Photo: John Lawrence

Science Fiction Grandmaster Brian W. Aldiss’ prodigious output of over 100 books included the science-fiction masterpieces Hothouse, Greybeard, Frankenstein Unbound, The Malacia Tapestry, and the Helliconia Trilogy. The short story “Super-Toys Last All Summer Long” served as the basis for the Stanley Kubrick-developed Steven Spielberg-directed film A.I. Artificial Intelligence.

His numerous short stories and essays have been collected in Space, Time and Nathaniel, The Book of Brian Aldiss, Science Fiction Blues, Programme Book, Supertoys Last All Summer Long and Other Stories, CULTURAL BREAKS, The Invention of Happiness, The Brian Aldisss Collection: The Complete Short Stories, and many more. 

Among his several volumes of nonfiction are the pioneering book of science fiction criticism Billion Year Spree (revised as Trillion Year Spree [with David Wingrove]), … And the Lurid Glare of the Comet, The Detached Retina: Aspects of SF and Fantasy, and An Exile on Planet Earth: Articles and Reflections. As an anthologist Aldiss produced many influential collections such as Penguin Science Fiction, Years Best Science Fiction (with Harry Harrison, Volumes 1-6), Space Opera, and A Science Fiction Omnibus. His amazing output included eight volumes of poetry. 

John Brunner, Brian Aldiss, Carol & Fred Pohl, and Walter Ernsting at LonCon II, the 1965 World Science Fiction Convention

Aldiss’ works garnered him a myriad of awards and accolades, including the Hugo, Nebula, Campbell, Locus, British Science Fiction, Ditmar, and Eaton awards. In 2005, he was awarded the title of Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to literature. The electronic pop duo Echoes In Rows released a song entitled “Brian Aldiss” in 2010.

For more info on CULTURAL BREAKS, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover by John Picacio