Fritz Leiber

Born in Chicago on December 24, 1910, Fritz Leiber grew up in a theatrical family and toured with his parents’ Shakespeare company in 1928. He later studied at the University of Chicago, graduating with honors in 1932, and worked as a staff writer for an encyclopedia publisher before establishing himself as a full-time author.

Leiber’s work ranged across fantasy, horror, and science fiction. His Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser stories helped shape modern sword-and-sorcery fiction, while novels such as The Big Time explored time travel, war, and identity with unusual imagination. His novella “Ill Met in Lankhmar” won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards.

He continued writing and receiving recognition throughout his career, producing influential short stories, novels, and essays. Fritz Leiber died in San Francisco on September 5, 1992.