Howard Browne

Born in Omaha, Nebraska, Howard Browne was an American writer and editor whose career stretched across mystery fiction, science fiction, film, and television. Reliable sources found during this search identify him as being born on April 15, 1908, and dying on October 28, 1999; some library records use 1907, so the exact birth year is listed inconsistently.

He worked for Ziff-Davis on Amazing Stories and Fantastic Adventures, first as managing editor and later as editor, while also publishing fiction under several pseudonyms, including John Evans, Alexander Blade, Lawrence Chandler, Ivar Jorgensen, and Lee Francis. As a novelist, he is especially remembered for the hard-boiled detective Paul Pine and for the noir novel The Taste of Ashes.

Later, he wrote for film and television, with credits connected to series such as 77 Sunset Strip, Bus Stop, and Mannix. That range—from pulp magazines to mystery novels to screenwriting—helps explain why his work still appeals to readers who enjoy smart, fast-moving popular fiction.