Lloyd Biggle, Jr
Lloyd Biggle, Jr. was an American author and musicologist born on April 17, 1923, in Waterloo, Iowa. His experiences as a communications specialist during World War II, where he was wounded twice, shaped his life and led to his involvement with veteran organizations. After the war, he pursued higher education, achieving a bachelor's degree from Wayne State University and a master's degree in music literature from the University of Michigan, followed by a doctorate in musicology. Biggle transitioned from academia to a full-time writing career in 1963, publishing a total of twenty-four books and numerous short stories in the science fiction and mystery genres.
He was also a prominent oral historian, founding the Science Fiction Oral History Association (SFOHA) to document the voices of science fiction writers. Biggle's work had a significant influence on the genre, with notable stories like "The Tunesmith" and "Monument," the latter of which was nominated for a Hugo Award. Additionally, he contributed to the literary community as the founding secretary treasurer of the Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA), receiving recognition for his novel "Watchers of the Dark." Biggle's legacy includes blending scientific themes with literary artistry, as well as his impactful role in the development of the science fiction community until his passing on September 12, 2002, in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
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Lloyd Biggle, Jr.
Fiction Writer
- Born: April 17, 1923
- Birthplace: Waterloo, Iowa
- Died: September 12, 2002
- Place of death: Ypsilanti, Michigan
Biography
Lloyd Biggle, Jr., was born in Waterloo, Iowa, on April 17, 1923, to Lloyd B. and Ethel Cruthers Biggle. His service in World War II as a communications specialist in the One Hundred Second Infantry Division caused him to be wounded twice; a shrapnel wound he received in a battle near the Elbe River left him disabled for life. As a result of his service, he became a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, and the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
He returned to school after the war, obtaining his bachelor’s degree with High Distinction from Wayne State University in 1947. He received his master’s degree in music literature from the University of Michigan in 1948, then entered the school’s doctoral program in musicology, which he completed in 1953. After teaching at the University of Michigan, he moved on to Eastern Michigan University before becoming a full-time author in 1963. In 1947, he married violin teacher Hedwig Janiszewski; the couple had two children, Donna and Kenneth.
In addition to his writing, Biggle was a noted oral historian. In 1975 he founded the Science Fiction Oral History Association (SFOHA) to capture science-fiction writers on tape giving interviews and reading their stories. He was president of SFOHA from 1979 to 1987, then served as a director of the association until his death in Ypsilanti, Michigan, on September 12, 2002, following a twenty-year struggle with leukemia.
Biggle published twenty-four books, including the Cultural Survey and Jan Darzek series. He also was an active short story writer in both the science fiction and mystery genres. His short story “The Tunesmith” is credited as an influence on science fiction author Orson Scott Card and songwriter Jimmy Webb. Another story, “Monument,” was nominated for the 1962 Hugo Award and in 1974 became the basis for a novel of the same name. In the mystery field, his fondness for historical fiction inspired him to write books featuring Sherlock Holmes and to create a new Victorian sleuth, Lady Sara Varnley. Along with writing, Biggle served as the editor of the Nebula Award Stories Seven anthology in 1973.
Biggle was the founding secretary treasurer of the Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA.), and the organization gave their 1966 Nebula Award to his novel Watchers of the Dark. In 1980 his novel Silence Is Deadly was included on the New York Public Library’s list of recommended books for teenage readers.
An internationally recognized musicologist, Biggle was one of the first writers to successfully combine science with artistic sensibility. His prolific number of books and short stories, combined with his contributions to the science fiction community through SFOHA and SFWA, serve as his legacy.