HUNTER, Norman (George Lorimer)

(1899-)

   UK writer first active before WWII, his publishing career having begun with Simplified Conjuring for All (1923); he was in fact a professional conjuror. A humorous fairy tale, "The Bad Barons of Crashbania", appeared with Gertrude Monro Higgins's "Kings and Queens" ashalf a chapbook (coll 1932 chap). He lived in South Africa 1949-70, a period during which he published nothing. His classic CHILDREN'S SF series about Professor Branestawm and his inventions - The Incredible Adventures of Professor Branestawm (coll 1933), Professor Branestawm's Treasure Hunt (coll 1937), Stories of Professor Branestawm (coll 1939), The PeculiarTriumph of Professor Branestawm (coll 1970), Professor Branestawm up the Pole (coll 1972), Professor Branestawm's Great Revolution (coll 1974), Professor Branestawn 'round the Bend (coll 1977) and Professor Branestawm's Perilous Pudding (coll 1979) - delightfully involves the professor and his extraordinary devices in various exploits and entanglements. There followed a compilation, The Best of Branestawm (coll 1980), and a series of booklets: Professor Branestawm and the Wild Letters(1981 chap), Professor Branestawm's Pocket Motor Car (1982 chap), Professor Branestawm's Mouse War (1982 chap), Professor Branestawm's Crunchy Crockery (1983 chap) and Professor Branestawm's Hair-Raising Idea (1983 chap). The initial titles inspired a 1969 UK tv series. NH also wrote a number of tales for younger children, many of them revolving around the King and Queen of Incrediblania.

   JC