View source for Poul Anderson

{{Short description|American science fiction writer (1926–2001)}}
{{Similar names|Poul Andersen (disambiguation)|Paul Anderson (disambiguation){{!}}Paul Anderson}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox writer
| name             = Poul Anderson
| image            = poul anderson.jpg
| caption          = Anderson (center) at [[Polcon]] in 1985
| pseudonym        = A. A. Craig<br />Michael Karageorge<br />Winston P. Sanders<br />P. A. Kingsley<ref name="filkFirstUse">{{Cite web |url=http://www.conchord.org/xeno/zed2.jpg |title=Tracking Down The First Deliberate Use Of "Filk Song" |access-date=2007-08-11 |author=Lee Gold |author-link=Lee Gold}}</ref>
| birth_name       = Poul William Anderson
| birth_date       = {{birth date|mf=yes|1926|11|25}}
| birth_place      = [[Bristol, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| death_date       = {{death date and age|mf=yes|2001|7|31|1926|11|25}}
| death_place      = [[Orinda, California]], U.S.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/03/books/poul-anderson-science-fiction-novelist-dies-at-74.html |title=Poul Anderson, Science Fiction Novelist, Dies at 74 |date =August 3, 2001 |access-date=October 24, 2018 |author= Douglas Martin |website= The New York Times}}</ref>
| occupation       = Writer
| nationality      = American
| period           = 1948–2001
| genre            = [[Science fiction literature|Science fiction]]<br> [[Fantasy literature|Fantasy]]<br>[[mystery fiction|Mystery]]<br>[[Historical fiction]]
| notableworks     = {{plainlist|
* ''[[The Broken Sword]]''
* ''[[Tau Zero]]''
* ''[[Three Hearts and Three Lions]]''
}}
| website          =
}}
[[File:Fantastic 196108.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|An early cover story in August 1961]]
'''Poul William Anderson''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|oʊ|ə|l}} {{respell|POH|əl}}<!--not "pool"-->;<ref>{{cite news |last=Martin |first=Douglas |date=August 3, 2001 |title=Poul Anderson, Science Fiction Novelist, Dies at 74 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/03/books/poul-anderson-science-fiction-novelist-dies-at-74.html |work=New York Times |location= |publisher= |access-date=June 11, 2025 |quote=He told his wife she could name their first child, and she chose Poul (pronounced PO-ull).}}</ref> November 25, 1926 – July 31, 2001)<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.theguardian.com/news/2001/aug/04/guardianobituaries.books |title= Obituary: Poul Anderson (Prolific writer of science fiction's golden age) |author=David V Barrett |date= August 4, 2001 |access-date=October 25, 2018 |website= The Guardian}}</ref> was an American fantasy and science fiction author who was active from the 1940s until his death in 2001. Anderson also wrote historical novels. He won the [[Hugo Award]] seven times and the [[Nebula Award]] three times, and was nominated many more times for awards.<ref name="WWE-Hugo">{{cite web |title=Pennsylvania Center for the Book |url=https://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/literary-cultural-heritage-map-pa/bios/Anderson__Poul_William |access-date=2009-03-28 |work=Worlds Without End}}</ref><ref name="WWE-Nebula">{{cite web |url=https://www.worldswithoutend.com/books_nebula_index.asp |title=Science Fiction & Fantasy Books by Award: Complete Nebula Award novel listing |work=Worlds Without End |access-date=2024-02-13}}</ref>

== Biography ==

Poul Anderson was born on November 25, 1926, in [[Bristol, Pennsylvania]] to [[Danes|Danish]] parents.<ref>{{cite news |last=Barrett |first=David V. |date=2001-08-06 |title=Poul Anderson: Prolific Writer of Science Fiction's Golden Age |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2001/aug/06/guardianobituaries |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=2024-02-19}}</ref> Soon after his birth, his father, Anton Anderson, relocated the family to Texas, where they lived for more than ten years. After Anton Anderson's death, his widow took the children to [[Denmark]]. The family returned to the United States after the beginning of [[World War II]], settling eventually on a Minnesota farm.

While he was an undergraduate student at the [[University of Minnesota]], Anderson's first stories were published by editor [[John W. Campbell]] in the magazine ''[[Astounding Science Fiction]]'': "Tomorrow's Children" by Anderson and F. N. Waldrop in March 1947 and a sequel, "Chain of Logic" by Anderson alone, in July.{{efn|Anderson continued his first two stories more than a decade later. He added a novella and an epilogue, constituting the collection of four pieces (termed a novel), ''Twilight World: A Science Fiction Novel of Tomorrow's Children'' ([[Dodd, Mead]]). Waldrop was not credited.<ref name=isfdb />}} He earned his BA in physics with honors but became a freelance writer after he graduated in 1948. His third story was printed in the December ''Astounding''.<ref name=isfdb />

Anderson married [[Karen Anderson (writer)|Karen Kruse]] in 1953 and relocated with her to the San Francisco Bay area.<ref name="Martin 2001 v907">{{cite web | last=Martin | first=Douglas | title=Poul Anderson, Science Fiction Novelist, Dies at 74 | website=The New York Times | date=August 3, 2001 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/03/books/poul-anderson-science-fiction-novelist-dies-at-74.html | access-date=January 31, 2024}}</ref> Their daughter Astrid (later married to science fiction author [[Greg Bear]]<ref name="Holland 2022 x734">{{cite web | last=Holland | first=Steve | title=Greg Bear obituary | website=the Guardian | date=December 29, 2022 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/dec/29/greg-bear-obituary | access-date=January 31, 2024}}</ref>) was born in 1954{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}. They made their home in [[Orinda, California]].<ref name="Washington Post 2001 k556">{{cite news | title=Writer Poul Anderson, 74, Dies | newspaper=Washington Post | date=August 3, 2001 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2001/08/03/writer-poul-anderson-74-dies/ef257faf-0685-4bd9-b6bd-389b861fe2f8/ | access-date=January 31, 2024}}</ref> Over the years Poul gave many readings at [[The Other Change of Hobbit]] bookstore in [[Berkeley, California|Berkeley]]; his widow later donated his typewriter and desk to the store.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

In 1954, he published the fantasy novel ''[[The Broken Sword]]'', one of his best-known works.

In 1965, [[Algis Budrys]] said that Anderson "has for some time been science fiction's best storyteller".<ref name="budrys196502">{{Cite magazine |last=Budrys |first=Algis |date=February 1965 |title=Galaxy Bookshelf |url=https://archive.org/stream/Galaxy_v23n03_1965-02#page/n153/mode/2up |magazine=Galaxy Science Fiction |pages=153–159}}</ref> He was a founding member of the [[Society for Creative Anachronism]] (SCA) in 1966 and of the [[Swordsmen and Sorcerers' Guild of America]] (SAGA), also during the mid-1960s. The latter was a group of [[Heroic fantasy]] authors organized by [[Lin Carter]], originally eight in number, with entry by credentials as a fantasy writer alone.<!-- source is our article --> Anderson was the sixth President of the [[Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America]], taking office in 1972.

[[Robert A. Heinlein]] dedicated his 1985 novel ''[[The Cat Who Walks Through Walls]]'' to Anderson and eight of the other members of the [[Citizens' Advisory Council on National Space Policy]].<ref>{{cite book |author=Heinlein, Robert A |title=The Cat Who Walks Through Walls |publisher=New England Library |year=1986 |isbn=0-450-39315-1}}</ref><ref>[http://www.nitrosyncretic.com/rah/dedications.html Heinlein's Dedications Page Jane Davitt & Tim Morgan]. Retrieved August 20, 2008.</ref>

The [[Science Fiction Writers of America]] made Anderson its 16th [[SFWA Grand Master]] in 1998.<ref name=SFWA /> In 2000's fifth class, he was inducted into the [[EMP Museum#Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame|Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame]] as one of two deceased and two living writers.<ref name=sfhof-old />

He died of [[prostate cancer]] on July 31, 2001, after a month in the hospital. A few of his novels were first published posthumously.

==Awards, honors and nominations==
[[File:Planet stories 195101.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|Anderson's novella ''Witch of the Demon Seas'' (published under his "A. A. Craig" byline) was the cover story in the January 1951 issue of ''[[Planet Stories]]''.]]
[[File:Galaxy 195104.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|Anderson's novelette "Inside Earth" was the cover story in the April 1951 issue of ''[[Galaxy Science Fiction]]''.]]
* [[Gandalf Award|Gandalf Grand Master of Fantasy]] (1978)<ref name=SFAwards />
* [[Hugo Award]] (seven wins)<ref name="WWE-Hugo"/>
* [[Campbell award (best novel)|John W. Campbell Memorial Award]] (2000)<ref name="WWE-2000">{{cite web |url=http://www.worldswithoutend.com/books_year_index.asp?Year=2000 |title=Science Fiction & Fantasy Books by Award: 2000 Award Winners & Nominees |work=Worlds Without End |access-date=2009-03-28}}</ref>
* [[Inkpot Award]] (1986)<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.comic-con.org/awards/inkpot| title = Inkpot Award| date = December 6, 2012}}</ref>
* [[Locus Award]] (41 nominations; one win, 1972)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/LocusNomList.html#109 |title=Anderson, Poul |work=The Locus Index to SF Awards: Locus Award Nominees List |publisher=Locus Publications |access-date=2009-08-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514220412/http://locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/LocusNomList.html |archive-date=2012-05-14 }}</ref>
* [[Mythopoeic Fantasy Award]] (one win (1975))<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mythsoc.org/awards/awards-winners.htm |title=Mythopoeic Society Award Winners |publisher=[[Mythopoeic Society]] }}</ref>
* [[Nebula Award]] (three wins)<ref name="WWE-Nebula"/>
* [[Pegasus Award]] (best adaptation, with [[Anne Passovoy]]) (1998)
* [[Prometheus Award]] (Best Novel in 1996, as well as five Hall of Fame award and a Special Prometheus Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2001)<ref name="WWE-Prometheus">{{cite web |url=https://www.worldswithoutend.com/books_prometheus_index.asp |title=Science Fiction & Fantasy Books by Award: Complete Prometheus Award novel listing |work=Worlds Without End |access-date=2024-02-13}}</ref>
* [[SFWA Grand Master]] (1997)<ref name=SFWA />
* [[EMP Museum#Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame|Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame]] (2000)<ref name=sfhof-old />
* Asteroid [[7758 Poulanderson]], discovered by [[Eleanor Helin]] at [[Palomar Observatory|Palomar]] in 1990, was named in his honor.<ref name="MPC-object" /> The official {{MoMP|7758|naming citation}} was published by the [[Minor Planet Center]] on September 2, 2001, a month after his death ({{small|[[Minor Planet Circulars|M.P.C.]] 43381}}).<ref name="MPC-Circulars-Archive" />

== Bibliography ==
{{main|Poul Anderson bibliography}}
{{see also|:Category:Works by Poul Anderson}}

== See also ==
* {{Portal-inline|Speculative fiction}}
* [[Golden Age of Science Fiction]]

== Explanatory notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist|30em|refs=

<ref name=isfdb>
{{ISFDB name |3}} (ISFDB). Retrieved April 22, 2013.</ref>

<ref name=SFAwards>
[http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/NomLit3.html#109 "Anderson, Poul"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016200524/http://locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/NomLit3.html |date=October 16, 2012 }}.
''The Locus Index to SF Awards: Index of Literary Nominees''. [[Locus Publications]]. Retrieved March 22, 2013.</ref>

<ref name=SFWA>
[http://www.sfwa.org/nebula-awards/nebula-weekend/events-program/grandmaster/ "Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110701114233/http://www.sfwa.org/nebula-awards/nebula-weekend/events-program/grandmaster/ |date=July 1, 2011 }}. Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA). Retrieved March 22, 2013.</ref>

<ref name=sfhof-old>
[http://www.midamericon.org/halloffame/ "Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521070009/http://www.midamericon.org/halloffame/ |date=May 21, 2013 }}. Mid American Science Fiction and Fantasy Conventions, Inc. Retrieved March 22, 2013. This was the official website of the hall of fame to 2004.</ref>

<ref name="MPC-object">{{cite web
  |title      = 7758 Poulanderson (1990 KT)
  |work       = Minor Planet Center
  |url        = https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=7758
  |access-date = November 21, 2019}}</ref>

<ref name="MPC-Circulars-Archive">{{cite web
  |title      = MPC/MPO/MPS Archive
  |work       = Minor Planet Center
  |url        = https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/ECS/MPCArchive/MPCArchive_TBL.html
  |access-date = November 21, 2019}}</ref>

}} <!-- end of reflist -->

== Sources ==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book |author=Miesel, Sandra |title=Against Time's Arrow: The High Crusade of Poul Anderson |publisher=[[Borgo Press]] |year=1978 |isbn=0-89370-124-6 |author-link=Sandra Miesel}}
* {{cite book |last=Tuck |first=Donald H. |author-link=Donald H. Tuck |title=The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy |location=Chicago |publisher=Advent |pages=8–10 |year=1974 |isbn=0-911682-20-1}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
{{Commons category|Poul Anderson}}
* [http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/a/poul-anderson/ Bio, bibliography and book covers] at FantasticFiction
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050912025742/http://www.sfwa.org/news/panderson.htm Obituary and tributes] from the [[Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America|SFWA]]
* [http://poulandersonappreciation.blogspot.com/ Poul Anderson Appreciation], by Dr. Paul Shackley
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060317035846/http://www.dpsinfo.com/williamtenn/poulanderson.html Poul Anderson], an essay by [[William Tenn]]
* [http://www.sca.org/ The Society for Creative Anachronism], of which Poul Anderson was a founding member
* [http://www.fantasyliterature.net/andersonpoul.html ''The King of Ys'' review at FantasyLiterature.net] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080917122551/http://www.fantasyliterature.net/andersonpoul.html |date=September 17, 2008 }}
* {{Sfhof |920 |Poul Anderson}}
* {{LCAuth|n79044004|Poul Anderson|135}}
* {{ISFDB name|3}}
* {{IBList|type=author|id=594|name=Poul Anderson}}

; By Poul Anderson
* {{StandardEbooks|Standard Ebooks URL=https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/poul-anderson}}
* {{Gutenberg author |id=25203 | name=Poul Anderson}}
* {{Internet Archive author |sname=Poul Anderson |sopt=t}}
* {{Librivox author |id=149}}
* {{OL author}}
* [http://www.sfwa.org/2005/01/on-thud-and-blunder/ On Thud and Blunder], an essay by Anderson on fantasy fiction, from the SFWA
* [https://www.freesfonline.net/authors/Poul_Anderson.html Poul Anderson's online fiction] at Free Speculative Fiction Online
* [http://www.sfwa.org/hidden-pages/estates-contact-information/ SFWA directory of literary estates]

{{Poul Anderson}}
{{Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Awards}}
{{Hugo Award Best Novella}}
{{Hugo Award Best Novelette}}
{{Hugo Award Best Short Story 1961–1980}}
{{Inkpot Award 1980s}}
{{Locus Award Best Short Story}}
{{Nebula Award Best Novella}}
{{Nebula Award Best Novelette}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, Poul}}
[[Category:Poul Anderson| ]]
[[Category:1926 births]]
[[Category:2001 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American male writers]]
[[Category:20th-century American novelists]]
[[Category:21st-century American novelists]]
[[Category:American alternate history writers]]
[[Category:American fantasy writers]]
[[Category:American libertarians]]
[[Category:American male novelists]]
[[Category:American people of Danish descent]]
[[Category:American science fiction writers]]
[[Category:Analog Science Fiction and Fact people]]
[[Category:Caedmon Records artists]]
[[Category:Conan the Barbarian novelists]]
[[Category:Filkers]]
[[Category:Inkpot Award winners]]
[[Category:Novelists from Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:People from Bristol, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:People from Orinda, California]]
[[Category:Pulp fiction writers]]
[[Category:Science Fiction Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:SFWA Grand Masters]]
[[Category:Society for Creative Anachronism]]
[[Category:University of Minnesota alumni]]
[[Category:Writers from the San Francisco Bay Area]]
[[Category:Writers of Sherlock Holmes pastiches]]
[[Category:21st-century American male writers]]
[[Category:Presidents of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association]]
[[Category:American founders]]