Nathalie Henneberg
Encyclopedia
Nathalie Henneberg was a French science fiction
writer
, a precursor of modern French heroic fantasy
. She was married to, and collaborated with, Charles Henneberg zu Irmelshausen Wasungen (1899-1959).
-born Charles Henneberg wrote a series of flamboyant space operas featuring superhero
ic protagonists, often soldiers or mercenaries, full of violent, romantic
passions. La Naissance des Dieux [The Birth Of The Gods] (1954) adapted Greek
and Nordic mythologies
in a science fiction
context. In it, a scientist, an astronaut and a poet stranded on another planet discover they can psychic
ally create life and, eventually, vie for supremacy. In accordance with Henneberg’s philosophy, the astronaut was the hero, and the poet the misguided villain. The novel won the then Rosny Award
.
Le Chant des Astronautes [The Astronauts' Song] (1958) dealt with the battle against energy creatures from Algol. An Premier, Ere Spatiale [Year 1 Of The Space Era] (1959) was about the first faster-than-light
spaceship
. Finally, La Rosée du Soleil [The Dew Of The Sun] (1959) told the adventures of the four crewmen of a spaceship stranded on an alien world.
After Charles Henneberg’s death in 1959, Russia
n-born Nathalie Henneberg continued to work on writing, now under her own name. She initially wrote under the name Nathalie-Charles Henneberg, eventually dropping "-Charles" in favor of simply "Nathalie Henneberg." Her writings in her own name increasingly relied on fantasy
rather than science fiction elements.
Les Dieux Verts [The Green Gods] (1961) told the romance of Argo and Atlena during the Emerald Age of Earth, in the future, when Man’s Empire is on the decline and the world is ruled by the eponymous “Green Gods”, powerful entities from the vegetal
kingdom.
Le Sang des Astres [The Blood Of The Stars] (1963) was a colorful fantasy in which an astronaut from the year 2700 journeys to a medieval Earth-like world ruled by kabbala, and falls in love with a female salamander
.
Nathalie Henneberg’s masterpiece was La Plaie [The Plague] (1964), a sprawling 600-page novel that told of the desperate battle by a handful of humans and angel
-like mutants against a wave of pure evil sweeping the galaxy, which incarnates itself in the bodies of the “Nocturnes” [Nocturnals].
Henneberg’s works stood alone in the literary landscape of the 1960s. Her use of the French language, betraying Germanic and Russian influences, was unusually well-suited to creating larger-than-life heroic characters and epic romances. She knew how to build full-blown, intricately detailed baroque
universes.
French science fiction
French science fiction is a substantial genre of French literature. It remains an active and productive genre which has evolved in conjunction with anglophone science fiction and other French and international literature....
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, a precursor of modern French heroic fantasy
Heroic fantasy
Heroic fantasy is a sub-genre of fantasy which chronicles the tales of heroes in imaginary lands. Unlike stories of sword and sorcery, heroic fantasy narratives tend to be intricate in plot, often involving many peoples, nations and lands. Grand battles and the fate of the world are common themes,...
. She was married to, and collaborated with, Charles Henneberg zu Irmelshausen Wasungen (1899-1959).
Literary biography
Henneberg got her start writing with her husband, apparently collaborating without attribution on several of his novels. GermanGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
-born Charles Henneberg wrote a series of flamboyant space operas featuring superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
ic protagonists, often soldiers or mercenaries, full of violent, romantic
Romantic love
Romance is the pleasurable feeling of excitement and mystery associated with love.In the context of romantic love relationships, romance usually implies an expression of one's love, or one's deep emotional desires to connect with another person....
passions. La Naissance des Dieux [The Birth Of The Gods] (1954) adapted Greek
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
and Nordic mythologies
Norse mythology
Norse mythology, a subset of Germanic mythology, is the overall term for the myths, legends and beliefs about supernatural beings of Norse pagans. It flourished prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia, during the Early Middle Ages, and passed into Nordic folklore, with some aspects surviving...
in a 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...
context. In it, a scientist, an astronaut and a poet stranded on another planet discover they can psychic
Psychic
A psychic is a person who professes an ability to perceive information hidden from the normal senses through extrasensory perception , or is said by others to have such abilities. It is also used to describe theatrical performers who use techniques such as prestidigitation, cold reading, and hot...
ally create life and, eventually, vie for supremacy. In accordance with Henneberg’s philosophy, the astronaut was the hero, and the poet the misguided villain. The novel won the then Rosny Award
Prix Rosny-Aîné
The Prix Rosny-Aîné is a literary prize for French science fiction. It has been awarded annually since 1980 in two categories: best novel and best short fiction.-Best Novel Winners:*1980 : Michel Jeury, for Le territoire humain...
.
Le Chant des Astronautes [The Astronauts' Song] (1958) dealt with the battle against energy creatures from Algol. An Premier, Ere Spatiale [Year 1 Of The Space Era] (1959) was about the first faster-than-light
Faster-than-light
Faster-than-light communications and travel refer to the propagation of information or matter faster than the speed of light....
spaceship
Starship
A starship or interstellar spacecraft is a theoretical spacecraft designed for traveling between the stars, as opposed to a vehicle designed for orbital spaceflight or interplanetary travel....
. Finally, La Rosée du Soleil [The Dew Of The Sun] (1959) told the adventures of the four crewmen of a spaceship stranded on an alien world.
After Charles Henneberg’s death in 1959, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n-born Nathalie Henneberg continued to work on writing, now under her own name. She initially wrote under the name Nathalie-Charles Henneberg, eventually dropping "-Charles" in favor of simply "Nathalie Henneberg." Her writings in her own name increasingly relied on fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
rather than science fiction elements.
Les Dieux Verts [The Green Gods] (1961) told the romance of Argo and Atlena during the Emerald Age of Earth, in the future, when Man’s Empire is on the decline and the world is ruled by the eponymous “Green Gods”, powerful entities from the vegetal
Vegetation
Vegetation is a general term for the plant life of a region; it refers to the ground cover provided by plants. It is a general term, without specific reference to particular taxa, life forms, structure, spatial extent, or any other specific botanical or geographic characteristics. It is broader...
kingdom.
Le Sang des Astres [The Blood Of The Stars] (1963) was a colorful fantasy in which an astronaut from the year 2700 journeys to a medieval Earth-like world ruled by kabbala, and falls in love with a female salamander
Salamander
Salamander is a common name of approximately 500 species of amphibians. They are typically characterized by a superficially lizard-like appearance, with their slender bodies, short noses, and long tails. All known fossils and extinct species fall under the order Caudata, while sometimes the extant...
.
Nathalie Henneberg’s masterpiece was La Plaie [The Plague] (1964), a sprawling 600-page novel that told of the desperate battle by a handful of humans and angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
-like mutants against a wave of pure evil sweeping the galaxy, which incarnates itself in the bodies of the “Nocturnes” [Nocturnals].
Henneberg’s works stood alone in the literary landscape of the 1960s. Her use of the French language, betraying Germanic and Russian influences, was unusually well-suited to creating larger-than-life heroic characters and epic romances. She knew how to build full-blown, intricately detailed baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
universes.