American John Kendrick Bangs created a subgenre of modern literature -- Bangsian fantasy, it's called, a form fantasy set at least partly in the afterlife. Born in Yonkers, New York, he went to Columbia University (where he edited the school's literary magazine) and went on to work as an editor -- on Life magazine, and later at Harper's Magazine, Harper's Bazaar, Munsey's Magazine, New Metropolitan, and Puck, which was then the foremost American humor magazine.