Philip E. High - An Illustrated Bibliography - SFandFantasy.co.uk
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The Big Three
--- Isaac Asimov
--- Arthur C. Clarke
--- Robert A. Heinlein
Philip E. High
--- Introduction
--- Novels and Collections
--- Essays and Short Fiction - Part 1
--- Essays and Short Fiction - Part 2
--- Translations
Science Fiction and Fantasy Series
SF Universes and Fantasy Worlds
A Brief Biography of Philip E. High (1914-2006)
Philip Empson High was an English science fiction author.
High was born on 28 April 1914, in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire in England. His father was a bank worker and the family moved first to North Walsham in Norfolk, then to Great Yarmouth, and finally to Whitstable in Kent in 1921.
Young High was a prodigious reader of all types of fiction and non-fiction, but especially of the novels of Nevil Shute. At age 16 he began to write his own stories in various genres, including detective stories, westerns and romances, and began to submit them for publication without success, but he did not try his hand at science fiction until many years later.
Although he had encountered science fiction for the first time at the age of 13, it was not until the 1930s that High began to read British science fiction magazines such as Scoops. He would also buy imported copies of American SF magazines such as Astounding Stories when he could get them.
High's career as a local newspaper reporter was interrupted by the Second World War. After serving in the Royal Navy he gained employment as an insurance agent before becoming a bus driver with the East Kent Car Road Company in 1950, a job he retained until his retirement in 1979. He married Pamela Baker in 1950 and they had two children, Beverley and Jacqueline.
It was not until 1955 that High decided to try his hand at writing science fiction stories. His first attempt, The Statics, was published in the September issue of Authentic Science Fiction. This was a begin a successful period, with the publication over the next eight years of nearly fifty stories in magazines such as Authentic Science Fiction, Nebula Science Fiction and New Worlds Science Fiction.
By 1964, the science fiction magazine market in the UK was changing. High had little sympathy for this new direction so decided to redirect his efforts to writing novels. His first, The Prodigal Sun, was published by Ace Books and lead to a string of fourteen novels and numerous reprints.
With the exception of four short stories for the short-lived magazine Vision of Tomorrow, High continued to concentrate his efforts on writing novels, until 1979 when High was told that the market had changed again and there was no demand for his stories. Tragically, he took their word for it and stopped writing.
Almost two decades later, Philip Harbottle, who had previously edited Vision of Tomorrow, approached High with a request to contribute to Fantasy Annual. He found that he still had ideas for new stories and more than thirty new pieces followed as well as two anthologies and reprints of some of his novels.
Philip E. High died on 9 August 2006, aged 92.
References
- Vector - Issue 83, Vol.5, No.3, October 1977 - see pp.26-9 - 'The Man Who Invented Wooden Spaceships' by Andrew Darlington
- Space Voyager - Issue 7, February-March 1984 - see pp.51-3 - 'Prophet Without Honour' by Marion Van Der Voort
- Locus - Issue 548, Vol.57, No.3, June 2007 - see pp.82-3 - 'Philip E. High' by Philip Harbottle
- Locus - Issue 548, Vol.57, No.3, June 2007 - see p.83 - 'Phil High' by Marion & Richard van der Voort
- Philip E. High: A Tribute - Philip E. High - A History - retrieved 27 October 2016
- Philip E. High: A Tribute - Books Written by Philip E. High - retrieved 27 October 2016
- The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction - Philip E. High - retrieved 25 June 2011
- Infinity Plus - Phil High - Literary Craftsman - retrieved 25 June 2011
- Eight Miles Higher - The Man Who Created the Wooden Spaceships - retrieved 6 March 2016
- The Independent - Philip E. High - retrieved 25 June 2011
- Science Fiction Writers of America - Philip E. High (1914-2006) - archived 30 September 2007
- The Internet Speculative Fiction Database - Philip E. High - Summary Bibliography - retrieved 25 June 2011
A list of the first publications of Philip E. High's novels and short stories appears below.
An illustrated bibliography can be found here.
| Novels | ||||
| Year | Title | Publisher | ISBN | Notes |
| 1964 | The Prodigal Sun | Ace Books | None | |
| 1964 | No Truce with Terra | Ace Books | None | Issued in one volume with The Duplicators by Murray Leinster |
| 1966 | The Mad Metropolis | Ace Books | None | Issued in one volume with Space Captain by Murray Leinster |
| 1967 | Reality Forbidden | Ace Books | None | Issued in one volume with Contraband From Otherspace by A. Bertram Chandler |
| 1967 | These Savage Futurians | Ace Books | None | Issued in one volume with The Double Invaders by John Rackham |
| 1967 | Twin Planets | Paperback Library | None | |
| 1968 | The Time Mercenaries | Ace Books | None | Issued in one volume with Anthropol by Louis Trimble |
| 1968 | Invader On My Back | Ace Books | None | Issued in one volume with Destination: Saturn by David Grinnell & Lin Carter |
| 1970 | Double Illusion | Dobson SF | 023477603X | Previously published as The Mad Metropolis |
| 1971 | Butterfly Planet | Hale SF | 0709123736 | |
| 1973 | Come, Hunt An Earthman | Hale SF | 070913648X | |
| 1973 | Sold - For A Spaceship | Hale SF | 0709139195 | |
| 1974 | Speaking of Dinosaurs | Hale SF | 0709140916 | |
| 1978 | Fugitive from Time | Hale SF | 0709170165 | |
| 1979 | Blindfold from the Stars | Dobson SF | 0234721421 | |
| Collections | ||||
| Year | Title | Publisher | ISBN | Notes |
| 2002 | The Best of Philip E. High | Wildside Press | 1587154404 | |
| 2004 | Step To The Stars | Wildside Press | 0809500272 | Previously unpublished stories |
| 2013 | Guilty As Charged | Borgo/Wildside | 9781479400157 | |
| Contributions to Magazines and Collections | ||||
| Year | Title | Publication | Issue | Notes |
| 1955 | The Statics | Authentic Science Fiction | September, Issue 61 | |
| 1956 | Wrath of the Gods | Nebula Science Fiction | July, Issue 17 | |
| 1956 | A Schoolroom for the Teacher | Authentic Science Fiction | November, Issue 74 | |
| 1956 | The Collaborator | Authentic Science Fiction | December, Issue 75 | |
| 1956 | City at Random | Nebula Science Fiction | December, Issue 19 | |
| 1957 | Plague Solution | Authentic Science Fiction | February, Issue 77 | |
| 1957 | Guess Who? | New Worlds Science Fiction | February, Vol.19, No.56 | |
| 1957 | Assassin in Hiding | Authentic Science Fiction | April, Issue 79 | |
| 1957 | Life Sentence | Authentic Science Fiction | May, Issue 80 | |
| 1957 | The Golden Age | New Worlds Science Fiction | June, Vol.20, No.60 | |
| 1957 | Topside | Authentic Science Fiction | August, Issue 83 | |
| 1957 | Time Bomb | Nebula Science Fiction | August, Issue 23 | |
| 1957 | Buried Talent | New Worlds Science Fiction | August, Vol.21, No.62 | |
| 1957 | The Ancient Enemy | Authentic Science Fiction | September, Issue 84 | |
| 1957 | Further Outlook | Nebula Science Fiction | September, Issue 24 | |
| 1958 | The Meek Shall Inherit | Nebula Science Fiction | January, Issue 26 | |
| 1958 | Risk Economy | Nebula Science Fiction | February, Issue 27 | |
| 1958 | Shift Case | Nebula Science Fiction | March, Issue 28 | |
| 1958 | The Guardian | New Worlds Science Fiction | October, Vol.26, No.76 | |
| 1958 | The Lords of Creation | Nebula Science Fiction | December, Issue 37 | |
| 1959 | A Race of Madmen | Nebula Science Fiction | January, Issue 38 | |
| 1959 | Infection | Nebula Science Fiction | March, Issue 39 | |
| 1959 | Squeeze Box | New Worlds Science Fiction | March, Vol.27, No.81 | |
| 1959 | To See Ourselves | Nebula Science Fiction | May, Issue 40 | |
| 1959 | Project–Stall | New Worlds Science Fiction | May, Vol.28, No.83 | |
| 1959 | For Those Who Wait | Nebula Science Fiction | June, Issue 41 | |
| 1959 | Pseudopath | New Worlds Science Fiction | August-Sept, Vol.29, No.86 | |
| 1960 | Project Mars | New Worlds Science Fiction | July, Vol.1, No.5 | |
| 1960 | Mumbo-Jumbo Man | New Worlds Science Fiction | January, Vol.30, No.90 | |
| 1960 | Pursuit Missile | New Worlds Science Fiction | June, Vol.32, No.95 | |
| 1961 | Routine Exercise | New Worlds Science Fiction | February, Vol.35, No.103 | |
| 1961 | The Jackson Killer | New Worlds Science Fiction | May, Vol.36, No.106 | |
| 1961 | Fallen Angel | Analog Science Fact & Fiction | June, Vol.67, No.4 | |
| 1961 | The Martian Hunters | New Worlds Science Fiction | November, Vol.38, No.112 | |
| 1961 | Survival Course | New Worlds Science Fiction | December, Vol.38, No.113 | |
| 1962 | The Psi Squad | New Worlds Science Fiction | January, Vol.38, No.114 | |
| 1962 | Probability Factor | New Worlds Science Fiction | March, Vol.39, No.116 | |
| 1962 | Blind as a Bat | Science Fiction Adventures | March, Vol.5, No.25 | |
| 1962 | Why Explain S-F? | New Worlds Science Fiction | April, Vol.39, No.117 | Editorial essay |
| 1962 | Dictator Bait | New Worlds Science Fiction | May, Vol.40, No.118 | |
| 1962 | The Method | New Worlds Science Fiction | November, Vol.42, No.124 | |
| 1962 | Dead End | Science Fantasy | December, Vol.19, No.56 | |
| 1963 | The Big Tin God | New Worlds Science Fiction | January, Vol.42, No.126 | |
| 1963 | Bottomless Pit | New Worlds Science Fiction | March, Vol.43, No.128 | |
| 1963 | Point of No Return | New Worlds Science Fiction | July, Vol.44, No.132 | |
| 1963 | Relative Genius | New Worlds Science Fiction | December, Vol.46, No.137 | |
| 1966 | Temporary Resident | New Worlds | February, Vol.49, No.159 | |
| 1969 | The Adapters | Vision of Tomorrow | November, Issue 3 | |
| 1970 | Psycho-Land | Vision of Tomorrow | January, Issue 4 | |
| 1970 | Technical Wizard | Vision of Tomorrow | February, Issue 5 | |
| 1970 | Fixed Image | Vision of Tomorrow | May, Issue 8 | |
| 1980 | The Time of Light | South East Arts Review | Autumn, Issue 15 | |
| 1998 | The Kiss | Fantasy Annual | No.2 | |
| 1999 | The Gulf | Fantasy Annual | No.3 | |
| 1999 | The Falling Elephant | Fantasy Annual | No.3 | |
| 1999 | Transit Serum | Gryphon Science Fiction and Fantasy Reader |
No.1 | |
| 2000 | One Hour to Darkness | Fantasy Annual | No.4 | |
| 2000 | The Occultist | Fantasy Annual | No.4 | Writing as B.J. Empson |
| 2000 | Chain Reaction | Fantasy Annual | No.4 | Writing as B.J. Empson |
| 2001 | Malfunction Syndrome | Fantasy Quarterly | No.1 | |
| 2002 | The Artifact | Fantasy Adventures | No.1 | |
| 2003 | Guilty as Charged | Fantasy Adventures | No.3 | Writing as B.J. Empson |
| 2003 | A Question of Fuel | Fantasy Adventures | No.3 | |
| 2003 | The Drainpipe | Fantasy Adventures | No.4 | |
| 2003 | Let There Be Light | Fantasy Adventures | No.5 | |
| 2003 | Seeds of Invasion | Fantasy Adventures | No.7 | |
| 2003 | Production Model | Fantasy Annual | No.5 | |
| 2003 | The Elementals | Fantasy Annual | No.5 | |
| 2003 | Bought on the Internet | Fantasy Annual | No.5 | Writing as B.J. Empson |
| 2003 | Time Ticket | Fantasy Annual | No.5 | |
| 2004 | The Prisoner | Fantasy Adventures | No.8 | |
| 2004 | Step to the Stars | Step to the Stars | Collection | |
| 2004 | Virtual Reality | Step to the Stars | Collection | |
| 2004 | Tune Out of Time | Step to the Stars | Collection | |
| 2004 | Pioneer Plus | Step to the Stars | Collection | |
| 2004 | The Thing at the Bottom of the Garden |
Step to the Stars | Collection | |
| 2004 | Awakening | Step to the Stars | Collection | |
| 2004 | Funny Farm | Step to the Stars | Collection | |
| 2004 | The Price to Pay | Step to the Stars | Collection | |
| 2004 | The Mex | Step to the Stars | Collection | |
| 2004 | Galactic Love Story | Step to the Stars | Collection | |
| 2004 | The Gunman | Fantasy Adventures | No.9 | |
| 2004 | The Lost Soul | Fantasy Adventures | No.11 | |
| 2006 | The Simulator | Fantasy Adventures | No.12 | |
| 2008 | The World is Ours | Fantasy Adventures | No.13 | |
| 2008 | The Blackmailer | Fantasy Adventures | No.13 | |
| 2008 | The Re-Conquest of Earth | Fantasy Adventures | No.13 | |
| 2008 | The Wishing Stone | Fantasy Adventures | No.13 | |