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Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Remember to breathe

I forgot to remember to breathe, and it shows, doesn't it, with all that crabbiness of the last few posts. I'm sitting at my art school computer, and I don't really have an image that I can post nearby, so I offer humbly some space...




















... and my favorite find of today's crop of ebay searches: a name.

MANLY BANISTER

Isn't that a great name?

I thought it MUST be a pseudonym, but then I found an article written by him where he tells of creating a flotilla of pseudonyms to fill the first issue of his mimeographed zine (note to anyone thinking that 'zine' is a modern term). As if you could make up a better one than his own name! I am all curiosity as to what those pseudonyms were, and if I ever get time, will hunt down a copy of the first issue of The Nekromantikon to find out.

If anyone out there know anything about any of this, please share!

10 comments:

TimT said...

What a great name! His middle name is Miles: Manly Miles Banister.

I found a brief biography here:

I did a search in the BOOK_ARTS-L archive on Manly Banister and found mixed views on his work. The most condescending was the one that said "Manly Banister is to Book Arts and Printmaking what Richard M. Nixon was to
acting". While I admit that Banister may not have gotten everything right, his equipment designs are sound. ... I found short fiction in various science fiction magazines, culminating in the publication of the science fiction novel "Conquest of Earth" in the 1950's. He published a science fiction fanzine in the 40's and 50's called NEKROMANTIKON. The first issue's cover was a linoleum cut carved and printed by Banister. NEKROMANTIKON set a new standard for fanzines of the day. ...

In our current consumer society, most of us simply go out and buy what we need to pursue our interests. Manly Banister belongs to a mostly vanished breed who had to MAKE the tools to pursue their interests. While he may have used Elmer's Glue when he should have used a more archival product, and
used alum in his paste when we know now that's not a good idea, his works are a product of his time.


Manly Banister, I salute thee!

TimT said...

Fans quibble over his name and introduce a non-existent cousin here. Cheeky!

By Michael Samerdyke on Wednesday, May 18, 2005 - 07:41 am: Edit

Actually, there was an author named Manly (Manley?) Bannister back in the days of Weird Tales. His most reprinted story is "Eena," about a hunter who falls in love with a female werewolf.

By James M. Pfundstein on Wednesday, May 18, 2005 - 12:15 pm: Edit

Not to be fussy, but isn't it Manly Banister (with one n)?

Fussy Banister was Manly Banister's spinster cousin, who wrote an etiquette column for the Didn't Really Exist Bugle-Picayune.

Ampersand Duck said...

Well, isn't that the bomb?

You rock, TimT! Thanks for all that. I'm a fan of Manly Miles already.

eleanor bloom said...

Yes, wonderful name! I think I’ll name my next pet after him (I’m imagining a beefy looking goldfish).
Wanted to say thanks for the link to his article. He’s quite funny. Eg. ‘for I sweated with frustration of a desire to clobber the cuss.’ and ‘Heavens to Betsy! I thought (cleaning up the expression)’
All I know is that he wrote pulp sci-fi (1940s, 50s), was a fanzine editor, and he died in 1986.
Thanks again for the entertainment.

Anonymous said...

I was once told I have a Bondi Chest, meaning it is far from Manly. But yes its a great name.

Mummy/Crit said...

That space was a really useful reminder to clear some space in my head, and my house. Thank you. Almost as good as a nice photo.

fifi said...

I just googleimaged ole manly. There are some magazine covers he did.

They sort of remind me of those old education dept issue school magazines with the illustration on the front.
Except on drugs.

harry said...

Mmmmm.... drigs.


I mean "drugs".

Anonymous said...

THERE IS NOTHING HUMOROUS ABOUT HIS NAME, GREAT NAME FOR A WRITER. I CORRESPONDED WITH MANLY BANISTER AND HAD A STORY PUBLISHED IN THE NEKROMANTIKON." " HOUSE OF SHADOWS." DON'T REMEMBER WHICH ISSUE.MANLY WAS A NICE GUY. HE ADVISED ME TO KEEP WRITING BUT I NEVER AMOUNTED TO ANYTHING.INSTEAD, I GOT INTO RADIO AND WROTE COMMERCIALS.STILL DIDN'T AMOUNT TO ANYTHING.

Ampersand Duck said...

Thanks for dropping by, Anon. I don't think any of us disagree that it's a great name for a writer!