Keith Laumer
Encyclopedia
John Keith Laumer was an American
science fiction author. Prior to becoming a full-time writer, he was an officer in the United States Air Force
and a U.S. diplomat. His brother March Laumer
was also a writer, known for his adult reinterpretations of the Land of Oz
(also mentioned in Laumer's The Other Side of Time).
stories and his satirical Retief series. The former chronicles the evolution of super tanks that eventually become self-aware through the constant improvement resulting from centuries of intermittent warfare against various alien races. The latter deals with the adventures of a cynical spacefaring diplomat who constantly has to overcome the red-tape-infused failures of people with names like Ambassador Grossblunder. The Retief stories were greatly influenced by Laumer's earlier career in the United States Foreign Service
. In an interview with Paul Walker of Luna Monthly, Laumer states "I had no shortage of iniquitous memories of the Foreign Service."
In addition to his Bolo and Retief stories, Laumer's more serious adventures included the subjects of time travel and alternate-world adventures such as found in his "The Other Side Of Time", "A Trace Of Memory", and "Dinosaur Beach".
Four of his shorter works received Hugo
or Nebula Award
nominations ("In the Queue", was nominated for both) and his novel A Plague of Demons (1965) received a nomination for the Nebula Award for Best Novel
in 1966.
During the peak years of 1959–1971, Laumer was a prolific science fiction writer. His novels and stories tend to follow one of three patterns:
In 1971, Laumer suffered a stroke
while working on the novel The Ultimax Man. As a result, he was unable to write for a few years. As he explained in an interview with Charles Platt
published in Dream Makers Volume II (1983), he refused to accept the doctors' diagnosis. He came up with an alternative explanation and developed an alternative (and very painful) treatment program. Although he was unable to write in the early 1970s, he had a number of books published which had been unpublished at the time of the stroke.
In the mid-1970s, Laumer partially recovered from the stroke and resumed writing. However, the quality of his work suffered and his career declined (Piers Anthony, How Precious Was That While, 2002). In later years, Laumer also re-used scenarios and characters from earlier works to create new books, which one critic felt limited their appeal:
His Bolo creations were popular enough that other authors have written standalone science-fiction novels about them.
An anthology "Created by Keith Laumer", Dangerous Vegetables, appeared in 1998. Actually edited by Martin H. Greenberg
and Charles G. Waugh, the book's introduction (by Ben Bova
) said the book was Laumer's idea but that he had died without completing it.
and Flying Models, as well as the British
Aeromodeller. He published one book on the subject, How to Design and Build Flying Models in 1960. His later designs were mostly gas-powered, free-flight planes, and had a whimsical charm with names to match, like the "Twin Lizzie" and the "Lulla-Bi". His designs are still being revisited, reinvented and built today.
.
policed by the Imperium, a government based in an alternate Stockholm
. In the science fiction novel Worlds of the Imperium, the Imperium is formed in an alternate history where the American Revolution did not occur, and the British Empire and Germany merged into a unified empire in 1900. The protagonist, American diplomat Brion Bayard, is kidnapped by the Imperium because the Brion Bayard in a third parallel Earth is waging war against his abductors. Further adventures follow after Bayard decides to remain in the service of the Imperium.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
science fiction author. Prior to becoming a full-time writer, he was an officer in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
and a U.S. diplomat. His brother March Laumer
March Laumer
March Laumer was an American author, primarily of books on the Land of Oz.March Laumer was born in Birmingham, Alabama, the son of an officer in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He was the older brother of science fiction writer Keith Laumer; their youngest brother Frank was also a writer, on historical...
was also a writer, known for his adult reinterpretations of the Land of Oz
Land of Oz
Oz is a fantasy region containing four lands under the rule of one monarch.It was first introduced in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, one of many fantasy countries that he created for his books. It achieved a popularity that none of his other works attained, and after four years, he...
(also mentioned in Laumer's The Other Side of Time).
Writing career
Keith Laumer is best known for his BoloBolo (self-aware tank)
A Bolo is a fictional type of artificially intelligent superheavy tank. They were first imagined by Keith Laumer, and have since been featured in science fiction novels and short story anthologies by him and others.-Description and fictional history:...
stories and his satirical Retief series. The former chronicles the evolution of super tanks that eventually become self-aware through the constant improvement resulting from centuries of intermittent warfare against various alien races. The latter deals with the adventures of a cynical spacefaring diplomat who constantly has to overcome the red-tape-infused failures of people with names like Ambassador Grossblunder. The Retief stories were greatly influenced by Laumer's earlier career in the United States Foreign Service
United States Foreign Service
The United States Foreign Service is a component of the United States federal government under the aegis of the United States Department of State. It consists of approximately 11,500 professionals carrying out the foreign policy of the United States and aiding U.S...
. In an interview with Paul Walker of Luna Monthly, Laumer states "I had no shortage of iniquitous memories of the Foreign Service."
In addition to his Bolo and Retief stories, Laumer's more serious adventures included the subjects of time travel and alternate-world adventures such as found in his "The Other Side Of Time", "A Trace Of Memory", and "Dinosaur Beach".
Four of his shorter works received Hugo
Hugo Award
The Hugo Awards are given annually for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was officially named the Science Fiction Achievement Awards...
or Nebula Award
Nebula Award
The Nebula Award is given each year by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America , for the best science fiction/fantasy fiction published in the United States during the previous year...
nominations ("In the Queue", was nominated for both) and his novel A Plague of Demons (1965) received a nomination for the Nebula Award for Best Novel
Nebula Award for Best Novel
Winners of the Nebula Award for Best Novel, awarded by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. The stated year is that of publication; awards are given in the following year.- Winners and other nominees :...
in 1966.
During the peak years of 1959–1971, Laumer was a prolific science fiction writer. His novels and stories tend to follow one of three patterns:
- fast-paced, straight adventures in time and space, with an emphasis on lone-wolf, latent superhuman protagonists, self-sacrifice, and transcendenceTranscendence (philosophy)In philosophy, the adjective transcendental and the noun transcendence convey the basic ground concept from the word's literal meaning , of climbing or going beyond, albeit with varying connotations in its different historical and cultural stages...
- broad, sometimes over-the-top, comedies
- experimental work verging on New Wave science fiction
In 1971, Laumer suffered a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
while working on the novel The Ultimax Man. As a result, he was unable to write for a few years. As he explained in an interview with Charles Platt
Charles Platt (science-fiction author)
Charles Platt is an author, journalist and computer programmer. He relocated from England to the United States in 1970, is a naturalized U.S. citizen and has one daughter, Rose Fox...
published in Dream Makers Volume II (1983), he refused to accept the doctors' diagnosis. He came up with an alternative explanation and developed an alternative (and very painful) treatment program. Although he was unable to write in the early 1970s, he had a number of books published which had been unpublished at the time of the stroke.
In the mid-1970s, Laumer partially recovered from the stroke and resumed writing. However, the quality of his work suffered and his career declined (Piers Anthony, How Precious Was That While, 2002). In later years, Laumer also re-used scenarios and characters from earlier works to create new books, which one critic felt limited their appeal:
Alas, Retief to the Rescue doesn't seem so much like a new Retief novel, but a kind of Cuisinart mélange of past books.
-- Somtow Sucharitkul (Washington Post, Mar 27, 1983. p. BW11)
His Bolo creations were popular enough that other authors have written standalone science-fiction novels about them.
An anthology "Created by Keith Laumer", Dangerous Vegetables, appeared in 1998. Actually edited by Martin H. Greenberg
Martin H. Greenberg
Martin Harry Greenberg was an American speculative fiction anthologist and writer.-Biography:Dr. Martin H. Greenberg was born March 1, 1941, to Max and Mae Greenberg in South Miami Beach, Florida...
and Charles G. Waugh, the book's introduction (by Ben Bova
Ben Bova
Benjamin William Bova is an American science-fiction author and editor. He is the recipient of six Hugo Awards for Best Professional Editor for his work at Analog Science Fiction in the 1970's.-Personal life:...
) said the book was Laumer's idea but that he had died without completing it.
Model airplane designer
Laumer was also a model airplane enthusiast, and published two dozen designs between 1956 and 1962 in the U.S. magazines Air Trails, Model Airplane NewsModel Airplane News
Model Airplane News is a monthly magazine focusing upon the hobby of radio control airplanes.Model Airplane News reviews radio control aircraft from backyard flyers, to giant scale airplanes, and features how-to articles, product reviews, modeling technology, and construction projects. Model...
and Flying Models, as well as the British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
Aeromodeller. He published one book on the subject, How to Design and Build Flying Models in 1960. His later designs were mostly gas-powered, free-flight planes, and had a whimsical charm with names to match, like the "Twin Lizzie" and the "Lulla-Bi". His designs are still being revisited, reinvented and built today.
Bolo
Books concerning the Bolo self-aware tanks. Co-author book credits also indicated at Bolo Self-aware TankBolo (self-aware tank)
A Bolo is a fictional type of artificially intelligent superheavy tank. They were first imagined by Keith Laumer, and have since been featured in science fiction novels and short story anthologies by him and others.-Description and fictional history:...
.
- Bolo: Annals of the Dinochrome Brigade (1976)
- Rogue Bolo (1986)
- The Stars Must Wait (1990)
- The Compleat Bolo (1990) (includes Bolo and Rogue Bolo)
Retief
Satirical adventures of Retief, the galactic diplomat. Most are collections; novels are shown as (n)- Envoy to New Worlds (1963) (see Retief Unbound (1979)) later expanded as Retief: Envoy to New Worlds (1987)
- Galactic Diplomat (1965)
- Retief's War (1966) (n)
- Retief and the Warlords (1968) (n)
- Retief: ambassador to space; seven incidents of the Corps diplomatique terrestrienne (1969)
- Retief of the CDT (1971)
- Retief's Ransom (1971) (n)
- Retief: Emissary to the Stars (1975)
- Retief at Large (1978)
- Retief Unbound (1979) (inc Retief's Ransom and 5 of the 6 stories from Envoy to New Worlds) (see Retief: Envoy to New Worlds (1987))
- Retief: Diplomat at Arms (1982)
- Retief to the Rescue (1983) (n)
- The Return of Retief (1984) (n)
- Retief in the Ruins (1986) (3 stories, 2 original including the title story)
- Retief and the Pangalactic Pageant of Pulchritude (1986) (inc Retief's Ransom and the original title story)
- Retief: Envoy to New Worlds (1987) (Envoy to New Worlds plus 1 story) (see also Retief Unbound)
- Reward for Retief (1989) (n)
- Retief and the Rascals (1993) (n)
- Retief! (posthumous, ed. Eric FlintEric FlintEric Flint is an American author, editor, and e-publisher. The majority of his main works are alternate history science fiction, but he also writes humorous fantasy adventures.- Career :...
) (2002) (Envoy to New Worlds, Galactic Diplomat, Retief's War, plus the first Retief story, Diplomat-at-Arms (1960))
Mad Dog Graphics: Keith Laumer's Retief (comic)
- #1, Policy (1987)
- #2, Sealed Orders (1987)
- #3, Protest Note (1987)
- #4, Saline Solution (1987)
- #5, Ultimatum (1988)
- #6, The forest in the Sky (1988)
Adventure Comics: Keith Laumer's Retief (comics)
- #1, The peace makers (1989)
- #2, Ballots and Bandits (1990)
- #3, Mechanical Advantage (1990)
- #4, Aide Memoire (1990)
- #5, Wicker Wonderland (1990)
Adventure Comics: Retief and the Warlords (comics)
- #1, no title (1991)
- #2, no title (1991)
- #3, no title (1991)
- #4, no title (1991)
Adventure Comics: Retief Diplomatic Immunity (comics)
- #1, The Forbidden City (1991)
- #2, The Castle of Light (1991)
Imperium
Books set in the Imperium mythos: a continuum of parallel worldsParallel universe (fiction)
A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
policed by the Imperium, a government based in an alternate Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
. In the science fiction novel Worlds of the Imperium, the Imperium is formed in an alternate history where the American Revolution did not occur, and the British Empire and Germany merged into a unified empire in 1900. The protagonist, American diplomat Brion Bayard, is kidnapped by the Imperium because the Brion Bayard in a third parallel Earth is waging war against his abductors. Further adventures follow after Bayard decides to remain in the service of the Imperium.
- Worlds of the ImperiumWorlds of the ImperiumWorlds of the Imperium is a science-fiction novel by Keith Laumer. It was originally published in 1962. It is an example of an alternate history novel in which a man from our reality becomes involved with another parallel world in which the American Revolution never happened and the secret of...
(1962) - The Other Side of Time (1965)
- Assignment in Nowhere (1968)
- Beyond the Imperium (omnibus edition of The Other Side of Time and Assignment in Nowhere) (1981)
- Zone Yellow (1990)
- Imperium (omnibus edition of Worlds of the Imperium, Assignment in Nowhere and The Other Side of Time, ed. Eric Flint) (2005)
Lafayette O'Leary
A comic equivalent of the Imperium mythos, in which the hero has the ability to travel to feudal/magical alternate Earths.- The Time Bender (1966)
- The World Shuffler (1970)
- The Shape Changer (1972)
- The Galaxy Builder (1984)
The Avengers (based on the TV series)
- #5: The Afrit Afair (1968)
- #6: The Drowned Queen (1968)
- #7: The Gold Bomb (1968)
The Invaders (Original Novels based on the TV series)
- The Invaders (UK title The Meteor Men, A Story of Invaders published as by Anthony LeBaron) (1967)
- Enemies From Beyond (1967)
- Army of the Undead by-lined Rafe Bernard (1967) is often mistakenly attributed to Laumer because it is the 3rd entry in the Pyramid BooksPyramid BooksJove Books, formerly Pyramid Books, is a paperback publishing company, founded in 1949 by Almat Magazine Publishers . The company was sold to the Walter Reade Organization in the late 1960s. It was acquired in 1974 by Harcourt Brace which renamed it to Jove in 1977 and continued the line as an...
Invaders novel series as published in the US, but in fact Bernard (a name which may be a pseudonym, but not for Laumer) was one of the two British authors commissioned by Corgi Books in the UK to pen original novels based on the TV show (the other was Peter Leslie). The book appeared as the third title in Corgi's UK line as The Halo Highway. Evidence seems to indicate a reciprocal reprint deal Pyramid worked out with Corgi for use of a single title, since only the Bernard book, but not the Peter Leslie ones, saw print in the United States; while only Laumer's first Invaders title, but not his second, saw print in the United Kingdom. Bernard's by-line exists on one other science fiction title, The Wheel in the Sky, published as a UK hardcover in 1954 and as a UK paperback by Ward Lock in 1955. (Verification can be found in Kurt Peer's book TV Tie-Ins (1967, Neptune Publishing and later TV Books).
Standalone books
- How to Design and Build Flying Models (non-fiction) (1960, revised in 1970)
- A Trace of Memory (1963)
- The Great Time Machine HoaxThe Great Time Machine HoaxThe Great Time Machine Hoax is a science fiction novel by Keith Laumer, in expansion of his novelette serialized in Fantastic Magazine under the title of "A Hoax in Time" from June–August, 1963. For the novel version Laumer altered the framing story, rearranged the order of the narrative, and added...
(1964) - A Plague of Demons (1965)
- Embassy (non-genre) (1965)
- Catastrophe Planet (1966)
- Earthblood (with Rosel George BrownRosel George BrownRosel George Brown was an American science fiction author.-Biography:Born New Orleans, Louisiana, she lived in the city of her birth with her husband after concluding her formal education at Sophie Newcomb College, where she majored in Greek, and at the University of Minnesota where she received...
) (1966) - The Monitors (filmed in 1969) (1966)
- Galactic OdysseyGalactic OdysseyGalactic Odyssey is a science fiction novel by author Keith Laumer.It was first serialized in IF magazine and first published in novel form in 1967...
(1967) - Nine by Laumer (collection) (1967)
- Planet Run (with Gordon R. DicksonGordon R. DicksonGordon Rupert Dickson was an American science fiction author.- Biography :Dickson was born in Edmonton, Alberta, in 1923. After the death of his father, he moved with his mother to Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1937...
) (1967) - The Day Before Forever and Thunderhead (two short novels) (1969)
- Greylorn (collection) (1968)
- It's a Mad, Mad, Mad Galaxy (collection) (1968)
- The Long Twilight (1969)
- The House in November (1970, expanded from the If serial "The Seeds of Gonyl")
- Five Fates (1970; Laumer is lead writer on a concept five authors wrote about)
- The Star Treasure (1971) (expanded as a collection in 1986)
- Deadfall (non-genre) (alternative title Fat Chance, filmed as PeeperPeeper (film)Peeper is a 1975 comedy-mystery film directed by Peter Hyams that starred Michael Caine as Leslie C. Tucker, a bungling private investigator...
in 1975) (1971) - Dinosaur Beach (1971) (originally serialised as The time sweepers in 1969)
- Once There Was a Giant (collection of 8 stories) (1971) (title story appeared as a "short novel" in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction in November 1968)
- The Big Show (collection) (1972)
- The Infinite Cage (1972)
- Night of Delusions (1972)
- Timetracks (collection) (1972)
- The Glory Game (1973)
- The Undefeated (collection) (1974)
- The Best of Keith Laumer (collection) (1976)
- The Ultimax Man (1978)
- The Breaking Earth (Catastrophe Planet plus several short stories) (1981)
- Star Colony (1982)
- Knight of Delusions (Night of Delusions plus several short stories) (1982)
- Chrestomathy (collection including many excerpts) (1984)
- Once There Was a Giant (collection of 2 novellas plus an appreciation by Sandra Miesel) (1984) not related to the 1971 collection of the same name
- End as a Hero (1985)
- The Other Sky and The House in November (1985) (collection of 2 novellas)
- The Star Treasure (1986) (the 1971 novel plus 3 short stories)
- Alien Minds (collection) (1991)
- Judson's Eden (1991)
- Beenie in Oz (with March LaumerMarch LaumerMarch Laumer was an American author, primarily of books on the Land of Oz.March Laumer was born in Birmingham, Alabama, the son of an officer in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He was the older brother of science fiction writer Keith Laumer; their youngest brother Frank was also a writer, on historical...
, Tyler Jones, Michael J. Michanczyk) (1997) - Keith Laumer: The Lighter Side (posthumous omnibus, ed. Eric Flint) (2001) (inc Time Trap and The Great Time Machine Hoax and 8 short stories)
- Includes the 1966 short story "The Body Builders"http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?52428,http://www.webscription.net/10.1125/Baen/0743435370/0743435370___3.htm
- Odyssey (posthumous omnibus, ed. Eric FlintEric FlintEric Flint is an American author, editor, and e-publisher. The majority of his main works are alternate history science fiction, but he also writes humorous fantasy adventures.- Career :...
) (2002) (inc Galactic Odyssey and Dinosaur Beach and 5 short stories) - A Plague of Demons and Other Stories (posthumous omnibus, ed. Eric Flint) (2003) (A Plague of Demons and 7 short stories)
- Future Imperfect (posthumous omnibus, ed. Eric Flint) (2003) (inc Catastrophe Planet and 6 short stories)
- Legions of Space (posthumous omnibus, ed. Eric Flint) (2004) (inc A Trace of Memory and Planet Run and 3 short stories)
External links
- A dedicated Keith Laumer website, with biography and forum
- A Bolo Web page
- Keith Laumer books at the Baen Free Library
- A Bolo web page by William Keith (author of novels in the Bolo universe) (@archive.org)
- Steve Parker's review of Keith Laumer's work, including summaries of his work
- Page with many of Laumer's model airplane designs.
- Another Keith Laumer website with biography, bibliography, and fun stuff