Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

John W. Campbell

Role / Field:

Pioneering science fiction writer and editor of Astounding Stories.

Born:

1910-06-08

Died:

1971-07-11

Century / Era:

1910s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

John Wood Campbell Jr. (June 8, 1910 – July 11, 1971) was an American science fiction writer and editor. He was editor of Astounding Science Fiction (later called Analog Science Fiction and Fact) from late 1937 until his death and was part of the Golden Age of Science Fiction. Campbell wrote "super-science" space opera under his own name and other stories under his primary pseudonym, Don A.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Stuart. Campbell also used the pen names Karl Van Kampen and Arthur McCann. His novella Who Goes There? (1938) was adapted as the films The Thing from Another World (1951) and The Thing (1982); as well as a prequel The Thing (2011). Campbell began writing science fiction at age 18 while attending MIT.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He published six short stories, a novel, and eight letters in the science fiction magazine Amazing Stories from 1930 to 1931. This work established Campbell's reputation as a writer of space adventure. In 1934, he began to write science fiction stories of a different sort under the pseudonym Don A. Stuart. From 1930 until 1937, Campbell was prolific and successful under both names; he stopped writing fiction shortly after he became editor of Astounding in 1937. In his capacity as an editor, Campbell...

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• 1910 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1910
• June 8 (06-08) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on June 8
• 1971 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1971
• July 11 (07-11) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on July 11

Frequently Asked Questions about John W. Campbell