Reginald Bretnor (born Alfred Reginald Kahn; July 30, 1911 – July 22, 1992) was an American

science fiction Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...

editor and author, and contributor on warfare and other subjects, who published substantial work between the 1950s and 1980s. Bretnor worked extensively both to write science fiction and to edit science and science fiction-related compendia (e.g., his trilogy of symposia beginning with ''Science Fiction Today and Tomorrow: A Discursive Symposium'' (1975), and he edited some of the earliest books to consider science fiction from the perspective of literary theory and criticism. His non-fiction included works on military history, theory, and

futurology Futures studies, futures research or futurology is the systematic, interdisciplinary and holistic study of social and technological advancement, and other environmental trends, often for the purpose of exploring how people will live and wor ...

(e.g., his trilogy on ''The Future of War'', beginning 1979), as well as on public affairs. Most of Bretnor's own fiction, science fiction and otherwise, was in short story form, and often featured whimsical story lines or ironic plot twists.

Early life and education

Reginald Bretnor was born on July 30, 1911, in

Vladivostok Vladivostok ( ; , ) is the largest city and the administrative center of Primorsky Krai and the capital of the Far Eastern Federal District of Russia. It is located around the Zolotoy Rog, Golden Horn Bay on the Sea of Japan, covering an area o ...

, in the

Russian empire The Russian Empire was an empire that spanned most of northern Eurasia from its establishment in November 1721 until the proclamation of the Russian Republic in September 1917. At its height in the late 19th century, it covered about , roughl ...

. Bretnor's father, Grigory Kahn, has alternatively been described as a "Latvian Jewish banker", and a

Russian Jew The history of the Jews in Russia and areas historically connected with it goes back at least 1,500 years. Jews in Russia have historically constituted a large religious and ethnic diaspora; the Russian Empire at one time hosted the largest po ...

, and his mother, her name not yet identified in a biographical source, alternatively as an English governess, and one born British that became a Russian subject. Bretnor's family left Siberia for Japan, spending from 1917 to 1920 there, then moving to

San Diego, California San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...

. Al least one other source states it was his mother that settled them—she, and the children Reginald and Margaret—in the United States, in 1920.

Military and governmental service

According to papers in the SOHS Archives, Bretnor's military background included service in the last cavalry unit in the U.S. Army. Health issues led to his discharge in August 1941. He tried to reenlist in 1942, but was rejected. He was hired by the

Office of War Information The United States Office of War Information (OWI) was a United States government agency created during World War II. The OWI operated from June 1942 until September 1945. Through radio broadcasts, newspapers, posters, photographs, films and other ...

to write propaganda to be sent to Japan, and papers related to his work are held in the SOHS Archives. After World War II, Bretnor worked for the U.S. State Department until ill health once again caused him to resign.

Literary career

Bretnor contributed substantial work as an American science fiction author and editor between the 1950s and 1980s. As well, Bretnor worked extensively to edit science and science fiction-related compendia, and he edited some of the earliest books to consider science fiction from the perspective of literary theory and criticism. Bretnor wrote and edited extensively in the area of non-fiction, including substantial works on military theory, and some on public affairs. He wrote multiple articles, including on cats, and he translated ''Les Chats'', the first known book about cats, written by Moncrif in 1727.

Bibliography

Papa Schimmelhorn series

* '' The Gnurrs Come from the Voodvork Out'' (short story, 1950),{{full, date=March 2025 a Retro-Hugo Best Short Story award nominee for 1951. * ''Little Anton'' (novelette, 1951).{{full, date=March 2025 * ''Papa Schimmelhorn and the S.O.D.O.M. Serum'' (1973).{{what, date=March 2025{{full, date=March 2025 * ''Count Von Schimmelhorn and the Time-Pony'' (novella, 1974).{{full, date=March 2025 * ''The Ladies of Beetlegoose Nine'' (novella, 1976).{{full, date=March 2025 * ''Papa Schimmelhorn's Yang'' (novelette, 1978).{{full, date=March 2025 * ''The Schimmelhorn File: Memoirs of a Dirty Old Genius'' (collection, 1979).{{full, date=March 2025 * ''Schimmelhorn's Gold'' (novel, 1986).{{full, date=March 2025 * ''Nobelist Schimmelhorn'' (novelette, 1987).{{full, date=March 2025

Symposia on science fiction

Reginald Bretnor organised and edited several substantial volumes, inviting leading SF authors and science writers to contributing essays to his virtual symposia,{{cite web , url=http://www.depauw.edu/SFs/reviews_pages/r3.htm#c3 , title=Bretnor Returns , publisher=

DePauw University DePauw University ( ) is a private liberal arts college in Greencastle, Indiana, United States. It was founded in 1837 as Indiana Asbury College and changed its name to DePauw University in 1884. The college has a Methodist heritage and was ...

, work=Science Fiction Studies #3 , first=Charles , last=Nicol , author-link=Charles Nicol , date=Spring 1974 , access-date=2008-12-12 , url-status=dead , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509164511/http://www.depauw.edu/sfs/reviews_pages/r3.htm#c3 , archive-date=2008-05-09 including the following, discussing the science fiction genre: * ''Science Fiction Today and Tomorrow: A Discursive Symposium'' (1975, with

Frederik Pohl Frederik George Pohl Jr. (; November 26, 1919 – September 2, 2013) was an American list of science fiction authors, science-fiction writer, editor, and science fiction fandom, fan, with a career spanning nearly 75 years—from his first ...

Poul Anderson Poul William Anderson ( ; November 25, 1926 – July 31, 2001) was an American fantasy and science fiction author who was active from the 1940s until his death in 2001. Anderson also wrote historical novels. He won the Hugo Award seven times an ...

Jack Williamson John Stewart Williamson (April 29, 1908 – November 10, 2006) was an American list of science fiction authors, science fiction writer, one of several called the "Dean of Science Fiction". He is also credited with one of the first uses of the t ...

Ray Bradbury Ray Douglas Bradbury ( ; August 22, 1920June 5, 2012) was an American author and screenwriter. One of the most celebrated 20th-century American writers, he worked in a variety of genres, including fantasy, science fiction, Horror fiction, horr ...

Hal Clement Harry Clement Stubbs (May 30, 1922 – October 29, 2003), better known by the pen name Hal Clement, was an American people, American science fiction writer and a leader of the hard science fiction subgenre. He also painted astronomically oriented ...

Isaac Asimov Isaac Asimov ( ; – April 6, 1992) was an Russian-born American writer and professor of biochemistry at Boston University. During his lifetime, Asimov was considered one of the "Big Three" science fiction writers, along with Robert A. H ...

Frank Herbert Franklin Patrick Herbert Jr. (October 8, 1920February 11, 1986) was an American science-fiction author, best known for his 1965 novel Dune (novel), ''Dune'' and its five sequels. He also wrote short stories and worked as a newspaper journalist, ...

Hugo Gernsback Hugo Gernsback (; born Hugo Gernsbacher, August 16, 1884 – August 19, 1967) was a Luxembourgish American editor and magazine publisher whose publications included the first science fiction magazine, ''Amazing Stories''. His contributions to ...

Theodore Sturgeon Theodore Sturgeon (; born Edward Hamilton Waldo, February 26, 1918 – May 8, 1985) was an American author of primarily fantasy fiction, fantasy, science fiction, and Horror fiction, horror, as well as a critic. He wrote approximately 400 ...

, A. E. van Vogt, Cory Panshin,

Larry Niven Laurence van Cott Niven (; born April 30, 1938) is an American science fiction writer. His 1970 novel ''Ringworld'' won the Hugo Award for Best Novel, Hugo, Locus Award, Locus, Ditmar Award, Ditmar, and Nebula Award for Best Novel, Nebula award ...

James Blish James Benjamin “Jimmy” Blish () was an American science fiction and fantasy writer. He is best known for his ''Cities in Flight'' novels and his series of ''Star Trek'' novelizations written with his wife, J. A. Lawrence. His novel ''A Case ...

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 science fiction, New Wave speculative fiction and for his outspoken, combative personality. His published wo ...

, E. E. Smith){{cite book , url=https://books.google.com/books?id=52dlAAAAMAAJ , title=Google Book Search: Science Fiction, Today and Tomorrow , isbn=9780060104672 , access-date=2008-12-12, last1=Bova , first1=Ben , year=1974 , publisher=Harper & Row * ''The Craft of Science Fiction: A Symposium on Writing Science Fiction and Science Fantasy'' (1976, with

Robert A. Heinlein Robert Anson Heinlein ( ; July 7, 1907 – May 8, 1988) was an American science fiction author, aeronautical engineer, and naval officer. Sometimes called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was among the first to emphasize scientific acc ...

, A. E. van Vogt,

Jerry Pournelle Jerry Eugene Pournelle (; August 7, 1933 – September 8, 2017) was an American scientist in the area of operations research and ergonomics, human factors research, a science fiction writer, essayist, journalist, and one of the first bloggers. ...

Norman Spinrad Norman Richard Spinrad (born September 15, 1940) is an American science fiction author, essayist, and critic. His fiction has won the Prix Apollo Award, Prix Apollo and been nominated for numerous awards, including the Hugo Award and multiple N ...

){{cite book , url=https://books.google.com/books?id=up1ZAAAAMAAJ&q=The+Craft+of+Science+Fiction , title=Google Book Search: The Craft of Science Fiction , isbn=9780060104610 , access-date=2008-12-12, last1=Bretnor , first1=Reginald , year=1976 , publisher=Harper & Row * ''Modern Science Fiction: Its Meaning and Its Future'' (1953,{{cite book , url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j2YOAAAAIAAJ&q=Modern+Science+Fiction:+Its+Meaning+and+Its+Future, title=Google Book Search: Modern Science Fiction: Its Meaning and Its Future , access-date=2008-12-12, last1=Campbell , first1=John W. , year=1953 second edition 1979, with John W. Campbell, Jr.,

Anthony Boucher William Anthony Parker White (August 21, 1911 – April 29, 1968), better known by his pen name Anthony Boucher (), was an American author, critic, and editor who wrote several classic mystery novels, short stories, science fiction, and radio dr ...

Fletcher Pratt Murray Fletcher Pratt (25 April 1897 – 10 June 1956) was an American people, American List of science fiction authors, writer of history, science fiction, and fantasy. He is best known for his works on naval history and the American Civil War an ...

L. Sprague de Camp Lyon Sprague de Camp (; November 27, 1907 – November 6, 2000) was an American author of science fiction, Fantasy literature, fantasy and non-fiction literature. In a career spanning 60 years, he wrote over 100 books, both novels and works of ...

, Arthur C. Clarke,

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 ...

, Gerald Heard){{cite book , url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gChaAAAAMAAJ&q=Second+edition, title=Google Book Search: Modern Science Fiction: Its Meaning and Its Future 'second edition' , isbn=9780911682236 , access-date=2008-12-12, last1=Campbell , first1=John Wood , year=1979 , publisher=Advent Publishers

Non-fiction anthologies and related works

Further volumes Bretnor wrote or organised, again leading to substantial volumes, were on the subject of the military and war.{{cn, date=March 2025 In 1969, Bretnor published ''Decisive Warfare''. Largely unnoticed by his science fiction readership and foreshadowing his ''Future at War'' series in 1979-1980,{{cn, date=March 2025 it proved him a scholar of varied talents.{{says who, date=March 2025{{cn, date=March 2025 His collection ''Of Force and Violence and Other Imponderables: Essays on War, Politics, and Government'' was published in 1992,{{cn, date=March 2025 the year of his death. * ''Decisive Warfare: A Study in Military Theory'' (1969, author).{{full, date=March 2025 * ''The Future at War I: Thor's Hammer'' (1979, editor).{{full, date=March 2025 * ''The Future at War II: The Spear of Mars'' (1980, editor).{{full, date=March 2025 * ''The Future at War III: Orion's Sword'' (1980, editor).{{full, date=March 2025 * ''Of Force and Violence and Other Imponderables: Essays on War, Politics, and Government'' (1992, editor).{{cn, date=March 2025

Other fiction works

* ''Maybe Just A Little One'' (short story, 1947).{{cite web , url=http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/bibliography/fsf1stswho01.htm , title=First publications (by author) , work=

The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction ''The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction'' (usually referred to as ''F&SF'') is a U.S. fantasy fiction magazine, fantasy and science-fiction magazine, first published in 1949 by Mystery House, a subsidiary of Lawrence E. Spivak, Lawrence Spiv ...

, access-date=2008-12-12{{full, date=March 2025{{full, date=March 2025 * ''A Killing in Swords'' (1978).{{what, date=March 2025{{full, date=March 2025 * ''The Doorstep'' (1957, and earlier).{{what, date=March 2025{{full, date=March 2025 * ''The Man On Top''.{{when, date=March 2025{{what, date=March 2025{{full, date=March 2025 * ''Cat''.{{when, date=March 2025{{what, date=March 2025{{full, date=March 2025 * '' Genius of the Species''.{{when, date=March 2025{{what, date=March 2025{{full, date=March 2025 * ''The Past and Its Dead People''.{{when, date=March 2025{{what, date=March 2025{{full, date=March 2025 * ''Old Uncle Tom Cobleigh and All''.{{when, date=March 2025{{what, date=March 2025{{full, date=March 2025 * ''The Proud Foot of the Conqueror''.{{when, date=March 2025{{what, date=March 2025{{full, date=March 2025 * ''Unknown Things''.{{when, date=March 2025{{what, date=March 2025{{full, date=March 2025 * ''The Timeless Tales of Reginald Bretnor'' (posthumous collection, 15 short stories).{{when, date=March 2025{{full, date=March 2025

Ferdinand Feghoot series

{{unreferenced section, date=March 2025 Under the pseudonym Grendel Briarton (an anagram of Reginald Bretnor), he published a series of over eighty science-fiction themed shaggy-dog vignettes featuring the time-traveling hero Ferdinand Feghoot. Known as " Feghoots", the stories involved Feghoot resolving a situation encountered while traveling through time and space (à la

Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series, created by Sydney Newman, C. E. Webber and Donald Wilson (writer and producer), Donald Wilson, depicts the adventures of an extraterre ...

) with a bad pun. In one example, he explained his inability to pay his dues for a Sherlock Holmes fan society by turning out his empty pockets and declaring "share lack". In his adventures, Feghoot worked for the Society for the Aesthetic Re-Arrangement of History and traveled via a device that had no name but was typographically represented as the ")(". In 1980, ''The Compleat Feghoot'' collected all of Bretnor's Feghoots published up to that time and included a selection of winners and honorable mentions from a contest run by ''

''. The book is, as of 2006, out of print and very rare.

Other writings

{{expand section, with = actual facts, supported by reliable, independent citations, that indicate other areas in which he wrote , small = no , date = March 2025 Bretnor also wrote nonfiction articles for the

survivalist Survivalism is a social movement of individuals or groups (called survivalists, doomsday preppers or preppers) who proactively prepare for emergencies, such as natural disasters, and other disasters causing disruption to social order (that is, ...

newsletter ''P.S. Letter'', edited by

Mel Tappan Mel Tappan (1933 – 1980, born Melrose H. Tappan III) was the editor of the newsletter ''Personal Survival ("P.S.") Letter'' and the books ''Survival Guns'' and ''Tappan on Survival''. Tappan was an influential leader of the Survivalist movement ...

.{{cn, date=March 2025

Personal life

{{expand section, with = actual facts, supported by reliable, independent citations, that shed light on the personal life of the title subject (places of residence, committed relationships including marriage and family, non-work avocations and affiliations, etc.) , small = no , date = March 2025 Brentor was married to Helen Harding, a translator and U.C. Berkeley librarian, from 1948 until her death in 1967.{{cn, date=March 2025 He subsequently married Rosalie,{{when, date=March 2025 whom he referred to in a letter in the Southern Oregon Historical Society Archives as Rosalie McShane, although she wrote under the name Rosalie Bodrero.{{cn, date=March 2025 Brentnor died at the age of 80, in

Medford, Oregon Medford is a city in and the county seat of Jackson County, Oregon, in the United States. As of the 2020 United States census on April 1, 2020, the city had a total population of 85,824, making it the List of cities in Oregon, eighth-most populo ...

, on July 22, 1992.{{cn, date=March 2025 The

Church of Satan The Church of Satan (CoS) is a religious organization dedicated to the religion of LaVeyan Satanism, Satanism as defined by Anton Szandor LaVey. Founded in San Francisco in 1966, by Anton LaVey, LaVey, it is considered the "oldest satanic reli ...

website alleges that Bretnor was an early associate of Anton Szandor LaVey before his founding of the

, and that Bretnor and other science fiction authors were members of LaVey's "Order of the Trapezoid" in the early 1950s.{{cite web , url=http://www.churchofsatan.com/Pages/CShistory2MC.html , title=The Church of Satan—A Brief History , first=Blanche , last=Barton , author-link=Blanche Barton , access-date=2008-12-12{{better source, date=March 2025{{dubious, date=March 2025

References

{{Reflist

External links

Ferdinand Feghoot series
in ''

''
Schimmelhorn series
in ''

''
AuthorWars.com Bibliography

{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050922085851/http://www.bretnor.com/BretnorBio.html , date=2005-09-22 to ''The Timeless Tales of Reginald Bretnor''

{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050306053221/http://www.bretnor.com/BretnorIntro.html , date=2005-03-06 by

Bretnor Archives Virtual Exhibit
{dead link, date=January 2018 , bot=InternetArchiveBot , fix-attempted=yes by the Southern Oregon Historical Society * {{isfdb name, id=Reginald_Bretnor, name=Reginald Bretnor

at ''Free Speculative Fiction Online'' * {{Gutenberg author , id=35755, name=Reginald Bretnor {{Authority control {{DEFAULTSORT:Bretnor, Reginald 1911 births 1992 deaths 20th-century American novelists 20th-century American male writers American male novelists American science fiction writers Writers from Vladivostok American male short story writers 20th-century American short story writers People of the United States Office of War Information Emigrants from the Russian Empire to the United States