LACH-SZYRMA, W(ladislaw) S(omerville)

(1841-1915)

   UK Anglican clergyman and author who began writing his series of interplanetary romances featuring the travels around the Solar System of the winged Venusian Aleriel in a magazine story in 1865; this was incorporated into A Voice from Another World (1874 as by WSL-S; exp vt Aleriel, or A Voyage to Other Worlds as by the Rev. W.S. Lach-Szyrma1883). Aleriel's further travels were chronicled in his anonymous Letters from the Planets series in Cassell's Family Magazine, 9 stories (1887-93) which were reprinted in Worlds Apart (anth 1972) ed George LOCKE. Under Other Conditions (1892), which belongs to the series, tells of anotherVenusian's adventures on Earth. These rather preachy stories concentrate on sightseeing and ethics, but fair-mindedly stress that other planetary conditions may lead to other customs. Lach-Szyrma could be considered a minor forerunner to C.S. LEWIS.

   PN

   See also: MARS; MOON; VENUS.