Jacques Van Herp
Jacques Van Herp 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 ".Works
As Alan Haigh
- ''La Porte des ténèbres''
As Alain Arvel
La Capricieuse, Alsatia, Signe de Piste, 1958Xavier la dérive, Signe de Piste 128, 1986Lucky, mon ami, Fleurus, 1995, coll. Signe de PisteThierry tête de fer, Spès, 1954, coll. JamboreeLe Roi Mezel, Spès, 1954, coll. JamboreeLe linceul de pourpre, Spès, 1956, coll. JamboreeTerre des Ombres, Spès, 1957, coll. JamboreeCap au Sud, Spès, 1963, coll. JamboreeLes murs de la ville, éditions Hachette, 1975, coll. Poche RougeVorstadtsommer : Bruno, Mike und Rocandos, Freiburg im Breisgau, Basel, Wien : Herder, 1979As Carlo Nada
La bataille du quartier, Signe de Piste, NSDP 53, 1977As André Jouly
Le Prince Milou, Spès, 1957, coll. JamboreeAs Jacques Van Herp
Anthologies
Sur l'autre face du monde et autres romans scientifiques de sciences et voyages l'Angleterre fantastique Cahiers de l'Herne n° 38 : Jean Ray- ''Fritz Leiber, Les nouvelles, suivies d’une autobiographie''
Essays, studies, guides
Panorama de la science-fiction Panorama de la science-fiction Harry Dickson, le Sherlock Holmes américain Tome 1, Recto-verso, 1981Harry Dickson, le Sherlock Holmes américain Tome 2, Recto-verso, 1983Short stories
- ''Rencontre à minuit''
As Michel Jansen
Novels
Raiders de l'espace, Spès, 1955, coll. JamboreeVers les espaces infinis, Editions du Soleil levant, 1956La porte sous les eaux, Spès, 1960, coll. JamboreeMer des pluies - Spès 1961, coll. Jamboree-ainéPort des brumes, Signe de Piste, 1955Short stories
Werewolf Excès de vitesse La fin du UB-65 De Du'Vel On à Nek Prima donna- ''Si jamais je te pince''