DAVENPORT, Basil

(1905-1966)

   US academic and anthologist. His connection with sf began with An Introduction to Islandia, its History, Custom, Laws, Language, and Geography, as Prepared by Basil Davenport from Islandia (1942 chap), a book about Islandia (1942) by Austin Tappan WRIGHT. Then came a short critical and historical study, Inquiry into Science Fiction (1955chap). BD also introduced the anonymously edited critical anthology The Science Fiction Novel: Imagination and Social Criticism (anth 1959; rev 1964), which contains lectures delivered by Alfred BESTER, Robert BLOCH, Robert A. HEINLEIN and C.M. KORNBLUTH at a 1957 symposium at the University of Chicago. His anthologies are in the main fantasy rather than sf. Three were compiled with the aid of Albert Paul Blaustein (Allen DE GRAEFF), uncredited: Deals with the Devil (anth 1958; cut vt Twelve Stories from Deals with the Devil: An Anthology 1959), Invisible Men (anth 1960) and Famous Monster Tales (anth 1967). His other anthologies are Ghostly Tales to be Told (anth 1950), Tales to be Told in the Dark (anth 1953; cut vt Horror Stories from Tales to be Told in the Dark 1960) and 13 Ways to Dispose of a Body (anth 1966).

   PN

   See also: SF IN THE CLASSROOM.