Alexander Key (1) (1904–1979)
Author of The Forgotten Door
For other authors named Alexander Key, see the disambiguation page.
Series
Works by Alexander Key
Fortune has horns [short story] 3 copies
Saltwater scramble [short story] 2 copies
The devil's jaw [short story] 2 copies
A Whip for the Colonel [short story] 2 copies
A bunch of keys : the autobiography of Alexander Key, written for the occasion of his 90th birthday, 27th October 1998, Sydney (1998) 1 copy
Breeze 1 copy
???? ?????? 1 copy
Breeze O' Wind [short story] 1 copy
Associated Works
The Book of Dragons: Tales and Legends from Many Lands (1931) — Illustrator, some editions — 24 copies
Marko, the king's son, hero of the Serbs — Illustrator, some editions — 1 copy
Escape to Witch Mountain [1995 TV movie] — Original story — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Key, Alexancder Hill
- Birthdate
- 1904-09-21
- Date of death
- 1979-07-25
- Gender
- male
- Education
- Chicago Art Institute
- Occupations
- science fiction writer
children's literature writer - Short biography
- [from Escape to Witch Mountain, 1968]
Though Alexander Key was born in Maryland, he looks upon Florida as his native state. His people were early settlers there, and his childhood was spent on the famous Suwannee River. With the youthful dream of becoming a painter, he studied at the Chicago Art Institute, but it was long before his ambition was realized. Instead, he became nationally known as a book illustrator, then as a writer. His articles and short stories have appeared in many publications for young people, as well as in The Saturday Evening Post, Argosy, American Mercury, and other periodicals. He has written two adult novels and many books for younger readers.
It was during World War II, while he was serving in Naval Intelligence, that he became interested in robotics and man's future with machines -- a future that seemed almost unbelievable at the time. Later, home again in Florida, excited neighbors called him out one night to view two strange flying objects in the sky. Flying saucers? Whatever they were, they led him upon a fascinating line of research that today makes science fiction his favorite reading. Sprockets -- a Little Robot was his first book on this subject, followed by Rivets and Sprockets and Bolts -- a Robot Dog, all for younger readers. The Forgotten Door is a strange tale of a boy from another world for readers of all ages. Mystery of the Sassafras Chair is laid in the Carolina mountains where Alexander Key now lives, with his wife and son, and paints murals when he is not writing. His son, naturally, keeps a sharp watch for stray flying saucers, and hopes to be the first boy to go for a ride in one. - Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- La Plata, Maryland, USA
- Places of residence
- Florida, USA
Georgia, USA
Chicago, Illinois, USA
North Carolina, USA - Place of death
- Eufaula, Alabama, USA
- Burial location
- Memory Garden Of Eufaula, Eufaula, Alabama, USA
- Associated Place (for map)
- USA
Members
Discussions
Mysterious visitor/alien? boy jumps like a deer - rural setting pre-1998 in Name that Book (December 2018)
Sci Fi Boy from a peaceful planet Stuck on Earth in Name that Book (December 2018)
middles sci-fi: boy falls out of hole, learns English by reading minds in Name that Book (January 2018)
YA Science Fiction, boy on the run, Blue Boy? in Name that Book (August 2013)
YA-Boy travels to earth accidentally via a cave; he is protected by a family until he can return to in Name that Book (October 2009)
Reviews
Little Jon tried to think. Everything was so unbelievably tangled in this world, with their laws and their money and their hates and their fighting for power. He could see only one solution that might help . . .
While gazing at the night-time sky with his people, a boy falls through a hole in the hillside, ending up in another world. What surprises the reader is that the world “Little John” falls into is the human one. Impaired by amnesia from the impact of crashing down among the rocks show more in a cave, Jon tries to navigate the mountainous new landscape he finds himself in. Initially he relies on the guidance of animals with whom he can communicate telepathically. However, even they cannot save him from a nasty first encounter with a gun-toting malevolent human, Gilby Pitts (and his equally repugnant wife, Emma), after he unwittingly walks onto their land.
Shortly after this, Jon, who has the ability to sense the emotions and thoughts of others, makes contact with benevolent humans. The Beans—Mary, Thomas, and their children, Brooks and Sally—stop their pick-up truck on a nearby country road and take the boy home with them. However, Jon’s unfortunate confrontation with the unsavoury Mr. and Mrs. Pitts has already set him on the wrong track. The couple quickly spread the rumour that a “wild boy” is on the loose, a foreign-looking, “unnatural,” and strangely dressed being. Soon the hateful pair will report him for breaking, entering, and robbing a summer home that Mr. Pitts is responsible for minding when its owner is away. Gilby, it turns out, is intimately acquainted with stealing, having done so much of it himself. Lying and blaming come just as easily to him. He’s a classic vindictive and ignorant local yokel.
The Beans quickly figure out that Jon is not of this world. While some objects (books and radios) and concepts (kindness) are familiar to him, others (like automobiles) are not. That laws (and a government to make them) should really be necessary to keep people in line and that humans should actually use animals for food and clothing are ideas both foreign and troubling to Jon. The Beans marvel at the boy’s ability to read minds, know others’ intentions, and effortlessly learn an entirely new language, English.
Thomas and his family willingly take on the job of protecting Jon from wrongful criminal charges. They recognize that they must help the boy recover his memory and get him back to the world he came from. Their mission becomes urgent when Jon’s ability to read minds is widely publicized by the media, ultimately coming to the attention of government agencies which recognize just how useful the boy could be for intelligence purposes.
Although it was originally published in 1965, only recently did I became aware of this novel for children. When I was a kid, readers’ advisory was not a service commonly offered by children’s and school librarians. They mainly ordered and shelved books and reminded you to keep quiet. If any adults knew of this novel back then, they unfortunately didn’t share that information with me. I’m glad to report that the novel has withstood the test of time. Yes, there are a few mentions of Jon’s “Indian” or “gypsy” appearance, wich might get some present-day, zealous, politically correct library-book-purgers worked up—I’m well aware of Ontario teacher-librarians weeding excellent children’s literature, even classics, for even slighter reasons—but I see nothing in the book to warrant its removal from shelves. Considering a book within its historical context strikes me as a better approach than the removal or outright banning of it. Why throw a lovely baby (with a birthmark) or two out with the bath water?
This is a delightful and insightful book that illuminates and critiques some of the very big problems with human beings. Some might argue that the good characters are too thoroughly good and the bad, too entirely bad, but that’s the case with fairytales, which have also endured over time. This is an enjoyable, fast-paced, accessible little novel for kids and, in my opinion, it’s well worth reading. show less
While gazing at the night-time sky with his people, a boy falls through a hole in the hillside, ending up in another world. What surprises the reader is that the world “Little John” falls into is the human one. Impaired by amnesia from the impact of crashing down among the rocks show more in a cave, Jon tries to navigate the mountainous new landscape he finds himself in. Initially he relies on the guidance of animals with whom he can communicate telepathically. However, even they cannot save him from a nasty first encounter with a gun-toting malevolent human, Gilby Pitts (and his equally repugnant wife, Emma), after he unwittingly walks onto their land.
Shortly after this, Jon, who has the ability to sense the emotions and thoughts of others, makes contact with benevolent humans. The Beans—Mary, Thomas, and their children, Brooks and Sally—stop their pick-up truck on a nearby country road and take the boy home with them. However, Jon’s unfortunate confrontation with the unsavoury Mr. and Mrs. Pitts has already set him on the wrong track. The couple quickly spread the rumour that a “wild boy” is on the loose, a foreign-looking, “unnatural,” and strangely dressed being. Soon the hateful pair will report him for breaking, entering, and robbing a summer home that Mr. Pitts is responsible for minding when its owner is away. Gilby, it turns out, is intimately acquainted with stealing, having done so much of it himself. Lying and blaming come just as easily to him. He’s a classic vindictive and ignorant local yokel.
The Beans quickly figure out that Jon is not of this world. While some objects (books and radios) and concepts (kindness) are familiar to him, others (like automobiles) are not. That laws (and a government to make them) should really be necessary to keep people in line and that humans should actually use animals for food and clothing are ideas both foreign and troubling to Jon. The Beans marvel at the boy’s ability to read minds, know others’ intentions, and effortlessly learn an entirely new language, English.
Thomas and his family willingly take on the job of protecting Jon from wrongful criminal charges. They recognize that they must help the boy recover his memory and get him back to the world he came from. Their mission becomes urgent when Jon’s ability to read minds is widely publicized by the media, ultimately coming to the attention of government agencies which recognize just how useful the boy could be for intelligence purposes.
Although it was originally published in 1965, only recently did I became aware of this novel for children. When I was a kid, readers’ advisory was not a service commonly offered by children’s and school librarians. They mainly ordered and shelved books and reminded you to keep quiet. If any adults knew of this novel back then, they unfortunately didn’t share that information with me. I’m glad to report that the novel has withstood the test of time. Yes, there are a few mentions of Jon’s “Indian” or “gypsy” appearance, wich might get some present-day, zealous, politically correct library-book-purgers worked up—I’m well aware of Ontario teacher-librarians weeding excellent children’s literature, even classics, for even slighter reasons—but I see nothing in the book to warrant its removal from shelves. Considering a book within its historical context strikes me as a better approach than the removal or outright banning of it. Why throw a lovely baby (with a birthmark) or two out with the bath water?
This is a delightful and insightful book that illuminates and critiques some of the very big problems with human beings. Some might argue that the good characters are too thoroughly good and the bad, too entirely bad, but that’s the case with fairytales, which have also endured over time. This is an enjoyable, fast-paced, accessible little novel for kids and, in my opinion, it’s well worth reading. show less
Tony and Tia have always been a little strange and not fit in, but when the elderly woman who cared for them dies they're left in an orphanage on their own. A mysterious stranger arrives, claiming to be their guardian, but the two know he's not and decide to get away.
This classic science fiction tale has that chummy sort of parental narrator that was so common in books from the 50s and 60s, something I didn't notice as a kid but that doesn't quite work as an adult reading a children's story. show more That aside, it's a fun adventure story as the two figure out their abilities (Tia, for example, can open any locked door that she's supposed to be able to) and have a little help escaping from the local priest. The fact that they are literallynot from this world is foreshadowed blatantly very early on, another aspect I didn't pick up on as a kid. There's nothing particularly amazing or terrible about the book. I would've enjoyed it as a younger reader, but prefer my SFF much more complex now. show less
This classic science fiction tale has that chummy sort of parental narrator that was so common in books from the 50s and 60s, something I didn't notice as a kid but that doesn't quite work as an adult reading a children's story. show more That aside, it's a fun adventure story as the two figure out their abilities (Tia, for example, can open any locked door that she's supposed to be able to) and have a little help escaping from the local priest. The fact that they are literally
When I was a child I loved The Forgotten Door and enjoyed the movie of Escape to Witch Mountain." ?Ever since then I've wanted more by Key. ?áUnfortunately, it turns out there's a reason he's not more well known. ?áHe's not all that talented. ?áThis little adventure is a Time Travel story with a bit of humor, a bit of magic, and a couple of minor lessons about ecology and living-up-to-one's-destiny thrown in. ?áI enjoyed it, but cannot recommend you track it down. ?á
(However, show more if you are interested, and live in the US, I'd be absolutely delighted to send you my used hardcover ex-library copy, free.)" show less
(However, show more if you are interested, and live in the US, I'd be absolutely delighted to send you my used hardcover ex-library copy, free.)" show less
I grew up with this book and have loved it all my life, so it’s hard for me to tell how well it’s aged. I can say that it was a lot of fun to reread in the Harry Potter era. A few pages in, I started checking “hero” characteristics off in my mind.
Here. Take this handy quiz – maybe you have what it takes to be a hero!
Are you an orphan? (At the beginning of Escape, Tony and his sister Tia have just suffered the loss of the grandmotherly woman who’s cared for them as long as they show more can remember. She wasn’t really a relative, but she was nice to them. But now she’s dead. And so far as they know, they have no blood ties.)
Are you a good kid who’s surrounded by people who misunderstand and are inclined to assume the worst about you? (Tony “has a bad reputation for fighting,” though all he ever does is fend off bullies. Tia is accused of theft when really she only broke into a building in order to rescue a trapped kitten.)
Do you have any unusual physical characteristics? (No lightning bolts here, but Tony and Tia’s “pale hair” contrasts sharply with their “olive skins” and “dark-blue eyes that were almost black.” Also, Tia is mute, although she can “talk” to her brother – see below.)
Any magical powers to report? (Heck, yeah. Telekinesis, telepathy – you know, the usual. Okay, and some unusual: Tony can get an accurate picture in his head of any place he hears about, even if he’s never been there in his life; Tia has total recall, going all the way back to her toddler years.)
If “yes” to the above, do your magical powers manifest in morally upstanding ways? (Tia can effortlessly open any lock, but only if it’s “right” for her to do so. She could never open a locked door if she was trying to steal money, for instance, but she can get through one in order to save trapped kittens no one else can hear. Tony can play his harmonica so beautifully, even wild animals are charmed. And this music amps his telekinetic abilities.)
Not to get too personal, but can you quite literally speak another species’ language? (See above re Tia and kittehs. Also bears. Pretty much any animal, in fact.)
Have you always felt, well, kind of different from the people around you? (Tony and Tia have sensed all their lives that this world isn’t truly their own. Boy howdy, are they right.)
Might there be a community of people just like you out there somewhere, and are you trying to find them so you can live your life without feeling like such a weirdo all the time? (Yes and yes.)
Got a nemesis? (Big time. The scariest thing about Lucas Deranian is that he doesn’t want to kill Tony and Tia. He wants to own them.)
Okay, pencils down, please. The quiz is over. If you enjoyed it, I recommend this story as a good old-fashioned adventure. (And if you’re old enough to remember the movie – the book is nothing like it. It’s much more serious and intense.) show less
Here. Take this handy quiz – maybe you have what it takes to be a hero!
Are you an orphan? (At the beginning of Escape, Tony and his sister Tia have just suffered the loss of the grandmotherly woman who’s cared for them as long as they show more can remember. She wasn’t really a relative, but she was nice to them. But now she’s dead. And so far as they know, they have no blood ties.)
Are you a good kid who’s surrounded by people who misunderstand and are inclined to assume the worst about you? (Tony “has a bad reputation for fighting,” though all he ever does is fend off bullies. Tia is accused of theft when really she only broke into a building in order to rescue a trapped kitten.)
Do you have any unusual physical characteristics? (No lightning bolts here, but Tony and Tia’s “pale hair” contrasts sharply with their “olive skins” and “dark-blue eyes that were almost black.” Also, Tia is mute, although she can “talk” to her brother – see below.)
Any magical powers to report? (Heck, yeah. Telekinesis, telepathy – you know, the usual. Okay, and some unusual: Tony can get an accurate picture in his head of any place he hears about, even if he’s never been there in his life; Tia has total recall, going all the way back to her toddler years.)
If “yes” to the above, do your magical powers manifest in morally upstanding ways? (Tia can effortlessly open any lock, but only if it’s “right” for her to do so. She could never open a locked door if she was trying to steal money, for instance, but she can get through one in order to save trapped kittens no one else can hear. Tony can play his harmonica so beautifully, even wild animals are charmed. And this music amps his telekinetic abilities.)
Not to get too personal, but can you quite literally speak another species’ language? (See above re Tia and kittehs. Also bears. Pretty much any animal, in fact.)
Have you always felt, well, kind of different from the people around you? (Tony and Tia have sensed all their lives that this world isn’t truly their own. Boy howdy, are they right.)
Might there be a community of people just like you out there somewhere, and are you trying to find them so you can live your life without feeling like such a weirdo all the time? (Yes and yes.)
Got a nemesis? (Big time. The scariest thing about Lucas Deranian is that he doesn’t want to kill Tony and Tia. He wants to own them.)
Okay, pencils down, please. The quiz is over. If you enjoyed it, I recommend this story as a good old-fashioned adventure. (And if you’re old enough to remember the movie – the book is nothing like it. It’s much more serious and intense.) show less
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Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 31
- Also by
- 11
- Members
- 2,645
- Popularity
- #9,707
- Rating
- 3.7
- Reviews
- 53
- ISBNs
- 94
- Languages
- 2
- Favorited
- 2