Chip Hilton - Series Re-issue

Series Re-issue

In the 1960s, interest in the Chip Hilton books waned because of (according to Bee) rising book prices and the influence of television. As a result, Bee never submitted his last manuscript, Fiery Fullback, to Grosset & Dunlap. After Bee's death in 1983, his children sought a publisher for the manuscript, but found that many believed Chip too "white-bread," and out of touch with contemporary readers. Suggestions to update the hero by giving him an earring and turning his baseball cap backward were nixed by Bee's children. At last, Broadman & Holman, a Nashville religious book publishing house, found Chip's old-fashioned values attractive and agreed to publish the manuscript while resurrecting the entire series. All 23 titles began appearing in paperback editions in 1998 as updated by Bee's children, and a special hardcover edition of Bee's final manuscript was published in 2002 without change from the original.

Some critics and purists charged the publisher with literary tampering and an excess of political correctness, however only minor details were changed—not plot or basis for characters. Social themes and sports strategy were updated. Chip had a cat, read Sports Illustrated, watched ESPN, and used a computer to do his homework. His best friend was now an African American; Asian and Hispanic character names were introduced. The publisher also wanted some religious content so Chip attended church regularly and prayed.