Kris Neville

Kris Neville was an American science fiction writer whose full name was Kris Ottman Neville. Born on May 9, 1925, in Missouri and later associated with California, he began publishing science fiction in 1949 and became known for smart, economical stories that often explored social behavior, technology, and everyday people caught in strange situations.

His best-known work is generally considered Bettyann, a 1951 novella that went on to earn a lasting reputation among science fiction readers. Neville published novels and short fiction across the 1950s and later decades, while also working for many years as a technical writer specializing in plastics technology.

That blend of imaginative fiction and practical scientific writing gives his work a distinctive feel: speculative, clear-eyed, and grounded. Though not as widely remembered as some of his contemporaries, he remains a rewarding discovery for listeners interested in classic science fiction beyond the biggest names.