Mack Reynolds
Encyclopedia
Dallas McCord "Mack" Reynolds (November 11, 1917 - January 30, 1983) was an American science fiction
writer. His pen name
s included Clark Collins, Mark Mallory, Guy McCord, Dallas Ross and Maxine Reynolds. Many of his stories were published in Galaxy Magazine and Worlds of If Magazine. He was quite popular in the 1960s, but most of his work subsequently went out of print.
, the eldest of three children of Verne and Pauline Reynolds; his father was the Socialist Labor Party's Vice-Presidential candidate in 1924, and its Presidential candidate on two occasions, in 1928 and 1932, and his son was in turn an active supporter of the SLP, many of his stories using SLP jargon such as 'Industrial Feudalism', and most dealing in some way with economic issues. The young Dallas accompanied his father on his speaking tours during his candidacies.
In 1935, while still in high school, Reynolds joined the Socialist Labor Party and became an active advocate of the party’s goals. The following year he toured the country with his father giving lectures and speeches, and became recognized as a significant force in advocating the SLP.
After graduating from high school in Kingston, New York
, Reynolds worked on various newspapers in the area, progressing from reporter to editor, from 1936 to the early 1940s, in 1943 becoming a supervisor for IBM
. He married Evelyn Sandell in 1937, with whom he had three children, Emil, LaVerne, and Dallas Jr. LaVerne is the only relative who remains publicaly listed today. She lives in Weaverville, CA with her daughter Desiree Brown and her 12 grandchildren. Other surviving relatives live in Redding, CA and Sacramento, CA.
From 1940 to 1943 Reynolds and his father toured the US as the chief team of spokesmen for the SLP. In 1944, feeling that it was his duty, Reynolds joined the US Army Transportation Corps and was stationed in the Philippines as a ship's navigator.
When he left the service and returned home, Reynolds divorced Evelyn. His first fiction sale was in 1946, to Esquire
magazine. In September 1947 he remarried, to Helen Jeanette Wooley, and two years later they moved to Taos, New Mexico
, where Fredric Brown
, his frequent collaborator, convinced Reynolds to try his hand at writing science fiction. His first sale of a science fiction story was "The Galactic Ghost", sold to Planet Stories
in 1949, although not printed until 1954. His career soon took off, resulting in a sale of 17 stories in 1950 alone.
Reynolds made his home primarily in San Miguel de Allende
, in Guanajuato
, Mexico
, from the early 1950s to his death in San Luis Potosi
, Mexico. In the 1950s, he worked as the travel editor for men's magazine Rogue
and traveled all over the world, visiting and living for periods in such places as Greece
, Yugoslavia
, Spain
, Eastern Europe, Gibraltar, and North Africa.
Several of his last books are credited as co-authored with Dean Ing
. When Reynolds knew he had a brief time to live, he tried to write enough to provide an income for his wife after his passing. To this end, he wrote as many novel outlines as he could, with the arrangement that Ing would finish them.
Most of Reynolds' stories took place in Utopian societies, many of which fulfilled L. L. Zamenhof
's dream of Esperanto
used worldwide as a universal second language. His novels predicted many things which have come to pass, including pocket computers
and a worldwide computer network
with information available at one's fingertips.
Many of his novels were written within the context of a highly mobile society in which few people maintained a fixed residence, leading to "mobile voting" laws which allowed someone living out of the equivalent of a motor home to vote when and where they chose.
Reynolds was also the first author to write an original novel based upon the 1966-1969 NBC
television series Star Trek
. The book, Mission to Horatius
(1968), was aimed at young readers. In 1972, he used the name 'Maxine Reynolds' on two romantic
suspense novels, House in the Kasbah and Home of the Inquisitor.
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...
writer. His pen name
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
s included Clark Collins, Mark Mallory, Guy McCord, Dallas Ross and Maxine Reynolds. Many of his stories were published in Galaxy Magazine and Worlds of If Magazine. He was quite popular in the 1960s, but most of his work subsequently went out of print.
Biography
Reynolds was born in Corcoran, CaliforniaCorcoran, California
Corcoran is a city in Kings County, California, United States. Corcoran is located south-southeast of Hanford, at an elevation of 207 feet . It is part of the Hanford–Corcoran, Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, the eldest of three children of Verne and Pauline Reynolds; his father was the Socialist Labor Party's Vice-Presidential candidate in 1924, and its Presidential candidate on two occasions, in 1928 and 1932, and his son was in turn an active supporter of the SLP, many of his stories using SLP jargon such as 'Industrial Feudalism', and most dealing in some way with economic issues. The young Dallas accompanied his father on his speaking tours during his candidacies.
In 1935, while still in high school, Reynolds joined the Socialist Labor Party and became an active advocate of the party’s goals. The following year he toured the country with his father giving lectures and speeches, and became recognized as a significant force in advocating the SLP.
After graduating from high school in Kingston, New York
Kingston, New York
Kingston is a city in and the county seat of Ulster County, New York, USA. It is north of New York City and south of Albany. It became New York's first capital in 1777, and was burned by the British Oct. 16, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga...
, Reynolds worked on various newspapers in the area, progressing from reporter to editor, from 1936 to the early 1940s, in 1943 becoming a supervisor for IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
. He married Evelyn Sandell in 1937, with whom he had three children, Emil, LaVerne, and Dallas Jr. LaVerne is the only relative who remains publicaly listed today. She lives in Weaverville, CA with her daughter Desiree Brown and her 12 grandchildren. Other surviving relatives live in Redding, CA and Sacramento, CA.
From 1940 to 1943 Reynolds and his father toured the US as the chief team of spokesmen for the SLP. In 1944, feeling that it was his duty, Reynolds joined the US Army Transportation Corps and was stationed in the Philippines as a ship's navigator.
When he left the service and returned home, Reynolds divorced Evelyn. His first fiction sale was in 1946, to Esquire
Esquire (magazine)
Esquire is a men's magazine, published in the U.S. by the Hearst Corporation. Founded in 1932, it flourished during the Great Depression under the guidance of founder and editor Arnold Gingrich.-History:...
magazine. In September 1947 he remarried, to Helen Jeanette Wooley, and two years later they moved to Taos, New Mexico
Taos, New Mexico
Taos is a town in Taos County in the north-central region of New Mexico, incorporated in 1934. As of the 2000 census, its population was 4,700. Other nearby communities include Ranchos de Taos, Cañon, Taos Canyon, Ranchitos, and El Prado. The town is close to Taos Pueblo, the Native American...
, where Fredric Brown
Fredric Brown
Fredric Brown was an American science fiction and mystery writer. He was born in Cincinnati.He had two sons: James Ross Brown and Linn Lewis Brown ....
, his frequent collaborator, convinced Reynolds to try his hand at writing science fiction. His first sale of a science fiction story was "The Galactic Ghost", sold to Planet Stories
Planet Stories
Planet Stories was an American pulp science fiction magazine, published by Fiction House between 1939 and 1955. It featured interplanetary adventures, both in space and on other planets, and was initially focused on a young readership. Malcolm Reiss was editor or editor-in-chief for all of its 71...
in 1949, although not printed until 1954. His career soon took off, resulting in a sale of 17 stories in 1950 alone.
Reynolds made his home primarily in San Miguel de Allende
San Miguel de Allende
San Miguel de Allende is a city and municipality located in the far eastern part of the state of Guanajuato in central Mexico. It is 274 km from Mexico City and 97 km from the state capital of Guanajuato...
, in Guanajuato
Guanajuato
Guanajuato officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Guanajuato is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 46 municipalities and its capital city is Guanajuato....
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, from the early 1950s to his death in San Luis Potosi
San Luis Potosí
San Luis Potosí officially Estado Libre y Soberano de San Luis Potosí is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 58 municipalities and its capital city is San Luis Potosí....
, Mexico. In the 1950s, he worked as the travel editor for men's magazine Rogue
Rogue (magazine)
This article is about a magazine, for other uses of the term see Rogue.Rogue was a Chicago-based men's magazine published by William Hamling from December 1955 until 1967. Founding editor Frank M...
and traveled all over the world, visiting and living for periods in such places as Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Eastern Europe, Gibraltar, and North Africa.
Several of his last books are credited as co-authored with Dean Ing
Dean Ing
Dean Ing is an American author, who usually writes in the science fiction and techno-thriller genres.Dean Charles Ing was formerly a member of the United States Air Force, an aerospace engineer, and a university professor who holds a doctorate in communications theory. He has been a professional...
. When Reynolds knew he had a brief time to live, he tried to write enough to provide an income for his wife after his passing. To this end, he wrote as many novel outlines as he could, with the arrangement that Ing would finish them.
Most of Reynolds' stories took place in Utopian societies, many of which fulfilled L. L. Zamenhof
L. L. Zamenhof
Ludwig Lazarus Zamenhof December 15, 1859 – April 14, 1917) was the inventor of Esperanto, the most successful constructed language designed for international communication.-Cultural background:...
's dream of Esperanto
Esperanto
is the most widely spoken constructed international auxiliary language. Its name derives from Doktoro Esperanto , the pseudonym under which L. L. Zamenhof published the first book detailing Esperanto, the Unua Libro, in 1887...
used worldwide as a universal second language. His novels predicted many things which have come to pass, including pocket computers
Handheld device
A mobile device is a small, hand-held computing device, typically having a display screen with touch input and/or a miniature keyboard and less than . Early pocket sized ones were joined in the late 2000s by larger but otherwise similar tablet computers...
and a worldwide computer network
Computer network
A computer network, often simply referred to as a network, is a collection of hardware components and computers interconnected by communication channels that allow sharing of resources and information....
with information available at one's fingertips.
Many of his novels were written within the context of a highly mobile society in which few people maintained a fixed residence, leading to "mobile voting" laws which allowed someone living out of the equivalent of a motor home to vote when and where they chose.
Reynolds was also the first author to write an original novel based upon the 1966-1969 NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
television series Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
. The book, Mission to Horatius
Mission to Horatius
Mission to Horatius by Mack Reynolds is the title of a 1968 novel for children based upon the television series Star Trek. It was the first novel of any kind to be based upon the Trek franchise...
(1968), was aimed at young readers. In 1972, he used the name 'Maxine Reynolds' on two romantic
Romance novel
The romance novel is a literary genre developed in Western culture, mainly in English-speaking countries. Novels in this genre place their primary focus on the relationship and romantic love between two people, and must have an "emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending." Through the late...
suspense novels, House in the Kasbah and Home of the Inquisitor.
Novels
- The Case of the Little Green Men, 1951
- Mercenary From TomorrowMercenary from TomorrowMercenary From Tomorrow is a 1968 science fiction novel written by Mack Reynolds. It is the first in a series about Joe Mauser, a soldier in a rigid, caste-based society that makes it very difficult to better oneself.-Plot summary:...
, 1962 (first book of the "Joe Mauser" series) - The Earth War, 1963 (second book of the "Joe Mauser" series)
- Sweet Dreams, Sweet Princes; also known as Time Gladiator, 1964 (third book of the "Joe Mauser" series)
- Space Pioneer, 1965
- Planetary Agent X, 1965 (first book of the "United Planets" series)
- Dawnman Planet, 1966 (second book of the "United Planets" series)
- Of Godlike Power, 1966 (also known as Earth Unaware)
- The Rival Rigelians and Planetary Agent X, 1967 (third book of the "United Planets" series)
- After Some Tomorrow, 1967
- Code Duello, 1968 (fourth book of the "United Planets" series)
- The Cosmic Eye, 1969
- Computer War, 1969
- The Space Barbarians, 1969
- The Five Way Secret Agent, 1969
- Computer World, 1970
- Once Departed, 1970
- Black Man's Burden, 1972 (first book of the "North Africa" series)
- Border, Breed, Nor Birth, 1972 (second book of the "North Africa" series)
- Looking Backward from the Year 2000, 1973 (first book of the "Julian West" series)
- Depression or Bust and Dawnman Planet, 1974 (Parts were published previously titled "Depression. . .or Bust, "Expediter", and "Fad" in Analog magazine and titled "The Expert" in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction.)('Dawnman Planet' is a reprint of the second "United Planets - Section G" book)
- Commune 2000 A.D., 1974 (first book of the "Bat Hardin" series)
- The Towers of Utopia, 1975 (second book of the "Bat Hardin" series)
- Satellite City, 1975
- Amazon Planet, 1975 (fifth book of the "United Planets" series)
- The Cosmic Eye, 1975
- Ability Quotient, 1975
- Tomorrow Might Be Different, 1975
- Day After Tomorrow, 1976 (originally in Analog titled: "Status Quo")
- Section G: United Planets, 1976 (sixth book of the "United Planets" series)
- Rolltown, 1976 (third book of the "Bat Hardin" series)
- Galactic Medal of Honor, 1976
- After Utopia, 1977
- Perchance to Dream, 1977
- Space Visitor, 1977
- Police Patrol: 2000 A.D., 1977
- Equality in the Year 2000, 1977 (second book of the "Julian West" series)
- Trample an Empire Down, 1978
- The Best Ye Breed, 1978 (third book of the "North Africa" series)
- Brain World, 1978 (seventh book of the "United Planets" series)
- The Fracas Factor, 1978 (fourth book of the "Joe Mauser" series)
- Earth Unaware, 1979
- Lagrange Five, 1979 (first book of the "L-5 Community" series)
- The Lagrangists, 1983 (the second book of the "L-5 Community" series)
- Chaos in Lagrangia, 1984 (the third book of the "L-5 Community" series)
- Eternity (1984) (with Dean Ing)
- Home, Sweet Home 2010 A. D., 1984 (with Dean Ing)
- The Other Time, 1984 (with Dean Ing)
- Space Search, 1984
- Trojan Orbit, 1985 (with Dean Ing)
- Deathwish World, 1986 (with Dean Ing)
Anthologies containing stories by Mack Reynolds
- New Worlds for Old, 1953
- Science Fiction Carnival, 1953
- A Century of Science Fiction, 1962
- Fifty Short Science Fiction Tales, 1963
- Venture Science Fiction 9, 1964
- The Unfriendly Future, 1965
- The Weird Ones, 1965
- The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction 190, 1967
- The Playboy Book of Horror and the Supernatural, 1967
- Science Fiction Horizons No. 1, 1968
- The War Book, 1969
- 14 Great Tales of ESP, 1969
- The Year's Best Science Fiction 2, 1969
- Analog 7, 1970
- The John W Campbell Memorial Anthology, 1973
- Nova 3, 1973
- Study War No More, 1977 (Joe Halemann, Editor)
- Science Fiction of the Fifties, 1979
- 100 Great Fantasy Short Short Stories, 1984
- Mercenaries of Tomorrow, 1985
- Terrorists of Tomorrow, 1985
- Supernatural Sleuths, 1996
- Time Machines: The Best Time Travel Stories Ever Written, 1997
- Future War, 1999
Short stories
- The Martians and the Coys, 1948
- Isolationist, 1950 (reprinted in FantasticFantastic (magazine)Fantastic was an American digest-size fantasy and science fiction magazine, published from 1952 to 1980. It was founded by Ziff-Davis as a fantasy companion to Amazing Stories. Early sales were good, and Ziff-Davis quickly decided to switch Amazing from pulp format to digest, and to cease...
, Oct. 1969) - The Devil Finds Work, 1950
- Long Beer, Short Horn, Fantastic AdventuresFantastic AdventuresFantastic Adventures was an American pulp science fiction magazine, published from 1939 to 1953 by Ziff-Davis. It was initially edited by Ray Palmer, who was also the editor of Amazing Stories, Ziff-Davis's other science fiction title. The first nine issues were in bedsheet format, but in June 1940...
(Nov. 1950) - Six-Legged Svengali (with Frederic Brown), Worlds BeyondWorlds Beyond (magazine)Worlds Beyond was an American digest magazine of science fiction and fantasy fiction in 1950 and 1951. The magazine only issued three monthly issues, from December 1950 to February 1951, but is notable for having printed stories by Cyril M...
(Dec. 1950) - Dark Interlude, (with Fredric Brown), Galaxy Science FictionGalaxy Science FictionGalaxy Science Fiction was an American digest-size science fiction magazine, published from 1950 to 1980. It was founded by an Italian company, World Editions, which was looking to break in to the American market. World Editions hired as editor H. L...
(Jan. 1951) - The Joke Cartoonist, 1951 (with Fredric Brown) aka Garrigan's BEMs
- The Business, as Usual, 1952
- Me and Flapjack and the Martians, 1952 (with Fredric Brown)
- Your Soul Comes C.O.D., 1952
- No Return from Elba, Fantastic (Sept. 1953)
- The Adventure of the Ball of Nostradamus (with August Derleth), Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction (June 1955)
- Burnt Toast, 1955
- Compounded Interest, Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction (Aug. 1956)
- Snafu on the New Taos, 1957
- Obedience Guaranteed, Space Science Fiction MagazineSpace Science Fiction MagazineSpace Science Fiction Magazine was a US science fiction magazine published by Republic Features Syndicate, Inc. as part of a package of radio shows and related genre magazines. Two issues appeared, both in 1957. It published stories by well-known writers, including Arthur C...
(Spring 1957) - Unborn Tomorrow, Astounding (June 1959)
- The Hunted Ones, Science Fiction Stories (Nov. 1959)
- I'm a Stranger Here Myself, 1960
- Russkies Go Home!, 1960
- Summit, Astounding (Feb. 1960)
- Revolution, Astounding (May 1960)
- Adaptation (short novel), Astounding (Aug. 1960)
- Combat, Analog (Oct. 1960)
- Gun for hire, Analog (Dec. 1960)
- Freedom, Analog (Feb. 1961)
- Ultima Thule (short novel), Analog (Mar. 1961)
- Farmer, Galaxy (June 1961)
- Status Quo (short novel), Analog (Aug. 1961) - Hugo (nominee)
- Black Man's Burden (two part serial), Analog (Dec. 1961-Jan. 1962)
- Earthlings Go Home, 1962
- Mercenary, 1962
- Good Indian, Analog (Sept. 1962)
- Subversive, Analog (Dec. 1962)
- Frigid Fracas (two part serial), Analog (Mar.-Apr. 1963)
- Expediter, Analog (May 1963)
- Spaceman on a Spree, Worlds of Tomorrow (June 1963)
- Pacifist, 1963 - appeared in the anthology The War Book (edited by James SallisJames SallisJames Sallis is an American crime writer, poet and musician, best known for his series of novels featuring the character Lew Griffin and set in New Orleans, and for his 2005 novel Drive, which was adapted into a 2011 film of the same name.He is the brother of philosopher John Sallis...
, 1969). - Genus traitor, Analog (Aug. 1964)
- Sweet Dreams, Sweet Prince (three part serial), Analog (Nov. 1965-Jan. 1965)
- Fad, Analog (Apr. 1965)
- The Adventure of the Extraterrestrial, Analog (July 1965) - Nebula (nominee)
- Of Godlike Powers (two part serial), Worlds of Tomorrow (July-Aug. 1965)
- Space pioneer (three part serial), Analog (Sept.-Nov. 1965)
- A Leader for Yesteryear, IfIf (magazine)If was an American science fiction magazine launched in March 1952 by Quinn Publications, owned by James L. Quinn. Quinn hired Paul W. Fairman to be the first editor, but early circulation figures were disappointing, and Quinn fired Fairman after only three issues. Quinn then took over the...
(Oct. 1965) - Nebula (nominee) - Last of a Noble Breed, Worlds of Tomorrow (Nov. 1965)
- Time of War, If, (Nov. 1965)
- The Switcheroo Revisited, Analog (Feb. 1966)
- Your Soul Comes C.O.D., Fantastic (Mar. 1966)
- Survivor, Analog (July 1966)
- Arena, If (Sept. 1966)
- Amazon Planet (three part serial), Analog (Dec. 1966-Feb. 1967)
- Relic, Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction (Mar. 1967)
- The Enemy Within, Analog (Apr. 1967)
- The Throwaway Age, Worlds of Tomorrow (May 1967)
- Computer War (two part serial), Analog (June-July 1967)
- Depression or Bust, Analog (Aug. 1967)
- Fiesta Brava (short novel), Analog (Sept. 1967)
- Coup, Analog (Nov. 1967)
- Psi Assassin, Analog (Dec. 1967)
- Criminal in Utopia, 1968
- Extortion, Inc., Analog (Feb. 1969)
- The Five Way Secret Agent (two part serial), Analog (Apr.-May 1969)
- Black Sheep AstrayBlack Sheep AstrayBlack Sheep Astray is a short story by Mack Reynolds. It was first published in Astounding: The John W Campbell Memorial Anthology in 1973.-Plot introduction:...
, 1973 - The Cold War...Continued, 1973
- Hell's Fire, 1980 (with Gary Jennings)
- Golden Rule, Analog (Mar. 1980)
- What the Vintners Buy, Analog (Sept. 1980)
- The Union Forever, Analog (Dec. 1980)
External links
- Belated Reviews PS#29: Mack Reynolds by Dani Zwieg