Bill Baldwin
Encyclopedia
Bill Baldwin (born 1935) is an American science fiction writer. He writes militaristic space opera. His main series is about a male protagonist named Wilf Ansor Brim.
He graduated from The Mercersburg Academy
and the University of Pittsburgh
, where he earned a B.A.
in Journalism and a Master of Letters degree. He served as a Lieutenant at the U.S. Air Force Missile Test Center, Foreign Technology Division, Cape Canaveral, Florida
, supporting Project Mercury
as Chief of the Reports Division. Later, Baldwin served as a contractor for the NASA Manned Spacecraft Center.
Until recently, he has been the president of the Wooden Boat Association of north Texas. He is also currently the managing editor of the magazine The Brass Bell of the Chris-Craft Antique Boat Club. He and his wife, Pat, enjoy life in Dallas, Texas
, and Bemus Point, New York
, with two cats, Bunthorne and Musetta.
This series began in 1985 but was later reprinted in "Director's Cut Special Editions" by Timberwolf Press.
The Turning Tide is a sequel to The Defiance and was scheduled to be released in 2008. However, the author did not manage to complete it in time, and put an official apology on his site. On November the 1st 2011, the book was reported completed and sent to the publisher.
Several books of the original Helmsman saga, The Siege, The Defenders and The Defiance in particular, appear to reproduce (sometimes word for word, sometimes paraphrasing) large sections of a WWII autobiography titled The Big Show (written by Pierre Clostermann
, published 1948, translated into English by Oliver Berthoud (copyright 1951 by Random House, first printing, Time/Life Book series: Wings of War: The Big Show). The Defenders pages 79–83 (Warner Books paperback, 1992) resemble in form, chronological order and paraphrase almost the complete chapter titled "Radar At Dawn" from The Big Show.
Baldwin's work contains allusions to other science fiction works. For example, Galactic Convoy mentions a planet named Throon (the capital world in the Star Kings books). Also, an attack against a space fort at the end of The Mercenaries contains several allusions to the attack on the Death Star.
He graduated from The Mercersburg Academy
Mercersburg Academy
Mercersburg Academy is an independent, coeducational boarding school for grades 9-12 located in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, United States. The school's mission is:...
and the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
, where he earned a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Journalism and a Master of Letters degree. He served as a Lieutenant at the U.S. Air Force Missile Test Center, Foreign Technology Division, Cape Canaveral, Florida
Cape Canaveral, Florida
Cape Canaveral is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The population was 8,829 at the 2000 census. As of 2008, the estimated population according to the U.S. Census Bureau was 10,147...
, supporting Project Mercury
Project Mercury
In January 1960 NASA awarded Western Electric Company a contract for the Mercury tracking network. The value of the contract was over $33 million. Also in January, McDonnell delivered the first production-type Mercury spacecraft, less than a year after award of the formal contract. On February 12,...
as Chief of the Reports Division. Later, Baldwin served as a contractor for the NASA Manned Spacecraft Center.
Until recently, he has been the president of the Wooden Boat Association of north Texas. He is also currently the managing editor of the magazine The Brass Bell of the Chris-Craft Antique Boat Club. He and his wife, Pat, enjoy life in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, and Bemus Point, New York
Bemus Point, New York
Bemus Point is a village in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. The village is within the Town of Ellery and located along the eastern shore of Chautauqua Lake. The population was 340 at the 2000 census...
, with two cats, Bunthorne and Musetta.
The Helmsman Saga
- The Helmsman (1985)
- Galactic Convoy (1987)
- The Trophy (1990)
- The Mercenaries (1991)
- The Defenders (1992)
- The Siege (1994)
- The Defiance (1996)
This series began in 1985 but was later reprinted in "Director's Cut Special Editions" by Timberwolf Press.
The Turning Tide is a sequel to The Defiance and was scheduled to be released in 2008. However, the author did not manage to complete it in time, and put an official apology on his site. On November the 1st 2011, the book was reported completed and sent to the publisher.
Several books of the original Helmsman saga, The Siege, The Defenders and The Defiance in particular, appear to reproduce (sometimes word for word, sometimes paraphrasing) large sections of a WWII autobiography titled The Big Show (written by Pierre Clostermann
Pierre Clostermann
Pierre Clostermann was a French flying ace, author, engineer, politician and sporting fisherman. Over his flying career he was awarded the Grand-Croix of the French Légion d'Honneur, French Croix de Guerre, British DFC and bar, Distinguished Service Cross , Silver Star , and the Air Medal .-Early...
, published 1948, translated into English by Oliver Berthoud (copyright 1951 by Random House, first printing, Time/Life Book series: Wings of War: The Big Show). The Defenders pages 79–83 (Warner Books paperback, 1992) resemble in form, chronological order and paraphrase almost the complete chapter titled "Radar At Dawn" from The Big Show.
Baldwin's work contains allusions to other science fiction works. For example, Galactic Convoy mentions a planet named Throon (the capital world in the Star Kings books). Also, an attack against a space fort at the end of The Mercenaries contains several allusions to the attack on the Death Star.