Philip Harbottle

UK local government officer and sf researcher. Harbottle is the world authority on the works of John Russell Fearn (whom see for details of Harbottle's involvement in his posthumous career) whose literary estate he represents and with whom he has posthumously collaborated, completing several stories. His bibliographical study of Fearn is John Russell Fearn – an Evaluation (1963 chap; exp vt John Russell Fearn: The Ultimate Analysis 1965 chap; further exp vt The Multi-Man: A Biographic and Bibliographic Study of John Russell Fearn (1908-1960) 1968 chap). More generally, Harbottle is an expert in publishing data relating to UK Genre SF, especially in magazine form, and has contributed research to several UK books about sf, most prominently in two linked volumes, Vultures of the Void: A History of British Science Fiction, 1946-1956 (dated 1992 but 1993) and British Science Fiction Paperbacks, 1949-1956 (1995; rev 1996),both with Stephen Holland. He was a consultant on The Visual Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (1977) edited by Brian Ash. He edited the magazine Vision of Tomorrow for its twelve issues, August 1969-September 1970, as well as, anonymously, three Anthologies: Eternal Rediffusion (anth 1973 chap),Flight on Titan (anth 1973 chap) and Passage to Saturn (anth 1973 chap).

More recently he has edited two related anthology series, the first opening with Fantasy Annual #1 (anth 1997) with Sean Wallace, and its effective continuation opening with Fantasy Adventures #1 (anth 2002) edited solo [for details see Checklist below]. These focused on sf in the manner of the 1950s, largely by authors then active: thus Fantasy Annual regulars included E C Tubb, Philip E High, Sydney J Bounds and, posthumously, John Russell Fearn (some tales by the last being reprints). The Ron Turner covers on #3 to #5 were recycled from 1950s UK publications. The second series ended with Fantasy Adventures #13 (anth 2008),an enlarged farewell issue showcasing Eric Brown, John Glasby, Bounds and High, all with multiple stories plus obituary tributes for the last two.