About
Brian Aldiss, born in 1925 in Norfolk, is a major figure in British science fiction. After serving in Southeast Asia during World War II, he became a literary critic and then a novelist. His first novel, Non-Stop (1958), explores the generation starship theme. He rose to prominence in the 1960s with works like Hothouse (1962), winner of the Hugo Award, and participated in the British New Wave of SF. His Helliconia trilogy (1982-1985) is considered his masterpiece. He is also known for his short story 'Supertoys Last All Summer Long' (1969), adapted into film by Steven Spielberg, and for his critical history of SF, Billion Year Spree (1973). Appointed OBE in 2005, he died in 2017.
* 1925-08-18 — † 2017-08-19
Major works
- Non-Stop (1958)novel
- Hothouse (1962)novel
- Supertoys Last All Summer Long (1969)short story
- Billion Year Spree (1973)non-fiction
- Helliconia Spring (1982)novel
Key milestones
- 1943Served in the Royal Corps of Signals during World War II.
- 2004Inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame.
- 2005Appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
Themes
Generation starshipsEvolution and biologyAlien civilizationsSocial critiqueHistory of science fiction
Sources: literature.britishcouncil.org · britannica.com