Ruth de Jauregui
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| Shiras' 1953 College Yearbook Photo |
While her output wasn't large, author Wilmar House Shiras (1908–1990) was a huge influence in the science fiction world. In fact, some sources credit her main work
Children of the Atom as having influenced the creation of Stan Lee's and Jack Kirby's
The Uncanny X-Men.
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, she spend her formative years there and began her college education at Boston University. She left the university in her freshman year to marry Russell Shiras. They moved to the West Coast and raised five children.
Shiras did go back to college eventually. She earned her bachelor's at the College of the Holy Names in 1955 and master's in history at the University of California at Berkeley in 1956.
It was while living in Oakland, California, that Shiras published her first book
Slow Dawning (1946) under the pen name Jane Howes. It was an autobiographical story of her conversion to Catholicism. She also wrote reviews under the Howes pen name for
New Catholic World and other magazines as well as her translations of Catholic theology and philosophy.
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| First publication of "In Hiding" November 1948 |
Upon the urging of her family and friends, Shiras submitted her first science fiction story "In Hiding" to
Astounding Science Fiction. Published in the November 1948, it set the tone for her science fiction career. She later said, “Whatever else I wrote came back with a note asking for another ‘In Hiding.’”
She followed "In Hiding," the tale of the super-intelligent children born of parents exposed to radiation, with two more tales "Opening Doors" and "New Foundations." The three stories, all published in
Astounding, led to the book
Children of the Atom (Gnome Press, 1953). Set in the America of 1972, the group of children face a world that doesn't understand their genius. Unlike the later
X-Men comic books, Shiras' protagonists didn't have paranormal or super powers – they were "just" really intelligent.
Shiras' prose was favorably compared to famed science fiction writers Theodore Sturgeon and Clifford D. Simak. Though reviewer Groff Conklin praised the novel for its character development, other reviewers felt that the novel was not up to the writing and promise of the original stories.
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Gnome Press Edition (1953)
COMMENTS
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Wilmar Shiras was a fascinating author. I was quite surprised by the references to the X-Men as I researched her career, but there's no definitive proof that Lee and Kirby had read her stories. Though honestly, we're all influenced in one way or another by books, movies, comics, life. Thank you all for sharing!
Kudos to Wilmar Shiras for her influence in the genre of Sci-Fi.
An amazing author. I wish she'd written more books!
Another interesting, influencing woman Sci-fi author with Ruth
Thank you so much for sharing. She was amazing!
I love how you keep finding these fascinating authors to share with us. Great post.
+Toi Thomas Tons of material make it easy! Thank you!!
Today, Ruth de Jauregui offers the life and influential work of Wilmar Shiras. #OurAuthorGang
Thank you for sharing. I put her book on my list!
This is another excellent article, Ruth. Once again you have introduced me to a sci-fi writer I never heard of.
Thank you Joe! I'm so sad that she didn't write more books!
Today on #OurAuthorGang, our own Ruth de Jauregui takes a look at the life and work of another all-but forgotten woman who wrote science fiction: Wilmar Shiras.
Thank you so much for sharing, Joe! I'm having so much fun researching and writing about these wonderful authors!
Another author I never hear of. Thank Ruth! "Her vision of science fiction focused on the intellectual rather than the "space opera," leading to more mature stories in the genre. " Sounds fascinating!
Thank you, Erika! Yes, she was one of the influential authors in the transition to more thoughtful and intellectual science fiction. Having said that, I still like space opera!!
 Erika M Szabo originally shared this
Another author I never hear of. Thank Ruth! "Her vision of science fiction focused on the intellectual rather than the "space opera," leading to more mature stories in the genre. " Sounds fascinating!
Thank you so much for sharing!
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Children of the Atom was listed as number 14 on the list of "The Most Significant SF & Fantasy Books of the Last 50 Years, 1953-2002" by the Science Fiction Book Club. Shiras' vision of science fiction focused on the intellectual rather than the "space opera," leading to more mature stories in the genre. Sadly, she didn't write more stories during her relatively short sci-fi career.
Amazon – Wilmar Shiras Author Page
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