Vincent McHugh
Vincent McHugh was an American author notable for his contributions to fantasy and science fiction literature, particularly recognized for his novel "I Am Thinking of My Darling," published in 1943. This work depicts a surreal scenario in which a unique virus in New York City liberates individuals from their inhibitions, prompting them to pursue their true desires, leading to radical changes in personal and societal behavior. The story follows Jim Rowan, a city planning commissioner, as he navigates the chaos and searches for his missing wife, who embodies the transformative effects of the virus. McHugh's writing is characterized by a blend of humor and social commentary, often reflecting on political and sociological themes.
In addition to his best-known novel, McHugh authored "Caleb Catlum's America," which explores the lives of a family of immortals interacting with key figures in U.S. history. His other works include traditional novels like "The Edge of the World," and he also ventured into poetry and prose with collections such as "The Blue Hen's Chickens." McHugh's literary style has drawn comparisons to contemporaries like Alfred Bester and Robert A. Heinlein, showcasing his influence within the genre during his time.
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Vincent McHugh
Writer
- Born: December 23, 1904
- Birthplace: Providence, Rhode Island
- Died: January 23, 1983
- Place of death: Sacramento, California
Biography
Vincent McHugh is best known today for his novel I Am Thinking of My Darling (1943). It was the subject of an essay by author Paul DiFilippo in the July, 2002, issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. In the book, a rare South American virus has struck New York City, but its effects are unlike any previous virus. They release inhibitions and leave the person in a state of relaxed happiness, so affected people do only what they feel like doing. If they like their jobs and their marriages, they stay; if not, they leave. The mayor resigns to have more time to play with his model trains. Businesses give away their goods. People offer free love. The protagonist is Jim Rowan, a planning commissioner with the city, who is among those trying to find a cure. He is also searching for his missing wife, an actress and victim of the virus who conceals herself by “acting” her way into alternate identities around the city and has become an advocate of the free-love people.
The novel is a classic example of the fantasy and science fiction of the period, often based on one premise: Grant me one impossible thing. All else follows as it would in real life both politically and sociologically. The book also dwells on landmarks of the city in its glory days, all told in a wisecracking tone. It remains his best-known work. Some have seen it as a forerunner of the style of science fiction writer Alfred Bester and the competent-man presentations in many works by science-fiction writer Robert A. Heinlein, as well as a reflection of the Prohibition comedy writings of Thorne Smith.
Probably McHugh’s second best-known novel is about a family of immortals. It is titled, at length, Caleb Catlum’s America: the Enlivening Wonders of His Adventures, Voyages, Discoveries, Loves, Hoaxes, Bombast, and Rigmaroles in All Parts of America, from His Birth in 1798 Almost to the Present Year, Told by Himself . . . Edited with an Introduction by Vincent McHugh. His immortals (who include such personages as Davy Crockett and Abraham Lincoln) find themselves involved in many key parts of the history of the United States.
More traditional novels by McHugh include The Edge of the World (1953), dealing with the trials and tribulations of men serving on a wartime cargo ship, and The Victory 1947). He also wrote in other forms, such as the small volume, The Blue Hen’s Chickens: Poems, Verses, Blues (1947); Sing Before Breakfast: Figures, Yacht, and Island (1933) and Touch Me Not: Four Writs of a Curt Picaresque (1930).