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Harry HarrisonScience fiction writer
Date of Birth: 12.03.1925
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Biography of Harry Harrison
- Early Career and Military Service
- Entry into Science Fiction and Comics
- First Publications and Success
- International Travels and Literary Works
- Later Career and Contributions
- Legacy and Recognition
Biography of Harry Harrison
Harry Harrison was born on March 12, 1925, in Stamford, Connecticut. He was the only son of Leo Harrison and Ria Kiriassoff. Initially named Henry Maxwell Dempsey, his name was officially changed to Harry Harrison (also known as Harrison). He spent his childhood in Connecticut and New York, mostly on his own. At the age of seven, he became an avid science fiction fan and read everything from Doctor Sevage to K.S. Forrester.
Early Career and Military Service
By the age of 13, Harrison had become an active enthusiast and wrote his first reader review in a science fiction magazine. In 1943, he was drafted into the military and served for three years, eventually achieving the rank of sergeant in the United States Air Force. After the war, Harrison attended Hunter College in New York, where he studied fine arts under his mentor John Bloomsfield. This laid the foundation for his first career as an artist and illustrator.
Entry into Science Fiction and Comics
While at art school, Harrison met artist Wally Wood and together they started producing comics. Harrison also opened an advertising graphics agency, worked as a lecturer for literary and comic magazines, and wrote texts for the Flash Gordon series for ten years. Through his involvement in the science fiction club "Hydra," he made contacts with authors such as Fletcher Pratt, Frederik Brown, Isaac Asimov, and Damon Knight.
First Publications and Success
In 1951, Harrison published his first science fiction essay, "Rock Diver," in "Worlds Beyond" magazine. He also wrote adventure stories for various publishers. In 1954, after his first short-lived marriage ended, Harrison married Joan Merkel and settled in Cuernavaca, Mexico with her son Todd. Writing became his primary focus from 1956 onwards. He attended the WorldCon in England in 1957 and stayed in Bromley and London for a while. The following winter, the family spent time on the island of Capri in Italy before returning to Long Beach, New York, where their daughter Moira was born in the autumn of 1958.
International Travels and Literary Works
Harrison and his family lived in Denmark for six years before moving to England and eventually purchasing a home in California. His first published novel was "Deathworld" in 1960, which was followed by a trilogy featuring the character Jason dinAlt. The release of the ten-volume "Stainless Steel Rat" series in 1961 further solidified his success. Harrison's unique blend of humor and science fiction became a trademark in many of his subsequent works.
Later Career and Contributions
Harrison went on to publish numerous standalone novels, anthologies, and collaborative works with other science fiction authors. He served as the vice president of the Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA) from 1968 to 1969 and founded the organization World SF, which advocates for the interests of science fiction authors. In 1978, Harrison was elected as its chairman. He is also a full member of the Universal Esperanto-Association, which supports the use of Esperanto as a global language. Harrison has settled in Ireland near Dublin but continues to travel and attend science fiction conferences.
Legacy and Recognition
Throughout his career, Harry Harrison published around fifty novels and contributed to various science fiction anthologies. His works have been adapted into films, such as "Soylent Green" based on his novel "Make Room! Make Room!" Harrison remains an influential figure in the science fiction genre and continues to be celebrated at international conferences and events. In 1990, he attended the WorldCon in The Hague and was an honorary guest at TRINITY, the 1999 European Union of Science Fiction Societies convention in Dortmund.
