View source for Sterling E. Lanier

{{short description|American novelist}}
{{Infobox writer
|name        = Sterling Edmund Lanier
|image =
|imagesize = |
|pseudonym   = Sterling Lanier, Sterling E. Lanier
|birth_date   = {{birth date|1927|12|18|mf=y}}
|birth_place  = [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]]
|death_date   = {{death date and age|2007|6|28|1927|12|18|mf=y}}
|death_place  = [[Sarasota, Florida|Sarasota]], [[Florida]]
|occupation  = {{flatlist|
* Editor
* author
* sculptor
}}
|genre       = [[Science fiction]], [[fantasy]]
|movement    =
|notablework = ''Hiero's Journey''
|debut_works =
|influences  =
|influenced  =
}}
'''Sterling Edmund Lanier''' (December 18, 1927 – June 28, 2007) was an American editor, [[science fiction author]] and sculptor.<ref name="Clute2007">{{cite web |url=http://news.independent.co.uk/people/obituaries/article2753352.ece |date=July 11, 2007 |title=Sterling E. Lanier |last=Clute |first=John |website=The Independent |publisher=Independent New and Media |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930181309/http://news.independent.co.uk/people/obituaries/article2753352.ece |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He is perhaps known best as the editor who championed the publication of [[Frank Herbert]]’s bestselling novel ''[[Dune (novel)|Dune]]''.
==Life==
Lanier was born on December 18, 1927, in [[New York City]] to Priscilla Thorne Taylor and Berwick Bruce Lanier.<ref name="Reginald2010">{{cite book|last=Reginald|first=R.|title=Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature: A Checklist 1700-1974|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L25ycEzuXxIC&pg=PA968|volume=2: Contemporary Science FIction Authors II|year=1979|publisher=Gale Research Company|isbn=978-0-941028-77-6|pages=968–969}}</ref> He was trained as an anthropologist and archaeologist and educated at [[Harvard University|Harvard]], from which he graduated in 1951. He was a lifelong devotee of [[speculative fiction]] and a [[cryptozoology]] enthusiast. Before beginning his literary career, Lanier worked as a research historian at the [[Winterthur Museum]] from 1958 to 1960.<ref name="SFFA">{{cite web |url=http://www.sfwa.org/news/2007/slanier.htm |date=June 30, 2007 |title=Sterling E. Lanier (1928-2007) |author=Staff writer |website=SFWA |publisher=Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930180743/http://www.sfwa.org/news/2007/slanier.htm |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He died in [[Sarasota, Florida]], at the age of 79.
==Literary career==
Lanier's career as an author and editor began in 1961 when his first short story was published, and he became an editor for [[Chilton Publishing Company|Chilton Books]].
He was with Chilton in 1965, when he was instrumental in persuading the firm to publish [[Frank Herbert]]’s ''[[Dune (novel)|Dune]]''. Having read ''Dune World'' in ''[[Analog Science Fiction and Fact|Analog]]'' magazine, he was responsible for tracking down the author and conveying Chilton's offer. More than twenty other publishing companies had already turned the book down.  Despite Lanier's insight into the book's value, he was dismissed from Chilton a year later because of high publication costs and poor initial book sales. Lanier also worked as an editor for the [[John C. Winston Company]] and [[McRae-Smith]].
The most prominent of Lanier's writings are his stories of the crypto-adventurer Brigadier Donald Ffellowes (told in the "club story" style of [[Lord Dunsany]]'s ''[[Jorkens]]'' tales) and the [[Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction|post-apocalyptic]] novels ''[[Hiero's Journey (novel)|Hiero's Journey]]'' (1973) and ''[[The Unforsaken Hiero (novel)|The Unforsaken Hiero]]'' (1983). His short story "A Father's Tale" (1974) was a [[World Fantasy Award]] nominee.
==Sculpture==
Lanier's sculptures have been exhibited at several museums, including the [[Smithsonian Institution]]. He specialized in miniatures, among which were a series featuring characters from [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]’s ''[[The Lord of the Rings]] ''. One set was given to Tolkien himself, with whom Lanier corresponded. Tolkien reportedly admired the miniatures but did not want them to be marketed commercially, a wish Lanier respected.
== Bibliography ==
=== Hiero Desteen ===
* ''[[Hiero's Journey (novel)|Hiero's Journey]]'' (Chilton, 1973)<ref>The Chilton hardcover was published in June 1973. The [[Bantam Books]] paperback edition appeared in May 1974. Intended as the first of an uncompleted trilogy. The paperback was published as "A [[Frederik Pohl]] Selection", as it was chosen by the well-known editor. That designation appears on the cover, as well as pages i and ii.</ref>
* ''[[The Unforsaken Hiero (novel)|The Unforsaken Hiero]]'' (1983)
* ''[[Hiero's Answer (novel)|Hiero's Answer]]'' (2024)
=== Brigadier Ffellowes ===
* ''[[The Peculiar Exploits of Brigadier Ffellowes]]'' (1971) [collection: contents as TPEOBF below]
* ''[[The Curious Quests of Brigadier Ffellowes]]'' (1986) [collection: contents as TCQOBF below; 1 original]
===Novels===
* ''The War for the Lot'' (1969)
* ''Menace Under Marswood'' (1983)
===Short stories===
* "Join Our Gang?" (1961)
* "Deathchild" (1968)
* "The Kings of the Sea" (1968) [TPEOBF]
* "Soldier Key" (1968) [TPEOBF]
* "Such Stuff as Dreams" (1968)
* "Whose Short Happy Life?" (1968)
* "A Feminine Jurisdiction" (1969) [TPEOBF]
* "Fraternity Brother" (1969) [TPEOBF]
* "The Leftovers" (1969) [TPEOBF]
* "His Only Safari" (1970) [TPEOBF]
* "Never Cry Human" (1970)
* "And the Voice of the Turtle" (1972) [TCQOBF]
* "Thinking of the Unthinkable" (1973) [TCQOBF]
* "A Father's Tale" (1974) [TCQOBF]
* "No Traveler Returns" (1974)
* "Ghost of a Crown" (1976) [TCQOBF]
* "The Syndicated Time" (1978)
* "Commander in the Mist" (1982) [TCQOBF]
* "The Brigadier in Check—and Mate" (1986) [TCQOBF; original]
== In popular culture ==
In the videogame [[Elite Dangerous|Elite: Dangerous]], a Coriolis Starport in the Audheim system is named after Lanier, bearing the name Lanier Ring.
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* {{ISFDB name|id=Sterling_E._Lanier|name=Sterling E. Lanier}}
* {{Gutenberg author |id=34292| name=Sterling E. Lanier}}
* {{Librivox author |id=11246}}
*[http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/l/sterling-e-lanier/ Fantastic Fiction entry]
*[http://www.iblist.com/author732.htm Internet Book List entry]
*[http://www.locusmag.com/2007/2007NewsArchive.html Obituary by Locus online]
*[http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/lanier-obit/ Obituary by Loren Coleman]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lanier, Sterling Edmund}}
[[Category:1927 births]]
[[Category:2007 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American novelists]]
[[Category:American fantasy writers]]
[[Category:American male novelists]]
[[Category:American science fiction writers]]
[[Category:The Harvard Lampoon alumni]]
[[Category:American male short story writers]]
[[Category:20th-century American short story writers]]
[[Category:20th-century American male writers]]
[[Category:People associated with Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library]]