Academic Life and Creative Networking
In, and just before 1950, while Barker was studying at the University of Washington under Melville Jacobs, he became involved with small press publications, writing articles, short stories and contributing reviews to Fanscient and the local clubzine Sinisterra; the latter of which contained his review of, and content from, Jack Vance relating to his recently published book, The Dying Earth. Also at this time, Barker corresponded with other authors who contributed to those same publications, including Lin Carter in whose writings and linguistic experiments he took an interest and with whom he finally put to paper the story line of his own created world.
He received a Fulbright Scholarship in 1951 to study Indian languages and on his first trip to India that year converted to Islam; "for purely theological reasons. It seemed like a more logical religion", according to Fine, although Barker himself admitted at the time to an " feeling of awe and religious ecstasy" upon hearing the recitations of the 99 Names of Allah at the Taj Mahal.
Read more about this topic: M. A. R. Barker
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