Angus MacVicar
Encyclopedia
Angus MacVicar was a Scottish
author with a wide-ranging output. His greatest successes came in three separate genres: crime
thrillers, juvenile
science fiction
, and autobiography
. His early writing was interrupted by wartime service with the Royal Scots Fusiliers
, hence most of his fiction appeared in the two decades following World War II
.
MacVicar, whose father was a Presbyterian
minister in the Church of Scotland
, lived most of his life in the village of Southend. After attending the University of Glasgow
he went on to work for the Campbeltown Courier.
Highlights of his many thrillers included the Edgar Wallace
-style Greybreek (1947) and the smoothly readable The Killings On Kersivay (1962), plus some books with pleasant golfing backgrounds.
His children's stories at their best would combine simple character sketch
es and exotic adventure
with a non-obtrusive Christian
morality
. The excellent Lost Planet series was extremely popular in books, radio and TV versions (he was also an accomplished screenwriter
and playwright
) . In these fondly-remembered stories a pacifist theme came through strongly. Later titles such as Space Agent from The Lost Planet still have their fans; the series became less effective as it extended. There are six novels in "The Lost Planet" series: "The Lost Planet
" (1953), "Return to the Lost Planet
" (1954), "Secret of the Lost Planet" (1955), "Red Fire on the Lost Planet" (1959), "Peril on the Lost Planet" (1960) and "Space Agent from the Lost Planet".
It was the first Science Fiction series ever translated to Hebrew, and had considerable impact on the development of this genre in Israel
The short unrelated Atom Chasers series was also popular, boasting a fine twist ending in The Atom Chasers in Tibet (1957).
In later life MacVicar turned to portraying his life and background as a child of the Manse
in several delightful memoirs such as Salt in My Porridge (1971). These books showed his Scottish literary voice at its most characteristic, unhampered by the genre requirements of his fiction.
MacVicar also presented the BBC
television program Songs of Praise
.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
author with a wide-ranging output. His greatest successes came in three separate genres: crime
Crime fiction
Crime fiction is the literary genre that fictionalizes crimes, their detection, criminals and their motives. It is usually distinguished from mainstream fiction and other genres such as science fiction or historical fiction, but boundaries can be, and indeed are, blurred...
thrillers, juvenile
Young adult literature
Young-adult fiction or young adult literature , also juvenile fiction, is fiction written for, published for, or marketed to adolescents and young adults, roughly ages 14 to 21. The Young Adult Library Services of the American Library Association defines a young adult as "someone between the...
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...
, and autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
. His early writing was interrupted by wartime service with the Royal Scots Fusiliers
Royal Scots Fusiliers
-The Earl of Mar's Regiment of Foot :The regiment was raised in Scotland in 1678 by Stuart loyalist Charles Erskine, de jure 5th Earl of Mar for service against the rebel covenanting forces during the Second Whig Revolt . They were used to keep the peace and put down brigands, mercenaries, and...
, hence most of his fiction appeared in the two decades following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
MacVicar, whose father was a Presbyterian
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
minister in the Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
, lived most of his life in the village of Southend. After attending the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
he went on to work for the Campbeltown Courier.
Highlights of his many thrillers included the Edgar Wallace
Edgar Wallace
Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace was an English crime writer, journalist, novelist, screenwriter, and playwright, who wrote 175 novels, 24 plays, and numerous articles in newspapers and journals....
-style Greybreek (1947) and the smoothly readable The Killings On Kersivay (1962), plus some books with pleasant golfing backgrounds.
His children's stories at their best would combine simple character sketch
Character sketch
A character sketch is an abbreviated portrayal of a particular characteristic of people. The term originates in portraiture, where the character sketch is a common academic exercise. Following the translation of Theophrastus's Characters into English, a number of British and American painters...
es and exotic adventure
Adventure
An adventure is defined as an exciting or unusual experience; it may also be a bold, usually risky undertaking, with an uncertain outcome. The term is often used to refer to activities with some potential for physical danger, such as skydiving, mountain climbing and or participating in extreme sports...
with a non-obtrusive Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
morality
Morality
Morality is the differentiation among intentions, decisions, and actions between those that are good and bad . A moral code is a system of morality and a moral is any one practice or teaching within a moral code...
. The excellent Lost Planet series was extremely popular in books, radio and TV versions (he was also an accomplished screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
and playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
) . In these fondly-remembered stories a pacifist theme came through strongly. Later titles such as Space Agent from The Lost Planet still have their fans; the series became less effective as it extended. There are six novels in "The Lost Planet" series: "The Lost Planet
The Lost Planet (novel)
The Lost Planet is a 1953 science fiction novel by Angus MacVicar, published by Burke, London. It forms part of the Lost Planet series, which was extremely popular in books, radio and TV versions....
" (1953), "Return to the Lost Planet
Return to the Lost Planet
Return to the Lost Planet is a 1954 science fiction novel by Angus MacVicar, published by Burke, London. It forms part of the Lost Planet series, which was extremely popular in books, radio and TV versions....
" (1954), "Secret of the Lost Planet" (1955), "Red Fire on the Lost Planet" (1959), "Peril on the Lost Planet" (1960) and "Space Agent from the Lost Planet".
It was the first Science Fiction series ever translated to Hebrew, and had considerable impact on the development of this genre in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
The short unrelated Atom Chasers series was also popular, boasting a fine twist ending in The Atom Chasers in Tibet (1957).
In later life MacVicar turned to portraying his life and background as a child of the Manse
Manse
A manse is a house inhabited by, or formerly inhabited by, a minister, usually used in the context of a Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist or United Church...
in several delightful memoirs such as Salt in My Porridge (1971). These books showed his Scottish literary voice at its most characteristic, unhampered by the genre requirements of his fiction.
MacVicar also presented the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television program Songs of Praise
Songs of Praise
Songs of Praise is a BBC Television programme based around traditional Christian hymns. It is a widely watched and long-running religious television programme, one of the few peak-time free-to-air religious programmes in Europe Songs of Praise is a BBC Television programme based around traditional...
.