Bob Shaw

Bob Shaw, born Robert Shaw, was a science fiction author and fan from Northern Ireland, noted for his originality and wit. He won the Hugo Award for Best Fan Writer in 1979 and 1980. His short story "Light of Other Days" was a Hugo Award nominee in 1967, as was his novel The Ragged Astronauts in 1987. Shaw was born and raised in Belfast, the eldest of three sons of a policeman. He learned of science fiction at about 11 years old when he read an A. E. van Vogt short story in an early edition of Astounding Science-Fiction magazine. He later described the experience as being more significant... and long-lasting than taking LSD. He attended Belfast College of Technology. In 1950 he joined the group Irish Fandom which met at the house of James White, another Northern Irish science fiction writer, on Upper Newtonards Road. The group was influential in the early history of science fiction fandom and produced fanzines Hyphen and Slant, to the latter of which Shaw contributed material. Shaw acquired the nickname "BoSh" during this period. He published his first science-fiction short story in 1951, followed by several others.
more