Editing E. E. Smith (section)

===The ''Lensman'' series===

In January 1936, a time period where he was already an established science-fiction writer, he took a job for salary plus profit-sharing, as production manager at [[Dawn Foods|Dawn Donut Co.]] of [[Jackson, Michigan]].<ref name=":0"/><ref>Moskowitz p. 19, Warner.</ref> This initially entailed almost a year's worth of 18-hour days and seven-day workweeks. Individuals who knew Smith confirmed that he had a role in developing mixes for doughnuts and other pastries, but the contention that he developed the first process for making powdered sugar adhere to doughnuts cannot be substantiated.<ref>The earliest web source for this claim seems to be [http://news.zdnet.co.uk/hardware/emergingtech/0,39020357,2099814,00.htm Computer games: 40 years of fun, ZDNet UK, November 23, 2001] by Graeme Wearden. The article does not provide a source.</ref> Smith was reportedly dislocated from his job at Dawn Donuts by prewar rationing in early 1940.<ref name="dict">The Dictionary of Literary Biography,{{Citation needed|date=October 2007}} quoted at http://www.bookrags.com/Edward_Elgar accessed May 8, 2007.</ref>

Smith had been contemplating writing a "space-police novel" since early 1927;<ref>"The Epic of Space" p. 83.</ref> once he had "the Lensmen's universe fairly well set up", he reviewed his science-fiction collection for "cops-and-robbers" stories. He cites Clinton Constantinescue's "War of the Universe" as a negative example, and [[Roman Frederick Starzl|Starzl]] and [[Jack Williamson|Williamson]] as positive ones.<ref>"The Epic of Space" p. 84. 'Canstantinescu's "War of the Universes"' is apparently an error for "The War of the Universe" by Clinton Constantinescu, ''Amazing Stories Quarterly'', Fall 1931.</ref> Tremaine responded extremely positively to a brief description of the idea.<ref name = "epic85"/>

Once Dawn Donuts became profitable in late 1936, Smith wrote an 85-page outline for what became the four core ''[[Lensman]]'' novels.  In early 1937, Tremaine committed to buying them.<ref>Gharlane [http://www.outel.org/decomposed/goe/LFQ1.htm LensFaq section 1]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Moskowitz p. 19, "The Epic of Space" p. 85. Smith's account in "The Epic of Space" does not mention Tremaine's commitment. Moskowitz says that the outline was 80 pages. Smith only mentions that the section on ''[[Galactic Patrol]]'' was "only a few pages long."</ref> Segmenting the story into four novels required considerable effort to avoid dangling loose ends. Smith cited [[Edgar Rice Burroughs]] as a negative example.<ref name="epic85">"The Epic of Space" p. 85.</ref> After the outline was complete, he wrote a more detailed outline of ''[[Galactic Patrol]]'', plus a detailed graph of its structure, with "peaks of emotional intensity and the valleys of characterization and background material." He notes, however, that he was never able to follow any of his outlines at all closely, as the "characters get away from me and do exactly as they damn please."<ref>"The Epic of Space" p. 86.</ref> After completing the rough draft of ''Galactic Patrol'', he wrote the concluding chapter of the last book in the series, ''[[Children of the Lens]].''<ref name = "mosk19"/> ''Galactic Patrol'' was published in the September 1937 through February 1938 issues of ''Astounding''. Unlike the revised book edition, it was not set in the same universe as ''Triplanetary''.<ref>The Commandant's account of the Patrol's early history at the beginning of the magazine version of ''Galactic Patrol'' does not describe what happened in the magazine version of ''Triplanetary''. The reference to Virgil Samms and the Triplanetary Patrol is a later interpolation. (''Astounding'' September 1937 pp. 12–13; cp. [[Fantasy Press]] edition pp. 8–9.) The reference to "the days of the semi-inert drive" and the Third Galactic Survey on page 34 of the same issue is not consistent with the history of partial inertialessness in either version of ''Triplanetary'', and is omitted from page 42 of the [[Fantasy Press]] edition. (''[[Amazing Stories|Amazing]]'' March 1934 pp. 28 & 33; cp. Fantasy Press edition pp. 223 & 231.) See also Gharlane's Lens FAQ Question 1. The Arisians' near-omniscience about the future is also interpolated, e.g., ''Astounding'' January 1938 p. 127 vs. first edition p. 205.</ref>

''[[Gray Lensman]]'', the fourth book in the series, appeared in ''Astounding''{{'}}s October 1939 through January 1940 issues.  ''Gray Lensman''  was extremely well received, as was its cover illustration.<ref>[http://www.ethanfleischer.com/lensman/gallery_gl.htm Z9M9Z – A Lensman Website – Gallery.]</ref> [[John W. Campbell|Campbell]]'s editorial in the December issue suggested that the October issue was the best issue of ''Astounding'' ever, and ''Gray Lensman'' was first place in the Analytical Laboratory statistics "by a lightyear", with three runners-up in a distant tie for second place.<ref>''Astounding'' December 1939 pp. 6, 91.</ref> The cover was also praised by readers in ''Brass Tacks'', and Campbell noted, "We got a letter from E. E. Smith saying he and [cover artist] Hubert Rogers agreed on how Kinnison looked."<ref>''Astounding'' December 1939 pp. 104.</ref>

Smith was the guest of honor at [[Chicon I]], the second [[World Science Fiction Convention]], held in Chicago over [[Labor Day Weekend|Labor Day weekend]] 1940,<ref>Sanders p. 10, Moskowitz p. 12.</ref> giving a speech on the importance of [[science fiction fandom]] entitled "What Does This Convention Mean?"<ref>Resnick & Siclari.</ref> He attended the [[Worldcon#Worldcon activities|convention's masquerade]] as [[C. L. Moore]]'s [[Northwest Smith]], and met fans living near him in Michigan, who would later form the Galactic Roamers, which previewed and advised him on his future work.<ref>Sanders p. 10, afterword to ''[[Second Stage Lensmen]]''.</ref>

After [[Attack on Pearl Harbor|Pearl Harbor]], Smith discovered he "was one year over age for reinstatement" into the US Army. Instead he worked on high explosives at the Kingsbury Ordnance Plant in [[La Porte, Indiana|La Port]], Indiana, at first as a chemical engineer, but gradually worked his way up to chief. In late 1943 he became head of the Inspection Division, and was fired in early 1944.<ref name=":0"/>

Smith spent the next few years working on "light farm machinery and heavy tanks for [[Allis-Chalmers]]," after which he was hired as manager of the Cereal Mix Division of J. W. Allen & Co.,<ref name=":0"/> where he worked until his professional retirement in 1957.<ref name="dict" />