Christopher Hodder-Williams
Bibliography, Discography and Miscellany
Compiled by Simon Hodder-Williams and updated August 2023.
Introduction
Christopher Hodder-Williams, 1926–1995, was a musician, songwriter and author.
In 1944 he enlisted in the army and was immediately placed onto the Reserves in order to finish school. He was just 17. On leaving school he served in the Royal Signals in Egypt and the Middle East.
He worked briefly for the family business, the publishers Hodder & Stoughton, but left the firm to pursue a career as a songwriter. Later he focused on writing novels.
His first love was music, and between 1951 and 1958 he played the piano in a number of bars and clubs, and wrote songs for the Theatre and Television. Along the way he worked with Tony Hancock, June Whitfield, Eve Boswell and Shirley Bassey.
In 1958 he turned to writing and his first Novel, The Cummings Report, was published under the pseudonym James Brogan. 14 more novels followed in his own name, together with a number of television scripts and adaptations. As well as the United Kingdom, Hodder-Williams’ books were published in The USA, Germany, France and Holland. Over the next three decades more than 50 editions and reprints of his novels were released. Later the 15 English Language novels were re-published on Kindle.
Most of Christopher Hodder-Williams’ novels would be described as sci-fi, techno-thrillers or even dystopian fiction. He described at least one of his novels as ‘fiction science’. Three focused on aviation and at one was a straight thriller.
But there were other, unpublished novels, a short story or two, plays for television and radio, and surprising amount of music written for television and the theatre.
When he wasn’t writing he would play the piano.
This is my first attempt at a list of his work and it grows a little each time I look. This is not exhaustive and there are certainly other items that I have yet to track down. I will update entries as necessary. Please forgive any typos, errors and omissions and feel free to let me know…
Music and Songlists
Most of these have been transcribed from a copy of Hodder-Williams’ copyright application to the Performing Rights Society, and are all Christopher Hodder-Williams unless stated. The list includes tracks from television shows Alfred Marks Time, Jack Hylton’s Monday Date, and the Tony Hancock Show and others, as well as a number of stage productions such as Cockles & Champagne and The Big Show of 1956.
Title and Publisher:
Airport Song (from TV series Monday Date), Keith Prowse Music Publishing Co Ltd
Aroma of Rome, Chappell & Co Ltd
Circus Sequence (from Alfred Marks Show), Chappell & Co Ltd
End of the Evening, Chappell & Co Ltd
Falling Love, Chappell & Co Ltd
Gimmick, Keith Prowse Music Publishing Co Ltd
Grand Hotel, Keith Prowse Music Publishing Co Ltd
Greet the Dawn, Chappell & Co Ltd
Help the Sun Shine Through, Clover Music Co Ltd, 1959
How Can You Leave Me All Alone, Chappell & Co Ltd
How Did I Know It Was You, Chappell & Co New York, 12 Nov 1954
How Do You Like Your Dancing (Basil Tait and CHW), Chappell & Co Ltd
I’d Do Anything For You, Keith Prowse Music Publishing Co Ltd
I Have Never Done A Number With A Girl, Chappell & Co Ltd
I Like Walking On The Squares (From TV Series Monday Date), Keith Prowse Music Publishing Co Ltd
It’s Legal, Chappell & Co Ltd
I Want To Break Out, Chappell & Co Ltd
June Whitfield Boogie, Chappell & Co Ltd
Key to Colditz, Chappell & Co Ltd
Lady’s Worth Waiting For, Chappell & Co Ltd
Long Haired Fella (from TV Series Monday Date), Keith Prowse Music Publishing Co Ltd
Look at the Moon
Love is Good, Chappell & Co Ltd
Many Happy Returns, Unpublished
Monday Date, Keith Prowse Music Publishing Co Ltd
One Day Down in New Orleans (from TV Series Monday Date), Keith Prowse Music Publishing Co Ltd
On the Pier, Chappell & Co Ltd
Oo-Aah, Chappell & Co Ltd
Opening Sequence (from Alfred Marks Show), Chappell & Co Ltd
(The) Patter (from TV Series Monday Date), Keith Prowse Music Publishing Co Ltd
See Saw Song, Unpublished
Serenade to a Backer, Chappell & Co Ltd
Show’s the Thing, Unpublished
Spring Fling, Chappell & Co Ltd
Stars of the Show, Unpublished
Take a Spoon, Chappell & Co Ltd
Take the Land, Chappell & Co Ltd
This Week, Chappell & Co Ltd
Tony Hancock Show (from The Tony Hancock Show), Chappell & Co Ltd
Top Numbers, Unpublished
Touch of my Tiny Hand, Chappell & Co Ltd
Vice, Keith Prowse Music Publishing Co Ltd
When the Girls Go On Parade (signature Tune Alfred Marks Show), Chappell & Co Ltd
When You Open A Window, Chappell & Co Ltd 1955 (For the television show Here We Go and sung by John Gower)
Why Go To Paris (from Cockles and Champagne), Bradbury Wood Limited, 1954 (Note: Also known as ‘Why Go To Paris For Love’)
Wonderful Night, Wonderful Day (from Clowns in Clover, Blackpool), Chappell & Co Ltd, as sung by Eve Boswell
Working Up An Appetite, Chappell & Co Ltd
You’d Never Believe It, Chappell & Co Ltd
You Don’t Need the Daytime for Love, Chappell & Co Ltd
You Gotta Give Out, Unpublished
Your Body’s More Important Than Your Mind (Ian Grant and CHW), Intersong Music Limited, as sung by Shirley Bassey
You’ve Never Seen This, Chappell & Co Ltd
Other Music
Television
Here We Go, ITV, 1955
Once Upon A Bank Holiday, 26 December 1955, Associated Rediffusion, Composer
You’d Never Believe It, 1956, Associated Rediffusion, Original Lyrics and Music (Show for Max Miller)
The Tony Hancock Show, 1956, Produced by Associated Rediffusion for ITV, 1956, series music and lyrics, Series 1 Episodes 1–6
Many Happy Returns, ABC Television presents A Celebration Show for its Second Anniversary, ABC Network, 1958 (With Basil Tait)
Hodder-Williams also wrote for the television shows: Alfred Marks Time, Jack Hylton’s Monday Show, Chance of a Lifetime and Here and Now.
Musical scores held at the British Library:
Won’t you walk in the Park?, 1952
How Did I Know (It Was You?), Chappell & Co Ltd, 1954
Why Go To Paris?, From Cockles & Champagne, 1954
Help The Sun Shine Through Piano, piano arr. by Basil Tait, 1959
Radio
Saturday Matinee: 999 Murder: 4: An Ear For Music, 20 December 1952, BBC Home Service, One of four short detective plays written by Peter Fraser. ‘Look at the Moon’, words and music by Christopher Hodder-Williams and accompanied by the composer. (Also featured a young Patrick Troughton)
Theatre
Rush Hour Review, 1953, The Irving Theatre, music (with Dick Vosburgh)
Talk of the Night, 1953, The Irving Theatre, musical director and songwriter, songs include ‘It’s Not the Body’ sung by Lionel Blair and ‘Look at the Moon’ sung by Lionel Blair and Eve Eacott
Saints and Sinners, 1954, The Irving Theatre, CHW additional words and music
End of an Evening, 1954, The Irving Theatre, music and lyrics
Cockles and Champagne, 1954, Saville Theatre, London, additional music/songs. (Note: The cast included Renée Houston and Fenella Fielding. ‘Why Go To Paris For Love’, written for Renée Houston and cast.)
Clowns in Clover — The Big Show of 1956, George and Alfred Black’s, 1956, Blackpool. Including ‘Wonderful Night, Wonderful Day’ featuring Eve Boswell. (Note: See article, Miss Eve Boswell — Complete Entertainer, Melody Maker, 7 July 1956.)
Revudeville, 1956, The Windmill Theatre, music (The 285th edition, with Bruce Forsyth and Viki Emra)
Revudeville, 1957, The Windmill Theatre, music (The 287th edition, with Bruce Forsyth and Viki Emra)
Pianist
His own music played at the El Patio Club in 1953:
Look At The Moon
and Won’t You Walk In The Park, Sapphire Productions/Noel Gay Music Co, 1952
Other venues and appearances include:
The Blue Angel
The Colony Room
The Irving Theatre
The Tony Hancock Show — Series One, episodes 1 and 3
BBC Radio: Saturday Matinee: 999 Murder: 4: An Ear For Music
Novels, Short Stories and Anthologies
United Kingdom
Title, Date of Edition and Publisher:
The Cummings Report, 1958, Hodder & Stoughton (Hardback, as James Brogan)
Chain Reaction, 1959, Hodder & Stoughton
Final Approach, 1960, Hodder & Stoughton (Hardback)
Chain Reaction, 1961, Hodder (Paperback)
The Cummings Report, 1961, Hodder & Stoughton (Paperback)
Turbulence, 1961, Hodder & Stoughton (Hardback)
Final Approach, 1962, Hodder & Stoughton (Paperback)
The Higher They Fly, 1963, Hodder & Stoughton (Hardback)
Turbulence, 1963, Hodder (Paperback)
The Main Experiment, 1964, Hodder & Stoughton (Hardback)
The Higher They Fly, 1965 & 1968, Corgi (Paperback)
Chain Reaction, 1966, Corgi (Paperback)
The Main Experiment, 1966, Corgi (Paperback)
The Egg Shaped Thing, 1967, Hodder & Stoughton (Hardback)
Fistful Of Digits, 1968, Hodder & Stoughton (Hardback)
98.4, 1969, Hodder & Stoughton
Fistful Of Digits, 1972, Coronet (Paperback)
Final Approach, 1973, White Lion Publishers (Hardback)
Panic O’Clock, 1973, United Writers (Hardback)
The Higher They Fly, 1973, White Lion
The Higher They Fly, 1973, White Lion (Hardback)
Chain Reaction, 1974, White Lion Publishers
Cowards’ Paradise, 1974, United Writers (Hardback)
Panic O’Clock, 1974, NEL (Paperback)
The Cummings Report, 1974, White Lion Publishers
Turbulence, 1974, White Lion (Hardback)
98.4, 1975, Coronet
The Prayer Machine, 1976, Weidenfeld & Nicolson
Cowards’ Paradise, 1977, NEL (Paperback)
The Silent Voice, 1977, Weidenfeld and Nicolson
The Thinktank That Leaked, 1979, United Writers (Hardback)
The Chromosome Game, 1984, Mithras Publishing
USA Editions
Title, Date of Edition and Publisher:
Chain Reaction, 1959, Doubleday & Co Inc
Final Approach, 1960, Doubleday & Co Inc (Hardback)
The Higher They Fly, 1964, G P Putnam’s Sons (Hardback)
The Main Experiment, 1965, G P Putnam’s Sons
The Main Experiment, 1966, Ballantine Books (Paperback)
The Egg-Shaped Thing, 1967, G P Putnam’s Sons (Book Club Edition)
The Higher They Fly, 1967, Berkley Medallion Books (Paperback)
The Prayer Machine, 1976, St Martin’s Press
German Editions
German Title, English Title, Date of Edition and Publisher:
Kettenreaktion, Chain Reaction, 1960, Paul List (Munich — Paperback)
Flugzeugunglück, Final Approach, 1963, List (Munich)
Konflikte Um K11, Turbulence, 1965, Albert Muller (Stuttgart — Hardback)
Der Grosse Summende Gott, A Fistful of Digits, 1969, Marion Von Schroder (Hamburg — Paperback)
Der Grosse Summende Gott, A Fistful Of Digits, 1972, Heyne (Munich — Paperback)
Kristallwelt — Der Grosse Summende Gott, Fistful of Digits, 1972, Deutscher Bücherbund (Stuttgart — Hardback — Anthology of 3 books including Fistful of Digits)
Die Gebetsmaschine, The Prayer Machine, 1977, Goldmann (Munich — Paperback), translated by Tony Westermayr
Der Unsichtbare Krieg, The Silent Voice, 1979, Goldmann (Munich — Paperback)
Virus Der Angst, Panic O’Clock, 1981, Wilhelm Heyne (Munich — Paperback)
Das Paradies Der Feiglinge, Cowards’ Paradise, 1986, Wilhelm Heyne (Munich — Paperback)
Die Gebetsmaschine, The Prayer Machine, 1986, Goldmann (Munich — Paperback), translated by Tony Westermayr
French Editions
French Title, English Title, Date of Edition and Publisher:
Reaction En Chaine, Chain Reaction, 1960, Robert Laffont (Paperback)
Bon Chance Cdt, The Higher They Fly, 1965, Presses De La Cite (Hardback)
Nederlands Edition
Dutch Title, English Title, Date of Edition and Publisher:
De Fatale Vlucht, Final Approach, 1961, Uitgever Ij De Fontein (Utrecht — Hardback)
Kindle Publications
All 15 novels republished for Kindle in English by Lume, Previously Venture Press/Endeavour. Lume have subsequently released two omnibus editions:
98.4
Chain Reaction
Cowards’ Paradise
Final Approach
Fistful Of Digits
Panic O’clock
The Chromosome Game
The Cummings Report
The Egg Shaped Thing
The Higher They Fly
The Main Experiment
The Prayer Machine
The Silent Voice
The Thinktank That Leaked
Turbulence
Omnibus: The Futureworld Omnibus, comprising: The Chromosome Game, Coward’s Paradise and The Thinktank That Leaked, 2018
Omnibus: Brace, comprising: Final Approach, The Higher They Fly and Turbulence, 2019
Short Story/Collections
Bootstrap To Oblivion, 15 December 1977, Computer Weekly
Fistful of Digits (excerpt), Inside Information: Computers in Fiction (anthology), ed. Abbe Mowshowitz, 1977, Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers Inc, USA
Selected Book Jacket Illustrations
Title, Date of Edition, Publisher and Artist:
98.4, 1969, Hodder and Stoughton, David Stanfield
98.4, 1975, Coronet, jacket uncredited but illustrator probably John Holmes
Chain Reaction, 1959, Doubleday & Co Inc, Richard Powers
Chain Reaction, 1966, Corgi Books, Josh Kirby
Cowards’ Paradise, 1974, United Writers, Shirli Scott James
Das Paradies Der Feiglinge (Cowards’ Paradise), 1986, Wilhelm Heyne, Tito Salomoni ‘Always On’
Der Grosse Summende Gott (A Fistful of Digits), 1969, Marion Von Schroder, Heinz Edelmann and Klaus Kammerichs
Die Gebetsmaschine (The Prayer Machine), 1977, Goldmann, Jurgen F Rogner
Die Gebetsmaschine (The Prayer Machine), 1986, Goldmann, Chris Moore
Final Approach, 1960, Doubleday, Tom Dunn
Fistful of Digits, 1968, Hodder and Stoughton, Colin Andrews
Fistful of Digits, 1972, Coronet, jacket uncredited but illustrator probably John Holmes
Panic O’Clock, 1973, New English Library, Lucinda Cowell
The Chromosome Game, 1984, Mithras, Randa
The Egg-Shaped Thing, 1967, Hodder and Stoughton, Shirli Scott James
The Main Experiment, 1964, Hodder and Stoughton, Shirli Scott James
The Main Experiment, 1965, G P Putnam’s Sons, Charles Milt
The Prayer Machine, 1976, Weidenfeld and Nicolson, M C Escher (jacket design by James Campus)
The Silent Voice, 1977, Weidenfeld and Nicolson, Tina Murray (jacket design by Grant Bedford)
Virus Der Angst (Panic O’Clock), 1981, Wilhelm Heyne, Atelier Heinrichs29 & Schutz
Radio (Writer)
Final Approach, 26 June 1967, BBC Home Service
The Higher They Fly (Saturday Night Theatre), 21 August 1965, BBC Home Service
Television (Writer)
Armchair Theatre: The Ship That Couldn’t Stop, 2 July 1961, ABC Television for ITV, writer, adaptation of original novel (with Michael Caine)
Jezebel ex UK: Send A Telegram (S1:E2), 6 April 1963, ABC Television, writer
Jezebel ex UK: Sister Ship (S1:E3), 13 April 1963, ABC Television, writer
Armchair Theatre: The Higher They Fly, 1 December 1963, ABC Television for ITV, writer
Suspense: The White Heat Coal, 29 July 1963, BBC Television, writer (with Edward Fox). Note, sometimes referred to as the White Hot Coal
Armchair Theatre: A Voice In The Sky, 21 March 1965, ABC Television for ITV, writer, (an astronaut lost in Space believes he has heard the voice of God telling him to destroy the Earth.)
Cinema
Tarzan’s Peril, 1951, Sol Lesser Productions. Also known as Tarzan and the Jungle Queen. (Uncredited, props and wardrobe)
Melody Maker Articles
A Jazzman-Turned-Songwriter Goes- To New York On A Shoestring, Article, Melody Maker, 8 January 1955
TV Music, Article, Melody Maker, 16 June 1956
TV Music 2, Article, Melody Maker, 23 June 1956
TV Music 3, Article, Melody Maker, 30 June 1956
Broadway Giants, Article, Melody Maker, 1 June 1957
Broadway Giants 2, Article, Melody Maker, 8 June 1957
Broadway Giants 3, Article, Melody Maker, 15 June 1957
You Gotta Be Commercial (1 of 3), Melody Maker, 14 June 1958
The hit song called ‘Huh!’ (2 of 3), Melody Maker, 21 June 1958
From echo chamber to padded cell (3 of 3), Melody Maker, 28 June 1958
Miscellaneous, Newspaper, Magazines and Interviews
When Fact and Fiction Collide, Interview with David Barratt, 1983, Vector 114
Digital Dreams, Edited David Barrett, referenced in Editor’s Introduction, 1990, NEL
Author’s Note (Essay), The Main Experiment, Ballantine Books, 1966
The Progressive Slide Towards The Age Of The Machine, interview with Robin Webster, 31 August 1978, Computer Weekly
Obituary: Christopher Hodder-Williams, David V. Barrett, The Independent, 21 May 1995
Contact
Simon Hodder-Williams
simonhodder3@gmail.com
