The best of e e doc smi.., p.30
The Best of E.E. Doc Smith, page 30
From the typescript, after the last "final" revision, my wife types the "original," which goes to Campbell.
And as soon as it has been shipped I always wish that I had it back, to spend a few more weeks on the rough spots.
I have already mentioned the Galactic Roamers as a group. E. E. Evans pointed out the fact that "Triplanetary," having been laid in the Lensman universe, should be, was, and MUST BE the first story of the Lensman series, instead of "Galactic Patrol." Ed Counts found flaws and suggested corrections in my handling of the Red Lensman in the grand climax. The planet Trenco was designed and computed, practically in toto, by an aeronautical engineer who was in part responsible for the Lightning, the Constellation, and the Shooting Star. Dr. James Enright, of Hawaii, psychologist and psychiatrist, solved some of my knottiest problems. Dr. Richard W. Dodson, nuclear physicist, helped a lot. So did Heinlein. So did many others, not only in the United States, but also in such widely-separated places as Australia, Sweden, China, South Africa, Egypt, and the Philippines. It is bromidic, but true, to say that two heads are better than one. It has been my experience that fifty are still better.
In conclusion, if you want to write a space epic, go to it. This is the way I do it. The remuneration per hour does not compare with what a bricklayer earns, and it's harder work-I have done them both, and know.
However, I get a terrific kick out of writing; especially out of the fact that quite a good many people really like my stuff.
Besides, you may find a way that is easier or better than mine: maybe one that is both easier and better.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Magazine appearances.
Catastrophe (non-fiction article), Astounding Science-Fiction, May 1938 Children of the Lens (Four part serial novel), Astounding Science-Fiction, Nov. 1947 Fall of Atlantis, The (short story), Science Fiction Monthly, No. 10, 1974.
Galactic Patrol (Six part serial novel), Astounding Stories, Sept. 1937 Galaxy Primes, The (Three part serial novel), Amazing Stories, Mar. 1959 Grey Lensman (Four part serial novel), Astounding ScienceFiction, Oct. 1939 Imperial Stars, The (novelette), Worlds Of If, May 1964 Lord Tedric (novelette), Universe Science Fiction, Mar. 1954 Origin of Life, The (non-fiction article),* Luna No. 7 1969 *Transcript of speech presented at 12th World SF Convention, California, Sept.954 Masters of Space* (Two part serial novel), Worlds Of If, Nov, 1961 *collaboration with E. E. Evans Robot Nemesis* (short story), Thrilling Wonder Stories, June 1939 *see also as What a Course! reprinted Startling Stories, July 1950 Second-Stage Lensman (Four part serial novel), Astounding Science-Fiction, Nov. 1941 Skylark Duquesne (Five part serial novel), Worlds Of If, June 1965 Skylark of Space, The (Three part serial novel), Amazing Stories, Aug. 1928
Skylark of Valeron, The (Seven part serial novel), Astounding Stories, Aug. 1934 Skylark Three (Three part serial novel), Amazing Stories, Aug. 1930 Spacehounds of IPC (Three part serial novel), Amazing Stories, July 1931 Storm Cloud on Deka (novelette), Astounding Stories, June 1942 Subspace Survivors (novelette), Astounding (Analog) Science Fact and Fiction, July 1960 Tedric (short story), Other Worlds Science Fiction Stories, Mar. 1953 Triplanetary (Four part serial novel), Amazing Stories, Jan. 1934 Vortex Blaster, The (short story), Comet Stories, July 1941 Vortex Blaster Makes War, The (short story), Astonishing Stories, Oct. 1942 What a Course! (Robot Nemesis) (short story), Fantasy Magazine: 'Cosmos' part 13, 1934 Magazine series stories, in sequence: Lensman series includes: Triplanetary Galactic Patrol Grey Lensman Second-Stage Lensman Children of the Lens Skylark series includes: The Skylark of Space Skylark Three The Skylark of Valeron Skylark Duquesne
Storm Cloud, Vortex Blaster series includes: The Vortex Blaster Storm Cloud on Deka The Vortex Blaster Makes War Tedric series includes: Tedric Lord Tedric Book anthology appearances.
Atlantis (short story: see also "The Fall of Atlantis" above; from chapter two of book version of Triplanetary). Included in lourney to Infinity (Gnome, 1951) edited by Martin Greenburg.
Epic of Space, The (non-fiction article on sf writing). Included in symposium Of Worlds Beyond (Fantasy Press, 1947) edited by Lloyd Arthur Eshbach.
Vortex Blaster, The (short story). Included in Modern Masterpieces of Science Fiction (World, 1966) edited by Sam Moskowitz; also in paperback selection from this volume, The Vortex Blaster (Macfadden, 1967) edited by Sam Moskowitz.
What a Course! (short story). Included in Cosmos (Ruppert, N.Y. 1934). The 17 episodes of the round-robin serial from Science Fiction Dieest (later Fantasy Magazine) professionally bound by Conrad H. Ruppert. Edition
Limited to approximately 50 copies.
Supplementary: A biographical /bibliographical profile of Smith by Sam Moskowitz appeared
in the April 1964 issue of Amazing Stories, later included in book Seekers of Tomorrow
(World,966) by Sam Moskowitz.
Books: Note: In all cases, the first publication in the U.S.A. is given, and all editions are hardcover, except where stated.
All titles are now in print in the U.K. in paperback.
Children of the Lens (Fantasy Press, 1954) First Lensman (Fantasy Press, 1951 ) Galactic Patrol
(Fantasy Press, 1950) Galaxy Primes, The (Ace, 1965: paperback) Grey Lensman (Fantasy Press, 1951)
Second-Stage Lensman (Fantasy Press, 1953) Skylark Duquesne (Pyramid Books, 1967: paperback)
Skylark of Space, The (Buffalo Book Co., 1946) Skylark of Valeron (Fantasy Press, 1949) Skylark
Three (Fantasy Press, 1947) Spacehounds of I.P.C. (Fantasy Press, 1947) Subspace Explorers
(Canaveral Press, 1965) Triplanetory (Fantasy Press, 1950)
Vortex Blaster, The (Fantasy Press, 1960; later paperbacked as Masters of the Vortex) And: Best of E. E. 'Doc' Smith. Ph.D. (Futura, 1975: paperback) The Skylark series, in sequence: The Skylark of Space Skylark Three Skylark of Valeron Skylark Duquesne The Lensman series, in sequence: Triplanetary First Lensman Galactic Patrol Grey Lensman Second-Stage Lensman Children of the Lens The Vortex Blaster
E.E. Doc Smith, The Best of E.E. "Doc" Smith
