Happy birthday, Rudy Rucker

Today is the birthday of mathematician and sf author, Rudy Rucker. In addition to non-fiction books like Geometry, Relativity and the Fourth Dimension (1977) and Infinity and the Mind (1982), he wrote his Transrealist novel, White Light (1980).

This was followed by his sf novels comprising The Ware Tetralogy (1982-2000). He's written many other momorable novels, like the steampunkish The Hollow Earth (1990), Frek and the Elixir (2004), Postsingular (2007) and its sequel Hylozoic (2009).

And if that weren't enough, he publishes the free sf webzine, FLURB. So happy birthday to one gnarly dude.

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This is probably going to be the last birthday tribute I write. I've been reminded that some people don't like being reminded of their age. I started writing these because it seems slightly ghoulish to me the way people wait until someone is dead to celebrate their life and work. So please appreciate your favorite authors while they're still around.

Happy birthday, Harry Harrison

Today is the birthday of Grand Master and sf icon Harry Harrison. He's a giant in the field and the author of classics like the military sf parody, Bill, the Galactic Hero (1965), and the socially relevant, Make Room! Make Room! (1966), which was the basis of the film Soylent Green (1973).

He also wrote The Deathworld Trilogy (1974), and perhaps his most famous series telling the tale of Slippery Jim DiGriz,  The Stainless Steel Rat (1960 onward).

Happy birthday Harry, and many more.

Happy Birthday, Joanna Russ

Birthday wishes today to Joanna Russ, American writer, pioneer of feminist science fiction, and essayist. She's known for such work as the Alyx stories, that were collected as The Adventures of Alyx (1976), which ran counter to the gender stereotypes dominant in the genre at the time. Her fame was secured with the publication of The Female Man  (1975) which became a feminist classic.

Although she hasn't been active in the genre recently due to health problems her reputation is assured. Happy birthday, Joanna, and many more.

Happy Birthday Ian M. Banks

I know it's already tomorrow in Scotland as I post this, but happy birthday to Ian M. Banks. Mr. Banks came to fame with novels like The Wasp Factory (1984) writing under the name Ian Banks. But it is the novels he's written as Ian M.Banks that have earned him a prominent place in the rolls of sf. Beginning with Consider Phlebas (1987) and elaborated upon in subsequent novels, Banks crafted an amazing future history centered on The Culture. Thank you for creating such a marvelous literary universe and happy birthday, Ian.

R.I.P. Anvil & Tenn

I'd like to offer my belated respects to a couple of sf authors who died recently, Christopher Anvil (1925-2009) and William Tenn (1920-2010).

Anvil was a regular contributor to Analog magazine, with a career the began in the 1950's and ran steadily through to the 1990's. I know him best from his Interstellar Patrol stories which were recently reprinted in collected volumes by Baen Books. Not only did they feature colorful adventure, and a memorable A.I. super-ship, but they also explored some interesting ideas. One of the most memorable for me was "Stanglehold," which did a good job of dramatizing how the existence of strong psi powers (or magic, if you will) would make discovery of the scientific method impossible. This despite the fact that the story, like many at the time, was just a build-up for a bad pun.

Tenn was less prolific due to the fact that he secured a job teaching at Penn State, but what he lacked in quantity he made up for in quality. I only know his work from his most notable stories which I read in scattered anthologies, but I enjoyed them thoroughly. The one I remember best is "On Venus, Have We Got a Rabbi". Frederik Pohl has written a better eulogy to him than I ever could, and points out his collected works have been issued by NESFA Press. I really should read more of his writing.

R.I.P. Kage Baker

Very sad news today that sf author Kage Baker has passed away. She's best known for her long running Company series of novels and stories about time travel and immortality. She also recently wrote a book for children, The Hotel Under the Sand (2009), and her fantasy novel The House of the Stag (2008) was nominated for a World Fantasy Award. Not long ago she made public her battle with cancer, and it was known she had only a short time. The Green Man review has posted a letter from her sister, and Marty Halpern has posted an appreciation of her. My sympathy goes out to her family and friends.

R.I.P. Daisuke Gōri

Some sad news from Japan today. The Mainichi Daily reports that veteran seiyū Daisuke Gōri (郷里 大輔) has been found dead in an apparent suicide.,

The body of voice actor Daisuke Gori was found on a Tokyo street on Sunday. Police believe he committed suicide.

A passer-by found Gori, 57, lying on a street in Nakano Ward, bleeding from his wrists and neck. There were no signs of a struggle, and there was a suicide note in his trouser pocket, say police. A bloodstained knife was also found near the body.

Gori, real name Yoshio Nagahori, was a voice actor and narrator, with notable anime credits including the Kinnikuman and Dragon Ball series.

Gōri-san was a character actor who lent his voice talent to some of my favorite anime, including Gundam, Zeta Gundam, Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, Samurai Champloo, Slayers and the recent Slayers Evolution-R. I'm sorry to see him go.

Happy Birthday, Robert Silverberg

Today is the birthday of the renowned Grand Master Robert Silverberg. A noteworthy author and editor, he began his prolific career in the 1950's producing an astonishing amount of fiction, much under numerous pseudonyms, often in collaboration with the late Randall Garret. But he really came into his own at the time of the New Wave, proving himself one of the finest writers of that movement. Among his memorable novels during this period are Thorns (1967), Hawksbill Station (1968), Up the Line (1969), Downward to Earth (1970), Tower of Glass (1970), The Second Trip (1972), The Stochastic Man (1975), and Shadrach in the Furnace (1976). Disgusted with the editorial practices then prevalent in the field and unhappy that his work was not receiving more recognition, Mr. Silverberg joined fellow literary powerhouse Barry N.Malzberg in renouncing the genre. Luckily for us he soon returned to writing with the finely wrought Planetary Romance Lord Valentine's Castle (1980). He has remained active in sf ever since and continues to write impressive and provocative fiction and essays. So happy birthday to you, Robert Silverberg.

Happy Asimov Day

"We are now living in a science fictional world."

Happy Birthday, Connie Willis

Today is the birthday of Connie Willis, author of the award winning novels Doomsday Book (1993), To Say Nothing of the Dog (1999), and Passage (2001). Here's wishing her all the best in the year to come and continued success with her up-coming two-volume novel, Blackout and All Clear. Happy birthday to you, Connie.

Happy Birthday, Nalo Hopkinson

Birthday wishes to Nalo Hopkinson today. She's an award winning Canadian sf writer whose works include Brown Girl in the Ring (1998), Midnight Robber (2000), The Salt Roads (2003), The New Moon's Arms (2007) and numerous anthologies and short stories. Happy birthday, Nalo, and may you have good luck with the current novel.

Happy Birthday, Michael Moorcock

Today is the birthday of Grand Master Michael Moorcock, legendary editor, award winning author, and rock-and-roll musician.

He's penned numerous novels, including Behold the Man (1966), The Cornelius Quartet (1977), The War Hound and the World's Pain (1981), Mother London (1988), and of course the immortal Elric saga.

So in your honor, I, and Oswald Bastable, Herr von Bek, Elric, Sexton Blake and the rest all raise a toast to you wishing you a very happy birthday and many more to come.

Happy Birthday, Frederik Pohl

Today is the 90th birthday of award winning sf doyen, Frederik Pohl. One of the most important figures of the genre, the list of classics that he's written is as long as my arm. There are his famous collaborations with fellow sf heavyweights, like The Starchild Trilogy, and Doomship (1973) written with Jack Williamson, and the seminal The Space Merchants (1953) with C. M. Kornbluth.

Then there are his equally impressive solo novels, like Man Plus (1976), and Gateway (1977), which began the Heechee saga.

And his equally masterful editorship of Galaxy Science Fiction during the 1960's.  Frederik Pohl has not only penned masterpieces but charted a career that has made contributions to the genre that few can equal. Here's wishing you a very happy birthday, Frederik Pohl.