R. R. Tolkien
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
’s The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a high fantasy epic written by English philologist and University of Oxford professor J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier, less complex children's fantasy novel The Hobbit , but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in...
. One set was given to Tolkien himself, with whom Lanier corresponded. Tolkien reportedly admired the miniatures but did not want them to be marketed commercially, a wish Lanier respected.
Brigadier Ffellowes
- The Peculiar Exploits of Brigadier FfellowesThe Peculiar Exploits of Brigadier FfellowesThe Peculiar Exploits of Brigadier Ffellowes is a collection of fantasy short stories by Sterling E. Lanier. The stories take the form of tall tales told in a bar or club, similar to the Jorkens stories of Lord Dunsany. It was first published in New York by Walker in 1971, and in London by...
(1971) [collection: contents as TPEOBF below] - The Curious Quests of Brigadier FfellowesThe Curious Quests of Brigadier FfellowesThe Curious Quests of Brigadier Ffellowes is a collection of fantasy short stories by Sterling E. Lanier. The stories take the form of tall tales told in a bar or club, similar to the Jorkens stories of Lord Dunsany. It was first published in 1986 by Donald M. Grant, Publisher, Inc. in an edition...
(1986) [collection: contents as TCQOBF below; 1 original]
Short stories
-
- "Join Our Gang? " (1961)
- "Deathchild" (1968)
- "The Kings of the Sea" (1968) [TPEOBF]
- "Soldier Key" (1968) [TPEOBF]
- "Such Stuff as Dreams" (1968)
- "Whose Short Happy Life? " (1968)
- "A Feminine Jurisdiction" (1969) [TPEOBF]
- "Fraternity Brother" (1969) [TPEOBF]
- "The Leftovers" (1969) [TPEOBF]
- "His Coat So Gay" (1970) [TPEOBF]
- "His Only Safari" (1970) [TPEOBF]
- "Never Cry Human" (1970)
- "And the Voice of the Turtle" (1972) [TCQOBF]
- "Thinking of the Unthinkable" (1973) [TCQOBF]
- "A Father's Tale" (1974) [TCQOBF]
- "No Traveler Returns" (1974)
- "Ghost of a Crown" (1976) [TCQOBF]
- "The Syndicated Time" (1978)
- "Commander in the Mist" (1982) [TCQOBF]
- "The Brigadier in Check — and Mate" (1986) [TCQOBF; original]