Frank Herbert: Behind the Santaroga Barrier (part 1)

Sci-fi writer Frank Herbert started his writing career as a journalist, and got his first sci-fi short story published in 1952 while writing at the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. Last week I started researching the newspaper's microfilm archives to compile Frank Herbert's articles for publication.

In the 1940s and '50s newspapers rarely printed "by-lines", the writer's credit (as in "by Frank Herbert"). I have found Frank Herbert's earliest PD by-line, from May 22, 1949: "Old Automobiles, a Human Skull, Money, Silverware All in Day's Work at the Dump" which includes four "Staff photos by Frank Herbert"

About a week later Santa Rosa native Robert "Believe it or not" Ripley died. His career of oddities started with the Church of One Tree, which his father helped build from one single redwood tree. Perhaps Frank Herbert wrote one of the many unattributed articles which interveiwed Ripley's friends and relatives. It must have been odd for an aspiring journalist to find himself in the backyard of one of the most famous syndicated columnists of his time.

When this research is completed, it will be published in e-book from, as well as a limited 100-volume first printing. My working title is Frank Herbert: Behind the Santaroga Barrier. More details to follow.

In the meantime, find and enjoy the book that Frank Herbert wrote based on his experience living in quaint little Santa Rosa, The Santaroga Barrier. 


Copyright 2013 by Erik Jorgensen