Piers Anthony Papers, 1951-1978

Summary

Creator:
Anthony, Piers.
Abstract:
Papers of the British American author, science fiction and fantasy novelist. Born Piers Anthony Dillingham Jacob in England in 1934. Includes correspondence with editors, fans, and other authors (1960-1969); and writings, including typescript draft and manuscript short stories and novels. Correspondents of interest include Poul Andersen, Isaac Asimov, Lloyd Biggle, Terry Carr, Robert Coulson, Samuel R. Delany, Anne McCaffrey, Robert Margroff, Andre Norton, Andrew J. Offutt, Alexei Panshin, Frederik Pohl, Norman Spinrad, and Roger Zelazny.
Extent:
16 linear ft.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Piers Anthony Papers,

Background

Scope and content:

The Piers Anthony Papers consists of correspondence, writings and memorabilia.

Correspondence is arranged alphabetically by correspondent, with the exception of Editors and publishers and Fans, which are filed at the end. Notable correspondents include Poul Anderson, Isaac Asimov, Lloyd Biggle Jr., Nathan A. Bucklin, Robert Coulson, Harlan Ellison, Roberto Fuentes, Richard Geis, Ron Goodman, Joseph L. Green, Margie Harrison, H. James Hotaling, Seth A. Johnson, Robert E. Margroff, Larry Pinsker, Andrew J. Offutt, Frederick Pohl, Norman Spinrad, Robert Moore Williams and Roger Zelazny. Around 1962 Piers Anthony joined a science fiction fan club called the National Fantasy Fan Federation (N3F); much of the correspondence in the collection was generated through this connection, most of it involving critical dialogues concerning specific works, often among two or more of the correspondents. Included in this category would be the Neffer Robin letters.

Writings includes works by Anthony alone, collaborative works, and a few works by others. Types of material include articles, books, poetry, short stories, and several then-unpublished novels that have since been published. Among the major works represented are Chthon (1967), Hasan (1970), Macroscope (1969), Omnivore (1968), Sos the Rope (1968), and Var the Stick (1969). There are also drafts of collaborations by Piers Anthony with Frances Hall, H. James Hotaling, Robert Margroff (The E. S. P. Worm), Roberto Fuentes (the Jason Striker series, also known as "the Ninja books" or "the judo books"), Andrew Offutt, and Richard Tiedman.

Memorabilia includes material related to Goddard College, and several of Anthony's personal journals.

Biographical / historical:

Piers Anthony (born Piers Anthony Dillingham Jacob in Oxford, England, in 1934) is an American novelist. Anthony's family came to the United States when he was four years old; he graduated from Goddard College in Vermont, served in the United States Army (1957-1959), and became a citizen in his twenties. While in the army he was editor and cartoonist for the battalion newspaper, and in the early 1960s he turned to writing full-time. He is one of the most prolific science fiction and fantasy authors with numerous best-sellers to his credit along with almost a dozen Hugo and Nebula Award nominations. In addition to dozens of science fiction and fantasy novels, he has written historical fiction, martial arts, and horror.

He is best know for his seven-volume Incarnations of Immortality and for the long-running Xanth series which has more than thirty titles, most of which are puns (e.g. Faun and Games, Swell Foop, Roc and a Hard Place, Stork Naked). He has been nominated for numerous Hugo and Nebula Awards.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Piers Anthony , 1969, 1970, 1978.
Arrangement:

Material is arranged alphabetically by type, title or name.

Access and use

Restrictions:

The majority of our archival and manuscript collections are housed offsite and require advanced notice for retrieval. Researchers are encouraged to contact us in advance concerning the collection material they wish to access for their research.

Material in boxes 10 and 19 is restricted and may not be viewed without Mr. Anthony's written permission

Terms of access:

Written permission must be obtained from SCRC and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Preferred citation:

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Piers Anthony Papers,

Location of this collection:
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries
Bird Library, Room 600
Syracuse, NY 13244, United States
Link to repository site
Contact:
315.443.2697
scrc@syr.edu