TABLE OF CONTENTS

Overview of the Collection

Biographical History

Scope and Contents of the Collection

Arrangement of the Collection

Restrictions

Subject and Genre Headings

Related Material

Administrative Information

Inventory

1969 Accession (1952-1969)

1970 Accession (1951-1970)

1978 Accession (1961-1977)

Piers Anthony Papers

An inventory of his papers at Syracuse University

Biographical History

Piers Anthony (born Piers Anthony Dillingham Jacob in Oxford, England, in 1934) is an American novelist. Anthony's family came to the United States when he was four years old; he graduated from Goddard College in Vermont, served in the United States Army (1957-1959), and became a citizen in his twenties. While in the army he was editor and cartoonist for the battalion newspaper, and in the early 1960s he turned to writing full-time. He is one of the most prolific science fiction and fantasy authors with numerous best-sellers to his credit along with almost a dozen Hugo and Nebula Award nominations. In addition to dozens of science fiction and fantasy novels, he has written historical fiction, martial arts, and horror.

He is best know for his seven-volume Incarnations of Immortality and for the long-running Xanth series which has more than thirty titles, most of which are puns (e.g. Faun and Games, Swell Foop, Roc and a Hard Place, Stork Naked). He has been nominated for numerous Hugo and Nebula Awards.

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Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Piers Anthony Papers are made up of three separate accessions which have not been integrated.

1969 Accession (1952-1969)

This accession is divided into three groups: correspondence, writings and memorabilia. Correspondence, 1952-1969, is arranged alphabetically by correspondent. Where there was a considerable amount of correspondence from one person, individual folders were created, and the letters filed chronologically. Correspondents include: Isaac Asimov, 1961; Nathan A. Bucklin, 1963-1965; Ron Goodman, 1963-1965; Margie Harrison, 1963-1966; H. James Hotaling, 1962-1966; Seth A. Johnson, 1962-1969; and Larry Pinsker, 1963-1965. Around 1962 Piers Anthony joined a science fiction fan club called the National Fantasy Fan Federation (N3F) from which was generated the majority of correspondence in the collection, most of it involving critical dialogues concerning specific works, often among two or more of the correspondents. Included in this category would be the Neffer Robin letters. Originals of all incoming correspondence which were xeroxed for purposes of preservation are to be found at the end of Box 9.

Writings, 1962-1969, are organized under author's names, alphabetically arranged, then divided into articles, novelettes, novels and short stories. Within each division titles are arranged alphabetically. Among the major works are Chthon (1967), Hasan (1970), Macroscope (1969), Omnivore (1968) and Sos the Rope (1968). There are also drafts of collaborations by Piers Anthony with Frances Hall, H. James Hotaling, Robert Margroff and Andrew Offutt.

Memorabilia, 1962-1968, includes biographical data; a photograph, possibly of H. James Hotaling; and articles about Piers Anthony.

RESTRICTION NOTE: One box of restricted material at the end of the collection may not be seen without Mr. Anthony's written permission.

1970 Accession (1951-1970)

The 1970 additions to the Piers Anthony Papers are divided into correspondence, writings and magazines. Incoming and outgoing Correspondence is interfiled and arranged alphabetically under the names of Anthony's correspondents. Correspondence with noted writers and special fans is placed in individual folders. Important correspondents include Poul Anderson, Lloyd Biggle Jr., Robert Coulson, Richard Geis, Joseph L. Green, Robert E. Margroff, Andrew J. Offutt, Frederick Pohl, Norman Spinrad, Robert Moore Williams and Roger Zelazny. General correspondence with editors, publishers and fans is placed at the end of the correspondence section and filed in chronological order.

Writings, 1951-1970, are organized under authors' names, alphabetically arranged, then divided into articles, novels, short stories and verse. Within each division titles are arranged alphabetically. Among the major works are Chthon (1967), Hasan (1970), Macroscope (1969), Omnivore (1968), Orn (1970), Sos the Rope (1968) and Var the Stick (1969). There are several short stories as well as collaborations between Anthony and Frances Hall, Robert Margroff (The E. S. P. Worm), Andrew Offutt, and Richard Tiedman. All authors and titles are recorded on the shelf list.

Magazines consists of about a half-dozen issues of Science Fiction Review for 1969.

RESTRICTION NOTE: Two boxes of restricted material at the end of the collection may not be seen without Mr. Anthony's written permission.

1978 Accession (1961-1977)

The 1978 accession is divided into correspondence and writings. Correspondence includes letters related to the short story "The Demise," correspondence with Robert Fuentes, and material relating to Thomas Ussell's course "Fundamentals of Fiction." Writings includes articles, books, poetry, short stories, and several then-unpublished novels that have since been published.

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Arrangement of the Collection

See Scope and Contents above. Note that since the accessions have not been integrated, box numbering restarts in the 1970 Accession. Be sure to specify the accession number

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Restricted in part. One box of restricted material in the 1969 accession may not be seen without Mr. Anthony's written permission. Two boxes of restricted material in the 1970 accession may not be seen without Mr. Anthony's written permission.

Use Restrictions

Written permission must be obtained from SCRC and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

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Related Material

Special Collections Research Center has a number of collections relating to science fiction. Please refer to the SCRC Subject Index for a complete listing.

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Subject Headings

Persons

Subjects

Genres and Forms

Occupations

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Piers Anthony Papers
Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Library

Acquisition Information

Gift of Piers Anthony, 1969, 1970, 1978.

Finding Aid Information

Created by: JeJ
Date: 1969
Revision history: 1970 - additions appended (JeJ); 1978 - additions appended (JeJ); 7 Sep 2007 - converted to EAD (MRC)

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Inventory

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