Philip José Farmer

Born in North Terre Haute, Indiana, on January 26, 1918, Philip José Farmer grew into one of the most original American science fiction and fantasy writers of the 20th century. He wrote dozens of novels and short stories, and he is especially remembered for the Riverworld series and the World of Tiers books.

Farmer earned early attention for fiction that challenged the conventions of his field, especially through its open treatment of religion and sexuality. That willingness to take risks helped set him apart, and over time he built a reputation as a writer who loved mixing literary play, pulp adventure, history, and myth in surprising ways.

He spent much of his life in Peoria, Illinois, and continued publishing across several decades before his death on February 25, 2009. Readers still return to his work for its restless imagination, strange energy, and sense that almost any idea—however wild—could lead to a memorable story.