Clifford D. Simak

Clifford D. Simak
Born	(1904-08-03)August 3, 1904 Millville, Wisconsin
Died	April 25, 1988(1988-04-25) (aged 83) Minneapolis, Minnesota
Occupation	Journalist, novelist, short story author
Genre	Science fiction, fantasy, popular science

Clifford Donald Simak (August 3, 1904 – April 25, 1988) was an American science fiction writer. He received three Hugo Awards and one Nebula Award. He was named the third Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) in 1977.^[1][2]

Biography

Simak was born in Millville, Wisconsin to parent's John Lewis and Margaret (Wiseman) Simak. He married Agnes Kuchenberg on April 13, 1929. They had two children, Scott and Shelley. Simak attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He later worked at various newspapers in the Midwest. He began to work with the Minneapolis Star and Tribune (in Minneapolis, Minnesota). This went from 1939 to his retirement in 1976.

Writing career

Simak became interested in science fiction after reading the works of H. G. Wells as a child. He started writing for science fiction pulp magazines in 1931. The only science-fiction piece that he published between 1933 and 1937 was The Creator (Marvel Tales #4, March–April 1935).

In late 1937, Simak returned to science fiction. He was a regular contributor to Astounding Stories during the Golden Age of Science Fiction (1938–1950). His first publications, such as Cosmic Engineers (1939), were in the style of the earlier superscience type. He soon made his own style, which is usually described as gentle and pastoral. During this period, Simak also published a number of war and western stories in pulp magazines. His best known novel may be City, a collection of short stories with a common theme of mankind's eventual leaving from Earth.

Simak continued to write award-nominated novels during the 1950s and 1960s. Helped by a friend, he continued writing and publishing science fiction and, later, fantasy, into his 80s.

Awards

• International Fantasy Award for best fiction book (1953) for City
• Hugo award for best novelette (1959) for The Big Front Yard
• Hugo award for best novel (1964) for Way Station
• Minnesota Academy of Science Award for distinguished service to science 1967
• First Fandom Hall of Fame award 1973
• Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award 1976
• Jupiter Award for best novel (1978) for A Heritage of Stars
• Hugo award for best short story (1981) for Grotto of the Dancing Deer
• Nebula award for best short story (1981) for Grotto of the Dancing Deer
• Locus Award for best short story (1981) for Grotto of the Dancing Deer
• Analog Analytical Laboratory award for best short story (1981) for Grotto of the Dancing Deer
• Bram Stoker Lifetime Achievement award 1988

References

1. "Clifford Donald Simak". Retrieved 28 December 2011.
2. Strickland, Galen. "Clifford D. Simak". Galen Strickland. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2011.