Poul Anderson

November 25, 1926 - July 31, 2001

The American author, Poul Anderson, is best known for his Science Fiction writing, but has also written fantasy and historical novels in addition to numerous short stories.

Anderson grew up in Texas and on a Minnesota farm before earning a degree in physics from the University of Minnesota. Anderson published his first story while he was an undergraduate and engaged in freelance writing after he graduated. He never seriously pursued a career as a scientist, choosing instead to become a writer.

Anderson's Science Fiction novels were well-grounded in science, and one of his specialties was designing non-Earthlike planets that were scientifically plausible. He was also famous for his adventure stories. Anderson included non-scientific themes in his writing such as social and political issues, tragic conflict, and past/alternate/future worlds.

Anderson has won multiple Hugo and Nebula awards and was named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 1997. Anderson understood that science was an important part of Science Fiction and was prodigious in his writing. He was surely one of the Cream of the Crop.