Walter S. Tevis

Born in San Francisco on February 28, 1928, Walter Tevis grew up partly in Kentucky and went on to become an American novelist, short story writer, and screenwriter. He is remembered for a small but remarkably influential body of work, including The Hustler, The Color of Money, The Man Who Fell to Earth, Mockingbird, and The Queen’s Gambit.

Several of his books reached wide audiences through screen adaptations, and that helped keep his work in the public eye long after his death. His fiction often centers on gifted outsiders and people struggling with addiction, ambition, or isolation, themes that give even his most fantastical stories a very human pull.

Tevis died in New York City in 1984. Though he published only a handful of novels, his reputation has continued to grow, especially as new readers discover the cool, clear style and emotional depth of his work.