Robert Sheckley published his debut short story, Final Examination, in Imagination magazine in 1951, signaling the arrival of a distinctively absurdist and satirical voice in American science fiction. Across a prolific career, he navigated the landscape of pulp magazines and mainstream publishing, ultimately producing a body of work that challenged standard generic conventions through wit and dark social commentary.
Early Life and Diverse Occupations
Born in 1928, Sheckley spent his youth in Maplewood, New Jersey, following a move from Brooklyn in 1931. After graduating from Columbia High School in 1946, he spent time in California working in various roles, including as a pretzel salesman, a landscape gardener, and a warehouseman. Later that year, he joined the U.S. Army, serving in Korea as a guitarist, a payroll clerk, an army newspaper editor, and a guard until 1948. He subsequently earned an arts degree from New York University in 1951.
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During the 1950s, Sheckley became a fixture of the science fiction magazine era, contributing frequently to Galaxy and Imagination. His early collections included Untouched by Human Hands, Citizen in Space, and Pilgrimage to Earth. His debut novel, Immortality, Inc., originated as a serial in Galaxy in 1958. He gained recognition for a deft, satirical style that appealed to readers of both science fiction and mainstream publications like Playboy.
International Life and Collaborations
Sheckley lived in various locations throughout his career, including time in Greenwich Village, Ibiza, and London. His professional output expanded into suspense and mystery fiction during the 1960s. He engaged in numerous collaborations with writers such as Harlan Ellison, Roger Zelazny, and Harry Harrison. In 1980, he served as the fiction editor for Omni magazine. His later work included entries in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Alien universes.
Legacy and Final Years
In 2005, while attending an international science fiction event in Kyiv, Sheckley fell ill and returned to the United States. He eventually settled in Red Hook, New York, to remain near his daughters. He underwent surgery for a brain aneurysm in November 2005 and died shortly thereafter in a Poughkeepsie hospital on December 9. His contributions were honored with the prix Cyrano in 2004 and the title of Author Emeritus in 2000.
Fast facts
- Born: 1928, Maplewood
- Died: 2005, Poughkeepsie
- Citizenship: United States
- Notable work: Bring Me the Head of Prince Charming
- Education: Columbia High School, New York University
- Burial site: Woodstock Artists Cemetery
- Author Emeritus award: 2000
- Prix Cyrano award: 2004
Questions readers ask
Which film was based on Sheckley's early writing?
The 1965 film The 10th Victim was based on his 1953 short story Seventh Victim.
Did Sheckley influence The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy?
While Sheckley's novel Dimension of Miracles is frequently cited as an influence, Douglas Adams stated he had not read it until after writing the original work.
Achievements
- Notable work: Bring Me the Head of Prince Charming
- Genres: science fiction and mystery fiction
