Michael Bishop (author) facts for kids

Michael Lawson Bishop (born November 12, 1945 – died November 13, 2023) was an American writer. For over 40 years, he wrote more than 30 books. His work is known as some of the most respected and important in modern science fiction and fantasy writing.

About Michael Bishop

Michael Lawson Bishop was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. His father was in the Air Force, so Michael moved around a lot as a child. This is sometimes called being a "military brat." He even went to kindergarten in Tokyo, Japan, and finished high school in Seville, Spain. His parents divorced in 1951.

Michael went to the University of Georgia in 1963. He earned two degrees there: a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in English. In 1969, he married Jeri Ellis Whitaker. He taught English, including a class on science fiction, at the United States Air Force Academy Preparatory School. Later, he taught English literature at the University of Georgia.

Michael and Jeri had two children: a son named Jamie (born in 1971) and a daughter named Stephanie (born in 1973). In 1974, Michael decided to become a full-time writer. Sometimes, he worked as a substitute teacher or a reporter for a local newspaper to help out.

Later in 1996, Michael became a writer-in-residence at LaGrange College in Pine Mountain, Georgia. This meant he lived near the college and taught creative writing classes. He stayed in this role until 2012. Michael Bishop was a Christian. He and Jeri had two grandchildren, Annabel and Joel, from their daughter Stephanie. Michael Bishop passed away on November 13, 2023, when he was 78 years old.

His Writing Career

Michael Bishop won several important awards for his writing. He received the Nebula Award twice. He won in 1981 for his short story "The Quickening" and in 1982 for his novel No Enemy But Time. These are big awards in the world of science fiction. He also won four Locus Awards and was nominated for many Hugo Awards. In 2009, his short story "The Pile" won the Shirley Jackson Award.

In 1993, a movie studio called 20th Century Fox was interested in making his novel Brittle Innings into a film. They bought the rights to the story, but the movie has not been made yet.

Michael Bishop wrote many books and stories. He published 15 novels by himself and three novels with other writers. He also wrote more than 150 short stories, which were collected into 11 books. His stories appeared in popular magazines like Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine and Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. His work has been translated into over a dozen languages around the world.

He also edited seven collections of stories by other writers. One of these, Light Years and Dark, won a Locus Award. Besides fiction, Michael Bishop wrote poetry and essays. His poem "For the Lady of a Physicist" won the Rhysling Award in 1979. His essays and reviews were published in major newspapers like The New York Times and The Washington Post.

Michael Bishop often worked with other writers. He wrote a novel with British author Ian Watson. He also wrote two mystery novels with Paul Di Filippo under the pen name Philip Lawson.

He was often invited as a special guest, called a "Guest of Honor," at many science fiction conventions. These are big gatherings where fans and writers meet to celebrate science fiction. He was also given an honorary doctorate degree from LaGrange College in 2001.

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