author
Tom Purdom
b. 1936
A longtime voice in science fiction and arts journalism, he wrote with curiosity about future cities, culture, and human change. His career stretched from magazine fiction in the 1950s to later stories that earned major genre attention.
4 Audiobooks
The man who wouldn't sign up
by Tom Purdom
The warriors
by Tom Purdom
The Green Beret
by Tom Purdom
Sordman the Protector
by Tom Purdom
About the author
Born in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1936, Tom Purdom was an American writer known for both science fiction and nonfiction. He began publishing science fiction in the 1950s, and over the years built a career that also included music criticism, arts writing, and freelance journalism, much of it connected with Philadelphia.
His books include early novels such as I Want the Stars, while his shorter fiction remained important throughout his career. One of his best-known later stories, Fossil Games, was nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Novelette, showing how strongly his work continued to connect with readers decades after his debut.
Purdom was also active in the professional science fiction community, including service with SFWA. He died on January 14, 2024, leaving behind a body of work that blended speculative ideas with a lively interest in cities, society, music, and the arts.