L. Ron Hubbard

L. Ron Hubbard (1940s). Courtesy of Rob Hansen

(March 13, 1911 – January 24, 1986)

Lafayette Ronald Hubbard, a fantasy and sf writer first published in the 1930s and 40s, used the pennames Frederick Engelhardt, René Lafayette, Kurt van Rachen, and others. Fandom would later nickname him Elron. "Typewriter in the Sky" (1940) may be his most memorable work.

Hubbard was active in the sf community and a congoer until the early 1950s, when he founded Scientology (which see). After he subsequently became infamous and wealthy, various fans and pros who conceivably had known him, such as Lloyd Arthur Eshbach, would claim that Hubbard had had said in 1949, “I'd like to start a religion. That's where the money is.”

He left sf till 1982 and the publication of Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000, a lengthy space opera, which its Scientology-affiliated publisher, Bridge Publications, promoted heavily at Chicon IV, that year’s Worldcon, complete with actors hired to dress as its characters in the masquerade. Two years later, Hubbard launched the Writers of the Future contest and its affiliated writers’ workshops.

• Entry in The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction.
• Video interview with Arthur Jean Cox reminiscing about Hubbard.

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Person

1911—1986

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