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Norman Spinrad

ノーマン・スピンラッド

Nōman Supinraddo

Aliases: Norman Richard Spinrad

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1940-09-15 （New York City）
Nationality
American
Languages
English
Residence History
New York City → San Francisco → Los Angeles → London → Paris → New York City

Career

Occupations
science fiction author, essayist, critic
Active Years
1966-2024
Affiliations
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (President 1980-1982, 2001-2002), World SF (President)
Memberships
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, World SF
Nominations
Hugo Award nomination (The Doomsday Machine), Multiple Nebula Award nominations, American Book Award nomination (The Iron Dream)

Education

Bronx High School of Science
Science
Year of Graduation: 1957
Country: United States
City College of New York
pre-law
Degree: BS
Period: 1957-1961
Year of Graduation: 1961
Country: United States

Awards

Prix Tour-Apollo Award
1975
Work: The Iron Dream
Organization: Association Française de Science-fiction
Result: win
Prix Apollo Award
Result: win

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Solarians

1966 space opera

A mainstream space opera featuring space battles, faster-than-light drives, and an alien enemy of humanity, the Duglaari. A fleet commander contacts the Solarians who help defeat the enemy by destroying Sol.

warhuman survival

Bug Jack Barron

1969 science fiction

A pre-cyberpunk tale of a cynical talk-show host who uncovers a conspiracy concerning an immortality treatment.

mediapowerimmortality
Adaptations
  • [film] / Costa-Gavras (予定)

The Iron Dream

1972 alternate history

An alternate history novel consisting of a fictional fantasy classic 'Lord of the Swastika' written by Adolf Hitler as a sci-fi writer.

Nazism parodyfascismpower

The Void Captain's Tale

1983 science fiction

Set in the Second Starfaring Age, contains elements of confession, love story, eroticism, and horror.

eroticismexploration

Child of Fortune

1985 science fiction

Adventures of young woman Moussa on her wanderjahr, traveling planets to find her calling.

coming of agewanderlust

The Druid King

2003 historical novel

Historical novel about the conflict between Vercingetorix and the Roman Empire.

historyresistance
Adaptations
  • [film] Druids (2001)

Bibliography

  • The Solarians
  • Agent of Chaos
  • The Men in the Jungle
  • Bug Jack Barron
  • The Iron Dream
  • Passing Through the Flame
  • A World Between
  • Songs from the Stars
  • The Mind Game
  • The Void Captain's Tale
  • Riding the Torch
  • Child of Fortune
  • Little Heroes
  • The Children of Hamelin
  • Russian Spring
  • Deus X
  • Pictures at 11
  • Vampire Junkies
  • Journals of the Plague Years
  • Greenhouse Summer
  • He Walked Among Us
  • The Druid King
  • Mexica
  • Osama the Gun
  • The People's Police

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Unique exploration of thoughtsex and power as primary themesinfluence of psychedelic drugs
Recurring Motifs
utopian themesconsciousness-altering drugs

Legacy

Influential American SF author known for controversial works, exploring power, sex, and societal critique. Served as SFWA president.

Quotes

  • How much science fiction is being published now that's set in worlds that are better than ours? ... People don't believe the future will be a better place. And that is very scary.
    Source: Locus magazine (1999) (1999)

Trivia

  • Described himself as an 'anarchist' and a 'syndicalist'.
  • Bug Jack Barron caused controversy in British Parliament.
  • Wrote script for Star Trek episode 'The Doomsday Machine'.
  • Married novelist N. Lee Wood (1990–2005).