author
Vernon L. McCain
A lively voice in mid-century science fiction fandom, this Idaho-born writer produced stories, fan writing, and a remarkable stream of letters before his life was cut short at just 30. His work captures the energy of the 1940s and 1950s magazine era, when science fiction was built as much in fanzines and correspondence columns as in fiction itself.
1 Audiobook
The Hitch Hikers
by Vernon L. McCain
About the author
Born in Idaho on November 2, 1927, Vernon Leroy McCain was an American science fiction writer and fan active in the Pacific Northwest. Reference sources identify him as both a fiction writer and an energetic participant in fandom, using the names Vernon L. McCain, Vernon McCain, and V. L. McCain.
He became especially known as a fan writer and a prolific correspondent whose letters appeared widely in professional magazines and fanzines. He was associated with the Eugene Science-Fantasy Society and was a member of FAPA, the Fantasy Amateur Press Association, serving as its president in 1956.
McCain also published science fiction, and he is remembered in part for stories such as The Hitch Hikers. His career was brief but vivid: he died on October 6, 1958, and is still noted today for the enthusiasm and community spirit he brought to early science fiction fandom.