THE PUSH FROM WITHIN: The Extrapolative Ability Of
Illustrations by Charlie Williams Fevv authors vvorking vvithin the science fiction field are provocative enough to have their vvritings translated into eighteen languages. Yet Theodore Sturgeon is a man vvho is not content to repeat a theme or motif unless a nevv perspective can be obtained through doing so. His perception of himself and his surroundings transcends the entire spectrum of the human condition. This is inherent in each endeavor he chooses to pursue. Sturgeon began vvriting during the three years he spent at sea as a teenager in the Merchant Marine. After a total of forty or more stories published in various genres, he began his immeasurable im pact in science fiction and fantasy vvith an appearance in John W. Campbell's Astounding in 1939. This culminated in his reception of the International Fantasy Avvard for the hallovved
Gestalt treatise ..M.c.re Ibim Human and both the Hugo and Nebula Avvards for his remarkable story, "Slovv Sculpture." He has vvritten for film and television including tvvo of the most remarkable Star Trek episodes, "Amok Time" and "Shore Leave." Presently, he is in the midst of constructing his ultimate achievement, the much avvaited novel Godbody. He vvas intervievved in the middle of a 13,500 mile, fiveto-six month tour in vvhich he crossed the U.S. four times. Much of the time vvas spent travelling in his tiny Volksvvagen vvith his incomparable vvife, the Lady Jayne. During his travels, he rescued the first UT science fiction and fantasy vvriting symposium (Tennecon 79) by devoting four hectic days and nights to reading student manuscrip:ts and chairing discussions. Articulate in a number of
diversified areas -- including sexuality and sensuality in the future, the energy dilemma, and Optimum Marriage (consisting of seven people three vvomen and four men), he is an endless source of inspiration and introspection in an age; characterized by l impersonality. An extremely tactile and approachable individual, Theodore Sturgeon is avvare of and attuned to the forces, trends and effects that rule our lives. Anyone of his renovvned novels or short story collections vvill provide further illumination on subjects that are vital to the understanding of the puzzle that is humanity. Phoenix vvill be identified by its logo, ~ and Sturgeon by his ovvn personal trademark, ~, in the follovving intervievv. The Editor
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