History Creator / AEVanVogt

TheOtherWiki states that van Vogt was born in Edenburg, a Russian Mennonite community near [[CanadaEh Gretna, Manitoba.]] He spoke German until he was four years old. He got his start by writing for pulp magazines, but decided to switch to something he liked a lot better.

Though only one among many hardworking GoldenAge ScienceFiction writers, Alfred Elton van Vogt (pronounced "von vote") was definitely one of the most prolific. Often overshadowed by the "Big Three" (Creator/ArthurCClarke, Creator/RobertAHeinlein and Creator/IsaacAsimov), van Vogt still managed to pen some long-lived classics, including ''Literature/{{Slan}}'', ''The Book of Ptath'', ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheSpaceBeagle'', ''The Weapon Shops of Isher,'' and the ''Null-A'' series (which incidentally kicked off [[RationalFic the genre of rational fiction]]). He cranked out dozens of short stories, many of which have been anthologized over and over again. Like several of his contemporaries, he also forayed into the realms of mainstream fiction and nonfiction.

Though only one among many hardworking GoldenAge ScienceFiction writers, Alfred Elton van Vogt (pronounced "von vote") was definitely one of the most prolific. Often overshadowed by the "Big Three" (ArthurCClarke, Creator/RobertAHeinlein and Creator/IsaacAsimov), van Vogt still managed to pen some long-lived classics, including ''Literature/{{Slan}}'', ''The Book of Ptath'', ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheSpaceBeagle'', ''The Weapon Shops of Isher,'' and the ''Null-A'' series (which incidentally kicked off [[RationalFic the genre of rational fiction]]). He cranked out dozens of short stories, many of which have been anthologized over and over again. Like several of his contemporaries, he also forayed into the realms of mainstream fiction and nonfiction.

[[LoveItOrHateIt Critics are sharply divided]] over the quality and merit of van Vogt's work. While it's true that he won few awards during his lifetime, his name is often mentioned along with the Big Three. It's worth pointing out that Clarke, Asimov, and John W. Campbell, Jr. all spoke highly of him. Creator/DamonKnight, however, called him "a pygmy who has learned to operate an overgrown typewriter." Despite his critics, van Vogt did manage to inspire several prominent sci-fi writers, such as Creator/HarlanEllison and Creator/PhilipKDick. Ellison in particular was so outraged that van Vogt had received so little recognition that he went on a [[OneManArmy one-man media rampage]] until the SFWA finally presented the aging van Vogt with a [[DamonKnightMemorialGrandMasterAward Grand Master Award]].

[[LoveItOrHateIt Critics are sharply divided]] over the quality and merit of van Vogt's work. While it's true that he won few awards during his lifetime, his name is often mentioned along with the Big Three. It's worth pointing out that Clarke, Asimov, and John W. Campbell, Jr. all spoke highly of him. Creator/DamonKnight, however, called him "a pygmy who has learned to operate an overgrown typewriter." Despite his critics, van Vogt did manage to inspire several prominent sci-fi writers, such as Creator/HarlanEllison and PhilipKDick. Ellison in particular was so outraged that van Vogt had received so little recognition that he went on a [[OneManArmy one-man media rampage]] until the SFWA finally presented the aging van Vogt with a [[DamonKnightMemorialGrandMasterAward Grand Master Award]].

* RationalFiction: Null-A is a classic example of this genre

Though only one among many hardworking GoldenAge ScienceFiction writers, Alfred Elton van Vogt (pronounced "von vote") was definitely one of the most prolific. Often overshadowed by the "Big Three" (ArthurCClarke, Creator/RobertAHeinlein and Creator/IsaacAsimov), van Vogt still managed to pen some long-lived classics, including ''Literature/{{Slan}}'', ''The Book of Ptath'', ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheSpaceBeagle'', ''The Weapon Shops of Isher,'' and the ''Null-A'' series (which incidentally kicked off [[RationalFiction the genre of rational fiction]]). He cranked out dozens of short stories, many of which have been anthologized over and over again. Like several of his contemporaries, he also forayed into the realms of mainstream fiction and nonfiction.

Though only one among many hardworking GoldenAge ScienceFiction writers, Alfred Elton van Vogt (pronounced "von vote") was definitely one of the most prolific. Often overshadowed by the "Big Three" (ArthurCClarke, Creator/RobertAHeinlein and Creator/IsaacAsimov), van Vogt still managed to pen some long-lived classics, including ''Literature/{{Slan}}'', ''The Book of Ptath'', ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheSpaceBeagle'', ''The Weapon Shops of Isher,'' and the ''Null-A'' series ( which incidentally kicked off [[RationalFiction the genre of rational fiction]]). He cranked out dozens of short stories, many of which have been anthologized over and over again. Like several of his contemporaries, he also forayed into the realms of mainstream fiction and nonfiction.

Though only one among many hardworking GoldenAge ScienceFiction writers, Alfred Elton van Vogt (pronounced "von vote") was definitely one of the most prolific. Often overshadowed by the "Big Three" (ArthurCClarke, Creator/RobertAHeinlein and Creator/IsaacAsimov), van Vogt still managed to pen some long-lived classics, including ''Literature/{{Slan}}'', ''The Book of Ptath'', ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheSpaceBeagle'', ''The Weapon Shops of Isher,'' and the ''Null-A'' series, which incidentally kicked off [[RationalFiction the genre of rational fiction]]. He cranked out dozens of short stories, many of which have been anthologized over and over again. Like several of his contemporaries, he also forayed into the realms of mainstream fiction and nonfiction.

Though only one among many hardworking GoldenAge ScienceFiction writers, Alfred Elton van Vogt (pronounced "von vote") was definitely one of the most prolific. Often overshadowed by the "Big Three" (ArthurCClarke, Creator/RobertAHeinlein and Creator/IsaacAsimov), van Vogt still managed to pen some long-lived classics, including ''Literature/{{Slan}}'', ''The Book of Ptath'', ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheSpaceBeagle'', ''The Weapon Shops of Isher,'' and the ''Null-A'' series, which incidentally kicked off [[RationalFic the genre of rational fiction]]. He cranked out dozens of short stories, many of which have been anthologized over and over again. Like several of his contemporaries, he also forayed into the realms of mainstream fiction and nonfiction.

* RationalFic: Null-A is a classic example of this genre

Though only one among many hardworking GoldenAge ScienceFiction writers, Alfred Elton van Vogt (pronounced "von vote") was definitely one of the most prolific. Often overshadowed by the "Big Three" (ArthurCClarke, Creator/RobertAHeinlein and Creator/IsaacAsimov), van Vogt still managed to pen some long-lived classics, including ''Literature/{{Slan}}'', ''The Book of Ptath'', ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheSpaceBeagle'', ''The Weapon Shops of Isher,'' and the ''Null-A'' series, which incidentally kicked off [[RationalFiction the genre of rational fiction]]. He cranked out dozens of short stories, many of which have been anthologized over and over again. Like several of his contemporaries, he also forayed into the realms of mainstream fiction and nonfiction.

* RationalFiction: Null-A is a classic example of this genre

* [[RationalFiction RationalFic]]: Null-A is a classic example of this genre

* RationalFic: Null-A is a classic example of this genre

Though only one among many hardworking GoldenAge ScienceFiction writers, Alfred Elton van Vogt (pronounced "von vote") was definitely one of the most prolific. Often overshadowed by the "Big Three" (ArthurCClarke, Creator/RobertAHeinlein and Creator/IsaacAsimov), van Vogt still managed to pen some long-lived classics, including ''Literature/{{Slan}}'', ''The Book of Ptath'', ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheSpaceBeagle'', ''The Weapon Shops of Isher,'' and the ''Null-A'' series, which incidentally kicked off [[RationalFic the genre of rational fiction]]. He cranked out dozens of short stories, many of which have been anthologized over and over again. Like several of his contemporaries, he also forayed into the realms of mainstream fiction and nonfiction.

Though only one among many hardworking GoldenAge ScienceFiction writers, Alfred Elton van Vogt (pronounced "von vote") was definitely one of the most prolific. Often overshadowed by the "Big Three" (ArthurCClarke, Creator/RobertAHeinlein and Creator/IsaacAsimov), van Vogt still managed to pen some long-lived classics, including ''Literature/{{Slan}}'', ''The Book of Ptath'', ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheSpaceBeagle'', ''The Weapon Shops of Isher,'' and the ''Null-A'' series. He cranked out dozens of short stories, many of which have been anthologized over and over again. Like several of his contemporaries, he also forayed into the realms of mainstream fiction and nonfiction.

[[LoveItOrHateIt Critics are sharply divided]] over the quality and merit of van Vogt's work. While it's true that he won few awards during his lifetime, his name is often mentioned along with the Big Three. It's worth pointing out that Clarke, Asimov, and John W. Campbell, Jr. all spoke highly of him. Creator/DamonKnight, however, called him "a pygmy who has learned to operate an overgrown typewriter." Despite his critics, van Vogt did manage to inspire several prominent sci-fi writers, such as HarlanEllison and PhilipKDick. Ellison in particular was so outraged that van Vogt had received so little recognition that he went on a [[OneManArmy one-man media rampage]] until the SFWA finally presented the aging van Vogt with a [[DamonKnightMemorialGrandMasterAward Grand Master Award]].

His ''[[http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/van_vogt_a_e Encyclopedia of Science Fiction]]'' article suggests not only that the negative criticism of his work is misplaced, and that some of its unique qualities derive from van Vogt's Canadian-ness. (Although it's probably worth noting that the article is written by John Clute - who is also Canadian.)

[[caption-width-right:331:Van Vogt in 1963. According to some accounts, this is the only publicity photo he ever approved of.]]

Though only one among many hardworking GoldenAge ScienceFiction writers, Alfred Elton van Vogt was definitely one of the most prolific. Often overshadowed by the "Big Three" (ArthurCClarke, Creator/RobertAHeinlein and Creator/IsaacAsimov), van Vogt still managed to pen some long-lived classics, including ''Literature/{{Slan}}'', ''The Book of Ptath'', ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheSpaceBeagle'', ''The Weapon Shops of Isher,'' and the ''Null-A'' series. He cranked out dozens of short stories, many of which have been anthologized over and over again. Like several of his contemporaries, he also forayed into the realms of mainstream fiction and nonfiction.

[[caption-width-right:331:Van Vogt in 1963.]]

[[LoveItOrHateIt Critics are sharply divided]] over the quality and merit of van Vogt's work. While it's true that he won few awards during his lifetime, his name is often mentioned along with the Big Three. It's worth pointing out that Clarke, Asimov, and John W. Campbell, Jr. all spoke highly of him. Damon Knight, however, called him "a pygmy who has learned to operate an overgrown typewriter." Despite his critics, van Vogt did manage to inspire several prominent sci-fi writers, such as HarlanEllison and PhilipKDick. Ellison in particular was so outraged that van Vogt had received so little recognition that he went on a [[OneManArmy one-man media rampage]] until the SFWA finally presented the aging van Vogt with a [[DamonKnightMemorialGrandMasterAward Grand Master Award]].

* RecycledINSPACE: ''The Empire of the Atom'' and ''The Wizard of Linn'', which were amalgamated into the ''Mutant Mage'' series, were inspired in part by the Roman Empire, particularly the reign of Claudius. The resemblance is almost painful at times. The series is basically IClaudius [[AC:IN SPACE]]!

!!This author's works contain examples of:

* NotQuiteHuman: [[{{Slan}} The Slan.]]
** And the Mixed Men from ''Mission to the Stars.''

[[LoveItOrHateIt Critics are sharply divided]] over the quality and merit of van Vogt's work. While it's true that he won few awards during his lifetime, his name is often mentioned along with the Big Three. It's worth pointing out that Clarke, Asimov, and John W. Campbell, Jr. all spoke highly of him. Damon Knight, however, called him "a pygmy who has learned to operate an overgrown typewriter." Despite his critics, van Vogt did manage to inspire several prominent sci-fi writers, such as HarlanEllison and PhilipKDick. Ellison in particular was so outraged that van Vogt had received so little recognition that he went on a [[OneManArmy one-man media rampage]] until the SFWA finally presented the aging van Vogt with a Grand Master Award.

Though only one among the many hardworking GoldenAge ScienceFiction writers, Alfred Elton van Vogt was definitely one of the most prolific. Though often overshadowed by the "Big Three" (ArthurCClarke, Creator/RobertAHeinlein and Creator/IsaacAsimov), van Vogt penned a great many long-lived classics, including ''Literature/{{Slan}}'', ''The Book of Ptath'', ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheSpaceBeagle'', ''The Weapon Shops of Isher,'' and the ''Null-A'' series. He cranked out dozens of short stories, many of which have been anthologized over and over again. Like several of his contemporaries, he also forayed into the realms of mainstream fiction and nonfiction.

A hardworking writer of ScienceFiction during the GoldenAge, Alfred Elton van Vogt was certainly one of the most prolific. Though often overshadowed by the "Big Three" (ArthurCClarke, Creator/RobertAHeinlein and Creator/IsaacAsimov), van Vogt penned a great many long-lived classics, including ''Literature/{{Slan}}'', ''The Book of Ptath'', ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheSpaceBeagle'', ''The Weapon Shops of Isher,'' and the ''Null-A'' series. He cranked out dozens of short stories, many of which have been anthologized over and over again. Like several of his contemporaries, he also forayed into the realms of mainstream fiction and nonfiction.

A hardworking writer of ScienceFiction during the GoldenAge, Alfred Elton van Vogt was certainly one of the most prolific. Though often overshadowed by the "Big Three" (ArthurCClarke, Creator/RobertAHeinlein and Creator/IsaacAsimov), van Vogt penned a great many long-lived classics, including ''{{Slan}}'', ''The Book of Ptath'', ''TheVoyageOfTheSpaceBeagle'', ''The Weapon Shops of Isher,'' and the ''Null-A'' series. He cranked out dozens of short stories, many of which have been anthologized over and over again. Like several of his contemporaries, he also forayed into the realms of mainstream fiction and nonfiction.