Edwin Balmer

Edwin Balmer (July 26, 1883 - March 21, 1959) was an American science fiction and mystery writer. He was born in Chicago 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 before writing for books and magazines. He was editor of Redbook and later became associate publisher.

He died on March 21, 1959 at age 75.

Novels

Together with author Philip Wylie, he wrote the catastrophe novels When Worlds Collide (1933) and After Worlds Collide (1934). The former of the two books was eventually made into an award-winning movie by George Pal.

Comic strip

Balmer also helped create (with artist Marvin Bradley) the syndicated comic strip Speed Spaulding, partially based on the Worlds Collide series, which ran from 1938 through 1941 in the comic book Famous Funnies.

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.

Bibliography

• 1910 – "The Achievements of Luther Trant" with MacHarg
• 1916 – "Blind Man's Eyes" with MacHarg
• 1917 – "The Indian Drum" with MacHarg
• 1920 – "Resurrection Rock" Almost an identical reprint of "The Indian Drum"
• 1923 – "Keeban"
• 1924 – "Fidelia"
• 1925 – "That Royle Girl"
• 1927 – "Dangerous Business"
• 1927 – "Flying Death"
• 1933 – "When Worlds Collide" with Wylie
• 1934 – "After Worlds Collide" with Wylie
• 1934 – "Dragons Drive You"
• 1936 – "The Shield of Silence" with Wylie
• 1956 – "The Candle of the Wicked"
• 1958 – "With All the World Away"

References

• Tuck, Donald H. (1974). The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Chicago: Advent. p. 29. ISBN 0-911682-20-1. 
• Reilly, John M. (1985). 20th century Crime and Mystery Writers, 2nd Edition. New York: St. Martin's Press. p. 50. ISBN 0-312-82418-1. 
• Greasley, Philip A. (2001). Dictionary of Midwestern Literature Volume One: The Authors. Indiana: Indiana University Press. p. 51. ISBN 0-253-33609-0. 

Listen to

• Edwin Balmer introduces Redbook Magazine Radio Dramas (May 26, 1932)

External links

• Edwin Balmer at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
• Works by Edwin Balmer at Project Gutenberg