Richard Wilson

Born in Huntington Station, New York, on September 23, 1920, Richard Wilson became part of the early American science fiction scene as a member of the Futurians, the influential fan and writer group that included several major genre figures. He served during World War II and later built a career that included journalism and university public relations as well as fiction.

Wilson wrote science fiction with a light touch and a thoughtful sense of irony. He is best known for stories such as Mother to the World, which won the Nebula Award, and for a body of shorter work that earned lasting admiration from readers of magazines and anthologies. His fiction often paired imaginative premises with humor and a clear-eyed view of people.

He also worked at Syracuse University, where he helped strengthen interest in science fiction archives and literary collections. Wilson died in Syracuse, New York, on March 29, 1987, but his stories remain part of the rich mid-century tradition that helped shape modern science fiction.