Basil Wells

Born in Pennsylvania in 1912, he wrote across several popular genres and sometimes used the pen name Gene Ellerman. Reference sources agree that his first published story, "Rebirth of Man," appeared in Super Science Stories in 1940, launching a long career in short fiction.

He is best remembered by science fiction readers for his regular appearances in the pulp magazines of the 1940s and 1950s, especially Planet Stories. His work was later gathered into collections including Planets of Adventure and Doorways to Space, both of which helped preserve the energetic, imaginative style that made his magazine fiction memorable.

Basil Wells died on December 23, 2003. Though never as famous as some of his pulp-era peers, he remains a rewarding discovery for readers who enjoy classic speculative fiction with a sense of wonder and old-school adventure.