Louis Trimble
Louis Trimble was an American author born on March 2, 1917, in Seattle, Washington. His education was interrupted by World War II, during which he served as an editor in the Army Corps of Engineers rather than in active combat. After the war, he completed his bachelor's degree in 1950 and went on to pursue a master's degree at the University of Washington. Trimble taught Spanish and English at Eastern Washington State College before becoming a professor of humanities and social studies.
He was a prolific writer known for his novels that often incorporated fantastical elements, such as goddesses and powerful women, while exploring the human condition. Although his narrative construction was sometimes criticized for relying heavily on coincidence, his storytelling was characterized by a brisk pace and clarity, making it accessible to younger readers interested in science fiction. Trimble had a particular fascination with the European Middle Ages, often focusing on historical settings over futuristic themes. He passed away on March 9, 1988.
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Louis Trimble
Fiction Writer
- Born: March 2, 1917
- Birthplace: Seattle, Washington
- Died: March 9, 1988
Biography
Louis Trimble was born in Seattle, Washington, on March 2, 1917. Like many young men of his generation, his education was delayed by World War II. However, he did not serve in the field but was an editor in the architects division of the Army Corps of Engineers. He received his bachelor’s degree in 1950 from Washington State College in Cheny, after which he was an instructor in Spanish and English at Eastern Washington State College from 1950 through 1954. During that period he also earned his master’s degree from the University of Washington in Seattle. There he became an instructor and assistant professor, ultimately becoming a professor of humanities and social sutdies. He was married three times, first to Renee Eddy in 1938, by whom he had one daughter. After her death he married Jacqueline Whitney in 1952. When that marriage ended, he married Mary Todd in 1974.
Trimble was a prolific writer, producing a large number of novels dealing with fantastic elements such as goddesses and women with wonderous powers. He firmly believed that the purpose of science fiction and fantasy is to entertain while commenting upon the human condition. However, he often produced his romantic and fantastical effects at the expense of sound narrative construction, particularly overusing coincidence to drive the plot. Also, in a number of his works the fantastical elements are merely vehicles to take a modern-day character to the location of his real interest, namely the European Middle Ages. His writing is less concerned with the future than with the past; he preferred the world of dirt floors and oxcarts to that of rockets and robots. Even so, his works have a brisk pace and clarity that make them a good introduction for young people interested in science fiction. Trimble died on March 9, 1988.