Georges Arthur Surdez (1900–1949) was a Swiss writer of adventure stories. Server, Lee, Encyclopedia of Pulp Fiction Writers. New York : Facts on File, 2002 (p. 243–44) He invented the term "Russian Roulette" in a story of the same name published in Collier's magazine.
Biography Surdez was born in Bienne, Switzerland, of French descent. Surdez's family emigrated to America when Surdez was aged thirteen; he went to school in New York. Surdez spent several years living in the French colonies in North Africa and Central Africa. In 1920 Surdez returned to the United States and remained in the country for most of his life.
Writing career Surdez specialised in writing fiction about the French Foreign Legion. Surdez researched the Foreign Legion in detail, and once visited the organization's training camp at Sidi Bel Abbès, Algeria to gather information about the Legion.Goodstone, Tony. The Pulps : Fifty Years of American Pop Culture Chelsea House, New York, 1976. (p.30 ). He was a regular contributor to Adventure, with over 100 stories appearing.Hulse, Ed. The Blood 'n' Thunder guide to Pulp Fiction. Murania Press, Middletown, DE, 2018. (p. 53) Surdez's work also appeared in other magazines, including Argosy, Blue Book, Short Stories and Collier's.Goulart, Ron Cheap Thrills : an informal history of the pulp magazines. Arlington House, New Rochelle, N.Y., 1972. (pg.40).Hulse, Ed. "Short Stories:The Glory Days of Doubleday's Flagship Pulp", in Hulse, (ed.) Pride of the Pulps: The Great All-Fiction Magazines. Morris Plains, NJ: Murania Press, 2017. (pp. 142-183).
Adaptions His short story A Game in the Bush was filmed as South Sea Love in 1927. His novel "The Demon Caravan" was filmed as Desert Legion starring Alan Ladd. He also created Russian roulette
Personal life He married an older schoolteacher, Edith McKenna, in 1922. They divorced after she left him for another man in 1943.
Critical reception Writer Lee Server wrote "The Swiss-born Surdez was at once the most elegant prose stylist and the most realistic of all the pulpsters and novelists of the early 20th century who specialized in tales of the French Foreign Legion." Pulp magazine historian Tim Cottrill stated that Surdez is "considered one of the best writers among early pulpsters".Cottrill, Tim. Bookery's Guide to Pulps and Related Magazines, 1888-1969. Bookery Press, Fairborn, OH, 2005. (p.378)
Works
Novels Swords of the Soudan, 1923. The Demon Caravan, 1927 They March from Yesterday (1 March 1930, published by Adventure magazine). Homeland, 1946 (autobiographical novel).
Short stories Dinner for Monsieur Martin.Best Short Shorts. New York: Scholastic Book Services, 1958. Print. The Yellow Streak Sons Of The Sword, 1928, published in Adventure. A Game In The Bush Hell's Half-Way House Russian roulette, 1937, published in Collier's. The Haunted Wall, 1941
References