John Lymington

John Lymington John Richard Newton Chance (1911 – 3 August 1983), who wrote as John Lymington, was born in London. He was a prolific writer of short stories, children's literature, mystery and science fiction novels. An obituary in Ansible [http://news.ansible.co.uk/a38.html] credits Lymington with writing over 150 novels, 'including 20+ SF potboilers', adding that he 'made a steady income by delivering thrillers to Robert Hale (the publisher) at a chapter a week'.

Lymington's first book, ''Wheels in the Forest,'' was written in 1935. Pseudonyms used by Lymington throughout his career included John Drummond, David C. Newton, Desmond Reid (see 'Sexton Blake') and Jonathan Chance. Brian Stableford suggested in the Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction Literature (pp. 208) that the name Lymington was chosen 'in a blatant attempt to cash in' on John Wyndham's popularity.

Chance was educated in a private school in London, and subsequently attended a technical college with the intention of becoming a civil engineer, an ambition which he left behind to become a quantity surveyor. By the age of 21, he decided to give up this job and began to work full-time as a writer.

During his career with the RAF, which began in the summer of 1940, he became a flying instructor at South Cerney, Long Newnton and Bibury airfields [http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=9247393359440112911,51.632989,-2.131984&time=&date=&ttype=&saddr=long+newnton,+gloucestershire,+united+kingdom&daddr=South+Cerney,+Cirencester,+Gloucestershire,+United+Kingdom+to:tetbury,+gloucestershire,+united+kingdom&sll=51.66276,-2.046204&sspn=0.178459,0.466919&ie=UTF8&ll=51.66302,-2.046085&spn=0.178457,0.466919&z=11&om=1] in the Cotswolds. The three airfields were administrated under the Cerney office. In this role, he applied experience of flying, from as early as 1928. In 1943 he met his wife-to-be, Shirley Savill, at the time serving as a section officer in the WAAF (Women's Auxiliary Air Force). They married on 22 July. In November of that year, Chance was given indefinite leave, and was invalided out with the permanent rank of flight lieutenant on 8 February 1944. He wrote about this time in his autobiography, ''Yellow Belly'', published by Robert Hale in 1959. After the war, he moved to Hampshire with his wife, where their three sons were born. The family moved to the Isle of Wight in 1956, to take up management of a pub. Provided by Wikipedia
Showing 1 - 18 results of 18 for search 'Lymington, John', query time: 0.11s Refine Results
  1. 1
    by Lymington, John
    Published 1966
    Book
  2. 2
    by Lymington, John
    Published 1964
    Book
  3. 3
    by Lymington, John
    Published 1971
    Book
  4. 4
    by Lymington, John
    Published 1971
    Book
  5. 5
    by Lymington, John
    Published 1970
    Book
  6. 6
    by Lymington, John
    Published 1969
    Book
  7. 7
    by Lymington, John
    Published 1970
    Book
  8. 8
    by Lymington, John
    Published 1969
    Book
  9. 9
    by Lymington, John
    Published 1970
    Book
  10. 10
    by Lymington, John
    Published 1971
    Book
  11. 11
    by Lymington, John
    Published 1967
    Book
  12. 12
    by Lymington, John
    Published 1982
    Book
  13. 13
    by Lymington, John
    Published 1981
    Book
  14. 14
    by Lymington, John
    Published 1970
    Book
  15. 15
    by Lymington, John
    Published 1960
    Book
  16. 16
    by Lymington, John
    Published 1966
    Book
  17. 17
    by Lymington, John
    Published 1965
    Book
  18. 18
    by Lymington, John
    Published 1967
    Book
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