James H. Schmitz
James H. Schmitz was a notable American science fiction writer, known for his imaginative storytelling and strong character development. Born in Germany to American parents, he moved to the United States after World War I and later returned to Germany, where he worked for the International Harvester Company. Schmitz served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II as an aerial photographer in the Pacific Theater. After the war, he transitioned to writing full-time, publishing his first story in 1943 and gaining recognition in the 1950s.
His works, frequently published in magazines like Astounding/Analog, include popular stories such as "The Witches of Karres," which was nominated for a Hugo award, and "Balanced Ecology." Schmitz's writing is characterized by adventurous plots that often blend science fiction with elements of fantasy and magic, exploring themes of human-alien interaction and the potential of the human mind. He was recognized for his portrayal of strong female characters, diverging from traditional stereotypes. Schmitz’s contributions to the genre earned him the Invisible Little Man Award in 1973, and his works continue to be celebrated posthumously, with collections such as *The Best of James H. Schmitz* published in 1988. He passed away in 1981.
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James H. Schmitz
Author
- Born: 1911
- Birthplace: Germany
- Died: 1981
Biography
Though born in Germany, James H. Schmitz was the son of American parents Joseph Henry Schmitz and Catherine (Davis) Schmitz, who took their family back to the United States during World War I. Afterward, they returned to Germany, where Schmitz spent much of his early life; he attended high school (Realgymnasium Obersekunder) in Berlin.
During his early twenties, Schmitz worked throughout Germany for International Harvester Company, leaving both Germany and his job in 1938 to move permanently to the United States. Schmitz worked as a writer from 1938 to 1942, at which time he began three years of service in the U.S. Air Force, serving as an aerial photographer in the Pacific during World War II. Following the war, he moved to California and there began making a living by building automobile trailers in 1946, continuing in this self- employed work until 1949, when he became a full-time writer. He had published his first story, “Greenface,” in 1943, but his career as a writer didn’t take off until the early 1950’s. He married Betty Mae Chapman in January, 1957.
Schmitz’s short work was published frequently in Astounding/Analog, mostly between 1960 and 1974, and he also penned several novels. Among his best-known stories are “The Witches of Karres,” “Grandpa,” and “Balanced Ecology,” the first of which was nominated for a Hugo award. It is thought that a sequel to “The Witches of Karres” exists, but the manuscript is lost. Between 1943 and 1974, Schmitz went on to complete seventy works. His novels and stories include likable, if not well-developed, characters. Instead of having women who represented the “damsel in distress” stereotype, Schmitz was known for having strong female characters. His plots involve science fiction, magic, high adventure, and heroic deeds. His works are considered fairy tales of sorts, and they tend to center around common themes and topics such as the cooperation and conflict between humans and aliens and the supernatural powers of the human mind.
He won the Invisible Little Man Award in 1973 from an organization called the Elves’, Gnomes’, and Little Men’s Science Fiction, Chowder, and Marching Society, and he was a member of the Science Fiction Writers of America and the Authors Guild. James H. Schmitz died of congestive heart failure in 1981. In 1988, the publishing division of the New England Science Fiction Association published a work titled The Best of James H. Schmitz, which at least temporarily brought Schmitz and his work out of literary obscurity.