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John F. Carr Collection at St. Bonaventure University |
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FRIEDSAM
MEMORIAL LIBRARY Journalism |
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John F. Carr Collection at St. Bonaventure University |
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FRIEDSAM
MEMORIAL LIBRARY Journalism |
H. Beam Piper: A Biography by John F. Carr*
The proposed cover art for H. Beam Piper: A Biography taken from John F. Carr's website Hostigos, illustrated by Alan Gutierrez. |
About the Book:
H. Beam Piper was one of the most enigmatic writers in the field of science fiction. He appeared suddenly in 1947 as a mature writer and went on to write a number of memorable short stories in the premier science fiction magazine of the Golden Age, Astounding Science Fiction, under legendary editor John W. Campbell.
With the wealth of information I have unearthed over the past twenty-five years, I intend to lift this veil of secrecy from Piper’s life and show my readers the real H. Beam Piper beneath his carefully created facade. This book will reveal “the man inside the black cape;” the animal lover, the friend of children everywhere, the lonely man who was imprisoned by his own solitude and unaware of the high regard he was held in by his peers and the science fiction readership—all of whom were stunned by his unexpected suicide. (From Hostigos.com)
* Part of the Friedsam Library Collection
The Last Cavalier: H. Beam Piper [typescript]
436 leaves
Carr-01-01
Physical Description:
Missing the title page, this draft starts on page 2 with the Preface. The entire text is bound with a rubber band. Edited copy, the editor’s marks are made with red ink. Page 2 has a post-it note with “dates – 6th” written on it in red ink. There are three post-it flags on the text marking pages 2, 3 and 5.
The Last Cavalier: H. Beam Piper [typescript]
447 leaves
Carr-01-02
Physical Description:
This text has no edits or corrections marked on it including the title page. Text stops at page 447 with unfinished appendix ii.
The Last Cavalier: H. Beam Piper [typescript]
439 leaves
Carr-01-03
Physical Description:
Edited copy corrected by Dennis Frank sent to John F. Carr on February 6th, 2007, via USPS. Title page also notes this copy has combined the corrections of Dennis Frank, Dwight Decker and Fred Ramsey. Circled below the title on the title page is “Master for Corrections” in black and red ink. The date of February 11th, 2007 is written at the top right corner of the title page. Pages 1 through 149 are held together by rubber band, separating this portion of the text from the rest.
The Last Cavalier: H. Beam Piper [typescript]
? Leaves [unusual pagination]
Carr-01-04
Physical Description:
Edited draft(s) of the text corrected by unknown editor(s).
Editor’s marks are in red and black ink.
Contains unusual pagination throughout the text.
The Last Cavalier: H. Beam Piper [typescript]
447 leaves
Carr-01-05
Physical Description:
Edited copy corrected by Dwight Decker sent to John F. Carr on February 7th, 2007, via USPS. Editor’s marks are in red ink throughout the text. Text stops at page 447 with unfinished appendix ii.
The Last Cavalier: H. Beam Piper [typescript]
452 leaves
Carr-01-06
Physical Description:
Edited copy corrected by Fred Ramsey on February 9th,
2007, as stated on title page in red ink. Editor’s
marks are in red ink and blue pencil. Written
at the bottom of the title page in black pen is “copyrighted 2007 by John F.
Carr.”
The Last Cavalier: H. Beam Piper [typescript]
564 leaves
Carr-02-01
Physical Description:
Edited first draft corrected by Victoria Carr from January 18th to February 6th, 2007. Editor’s marks are in red and black ink. The draft contains Post-it flags for some of the pages with editor’s marks. Several edits in the draft also have pink post-its featuring editor’s remarks on the page of correction. Several sections of the text are separated by paper clips.
The Last Cavalier: H. Beam Piper [typescript]
7 leaves
Carr-02-02
Physical Description:
Several edited copies of the chapter content pages for the
novel. Editor marks are in black
ink. One single page listing chapter
1 to chapter 23 has one post-it flag and post-it notes on the front and back of
the page, along with additional penned notes on the back of the page. Another
copy of the contents is a three page stapled version with editor marks in black
ink. The third copy contains two
pages that have been paper clipped together.
The editor marks are featured in black ink.
Finally there is one loose page that is unedited and lists chapters seven
through nine.
The Last Cavalier: H. Beam Piper [typescript]
8 leaves
Carr-02-03
Physical Description:
Edited outline for The Last Cavalier: H. Beam Piper that is dated May 2, 2003. Corrections are marked by red pen. The first page also has brown stains on it.
The Last Cavalier: H. Beam Piper [typescript]
7 leaves
Carr-02-04
Physical Description:
This file contains pages 1 – 7 of The Last Cavalier: H. Beam Piper starting at the title page and ending at chapter contents. The title page has extra notes written by pen saying “Final Draft,” John F Carr’s signature and “corrections by Victoria Carr 2/19 – 2/25.” The editor’s marks are in black and red ink.
The Last Cavalier: H. Beam Piper [typescript]
7 leaves
Carr-02-05
Physical Description:
Contains an edited copy of the preface and the first page of chapter one for The Last Cavalier: H. Beam Piper. Unknown editor for this with correction marks in black ink on pages 12 – 15. Pages 16 and 17 have several brown stains on them.
The Last Cavalier: H. Beam Piper [typescript]
14 leaves
Carr-02-06
Physical Description:
Contains one copy of APPENDIX i, one page unfinished
APPENDIX ii (page 447,) and an APPENDIX ii with information. APPENDIX i (pages
440-446) has editor’s marks in red ink and in pencil.
Next is a one page unfinished copy of APPENDIX ii (page 447) that says
information “To be added.” The
second APPENDIX ii (pages 447-452) has been edited with red ink and pencil.
The editor is unknown for all of these pages.
The Last Cavalier: H. Beam Piper [typescript]
13 leaves
Carr-02-07
Physical Description:
This file contains an edited 11-page chapter outline for The Last Cavalier: H. Beam Piper along with two page content list containing the title of each chapter for the novel. The editor is unknown, with corrections in red and black ink.
6 leaves
Carr-02-08
Physical Description:
This is an edited copy of a book prospectus for John F. Carr’s novel The Last Cavalier: H. Beam Piper. Corrections by the unknown editor are in red ink through out the text.
The Last Cavalier: H. Beam Piper [typescript]
6 leaves
Carr-02-09
Physical Description:
This is an edited Preface for The Last Cavalier: H. Beam Piper. Written with black ink at the top of the first page is “Alternate Preface.” Unknown editor(s) for this, with editor marks in red and black ink.
H. Beam Piper: A Biography [hardcover book]
250 pages
Carr-02-09-A
Physical Description:
A hardcover copy of John F. Carr’s H. Beam Piper: A Biography, published in 2008 by McFarland & Company, Inc. The book is volume 8 of the Critical Explorations in Science Fiction and Fantasy series, edited by Donald E. Palumbo and C.W. Sullivan III. It is shelved with other John F. Carr titles in the collection.
The Last Cavalier [typescript]
Carr-05-16
Physical Description:
This is a book prospectus for The Last Cavalier: H. Beam Piper by John F. Carr. The file includes the book prospectus, chapter outline, 35 page draft of the novel and a second short sample draft of the novel. Victoria Alexander Carr edited these pages.
H. Beam Piper: A Biography Chapter 30 [typescript]
Carr-06-08
72 leaves
Physical Description:
Unbound sheets labeled “Chapter Thirty: Home at Last.” Signed by John F. Carr on 01/09/08 and labeled “More H. Beam Piper: A Biography chapters… red corrections by Victoria Alexander-Carr.” Appears to be chapters 30-36 as well as the first page of chapter 37 of the biography.
Piper Story Intros [typescript]
Carr-07-08
Physical Description:
The contents of a folder labeled, “Piper Story Intros.” The folder contains various introductions to works on H. Beam Piper, including works titled: “Empire,” “The Return,” “The Keeper,” “Paratime Introduction,” “Uller Uprising,” and “The Worlds of H. Beam Piper.” The pages are slightly discolored due to smoke damage, and they also bear damage from being held to together by a badly rusted paperclip.
Correspondence 2001—Piper [miscellaneous]
Carr-07-16
Physical Description:
More of the contents from the file folder labeled “Correspondence 2001.” This file contains more of the collection of letters and email printouts from the original file. This file contains correspondences sorted from the original file that deal almost exclusively with John F. Carr’s work on his biography of H. Beam Piper. The rest of the correspondences from the original file may be found in the previously listed file labeled “Correspondence 2001—Kalvan.”
Original manuscript of “Piper,” by M.E. Knerr [typescript]
253 leaves
Carr-08-14
Physical Description:
A set of badly damaged loose sheets with a title page that reads, “PIPER, by M.E. Knerr, copyright 1983 by M.E. Knerr.” A signed note from John F. Carr explains that this is the original manuscript of an unpublished biography of H. Beam Piper written by Piper’s friend Mike Knerr, of which there are only two copies known to exist. Carr makes extensive use of this document in his book H. Beam Piper: a Biography. The manuscript is extensively edited in blue, green, and black ink. Carr’s note goes on to explain that the manuscript was badly damaged by smoke, fire, and water, during a house/office fire in 1999. The manuscript was discovered in a pile of papers and boxes that the firemen had thrown from Carr’s window in order to get rid of combustibles. The 253-page manuscript is therefore very fragile, and the pages have been placed in plastic sleeves for their protection. This document should be handled with great care.
The Last Cavalier: H. Beam Piper [typescript]
Carr-08-15
Physical Description:
A pair of documents each titled “The Last Cavalier: H. Beam Piper.” On the first page of the first document, there is a signed note from John F. Carr that reads: “Various bits and pieces of Piper bio that turned up when I searched for Knerr ms.” The first document is a printout of John F. Carr’s article titled “The Last Cavalier: H. Beam Piper.” The second document is an incomplete, unedited manuscript of Carr’s Piper biography that was published with the title H. Beam Piper: A Biography. This manuscript, initially bearing the same title as the shorter article, includes acknowledgements, dedication, preface, chapter 1, page 1 of chapter 2, and endnotes.
H. Beam Piper: A Biography appendix [typescript]
32 leaves
Carr-08-16
Physical Description:
An edited manuscript of the appendices for Carr’s book H. Beam Piper: A Biography. The four appendices cover the page range of 492-524 in the book, and they include a log of stories written by H. Beam Piper, a short piece by Piper written for a fan on his future history, an essay by Carr titled “Terro-Human Future History,” and Piper’s own inventory of his weapons collection circa 1956. In a signed note on the first page, Carr attributes the multiple edits that appear on the manuscript in red pen to his wife, Victoria Alexander-Carr.
H. Beam Piper: A Biography corrected page proofs [typescript]
approx. 250 leaves
Carr-08-17
Physical Description:
A complete set of page proofs for John F. Carr’s book H.
Beam Piper: A Biography, with multiple edits in red and black ink, and
marked in places by green post-it flags. The title page has a US Postal Service
delivery confirmation receipt attached to it, postmarked 4/21/08. The title page
also bears a signed note from Carr that reads: “These are the corrected page
proofs for H. Beam Piper: A Biography. Corrected by Victoria
Alexander-Carr and John F. Carr. Most of the red-ink corrections are
H. Beam Piper titles [books]
Carr-10-01
Physical Description:
A list of title by H. Beam Piper included in the Carr collection. To date, these titles include:
Little Fuzzy
The Other Human Race
Fuzzy Sapiens (original title: The Other Human Race)
Fuzzies and Other People
First Cycle
Uller Uprising
Four-Day Planet and Lone Star Planet
These titles are shelved with the other books in the Carr collection.
Correspondence: John F. Carr & Tom Rogers [typescript]
Approx. 15 leaves
Carr-10-02
Physical Description:
A set of printed emails between Carr and Tom Rogers, dating between late 2008 and early 2009. The emails deal with the research into the life of H. Beam Piper being conducted by the two.
H. Beam Piper: a Biography: Publisher’s manuscript [typescript]
494 leaves
Carr-10-03
Physical Description:
A copy of the manuscript for H. Beam Piper: a Biography sent to Carr by the McFarland & Co. Publishing House. The manuscript includes the cover letter sent to Carr by the publisher. The manuscript also contains many editing marks, presumably made by the editors at the publisher. Several pages in the manuscript are marked with Post-It notes.
Time & Chance: an autobiography by L. Sprague de Camp [book]
401 pages
Carr-10-04
Physical Description:
The published autobiography of L. Sprague de Camp, a friend of H. Beam Piper. This book was used as a source in Carr’s H. Beam Piper: a Biography. Two places in the book are marked with Post-It flags. The marks correspond to Piper-related references in the book. This book is filed with the other published titles in the Carr collection.
H. Beam Piper: a Biography: Preface [typescript]
Approx. 15 leaves
Carr-10-05
Physical Description:
Two drafts of the preface of Carr’s H. Beam Piper: a Biography. Each draft is signed and annotated by Carr. Included with the drafts are the notes sent via email to Carr by McFarland & Co. regarding changes and corrections to the drafts. These notes are also signed and annotated by Carr.
When in the Course… [typescript]
98 leaves
Carr-10-06
Physical Description:
A photocopy of the original manuscript for When in the Course…, by H. Beam Piper, sent to Jerry Pournelle by James Baen of Ace Books on 3/19/79. When in the Course was published in The Worlds of H. Beam Piper, an anthology of Piper’s short works. The piece is an alternate telling of the basic storyline of Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen, without the character of Kalvan and set in space. The document includes the cover letter sent to Pournelle by Baen.
H. Beam Piper: The Last Cavalier Website Related [typescript]
Carr-23-18
Physical Description:
This folder contains material to be placed on the H. Beam Piper website along with some edited parts of the novel edited by Victoria Carr.
H. Beam Piper: The Last Cavalier: McFarland Contracts, Guides and Emails [typescript]
Carr-23-19
Physical Description:
Emails and contracts with McFarland Books regarding publication of H. Beam Piper: The Last Cavalier. Emails included in this folder deal with the book and McFarland policies and guidelines for authors.
Unholy Trinity + Tour of Piper's grave site [CD + DVD]
Carr-10-21
Physical Description:
A DVD with a walkthrough tour of H. Beam Piper's gravesite that was done while John Carr and Dennis Frank were working on the Piper Biography. Also included is a recording of H. Beam Piper called the Unholy Trinity.
Home Archive Collection Camden Benares Lord Kalvan Pictures Writing Career Related Links
Friedsam Memorial Library Home Page
The St. Bonaventure University Home Page
Page created by Kyle Wimann Spring 2008.
Updated by Ellen Winger Fall 2008.
04/29/2013
