Kendell Foster Crossen

Born in Ohio on July 25, 1910, Kendell Foster Crossen became a versatile American writer whose work reached readers in pulp magazines, detective fiction, and science fiction. He published under several names, including M. E. Chaber, Richard Foster, and Ken Crossen, which helped him work across different corners of the magazine and paperback world.

He is especially known as the creator of the Green Lama, a distinctive pulp hero who also appeared in comics and radio adaptations. Under the name M. E. Chaber, he also wrote the Milo March novels, a successful series blending mystery, espionage, and humor.

Crossen spent decades as a dependable professional writer and editor, with a body of work that shows how comfortably he could shift from crime to the fantastic without losing his pace or sense of fun. He died in Los Angeles on November 29, 1981, but his books still offer a lively glimpse into the rich world of mid-century popular fiction.