Origins & Early Life

Alfred Elton van Vogt ( VAN VOHKT; April 26, 1912 – January 26, 2000) was a Canadian-born American science fiction writer. His fragmented, bizarre narrative style influenced later science fiction writers, including Philip K. Dick. He was one of the most popular and influential practitioners of science fiction in the mid-twentieth century, the genre's so-called Golden Age, and one of the most complex.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

The Science Fiction Writers of America named him their 14th Grand Master in 1995 (presented 1996). Alfred Vogt (both "Elton" and "van" were added much later) was born on April 26, 1912, on his grandparents' farm in Edenburg, Manitoba, a tiny (and now defunct) Russian Mennonite community east of Gretna, Manitoba, Canada, in the Mennonite West Reserve. He was the third of six children born to Heinrich "Henry" Vogt and Aganetha "Agnes" Vogt (née Buhr), both of whom were born in Manitoba and grew up in heavily immigrant communities. Until he was four, van Vogt spoke only Plautdietsch at home. For the first dozen or so years of his life, van Vogt's father, Henry Vogt, a lawyer, moved his family several times within the Prairies, moving to Neville, Saskatchewan...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alan Turing — Contemporary (Born in 1912) (1912): Father of theoretical computer science, known for the Turing machine and codebreaking.
• Alfredo Stroessner — Contemporary (Born in 1912) (1912): Paraguayan military dictator who ruled from 1954 to 1989, known for repression.
• August Strindberg — Contemporary (Died in 1912) (1912): Pioneering Swedish literary figure, playwright, and essayist of the late 19th century.
• Abraham Pais — Contemporary (Died in 2000) (2000): Pioneering physicist and acclaimed science historian of modern physics.
• Alec Guinness — Contemporary (Died in 2000) (2000): Iconic English actor celebrated for stage mastery and cinematic versatility.
• Alfred Baphethuxolo Nzo — Contemporary (Died in 2000) (2000): Prominent South African politician and long-serving ANC leader.
• Akseli Gallen-Kallela — Shared historical date (04-26 · Born) (1865): Pioneering Finnish painter, celebrated for national romanticism and the Kalevala.
• Arno Allan Penzias — Shared historical date (04-26 · Born) (1933): Pioneering radio astronomer known for discovering cosmic microwave background radiation.
• Akio Morita — Shared historical date (01-26 · Born) (1921): Visionary Japanese entrepreneur and co-founder of Sony.
• Arthur Cayley — Shared historical date (01-26 · Died) (1895): Pioneering English mathematician, instrumental in founding modern algebra and group theory.
• 1912 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1912
• April 26 (04-26) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on April 26
• 2000 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2000
• January 26 (01-26) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on January 26