Lafferty, R.A.

Raphael Aloysius Lafferty (November 7, 1914 - March 18, 2002), science fiction and fantasy writer. He was born in Neola, Iowa, and lived most of his life in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He attended the University of Tulsa in 1932-1933, and worked in the electrical supply business for 35 years, before devoting himself to his writing career in 1960. Much of Lafferty's writings focused on the realm of science fiction. He received the Phoenix award in 1971 and was also awarded the Hugo award in 1973, for the year's best short story. R.A. Lafferty's novels include: Past Master, Arrive at Easterwine, The Flame Is Green, and many others. Lafferty has also published collections of his short stories as well as being a contributor of some 150 short stories to magazines and other publications. He did not begin writing until the 1950s, but he eventually produced thirty-two novels and more than two hundred short stories, most of them at least nominally science fiction. His first published story was The Wagons in New Mexico Quarterly Review in 1959. His first published science fiction story was Day of the Glacier, in The Original Science Fiction Stories in 1960, and his first published novel was Past Master in 1968. Around 1980, he retired from writing due to a stroke. In 1994, he suffered an even more severe stroke. He died 18 March 2002, aged 87 in a nursing home in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

From the description of R. A. Lafferty papers, 1959-1997 (Tulsa City-County Library). WorldCat record id: 184739675

Raphael Aloysius Lafferty was born on November 7, 1914, in Neola, Iowa. He attended the University of Tulsa in 1932 -- 1933, and the International Correspondence School from 1939 -- -1942. He served in the military from 1942 -- 1946, as a staff sergeant and received a New Guinea Campaign Star. Much of Lafferty's writings focused on the realm of science fiction. He received the Pheonix award in 1971 and was also awarded the Hugo award in 1973, for the year's best short story. R.A. Lafferty's novels include: Past Master, Arrive at Easterwine, The Flame Is Green, and many others. Lafferty has also published collections of his short stories as well as being a contributor of some 150 short stories to magazines and other publications.

From the description of Papers of R.A. Lafferty. [1972-1988] (University of Iowa Libraries). WorldCat record id: 233647334

Raphael Lafferty, American science fiction writer, was born in Iowa in 1914 and attended the University of Tulsa 1932-33. He pursued several jobs and served in the military 1942-46. Lafferty writes science fiction, heraldic fantasy with religious intent, and historical novels. His first novel, Past master (1968), is an example of heraldic fantasy having as its theme, the struggle between good and evil in a utopian world, Astrobe.

Lafferty has written nine novels, several novellas, and numerous short stories, many of which have been published in magazines, and anthologies. Lafferty has been nominated for several awards including the Nebula and the Hugo awards.

From the description of Smoe and the implicit clay: Short story manuscript, [not before 1934]. (Temple University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 122445106