A. Bertram Chandler
Arthur Bertram Chandler was a British-born author and significant figure in the realm of science fiction, renowned for his contributions to the genre. Born in 1912 in Aldershot, England, he had a maritime career before becoming a writer, serving as a third officer on various ships and later as a second officer in the British Merchant Navy during World War II. His extensive experiences at sea profoundly influenced his writing, particularly evident in his celebrated John Grimes series, which features a sailor adventuring across different planets. Over his prolific career, Chandler published more than forty novels and over two hundred short stories, utilizing both his real name and the pseudonyms George Whitley and Andrew Dunstan. He received multiple Ditmar Awards for his works, acknowledging his significant impact on Australian science fiction after emigrating to Australia in 1956. Chandler was also an active member of various literary organizations, including PEN International and the Science Fiction Writers of America. He passed away in 1984, and in recognition of his contributions, the Australian Science Fiction Foundation established an award in his name to honor outstanding Australian science fiction.
On this Page
Subject Terms
A. Bertram Chandler
Writer
- Born: March 28, 1912
- Birthplace: Aldershot, England
- Died: June 6, 1984
- Place of death: Australia
Biography
Arthur Bertram Chandler was born in 1912 in Aldershot, England, to Arthur Robert, a soldier, and Ida Florence Chandler. He married Susan Wilson, a designer, in 1962. Chandler served an apprenticeship on a tramp steamer with the Sun Shipping Company, which was based in London. He later became a third officer, working with the company from 1928 to 1937. He then worked for the Shaw Savill Line, also based in London, working on cargo and passenger ships which sailed from the United Kingdom to Australasia.
Over a period of nineteen years, Chandler moved from fourth officer to chief operating officer. During World War II, he served in the British Merchant Navy and eventually became a second officer. In 1956, he emigrated to Australia and became an Australian citizen.
Unmistakably, Chandler’s experiences at sea worked their way into his writing. Critics noted the unique realism in his descriptions of life aboard spaceships. He may be best known for his John Grimes novels, whose protagonist is a sailor who journeys on the oceans of different planets. In all, Chandler published over forty novels and over two hundred short-fiction pieces. He wrote under his own name as well as two pseudonyms: George Whitley and Andrew Dunstan.
Chandler was a four-time recipient of the Ditmar Award (formerly the Australian Science Fiction Achievement Award) for Best Australian Science Fiction: in 1969 for False Fatherland, in 1971 for his short story “The Bitter Pill,” in 1974 for his novel The Bitter Pill, and in 1976 for The Big Black Mark. He was a member of PEN International, Science Fiction Writers of America, and the Australian Society of Authors, and a fellow of the British Interplanetary Society.
Chandler died in June of 1984. In 1991, the Australian Science Fiction Foundation established a new award to recognize outstanding Australian science fiction. Because of his patronage of the foundation, the award was named in honor of him.