Difference between revisions of "Murray Leinster"
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(June 16, 1896 -- June 8, 1975) | (June 16, 1896 -- June 8, 1975) | ||
| − | Murray Leinster was a [[pen name]] of William | + | '''Murray Leinster''' was a [[pen name]] of '''William F. “Will” Jenkins''', a lifelong [[Virginia]]n and a [[pro]] writer who was one of several writers called the [[Dean of Science Fiction]]. (He was also, for 25 years, the [[Most Senior SF Writer]].) |
| − | He was [[GoH]] at [[Discon I]], the 1963 [[Worldcon]]. He also won | + | He was [[GoH]] at [[Discon I]], the 1963 [[Worldcon]]. He also won the [[1956 Best Novelette Hugo]] for "Exploration Team" and, in 1996, the [[1946 Best Novelette Retro Hugo]] for "First Contact." |
| − | He | + | He used several other [[pseudonyms]], including '''William Fitzgerald, Will F. James, Hal Jenkins, Louise Carter Lee, '''and''' Herbert Shappiro'''. |
| − | In [[SF]], Leinster is credited with a number of firsts: "Sidewise in Time" published in ''[[Astounding]]'' in 1934 was the first alternate history story | + | He began his career as a freelance writer before World War I, writing for the [[pulps]] in all genres: detective, western, jungle, romance, and, [[SF]]. His first [[science fiction]] story, "The Runaway Skyscraper," appeared in 1919 in ''[[Argosy]]''. Through the 1930s, he continued to write across the genres. |
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| + | In [[SF]], Leinster is credited with a number of firsts: "Sidewise in Time" published in ''[[Astounding]]'' in 1934 was the first alternate history story (and the [[Sidewise Award]] is named in honor of it). "A Logic Named Joe" written for ''[[Astounding]]'' in ''1946'' was the first story to not only feature vaguely realistic computers, but also something like the Internet, and even more importantly, to begin to fathom some of the changes it would bring to society. "First Contact" from 1946 seems to be the first appearance of a universal translator in [[science fiction]]. | ||
He was one of the few pre-[[Golden Age]] [[SF]] writer to survive in the [[Campbell]] era of higher writing standards. He published over three dozen stories in ''[[Astounding]]'' and ''[[Analog]]'' under Campbell's editorship, including most of his best work. | He was one of the few pre-[[Golden Age]] [[SF]] writer to survive in the [[Campbell]] era of higher writing standards. He published over three dozen stories in ''[[Astounding]]'' and ''[[Analog]]'' under Campbell's editorship, including most of his best work. | ||
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He was also an inventor, best known for the front projection process used in special effects. | He was also an inventor, best known for the front projection process used in special effects. | ||
| − | + | {{recognition}} | |
| + | * 1956 — '''[[1956 Best Novelette Hugo| Best Novelette Hugo]]''' | ||
| + | * 1968 — [[1968 Open ESFA]] | ||
| + | * 1969 — [[First Fandom Hall of Fame Award]] | ||
| + | * 1994 — [[First Contact]] | ||
| + | * 1996 — [[1946 Best Novelette Retro Hugo]] | ||
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{{person | born=1896 | died=1975}} | {{person | born=1896 | died=1975}} | ||
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[[Category:pro]] | [[Category:pro]] | ||
[[Category:US]] | [[Category:US]] | ||
| + | [[Category:first_fandom]] | ||
Revision as of 15:39, 3 February 2021
(June 16, 1896 -- June 8, 1975)
Murray Leinster was a pen name of William F. “Will” Jenkins, a lifelong Virginian and a pro writer who was one of several writers called the Dean of Science Fiction. (He was also, for 25 years, the Most Senior SF Writer.)
He was GoH at Discon I, the 1963 Worldcon. He also won the 1956 Best Novelette Hugo for "Exploration Team" and, in 1996, the 1946 Best Novelette Retro Hugo for "First Contact."
He used several other pseudonyms, including William Fitzgerald, Will F. James, Hal Jenkins, Louise Carter Lee, and Herbert Shappiro.
He began his career as a freelance writer before World War I, writing for the pulps in all genres: detective, western, jungle, romance, and, SF. His first science fiction story, "The Runaway Skyscraper," appeared in 1919 in Argosy. Through the 1930s, he continued to write across the genres.
In SF, Leinster is credited with a number of firsts: "Sidewise in Time" published in Astounding in 1934 was the first alternate history story (and the Sidewise Award is named in honor of it). "A Logic Named Joe" written for Astounding in 1946 was the first story to not only feature vaguely realistic computers, but also something like the Internet, and even more importantly, to begin to fathom some of the changes it would bring to society. "First Contact" from 1946 seems to be the first appearance of a universal translator in science fiction.
He was one of the few pre-Golden Age SF writer to survive in the Campbell era of higher writing standards. He published over three dozen stories in Astounding and Analog under Campbell's editorship, including most of his best work.
He was also an inventor, best known for the front projection process used in special effects.
Awards, Honors and GoHships:
- 1956 — Best Novelette Hugo
- 1968 — 1968 Open ESFA
- 1969 — First Fandom Hall of Fame Award
- 1994 — First Contact
- 1996 — 1946 Best Novelette Retro Hugo
| Person | 1896—1975 |
| This is a biography page. Please extend it by adding more information about the person, such as fanzines and apazines published, awards, clubs, conventions worked on, GoHships, impact on fandom, external links, anecdotes, etc. See Standards for People and The Naming of Names. |
