Stephen Arr

Stephen Arr was the pen name of Stephen Alexander Rynas, an American writer born in New York City on October 28, 1921, and later associated with Gaithersburg, Maryland, where he died on August 26, 2012.

He wrote speculative fiction and essays, and his science fiction appeared during the 1950s in well-known pulp and digest magazines. Sources available here consistently connect him with a small but memorable body of short fiction from that period, including stories such as Mr. President and Chain of Command.

Although he was never a household name, Arr has remained visible through reprints, audiobook recordings, and genre bibliographies. That lasting interest suggests the appeal of his fiction lies in its clear storytelling, imaginative premises, and classic magazine-era feel.