Ben Bova

Born in Philadelphia in 1932, Ben Bova became one of the best-known writers and editors in modern science fiction. He wrote more than 120 works of fiction and nonfiction over a career that lasted decades, and he was especially admired for stories that treated science and space travel seriously while still keeping the drama personal and accessible.

He also shaped the genre behind the scenes. Bova edited Analog after John W. Campbell Jr.'s death and later worked as editorial director of Omni. During his career he won six Hugo Awards, and he served as president of both the Science Fiction Writers of America and the National Space Society.

Many readers know him for his long-running Grand Tour novels, which imagine humanity spreading across the solar system. He remained a strong public advocate for space exploration throughout his life, and his work kept returning to the question that drove so much of his fiction: what kind of future people might build if they keep reaching outward. Ben Bova died in 2020.