L. Sprague de Camp

(November 27, 1907 – November 6, 2000)

An aeronautical engineer by training, Lyon Sprague de Camp took up writing sf and fantasy in the late 1930s and was one of the mainstays of both Unknown and Astounding under Campbell. Lest Darkness Fall, an alternate history novel written in 1939, is considered to be among his best works, as well as one of the best (and earliest) examples of the alternate history genre. Another famous work is The Incomplete Enchanter, written with Fletcher Pratt.

He married Catherine Crook de Camp in 1939. During World War II, de Camp joined the U.S. Navy Reserve and worked at the Naval Air Experimental Station in Philadelphia, recruited on the recommendation of Robert Heinlein, then a civilian engineer for the military.

After the war, he continued to write sf and fantasy, as well as a considerable amount of non-fiction, particularly history. He traveled extensively around the world. He was a member of the Trap Door Spiders and the Swordsmen and Sorcerers' Guild of America. He lived in the Philadelphia area for most of his life.

Though not primarily a fan, he was a very fannish pro. He wrote extensively for Amra and was one of the founders of the Hyborian Legion. Along with Fritz Leiber, he helped get Discon I off to a good start (see Discon 1 Guide: The First Day). He was parliamentarian of the WSFS Business Meeting in 1960 (see the meeting minutes from Amra).

Time and Chance, his autobiography, was published in 1996 by Donald M. Grant. It was edited by Catherine Crook de Camp, and dedicated to her. The 444-page book contains 63 photographs in a section titled "My Photo Album." It won the 1997 Best Non-Fiction Book Hugo.

• Entry in The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction.
• “Veteran of the Day: U.S. Navy Veteran L. Sprague de Camp.”

Awards, Honors and GoHships:

• 1946 -- FPWESFC
• 1953 -- International Fantasy Award
• 1956 -- 1956 Best Feature Writer Hugo nominee, 1956 Best Novelette Hugo nominee for "A Gun for Dinosaur"
• 1965 -- Invisible Little Man Award
• 1966 -- Tricon
• 1969 -- Balticon 3, 1969 Open ESFA
• 1972 -- Boskone 9
• 1973 -- Pat Terry Award for Humour in SF
• 1975 -- PgHLANGE 7
• 1976 -- DeepSouthCon 14, Unicon 2B, Lifetime Achievement Gandalf Award
• 1977 -- Lunacon 20, Philcon 1976 (really), Forry Award
• 1979 -- Just Imagicon, Fool-Con II, SFWA Grandmaster
• 1980 -- Marcon XV
• 1981 -- URCON III, X-Con 5
• 1983 -- Balticon 17, Rivercon VIII, InConJunction III, Rovacon 8
• 1984 -- Archon 8, AggieCon XV, Norwescon VII, Onocon '84, Con-Version I, World Fantasy Convention Award
• 1985 -- Texarkon IV, Philcon 1985
• 1986 -- StellarCon XI, Contex IV
• 1987 -- LibertyCon 1
• 1988 -- Con-Version V
• 1990 -- 16th World Fantasy Convention, InConJunction X
• 1991 -- LibertyCon 5
• 1993 -- Conversion 10, Con-Version X, Raymond Z. Gallun Award
• 1995 -- NecronomiCon, 2nd Edition, Sidewise Award for Lifetime Achievement
• 1996 -- LibertyCon 10
• 1997 -- 1997 Best Non-Fiction Book Hugo for his autobiography, Time and Chance
• 1998 -- Pilgrim Award
• 2004 -- 1954 Best Related Book Retro Hugo nominee for the Science-Fiction Handbook

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Person

1907—2000

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