A little bit of mystery, a little bit of history
In 1963, my father entered into a publishing contract with Longmans Canada Limited, later acquired by PRH (Penguin Random House), to publish the Brad Forrest adventure series. The advance payment for the series was $750, which in today's currency would amount to approximately $6,500.
Using the pseudonym Hugh Maitland, my father collaborated with a co-author to bring the series to life, resulting in the publication of eight books.
Inspired by the Hardy Boys, Brad Forrest was an adventurer. Hailing from the privileged class, the character was a Political Science student at the University of Toronto, excelling in hockey, golf, and football. The narrative portrayed him as a quintessential "Canadian boy," highlighting his Ottawa birthplace and his upbringing in Toronto, where his father's newspaper empire was headquartered. Speaking fluent French, thanks to his part-time residence on the family's Quebec farm and house in Montreal, Brad Forrest ticked the box on speaking Canada's two official languages.
The books, categorized as Young Adult (YA), were reflective of their time. They did not delve into contemporary challenges that much of today’s work addresses.
Nonetheless, there is a certain charm in their innocence.
As I examine the book covers and the character depiction on the spine, it’s evident that the imagery feels dated and does not reflect the diversity of today's readership.
During their time, the series experienced limited success in Canada but found greater success in the Swedish market. A total of eighteen titles were published in Swedish, with six of them under the title of Jack Forrest Attack Planet. Jack in space, perhaps? It’s time to fire up Google Translate.
While the Brad Forrest books may seem less relatable to today's youth, they hold a nostalgic appeal and offer a glimpse into a bygone era. They represent a time when innocence prevailed in young adult literature and captivated readers with thrilling adventures.
In my own creative writing, I’m exploring the theme do we ever know our parents, and uncovering this trove reminds me that perhaps in my case, I didn’t.
Look at the action. So dated!
All eight of the books. More were intended, but for whatever reason, this was the end of their run in Canada.
“The publisher agrees to pay to the author as an advance on account of royalties earned by sales of the work of TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS ($250.00) on submission of each manuscript.”
Swedish versions.
A.M. Hunter, at sea in Korea, 1954.