Frank M. Robinson

Born in Chicago on August 9, 1926, Frank M. Robinson built a career that stretched across science fiction, editing, journalism, and screen work. Early in his working life he was a copy boy and later worked at Ziff-Davis, and over time he became known as a versatile professional who could move between pulp-era magazine culture and mainstream publishing.

As a writer, he is especially remembered for science fiction and techno-thrillers, including The Power and The Dark Beyond the Stars. He also became respected as a historian and collector of the field, helping preserve and interpret science fiction’s magazine-era legacy for later readers.

Robinson’s life connected him to wider cultural history as well: he served as a speechwriter for Harvey Milk in San Francisco. He died on June 30, 2014, leaving behind a body of work that blends suspense, speculative imagination, and a clear affection for the history of popular fiction.