Difference between revisions of "Theodore Sturgeon"

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(February 26, 1918 – May 8, 1985)  
 
(February 26, 1918 – May 8, 1985)  
  
An [[American]] [[pro]] writer who sold his first [[sf]] story in 1939 to ''[[Astounding]]'' and who is primarily known for his short fiction. He was [[GoH]] at [[Chicon III]], the 1962 [[Worldcon]].  He received numerous [[Hugo nominations]] including the [[1956 Best Novelette Hugo]], and the [[1956 Best Short Story Hugo]], and won the [[1971 Best Short Story Hugo]] for "Slow Sculpture".
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'''Theodore “Ted” Hamilton Sturgeon''' (born Edward Waldo), an [[American]] [[pro]] writer, sold his first [[sf]] story in 1939 to ''[[Astounding]]''. He is primarily known for his short [[fiction]]. He was [[GoH]] at [[Chicon III]], the 1962 [[Worldcon]].  He received numerous [[Hugo nominations]] including the [[1956 Best Novelette Hugo]], and the [[1956 Best Short Story Hugo]], and won the [[1971 Best Short Story Hugo]] for "Slow Sculpture".
  
He was a member of the [[Trap Door Spiders]] and originated [[Sturgeon's Law]].  He also wrote screenplays for two ''[[Star Trek]]'' episodes.
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He was a member of the [[Trap Door Spiders]].  He also wrote screenplays for two ''[[Star Trek]]'' episodes.
  
{{SFE|name=sturgeon_theodore}}
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==Sturgeon's Law==
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"'''90 percent of ''everything'' is crud'''."
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According to [[Philip Klass]] ([[William Tenn]]), Sturgeon said this in 1951, at a talk at New York University.  It was subsequently included in a talk at the [[1953 Worldcon]] in [[Philadelphia]].  He said, "90 percent of science fiction is [[crud]]."  This upset his audience, but then he added, "90 percent of ''everything'' is crud."
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{{link | website=https://sfdictionary.com/view/328 |text=Entry at the Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction.}}
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'''More reading:'''
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*{{SFE|name=sturgeon_theodore}}.
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* {{link | website=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPjVcgZcC24|text= Video}} of [[GoH]] speech at [[Lunacon 15]], 1972.
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* {{link | website=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPjVcgZcC24|text=Video}} of speech at [[SunCon]], 1977.
  
 
{{recognition}}
 
{{recognition}}
 
* 1950 -- Toastmaster at '''[[NorWesCon]]'''
 
* 1950 -- Toastmaster at '''[[NorWesCon]]'''
* 1954 -- [[IFA]] for ''More Than Human''
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* 1954 -- [[International Fantasy Award]] for ''More Than Human''
 
* 1961 -- [[Philcon 1961]]
 
* 1961 -- [[Philcon 1961]]
 
* 1962 -- '''[[Chicon III]]'''
 
* 1962 -- '''[[Chicon III]]'''
 
* 1966 -- [[Westercon 19]] toastmaster
 
* 1966 -- [[Westercon 19]] toastmaster
* 1971 -- [[Forry Award]], '''[[1971 Best Short Story Hugo|Best Short Story Hugo]]'''
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* 1971 -- [[Forry Award]], '''[[1971 Best Short Story Hugo]]'''
 
* 1972 -- [[Lunacon 15]]
 
* 1972 -- [[Lunacon 15]]
 
* 1973 -- [[Equicon '73]]
 
* 1973 -- [[Equicon '73]]
 
* 1974 -- [[TusCon IV]]
 
* 1974 -- [[TusCon IV]]
* 1978 -- [[Kubla Khan Sex]], [[Unicon 4]], [[Norwescon 1]]
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* 1978 -- [[Kubla Khan Sex]], [[Unicon 4]], [[Norwescon 1]], [[ConClave 3]]
 
* 1979 -- [[Minicon 15]], [[AggieCon X]], [[StellarCon IV]], [[The Fantasy Symposium]], [[Just Imagicon]], [[Future Party '79]]
 
* 1979 -- [[Minicon 15]], [[AggieCon X]], [[StellarCon IV]], [[The Fantasy Symposium]], [[Just Imagicon]], [[Future Party '79]]
 
* 1980 -- [[Michicon]], Toastmaster at [[Norwescon III]]
 
* 1980 -- [[Michicon]], Toastmaster at [[Norwescon III]]
 
* 1981 -- [[MileHiCon 13]], [[Empiricon 3]], [[Wichacon I]], [[Future Party '81]]
 
* 1981 -- [[MileHiCon 13]], [[Empiricon 3]], [[Wichacon I]], [[Future Party '81]]
* 1983 -- [[CopperCon 3]], [[Colorado Mountain Con]]
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* 1983 -- [[CopperCon 3]], [[Colorado Mountain Con]], [[Vikingcon 4]]
 
* 1984 -- [[ConQuistador 1]], [[Texarkon '84]]
 
* 1984 -- [[ConQuistador 1]], [[Texarkon '84]]
 
* 1985 -- [[Eucon '85]]
 
* 1985 -- [[Eucon '85]]
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* 1988 -- [[Readercon 2]] ([[Memorial Guest]])
 
* 1988 -- [[Readercon 2]] ([[Memorial Guest]])
 
* 2000 -- [[Science Fiction Hall of Fame]]
 
* 2000 -- [[Science Fiction Hall of Fame]]
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* 2020 -- [[1945 Best Novella Retro Hugo]]
  
 
* {{link | website=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPjVcgZcC24|text= Video of GoH speech at Lunacon 15}}
 
* {{link | website=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPjVcgZcC24|text=Video of speech at SunCon, 1977}}
 
  
 
{{person | born=1918 | died=1985}}
 
{{person | born=1918 | died=1985}}
 
[[Category:pro]]
 
[[Category:pro]]
 
[[Category:US]]
 
[[Category:US]]

Latest revision as of 13:27, 23 September 2024

(February 26, 1918 – May 8, 1985)

Theodore “Ted” Hamilton Sturgeon (born Edward Waldo), an American pro writer, sold his first sf story in 1939 to Astounding. He is primarily known for his short fiction. He was GoH at Chicon III, the 1962 Worldcon. He received numerous Hugo nominations including the 1956 Best Novelette Hugo, and the 1956 Best Short Story Hugo, and won the 1971 Best Short Story Hugo for "Slow Sculpture".

He was a member of the Trap Door Spiders. He also wrote screenplays for two Star Trek episodes.

Sturgeon's Law[edit]

"90 percent of everything is crud."

According to Philip Klass (William Tenn), Sturgeon said this in 1951, at a talk at New York University. It was subsequently included in a talk at the 1953 Worldcon in Philadelphia. He said, "90 percent of science fiction is crud." This upset his audience, but then he added, "90 percent of everything is crud."

Entry at the Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction.

More reading:

Awards, Honors and GoHships:



Person 19181985
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