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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | September 30, 2013 12:57 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Mark Painter |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Resolution - 100th Year Anniversary of the Birth of Alfred Bester renowned Science Fiction Author |
| I am planning to introduce a resolution to commemorate the 100th Year Anniversary of the birth of renowned science fiction author, Alfred Bester. Alfred Bester was born on December 18, 1913, in Manhattan, New York City, as a first-generation child to immigrant parents of modest means. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1935, where he had been a member of the prestigious Philomathean Society, which is one of the oldest literary societies in America. In 1936, Mr. Bester married Rolly Goulko, a successful Broadway, radio and television actress. After attending Columbia University and New York University for postgraduate studies, Mr. Bester began working in public relations. In 1939, he entered an amateur writing competition sponsored by Thrilling Wonder Stories magazine with his short story The Broken Axiom and was chosen the winner. This was the beginning of his distinguished and prolific writing and editing career, which lasted from 1939 to 1981 and included writing science fiction novels, short stories, comic books and strips, and scripts for television and radio. In 1953, the first-ever Hugo Award, which is science fiction’s most prestigious award, was given to Alfred Bester for his novel, The Demolished Man. He was also named the Science Fiction Writers of America as its ninth Grand Master in 1988, an enormous honor that he was informed about shortly before he died. Mr. Bester died in 1987 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, having lived in nearby Ottsville with his wife since the early 1980s. He was posthumously inducted in the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 2001, and is considered by many to be among several writers who helped to invent modern science fiction. |
Introduced as HR504