John Campbell, American science fiction writer: biography, creativity

John Campbell is a famous American writer of the 30s. John's works are still a success, despite the fact that in books he described a completely different age with other technologies.

Biography of the writer

Born John Wood Campbell June 8, 1910 in a small town that is in the state of New Jersey.

He received his education at the University of Massachusetts. On one education, John Campbell did not stop and continued his studies at Duke University. Writing John Wood began as a student, so at the time when he received a bachelor's degree in physics, he was already known as a science fiction writer.

About creativity

John became one of the first writers who were the authors of fantastic works. Campbell's creativity is different in that they contain not only elements of a fantastic genre, but also a genre of horror. Reviews of books by John Campbell are positive, even today there are many readers who are delighted with what the author wrote. In the books of the writer one can not even meet the prerequisites for modern technologies, as the author described specifically the 30s of the last century.

Important is the fact that to the books of the American writer for a long time there was no translation from English. Only closer to the 50th years of the book began to translate.

Speaking of John Wood, it is important to note that for many people he became a classic of the horror genre. Despite the fact that Campbell's works were divided into the second literary plan in the 1950s (many scientific journals were published, works in which were of more literary than scientific character), his stories and novels are known today.

Shield

Many works by John Campbell have made excellent films, although they can not evoke the emotions that arise in reading.

One of the most famous adaptations was the film "Something", released on screens in 1951. The director, who was the first who dared to take on this work, became Christian Nayby. The film received a huge number of awards and prizes.

The work that formed the basis of the film, was called "Who goes?". There is not one film adaptation of this work. If, for the first time on the motives of the story, a film was made, which was released in 1951, the next was a 1982 film. In the second adaptation of this work, a famous actor, like Kurt Russell, starred. Reading reviews on the second film, you can find statements about the fact that the film is perfectly shot and leaves the same impressions as all the famous movie "Alien". John Carpenter was the second director to film this work.

The third time the work was filmed in 2001 by director Mattis van Heyigen junior. One of the main roles was played by actress Mary Winstead, despite the fact that in the previous adaptations the main roles were played only by male actors. Filming took place in British Columbia, because it is there that the landscape is most like the snow and glacial nature of the Antarctic. The new film, which was a remake for the film adaptation of 1982, earned high marks and liked the audience.

Awards

In 1968, John Wood awarded the "Skylark" for having spent a huge amount of effort to make the literary genre of fiction become the most developed.

In 1971, the story "Twilight" and the story "Who is coming?" Became the two most rated stories among the small fantastic works of the 40s. The writer deservedly won first place. The winner was determined by readers.

In 1996, the writer was included in the lists of writers who are members of the Science Fiction Hall of Fame. This honor was presented to John Vood already posthumously.

In the same year, the writer posthumously received the award of the best editor, who worked in 1945.

In 2001, John received the posthumous award of the best editor who worked in 1950, and in 2004 - the best editor who worked in 1967.

Memory of the writer

In memory of creativity and contribution to the development of science fiction, prizes were created. There were only two of them: the first was called "John Campbell Memorial Prize for the best novel of the science fiction genre"; The second - "John Campbell Award", which is awarded to the best new writers, writing in the genre of fiction.

The story "Who is going?"

John Campbell's "Who's Coming?" Became one of the most famous stories of the writer's entire work. The story was published in 1938, and immediately gained immense popularity among readers. Despite the fact that in the plot of the work there are no new technologies, and to this day it is read, responding to the story with delight.

The work is written in the genre of fantasy and horror. The story is deservedly called the literary classics of horror. The events taking place in the book create an eerie atmosphere, and the behavior of the characters only doubles the horror when reading. Despite this, the book remains in memory as something amazing, capable of causing unique impressions.

For a long time there was no translation from English of this work. However, today you can find a Russian version. It is shortened, which makes the work even smaller than it exists in the original. However, this does not become a hindrance to those readers who develop in the field of their literary experience.

Contents of the work

In the center of the plot is a research group that went on an expedition to Antarctica. Long research, one of the members of the group accidentally finds something strange and inexplicable right in the ice surface. Gathering other members of the group, he shows the find, and colleagues conclude that this is a living being. That's just what this is for the creation - remains a mystery for the entire research team.

A group of scientists-researchers comes to a decision: you need to unfreeze the creature and carefully study. However, everything takes a completely different turn - the creature comes to life and begins inexplicable chaos. Trying to kill an alien creature, people understand that it is almost impossible to do this - this creature can take on the appearance of different beings living on Earth. It takes the form of a person, the appearance of a dog, a cat and many others. Struggling for their lives, can the research group survive in the Antarctic or will this creature win? ..