Phyllis Gotlieb Dies at 82

David Halpert — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 23:22:23 +0000

One of the first science fiction novels I ever read (aside from Neuromancer, Brave New World, 1984, and the Handmaid’s Tale) was Phyllis Gotlieb’s Sunburst, for which the Canadian science fiction award, the Sunburst, is named after. The novel revolves around a group of preteens that develop superpowers after being exposed to radiation from the Three Mile Island incident. While the novel may appear a little dated by today’s standards it was way ahead of its time when it was published back in the 1960s

Simply put, Canadian science fiction would not be where it is today without Phyllis Gotlieb. Born in Toronto in 1926, Gotlieb graduated from the University of Toronto with degrees in literature in 1948 (BA) and 1950 (MA). While it was not uncommon to see women writers in the science fiction field in the sixties and seventies, what was uncommon was to see a Canadian getting published by the major science fiction publishers in the US. As a result, her works have often been seen as a source of inspiration for many of today’s SF writers in Canada.

An active participant at lectures and conventions and the only Canadian there when the SFWA was formed many years ago, Phyllis Gotlieb, as Robert J. Sawyer put it only his blog, was “mother of science fiction”. There’s no doubt in my mind that she will be gravely missed. Below are some article remembering Phyllis Gotlieb.

Phyllis Gotlieb, sci-fi writer and poet, dies at 83 (cbc.ca)
Author and Poet Phyllis Gotlieb Has Died (mediabistro.com)
RIP, Phyllis Gotleib, the mother of Canadian science fiction (boingboing.net)

RIP: Philip Jose Farmer

David Halpert — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:51:23 +0000

Click Here to View the Works of Philip Jose Farmer at Amazon

Well-known science fiction author, Philip Jose Farmer passed away yesterday at the age of 91. An American author, he was made famous by his science fiction and fantasy novels as well as his short stories. He was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, but spent much of his life in Peoria, Illinois, where he died.

Image via Wikipedia

Farmer was best known for his Riverworld series and the earlier World of Tiers series. He is noted for his use of sexual and religious themes in his work, his fascination for and reworkring of the lore of legendary pulp heroes, and occasional tongue-in-cheek pseudonymous works written as if by fictional characters.

While I have yet to read a novel by Farmer I did happen to read one of his most famous works “The Riders of the Purple Wage”, his novella for the famous anthology “Dangerous Visions” first published in 1978. It’s an excellent story (as well as an excellent anthology) and I urge anyone interested in the history of science fiction or New Wave to pick it up.

Farmer was also the recipient of two Hugo Awards (five nominations), two Nebula Award nominations, and a lifetime achievement winner of the World Fantasy Award.

For more information click one of the links below.

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RIP, Philip Jose Farmer (boingboing.net)
Phillip José Farmer Crosses the River (wired.com)
Philip Jose Farmer Has Died (mediabistro.com)
Science fiction writer in residence gig open at Toronto’s wonderful Merril Collection (boingboing.net)

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Phyllis Gotlieb Dies at 82

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RIP: Philip Jose Farmer