F. M. Busby


Francis Marion Busby was an American science fiction writer and science fiction fan. In 1960 he was a co-winner of the Hugo Award for Best Fanzine.

Early life

Francis Busby was born in Indianapolis, the son of Francis Marion Busby and Clara Nye Busby. The family settled in Colfax, in the state of Washington during 1931 and Busby attended high school there. He subsequently attended Washington State College until he joined the National Guard. He was subsequently discharged and returned to college. He did not remain long, however, and enlisted in the U.S. Army on July 23, 1943, at Spokane, Washington.

Career

Busby served during World War II as part of the Alaska Communication System, assigned to the island of Amchitka. At the end of the war he was discharged from the Army and returned to college to graduate as an engineer. He subsequently returned to the Alaska Communication System to work in a civilian role based in Seattle.
In 1954 Busby married Elinor Doub, who was also a science fiction author. He had one daughter, Michele. Together with his wife and others he published a fan magazine named Cry of the Nameless which won the Hugo Award for Best Fanzine in 1960, making Elinor the first woman to win a Hugo.
Busby continued to work for the Alaska Communication System until 1971, when the organization was sold to private industry and renamed RCA Alascom and he took early retirement from the company.
From 1974 to 1976 Busby was Vice President of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. At the age of 50 he became a freelance science-fiction author. He wrote 19 published novels and numerous short stories between 1973 and 1996.
Robert A. Heinlein in part dedicated his 1985 novel The Cat Who Walks Through Walls to Busby, and in part dedicated his 1982 novel Friday to Elinor.
Busby ceased writing fiction some time after 1996, claiming in an email:
How real the influence of the Thor Power Tool decision was on Busby's writing career is uncertain, considering a great many of his novels were written and published after it.

Illness and death

In November 2004 Busby was diagnosed with severe intestinal problems. He went into the Swedish Medical Center, Ballard Campus, for surgery and suffered complications. He underwent further surgery before being moved to Health and Rehabilitation of Seattle, where he died on February 17, 2005.

Series

Demu

  • 1. Cage a Man
  • "The Learning of Eeshta" - short story; also appeared in collection Getting Home
  • 2. The Proud Enemy
  • 3. End of the Line - not published separately, but only in The Demu TrilogyThe Demu Trilogy - includes all four titles

Rissa Kerguelen and Bran Tregare

Rissa Kerguelen
Rissa Kerguelen Young RissaRissa and TregareThe Long View Zelde M'Tana
  • ''Renalle Kerguelen''
    Hulzein
    The Star Rebel Rebel's Quest The Alien Debt Rebel's Seed The Rebel Dynasty - Volume I - Contains Star Rebel and Rebel's QuestThe Rebel Dynasty - Volume II - Contains The Alien Debt and ''Rebel's Seed''

Slow Freight

Slow Freight Arrow from Earth
  • ''The Triad Worlds''

Non-series novels

All These Earths ; book version of the following linked stories:
  • * "Pearsall's Return", If, July/Aug. 1973
  • * "Search", Amazing, Dec. 1976
  • * "Nobody Home", Amazing, July 1977
  • * "Never So Lost…", Amazing, Oct. 1977The Breeds of Man The Singularity Project
  • ''Islands of Tomorrow''

Short-story collection

  • ''Getting Home''

Other short stories

Busby wrote over 40 short stories, thus leaving over 20 still uncollected, including:

Anthologies containing stories by Busby

His work appeared in the following anthologies:Clarion III — "Road Map" The Best Science Fiction of the Year 3 – "Tell Me All About Yourself"Universe 5 – "If This Is Winnetka, You Must Be Judy"100 Great Science Fiction Short Short Stories The Best of New Dimensions Universe 10 – "First Person Plural" Heroic Visions – "Before the Seas Came"
  • ''100 Great Fantasy Short Short Stories''