James Van Pelt
Encyclopedia
James Van Pelt is an American
science fiction author who began publishing in the mid-90s. He is also a teacher in the language arts department at Fruita Monument High School
in Fruita, Colorado
. He is also the former advisor of The Catalyst, the student-run monthly magazine of Fruita Monument High School.
Award for Best New Writer. "The Last of the O-Forms" (2002), a short story, was a finalist for the Nebula Award
. "The Inn at Mount Either," (2005), a short story, was a finalist for the Theodore Sturgeon Award for Best Short Story from 2005. He has also been nominated for the Analog Anlab Reader's Award, the Asimov's
Reader's Poll Award, and the Locus Poll Award.
He has had many short stories published, some of which have been re-published in his three short story collections, Strangers and Beggars, The Last of the O-Forms and Other Stories, and The Radio Magician and Other Stories. Strangers and Beggars, the first collection, was recognized as a Best Book for Young Adults by the American Library Association
. Several of his stories have been reprinted in various Best of the Year anthologies.
His first novel, Summer of the Apocalypse, was released from Fairwood Press in October 2006.
He received his B.A. from Metro State College in Denver, Colorado in 1978 and later his M.A. from University of California at Davis in 1990. He currently lives in western Colorado
, where he teaches English at Fruita Monument High School
and Mesa State College
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
science fiction author who began publishing in the mid-90s. He is also a teacher in the language arts department at Fruita Monument High School
Fruita Monument High School
Fruita Monument High School is a high school located in Fruita, Colorado, just a few miles from Colorado National Monument. It is part of the Mesa County Valley School District 51.As of 2006, Fruita Monument enrolls about 1750 students...
in Fruita, Colorado
Fruita, Colorado
The City of Fruita is a Home Rule Municipality located in the western part of Mesa County, Colorado, in the United States. It is part of the Grand Junction Metropolitan Statistical Area and within the Grand Valley...
. He is also the former advisor of The Catalyst, the student-run monthly magazine of Fruita Monument High School.
Biography
In 1999, Van Pelt was a finalist for the John W. CampbellJohn W. Campbell
John Wood Campbell, Jr. was an influential figure in American science fiction. As editor of Astounding Science Fiction , from late 1937 until his death, he is generally credited with shaping the so-called Golden Age of Science Fiction.Isaac Asimov called Campbell "the most powerful force in...
Award for Best New Writer. "The Last of the O-Forms" (2002), a short story, was a finalist 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...
. "The Inn at Mount Either," (2005), a short story, was a finalist for the Theodore Sturgeon Award for Best Short Story from 2005. He has also been nominated for the Analog Anlab Reader's Award, the Asimov's
Asimov's Science Fiction
Asimov's Science Fiction is an American science fiction magazine which publishes science fiction and fantasy and perpetuates the name of author and biochemist Isaac Asimov...
Reader's Poll Award, and the Locus Poll Award.
He has had many short stories published, some of which have been re-published in his three short story collections, Strangers and Beggars, The Last of the O-Forms and Other Stories, and The Radio Magician and Other Stories. Strangers and Beggars, the first collection, was recognized as a Best Book for Young Adults by the American Library Association
American Library Association
The American Library Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members....
. Several of his stories have been reprinted in various Best of the Year anthologies.
His first novel, Summer of the Apocalypse, was released from Fairwood Press in October 2006.
He received his B.A. from Metro State College in Denver, Colorado in 1978 and later his M.A. from University of California at Davis in 1990. He currently lives in western Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, where he teaches English at Fruita Monument High School
Fruita Monument High School
Fruita Monument High School is a high school located in Fruita, Colorado, just a few miles from Colorado National Monument. It is part of the Mesa County Valley School District 51.As of 2006, Fruita Monument enrolls about 1750 students...
and Mesa State College
Mesa State College
Colorado Mesa University is a public comprehensive university in Grand Junction, Colorado. The university has its primary campus in central Grand Junction. The university also has other campuses as well; Bishop Campus, which houses Western Colorado Community College in northwestern Grand Junction...
.
Selected bibliography
- "Nor a Lender Be" (Analog, Feb 1999)
- "Ark Ascension" (Analog, Dec 1999)
- "The Comeback" (Analog, April 2000)
- "Friday, After the Game" (Analog, Oct 2000)
- "Resurrection" (Analog, Jan 2001)
- "What Weena Knew" (Analog, April 2001)
- "The Infodict" (Asimov'sAsimov's Science FictionAsimov's Science Fiction is an American science fiction magazine which publishes science fiction and fantasy and perpetuates the name of author and biochemist Isaac Asimov...
, Aug 2001) - "The Invisible Empire" (The Children of Cthulhu, Jan 2002)
- "Perceptual Set" (Analog, Jan 2002)
- "The Safety of the Herd" (Asimov's, Jan 2002)
- Strangers and Beggars (Fairwood Press, July 2002)
- "A Flock of Birds" (SCI FICTIONSci FictionSci Fiction was an online magazine which ran from 2000 to 2005. At one time, it was the leading online science fiction magazine. Published by Syfy and edited by Ellen Datlow, the work won multiple awards before it was discontinued.- History :...
, Aug 2002) - "Far From the Emerald Isle" (Analog, Sep 2002)
- "The Last of the O-Forms" (Asimov's, Sep 2002) (Nebula AwardNebula AwardThe 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...
finalist) - "Sacrifice" (ParadoxParadox (magazine)Paradox: The Magazine of Historical and Speculative Fiction was an award-winning literary magazine featuring original short historical fiction in all of its forms up to novella length. This includes mainstream historical fiction as well as other genre fiction with historical themes...
, Summer 2003) - "The Long Way Home" (Asimov's, Sep 2003)
- "Echoing" (Asimov's, Dec 2004)
- "The Inn at Mount Either" (Analog, May 2005)
- "The Ice-Cream Man" (Asimov's, June 2005)
- The Last of the O-Forms and Other Stories (Fairwood Press, Aug 2005)
- Summer of the Apocalypse (Fairwood Press, Oct 2006)
- Just Before Recess (Flash Fiction Online, Mar 2008)
- "The Radio Magician and Other Stories" (Fairwood Press, May 2009)