Biographies

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From Fancyclopedia 2, ca. 1959
Of pros have been popular since the very first fanzine. In Second Fandom, biographies of fans became popular, and who's whos of fandom appeared; a little later came autoanalyses. The biographies may give date and place of birth and physical characteristics, but for the most part are given over to the fan's entrance into and career in fandom, and his taste in proz, fanzines, fans, etc, to the virtual exclusion of information about his schooling, family background, jobs, ktp, which would be useful in understanding the person.
From Fancyclopedia 1, ca. 1944
Biografies Biografies of pro figures were in the first fanzines and before. In the Second Fandom, biogs of fans became popular, and who's whos of fandom appeared. A little later came autoanalyses. The biografies usually give date and place of birth, and sometimes physical characteristics, but for the most part are given over to the fan's entrance and career in fandom, and his preferences as to promags, fanzines, fans, etc, to the virtual exclusion of information about his schooling, family background, jobs, &c, which would be useful in understanding the person.

See also: Who's Who in Fandom, Fanoirs.

There have been excellent pro biographies and more than a few fan biographies published. (The titles below include books focusing on the work more than the life, as well as memoirs and collections of various material.)

Subject Title Author
Forrest J Ackerman Forry: The Life of Forrest J Ackerman Deborah Painter
Douglas Adams Don't Panic (1986) Neil Gaiman
Wish You Were Here (2003) Nick Webb
Hitchhiker: A Biography of Douglas Adams (2003) M. J. Simpson
Brian Aldiss, Alfred Bester,
Harry Harrison,
Damon Knight,
Frederik Pohl and Robert Silverberg
Hell's Cartographers Brian Aldiss, Harry Harrison, eds.
Piers Anthony Bio of an Ogre: The Autobiography of Piers Anthony to Age 50 Piers Anthony
Isaac Asimov In Memory Yet Green Isaac Asimov
In Joy Still Felt: The Autobiography of Isaac Asimov, 1954–1978
I. Asimov: A Memoir (1994)
Isaac Asimov James Gunn
Isaac Asimov Michael White
Iain M. Banks Iain M. Banks (2017) Paul Kincaid
Gregory Benford Gregory Benford George Slusser
Otto Binder Words of Wonder: The Life and Times of Otto Binder (2003) Bill Schelly
Robert Bloch Once Around the Bloch: An Unauthorized Autobiography Robert Bloch
Hannes Bok And Flights of Angels: The Life and Legend of Hannes Bok (1968) Emil Petaja
Hannes Bok: A Life in Illustration Joseph Wrzos
Ray Bradbury Becoming Ray Bradbury Jonathan R. Eller
Bradbury: An Illustrated Life Jerry Weist
The Bradbury Chronicles: The Life of Ray Bradbury Sam Weller
Ray Bradbury: Master of Science Fiction and Fantasy Wendy Mass
Ray Bradbury Unbound Jonathan R. Eller
Lois McMaster Bujold Lois McMaster Bujold Edward James
Lois McMaster Bujold: Essays on a Modern Master of Science Fiction and Fantasy (2013) Donald E. Palumbo, C. W. Sullivan III, eds.
Octavia E. Butler Conversations with Octavia Butler (2010) Butler, Conseula Francis
Octavia E. Butler Gerry Canavan
John W. Campbell, Jr., Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein
and L. Ron Hubbard
Astounding: John W. Campbell, Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein, L. Ron Hubbard, and the Golden Age of Science Fiction (2018) Alec Nevala-Lee
Hugh B. Cave Magazines I Remember Hugh B. Cave
Pulp Man's Odyssey: The Hugh B. Cave Story Audrey Parente
Arthur C. Clarke Arthur C. Clarke Gary Westfahl
Arthur C. Clarke: A Life Remembered (2013) Fred Clarke (and others)
Astounding Days Arthur C. Clarke
Visionary: The Odyssey of Sir Arthur C. Clarke Neil McAleer
Sidney Coleman Theoretical Physics in Your Face Aaron W. Wright, Diana Coleman, David Kaiser
W. Paul Cook W. Paul Cook: The Wandering Life of a Yankee Printer Sean Donnelly
Leslie A. Croutch Years of Light John Robert Colombo
L. Sprague de Camp Time and Chance L. Sprague de Camp
Samuel R. Delany Motion of Light in Water (1988) Samuel R. Delany
Philip K. Dick Search for Philip K. Dick Anne R. Dick
Only Apparently Real Paul Williams
Gardner Dozois Being Gardner Dozois Michael Swanwick
Ed Emshwiller Emshwiller: Infinity X Two Luis Ortiz
Lloyd Arthur Eshbach Over My Shoulder: Reflections on a Science Fiction Era Lloyd Arthur Eshbach
Jack Gaughan Outermost: The Art & Life of Jack Gaughan Luis Ortiz
William Gibson Conversations with William Gibson Patrick A. Smith, ed.
William Gibson Gary Westfahl
James Gunn Saving the World Through Science Fiction Michael R. Page
Star-Begotten: A Life Lived in Science Fiction James Gunn
Harry Harrison Harry Harrison! Harry Harrison!: A Memoir Harry Harrison
Ray Harryhausen Ray Harryhausen: An Animated Life Ray Harryhausen, Tony Dalton
Robert A. Heinlein Grumbles from the Grave (1989) Robert A. Heinlein
Robert A. Heinlein: In Dialogue with His Century. Volume 1 (1907-1948): Learning Curve; Volume 2 (1948-1988): The Man Who Learned Better William H. Patterson, Jr.
Frank Herbert Frank Herbert: Prophet of Dune George Edgar Slusser
Frank Herbert Timothy O'Reilly
Dreamer of Dune: The Biography of Frank Herbert Brian Herbert
Robert E. Howard Blood & Thunder: The Life & Art of Robert E. Howard Mark Finn
Dark Valley Destiny L. Sprague de Camp
Robert E. Howard: A Literary Biography David C. Smith
L. Ron Hubbard Bare-Faced Messiah: The True Story of L. Ron Hubbard Russell Miller
Tove Jansson Tove Jansson: Life, Art, Words Boel Westin
Tove Jansson: Work and Love Tuula Karjalainen
C. M. Kornbluth C. M. Kornbluth: The Life and Works of a Science Fiction Visionary Mark Rich
David A. Kyle David A. Kyle: A Life of Science Fiction Ideas and Dreams John L. Coker
Ursula K. Le Guin Conversations with Ursula K. Le Guin Ursula K. Le Guin, Carl Howard Freedman
Fritz Leiber "Not Much Disorder and Not So Early Sex: An Autobiographic Essay" in The Ghost Light (1984) Fritz Leiber
Murray Leinster Murray Leinster: The Life and Works Billee J. Stallings, Jo-An J. Evans
C. S. Lewis C. S. Lewis: A Life: Eccentric Genius, Reluctant Prophet Alister E. McGrath
H. P. Lovecraft H. P. Lovecraft: A Portrait L. Sprague de Camp
Leo Margulies Leo Margulies: Giant of the Pulps Philip Sherman
Anne McCaffrey Dragonholder: The Life and Dreams (So Far) of Anne McCaffrey Todd McCaffrey, Anne McCaffrey
Anne McCaffrey: A Life with Dragons Robin Roberts
Judith Merril Better to Have Loved: The Life of Judith Merril (2002) Judith Merril, Emily Pohl-Weary
Hope Mirrlees Hope-In-The-Mist: The Extraordinary Career and Mysterious Life of Hope Mirrlees Michael Swanwick
Sam Moskowitz After All These Years: Sam Moskowitz on His Science Fiction Career Fred Lerner, Jeffrey Elliott
E. Nesbit E. Nesbit: A Biography Doris Langley Moore
Magic and the Magician: E. Nesbit and her Children's Books Noel Streatfeild
Andy Offutt My Father, the Pornographer: A Memoir Chris Offutt
Ray Palmer The Man From Mars: Ray Palmer's Amazing Pulp Journey Fred Nadis
Daniel M. Pinkwater The Agony & the Eggplant: Daniel Pinkwater's Heroic Struggles in the Name of YA Literature Walter Hogan
H. Beam Piper H. Beam Piper: A Biography John F. Carr
Frederik Pohl The Way the Future Was (1978) Frederik Pohl
Terry Pratchett The Magic of Terry Pratchett (2020) Marc Burrows
Terry Pratchett: A Life With Footnotes: The Official Biography (2022) Rob Wilkins
Trina Robbins Last Girl Standing (2017) Trina Robbins
Eric Frank Russell Into Your Tent: The World of Eric Frank Russell John L. Ingham
Julius Schwartz Man of Two Worlds: My Life in Science Fiction and Comics Julius Schwartz
Robert Silverberg Other Space, Other Times: A life spent in the future Robert Silverberg
George R. Stewart The Life and Truth of George R. Stewart: A Literary Biography of the Author of Earth Abides (2012) Donald M. Scott
James Tiptree, Jr. James Tiptree, Jr.: The Double Life of Alice B. Sheldon (2006) Julie Phillips
J. R. R. Tolkien J. R. R. Tolkien: Author of the Century (2000) Tom Shippey
J. R. R. Tolkien: A Biography (1977) Humphrey Carpenter
Tolkien: Maker of Middle-earth Catherine McIlwaine, ed.
Jack Vance This is Me, Jack Vance! (Or, More Properly, This is "I") Jack Vance
A. E. van Vogt Reflections of A. E. van Vogt: The Autobiography of a Science Fiction Giant, with a Complete Bibliography A. E. van Vogt
Jules Verne Jules Verne: An Exploratory Biography Herbert R. Lottman
Jules Verne: The Definitive Biography (2006) William Butcher
H. G. Wells The Young H. G. Wells: Changing The World Claire Tomalin
Peter Weston With Stars in My Eyes Peter Weston
Jack Williamson Wonder's Child: My Life in Science Fiction Jack Williamson
Roger Zelazny Roger Zelazny (2021) F. Brett Cox


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