Colin Kapp

1928 - Aug 3rd 2007

The most complete Colin Kapp bibliography on the net

Unless Marc Ortleib has been updating his page
(Au contraire, it seems to be gone. See archived page here.)

Novels

The Dark Mind / Transfinite Man - Sinister company traffics in pleasure and destruction.
1963 The Dark Mind, serial, New Worlds Science Fiction #136, #137*, #138
1964 Transfinite Man, Berkley, F974. Cover by Richard M. Powers *
1965 The Dark Mind, Corgi, GS7160
1974 Dalroi en de Zwarte Ridders (NL), J.M. Meulenhoff, ISBN 90-290-0277-8. Translated by Walter B. Relsky
The Patterns of Chaos - Kitchen sink tale of hapless tool of cosmic space opera - Review Amazon
1972 serial, Worlds of If Science Fiction, Jan/Feb 1972, Mar/Apr 1972, May/Jun 1972
1972 Gollancz
1973 Award, AN1118
1974 Panther. Cover
1978 Ace, #65390. Cover by Paul Alexander *
1977 Les Formes du chaos (FR), Albin Michel, Super Fiction No 20, ISBN 2-226-00364-9
1978 Chaos in Regelmaat (NL), Scala SF, ISBN 90.6221.731.1. Translated by R. Neehus
The Wizard of Anharitte - Space opera and sorcerers. Review In Other Worlds
1972 serial, Worlds of If Science Fiction, Nov/Dec 1972, Jan/Feb 1973, Mar/Apr 1973
1973 Award, AN1156. Cover *
1975 Panther
1980 Ace, #90083 0-441-90083-6 195. Cover by Richard Corben * 1972 Le sorcier d'Anharitte (FR), Galaxie no 144 à 146
1976 De Tovenaar van Anharitte (NL), Ridderhof, Kerco SF 29, ISBN 90.308.0395.9. Translated by J. Post
1998 Der Zauberer von Anharite (DE), Heyne, 06/5947, ISBN 3453139763. Cover by Ralph Voltz. Translated by Michael K. Iwoleit. Review. Review.
Survival Game - Star kings wager Earther can stay alive.
1976 Ballantine Books, #25192, ISBN 0-345-25192-X cover by H. R. Van Dongen
1977 Dawson
1978 Newton, Abbot, Devon: Readers Union *
The Chaos Weapon
1977 serial, Vortex Journal of Fantasy, Science and Speculative Fiction, Vol 1 No 5 May 1977 Magazine discontinued after first part?*
1977 Ballentine Del Rey, #27115, cover by Vincent di Fate *
1984 Ballantine Del Rey, ISBN 0-345-31344-5
1979, L'Arme du chaos (FR), Albin Michel, Super Fiction No 42, ISBN 2-226-00818-7
1979, L'Arma Del Caos (IT)
Manalone
1977 Panther, 586 04234 2 *
1982 Manalone (FR), Opta Galaxie/Bis No 78, ISBN 2-7201-0143-5
The Ion War - Colonies battle an evil Earth.
1978 Ace, 37217-1, cover *
1979 Dobson
1982 Commandos Para-Ions (FR) Albin Michel, Super Fiction No 55, ISBN 2-226-01495-0
1987 Der Ionenkreig (DE) Heyne 4437
The Unorthodox Engineers - Contains the short stories: The Railways Up on Cannis (1959), The Subways of Tazoo (1964), The Pen and the Dark (1966), Getaway from Getawehi (1969), The Black Hole of Negraw (1975) [see Adventure Game]
1979 Dobson, ISBN 0-234-72072-7 *
The Timewinders - This may be a phantom book...
1980 ?
Cageworld 1: Search for the Sun - Dyson Sphere-ish universe. - Reviews Amazon, Carpe Librum (German)
1982 New English Library, ISBN 0-450-05131-5, cover *
1983 DAW Books, #545 UE1858 ISBN 0-87997-858-9, cover by Vincent Di Fate *
1998 Die Suche nach der Sonne (DE), Heyne 06/5975, ISBN 3453140060. Translated by Frank Borsch. Review
Cageworld 2: The Lost Worlds of Cronus - Dyson Sphere-ish universe, in a kinda Ptolemaic way. - Review Carpe Librum (German)
1982 New English Library, ISBN 0-450-05409-8 cover *
1983 DAW Books, #557 UE1885 ISBN 0-87997-885-6, cover by Vincent Di Fate. *
1998 Die verlorenen Welten von Cronus (DE), Heyne, ISBN 3453140079
Cageworld 3: The Tyrant of Hades - Review Carpe Librum (German)
1982 New English Library c
1984 DAW Books, #572 UE1919 ISBN 0-87997-919-4, cover by Vincent Di Fate. *
1998 Der Tyrann von Hades (DE), Heyne, ISBN 3453148711
Cageworld 4: Star Search - Review Carpe Librum (German)
1983 New English Library, cover.
1984 DAW Books, #588 UE1942 ISBN 0-87997-942-9, cover by Vincent Di Fate. *
1999, Die Suche nach den Sternen (DE), Heyne, ISBN 3453148983

Short Fiction & Serials

Life Plan
* New Worlds Science Fiction Vol 26 #77, November 1958
Survival Problem
c New Worlds Science Fiction Vol 28 #82, April 1959, cover by Brian Lewis
Calling Mr Francis
* New Worlds Science Fiction Vol 29 #84, June 1959
The Railways Up on Cannis
* New Worlds Science Fiction Vol 29 #87, October 1959
Out of This World 2, Amabel Williams-Ellis and Mably Owen ed, 1961, Blackie
The Best of New Worlds, Michael Moorcock ed, 1965, Compact, H287
* The Best of New Worlds, Michael Moorcock ed, Berkley, X1513
El ferrocarril de Cannis, Ciencia-Ficcion Inglesa tomo III (ES), Aguilar, 1968, transl Alberto Levenfeld.
Out of This World Choice, Amabel Williams-Ellis and Mably Owen ed, 1972, Blackie, 0-216-89346-1 [Out of This World 2+5]
The Unorthodox Engineers, 1979, Dobson
Breaking Point
* New Worlds Science Fiction Vol 30 #89, December 1959
Enigma
c New Worlds Science Fiction Vol 31 #91, February 1960
The Exposing Eye
* New Worlds Science Fiction Vol 33 #99, October 1960
The Glass of Iargo
c New Worlds Science Fiction Vol 34 #100, November 1960
Le verre de Iargo, Loin de Terra Déc 1963, edité par Denoël, Collection Présence du Futur no 69
El vidrio de Iargo, Antología de Novelas de Anticipación II (ES)
The Bell of Ethicona
c New Worlds Science Fiction Vol 34 #101, December 1960
For the Love of Pete
* New Worlds Science Fiction Vol 37 #111, October 1961
Lambda 1
* New Worlds Science Fiction Vol 42 #125, December 1962, cover
* Lambda 1 and Other Stories, John Carnell ed, 1964, Berkley Medallion, #F884
Lambda 1 and Other Stories, John Carnell ed, 1965, Penguin, #2275
Lambda 1, John Carnell ed, 1977, Penguin, 0-14-002276-9
The Dark Mind - See Transfinite Man
1: New Worlds Science Fiction Vol 46 #136, October 1963
2: * New Worlds Science Fiction Vol 46 #137
3: New Worlds Science Fiction #138, January 1964
The Night-Flame
New Writings in SF #2, John Carnell ed, 1964, Dobson.
New Writings in SF #2, John Carnell ed, 1965, Corgi.
* New Writings in SF #2, John Carnell ed, 1966, Bantam, F3379, cover
The Best from New Writings in SF First Selection, John Carnell ed, 1971, Dobson, ISBN 0-234-77657-9
The Subways of Tazoo
New Writings in SF #3, John Carnell ed, 1964, Dobson.
* New Writings in SF #3, John Carnell ed, 1965, Corgi, GS7199, cover
The Best from New Writings in SF First Selection, John Carnell ed, 1971, Dobson, ISBN 0-234-77657-9
Strange Universe, Amabel Williams-Ellis and Michael Pearson, 1974, Blackie, ISBN 0-126-89714-9
The Unorthodox Engineers, 1979, Dobson
Hunger Over Sweet Waters
New Writings in SF #4, John Carnell ed, 1965, Dobson.
* New Writings in SF #4, John Carnell ed, 1965, Corgi, GS7262
The Pen and the Dark
New Writings in SF #8, John Carnell ed, 1966, Dobson.
* New Writings in SF #8, John Carnell ed, 1966, Corgi, GS7564, cover
New Writings in SF #7, John Carnell ed, 1971, Bantam
The Unorthodox Engineers, 1979, Dobson
? bundled with Adventure Game, 1983, Mosaic
The Imagination Trap - Sequel to Lambda 1
New Writings in SF #10, John Carnell ed, 1967, Dobson
* New Writings in SF #8, John Carnell ed, 1971, Bantam
Ambassador to Verdammt
Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact, April 1967, cover
* World's Best SF 1968, Terry Carr and Donald A. Wollheim ed, 1968, Ace
The Cloudbuilders
New Writings in SF #12, John Carnell ed, 1968, Corgi
* World's Best SF 1969, Terry Carr and Donald A. Wollheim ed, 1969, Ace
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow..., ed. Bonnie L. Heintz, Frank Herbert, Donald A. Joos & Jane Agorn McGee, 1974, Holt, Rinehart & Winston
I Bring You Hands
* Galaxy Science Fiction vol 27 #3, October 1968
The Teacher
* Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact, August 1969, cover by Frank Kelly Freas
The Best of British SF 2, Mike Ashley ed, 1977, Futura, ISBN 0-8600-7913-9
Gottlos
* Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact, November 1969, cover by Vincent di Fate
Analog 8, John W. Campbell Jr ed, 1971, Doubleday, LCC#64-7719
Getaway from Getawehi
New Writings in SF #16, John Carnell ed, 1969, Dobson.
* New Writings in SF #16, John Carnell ed, 1970, Corgi, ISBN 0-552-08361-5
The Unorthodox Engineers, 1979, Dobson
Letter from an Unknown Genius
* Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact, August 1971
Which Way Do I Go For Jericho?
New Writings in SF #20, John Carnell ed, 1972, Dobson.
New Writings in SF #20, John Carnell ed, 1972, Corgi, ISBN 0-552-08879-X
What The Thunder Said
New Writings in SF #21, John Carnell ed, 1972, Sigdwick & Jackson.
New Writings in SF #21, John Carnell ed, 1973, Corgi, ISBN 0-552-09313-0
Patterns of Chaos
1: * Worlds of If Science Fiction, Jan/Feb 1972, cover by Jack Gaughan
2: * Worlds of If Science Fiction, Mar/Apr 1972
3: * Worlds of If Science Fiction, May/Jun 1972, cover by Jack Gaughan
The Wizard of Anharitte
1: * Worlds of If Science Fiction, Nov/Dec 1972, cover by Brian Boyle
2: * Worlds of If Science Fiction, Jan/Feb 1973
3: * Worlds of If Science Fiction, Mar/Apr 1973, cover by Brian Boyle
Crimescan
* Galaxy Science Fiction, Mar/Apr 1973
The Old King's Answers
* Galaxy Science Fiction, September 1973
Mephisto and the Ion Explorer
* Worlds of IF Science Fiction Sep/Oct 1974
The Best from If, Volume III, James Baen ed, 1976, Award, AD1544
War of the Wastelife
* Galaxy Science Fiction, May 1974, cover by Rick Sternbach
The Black Hole of Negrav
New Writings in SF #25, Kenneth Bulmer ed, 1975, Sidgwick / Jackson
* New Writings in SF #25, Kenneth Bullmer ed, 1976, Corgi, ISBN 0-552-10085-4, cover
The Unorthodox Engineers, 1979, Dobson
Cassius and the Mind-Jaunt
c New Writings in SF #27, Kenneth Bulmer ed, 1975, Sigdwick & Jackson, ISBN 0-283-98221-7
Something in the City
* Analog Science Fiction and Fact, November 1984, cover by Tom Kidd
An Alternative to Salt
* Analog Science Fiction and Fact, October 1986

Adventure Game

The short story The Pen and the Dark, 1966, was also the basis for an adventure game. It was written by legendary Keith Campbell, and published by Mosaic Publishing Ltd (founded by Vicky Carne of Dobson Books, who published The Pen and the Dark in the collection The Unorthodox Engineers in 1979.)

It was available at least for the BBC, ZX Spectrum (play online, pendark.tzx) and Commodore 64 (pendark.t64, source), and apparantly included a copy of The Pen and the Dark. See here for a walkthrough.

Review from Reviews of Speccy Games Based on Literature

Pen & the Dark 1983 Mosaic
This text adventure came with a book of the title & should have been good as it was written by adventure author & reviewer Keith Campbell, unfortunately it didn't stand up to these high expectations. The game is very buggy, contains basic descriptions, limited parser, & is pretty boring. Avoid.

Albacon 1980

Colin Kapp was the Guest of Honor at Albacon 80 1980 Eastercon in Glasgow. Some links relating to this:

Biography

These biographies were pulled from the links at the bottom, and modified only with year of death.
Born 1928, died 2007. Although Colin Kapp has not enjoyed the success of his early New Worlds contemporaries Brian Aldiss and James White, he has developed quite a cult following, particularly for his Unorthodox Engineers stories and for Transfinite Man (The Dark Mind). He has produced thirty or so short stories, plus eleven novels (four belonging to the Cage World series). His approach to writing is very technical. Taking the same basic plots, situations and characters, he adjusts a variable and sees how the story turns out. In some aspects, this means that there is a soap opera samishness to his stories, but when he gets the variables correct, the stories work remarkably well. There are two major threads in the stories survival through technology and the chaos that lies within the human mind. For the latter see, "Lambda One", Transfinite Man and Patterns of Chaos. For the former try Survival Game, "The Cloud Builders" and the Unorthodox Engineer stories. - Marc Ortlieb
(1928-2007) UK writer and worker in electronics. He began publishing sf with "Life Plan" for NW in 1958, where his best work soon appeared, including "Lambda 1" (1962), which gave its title to the John CARNELL collection, Lambda 1 (anth 1964), and Transfinite Man (1964 US; vt under the 1963 mag title The Dark Mind 1965 UK), in which a fierce unkillable SUPERMAN protagonist pits himself against the corrupt Failway [sic] Terminal in duels extending through various DIMENSIONS - access to which the Terminal attempts to control. Despite CK's otherwise unextraordinary plotting, the combination of invulnerability and rage in the tale generates a sense of nearly uncontrollable energy, imparting to this one book something of the exhilaration of Keith LAUMER and a touch of the complexity of Alfred BESTER, whose Gully Foyle - from Tiger! Tiger! (1956 UK) - is clearly evoked. The enjoyable The Wizard of Anharitte (1972), though less energetic, features an intriguing sf power struggle on a backward planet, with the protagonist (who finds himself on the wrong side) repeatedly frustrated by the "wizard's" ingenious technological trickery.CK's later publications include a sequence of problem-solver tales assembled as The Unorthodox Engineers (coll of linked stories 1979), a short series comprising The Patterns of Chaos (1972) and The Chaos Weapon (1977 US), the former featuring a SUPERHERO implausibly capable of manipulating chaos, and the Cageworld sequence of SPACE OPERAS centred on a DYSON SPHERE: Cageworld (1982; vt Search for the Sun! 1983 US), The Lost Worlds of Cronus (1982) and The Tyrant of Hades (1982). [JC]Other works: The Wizard of Anharitte (1973); The Survival Game (1976 US); Manalone (1977); The Ion War (1978 US); The Timewinders (1980).See also: NEW WORLDS; NEW WRITINGS IN SF; TRANSPORTATION.

Other languages

Several of Colin Kapps works have been translated into French and German, and many German reviews are available on the net. I will delve further into this at a later time. Some entries has already been included in the main bibliography. Here are some links in swedish, danish, spanish and japanese.

French

German

In addition to German publications of his works as noted in the main bibliography, I have also found the following titles which I have not yet matched with original titles: Dimensionen des Satans, Der Meister des Chaos (Bastei 21033)

Italian

Known Italian translations of unknown titles by Colin Kapp: La Galassia Brucia (1979), Gli Orrori Del Transfinito (1979), La Memoria Dello Spazio (1974), L'Arma Del Caos (1979). See here.

Links

Jarl Totland, 2007-10-18