Hal Clement
Hal Clement, born Harry Clement Stubbs on May 30, 1922, in Somerville, Massachusetts, was a prominent American science fiction writer known for his focus on scientific accuracy in his work. He earned a B.S. in astronomy from Harvard University and served as a lieutenant pilot in the Army Air Corps during World War II. After the war, Clement pursued a master's degree in education and later obtained an M.S. in chemistry, becoming a dedicated educator at various institutions, including Milton Academy.
Clement's writing career began with his first published story, "Proof," in 1942, and he gained recognition for his novels, notably "Needle" and "Mission of Gravity," the latter of which showcased his ability to blend complex scientific ideas with narrative. He was celebrated as a key figure in "hard" science fiction, prioritizing scientific concepts over traditional storytelling elements. Throughout his career, he received several accolades, including a retroactive Hugo Award and induction into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame. Hal Clement passed away on October 29, 2003, leaving behind a legacy of influential works that continue to inspire science fiction enthusiasts.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Hal Clement
Writer
- Born: May 30, 1922
- Birthplace: Somerville, Massachusetts
- Died: October 29, 2003
- Place of death: Milton, Massachusetts
Biography
Harry Clement Stubbs, who wrote under the pen name Hal Clement, was born on May 30, 1922, in Somerville, Massachusetts, the son of Harry Clarence Stubbs and Marjorie White Stubbs. Clement grew up in the Boston area and attended schools in nearby Arlington and Cambridge. He graduated from the Rindge School of Technical Arts in 1939, and then earned a B.S. in astronomy from Harvard University in 1943. He subsequently joined the Army Air Corps Reserve and was commissioned as a lieutenant in 1944, serving as a pilot during World War II and flying thirty-five missions.
After the war Clement went on to attend Boston University under the G. I Bill and received his master’s degree in education in 1946. He was recalled to active duty in 1951 and would retire as a colonel in 1976. By that time he had earned a third degree, an M.S. in chemistry, from Simmons College in Boston in 1963. Clement married Mary Elizabeth Myers in 1952, and the couple had three children.
Clement taught science for two years at a public high school before joining the faculty of Milton Academy in Milton, Massachusetts, in 1949. He retired from teaching in 1987. During this time, he also was the president and served in various other capacities for the New England Association of Chemistry Teachers.
Clement’s interests in science and science fiction were sparked by the famous Buck Rogers comic strip during the early 1930’s. He published his first story, “Proof,” in the magazine Astounding Science Fiction (later retitled Analog) in 1942. His first novel, Needle,was serialized in the same magazine in 1949. Written in the form of a mystery, it posits a complex symbiotic relationship between a young earthling and an alien detective. Clement’s third novel, the thought-provoking Mission of Gravity,was destined to be his most famous. Set on the huge planet Mesklin, which rotates so rapidly that gravity at its poles is hundreds of times that of Earth, it made up in scientific speculation what it lacked in plot. Clement’s subsequent novels contain equally exciting ideas but display persistent technical problems.
Clement also published articles on science under his birth name, and beginning in 1972 he produced paintings on astronomical and science-fiction themes as George Richard. He died on October 29, 2003.
Clement was a guest of honor at the 1991 World Science Fiction Convention and won a retroactive Hugo Award from the same group in 1996 for his story “Uncommon Sense.” He was inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 1998 and was recognized by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America as a grand master in 1999. Clement was one of the most respected writers of “hard” science fiction, devoting more attention to the scientific content of his novels than to their structure or style.