Edwin Balmer (July 26, 1883 – March 21, 1959) was an American

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...

and

mystery Mystery, The Mystery, Mysteries or The Mysteries may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional characters *Mystery, a cat character in ''Emily the Strange'' Films * ''Mystery'' (2012 film), a 2012 Chinese drama film * ''Mystery'' ( ...

writer.

Biography

Balmer was born in

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

to Helen Clark (Pratt) and Thomas Balmer. In 1909, he married Katharine MacHarg, sister of the writer William MacHarg. After her death, he married Grace A. Kee in 1927. He began as a reporter for the ''

Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television ar ...

'' in 1903 before writing for books and magazines. He was editor of ''

Redbook ''Redbook'' is an American women's magazine that is published by the Hearst Corporation. It is one of the " Seven Sisters", a group of women's service magazines. It ceased print publication as of January 2019 and now operates an article-comprise ...

'' (1927–1949) and later became associate publisher. He would then commission young writers to write up these ideas for inclusion in Redbook. He died on March 21, 1959 at age 75.

Novels

Together with author

Philip Wylie Philip Gordon Wylie (May 12, 1902 – October 25, 1971) was an American writer of works ranging from pulp science fiction, mysteries, social diatribes and satire to ecology and the threat of nuclear holocaust. Early life and career Born in Bever ...

, he wrote the catastrophe science fiction novels ''

When Worlds Collide ''When Worlds Collide'' is a 1933 science fiction novel co-written by Edwin Balmer and Philip Wylie; they also co-authored the sequel ''After Worlds Collide'' (1934). It was first published as a six-part monthly serial (September 1932 through Fe ...

'' (1933) and '' After Worlds Collide'' (1934). The former was made into an award-winning 1951

movie A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

George Pal George Pal (born György Pál Marczincsak; ; February 1, 1908 – May 2, 1980) was a Hungarian-American animator, film director and producer, principally associated with the fantasy and science-fiction genres. He became an American citizen after ...

. Balmer also wrote several detective novels and collaborated with William MacHarg on ''The Achievements of Luther Trant'' (1910), an early collection of detective short stories.

Comic strip

Balmer also helped create (with artist Marvin Bradley) the syndicated

comic strip A comic strip is a sequence of drawings, often cartoons, arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions. Traditionally, throughout the 20th and into the 21st ...

''Speed Spaulding'', partially based on the ''Worlds Collide'' series, which ran from 1938 through 1941 in the comic book ''

Famous Funnies ''Famous Funnies'' is an American comic strip anthology series published from 1934 to 1955. Published by Eastern Color Printing, ''Famous Funnies'' is considered by popular culture historians as the first true American comic book, following sem ...

''.

Bibliography

* 1909 – '' Waylaid by Wireless'' * 1910 – '' The Achievements of Luther Trant'' with William MacHarg * 1910 – '' The Science of Advertising'' with counsel from Thomas Balmer * 1913 – '' The Surakarta'' with William MacHarg * 1915 – '' A Wild-Goose Chase'' * 1916 – '' The Blind Man's Eyes'' with William MacHarg * 1917 – '' The Indian Drum'' with William MacHarg * 1919 – '' Ruth of the U. S. A.'' * 1920 – '' Resurrection Rock'' * 1922 – '' The Breath of Scandal'' * 1923 – '' Keeban'' * 1924 – '' Fidelia'' * 1925 – ''

That Royle Girl ''That Royle Girl'' is a 1925 American silent comedy film directed by D. W. Griffith and released by Paramount Pictures. The film was based on the novel of the same name by Edwin Balmer, and starred Carol Dempster, W. C. Fields and Harri ...

'' * 1927 – ''Dangerous Business'', filmed as ''

Party Girl A party is a gathering of people who have been invited by a host for the purposes of socializing, conversation, recreation, or as part of a festival or other commemoration or celebration of a special occasion. A party will often feature ...

'' in 1930 * 1927 – ''Flying Death'' * 1932 – ''Five Fatal Words'' with Philip Wylie * 1933 – ''The Golden Hoard'' with Philip Wylie * 1933 – ''

'' with Philip Wylie * 1934 – '' After Worlds Collide'' with Philip Wylie * 1934 – ''Dragons Drive You'' * 1936 – ''The Shield of Silence'' with Philip Wylie * 1941 – ''The Torn Letter'' * 1954 – ''In His Hands'' * 1956 – ''The Candle of the Wicked'' * 1958 – ''With All the World Away'' * 2013 – ''The Complete Achievements of Luther Trant'' (the 1910 book with 3 additional stories)

References

;Citations ;Bibliography * * * *

External links

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Balmer, Edwin 1883 births 1959 deaths 20th-century American male writers 20th-century American novelists American comics writers American male novelists American mystery writers American science fiction writers Redbook