Jerry Sohl
Gerald Allan Sohl, born on December 2, 1913, in Los Angeles, California, was a notable American writer primarily recognized for his contributions to science fiction. His early education at Central College in Chicago was cut short by the Great Depression, prompting him to pursue a career in journalism. Sohl worked as a newspaper reporter and telegraph editor, which honed his writing skills and deepened his fascination with storytelling. After marrying Jean Gordon in 1942 and serving in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II, Sohl turned to science fiction writing, influenced by his passion for the genre.
By the late 1950s, he established himself as a freelance writer, producing straightforward adventure narratives that appealed to a broad audience. His notable works include "The Transcendent Man" and "Point Ultimate," both of which explore themes of human resilience and societal fears during the Cold War era. Sohl's versatility extended to screenwriting, where he contributed to iconic television shows like "Star Trek" and "The Twilight Zone." His writing journey reflects a commitment to entertaining storytelling, culminating in a legacy that continues to resonate within the science fiction community. Sohl passed away on November 4, 2002, in Thousand Oaks, California.
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Jerry Sohl
Writer
- Born: December 2, 1913
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, California
- Died: November 4, 2002
- Place of death: Thousand Oaks, California
Biography
Gerald Allan Sohl was born in Los Angeles, California, on December 2, 1913. In the mid-1930’s, he was able to briefly attend Central College in Chicago, but the economic rigors of the Depression made it necessary for him to leave school and find employment. From a very early age he had been fascinated with the written word, and his choice of careers reflected that interest. He found work as a newspaper reporter and was a telegraph editor, photographer, and feature writer for the Bloomington Daily Pantagraph in Illinois.
In 1942, he married Jean Gordon, with whom he had one son and two daughters. Shortly after their marriage, he began serving in the U.S. Army Air Force, attaining the rank of sergeant by the time his service was completed in 1945. When he returned home, he began to dabble with science-fiction writing because he was a fan of that genre. By 1958, he was publishing reliably enough to consider himself primarily a freelance writer.
Throughout his career, Sohl remained firmly attached to the principles of good writing that he learned as a science-fiction fan. He believed a writer should first and foremost tell an enjoyable story and not become overly fascinated with literary tricks. Many of his novels were straightforward adventure stories, such as The Transcendent Man (1953), which pits a supernormal human against aliens who do not want their secrets revealed to overly inquisitive human beings. Another novel, Point Ultimate (1955), depicts a dystopian future in which Earth has been conquered by communists. The novel reflects the fear of the postwar Red Scare, complete with convoluted spy plots about germ warfare and secret colonies on Mars.
As was common at the time, Sohl wrote under a number of pseudonyms and house names, which makes tracking his full bibliography rather difficult. By the 1960’s, Sohl’s reputation as a science-fiction writer was well established and he was also able to find work as a screenwriter. His also wrote episodes for television programs, including the science-fiction series Star Trek and The Twilight Zone and mainstream shows like Route 66. As science-fiction novels and stories became increasingly obscure and avant-garde, Sohl focused on writing more mainstream fiction, believing he could still tell an entertaining story. He died in Thousand Oaks, California, on November, 4, 2002.