Words without end: Lionel Fianthorpe's science fiction revisited

Anthony, Dan; Wallace, Jeff

Abstract

Why, 70 years after the publication of Lionel Fanthorpe’s first story Worlds Without End (1952), must his reputation as a writer of science fiction (henceforth SF) be reconsidered? In this article we suggest that Lionel Fanthorpe’s techniques and work are those of a significant absurdist/comic writer, with a unique methodology and significant approaches to the use of language that reflect on the nature of comprehension and pleasure. Fanthorpe’s work is well known by cognoscenti of the genre and frequently cited on websites and amongst SF communities, yet has received little or no critical or scholarly attention.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 5, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Apr 3, 2023
• Publication Date: Apr 3, 2023
• Deposit Date: Apr 18, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 4, 2025
• Journal: Foundation: The International Review of Science Fiction
• Electronic ISSN: 0306-4964
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 52.1
• Issue: 144
• Pages: 6-19
• Keywords: Lionel, Fanthorpe, science, fiction, revision
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/10632182
• Publisher URL: https://www.sf-foundation.org/sf-foundation-latest-issue