MEATHERINGHAM, Luan.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

The Greatest Wizard Contest. Comprising a complete typescript of a children's story on illustrated leaves, together with additional or alternative illustrations. Luan Meatheringham (1936-2006) was born in Los Angeles, and was an illustrator for Gamma science fiction magazine in four of its five publications from 1963 to 1965. This unpublished story concerns a contest between three wizards held for the benefit of tourists.The third issue of Gamma - New Frontiers in Fiction (1964) provided a feature on the artist which stated "she received her training at the San Francisco Art Institute and the San Francisco Academy of Art, after which she did television story boards. She became an art director for a large San Francisco advertising agency for two and a half years, then freelanced in television. Her current activities involve freelance artistry in advertising and magazine illustration. In the works is a children's book she is writing and illustrating herself and which is scheduled for publication later this year".There is no trace of any published volume by Meatheringham. The story is based in Caldron, a town that relies on a tourists who come to watch the town's wizards. Most wizards have left, however, because they don't like being watched, wish to tour, or cannot perform magic after signing too many autographs. The Mayor therefore creates a contest, and invites three remaining wizards to compete. The tale details the competition which results in the best tourist season yet.

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