Jacques Van Herp (26 November 1923 – 30 December 2004) was a Belgian publisher, anthologist, science fiction writer and director of collections at Marabout.
Biography He initially taught as a mathematics teacher in secondary education in Brussels. He then became director of collections at the Marabout publishing house and specialized in publishing novels written by European forerunners of science fiction, being awarded in 1976 with the Special Prize for Belgium of the European Science Fiction Society.
His anticipation novels were published under several pseudonyms:
With his only signature: Marc Monnier, Alain Arvel, André Jouly, Michel Berchamps, Carlo Nada, Alan Haigh, Michel Vedewe, Alain Provist, Ladislas Céteski, Illy Kenkönnery, Michel Berchmans, Michel Védéwé. Under a collective signature: Michel Jansen, Michel Goissert.
Critical appraisals Van Herp considered that the countries of the Eastern Bloc had notable anticipatory writers like Stanisław Lem, Ivan Yefremov, the Strugatsky brothers and Valentina Zhuravlyova; but he said "crushed" all of them. After reading Fărcășan's novel , Van Herp considered the author to be the size of Robert A. Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke, and Fredric Brown, stating that in Fărcășan's work he saw the logical rigor in extrapolating of the first, the high knowledge of the second, and the cosmic sense as well as the humor of the third. "The comparison seems formidable," Van Herp acknowledged, "but Fărcășan supports it very well (...)". Documented at NooSFere
Works As Alan Haigh La Porte des ténèbres (Le Masque Fantastique, n° 18, 1977, coll. rouge)
As Alain Arvel La Capricieuse, Alsatia, Signe de Piste, 1958 Xavier la dérive, Signe de Piste 128, 1986 Lucky, mon ami, Fleurus, 1995, coll. Signe de Piste Thierry tête de fer, Spès, 1954, coll. Jamboree Le Roi Mezel (in collaboration with Jean-Claude Alain), Spès, 1954, coll. Jamboree Le linceul de pourpre, Spès, 1956, coll. Jamboree Terre des Ombres, Spès, 1957, coll. Jamboree Cap au Sud (in collaboration with Jean-Paul Benoit), Spès, 1963, coll. Jamboree Les murs de la ville, éditions Hachette, 1975, coll. Poche Rouge Vorstadtsommer : Bruno, Mike und Rocandos (traduction de Thomas Münster), Freiburg im Breisgau, Basel, Wien : Herder, 1979
As Carlo Nada La bataille du quartier, Signe de Piste, NSDP 53, 1977
As André Jouly Le Prince Milou, Spès, 1957, coll. Jamboree
As Jacques Van Herp Anthologies Sur l'autre face du monde et autres romans scientifiques de sciences et voyages (in collaboration with Gérard Klein, Robert Laffont, 1973, coll. Ailleurs et Demain/Classiques) l'Angleterre fantastique (de Defoe à Wells, 22 contes de revenants et de terreur) (Éditions André Gérard, 1974, coll. Anthologies) Cahiers de l'Herne n° 38 : Jean Ray (in collaboration with François Truchaud, Herne, 1980, coll. Les cahiers de l'Herne, n° 38) Fritz Leiber, Les nouvelles, suivies d’une autobiographie (Lefrancq, 1988) Note that five of the eleven short stories; "Le Gondolier noir", "Ceux des profondeurs", "Le Gant", "Minuit à la montre de Morphy", "Clarté spectrale", as well as the autobiography of Fritz Leiber, were translated by Van Herp himself.
Essays, studies, guides Panorama de la science-fiction (Éditions Gérard & Co, 1974, n° 270, coll. Marabout Université) Panorama de la science-fiction (1974-1996) (Lefrancq, coll. Volumes) Harry Dickson, le Sherlock Holmes américain Tome 1, Recto-verso, 1981 Harry Dickson, le Sherlock Holmes américain Tome 2, Recto-verso, 1983
Short stories Rencontre à minuit (1987, Phénix, n° 11)
As Michel Jansen Novels Raiders de l'espace (in collaboration with Jean Erland), Spès, 1955, coll. Jamboree Vers les espaces infinis, Editions du Soleil levant, 1956 La porte sous les eaux (in collaboration with John Flanders), Spès, 1960, coll. Jamboree Mer des pluies - Spès 1961, coll. Jamboree-ainé Port des brumes, Signe de Piste, 1955 (SDP 74)
Short stories Werewolf (1957, Fiction, n° 44) Excès de vitesse (1958, Fiction, n° 57) La fin du UB-65 (1969 Audace n° 1 - 15me année - Spécial Fantastique Poursuite sans fin (1986, Phénix, n° 4) De Du'Vel On à Nek (1988, Phénix, n° 15) Prima donna (dans la Première Anthologie de la science-fiction française, OPTA, 1959, coll. Fiction-Spécial) Si jamais je te pince (1987, Phénix, n° 8)
References