Murray Leinster
Murray Leinster, the pen name of William Fitzgerald Jenkins, was a prolific American writer renowned for his contributions to science fiction. Over his extensive career, he published more than 1,500 short stories, articles, and numerous scripts for film and radio, establishing himself as a versatile storyteller. Leinster's work often explored themes of technology and its impact on society, making significant strides in the genre with innovative concepts such as the 'interstellar communication' and 'parallel universes.' His short story 'A Logic Named Joe' is particularly notable for its prescient depiction of a computer network, foreshadowing the internet long before its inception. Leinster's literary significance lies not only in his volume of work but also in his ability to blend imaginative storytelling with scientific plausibility. He was one of the first authors to explore the implications of advanced technology on human life, influencing future generations of science fiction writers. His legacy endures through his contributions to the genre, as well as through the adaptations of his stories into various media, including film and television, solidifying his place as a foundational figure in American science fiction.
Famous Quotes
View all 8 quotes“We do not like the idea that any other creature can be better than we are. It is highly probable that if we ever have to face a superior race, we will die of it.””
“the whole purpose of civilization is to take the surprises out of life, so one can be bored to death””
“You know the logics setup. You got a logic in your house. It looks like a vision receiver used to, only it's got keys instead of dials and you punch the keys for what you wanna get. It's hooked in to the tank, which has the Carson Circuit all fixed up with relays. Say you punch "Station SNAFU" on your logic. Relays in the tank take over an' whatever vision-program SNAFU is telecastin' comes on your logic's screen. Or you punch "Sally Hancock's Phone" an' the screen blinks an' sputters an' you're hooked up with the logic in her house an' if somebody answers you got a vision-phone connection. But besides that, if you punch for the weather forecast or who won today's race at Hialeah or who was mistress of the White House durin' Garfield's administration or what is PDQ and R sellin' for today, that comes on the screen too. The relays in the tank do it. The tank is a big buildin' full of all the facts in creation an' all the recorded telecasts that ever was made”
