John DeChancie papers
Finding aid prepared by Julianna Gil, Student Processing Assistant.
Special Collections & University Archives
The UCR Library
P.O. Box 5900
University of California
Riverside, California 92517-5900
Phone: 951-827-3233
Fax: 951-827-4673
Email: specialcollections@ucr.edu
URL: http://library.ucr.edu/libraries/special-collections-university-archives
© 2017
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: John DeChancie papers
Date (inclusive): 1977-1999, undated
Collection Number: MS 355
Creator:
DeChancie, John
Extent:
3.13 linear feet
(8 boxes)
Repository:
Rivera Library. Special Collections Department.
Abstract: The John DeChancie papers is a collection of documents consisting of manuscripts, page proofs, and correspondence relating
to the literary works of American comic fantasy and science fiction writer, John DeChancie.
Languages: The collection is in English.
Access
The collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to the University of California, Riverside Libraries, Special Collections & University Archives.
Distribution or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission
of the copyright owners. To the extent other restrictions apply, permission for distribution or reproduction from the applicable
rights holder is also required. Responsibility for obtaining permissions, and for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], [date if possible]. John DeChancie papers (MS 355). Special Collections & University Archives, University
of California, Riverside.
Acquisition Information
Gift of John DeChancie, 2011.
Processing History
The collection was processed by Julianna Gil, Student Processing Assistant, in 2017.
Processing of the John DeChancie papers was completed by undergraduate students from the University of California, Riverside
as part of the Special Collections & University Archives Backlog Procesing Project started in 2015. This project was funded
by the UCR Library and administered by Jessica Geiser, Collections Management Librarian.
Biographical Note
John DeChancie was born on August 3, 1946, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. DeChancie attended public and private schools, and
graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1968 with a Bachelor's of Arts in Philosophy. DeChancie worked for a television
station as a technician, as well as a freelance cameraman for a motion picture.
Later on, he focused on directing and producing educational films, television commercials, and industrial films for about
7-8 years. In 1979, DeChancie began writing fiction. "I Am The Grass" was DeChancie's first fictional story to be sold to
a professional magazine. Then in 1983, he sold
Starrigger, his first fiction book, to ACE Books who published it in December of the same year.
As an author he has published numerous books, including the
Skyway series,
Castle series,
Dr. Dimension series,
Castle Falkenstein series, and a number of other books. DeChancie is also involved in writing screenplays and teleplays.
Collection Scope and Contents
The collection contains documents from John DeChancie's literary career, inlcuding manuscripts, page proofs, articles, and
memorabilia related to many of his works, and correspondence with publishers, science fiction societies, and other authors.
Collection Arrangement
This collection is arranged into two series as follows:
- Series 1. Manuscripts and related materials, 1977-1999, undated
- Series 2. Correspondence, 1981-1985
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
library's online public access catalog.
Subjects
Fantasy fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction -- Authorship
Genres and Forms of Materials
Correspondence
Manuscripts
Page proofs
Series 1. Manuscripts and related materials
1977-1999, undated
Series Scope and Contents
The series contains items related to many of DeChancie's literary works, includings manuscript drafts, page proofs, outlines,
newspaper articles and notes. The series also includes a
Witchblade action figure.
Series Arrangement
Materials are arranged alphabetically.
Box 1, Folder 1
Bride of the Castle - Annotated Manuscript
circa 1994
Box 1, Folder 2
Bride of the Castle - Page Proofs
1994
Box 1, Folder 3
Castle Fantastic - Page Proofs
1996
Box 1, Folder 4
Castle Fantastic - Roger Zelazny's "Hall of Mirrors"
circa 1996
Box 1, Folder 5
Castle Fantastic - Story Introductions
circa 1996
Box 1, Folders 6-7
Castle for Rent (
Castle Walls)
circa 1988
Box 1, Folder 8, Box 2, Folder 1
Castle for Rent - Annotated Manuscript
1988
Box 2, Folders 2-3
Castle Kidnapped - Annotated Manuscript
circa 1989
Box 2, Folders 4-5
Castle Murders - Annotated Manuscript
1991
Box 2, Folder 6
Castle Spellbound - Page Proofs
1992
Box 3, Folder 2
The Crooked House - Cover Page and Pages 30-31
circa 1987
Box 3, Folder 3
The Crooked House - Outline
circa 1987
Box 3, Folders 4-5
Dr. Dimension - Page Proofs
1993
Box 3, Folders 6-7
From Prussia with Love - Page Proofs
1995
Box 3, Folder 8, Box 4, Folder 1
Innerverse - Annotated Manuscript
1996
Box 4, Folder 2
Knight Rider - Writer's Guide and Miscellaneous Information
1984
Box 4, Folder 3
The Kruton Interface - Annotated Manuscript
1993
Box 4, Folder 4
The Kruton Interface - Page Proofs
circa 1993
Box 4, Folders 5-6
Living with Aliens - Annotated Manuscript
1995
Box 4, Folder 7
Living with Aliens - Page Proofs
1994
Box 4, Folder 8, Box 5, Folder 1
MagicNet - Annotated Manuscript
1994
Box 5, Folder 2
"The Man with French"
1983
Box 5, Folders 3-4
Masterminds of Falkenstein - Copyedited Draft
1996
Box 5, Folder 5
Newspaper Articles
1983-1984
Box 5, Folder 6
Pagan Babies - Screenplay, First Draft
1977
Box 5, Folders 7-9
Paradox Alley - Annotated Manuscript
circa 1987
Box 6, Folder 1
Red Limit Freeway - 1st Draft
1981
Box 6, Folders 2-3
Red Limit Freeway - Annotated Final Draft
1984
Box 6, Folder 4
"The Richmond Enigma" - Page Proofs, for book
Sherlock Holmes in Orbit
1994
Box 6, Folder 5
Starrigger - Cover Page Proofs, Papers, and Royalty Statement
circa 1983-1985
Box 6, Folders 6-7
Starrigger - First 24 Chapters
circa 1983
Box 6, Folders 8-9, Box 7, Folder 1
Starrigger - First Draft
circa 1983
Box 7, Folder 2
Starrigger - Synopsis and First Few Chapters
circa 1983
Box 7, Folder 3
Untitled Horror Novel - Outline
undated
Box 7, Folder 4
William Tenn's "The Ghost Standard"
undated
Box 8, Item 1
Witchblade Series II - Sara Pezzini Action Figure
1999
Series 2. Correspondence
1981-1985
Series Scope and Contents
The collection contains DeChancie's correspondence with various authors, publishers, and others. Topics addressed in the correspondence
include DeChancie's publishing process, his collaborations with other authors, and his process of scriptwriting. The series
also includes correspondence, memberships, and programs related to science fiction conventions and societies.
Series Arrangement
Materials in the series are arranged alphabetically by correspondent.
Box 7, Folder 6
Susan Allison and Melissa Singer
1983
Box 7, Folder 7
Orson Scott Card
1984-1985
Box 7, Folder 8
Christine (Tina) Connell
1985
Box 7, Folder 10
General Correspondence
1983-1985
Box 7, Folder 12
William Greenleaf
1983-1984
Box 7, Folder 14
Thomas F. Monteleone
1984-1985
Box 7, Folder 17
Science Fiction Conventions & Societies
1981-1985
Box 7, Folder 18
Melissa Ann Singer
1981-1984
Box 7, Folder 19
Michael Swanwick
1984-1985
