Susan C. Petrey
Susan C. Petrey was an American science fiction writer whose life and work remain shrouded in mystery. Born in 1945, she passed away on December 5, 1980, at the age of thirty-five. Petrey was notably private about her personal life, with little known about her upbringing, and she had limited family connections. Professionally, she held a degree in microbiology and worked as a medical technician, while also immersing herself in the study of Turkish and Russian languages. This unique blend of science and linguistics influenced her fiction, where she created an imaginative world featuring a race of healers reminiscent of the Mongols, who accepted payment in blood, captivating readers interested in vampire lore.
Despite her short writing career, which began in 1979 and included several well-received stories, Petrey's contributions were significant enough to earn posthumous nominations for prestigious awards such as the Hugo and the John W. Campbell Award. Her story "Spidersong" stood out and was nominated for a Hugo Award, showcasing her potential in the genre. After her untimely death, which was ruled an accident, her works were compiled into the collection "Gifts of Blood," with proceeds established to fund scholarships for aspiring writers. Petrey's legacy continues to inspire and intrigue those interested in science fiction and literature.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Susan C. Petrey
Writer
- Born: 1945
- Died: December 5, 1980
Biography
When Susan C. Petrey died on December 5, 1980, at the age of thirty-five, she left behind a legacy of writing and an enigma. An intensely private person, she held the details of her life close. Even her associates did not know anything about the circumstances of her birth or childhood. Her only known relative was an aunt, but her literary executors in the Portland, Oregon, science-fiction community soon lost contact with this woman. There is evidence that Petrey was married at one time but that the marriage failed; however, Petrey never spoke of any former husband or children, resolutely keeping that information part of her private life.
Petrey held a degree in microbiology and worked as a medical technician, but also was a student of the Turkish and Russian languages. Large numbers of papers among her notes were found to have been written in those languages. Unfortunately, most of them have never been studied by anyone who can read the requisite languages. Her interest in Turkish and Russian, along with her scientific background, formed the basis of her fiction writing.
Petrey created an imaginary race of healers who lived on the Central Asian steppes, rather like the Mongols, but who accepted payment for their services in the form of blood. Although they were not vampires in the strict sense, their interest in blood piqued the interests of many readers who enjoyed vampire fiction. In addition to her linguistic interests, Petrey was an avid amateur musician, playing the mandolin like an expert, and was particularly fond of bluegrass and folk music.
Petrey’s career was almost painfully short. Her first story was published in 1979. By the time of her death she had four stories accepted. However, they were of such quality that her notes were gathered and studied by author Steve Perry, who extracted from them three other publishable stories. Her short story “Spidersong” was nominated for a Hugo Award, and she was posthumously nominated for the John W. Campbell award, which is given each year to the most promising new writer in the science-fiction field.
Although there was much speculation about Petrey’s death, which was the result of an overdose of prescription medication and alcohol, all credible evidence points to it having been an accident rather than a deliberate act of self-destruction. In 1990, her stories were collected into a book, Gifts of Blood. Proceeds from it were used to fund a scholarship to the Clarion writers’ workshop, sending one student to Clarion in Lansing, Michigan, and a second student to Clarion West in Seattle, Washington.