Robert Sheckley

(July 16, 1928 – December 9, 2005)

Robert Sheckley, an American pro, was an important and prolific writer in the 1950s through the ’70s, especially known for his satire and darkly comic and absurdist work. He wrote more than 15 novels and over 400 short stories (many under assorted pseudonyms).

He was GoH at the 2005 Worldcon, Interaction, but was unable to attend because of ill health. He received Hugo nominations for the 1956 Best Short Story Hugo and the 1959 Best Novel Hugo, plus, in 2004, the 1954 Best Short Story Retro Hugo.

Sheckley was married five times: Barbara Scadron (they had a son, Jason), Ziva Kwitney (their daughter, Alisa Kwitney, became an editor for the Vertigo imprint of DC Comics), Abby Schulman (they had two children, Anya and Jed), Jay Rothbell and Gail Dana. He divorced all his wives except Dana, from whom he was separated at the time of his death.

Sheckley’s story “Protection” (Galaxy, April 1956) introduced the term lesnerize. Don’t do it!

Links:

• Bibliography at ISFDB.
• Sheckley’s works at Project Gutenberg.
• Robert Sheckley Fan Club.
• Entry in The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction.
• “‘Don’t Lesnerize!’: NYRSF Readings Series Presents a Tribute to Robert Sheckley.”

Awards, Honors and GoHships:

• 1974 -- Jupiter Award for A Suppliant in Space
• 1978 -- Skycon
• 1980 -- Windycon VII
• 1989 -- VCON 17
• 1991 -- Raymond Z. Gallun Award
• 1993 -- CopperCon 13, Con*Cept '93
• 1996 -- Constellation
• 2001 -- named SFWA Author Emeritus
• 2003 -- Boskone 39 (NESFA Press Guest)
• 2004 -- Eurocon 26
• 2005 -- Interaction
• 2006 -- Boskone 42 (NESFA Press Guest)

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Person

1928—2005

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