Tom Purdom

Tom Purdom was an American science fiction writer, essayist, and music critic, born in New Haven, Connecticut, on April 19, 1936. He began publishing science fiction in 1957, and his first novel, I Want the Stars, appeared in 1964. Over the years he became closely associated with Philadelphia’s science fiction community and lived in Philadelphia for much of his life.

His work ranged from novels and short fiction to nonfiction, and he remained active for decades. The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction notes that his stories often centered on adventurous ideas and challenging worlds, while later summaries of his career highlight how long and steady his contribution to the field was. His novelette Fossil Games was a finalist for the Hugo Award in 2000.

Purdom was also involved with the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association as a charter member and served in leadership roles there in the 1970s. Alongside his fiction, he wrote music criticism beginning in the late 1980s. He died on January 14, 2024, at age 87.