Fritz Reuter Leiber, Jr., a significant figure in the development and growth of 20th century fantasy, science, supernatural, and horror fiction, has donated his personal collection to the UH Libraries. A 1932 psychology/physiology graduate of the University of Chicago and the son of a Shakespearian actor, Leiber held editorial positions and taught theater at Occidental College. However, from the mid 1930s until his death in 1992 he primarily supported himself through his prolific writing of short stories, novellas, novels, and various columns.

Having been credited for coining the literary description "sword and sorcery" to categorize stories in which mortal heroes battle villains with supernatural powers, Leiber frequently wrote in this heroic fantasy genre. His contributions include the saga of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser (two adventurers in the otherworld of Nehwon and the city of Lankhmar) who were physically based upon the tall, lean Leiber (Fafhrd) and his shorter, more muscular, lifelong friend, Harry Otto Fischer (Gray Mouser). Correspondence concerning their lives is contained within the Fritz Leiber Collection, along with several manuscripts, typescripts, publications, and reviews of F&GM stories.

Fritz Leiber did not strictly limit himself to Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser stories, however. Within the Fritz Leiber Collection of the UH Libraries Special Collections and Archives Department, it is possible to trace many of his stories from his preliminary notes through several drafts of working manuscripts to publication. Leiber has been published in science fiction and fantasy magazines, books, and anthologies. His stories, such as the Hugo Award winning The Big Time and The Wanderer as well as the Nebula Award winning Catch That Zeppelin!, illustrate the diversity of topics and themes Fritz Leiber addressed in his work. Many more titles are available within the collection. Leiber's work was adapted to other media, also. For instance, Leiber's first novel, Conjure Wife, inspired the movie productions of Weird Woman and Burn, Witch, Burn.

Scattered through the collection is a host of other well-known science fiction and fantasy authors and editors. To name a few noteworthy people found throughout the correspondence files, collections of other writers' work, or convention materials, there are: Forest J. Ackerman, Frederik Pohl, Poul Anderson, Harlan Ellison, Ursula K. LeGuin, L. Sprague de Camp, Cele Goldsmith, Marian Zimmer Bradley, and August Derleth of Arkham House Publishers.

Fritz Leiber (1910-1992) and his son, UH faculty member Justin Leiber, donated the collection to UH between 1984 and 1997. The collection includes correspondence, story notes, manuscripts, typescripts, copies of publications, tearsheets, diaries, biographical materials, and photographs in addition to illustrations, artwork, and science fiction and fantasy convention materials. The collection also includes materials and ephemera such as weaponry, sculpture, and awards.

The Fritz Leiber Collection can be used in the Special Collections and Archives Department, located on the seventh floor of the M.D. Anderson Library. The department is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. A printed finding aid is available to anyone interested in using the collection. Please contact the department at (713) 743-9750 if you would like a copy sent to you for preliminary research.

Katherine Fox