Douglas Hill facts for kids

Douglas Arthur Hill (born April 6, 1935 – died June 21, 2007) was a Canadian author. He was known for writing exciting science fiction stories. He also worked as an editor and reviewer.

Douglas Hill was born in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. He grew up in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. From a young age, he loved reading science fiction. He studied English at the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Toronto.

In 1958, he married another writer, Gail Robinson. They moved to Britain in 1959. There, Douglas worked as a freelance writer and editor. He passed away in London in 2007, shortly after finishing his last book series, Demon Stalkers.

Douglas Hill: Master of Sci-Fi Adventures

Douglas Hill wrote many popular books, especially for young readers. His stories often featured thrilling action and explored interesting ideas.

His Amazing Sci-Fi Series

One of his most famous series was The Last Legionary quintet. This means it had five books!

The Last Legionary Series

The first book was called Galactic Warlord. The series followed a character named Keill Randor. He was the last survivor of his home planet, which had been destroyed. Keill wanted revenge for what happened. He was helped by a secret group called The Overseers and a special alien named Glr. Glr had wings and could read minds!

These books showed how science could go wrong if people were too proud or careless. They also showed that older people are often the wisest and know what's really going on.

Other Exciting Trilogies

Douglas Hill also wrote The Huntsman and Colsec trilogies. These series continued to explore important themes. For example, they showed how young people might feel left out or powerless. They also taught that not all aliens (or foreigners) are the same. His books also talked about how people sometimes misuse natural resources. Most importantly, they showed how different individuals can work together for a greater good.

Hill explored these ideas in his fantasy books too. These included the Poisoner and Demon Stalkers series.

Why Kids Loved His Books

Douglas Hill's books were very popular in schools. This was because they had fast-paced action and exciting science fiction or fantasy themes. They were especially popular with boys who sometimes found it hard to get into reading for fun.

His books were also relatively short. They didn't have a lot of extra details that might make them feel long. This made them easy to read and enjoy. Many young readers liked the quick pace and how each book was a complete story. But they also loved that all the books existed in the same "universe." This meant they didn't have to learn a whole new set of characters every time they picked up a new book.

Keeping Readers Hooked

Another great thing about Douglas Hill was how quickly he wrote his novels. He published five books between 1980 and 1982! This meant that young readers who loved his stories always had a new one ready to read as soon as they finished the last. This helped keep their interest in reading strong.