View source for 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 [[1960 WSFS Minutes|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]].

* {{SFE|name=de_camp_l_sprague}}.
* [https://www.aerotechnews.com/blog/2023/01/03/veteran-of-the-day-u-s-navy-veteran-l-sprague-de-camp/ “Veteran of the Day: U.S. Navy Veteran L. Sprague de Camp.”]

{{recognition}}
* 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 |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''


{{person | born=1907 | died=2000}}
[[Category:pro]]
[[Category:US]]
[[Category:fan]] 
[[Category:first_fandom]]