
Otto Binder
The Life and Work of a Comic Book and Science Fiction Visionary
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Narrated by:
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Derek Botten
Otto Binder: The Life and Work of a Comic Book and Science Fiction Visionary chronicles the career of Otto Binder, from pulp magazine author to writer of Supergirl, Captain Marvel, and Superman comics. As the originator of the first sentient robot in literature ("I, Robot," published in Amazing Stories in 1939 and predating Isaac Asimov's collection of the same name), Binder's effect on science fiction was profound.
Within the world of comic books, he created or cocreated much of the Superman universe, including Smallville; Krypto, Superboy's dog; Supergirl; and the villain Braniac. Binder is also credited with writing many of the first "Bizarro" storylines for DC Comics as well as for being the main writer for the Captain Marvel comics. In later years Binder expanded from comic books into pure science writing, publishing dozens of books and articles on the subject of satellites and space travel as well as UFOs and extraterrestrial life.
Comic book historian Bill Schelly tells the tale of Otto Binder through personal letters and interviews with Binder's own family and friends. Schelly weaves together Binder's professional successes and personal tragedies, including the death of Binder's only daughter and his wife's struggle with mental illness. A touching and human story, Otto Binder: The Life and Work of a Comic Book and Science Fiction Visionary is a biography that is both meticulously researched and beautifully told, keeping alive Binder's spirit of scientific curiosity and whimsy.
©2003, 2016 Bill Schelly (P)2017 North Atlantic BooksListeners also enjoyed...




















Critic reviews
Excellent
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Now I do, and it made me both smile and cry a bit: he experienced some big tragedies and difficulties.
I didn't even know how to pronounce his last name, because I have an old friend and his family always pronounced it as if it rhymes with "finder". But according to this book, it's pronounced as if it rhymes with "cinder".
His origins, his family and his close relationship with his brothers, how he started writing, first in the pulps, the then in comic books, then writing about space for NASA, among others, his books and articles on science and "pseudo-science" (what might be called "psychic phenomena", UFO stuff, etc)... All covered here.
But also his friendships, his working relationships, his family life all come alive.
While the reader is not the best I've heard, he does a very good job.
Highly recommended, especially for fans of comic books, science fiction, the history of pop culture etc
A Touching and Interesting Story
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Epic history of Otto Binder
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excellent book
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Plus the narrator does an excellent job. highly recommended!
fascinating history of a key comic book writer
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