1950s Science Fiction 7 - 22 Science Fiction Short Stories From the 1950s

Author Bio: various authors

Author Bio: Richard Matheson

Richard Matheson (1926–2013) was born in New Jersey and started living and working in California in 1951. In addition to novels in the mystery, science fiction, horror, fantasy, and western fields, he wrote many film and television scripts, including “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet” from The Twilight Zone. He also wrote episodes of Have Gun, Will Travel, Night Gallery, and Star Trek. Several of his novels and stories have been made into movies, including The Shrinking Man, I Am Legend, and What Dreams May Come (starring Robin Williams). Over the course of his career he won the World Fantasy Lifetime Achievement Award, the Bram Stoker Award for Life Achievement, the Hugo Award, the Edgar Allan Poe Award, the Golden Spur Award, and the Writer’s Guild Award.

Author Bio: Arthur C. Clarke

Arthur C. Clarke is considered one of the greatest science fiction writers of all time. He is best known for his novel 2001: A Space Odyssey, for which he also coauthored the screenplay with Stanley Kubrick for the 1968 Academy Award–winning major motion picture. Besides winning a number of Hugo and Nebula awards, he was awarded the Kalinga Prize, a UNESCO award for popularizing science. He was knighted by the British monarchy and is the only science fiction writer to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. He is an international treasure in many other ways: An article written by him in 1945 led to the invention of satellite technology. His books of both fiction and nonfiction have more than one hundred million copies in print worldwide.

Author Bio: Isaac Asimov

Isaac Asimov (1920–1992) was born in the Soviet Union and came to the United States in 1923. He earned his PhD in chemistry in 1948, and in 1958 became a full-time writer. His writings include the Foundation Trilogy; I, Robot; Tomorrow’s Children; and numerous works of nonfiction touching on a range of scientific topics. Among his accolades are six Hugo awards, a SFWA Grand Master Award, and high praise from such luminaries as Kurt Vonnegut, Arthur C. Clarke, and Gene Roddenberry.

Author Bio: Andre Norton

Andre Norton (1912–2005) was one of the most popular science fiction and fantasy authors in the world. Since her first science fiction novels were published in the 1940s, her adventure sci-fi has enthralled readers young and old. With series such as Time Traders, Solar Queen, Forerunner, Beast Master, Crosstime, and Janus, as well as many stand-alone novels and short stories, her tales of action and adventure have drawn countless readers to science fiction. She was the first woman to receive the Gandalf Grand Master of Fantasy Award, presented by the World Science Fiction Society in 1977 and the first woman to be named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction Writers of America in 1983.

Author Bio: Fredric Brown

Fredric Brown (1906–1972) was the only writer to achieve equal prominence in the mystery and science fiction genres. His first foray into mystery, The Fabulous Clipjoint, won the Mystery Writers of America’s Edgar Award for Best First Novel. Brown was also the acknowledged master of the short short story; the famous collection Nightmares and Geezenstacks demonstrates his consummate mastery of a form limited to no more than five hundred words. His short story “Arena” was the basis of a famed Star Trek episode; “Martians, Go Home!” was adapted for a 1992 film; “The Last Martian” was adapted for Serling’s Twilight Zone and starred Steve McQueen at the start of his career. Brown’s work, more than forty years after his death, is increasingly prominent.

Author Bio: Clifford D. Simak

Author Bio: Mack Reynolds

Author Bio: Gene L. Henderson