Frederik Pohl

Frederik Pohl (1919–2013) was an American science-fiction writer, editor, and lifelong fan whose career stretched from his first published poem in 1937 to his final novel, All the Lives He Led, in 2011. He also edited several influential science-fiction magazines and anthologies, helping shape the field both on the page and behind the scenes.

Pohl frequently collaborated with Cyril M. Kornbluth, producing stories and novels including The Space Merchants, a sharp satire of a world dominated by advertising. His solo work ranged widely, but he is especially celebrated for Gateway (1977), which won the Hugo, Locus, Nebula, and John W. Campbell Memorial awards for best novel.

Across more than seven decades, Pohl combined imaginative storytelling with a keen interest in politics, economics, and the social consequences of scientific progress. His work helped establish science fiction as a powerful way to explore the choices and challenges facing the modern world.