Something in the Water IV: the Bornying

As we’ve noted before, The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction‘s excellent On This Day function makes for fascinating reading and, occasionally throws up days with an infeasibly high level of cool people being born. And, at the risk of disagreeing with the heir of Elendil, it is, in fact, this day.

For this day, 7th July, saw the birth, in 1907, of a fellow of some small influence on the SF world – you might have heard of him – one Robert Anson Heinlein. Winner of four Hugo Awards for best novel: 1956 for Double Star, 1960 for Starship Troopers, 1962 for Stranger in a Strange Land and 1967 for The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.

In 1932, Thomas Joseph Bassler was born – he wrote two exceptional SF novels under the pen name T. J. Bass: Half Past Human and The Godwhale, both shortlisted for the Nebula Award.

Then in 1968, two of modern SF’s most original and compelling voices were born: Tricia Sullivan, Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning author of Dreaming in Smoke and Maul, among many others; and Jeff VanderMeer, multi-award-winning author, editor and anthologist.

Quite a roster for a single day. There must have been something in the water . . .