Frederik George Pohl Jr. was born on November 26, 1919. He was born in New York City to Frederik George Pohl Sr. and Anna Jane Mason. His father was a salesman, and the family moved frequently. They lived in various places, including Texas, California, and the Panama Canal Zone, before settling in Brooklyn.
Pohl’s career in science fiction began early. He published his first work, a poem, in 1937. He became a key figure in the Futurians, a group of science fiction fans and writers. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army as a weatherman. After the war, he edited Galaxy and If magazines, winning multiple Hugo Awards.
His novel “Gateway” won four major awards, including the Hugo and Nebula. Pohl also received the U.S. National Book Award for “Jem.” He was honored with the Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award and inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.
In 1984, Pohl moved to Palatine, Illinois. He lived there until his death in 2013. In Palatine, he continued to write and contribute to the science fiction community. His work remained influential, and he won the Hugo Award for Best Fan Writer in 2010 for his blog. Pohl’s connection to Palatine was marked by his continued creativity and engagement with the literary world. His legacy in science fiction is enduring and significant.
