Lesley Choyce's versatility can be seen in both his writing and his work life: he has written poetry, mainstream fiction, science fiction, surrealist fantasy, drama, and humorous essays, and he has worked as a high-school substitute teacher, television host, rehabilitation counselor, musician, and publisher, among other jobs. If anything unifies his writings, including his science fiction and fantasy, it is a pervasive concern for the environment. One major environmental issue for Choyce is the need to develop new and renewable sources of energy.

Lesley Willis Choyce was born in Riverside, New Jersey, on 21 March 1951. His father, George Choyce, was a mechanic, and his mother, Norma (née Willis), was a homemaker. He grew up in rural Cinnaminson, New Jersey, and had what he later considered an idyllic childhood; in his book of autobiographical essays, An Avalanche of Ocean: The Life and Times of a Nova Scotia Immigrant...