David R. Bunch
Encyclopedia
David Roosevelt Bunch was an American
writer of short stories
and poetry
. He worked mainly in the genres of science fiction
, satire
, surrealism
, and literary fiction
. Although prolific and critically acclaimed, Bunch remained obscure throughout his career. He is mainly known for a series of violent, bleak stories set in the cyborg dystopia of Moderan, which collectively form a satire on humanity’s obsession with violence and control.
. He pursued a Ph.D in English Literature at Washington University and the State University of Iowa, but rather than completing his doctoral dissertation, he shifted to creative writing and studied for two years at the Iowa Writers' Workshop
before dropping out.
Bunch worked extensively on farms in the Midwest, taking low-level jobs in diverse industries. He later worked as a cartographer and map-chart editor for the Defense Mapping Agency
in St. Louis until he retired in 1973 to pursue full-time freelance writing. He died of a heart attack on May 29, 2000.
Bunch married Phyllis Geraldine Flette and they had two daughters, Phyllis Elaine and Velma Lorraine.
, Bunch published over 200 stories and poems prior to his first professional sale, a short story called "Routine Emergency" in the December 1957 edition of If
.
He published at least 100 stories in science fiction magazines between 1957 and 1997, and nearly as many in literary magazines. No comprehensive David R. Bunch bibliography
is known to exist; Bunch published almost exclusively in little magazines, digest-sized fiction magazines and fanzines, making a complete tally difficult (as the latter, particularly, are poorly indexed, and few indexes cover both the full range of little magazines and their more-commercial peers).
Much of Bunch's small notoriety comes from his inclusion in Harlan Ellison
's defining New Wave anthology Dangerous Visions
. Of the 32 writers selected, Bunch was the only one to have two stories included: Incident in Moderan
and The Escaping
. Although Dangerous Visions has been continually in print since 1967, no other Bunch material has seen print (including anthologies) since 1997.
His second collection of stories, Bunch!, was nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award in 1993.
Forty-six of the Moderan stories were collected in Moderan (1971), linked by a complex frame-story. The collection was never reprinted and has become a collector's item. Despite its relative rarity, it is cited as a major work of New Wave science fiction and it influenced cyberpunk
.
Bunch continued to write and publish Moderan stories throughout his career. He had longed to see a complete collection of the Moderan sequence published, but that has not taken place.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
writer of short stories
Short Stories
Short Stories may refer to:*A plural for Short story*Short Stories , an American pulp magazine published from 1890-1959*Short Stories, a 1954 collection by O. E...
and poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
. He worked mainly in the genres of 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...
, satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
, surrealism
Surrealism
Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s, and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members....
, and literary fiction
Literary fiction
Literary fiction is a term that came into common usage during the early 1960s. The term is principally used to distinguish "serious fiction" which is a work that claims to hold literary merit, in comparison from genre fiction and popular fiction . In broad terms, literary fiction focuses more upon...
. Although prolific and critically acclaimed, Bunch remained obscure throughout his career. He is mainly known for a series of violent, bleak stories set in the cyborg dystopia of Moderan, which collectively form a satire on humanity’s obsession with violence and control.
Personal life
Bunch was born on August 7, 1925 on a farm outside Lowry City, Missouri. He graduated from Central Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science degree, then received an Master's degree in English from Washington University in St. LouisWashington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
. He pursued a Ph.D in English Literature at Washington University and the State University of Iowa, but rather than completing his doctoral dissertation, he shifted to creative writing and studied for two years at the Iowa Writers' Workshop
Iowa Writers' Workshop
The Program in Creative Writing, more commonly known as the Iowa Writers' Workshop, at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, is a highly regarded graduate-level creative writing program in the United States...
before dropping out.
Bunch worked extensively on farms in the Midwest, taking low-level jobs in diverse industries. He later worked as a cartographer and map-chart editor for the Defense Mapping Agency
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States with the primary mission of collecting, analyzing and distributing geospatial intelligence in support of national security. NGA was formerly known as the National Imagery and Mapping Agency ...
in St. Louis until he retired in 1973 to pursue full-time freelance writing. He died of a heart attack on May 29, 2000.
Bunch married Phyllis Geraldine Flette and they had two daughters, Phyllis Elaine and Velma Lorraine.
Writing career
According to his long-time proponent Judith MerrilJudith Merril
Judith Josephine Grossman , who took the pen-name Judith Merril about 1945, was an American and then Canadian science fiction writer, editor and political activist....
, Bunch published over 200 stories and poems prior to his first professional sale, a short story called "Routine Emergency" in the December 1957 edition of If
If
If is a conjunction that can introduce a conditional clause.If may also refer to:-Music:* If , a 1951 hit song by Perry Como.* If , 1970s British progressive jazz-rock band* If...
.
He published at least 100 stories in science fiction magazines between 1957 and 1997, and nearly as many in literary magazines. No comprehensive David R. Bunch bibliography
Bibliography
Bibliography , as a practice, is the academic study of books as physical, cultural objects; in this sense, it is also known as bibliology...
is known to exist; Bunch published almost exclusively in little magazines, digest-sized fiction magazines and fanzines, making a complete tally difficult (as the latter, particularly, are poorly indexed, and few indexes cover both the full range of little magazines and their more-commercial peers).
Much of Bunch's small notoriety comes from his inclusion in Harlan Ellison
Harlan Ellison
Harlan Jay Ellison is an American writer. His principal genre is speculative fiction.His published works include over 1,700 short stories, novellas, screenplays, teleplays, essays, a wide range of criticism covering literature, film, television, and print media...
's defining New Wave anthology Dangerous Visions
Dangerous Visions
Dangerous Visions is a science fiction short story anthology edited by Harlan Ellison, published in 1967.A path-breaking collection, Dangerous Visions helped define the New Wave science fiction movement, particularly in its depiction of sex in science fiction...
. Of the 32 writers selected, Bunch was the only one to have two stories included: Incident in Moderan
Incident in Moderan
Incident in Moderan is a short story by David R. Bunch from Harlan Ellison's science fiction anthology Dangerous Visions....
and The Escaping
The Escaping
"The Escaping" is a short story by David R. Bunch from Harlan Ellison's science fiction anthology Dangerous Visions....
. Although Dangerous Visions has been continually in print since 1967, no other Bunch material has seen print (including anthologies) since 1997.
His second collection of stories, Bunch!, was nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award in 1993.
The Moderan sequence
Throughout his career, Bunch worked on a group of satirical far-future SF stories set in Moderan, a version of Earth paved over entirely with gray plastic and controlled by perpetually warring cyborg fortresses. Although the society of Moderan seems to project an appearance of personal valor and military perfection, its citizens are ultimately powerless, dominated by their own petty insecurities and hubris.Forty-six of the Moderan stories were collected in Moderan (1971), linked by a complex frame-story. The collection was never reprinted and has become a collector's item. Despite its relative rarity, it is cited as a major work of New Wave science fiction and it influenced cyberpunk
Cyberpunk
Cyberpunk is a postmodern and science fiction genre noted for its focus on "high tech and low life." The name is a portmanteau of cybernetics and punk, and was originally coined by Bruce Bethke as the title of his short story "Cyberpunk," published in 1983...
.
Bunch continued to write and publish Moderan stories throughout his career. He had longed to see a complete collection of the Moderan sequence published, but that has not taken place.
Collections
- Moderan, New York, Avon Books, 1971.
- Bunch!, Cambridge, Broken Mirrors Press, 1993. ISBN 1-880910-00-4
Poetry
- We Have a Nervous Job, 1983. Astoria, Oregon, Alba Press, 1983.
- The Heartacher and the Warehouseman, San Francisco, Anamnesis Press, 2000. ISBN 0-9631203-7-9
External links
- Locus Magazine obituary
- SFWA obituary and an appreciation by John Novak
- Online bibliography