Wednesday Oct 12, 2016

The Appendix N Podcast - Episode 34 - Lest Darkness Fall by L. Sprague de Camp

A classic time-travel story of modern man’s confrontation with the ancient world. Martin “Mouse” Padway plays a giant game of Civ with the real world. Can he prevent the fall of Rome?

www.nobleknight.com

Lyon Sprague de Camp

November 27, 1907 - November 6, 2000 (age 92)

Wiki “In a career spanning 60 years, he wrote over 100 books, including novels and works of non-fiction, including biographies of other fantasy authors. He was a major figure in science fiction during the genre's heyday in the 1930s and 1940s.”

born in New York City

sent to boarding school “to cure him of intellectual arrogance and lack of discipline;” he was bullied and developed a detached analytical style

he was an aeronautical engineer, did undergraduate study at California Institute of Technology; earned B of Sci at Caltech; earned Masters in Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology in 1933

his first job took him to Scranton, PA!!

during WW2 was a researcher at the Philadelphia Naval Yard, where he worked with Robert A. Heinlein and Isaac Asimov

founding member of Swordsmen and Sorcerers Guild of America (SAGA), in the 60’s, led by Lin Carter

Lest Darkness Fall

one of the earliest and most influential alternate history novels

first published as short story in Unknown, December 1939

published as novel by Henry Holt and Company, 1941

Harry Turtledove said it sparked his interest in alternate history

Extra History - Justinian & Theodora

https://youtu.be/H_2E0RxVHH4?list=PLhyKYa0YJ_5BuNVhOt8Ls82Cr20yo6Y_p

My guest:

Louis Brenton