Denis Hughes

Born in London, England, Denis Hughes was the son of noted Victorian artist Talbot Hughes. He was training as a pilot during WW2, when a serious crash ended his flying career. Attracted to writing by the expanding post-war market in paperback publishing, his first book (an espionage thriller) was published in 1948. Over the next six years, an astonishing output followed, chiefly westerns and science fiction, with a dozen jungle-adventure novels. In 1951, his UK publisher Curtis Warren commissioned Denis Hughes to pen a new series of jungle adventures, featuring his original character Rex Brandon. These fast-moving, action-packed novels books were successful enough for the publisher and author to issue ten more titles over the next two years. Most of these short novels have decidedly fantastic elements, and are infused with the same weird imagination Hughes displayed in his many 'science fantasy' novels. Most of his novels were published pseudonymously, Hughes fell out of print for many years, until researcher Philip Harbottle revealed his authorship. His 'lost' novels are currently being reprinted under his real name.