Stephen Hammond 1956-2022
Stephen Hammond was an avid reader and book collector, student of multiple disciplines, and, at the time of his death at age 66, a mostly unpublished author. He leaves behind a legacy of deep scholarship into the evolution of language and depictions of the bomb in popular culture, as well as a series of stories suffused with whimsy and dread - influenced by the ongoing threat of war and nuclear destruction crossed with a pantheon of pop cultural references.
Stephen grew up in the East Riding of Yorkshire in the village of Cottingham. His father, Canon Peter Hammond, taught the history of art at the Hull College of Art, and published three books influenced by the liturgical movement on aspects of church architecture. After attending and leaving Kings College, Stephen largely lived in Cambridge, and was a longtime member of the Cambridge Writer’s Group; however, his heart was always in Cornwall as it was his father’s ancestral home.
Stephen moved to Camborne in Cornwall in about 2015 to be near his aunt and to follow his quest for a quieter life where he could study more. He was learning Cornish, contributing to a Cornish supporter’s group and helping in a Cornish book and culture shop. During the pandemic he developed throat cancer, a devastating disability for someone who was so good at communicating verbally. However, even toward the end his dry, clever humour was in evidence.
Stephen’s work is being collected and edited and will be published online and in book form in coming months. The first collection, SELECTED STORIES is now available from Amazon UK and Amazon US; see the NEWS section for more information.
News
SELECTED STORIES - the first collection of Stephen’s stories has now been published and is available via Amazon UK and Amazon US in paperback and Kindle versions . This collection of stories presents a cross-section of the style and themes featured in Stephen’s writing.
It’s a series of stories suffused with whimsy and dread - influenced by the ongoing threat of war and nuclear destruction crossed with a pantheon of pop cultural references. The stories are humorous and entertaining, sometimes biting social satire taking on fairy tales, children's thrilling adventures, recent alternative history and fantasy.
Sample: A Brief History Of World War Two
Once upon a time, they all lived happily ever after, The End.
At least, according to some authorities.
According to Mr Clinton, however, what happened next was as follows:
Daisy, six, and Billy, four, lived in a refrigerator.
‘Daisy,’ said Billy, ‘I’m hungry.’
Daisy ignored her little brother. She was drunk on gin.
Mr Hitler’s doodlebug has smashed their house to pieces; Mummy and Daddy too.
The idyll could not last. Daisy and Billy were sent by the authorities to live with a Mr and Mrs Electron in the country in a big house with a big garden with statues and a tennis court and a stream with a trout named Ike and a boat. Mr and Mrs Electron talked about Scottish politics and ate kidneys and kedgeree for breakfast.
‘What is World War Two?’ asked Billy.
‘It’s the continuation of World War One,’ said Cook, and decapitated another rabbit.
‘Who stars in it?’ asked Billy.
‘It’s the prelude to World War Three,’ said Herbert, the second footman, who was shot the next day for unpatriotic and depressing talk… READ MORE
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