C. L. Morris

author

C. L. Morris

A pioneering voice in early science fiction and fantasy, this American writer helped open the door for women in speculative fiction. Her vivid stories of characters like Jirel of Joiry and Northwest Smith still feel bold and imaginative today.

1 Audiobook

Common trees of Pennsylvania

Common trees of Pennsylvania

by Joseph E. Ibberson, J. E. Aughenbaugh, A. B. Mickalitis, C. L. Morris

About the author

Writing as C. L. Moore, Catherine Lucille Moore was an American science fiction and fantasy author born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on January 24, 1911. She began publishing in the pulp magazines of the 1930s and quickly stood out for her atmospheric style and adventurous imagination.

She is especially remembered for creating Jirel of Joiry, one of fantasy's earliest major female sword-and-sorcery heroes, and Northwest Smith, a spacefaring rogue who appeared in many of her best-known stories. Moore became one of the first women to gain major recognition in science fiction and fantasy, and her work influenced generations of writers who followed.

Later, she collaborated closely with fellow writer Henry Kuttner, whom she married, and continued producing fiction that blended science fiction, fantasy, and psychological depth. She died on April 4, 1987, but her reputation as a trailblazer in speculative fiction remains strong.