I have a new article out today on the PulpFest website. When I was asked to write about Harry Bates, I didn’t know much about him, only that he was an early editor of ASTOUNDING STORIES. I certainly didn’t know he’d written the story on which “The Day the Earth Stood Still” was based. Certainly, this was a big contribution the history of science fiction. But, to me, the bigger contribution was his being the very first editor of ASTOUNDING. Along with publisher William Clayton, Bates started a legacy that has continued, without pause, to this very day. If you’re curious about the history of ASTOUNDING STORIES, I wrote a piece about its 90th birthday some months ago. But for today, please enjoy this little homage to Pittsburgh’s own—Harry Bates.
It begins like this…”Hiram Gilmore Bates, III — better known as Harry Bates — was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on October 9, 1900. Best known as the original editor of ASTOUNDING STORIES magazine, he was also the author of “Farewell to the Master,” the story that inspired the classic science fiction film, THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL.” READ MORE
