Frank M. Robinson

Born in Chicago in 1926, Frank M. Robinson became a distinctive voice in American science fiction, writing stories and novels that mixed big ideas with tension and pace. He is especially remembered for works including The Power, and for a career that moved easily between fiction, editing, and science-fiction scholarship.

Outside his fiction, he had an unusually varied life. Robinson worked as a speechwriter for Harvey Milk in San Francisco and was closely involved in that historic political moment, adding another dimension to a life already deeply connected to American cultural history.

He remained an admired figure in the science-fiction community for many years, not only as a writer but also as a fan, collector, and historian of the field. He died in 2014, leaving behind a body of work that still appeals to listeners who enjoy intelligent, fast-moving speculative fiction.