Fredric Brown was one of the most versatile writers of science fiction, producing more than one hundred short stories and five novels, in addition to a large body of detective fiction. Fellow writers mention him with respect and affection, remembering the inventiveness of his plots and the humor he displayed in person as well as in his works.

Born in Cincinnati, Fredric William Brown spent a year at Hanover College in Indiana and another year at the University of Cincinnati. In 1929 he married Helen Ruth, by whom he had two sons. In 1936, after some years as an office worker, he began a career in journalism by becoming a proofreader for the Milwaukee Journal. Several of his early works reflect his knowledge of the printing industry. He began writing science fiction in 1941, and in 1947, after a divorce, he became a full-time writer. The following year he married Elizabeth Charlier...