Magnus Ludens

Magnus Ludens appears to be a very obscure science fiction author, and reliable biographical details are hard to confirm. The clearest records available point to two stories: The Long, Silvery Day, first published in Galaxy magazine in April 1962, and My Lady Selene, published in Galaxy in April 1963.

Both stories have been preserved by Project Gutenberg, which has helped keep this otherwise elusive author in circulation. Based on those works, the writing leans toward classic mid-century science fiction with a light, imaginative touch, mixing everyday life with cosmic or fantastical ideas.

Because so little verified personal information is available, the author remains something of a mystery. That mystery is part of the appeal: the name survives mainly through a pair of memorable magazine stories rather than a well-documented public life.