John Varley seems to be a very private man, and details of his life are hard to come by. He was born in Austin, Texas to John Edward Varley, an oil worker, and Joan Varley (nee Boehm). In 1966, he attended Michigan State University, then dropped out of college. He traveled around the United States for a few years. In 1970, he married Anet Mconel, a consumer advocate. Money was tight for the couple, especially as they began to have children. In 1973, according to Varley, he turned to writing science fiction in order to make a living. He wrote the sort of stories he wanted to read, and with persistence began selling his stories to major science fiction magazines within a year. His well-plotted short stories quickly became favorites of science fiction fans. His five novels for adults, too, have proven popular with readers, with the...