George Edgar Slusser facts for kids

George Edgar Slusser (born July 14, 1939 – died November 4, 2014) was an American expert, teacher, and writer. He was especially known for his work as a science fiction critic. He taught comparative literature at the University of California, Riverside. He was also the first person to manage the important Eaton collection of science fiction books.

George Slusser's Life

George Slusser was born in San Francisco in 1939. He went to the University of California, Berkeley. There, he studied both philosophy and English. He graduated with top honors in 1961. The next year, he earned a diploma in the French language from the University of Poitiers in France.

From 1963 to 1965, he worked for the US Army in Germany. In 1965, George married Danièle Chatelain, a French academic. They were married for his whole life. He later studied at Harvard University. He also spent time studying in Germany and France.

From 1971 to 1975, he taught English at California State University, San Bernardino. During this time, he also worked as a writer, critic, and translator. George had enjoyed science fiction as a teenager. His interest in the genre grew again when he was in San Bernardino. In 1976, he returned to France as a lecturer at the University of Paris.

His Work at UC Riverside

In 1979, George Slusser joined the University of California, Riverside (UCR). He started the first yearly J. Lloyd Eaton Conference. This was an academic meeting about science fiction and fantasy literature. It was different from regular fan conventions. He noted that serious literary critics attended, which showed the event's importance.

Slusser helped publish a yearly journal called Bridges to Science Fiction. This journal shared the ideas from each conference. With help from librarians, Slusser became the manager of the Eaton collection. He worked hard to make the collection much larger. He wanted to create a science fiction studies center and a graduate program at the university. However, these plans did not happen.

Slusser continued to teach comparative literature at UCR. He retired in 2005. Many science fiction writers and scholars studied with him. These included Howard V. Hendrix and Daryl F. Mallett.

His Writings

George Slusser wrote many books and articles. Most of his work was about analyzing science fiction. He believed that writers like Isaac Asimov, Greg Bear, Ray Bradbury, and Robert Heinlein were among the best. He liked them because their stories focused on science.

Thoughts on Science Fiction Authors

Slusser praised Ray Bradbury. He said Bradbury's stories were very visual and came from an "iconic American experience." He also noted Bradbury's dislike of technology in his works. Slusser said that for Bradbury, "science is the forbidden fruit."

About Arthur C. Clark, Slusser said that Clark, along with Asimov and Heinlein, was special. He felt their human stories were shaped by new science and technology. Slusser believed Clark showed the true meaning of science fiction. This was to mix human drama with scientific progress.

While Slusser called Robert A. Heinlein the "epitome of science fiction writers," he also criticized some of his later work. He felt Heinlein's later books were "self-indulgent." However, Slusser noted that stories like Heinlein's Have Space Suit—Will Travel attracted students. He compared it to "Huckleberry Finn redone."

Slusser and his wife also translated some French works. In 2012, they translated stories by J.-H. Rosny into Three Science Fiction Novellas: From Prehistory to the End of Mankind.