Gene Wolfe American writer of science fiction and fantasy. Date of Birth: 07.05.1931 Country: USA

1. Early Life and Education
2. Career in Industry and Writing
3. Publishing Success
4. "The Book of the New Sun"
5. Later Works

Early Life and Education

Gene Wolfe, an American science fiction and fantasy author, was born in New York City into a merchant family. His childhood in Houston, Texas, sparked his early interest in speculative fiction. In 1949, he entered college and published his first short story, "The Case of the Vanishing Ghost," in the student magazine "The Commentator." Wolfe dropped out that same year and enlisted in the army, serving from 1952-1954, including during the Korean War.

Career in Industry and Writing

After his military service, Wolfe earned his college degree in industrial engineering from the University of Houston. From 1956 to 1972, he worked for Procter & Gamble, notably contributing to the development of Pringles potato chips. Post-retirement, he edited "Plant Engineering" magazine, the inspiration for one of his short story collections.

Publishing Success

In 1956, Wolfe married Rosemary Frances Deich. They raised four children and resided in Barrington, Illinois. His first published story, "The Dead Man," appeared in "Sir" magazine in 1965. Wolfe's short fiction became a regular feature in magazines and anthologies, including Damon Knight's "Orbit" series.

"The Book of the New Sun"

Wolfe's breakthrough came in the 1970s with the acclaimed "Cerberus" trilogy (1972) and the mystical "Peace" (1976). His unfinished "St. Catherine's Eve" novella (mid-1970s) formed the basis for the "Book of the New Sun" (1980-1983), a science fantasy tetralogy that garnered both critical and commercial success. This allowed Wolfe to leave his editorial position and become a full-time writer in 1984.

Later Works

In the mid-1980s, Wolfe embarked on the unfinished historical fiction cycle "Latro in the Mist," set during the Greco-Persian Wars. He also authored standalone novels like "Castleview" (1990), which transposed Arthurian legends into contemporary Illinois, and "The Wizard Knight" (2003-2004), an exploration of heroic fantasy. Wolfe's prolific short fiction output spans dozens of collections, one of which includes his poetry, with the poem "Computer Iterates the Great Cantos" (1977) earning him a Rhysling Award.