Sullivan, Alan

Entry updated 16 January 2023. Tagged: Author.

(1868-1947) Canadian engineer, poet and author in the UK from around 1920 to 1940; prolific in various genres from 1891, including popular fiction as Sinclair Murray. Works of some interest include The Jade God (1924), In the Days of Their Youth (1926), a Posthumous Fantasy [see The Encyclopedia of Fantasy under links below], The Magic Makers (1930), in which Eskimos are overawed by Technology, Mr Absalom (1930) and "... And from that Day" (1944). Of stronger sf interest are In the Beginning (1927), a Lost-World tale set – as so often in the early twentieth century – in the Andes, though in this case farther south than usual, in Patagonia, where a modern expedition discovers ancient species and some Neanderthals (see Prehistoric SF); and A Little Way Ahead (1929) as by Sinclair Murray, in which an ordinary man, suddenly becoming prescient, makes money on the Stock Exchange, but is doomed by personal flaws; and after his gift deserts him has one final vision: of himself as a Suicide. Sullivan's reputation has not lasted in his native land, perhaps partly because his establishmentarian Family Compact views on the nature of Canadian society have not worn well. [JC]

Edward Alan Sullivan

born Montreal, Quebec: 29 November 1868

died Surrey: 6 August 1947

works

The Jade God (London: Geoffrey Bles, 1924) [hb/]
Under the Northern Lights (London: J M Dent and Sons, 1926) [coll: hb/]
The Days of Their Youth (London: Hurst and Blackett, 1926) [coll: hb/uncredited]
Human Clay, (London: John Murray, 1926) with B V Shann, writing together as by Sinclair Murray [hb/]
In the Beginning (London: Hurst and Blackett, 1927) [hb/uncredited]
A Little Way Ahead (London: John Murray, 1929) as by Sinclair Murray [hb/]
The Magic Makers (London: John Murray, 1930) [hb/]
Mr Absalom (London: John Murray, 1930) [hb/]
"... And from that Day" (Toronto, Ontario: Ryerson Press, 1944) [hb/]

links

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