Kris Neville

Kris Ottman Neville (May 9, 1925–December 23, 1980) was an American science fiction writer whose first published genre story, “The Hand from the Stars,” appeared in 1949. He became a regular contributor to science fiction magazines, including The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, and sometimes wrote fantasy under the pseudonym Henderson Starke.

Neville was known for his clear, controlled prose and for developing seemingly familiar ideas into thought-provoking stories. His most famous work, “Bettyann,” was published in 1951 and is widely regarded as a classic of science fiction. His fiction was collected in Mission: Manstop and, after his death, in The Science Fiction of Kris Neville.

Away from fiction, Neville worked for many years as a technical writer specializing in plastics technology and co-authored several books on epoxy resins. Though he published less fiction later in life, his work has continued to attract readers and renewed critical attention.