San Francisco, 1998

Emil Petaja, a science fiction and fantasy writer whose career spanned seven decades, died at his San Francisco home on August 17th. He was 85. Petaja was the author of 13 novels and more than 100 short stories. In 1995, he was named the first ever Author Emeritus by the Science Fiction Writers of America.

Of Finnish descent, Petaja is best known for a popular series of novels based on the Kalevala, the Finnish epic poem. In each of the books which make-up the series - Saga of Lost Earth's (1966), Star Mill (1966), The Stolen Sun (1967), and Tramontane (1967) - an Earthling and descendant of one of the four main heroes of the poem is reborn in order to re-enact adventures on the planet Otava, home of the Kalevala gods. A fifth book in the cycle, "Return to Otava (1970), is unpublished. Another novel unconnected with the series but related to the Kalevala is The Time Twister (1968).

Petaja's Otava series brought him readers from around the world. His mythological approach to science fiction and fantasy was discussed in scholarly papers and on websites devoted to the epic poem. Various works by the author have been published in England, The Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Sweden, France and Finland.

The author's first published work, Brief Candle, dates from 1935. Petaja self-published this book of poems by running-off copies on the mimeograph machines at Montana State University, where he was a student in creative writing. Brief Candle also contained illustrations by the author's friend, the artist Hannes Bok. Brief Candle was the first book publication for each. Other early poems and stories appeared in Phantagraph, Unusual Stories, Fantasy Fan, Future Fantasia and The Californian.

Prolific as a short story writer throughout the 1940's and 1950's, Petaja's early fiction appeared in the leading pulp magazines of the day such as Weird Tales, Amazing Stories, Fantastic Adventures, and Future Science Fiction Stories. Some of Petaja's stories were collected in Stardrift and Other Fantastic Flotsam (1971).

Born in 1915, Petaja grew up in Western Montana. The author credited his introduction to fantastic literature to a chance encounter with an issue of Weird Tales. Petaja was roaming the lakes and hills of the Big Sky Country when he came across the discarded pulp periodical; he read it, and the experience changed his life. Appropriate for an author who specialized in weird fiction, the area where the Petaja family lived had been known locally as the Hellgate.

After three years at Montana State, Petaja moved to California. In the late 1930's, he immersed himself in the primordial Los Angeles sci-fi scene. He befriended Ray Bradbury - then still a teenager - as well as Forrest J. Ackerman, Henry Kuttner, Henry Hasse and others. In 1937 - 1938, Petaja shared an apartment with Hannes Bok , and together they attended meetings of the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Association.

The author's involvement in fandom was long lasting. As an aspiring writer in the 1930's, Petaja struck up correspondences with such early luminaries as H.P. Lovecraft, Robert Howard, and August Dereleth. Petaja was also a longtime friend of Clark Ashton Smith, another early contributor. As chairman of the Golden Gate Futurians - a kind of informal club for writers and fans based at his San Francisco home - Petaja hosted meetings and screened sci-fi and horror films for friends and colleagues. Among the regular attendees were Fritz Leiber, Jr., Avram Davidson and E. Hoffmann Price. Writers and editors visiting from out of town would also attend - and there, have a chance to meet locals like Satanist Anton LeVay and film writer Kenneth Anger.

After the death of Hannes Bok, Petaja created the Bokanalia foundation. He authored And Flights of Angels: The Life and Legend of Hannes Bok (1968) and edited The Hannes Bok Memorial Showcase of Fantasy Art (1974). Petaja also published a volume of Bok's poetry, three portfolios of Bok's artwork, and did much to keep the artist before the public eye.

The author's other published novels include Alpha Yes, Terra No! (1965), The Caves of Mars (1965), Lord of the Green Planet (1967), Doom of the Green Planet (1968), The Prism (1968), The Nets of Space (1969), The Path Beyond the Stars (1969), and Seed of the Dreamers (1970). A number of his novels were published by Ace in their series of back-to-back doubles alongside early work by Samuel R. Delany, Dean Koontz, Michael Moorcock and Brian Stableford. Four other novels remain unpublished, Glory Stone (1970), Little Gods (1972), Spin the Star Wheel (1975), and Zodiac World (1980). This latter work concerns a planet whose population is ruled by astrological beliefs.

Petaja authored articles on early science fiction for various fanzines, and his collected early poems were published in As Dream and Shadow (1972). He had also been a member of the Mystery Writers of America, and a regular contributor to detective fiction magazines in the 1940's.

The Petaja Pages - a website devoted to the author - can be found at http://www.pandorasbox.com/petaja.html

Text and photo courtesy of Mr. Petaja's literary agent Thomas Gladysz.

Posted August-17-2000