George Alec Effinger
Encyclopedia
George Alec Effinger was an American
science fiction author, born in 1947 in Cleveland, Ohio
.
class of 1970 and had three stories in the first Clarion anthology. His first published story was "The Eight-Thirty to Nine Slot" in Fantastic
in 1971. During his early period, he also published under a variety of pseudonym
s.
His first novel, What Entropy Means to Me (1972), was nominated for the Nebula Award
. He achieved his greatest success with the trilogy of Marîd Audran novels set in a 22nd century Middle East
, with cybernetic implants and modules allowing individuals to change their personalities or bodies. The novels are in fact set in a thinly veiled version of the French Quarter
of New Orleans, telling the fictionalized stories of the transvestites and other people Effinger knew in the bars of that city. The three published novels were When Gravity Fails
(1987), A Fire in the Sun
(1989), and The Exile Kiss
(1991). He began a fourth Budayeen novel, Word of Night, but completed only the first two chapters. Those two chapters were reprinted in the anthology Budayeen Nights
(2003) which has all of Effinger's short material from the Marîd Audran setting.
His novelette, "Schrödinger's Kitten
" (1988), received both the Hugo
and the Nebula Award
, as well as the Japanese Seiun Award
. A collection of stories was published posthumously in 2005 entitled George Alec Effinger Live! From Planet Earth and includes the complete stories Effinger wrote under the pseudonym "O. Niemand" and many of Effinger's best-known stories. Each O. Niemand story is a pastiche in the voice of a different major American writer (Flannery O'Conner, Damon Runyon
, Mark Twain
, etc.), all set on the asteroid city of Springfield. ("Niemand" is from the German word for "nobody", and the initial O was intended by Effinger as a visual pun for Zero, and possibly also as a reference to the author O. Henry.)
Other stories he wrote were the series of Maureen (Muffy) Birnbaum parodies, which placed a preppy
into a variety of science fictional, fantasy, and horror scenarios.
He made brief forays into writing comic books in the mid-1970s and again in the mid-1980s, including the first issue of a series of his own creation entitled Neil and Buzz in Space & Time about two fictional astronauts who travel to the edge of the universe to find it contains nothing but an ocean planet with a replica of a small New Jersey town on its only island. The first issue was the only issue, and the story ended on a cliffhanger. It was released by Fantagraphics. He also wrote a story based in the Zork
universe.
. Because Louisiana
's system of law descends from the Napoleonic Code
rather than English Common Law, the possibility existed that copyrights to Effinger's works and characters might revert to his creditors, in this case the hospital. However, no representative of the hospital showed up at the bankruptcy hearing, and Effinger regained the rights to all his intellectual property.
Effinger suffered a hearing loss of about 70% due to childhood infections, only helped about the last 10 years of his life by hearing aids. He did not drive most of his life, and only got a drivers license at about age 39 for check-cashing purposes.
Effinger met his first wife Diana in the 1960s. He was married from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s to artist Beverly K. Effinger
, and for a few years shortly before his death to fellow science fiction author Barbara Hambly
. He died in New Orleans, Louisiana
.
Nick of Time series
Marîd Audran series
Planet of the Apes
Television series adaptations
Collections
Short stories
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
science fiction author, born in 1947 in Cleveland, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
Writing career
Effinger was a part of the ClarionClarion Workshop
Clarion is a six-week workshop for new and aspiring science fiction and fantasy writers. Originally an outgrowth of Knight and Wilhelm's Milford Writers' Conference, held at their home in Milford, Pennsylvania, USA, it was founded in 1968 by Robin Scott Wilson at Clarion State College in...
class of 1970 and had three stories in the first Clarion anthology. His first published story was "The Eight-Thirty to Nine Slot" in Fantastic
Fantastic (magazine)
Fantastic was an American digest-size fantasy and science fiction magazine, published from 1952 to 1980. It was founded by Ziff-Davis as a fantasy companion to Amazing Stories. Early sales were good, and Ziff-Davis quickly decided to switch Amazing from pulp format to digest, and to cease...
in 1971. During his early period, he also published under a variety of pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
s.
His first novel, What Entropy Means to Me (1972), was nominated for the Nebula Award
Nebula Award
The Nebula Award is given each year by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America , for the best science fiction/fantasy fiction published in the United States during the previous year...
. He achieved his greatest success with the trilogy of Marîd Audran novels set in a 22nd century Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, with cybernetic implants and modules allowing individuals to change their personalities or bodies. The novels are in fact set in a thinly veiled version of the French Quarter
French Quarter
The French Quarter, also known as Vieux Carré, is the oldest neighborhood in the city of New Orleans. When New Orleans was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the city was originally centered on the French Quarter, or the Vieux Carré as it was known then...
of New Orleans, telling the fictionalized stories of the transvestites and other people Effinger knew in the bars of that city. The three published novels were When Gravity Fails
When Gravity Fails
When Gravity Fails is a cyberpunk science fiction novel by George Alec Effinger published in 1986. It was nominated for the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1987 and the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1988...
(1987), A Fire in the Sun
A Fire in the Sun
A Fire in the Sun is a cyberpunk science fiction novel by American writer George Alec Effinger, published in 1989. It is the second novel in the three-book Marîd Audran series, following the events of When Gravity Fails, and concentrating on Marîd's experience as he becomes the main lieutnant of...
(1989), and The Exile Kiss
The Exile Kiss
The Exile Kiss is a cyberpunk science fiction novel by George Alec Effinger published in 1991. It is the third novel in the three-book Marîd Audran series, following the events of A Fire in the Sun...
(1991). He began a fourth Budayeen novel, Word of Night, but completed only the first two chapters. Those two chapters were reprinted in the anthology Budayeen Nights
Budayeen Nights
Budayeen Nights is a collection of cyberpunk science fiction short stories and novelettes by George Alec Effinger, published in 2003. The work consists of nine individual stories by Effinger, with a foreword and story introductions by Barbara Hambly...
(2003) which has all of Effinger's short material from the Marîd Audran setting.
His novelette, "Schrödinger's Kitten
Schrödinger's Kitten
"Schrödinger's Kitten" is a 1988 novelette by George Alec Effinger, which won both a Hugo Award and a Nebula Award, as well as the Japanese Seiun Award. It was later expanded into a novel, published in 1992 under the same name. It was originally published in Omni.The story utilizes a form of the...
" (1988), received both the Hugo
Hugo Award
The Hugo Awards are given annually for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was officially named the Science Fiction Achievement Awards...
and the Nebula Award
Nebula Award
The Nebula Award is given each year by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America , for the best science fiction/fantasy fiction published in the United States during the previous year...
, as well as the Japanese Seiun Award
Seiun Award
The is a Japanese science fiction award for the best science fiction published in Japan during the preceding year, as voted by attendees of the Japan Science Fiction Convention. "Seiun" is the Japanese word for "nebula", but the award is not related to the American Nebula Award. It was named after...
. A collection of stories was published posthumously in 2005 entitled George Alec Effinger Live! From Planet Earth and includes the complete stories Effinger wrote under the pseudonym "O. Niemand" and many of Effinger's best-known stories. Each O. Niemand story is a pastiche in the voice of a different major American writer (Flannery O'Conner, Damon Runyon
Damon Runyon
Alfred Damon Runyon was an American newspaperman and writer.He was best known for his short stories celebrating the world of Broadway in New York City that grew out of the Prohibition era. To New Yorkers of his generation, a "Damon Runyon character" evoked a distinctive social type from the...
, Mark Twain
Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens , better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist...
, etc.), all set on the asteroid city of Springfield. ("Niemand" is from the German word for "nobody", and the initial O was intended by Effinger as a visual pun for Zero, and possibly also as a reference to the author O. Henry.)
Other stories he wrote were the series of Maureen (Muffy) Birnbaum parodies, which placed a preppy
Preppy
Preppy, preppie, or prep refers to a modern, widespread United States clique, often considered a subculture...
into a variety of science fictional, fantasy, and horror scenarios.
He made brief forays into writing comic books in the mid-1970s and again in the mid-1980s, including the first issue of a series of his own creation entitled Neil and Buzz in Space & Time about two fictional astronauts who travel to the edge of the universe to find it contains nothing but an ocean planet with a replica of a small New Jersey town on its only island. The first issue was the only issue, and the story ended on a cliffhanger. It was released by Fantagraphics. He also wrote a story based in the Zork
Zork
Zork was one of the first interactive fiction computer games and an early descendant of Colossal Cave Adventure. The first version of Zork was written in 1977–1979 on a DEC PDP-10 computer by Tim Anderson, Marc Blank, Bruce Daniels, and Dave Lebling, and implemented in the MDL programming language...
universe.
Personal life
Throughout his life, Effinger suffered from health problems. These resulted in enormous medical bills which he was unable to pay, resulting in a declaration of bankruptcyBankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
. Because Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
's system of law descends from the Napoleonic Code
Napoleonic code
The Napoleonic Code — or Code Napoléon — is the French civil code, established under Napoléon I in 1804. The code forbade privileges based on birth, allowed freedom of religion, and specified that government jobs go to the most qualified...
rather than English Common Law, the possibility existed that copyrights to Effinger's works and characters might revert to his creditors, in this case the hospital. However, no representative of the hospital showed up at the bankruptcy hearing, and Effinger regained the rights to all his intellectual property.
Effinger suffered a hearing loss of about 70% due to childhood infections, only helped about the last 10 years of his life by hearing aids. He did not drive most of his life, and only got a drivers license at about age 39 for check-cashing purposes.
Effinger met his first wife Diana in the 1960s. He was married from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s to artist Beverly K. Effinger
Beverly K. Effinger
Beverly K. Effinger is a United States painter.She grew up around Princeton, New Jersey. She married writer George Alec Effinger and moved to New Orleans in 1976. She studied at the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts with M. Dell Weller and Auseklis Ozols...
, and for a few years shortly before his death to fellow science fiction author Barbara Hambly
Barbara Hambly
Barbara Hambly is an award-winning and prolific American novelist and screenwriter within the genres of fantasy, science fiction, mystery, and historical fiction...
. He died in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
.
Works
Novels (non-series)- What Entropy Means to Me (1972)
- Relatives (1973)
- Nightmare Blue (1975) (with Gardner DozoisGardner DozoisGardner Raymond Dozois is an American science fiction author and editor. He was editor of Asimov's Science Fiction magazine from 1984 to 2004...
) - Felicia (1976)
- Those Gentle Voices: A Promethean Romance of the Spaceways (1976)
- Death in Florence (1978) (aka Utopia 3)
- Heroics (1979)
- The Wolves of Memory (1981)
- Shadow Money (1988)
- The Red Tape War (1990) (with Mike ResnickMike ResnickMichael Diamond Resnick , better known by his published name Mike Resnick, is an American science fiction author. He was executive editor of Jim Baen's Universe.-Biography:...
and Jack L. ChalkerJack L. ChalkerJack Laurence Chalker was an American science fiction author. Chalker was also a Baltimore City Schools history teacher in Maryland for 12 years, retiring in 1978 to write full-time...
) - The Zork Chronicles (1990)
- Look Away (1990) (novella)
- Schrödinger's Kitten (1992)
- Trinity: Hope Sacrifice Unity
- The League of Dragons: A Castle Falkenstein Novel (1998)
Nick of Time series
- The Nick of Time (1985)
- The Bird of Time (1986)
Marîd Audran series
- When Gravity FailsWhen Gravity FailsWhen Gravity Fails is a cyberpunk science fiction novel by George Alec Effinger published in 1986. It was nominated for the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1987 and the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1988...
(1987) - A Fire in the SunA Fire in the SunA Fire in the Sun is a cyberpunk science fiction novel by American writer George Alec Effinger, published in 1989. It is the second novel in the three-book Marîd Audran series, following the events of When Gravity Fails, and concentrating on Marîd's experience as he becomes the main lieutnant of...
(1989) - The Exile KissThe Exile KissThe Exile Kiss is a cyberpunk science fiction novel by George Alec Effinger published in 1991. It is the third novel in the three-book Marîd Audran series, following the events of A Fire in the Sun...
(1991)- The Audran Sequence (omnibus)
- Budayeen NightsBudayeen NightsBudayeen Nights is a collection of cyberpunk science fiction short stories and novelettes by George Alec Effinger, published in 2003. The work consists of nine individual stories by Effinger, with a foreword and story introductions by Barbara Hambly...
(short stories, 2003)
Planet of the Apes
Planet of the Apes (TV series)
Planet of the Apes was a short-lived American science fiction television series that aired on Friday evenings at 8:00 PM Eastern/7:00 PM Central on CBS in 1974. The series starred Roddy McDowall, Ron Harper, and James Naughton, Mark Lenard and Booth Colman...
Television series adaptations
- Man the Fugitive (1974)
- Escape to Tomorrow (1975)
- Journey Into Terror (1975)
- Lord of the Apes (1976)
Collections
- Mixed Feelings (1974)
- Irrational Numbers (1976)
- Dirty Tricks (1978)
- Idle Pleasures (1983) (science fiction sports stories)
- Author's Choice Monthly Issue 1: The Old Funny Stuff (1989)
- Maureen Birnbaum, Barbarian SwordspersonMaureen Birnbaum, Barbarian SwordspersonMaureen Birnbaum, Barbarian Swordsperson is a 1993 anthology by George Alec Effinger, with cover and interior illustrations by Ken Kelly. They collect all of his stories about Maureen 'Muffy' Birnbaum, a Jewish American Princess who is magically teleported to various fantasy and science fiction...
(1993) - George Alec Effinger Live! From Planet Earth (2005)
- stories selected and introduced by friends, fellow writers and editors
- A Thousand Deaths (2007)
- the novel The Wolves of Memory plus 7 additional Sandor Courane stories (6 uncollected)
Short stories
- "Mars: The Home FrontMars: The Home Front"Mars: The Home Front" is a short story by George Alec Effinger, published in War of the Worlds: Global Dispatches. It is a crossover between H. G...
" (1996) - " The Last Full Measure (short story)The Last Full Measure (short story)"The Last Full Measure" is a short story by George Alec Effinger, originally published in Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine.-Plot summary:...
"
Miscellany
- The titles of the first two books of the Marîd Audran series are both taken from Bob DylanBob DylanBob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
lyrics. "When Gravity Fails" is from the song "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" and "A Fire in the Sun" from "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue." Permission was denied to use a Dylan quote again for the third book's title, so Effinger chose instead a public domain quote from Shakespeare.
External links
- Effinger on Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America site
- List of his publications on FantasticFiction.co.uk
- Tribute page that includes FAQ
- Golden Gryphon Press official site - About Budayeen Nights
- Golden Gryphon Press official site - About George Alec Effinger Live! From Planet Earth
- Golden Gryphon Press official site - About A Thousand Deaths