John W.

Campbell
John Wood Campbell Jr. (June 8, 1910 – July 11, 1971) was an
American science fiction writer and editor. He was editor of John W. Campbell
Astounding Science Fiction (later called Analog Science Fiction
and Fact) from late 1937 until his death and was part of the
Golden Age of Science Fiction. Campbell wrote super-science
space opera under his own name and stories under his primary
pseudonym, Don A. Stuart. Campbell also used the pen names
Karl Van Kampen and Arthur McCann.[1] His novella Who Goes
There? was adapted as the films The Thing from Another World
(1951), The Thing (1982), and The Thing (2011).

Campbell began writing science fiction at age 18 while attending

MIT. He published six short stories, one novel, and six letters in
the science fiction magazine Amazing Stories from 1930 to 1931.
This work established Campbell's reputation as a writer of space
adventure. When in 1934 he began to write stories with a
different tone, he wrote as Don A. Stuart. From 1930 until the
later part of that decade, Campbell was prolific and successful
under both names, though he stopped writing fiction shortly after Campbell in 1965
he became editor of Astounding in 1937. Born John Wood Campbell Jr.
June 8, 1910
It is as editor of Astounding Science Fiction (later called Analog Newark, New Jersey,
Science Fiction and Fact) from late 1937 until his death for United States
which Campbell is primarily remembered today. Also, in 1939, Died July 11, 1971 (aged 61)
Campbell started the fantasy magazine Unknown, although it
Mountainside, New
was canceled after only four years. Referring to his time spent as
Jersey, United States
an editor, The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction wrote: "More
than any other individual, he helped to shape modern sf."[2] Isaac Pen name Don A. Stuart
Asimov called Campbell "the most powerful force in science Occupation Magazine editor, writer
fiction ever" and said the "first ten years of his editorship he Nationality American
dominated the field completely."[3] In his capacity as an editor, Alma mater Massachusetts Institute
Campbell published some of the very earliest work, and helped of Technology (no
shape the careers of virtually every important science-fiction degree)
author to debut between 1938 and 1946, including Robert A. Duke University (BS,
Heinlein, Theodore Sturgeon, Isaac Asimov, and Arthur C. physics, 1932)
Clarke.
Period 1930–1971
An increasingly strong interest in pseudoscience later alienated Genre Science fiction
Campbell from Isaac Asimov.[4] As well, beginning in the 1960s,
Campbell's controversial essays supporting segregation, and Signature
other remarks and writings surrounding slavery and race, served
to distance him from many in the science fiction
community.[5][6] Nevertheless, Campbell remained an important
figure in science fiction publishing up until his death. Campbell and Astounding shared one of the inaugural