author
Reginald Bretnor
1911–1992
A witty science fiction writer and editor, he became especially known for humorous short fiction, including the pun-filled Ferdinand Feghoot tales published under the name Grendel Briarton. His work also ranged beyond fiction into essays and commentary on war, culture, and public affairs.
1 Audiobook
Sugar Plum
by Reginald Bretnor
About the author
Born Alfred Reginald Kahn in Vladivostok on July 30, 1911, he later settled in the United States and eventually changed his name to Reginald Bretnor. He built a varied career as a writer, editor, and anthologist, publishing across several decades from the mid-20th century onward.
Bretnor is best remembered in science fiction for clever, often comic short stories with twist endings. Among his best-known creations were the eccentric inventor Papa Schimmelhorn and the long-running Ferdinand Feghoot stories, famous for steering elaborate plots toward outrageous puns.
He also wrote nonfiction on military and social subjects, which gave his bibliography an unusual range compared with many genre writers. That mix of sharp humor, speculative imagination, and serious side interests helped make him a distinctive figure in American science fiction.