Otto Oscar Binder began writing science fiction with his brother Earl under the pen name Eando Binder and was first published in 1932. He kept the name Eando after Earl retired from writing in 1936. By 1935 they had produced 450,000 words, and by 1938, according to science fiction authority Sam Moskowitz, "Eando Binder had become one of the three most popular writers in the field." His popularity reached its height with his introduction of Adam Link, a very different robot conceptualization. Binder had a talent for plotting and was credited with being one of the more imaginative writers of the period. He largely left the science fiction field in the 1940s to write continuities for the *Captain Marvel* comic book series, which he did for 17 years. He made a brief and largely unsuccessful attempt to return to science fiction writing in the early 1950s. His last science fiction appearance was *Mankind: Child of the Stars*, with Max Hugh Flindt. Binder also wrote more than 300 nonfiction articles and wrote extensively on unidentified flying objects.
Otto Binder also wrote under the names John Coleridge, Dean D. O'Brien, Gordon A. Giles, Ione (or Ian) Frances Turek, and may have written under the house name Will Garth. He was an editor of two space magazines, *Space World*, and *Jets and Rockets*.
There are several sources available about Otto Binder, including:
* Clute, John. *The Science Fiction Encyclopedia* (St. Martin's, 1993), p. 121-122.
* Reginald, R.. *Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature, A Checklist 1700-1974, with Contemporary Science Fiction Authors II*. Detroit, MI: Gale Research, 1979. Volume 2, p. 817-818.
* Ash, Brian. *The Visual Encyclopedia of Science Fiction*. New York: Harmony, 1977, pp. 133.
Obituary, New York Times, October 19, 1974., p. 34
Published
ArchonInternalCollectionID:96
This collection consists of typescripts of several of Binder's novels with most including the author's corrections and accompanying carbons, and a number of short stories with most corrected including carbons and in some cases tearsheets from the magazines in which the stories initially appeared, corrected and with continuation sheets for expansion into full-length books.
In addition, there are close to 300 business and personal letters, photographs, postcards, and other files including broadcasting projects, non-fiction articles, letters and critiques from literary agents and publishers, materials on *Space World*, and several folders of unfinished manuscripts. Unusual "picture cards" featuring text and photographs on postcards are included.
Excluding duplicate carbons, letters, etc., there are approximately 2,300 pages (mostly 11 x 8.5-inches) of typescript with a total of about 575,000 words. Many of Binder's letters are on letters received or on the backs of manuscript or script fragments.
This collection is arranged into multiple series. Items are arranged chronologically where publication date of work is known.
Series 1: Manuscripts
Series 2: Correspondence
Series 3: Other Materials
Series 4: Oversized Materials
These materials are stored offsite and require additional time for retrieval.
Binder originally bequeathed this material to Sam Moskowitz. It was later "borrowed" from Moskowitz's papers, and later came up for sale from James Cummins Bookseller in 2002. It was purchased originally as an addendum to the Sam Moskowitz Collection.
Finding Aid Authors: Hal Hall.
Reprocessed by Jeremy Brett in August 2023.
© Copyright 2019 Cushing Library. All rights reserved.
Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Published
Published
1-1/1: "When Superminds Clash" [originally published as "Spawn of Eternal Thought", 1936], typescript first carbon, undated, and continuation notes with handwritten notes, undated
1-1/2: "When Superminds Clash" [originally published as "Spawn of Eternal Thought", 1936], typescript second carbon, undated, and tearsheets from *Astounding Stories*, April-May 1936
1-1/3: "Via" series (1937-1942), typescript carbons and notes, with handwritten notes, undated
1-1/4: "Giants of Anarchy" (1939), typescript carbon of old version, and notes, undated
1-1/5: "Giants of Anarchy" (1939), first and second typescript carbons, 1939?, and tearsheets from *Weird Tales*, June-July 1939
1-1/6: "The Timeless Trap" [originally published as "Prison of Time", 1939], typescript first and second carbons, 1939?, and tearsheets from *Dynamic Science Stories", April-May 1939
1-1/7: "Where Eternity Ends" (1939), typescript carbon with handwritten edits, undated
1-1/8: "Where Eternity Ends" (1939), typescript carbon, undated; letter to Binder from Scott Meredith, undated; handwritten notes, March 1974; and tearsheets from *Science Fiction*, June 1939
1-1/9: "The Little People" (1940), typescript carbon and handwritten notes, undated
1-1/10: "Jon Jarl" stories, photocopies of various stories, 1941-1949?
1-1/11: "Secret of the Red Spot" [originally published as "The Destroyers from Mars", 1940], typescript first carbon, pages 1-87, undated
1-1/12: "Secret of the Red Spot" [originally published as "The Destroyers from Mars", 1940], typescript first carbon, pages 88-158, undated
1-1/13: "Secret of the Red Spot" [originally published as "The Destroyers from Mars", 1940], typescript first carbon, pages 159-187, undated; continuation notes, undated; copyright renewal form, March 1967; and tearsheets from *Action Stories*, June 1940
1-1/14: "Secret of the Red Spot" [originally published as "The Destroyers from Mars", 1940], typescript second carbon, pages 1-97, undated
1-1/15: "Secret of the Red Spot" [originally published as "The Destroyers from Mars", 1940], typescript second carbon, pages 98-187, undated
Published
1-2/1: "The Chained Galaxy" [originally published as "Vassals of the Master World", 1941], typescript first and second carbon and notes, undated; and tearsheets from *Planet Stories*, August 1941
1-2/2: "The Second Life" [originally published as "The Life Beyond", 1941], typescript carbon, 1941?; and letter from Scott Meredith Literary Agency, October 1, 1969
1-2/3: "The Second Life" [originally published as "The Life Beyond", 1941], typescript and notes, 1941?; and tearsheets from *Science Fiction*, March 1941
1-2/4: "The Cosmic Blinker" (1953), typescript carbon (under old title "The Galactic Blinker") with handwritten edits, 1953
1-2/5: "Inside Story: What They Don't Tell You About X-Rays", typescript carbon of rewrite, June 1957
1-2/6: *Space Log* (radio show), typescripts and carbons of scripts, July 7, 1961 - September 1, 1961
1-2/7: Outlines and treatments for "juvenile science books", 1962-1963, undated
1-2/8: Prospectus for *Everyman's Space Encyclopedia*, typescript and carbon drafts, 1963?; and correspondence, 1963
1-2/9: Children's book reviews for *The New York TImes*, typescript and memorandum, 1963?
1-2/10: "Cars...Of Other Worlds" (1964), typescript carbon, 1964?
1-2/11: *Adam Link-Robot* (1965), typescript carbon (under old title *I, Robot*), title page - page 46, 1965?
1-2/12: *Adam Link-Robot* (1965), typescript carbon (under old title *I, Robot*), pages 47 - 109, 1965?
1-2/13: *Adam Link-Robot* (1965), typescript carbon (under old title *I, Robot*), pages 110 - 164, 1965?
1-2/14: *Adam Link-Robot* (1965), typescript carbon (under old title *I, Robot*), pages 165 - 226, 1965?
1-2/15: *Adam Link-Robot* (1965), typescript carbon (under old title *I, Robot*), pages 227 - 287, 1965?
1-2/16: *Adam Link-Robot* (1965), typescript carbon (under old title *I, Robot*), pages 288 - 345, 1965?
1-2/17: *Adam Link-Robot* (1965), typescript revision pages with handwritten edits, 1965?
1-2/18: *Adam Link-Robot* (1965), typescript second carbon with handwritten edits, pages i - 65, 1965?
Published
1-3/1: *Adam Link-Robot* (1965), typescript second carbon with handwritten edits, pages 66 - 140, 1965?
1-3/2: *Adam Link-Robot* (1965), typescript second carbon with handwritten edits, pages 141 - 200, 1965?
1-3/3: *Adam Link-Robot* (1965), typescript second carbon with handwritten edits, pages 201 - 271 1965?
1-3/4: *Adam Link-Robot* (1965), typescript second carbon with handwritten edits, pages 272 - 345, 1965?
1-3/5: *Adam Link-Robot* (1965), typescript third carbon (under old title *I, Robot*) with handwritten edits, title page - page 127, 1965?
1-3/6:*Adam Link-Robot* (1965), typescript third carbon (under old title *I, Robot*) with handwritten edits, pages 128 - 243, 1965?
1-3/7: *Adam Link-Robot* (1965), typescript third carbon (under old title *I, Robot*) with handwritten edits, pages 244 - 344, 1965?
1-3/8: "Adam Link Builds a Utopia" [story removed from 1965 novel *Adam Link-Robot*], typescript with handwritten edits, undated
1-3/9: "Jon Jarl" stories, two typescript carbons and correspondence, 1865
1-3/10: "The Cosmic Collectors!" (*Supergirl* story, *Action Comics* #353, June 1967), typescript carbon of script, March 1967
1-3/11: "Seeds of Disaster" (*Mighty Samson* story, 1968), typescript carbon of script, May 1968
1-3/12: "Our Space Age" columns/releases, released August - December 1968
1-3/13: "Our Space Age" columns/releases (carbons), released August - December 1968
Published
1-4/1: "Our Space Age" columns/releases, January - February 1969
1-4/2: "Our Space Age" columns/releases,February - June 1969
1-4/3: "Our Space Age" columns/releases, September - October 1969
1-4/4: "Our Space Age" columns/releases [carbons], January - April 1969
1-4/5: "Our Space Age" columns/releases [carbons], May - October 1969
1-4/6: *Menace of the Saucers* (1969), typescript draft (under old title *Secret of the Saucers*) with handwritten edits, pages 1 - 38, 1968?
1-4/7: *Menace of the Saucers* (1969), typescript draft (under old title *Secret of the Saucers*) with handwritten edits, pages 39 - 84, 1968?
1-4/8: *Menace of the Saucers* (1969), typescript draft (under old title *Secret of the Saucers*) with handwritten edits, pages 85 - 146, 1968?
1-4/9: *Menace of the Saucers* (1969), typescript draft (under old title *Secret of the Saucers*) with handwritten edits, pages 147 - 180, 1968?
1-4/10: *Menace of the Saucers* (1969), typescript draft (under old title *Secret of the Saucers*) with handwritten edits, pages 1 - 52b, with additional pages, 1968?; and correspondence, 1968 - 1969
1-4/11: *Menace of the Saucers* (1969), typescript draft (under old title *Secret of the Saucers*) with handwritten edits, pages 53 - 108A, with additional pages, 1968?
1-4/12: *Menace of the Saucers* (1969), typescript draft (under old title *Secret of the Saucers*) with handwritten edits, pages 109 - 177, with additional pages, 1968?
1-4/13: *Menace of the Saucers* (1969), carbon draft (under old title *Secret of the Saucers*), pages 1- 44, 1969?
1-4/14: *Menace of the Saucers* (1969), carbon draft (under old title *Secret of the Saucers*), pages 45 - 101, 1969?
Published
1-5/1: *Menace of the Saucers* (1969), carbon draft (under old title *Secret of the Saucers*), pages 102 - 137, 1969?
1-5/2: *Menace of the Saucers* (1969), carbon draft (under old title *Secret of the Saucers*), pages 138 - 180, 1969?
1-5/3: *The Double Man* (1971), typescript carbon, pages 1 - 80, undated
1-5/4: *The Double Man* (1971), typescript carbon, pages 81 - 184, undated
1-5/5: *The Mind from Outer Space* (1972), story outline, February 1969; correspondence, 1969 -1970; and other documentation, 1969?
1-5/6: *The Mind from Outer Space* (1972), typescript draft, pages 1 - 66, 1972?
1-5/7: *The Mind from Outer Space* (1972), typescript draft, pages 67 - 111, 1972?
1-5/8: *The Mind from Outer Space* (1972), typescript draft, pages 112 - 179, 1972?
1-5/9: *The Mind from Outer Space* (1972), carbon draft, pages 1 - 46, 1972?
1-5/10: *The Mind from Outer Space* (1972), carbon draft, pages 47 - 90, 1972?
1-5/11: *The Mind from Outer Space* (1972), carbon draft, pages 91 - 138, 1972?
1-5/12: *The Mind from Outer Space* (1972), carbon draft, pages 139 - 179, 1972?
1-5/13: *Get Off My World* (1971), carbon draft, pages 1 - 58, undated
1-5/14: *Get Off My World* (1971), carbon draft, pages 59 - 130, undated
1-5/15: *Get Off My World* (1971), carbon draft, pages 131 - 171, undated
1-5/16: *Get Off My World* (1971), typescript draft, pages 1 - 66, undated; copyright renewal for original 1940 story, 1968; and additional pages, undated
1-5/17: *Get Off My World* (1971), typescript draft, pages 67 - 130, undated
Published
1-6/1: *Get Off My World* (1971), typescript draft, pages 131 - 171, undated
1-6/2: "About Face!" (unpublished), carbon draft with handwritten edits, undated
1-6/3: Chapter 31 ("Boo!") and Chapter 32 ("Tomorrow the Moon") from unidentified volume, typescript with handwritten edits, undated
1-6/4: "Earth's Core" (unpublished), typescript carbon with handwritten edits, and typescript notes, undated
1-6/5: "Ex-Detective" stories (unpublished), typescript, and typescript carbon notes, undated
1-6/6: "Forfeit" (unpublished), carbon draft, undated
1-6/7: "A Giant There Was" (unpublished), typescript draft with handwritten edits, undated
1-6/8: "Gilmer Brown Allison" (unpublished), typescript, undated
1-6/9: "Goatee and Crazy-Laugh" (unpublished), typescript carbon of story description, undated
1-6/10: "Golgotha" (by Louis Black?), photocopied typescript with handwritten edits, undated
1-6/11: "I Have Destroyed the Earth" (unpublished), typescript carbon with handwritten edits, undated
1-6/12: "The Immortal Twelve* (unpublished), typescript with handwritten edits, undated; and typescript carbon with handwritten edits, undated
1-6/13: "Jason's Teeth" (unpublished), typescript carbon with handwritten edits, undated
1-6/14: "Jonathan Leed" (unpublished), typescript carbon with handwritten edits, undated
1-6/15: *Jovian Journey* (alternate title: *Bio-Hell of Jupiter*, unpublished), typescript draft with handwritten edits, undated
1-6/16: *Jovian Journey* (alternate title: *Bio-Hell of Jupiter*, unpublished), shorter typescript draft, undated; and shorter typescript carbon with handwritten edits, undated
1-6/17: "Man In Space: The Mercury Astronauts" (script), typescript carbon, undated
1-6/18: "Man Licks Giant Alien" (unpublished), typescript carbon with handwritten edits, undated
1-6/19: "Mark Dixon" (unpublished), typescript and typescript carbon with handwritten notes, undated; and notes and outline, undated
1-6/20: "The Marvel Family Fails" (Marvel Family story, *The Marvel Family*, undated), mimeograph of script, undated
1-6/21: "Mechanical Foundation of Youth" (unpublished), typescript carbon with handwritten edits, undated
1-6/22: *Memoirs of a Nobody* (unpublished), typescript draft, undated [Folder 1]
1-6/23: *Memoirs of a Nobody* (unpublished), typescript draft, undated [Folder 2]
1-6/24: *Memoirs of a Nobody* (unpublished), typescript carbon draft, undated [Folder 1]
1-6/25: *Memoirs of a Nobody* (unpublished), typescript carbon draft, undated [Folder 2]
1-6/26: *The Mighty Ones* (unpublished), typescript draft with handwritten edits, undated
1-6/20:
Published
1-7/1: *The Mighty Ones* (unpublished), typescript carbon draft with handwritten edits, undated
1-7/2: "Minus Man" (unpublished), typescript carbon draft with edits, undated; typescript carbon draft, undated; and continuation notes with edits, undated
1-7/3: "Minus Man" (unpublished), typescript draft
1-7/4: *New Science Discoveries* (unpublished), typescript draft with handwritten edits for chapter 1, 1959?; typescript carbon draft for chapter 1 - 2, 1959?; and cover memo, February 1959
1-7/5: "No More BEMs" (unpublished), typescript draft with edits, undated; and typescript draft, undated
1-7/6: "No More BEMs" (unpublished), typescript draft, undated
1-7/7: "No More BEMs" (unpublished), typescript carbon draft (2), undated; and rejection letters, April 1958 and June 1970
1-7/8: "Oliphant" (unpublished), partial typescript carbon draft with handwritten edits, undated; and story description, undated
1-7/9: "Out of This - Or Any -World" (nonfiction article on science fiction, unpublished), typescript draft with handwritten edits, undated
1-7/10: "The Perfect Escape", typescript draft with handwritten edits, undated; and typescript carbon draft, undated
1-7/11: "Perpetual Motion" (unpublished), typescript carbon draft with handwritten edits, undated
1-7/12: "Power Boys" (unpublished), typescript carbon draft of story description, undated
1-7/13: "Prison Moon" (unpublished), typescript draft, undated
1-7/14: "Professor Jerome Everett" (unpublished), typescript carbon draft with handwritten edits, undated
1-7/15: "Secret of the Great Stone Face" (unpublished), typescript draft with handwritten edits, undated; and typescript carbon drafts with handwritten edits, undated
1-7/16: "Space Travel Impossible" (unpublished), carbon draft with handwritten edits, undated
1-7/17: "Split Ego" (unpublished), typescript carbon draft with handwritten edits, undated
1-7/18: *The Stamp Book of Deep Sea Wonders* (unpublished), typescript outlines, undated; and illustrations, 1959, undated
1-7/19: "Stone Men Visit Earth" (unpublished), typescript carbon draft with handwritten edits, undated
1-7/20: "Talking Brain" (unpublished), typescript carbon draft with handwritten edits [unfinished], undated
1-7/21: "Telepathy" (unpublished), typescript carbon draft with handwritten edits, undated
1-7/22: "They Have No Flying Machines" (unpublished), typescript carbon draft with handwritten edits, undated
1-7/23: "Twice Told Tale" (unpublished), typescript carbon draft, August 1954
1-7/24: *Was No One On Earth Alive* (unpublished), typescript carbon draft with handwritten edits, undated; and notes, undated
1-7/25: "Weird" (unpublished), typescript carbon draft with handwritten edits, undated
1-7/26: Resumes of SF stories, typescript drafts, undated
Published
Approximately 300 items, ca. 1932-53, a few later. Personal correspondence (including copies of very interesting letters from Otto's brother, Earl), family communications, a series of ca. 60 post cards, of more than normal interest, dating from the 1930s, and other memorabilia, including some tiny photographs pasted on cards and letters.Professional correspondence, evidently selected by Binder for preservation as being of particular significance: letters from editors, fellow writers, fans, and others.
Published
2-8/1: Correspondence, 1932 - 1935
2-8/2: Correspondence, 1936
2-8/3: Correspondence, 1937
2-8/4: Correspondence, 1938 - 1941, 1947 - 1949
2-8/5: Correspondence, 1950 - 1963, 1970
2-8/6: Correspondence, undated
2-8/7: Correspondence and PR materials re: *Adam Link-Robot* (1965), 1964 - 1965
2-8/8: Correspondence - Readers' letters re: Adam Link stories (taken from pulp magazines), 1939 - 1942?
2-8/9: Correspondence re: Broadcasting, 1962 - 1964
2-8/10: Correspondence - Editorial correspondence, 1952 - 1953, 1958
2-8/11; Correspondence - Fanzine correspondence and miscellany, 1966 - 1971, undated
Published
2-9/1: Correspondence re: "I, Robot" adaptation, 1964 - 1968, undated
2-9/2: Correspondence re: Libraries, 1966 - 1968; and news clippings of mentions of Binder's books, various dates
2-9/3: Correspondence - Miscellaneous, 1966 - 1968
2-9/4: Postcards, 1934, 1936
2-9/5: Postcards, 1937
2-9/6: Postcards, 1938 -1939, 1959, 1963, undated
Published
Published
3-9/7: Articles, listings re: "I, Robot" television adaptation, 1964, 1967
3-9/8: Clippings and other materials re: "I, Robot", various dates
3-9/9: Miscellaneous, 1929, 1968, undated
3-9/10: Photographs and postcards, 1934 - 1935, undated
3-9/11: Photographs re: broadcasting, undated
3-9/12: Small comic books, 1954 - 1962, undated
3-9/13: *Season's Greetings* 33 [fanzine, ed., Don and Maggie Thompson, 1966]
3-9/14: *Space World* scripts, notes, and related materials, 1961 - 1962, undated
3-9/15: Timeline of Adam Link stories for *Amazing Stories*, 1939 - 1940
Published
3-10/1: Tearsheets of articles by Binder in general interest magazines, 1936, 1953 - 1961, undated
3-10/2: United States Air Force report: *Testing for Extrasensory Perception With a Machine* (1963), with letter to Binder from USAF Office of Aerospace Research, January 1964
Published
Published
Large cardboard sign: "Otto, You Were Wonderful"!, congratulatory sign to Binder after his Spring 1961 appearance on the Betty Furness Show
Published
Tearsheets for various Jon Jarl stories