Fritz Leiber

(December 24, 1910 – September 5, 1992)

Fritz Leiber was a writer of fantasy, horror and sf. He was also an actor, chess player and a champion fencer. He is one of the rare pros to have been a Worldcon goh twice, at Nolacon in 1951 and Seacon '79.

While primarily a professional writer, he had a long and close relationship with fandom. He was a member of the Hyborian Legion and of LASFS, an attendee at Centracon, and a contributor to Vorpal Glass and Amra. He was also one of the leaders of the Chicago: 1959 Worldcon bid. He acted in the title role of a fannish fantasy film by Unicorn Productions, The Genie, in 1959, and helped compose at least one fannish musical.

His first professional sale was to Unknown, and he contributed to the Lovecraft mythos. His most famous creations were the characters Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser.

In 1962, Chicon III presented a special committee award to him and Hoffman Electronic Corporation for the use of SF in advertisements.

He left some papers to the University of Houston, where they form the Fritz Leiber Science Fiction & Fantasy Convention Flyers & Programs collection. Other papers are at Lilly Library of Indiana University.

• Entry in The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction.
• Video of Fritz Leiber talking about monsters at Pacificon II.
• “The Genie”.

Awards, Honors and GoHships:

• 1951 -- Nolacon
• 1958 -- 1958 Best Novel or Novelette Hugo winner
• 1961 -- Baycon
• 1962 -- Special committee award from Chicon III
• 1965 -- 1965 Best Novel Hugo winner
• 1966 -- Knight of St. Fantony
• 1967 -- Forry Award
• 1968 -- 1968 Best Novelette Hugo winner
• 1970 -- 1970 Best Novella Hugo winner
• 1971 -- 1971 Best Novella Hugo winner
• 1975 -- Gandalf Award
• 1976 -- 1976 Best Short Story Hugo winner
• 1978 -- 4th World Fantasy Convention
• 1979 -- Seacon '79, The Fantasy Symposium
• 1980 -- OryCon '80
• 1981 -- (Coveted) Balrog Award, SFWA Grand Master Award
• 1983 -- Moscon V
• 1989 -- Minicon 24
• 1992 -- Rhinocon 2
• 2011 -- Posthumous GoH at FOGcon 1
• 2019 -- 1944 Best Novel Retro Hugo
• 2020 -- 1945 Best Fan Writer Retro Hugo
• Eight Hugo nominations

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Person

1910—1992

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