John Brunner was born in England in 1934. His interest in science fiction began at the age of six when "someone misguidedly left a copy of The War of the Worlds in the nursery." He sold his first sf paperback at the age of 17 and made his first sales to U.S. magazines before his 18th birthday. After service in the R.A.F. he worked for a while as a technical abstractor and then as a publisher's editor, turning freelance in 1958. Since then he has sold over 40 books (novels, short novels and collections of stories) and contributed to all the leading sf magazines in Britain and the U.S. He has twice had novels short-listed for the "Hugo" best-of-the-year award, and a play adapted from one of his short stories topped the viewer's panel ratings for BBC-TV's first Out of the Unknown series. In 1966 he was made the first recipient of the British Fantasy Award. He and his wife Majorie live in Hampstead, London and his other interests include folk and topical song, and touring Britain and Europe in his 120-mph sports convertible. (from Times Without Number, 1969 printing)