James Blish
James Blish
23 May 1921 – 30 July 1975 · From United States- Books
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About
Blish trained as a biologist at Rutgers and Columbia University, and spent 1942–1944 as a medical technician in the U.S. Army. After the war he became the science editor for the Pfizer Pharmaceutical Company. His first published story appeared in 1940, and his writing career progressed until he gave up his job to become a professional writer.
He married literary agent Virginia Kidd in 1947. He worked for the Tobacco Institute from 1962-1968. He later emigrated to England. Between 1967 and his death in 1975, he became the first author to write short story collections based on the TV series Star Trek.
In total, he wrote 11 volumes of short stories adapted from episodes of the series, as well as an original novel, Spock Must Die! in 1970. He died midway through writing Star Trek 12; his second wife, J. A. Lawrence, completed the book, and later completed the adaptations in the volume Mudd's Angels.
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Frequently asked questions
James Blish is widely recognized for his "Cities in Flight" series, a foundational work in science fiction that explores sociological and philosophical themes through a future history spanning millennia. He also gained significant recognition for his novel "A Case of Conscience," which won a Hugo Award.
The "Cities in Flight" series, while published out of chronological order, is best read in its internal chronological sequence: "They Shall Have Stars" (also known as "Year 2018!"), followed by "A Life for the Stars" (also known as "Giants in the Earth"), then "Earthman, Come Home," and finally "The Triumph of Time" (also known as "A Clash of Cymbals").
Yes, James Blish also wrote science fiction criticism under the pseudonym William Atheling Jr. This allowed him to offer candid and insightful critiques of the genre without his identity as a fiction writer influencing the reception of his reviews.
James Blish was notably the author who adapted many episodes of the original "Star Trek" television series into short story collections. These adaptations were crucial in expanding the show's universe for readers during its initial run.