Manly Wade Wellman Award
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Manly Wade Wellman (May 21, 1903 – April 5, 1986) was an American writer. While his science fiction and fantasy stories appeared in such pulps as '' Astounding Stories'', ''
Startling Stories ''Startling Stories'' was an American pulp science fiction magazine, published from 1939 to 1955 by publisher Ned Pines' Standard Magazines. It was initially edited by Mort Weisinger, who was also the editor of ''Thrilling Wonder Stories'', S ...
'', '' Unknown'' and '' Strange Stories'', Wellman is best remembered as one of the most popular contributors to the legendary '' Weird Tales'', and for his fantasy and horror stories set in the Appalachian Mountains, which draw on the native folklore of that region. Karl Edward Wagner referred to him as "the dean of fantasy writers." Wellman also wrote in a wide variety of other genres, including
historical fiction Historical fiction is a literary genre in which the plot takes place in a setting related to the past events, but is fictional. Although the term is commonly used as a synonym for historical fiction literature, it can also be applied to other ty ...
,
detective fiction Detective fiction is a subgenre of crime fiction and mystery fiction in which an investigator or a detective—whether professional, amateur or retired—investigates a crime, often murder. The detective genre began around the same time as s ...
, western fiction,
juvenile fiction Young adult fiction (YA) is a category of fiction written for readers from 12 to 18 years of age. While the genre is primarily targeted at adolescents, approximately half of YA readers are adults. The subject matter and genres of YA correlate ...
, and non-fiction. Wellman was a long-time resident of North Carolina. He received many awards, including the World Fantasy Award and Edgar Allan Poe Award. In 2013, the North Carolina Speculative Fiction Foundation inaugurated an award named after him to honor other North Carolina authors of science fiction and fantasy. Three of Wellman's most famous recurring protagonists are John, a.k.a. John the Balladeer, a.k.a. "Silver John", a wandering backwoods minstrel with a silver-stringed guitar; the elderly " occult detective"
Judge Pursuivant Judge Keith Hilary Pursuivant is a fictional character and a supporting character in a series of stories (1938–41) by American author Manly Wade Wellman (1903–1986). Pursuivant is a retired judge, author, and occult scholar who investigates my ...
; and
John Thunstone John Thunstone is a fictional character and the hero of a series of stories by author Manly Wade Wellman. Thunstone is a scholar and playboy (lifestyle), playboy who investigates mysterious supernatural events. He is physically large and strong, i ...
, also an occult investigator. Wellman wrote under a number of different pseudonyms, including Gabriel Barclay, Levi Crow, Gans T. Field, Hampton Wells, and Wade Wells.


Biography


Early years

Wellman was born in the village of Kamundongo in Portuguese West Africa (now Angola), where his father, Frederick Creighton Wellman, was stationed as a medical officer. He spoke the native dialect before he learned English, and became an adopted son of a powerful chief whose vision Dr Wellman restored. As a small child, Manly twice visited London, where the family stayed in Torrington Square (obliterated during the Battle of Britain). When he was still a young boy, his family moved to the United States, where he attended school in Washington, D.C., prep school in Salt Lake City, and college at Wichita Municipal University (now Wichita State University) in Kansas. After graduating from Wichita State with his BA in English in 1926, he went on to receive a Bachelor of Laws degree from Columbia Law School. A distinguished football player, he received little encouragement from either family or teachers with his plans to become a writer. An early story, "Back to the Beast", resulted in one teacher remarking "Your work is impossible!" Yet this same story became his first professional sale when editor
Farnsworth Wright Farnsworth Wright (July 29, 1888 – June 12, 1940) was the editor of the pulp magazine ''Weird Tales'' during the magazine's heyday, editing 179 issues from November 1924 to March 1940. Jack Williamson called Wright "the first great fantasy ...
bought it and published it in '' Weird Tales'' (November 1927). He was of partial Native American ancestry. According to the author note by Gahan Wilson in Gahan Wilson, ed. ''First World Fantasy Awards'' (NY: Doubleday, 1977, p. 253), Wellman's "ancestry reaches back through the Confederate South to colonial Virginia, with the potent infusion of Gascon French and American Indian." One of Wellman's brothers,
Paul Wellman Paul Iselin Wellman (October 15, 1895 — September 17, 1966) was an American journalist, popular history and novel writer, and screenwriter, known for his books of the Wild West: Kansas, Oklahoma, Great Plains. Hollywood movies ''Cheyenn ...
, was also a well published author, another
Frederick Lovejoy Wellman Frederick Lovejoy Wellman (b.1897 Kamundongo, Portuguese West Africa, d. 21 April 1994 Raleigh, North Carolina) was an American phytopathologist who worked mainly on diseases of coffee but also on the fungus ''Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense'', th ...
, was a noted
plant pathologist Plant pathology (also phytopathology) is the scientific study of diseases in plants caused by pathogens (infectious organisms) and environmental conditions (physiological factors). Organisms that cause infectious disease include fungus, fung ...
.


The 1920s and '30s

His first story published, "The Lion Roared" (''Thrilling Tales'', 1927), was based on the stories told to him in his African childhood upbringing. Wellman's first science fiction novel was published in 1929 (''The Invading Asteroid'') but he would not work at full length again until 1941. Around that time he started a friendship with Vance Randolph, an acclaimed folklorist and expert on Ozark mountain magic and traditions. Randolf took Wellman on trips through the Arkansas Ozarks, learning folk traditions and meeting the secluded people of the American back country. It was through Randolph that Wellman met folk music legend Obray Ramsey, whose music would have a profound effect on Wellman and his writing. In the late 1920s, during the silent film era, Wellman wrote movie reviews for the ''Wichita Beacon'' and also worked for ''The Wichita Eagle'' as a court and crime reporter. He sold many stories in this period to ''Ozark Stories'' and ''Thrilling Tales''. He married Frances Obrist "Garfield" (her pen name), who was a horror writer in her own right; she sold her first story to ''Weird Tales'' in 1939. During the Depression, Wellman's newspaper work started to dwindle, so in 1934 he moved from Kansas to New York City where he became Assistant Director of the WPA's New York Folklore Project. Alfred Bester described meeting Wellman in about 1939: " Mort Weisinger introduced me to the informal luncheon gatherings of the working science fiction authors of the late thirties... The vivacious ''compère'' of those luncheons was Manley icWade Wellman, a professional Southerner full of regional anecdotes. It's my recollection that one of his hands was slightly shriveled, which may have been why he came on so strong for the Confederate cause. We were all very patient with that; after all, our side won the war. Wellman was quite the man-of-the-world for the innocent thirties; he always ordered wine with his lunch." Moving from New York to New Jersey in 1939, Wellman wrote countless stories for the new field of comic books as well as for the pulps. During the war he served in New Jersey as a first lieutenant.


The 1940s: New York, Weird Tales, Occult Detectives and Comic Books

In the 1930s and 1940s, Wellman began selling to the bigger publications such as ''Weird Tales'', ''Wonder Stories'' and ''Astounding Stories''. At this time, when Wellman was living in New York, ''Weird Tales'' published numerous stories based on three of his most famous characters: Judge Keith Hilary Pursuivant,
John Thunstone John Thunstone is a fictional character and the hero of a series of stories by author Manly Wade Wellman. Thunstone is a scholar and playboy (lifestyle), playboy who investigates mysterious supernatural events. He is physically large and strong, i ...
, and Professor Nathan Enderby. Judge Keith Hilary Pursuivant (written under the pen name Gans T. Fields) is described as "a renowned scholar and retired judge, hero of World War I, and now hero of darker, more dangerous battles. Huge of frame, an epicure, an authority on the occult, Pursuivant strides forth from his reclusive home in West Virginia to confront evil wherever it appears".Jacket flap, Manly Wade Wellman, ''Lonely Vigils'', Carcosa, 1981
John Thunstone John Thunstone is a fictional character and the hero of a series of stories by author Manly Wade Wellman. Thunstone is a scholar and playboy (lifestyle), playboy who investigates mysterious supernatural events. He is physically large and strong, i ...
is "a hulking Manhattanite playboy and dilettante, a serious student of the occult and a two-fisted brawler ready to take on any enemy. Armed with potent charms and a silver swordcane, Thunstone stalks supernatural perils in the posh night clubs and seedy hotels of New York, or in backwater towns lost in the countryside-- seeking out deadly sorcery as a hunter pursues a man-killer beast". Thunstone's arch-nemesis was the evil sorcerer, Rowley Thorne. Thorne was based on real-life occultist Aleister Crowley, the self-proclaimed "wickedest man in the world". The lesser-known character Professor Nathan Enderby is a "slender savant and unassuming authority on the supernatural, aided by his sharp wits and his Chinese servant, Quong. His cabin in rural Pennsylvania is a retreat from the frenetic social life of New York City – and a fortress against the powers of black magic". While the Edmond Hamilton-led pulp
Captain Future Captain Future is a pulp science fiction hero — a space-traveling scientist and adventurer —originally published in his namesake pulp magazine from 1940 to 1944. The character was created by editors Mort Weisinger and Leo Margulies. The maj ...
was a going concern, Wellman wrote one novel for it, ''The Solar Invasion''. When ''Captain Future'' was cancelled due to wartime paper shortages, the novel was instead published in
Startling Stories ''Startling Stories'' was an American pulp science fiction magazine, published from 1939 to 1955 by publisher Ned Pines' Standard Magazines. It was initially edited by Mort Weisinger, who was also the editor of ''Thrilling Wonder Stories'', S ...
(fall of 1946). Following a similar path to such pulp writers as Frank Belknap Long, Wellman also wrote for various comic books (what he called "squinkies") and wrote the first issue of ''Captain Marvel Adventures'' for Fawcett Publishers. Later he would be called into court to testify against Fawcett in a lawsuit by National (DC Comics) about plagiarism of
Superman Superman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, and debuted in the comic book ''Action Comics'' #1 (cover-dated June 1938 and publi ...
by the creators of Captain Marvel. Wellman testified that his editors had encouraged their writers to use Superman as the model for Captain Marvel. Though it took three years, National won their case. He also contributed to the writing of the comic book '' The Spirit'' while the franchise's creator, Will Eisner, was serving in the US military during World War II. Wellman also wrote for the comic ''Blackhawk''. Wellman made a return to novel-writing in the 1940s, publishing two science fiction full-length works, ''Sojarr of Titan'' and ''The Devil's Asteroid''. In this decade he published several mystery novels, one a film tie-in. Amongst Wellman's writer friends during the ''Weird Tales'' years were Malcolm Jameson, Seabury Quinn,
Henry Kuttner Henry Kuttner (April 7, 1915 – February 3, 1958) was an American author of science fiction, fantasy and horror. Early life Henry Kuttner was born in Los Angeles, California in 1915. Kuttner (1829–1903) and Amelia Bush (c. 1834–1911), the ...
, and Otto Binder. Wellman used to meet with these writers in a German restaurant in Times Square on a regular basis. He described these friendships as being "like a brotherhood".Stephen Jones, "Better Things Waiting: An Interview with Manly Wade Wellman", ''Fantasy Media'', 2, No 2 (May/June 1980), pp. 14–16 In 1946 Wellman won the Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine Award over William Faulkner for his Native American detective tale "A Star For A Warrior". Apparently Faulkner was quite upset to be placed as second fiddle to a science fiction and horror writer. Faulkner indignantly wrote to the editors of the magazine, proclaiming that he was the father of the French literary movement and the most important American writer in Europe. Wellman's 1956 nonfiction historical work ''Rebel Boast'' was nominated for the
Pulitzer Prize The Pulitzer Prize () is an award for achievements in newspaper, magazine, online journalism, literature, and musical composition within the United States. It was established in 1917 by provisions in the will of Joseph Pulitzer, who had made h ...
. Throughout this period Wellman worked as a harvest hand, cowboy, roadhouse bouncer and newspaperman.


The 1950s: North Carolina, Juveniles, Science Fiction and NonFiction

After serving as a lieutenant in World War II, in 1951 Wellman moved his family to
Pinebluff, North Carolina Pinebluff is a town in Moore County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,337 at the 2010 census. History Pinebluff was once a regional resort area during the early 1900s, enjoying even greater renown than Pinehurst Resort at the ...
. There he immersed himself in American southern mountain folklore and history, becoming an expert on the Civil War and the historic regions and peoples of the Old South. Later in 1951, he made his final move to the college town of
Chapel Hill, North Carolina Chapel Hill is a town in Orange, Durham and Chatham counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Its population was 61,960 in the 2020 census, making Chapel Hill the 17th-largest municipality in the state. Chapel Hill, Durham, and the state ca ...
. Wellman built a vacation cabin on what he called Yandro Mountain in the Great Smoky Mountains next to his friend Obray Ramsey's home. Wellman worked at many jobs to support himself while he wrote, though he sold many stories and books. His jobs included working on farms, in cotton gins, and working as a bouncer in a dance hall. During this time, Wellman wrote a number of books that are considered regional classics today. Such books, drawn from his rich knowledge of Southern history, include the critically-acclaimed account of the great steamboat race between the ''Robert E. Lee'' and the ''Natchez''. Wellman's best-known biographical work, ''Giant in Gray'' (1949), was based on his namesake, Confederate General Wade Hampton. Wellman wrote and published significant nonfiction works about the Old South, including county histories, throughout the 1950s and would continue to do so through to the 1970s. Most of Wellman's work in the 1950s was devoted to young adult stories and science fiction novels. He produced no fewer than five science fiction novels in this decade, though one was a version of a long story previously published in the pulps. Two of his short stories were filmed in this decade for the television show ''
Lights Out Lights Out may refer to: Events and times * Institutional, and thence colloquial, term for bedtime *Lights Out (event), an event in the UK on 4 August 2014 to commemorate the start of World War I * Lights Out Hong Kong, a campaign to protest air ...
''. He also wrote a western novel, ''Fort Sun Dance'' (1955), apparently his only venture into that genre.


The 1960s: Science Fiction and Silver John

Wellman wrote two science fiction novels in the sixties – ''Island in the Sky'' and also ''Candle of the Wicked'' (1960); which novelized the events leading up to the discovery of the Bender killings. His
Captain Future Captain Future is a pulp science fiction hero — a space-traveling scientist and adventurer —originally published in his namesake pulp magazine from 1940 to 1944. The character was created by editors Mort Weisinger and Leo Margulies. The maj ...
novel ''The Solar Invasion'' was reprinted in paperback. His best-known series dates from this period and is composed of stories featuring the Appalachian woodsman and minstrel hero known as "John". These were first published in '' The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction''. The first stories of John were collected in '' Who Fears the Devil?'' (1963), based on the personal enthusiasm of August Derleth. Although Wellman only ever called the character "John" or "John the guitar picker", his later publishers Doubleday and Dell labelled the series Silver John as they felt the name was a better way of marketing the books.


The 1970s and '80s: Resurgence and Twilight Years

The 1970s and 1980s marked a resurgence in Wellman's output and an increased attention to his legacy. Much of his best short general fantasy work over the years was collected by Karl Edward Wagner in '' Worse Things Waiting'' (1973), which won Wellman a World Fantasy Award and revived interest in his work. His 1975 novel '' Sherlock Holmes' War of the Worlds'' was collected from a series of
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a " consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and ...
pastiches stories co-written with his son Wade Wellman and originally published in '' The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction'' Between 1979 and 1984 Wellman wrote five new novels featuring Silver John and in roughly the same period produced two full length novels featuring his character John Thunstone, as well as seeing Thunstone's short adventures, and those of characters such as Judge Pursuivant, collected from the pulps in ''
Lonely Vigils ''Lonely Vigils'' is a collection of fantasy, horror and mystery short stories by author Manly Wade Wellman. It was released in 1981 by Carcosa in an edition of 1,548 copies, of which the 566 pre-ordered copies were signed by the author and artis ...
'' (1981). A movie based on the Silver John stories, ''The Legend of Hillbilly John'', was released in 1973. In 1980 Wellman received the World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievement. Wellman was Guest of Honour (with Gene Wolfe and
Rowena Merrill Rowena in the Matter of Britain was the daughter of the purported Anglo-Saxon chief Hengist and wife of Vortigern, "King of the Britons". Presented as a beautiful ''femme fatale'', she won her people the Kingdom of Kent through her treacherous ...
) at the World Fantasy Convention 1983 in Chicago. At age 82, Wellman suffered a serious fall on June 15, 1985 and sustained severe fractures of his left elbow and shoulder which made him an invalid. A benefit auction for the ailing author was held in London at the annual Christmas Party of the British Fantasy Society and the funds raised sent to Wellman and his wife in a Christmas card. Due to the onset of gangrene in his legs following double amputation, Wellman's health failed further and he died at his home in
Chapel Hill Chapel Hill or Chapelhill may refer to: Places Antarctica *Chapel Hill (Antarctica) Australia * Chapel Hill, Queensland, a suburb of Brisbane * Chapel Hill, South Australia, in the Mount Barker council area Canada *Chapel Hill, Ottawa, a neighbo ...
, North Carolina on April 5, 1986. Before passing on he had been able to finish his historical novel ''Cahena'', about an African warrior princess (see Kahina) published in 1986, and the final John the Balladeer short story "Where Did She Wander". The agent for his literary estate was his friend, the writer and editor Karl Edward Wagner, who edited the posthumous collections ''Valley So Low: Southern Mountain Stories'' and ''John the Balladeer''. A benefit auction was held for Wellman's widow Frances, arranged by Southern fans Beth Gwinn and Sheri Morton, which raised $28,300 in funds.
Harlan Ellison Harlan Jay Ellison (May 27, 1934 – June 28, 2018) was an American writer, known for his prolific and influential work in New Wave speculative fiction and for his outspoken, combative personality. Robert Bloch, the author of '' Psycho'' ...
was the auctioneer. Included in the auction were such items as a mug owned by both H.P. Lovecraft and Fritz Leiber, a coin from Mel Brooks and the shirt which Ellison wore while writing his story "Maggie Money-Eyes". Frances Wellman died on May 7, 2000. She was cremated and her ashes spread on the lawn of their home at Dogwood Acres in Chapel Hill, NC. A son, Wade Wellman, died January 25, 2018, in Waukesha, Wisconsin.


Works

Wellman once estimated his output of stories and articles at about 500, of which about 80 were in the fantasy & science fiction genres.


Science fiction and fantasy

* ''The Invading Asteroid'' (1929) * ''Sojarr of Titan'' (1941) * ''The Devil's Asteroid'' (1941) * "Find My Killer" (1948 - as Manly Wellman). * ''The Solar Invasion'' (
Captain Future Captain Future is a pulp science fiction hero — a space-traveling scientist and adventurer —originally published in his namesake pulp magazine from 1940 to 1944. The character was created by editors Mort Weisinger and Leo Margulies. The maj ...
novel,
Startling Stories ''Startling Stories'' was an American pulp science fiction magazine, published from 1939 to 1955 by publisher Ned Pines' Standard Magazines. It was initially edited by Mort Weisinger, who was also the editor of ''Thrilling Wonder Stories'', S ...
Fall/46; reprinted in paperback in 1968) * ''Devil's Planet'' (1951) * ''The Beasts from Beyond'' (1950) lso known as ''Strangers on the Heights''* ''Twice in Time'' (1957) * ''The Dark Destroyers'' (1959) [short version of ''Nuisance Value''
parts one
an
two
(1938/39)] * ''Giants from Eternity'' (1959) * ''Island in the Sky'' (1961) * '' Worse Things Waiting'' ( Carcosa,1973) (short story collection) (Winner, World Fantasy Award for Best Collection, 1975) * '' Sherlock Holmes's War of the Worlds''
ith Wade Wellman The Ith () is a ridge in Germany's Central Uplands which is up to 439 m high. It lies about 40 km southwest of Hanover and, at 22 kilometres, is the longest line of crags in North Germany. Geography Location The Ith is immediatel ...
(1975) * ''The Beyonders'' (1977) * ''The Valley So Low: Southern Mountain Stories'' (1987) (Ed. Karl E. Wagner, collection) Note: Wellman originally intended ''Valley So Low'' to be the title of a sixth Silver John novel, but his intervening death prevented him writing it. The title was applied instead to this collection of short stories. * ''The Collected Stories of Manly Wade Wellman'': # ''The Third Cry to Legba and Other Invocations'' (2000) (John Thunstone and Lee Cobbett stories) # ''The Devil is Not Mocked and Other Warnings'' (2001) # ''Fearful Rock and Other Precarious Locales'' (2001) (Judge Pursuivant and Sergeant Jaeger stories) # ''Sin's Doorway and Other Ominous Entrances'' (2003) # ''Owls Hoot in the Daytime and Other Omens'' (2003) (John the Balladeer stories)


Silver John collections and novels

*'' Who Fears the Devil?'' ( Arkham House, 1963) (short stories) **''John the Balladeer'' (1988) (Ed. Karl E. Wagner, revised collection containing all Silver John short stories) **''Owls Hoot In The Daytime And Other Omens'' (2003) (Ed. Night Shade Press, also contains all Silver John short stories) **''Who Fears the Devil?'' (Paizo Publishing, 2010) (reprint of AH edition with two additional stories) *''The Old Gods Waken'' (1979) *''After Dark '' (1980) *''The Lost and the Lurking'' (1981) *''The Hanging Stones'' (1982) *''The Voice of the Mountain'' (1984)


John Thunstone collections and novels

*''
Lonely Vigils ''Lonely Vigils'' is a collection of fantasy, horror and mystery short stories by author Manly Wade Wellman. It was released in 1981 by Carcosa in an edition of 1,548 copies, of which the 566 pre-ordered copies were signed by the author and artis ...
'' ( Carcosa,1981) (Thunstone and Judge Pursuivant short stories) *'' What Dreams May Come'' (1983) *''The School of Darkness '' (1985) *''The Complete John Thunstone '' (2012)


Hok stories and collections

*"Battle in the Dawn" (1939) *"Hok Goes to Atlantis" (1939) *"The Day of the Conquerors" (1940) *"Hok Draws the Bow" *"Hok and the Gift of Heaven" (1941) *"Hok Visits the Land of Legends" (1942) *"The Love of Oloana" (1986) *"Untitled Hok Fragment" (1989) *''Battle in the Dawn: The Complete Hok the Mighty'' (2010)


Young Adult stories

*The Lion Roared. (Thrilling Tales) 1927. *The Sleuth Patrol. 1947. *The Mystery of Lost Valley. 1948. *The Raiders of Beaver Lake. 1950. *The Haunts of Drowning Creek. 1951. *Wild Dogs of Drowning Creek. 1952. *The Last Mammoth. 1953. *Gray Riders: Jeb Stuart and His Men. 1954. *Rebel Mail Runner. 1954. *Flag on the Levee. 1955. *To Lands Unknown. 1956. *Young Squire Morgan. 1956. *Lights over Skelton Ridge. 1957. *The Master of Scare Hollow. 1957. *''Iron Scouts Trilogy'' **The Ghost Battalion: A Story of the Iron Scouts. 1958. **Ride, Rebels!: Adventures of the Iron Scouts. 1959. **Appomattox Road: Final Adventures of the Iron Scouts. 1960. *Third String Center. 1960. *Rifles at Ramsour's Mill: A Tale of the Revolutionary War. 1961. *Battle for King's Mountain. 1962. *Clash on the Catawba. 1962. *The South Fork Rangers. 1963. *The River Pirates. 1963. *Settlement on Shocco: Adventures in Colonial Carolina. 1963. *Mystery at Bear Paw Gap. 1964. *The Specter of Bear Paw Creek. 1966. *Battle at Bear Paw Gap. 1966. *Jamestown Adventure. 1967. *Brave Horse: The Story of Janus. 1968. *Carolina Pirate. 1968. *Frontier Reporter. 1969. *Mountain Feud. 1969. *Fast Break Five. 1971.


Other Novels

* ''Cahena'' (1986) (historical novel) * ''Candle of the Wicked'' (1960) * ''A Double Life'' (movie tie-in) (Century Book Publications, 1947) Based on the screenplay by Garson Kanin and Ruth Gordon for the George Cukor movie starring
Ronald Colman Ronald Charles Colman (9 February 1891 – 19 May 1958) was an English-born actor, starting his career in theatre and silent film in his native country, then immigrating to the United States and having a successful Hollywood film career. He wa ...
. * ''Find My Killer'' ( mystery) (Farrar, Straus and Giroux,1947)(as by Manly Wellman) * ''Fort Sun Dance'' ( western) (1955) * ''Not At These Hands'' (mystery) (1962) * ''Romance in Black'' (as by 'Gans T. Field'). (UK: Utopian Publications, 1945)


Plays

*''Whom He May Devour''. Written in the 1930s. Published in ''Whispers'', 11/12 (1978).


Non-Fiction

*"Everybody's a Character," ''
The Writer ''The Writer'' is a magazine for writers, published monthly by Madavor Media. History ''The Writer'' was first established by William H. Hills and Robert Luce, two ''Boston Globe'' reporters, as "a monthly magazine to interest and help all lit ...
'', August 1948 *Giant in Gray: A Biography of Wade Hampton III of South Carolina. 1949. *Dead and Gone: Classic Crimes of North Carolina. 1954. (Winner,
Edgar Award The Edgar Allan Poe Awards, popularly called the Edgars, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America, based in New York City. Named after American writer Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849), a pioneer in the genre, the awards honor the bes ...
for Best Fact Crime, 1956) *Rebel Boast: First at Bethel, Last at Apppomattox. 1956. *Fastest on the River: The Great Race Between the Natchez and the Robert E. Lee. 1957. *The Life and Times of Sir Archie. With Elizabeth A. C. Blanchard. 1958. *The County of Warren, 1586–1917. 1959. *They Took Their Stand: The Founders of the Confederacy. 1959. *The Rebel Songster: Songs the Confederates Sang. 1959. *Harpers Ferry, Prize of War. 1960. *The County of Gaston. With Robert F. Cope. 1961. *The County of Moore, 1947-1947. 1962. *Winston-Salem:The Founders. 1966. *Napoleon of the West: A Story of the Aaron Burr Conspiracy. 1970. *The Kingdom of Madison: A Southern Mountain Fastness And Its People. 1971. *The Story of Moore County. 1974. *Winston-Salem In History, Vol. 7: Industry And Commerce 1766–1896. With Larry Edward Tise. 1976. *A City's Culture: Painting, Music, Literature. 1976.


Awards and honors

Wellman has been nominated for or won the following awards.


Adaptations

The Silver John stories were the inspiration for "Who Fears the Devil?", a 1994 recording by
Joe Bethancourt Wiltz Joseph Bethancourt III (August 8, 1946 – August 28, 2014) was an American folk musician. Biography Bethancourt was born in El Paso, Texas, United States. He began learning banjo at age 9, after he heard his maternal grandfather, C. H. Bu ...
that featured both traditional Appalachian folk songs that Silver John would have known, and Wellman's original lyrics that were in many of the Silver John stories, set to the traditional melodies that Wellman used as models. Additionally, the progressive bluegrass band, The Dixie Bee-Liners, recorded an original song inspired by the Silver John stories titled "Yellow-Haired Girl" on their 2008 album "RIPE." Much of the following information is taken from Mark Cannon's bibliography of Wellman. ''Larroes Catch Meddlers'':
Adapted for television for
Lights Out Lights Out may refer to: Events and times * Institutional, and thence colloquial, term for bedtime *Lights Out (event), an event in the UK on 4 August 2014 to commemorate the start of World War I * Lights Out Hong Kong, a campaign to protest air ...
as "The Meddlers", aired 7 July 1951
Director: Unknown
Screenwriter: Douglas Wood Gibson, Richard E Davis
Starring: John Carradine,
E G Marshall E. G. Marshall (born Everett Eugene Grunz;Everett Eugene Grunz in Minnesota, U.S., Birth Index, 1900-1934, Ancestry.comEverett Eugene Grunz in the U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, accessed via Ancestry.com June 18, ...
, Dan Morgan ''School for the Unspeakable'':
Adapted for television for Lights Out as "The School for the Unspeakable", aired 7 January 1952
Director: Unknown
Screenwriter: Richard E Davis
Starring: Donald Buka, Don Hanmer, Leon Tokatyan, Dick Kallman, Maurice Kenney, Jason Jonson, John Gerstad, Harold Webster ''The Valley Was Still'':
Adapted for television for The Twilight Zone as "
Still Valley "Still Valley" is episode 76 of the American television anthology series ''The Twilight Zone''. Opening narration The narration continues after dialogue between Paradine and Dauger. Plot During the Civil War, two Confederate Army soldiers ...
," aired 24 November 1961
Director: James Sheldon
Screenwriter:
Rod Serling Rodman Edward Serling (December 25, 1924 – June 28, 1975) was an American screenwriter, playwright, television producer, and narrator/on-screen host, best known for his live television dramas of the 1950s and his anthology television series ' ...

Starring: Gary Merrill (Paradine), Vaughn Taylor (Old Man), Ben Cooper (Dauger), Addison Myers (Sentry); Mark Tapscott (Lieutenant), Jack Mann (Mallory) ''The Devil is Not Mocked'':
Adapted for television for Night Gallery, aired 27 October 1971
Director: Gene Kearney
Screenwriter: Gene Kearney
Starring: Helmut Dantine (General), Francis Lederer (Master), Hank Brandt (Kranz) ''Rouse Him Not'':
Adapted for TV for Monsters, aired December 1988
Director: Mark Shostrom
Writer: Michael Parry
Starring:
Laraine Newman Laraine Newman (born March 2, 1952) is an American actress, writer and comedian. She was part of the original cast of NBC's ''Saturday Night Live''. She took an interest at improv in high school. After graduating, she studied mime with Marcel M ...
, Terrance Evans and Alex Cord as
John Thunstone John Thunstone is a fictional character and the hero of a series of stories by author Manly Wade Wellman. Thunstone is a scholar and playboy (lifestyle), playboy who investigates mysterious supernatural events. He is physically large and strong, i ...
. ''Who Fears The Devil?''
1972 feature film, edited and re-released in 1973 as ''The Legend of Hillbilly John''
Producer: Barney Rosenzweig
Director: John Newland
Screenwriter: Melvin Levy
Starring: Hedge Capers (John),
Susan Strasberg Susan Elizabeth Strasberg (May 22, 1938 – January 21, 1999) was an American stage, film, and television actress. Imagined to be the next Hepburn-type ingenue, she was nominated for a Tony Award at age 18, playing the title role in ''The Diary ...
(Poly Wiltse),
Denver Pyle Denver Dell Pyle (May 11, 1920 – December 25, 1997) was an American film and television actor and director. He was well known for a number of TV roles from the 1960s through the 1980s, including his portrayal of Briscoe Darling Jr. in se ...
(Grandpappy John), Severn Darden (Mr Marduke), Percy Rodriguez (Capt Lojoie H Desplain IV),
R G Armstrong Robert Golden Armstrong Jr. (April 7, 1917 – July 27, 2012) was an American character actor and playwright. A veteran performer who appeared in dozens of Westerns during his 40-year career, he may be best remembered for his work with directo ...
(Bristowe); Sharon Henesy (Lily); Sidney Clute (Charles); William Traynor (Rev. Millen); Harris Yulin (Zebulon Yandro); Alfred Ryder (O J Onselm); Chester Jones (Uncle Anansi); Val Avery (Cobart); "White Lightnin'" (themselves); "Honor Hound" (himself). Film based on the character of Silver John. Two segments of the film were based on the stories ''O Ugly Bird'' and ''The Desrick on Yandro''. ''School for the Unspeakable''
(on audiotape with Unfortunate Obsession by
Matthew Costello Matthew John Costello (born 1948) is an American writer specializing in the genres of horror, gothic, and science fiction. His articles have appeared in publications including the ''Los Angeles Times'' and ''Sports Illustrated''. He has scripted ...
)
Brilliance Corp 1997 ''Up Under the Roof''
2010 short film (35mm, 20 minutes)
Producer: Danielle Stallings & Darin Read
Director: Darin Read
Screenwriter: Danielle Stallings & Darin Read
Starring: Jonathan Milliken, Shawnna Youngquist, Geoff Elliot, Jill Hill, Vince Froio, Alice Taylor and voice of Greg Finley Based on Wellman's short story entitled "Up Under the Roof"


Legacy

Karl Edward Wagner referred to him as "the dean of fantasy writers."Stephen Jones, "Better Things Waiting: An Interview with Manly Wade Wellman", ''Fantasy Media,'' 2, No 2 (May/June 1980), pp. 14–16


Manly Wade Wellman Award

The Manly Wade Wellman Award, named in his honor, is given out annually since 2013 by the North Carolina Speculative Fiction Foundation for "outstanding achievement in science fiction and fantasy novels written by North Carolina authors". The winners of the award are listed below. *2014 - ''The Shambling Guide to New York City'' by
Mur Lafferty Mur Lafferty (born July 25, 1973) is an American podcaster and writer based in Durham, North Carolina. She was the editor and host of ''Escape Pod (podcast), Escape Pod'' from 2010, when she took over from Steve Eley, until 2012, when she was rep ...
*2015 - ''Ghost Train to New Orleans'' by
Mur Lafferty Mur Lafferty (born July 25, 1973) is an American podcaster and writer based in Durham, North Carolina. She was the editor and host of ''Escape Pod (podcast), Escape Pod'' from 2010, when she took over from Steve Eley, until 2012, when she was rep ...
*2016 - ''Raising Hell'' by
John G. Hartness John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...
*2017 - ''Steeplejack'' by
A. J. Hartley Andrew James Hartley (born 1964) is a British-born American novelist, who writes bestselling and award-winning fiction for children and adults. He also writes thrillers as Andrew Hart. Works The first of three middle grades and young adult advent ...
*2018 - ''Scourge'' by
Gail Z. Martin Gail Zehner Martin (born December 1, 1962) is an American writer of epic fantasy and urban fantasy and is most well known for her ''The Chronicles of The Necromancer'' fantasy adventure series for Solaris Books and Double Dragon Publishing. Biog ...
*2019 - ''Empire of Silence'' by
Christopher Ruocchio Christopher Ruocchio is an American space opera and fantasy writer and an assistant editor at Baen Books. He is best known for his ''Sun Eater'' series, the first of which earned him the 2019 Manly Wade Wellman Award. The second book in the ser ...
*2020 - ''A Fall in Autumn'' by
Michael G. Williams Michael G. Williams is an American author, podcaster, and speaker who writes queer-themed science fiction, horror, and urban fiction novels and short stories. His novel, ''Fall in Autumn,'' won the 2020 Manly Wade Wellman Award. Early life and ...
*2021 - ''Queen of None'' by Natania Barron


Notes


Further reading

*Robert Coulson. "The Recent Fantasies of Manly Wade Wellman". In Darrell Schweitzer (ed). ''Discovering Modern Horror Fiction''. Mercer Island, WA: Starmont House, 1985, pp,. 99-105. * Karl Edward Wagner. "About Manly Wade Wellman". ''World Fantasy 1983: Sixty years of Weird Tales'' (convention program book), pp. 3, 5-6. * Karl Edward Wagner. "Manly Wade Wellman: A Biography". ''The Horror Show'' (Spring 1987), 29–31. Accompanied by a Wellman story, "These Doth the Lord Hate" (pp. 24–28). *''Dictionary of North Carolina Biography'', Vol. 6, William S. Powell, Ed. (1996) at 160–161 (Article by William S. Powell) *''Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers: A Bibliography of First Printings of Their Fiction'', L. W. Currey, G. K. Hall & Co., 1979


External links


Voice of the Mountains
– fan site



* * * * *
Audio recording
of Mr. Wellman participating in author panel discussion during the First World Fantasy Convention in 1975 at ''archive.org'' * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Wellman, Manly Wade 1903 births 1986 deaths 20th-century American Episcopalians American people of Native American descent American fantasy writers American science fiction writers American horror writers 20th-century American novelists Columbia Law School alumni Edgar Award winners World Fantasy Award-winning writers American male novelists Appalachian music 20th-century American male writers Weird fiction writers American expatriates in Angola