 | |
| Author | A. Bertram Chandler |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Series | The Rim Worlds |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Publisher | Daw Books |
Publication date | 1975 |
| Publication place | Australia |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 224 pp. |
The Big Black Mark (1975) is a science fiction novel by Australian writer A. Bertram Chandler. [1] It forms part of the author's Rim World series, featuring the recurring character, John Grimes.
It was originally published by Daw Books in USA in 1975. [2]
Captain John Grimes is placed in command of the Census spaceship Discovery. This is crewed by a company of malcontents who have been placed together on this vessel in an attempt to keep them out of trouble. Unfortunately, hope is dashed when they mutiny against Grimes's command and cast him adrift in space.
Spider Robinson, reviewing the novel on its original release in Galaxy magazine noted: "Black Mark borrows just a bit too heavily from both Nordhoff & Hall and Herman Wouk, if you get my galactic drift. True-blue Grimes fans should be satisfied, but I found it pat in spots, contrived in others, and a little too reminiscent of some of the worst Star Trek episodes." [3]
After its original publication in 1975 in the US by publishers Daw Books [1] the novel was later published as follows:
The novel was also included in the following compilations of Chandler's work:
It was translated into German in 1984. [8]
Arthur Bertram Chandler was an Anglo-Australian merchant marine officer, sailing the world in everything from tramp steamers to troop ships, but who later turned his hand to a second career as a prolific author of pulp science fiction. He also wrote under the pseudonyms of George Whitley, Andrew Dunstan and S.H.M. Many of his short stories draw on his extensive sailing background. In 1956, he emigrated to Australia and became an Australian citizen. By 1958 he was an officer on the Sydney–Hobart route. Chandler commanded various ships in the Australian and New Zealand merchant navies, including his service as the last master of the Australian aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne; by law, the ship was required to have an officer on board while awaiting its towing to China to be broken up. Chandler wrote over 40 novels and 200 works of short fiction, winning the Australian Ditmar Awards for the short story "The Bitter Pill" and for three novels: False Fatherland, The Bitter Pill, and The Big Black Mark. One of Chandler's daughters, Jenny Chandler, married British horror fiction writer Ramsey Campbell. His other children were Penelope Anne Chandler and Christopher John Chandler.
Jody Lynn Nye is an American science fiction writer. She is the author or co-author of approximately forty published novels and more than 100 short stories. She has specialized in science fiction or fantasy action novels and humor. Her humorous series range from contemporary fantasy to military science fiction. About one-third of her novels are collaborations, either as a co-author or as the author of a sequel. She has been an instructor of the Fantasy Writing Workshop at Columbia College Chicago (2007) and she teaches the annual Science Fiction Writing Workshop at DragonCon.
Paul Collins is an Australian writer and editor who specializes in science fiction and fantasy.
Australia, unlike Europe, does not have a long history in the genre of science fiction. Nevil Shute's On the Beach, published in 1957, and filmed in 1959, was perhaps the first notable international success. Though not born in Australia, Shute spent his latter years there, and the book was set in Australia. It might have been worse had the imports of American pulp magazines not been restricted during World War II, forcing local writers into the field. Various compilation magazines began appearing in the 1960s and the field has continued to expand into some significance. Today Australia has a thriving SF/Fantasy genre with names recognised around the world. In 2013 a trilogy by Sydney-born Ben Peek was sold at auction to a UK publisher for a six-figure deal.
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