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Quiz about Fantastic Writers
Quiz about Fantastic Writers

Fantastic Writers! Trivia Quiz


Can you identify these great science fiction writers from their biographical details?

A multiple-choice quiz by Flamis. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
Flamis
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
322,703
Updated
Jul 23 22
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
891
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. This American writer was actually born in Russia on or around January 2, 1920 (the exact date is uncertain). He was brought up in a Jewish household in New York, but later became president of the American Humanist Association. Who was this prolific author, best known for his stories about galactic empires and robots? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. This British writer was born in the seaside town of Minehead in Somerset on 16 December 1917. He served in the Royal Air Force as a radar specialist during World War II, and in 1945 advanced the idea of using geo-stationary satellites for communication. Whose short story "The Sentinel", written in 1948, was initially rejected, only to become the basis for one of the greatest science fiction movies of all time? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. He was born on July 7, 1907 in Kansas City, Missouri, and served as an officer in the US Navy, reaching the rank of Lieutenant before being discharged in 1934 due to sickness. Who was this innovative author, who gave us words like "waldo" and "grok" and the idea of the waterbed, as well numerous fine works of science fiction? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. He was born March 12, 1925, in Stamford, Connecticut. He speaks Esperanto fluently, as does his best-known character, the Stainless Steel Rat. Who is this much-travelled (and very funny) author? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. The daughter of an anthropologist and a writer, she was born on October 21, 1929 in Berkeley, California. She submitted her first story at the age of eleven. It was rejected, but she went on to win several Hugo awards. Who gave us "The Left Hand of Darkness"? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. She was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts on April 1, 1926, but she is no fool when it comes to writing science fiction. She now lives in Ireland in a house of her own design called Dragonhold-Underhill. Who was the first woman to receive a Hugo award for fiction? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. She was born on February 17, 1912 in Cleveland, Ohio. She planned to be a teacher, but had to leave College due to the Depression, and became a librarian. She was already a keen writer, having completed her first book at high school. Who is this author, who introduced many young people to Science Fiction, and gave us the "Witch World"? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. His great-grandfather was the oil tycoon, Edward L. Doheny, and he was born on April 30, 1938. He has won numerous Hugo awards mostly for short fiction. Which very witty writer gave us the concept of the "Ringworld"? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Born November 26, 1919, this American writer travelled for much of his early life, until his family settled in Brooklyn when he was seven. Can you name this prolific writer and editor, the first person to win Hugo awards for both disciplines, including a best novel award in 1978 for "Gateway"? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Born on January 15, 1935 in Brooklyn New York, he was a keen reader, and began writing in his teens. He sold his first book aged 20, and soon was writing, by his own account, over a million words a year. Which prolific writer took us to the "World Inside" and later to "Lord Valentine's Castle"? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. This American writer was actually born in Russia on or around January 2, 1920 (the exact date is uncertain). He was brought up in a Jewish household in New York, but later became president of the American Humanist Association. Who was this prolific author, best known for his stories about galactic empires and robots?

Answer: Isaac Asimov

Asimov was also renowned as a writer of popular non-fiction, having written in nine out of ten of the major categories in the Dewey decimal system! In total he wrote over 500 books, and over 9000 shorter works. His most highly acclaimed story is "Nightfall" which in 1964 was voted the best short science fiction story of all time by the Science Fiction Writers of America. He died on April 6, 1992.
2. This British writer was born in the seaside town of Minehead in Somerset on 16 December 1917. He served in the Royal Air Force as a radar specialist during World War II, and in 1945 advanced the idea of using geo-stationary satellites for communication. Whose short story "The Sentinel", written in 1948, was initially rejected, only to become the basis for one of the greatest science fiction movies of all time?

Answer: Arthur C. Clarke

That short story became the basis for "2001: A Space Odyssey". Clarke emigrated to Sri Lanka in 1956 and lived there until his death on 19 March 2008. He was knighted in 1998.
3. He was born on July 7, 1907 in Kansas City, Missouri, and served as an officer in the US Navy, reaching the rank of Lieutenant before being discharged in 1934 due to sickness. Who was this innovative author, who gave us words like "waldo" and "grok" and the idea of the waterbed, as well numerous fine works of science fiction?

Answer: Robert A. Heinlein

Heinlein came up with the idea of the waterbed in hospital, and wrote about it in three novels. As a result, when waterbeds became popular in the late 1960s, they could not be patented. Heinlein gained four Hugo awards for his novels, including my favourite, "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress". He died on May 8, 1988.
4. He was born March 12, 1925, in Stamford, Connecticut. He speaks Esperanto fluently, as does his best-known character, the Stainless Steel Rat. Who is this much-travelled (and very funny) author?

Answer: Harry Harrison

His novel "Make Room! Make Room!", a serious story of over-population and its consequences, formed the basis for the movie "Soylent Green". That said, it was Harry Harrison who not only gave use the Stainless Steel Rat, but also Bill, the Galactic Hero. At age 84, in 2010, he was still writing, with "The Stainless Steel Rat Returns" due for publication that year.
5. The daughter of an anthropologist and a writer, she was born on October 21, 1929 in Berkeley, California. She submitted her first story at the age of eleven. It was rejected, but she went on to win several Hugo awards. Who gave us "The Left Hand of Darkness"?

Answer: Ursula LeGuin

She is probably more widely known for the "Earthsea" books, since these have been adapted for television - though not at all as she envisioned. Her books reflect her background in social anthropology, and frequently involve people of varying ethnicity - which is just one thing the producers got wrong.
6. She was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts on April 1, 1926, but she is no fool when it comes to writing science fiction. She now lives in Ireland in a house of her own design called Dragonhold-Underhill. Who was the first woman to receive a Hugo award for fiction?

Answer: Anne McCaffrey

That Hugo was awarded in 1968 for "Weyr Search", a novella that became the first part of "Dragonflight" - the first novel written in the famous "Dragonriders of Pern" series. Music is a common theme in her stories - not surprising since she studied voice for nine years and even participated in the first "music circus" in 1949.
7. She was born on February 17, 1912 in Cleveland, Ohio. She planned to be a teacher, but had to leave College due to the Depression, and became a librarian. She was already a keen writer, having completed her first book at high school. Who is this author, who introduced many young people to Science Fiction, and gave us the "Witch World"?

Answer: Andre Norton

Her original name was Alice Mary Norton, but she changed her name to Andre Alice Norton to make her books more marketable to her target audience of young boys (and I can assure you that many young girls and adults read her books as well). She died on March 17, 2005 (aged 93). Shortly before her death the Science Fiction Writers of America announced the creation of the Andre Norton award for outstanding work in writing science fiction or fantasy for young people.
8. His great-grandfather was the oil tycoon, Edward L. Doheny, and he was born on April 30, 1938. He has won numerous Hugo awards mostly for short fiction. Which very witty writer gave us the concept of the "Ringworld"?

Answer: Larry Niven

A "Ringworld" is an artificial habitat in the shape of a ring surrounding a star. This idea is quite possibly Niven's greatest contribution to science fiction, and derives from the Dyson Sphere concept, but creates artificial "gravity" by rotation. He has also given us "Niven's Laws" as a commentary on life as he sees it. For example, the thirteenth law gives advice to many a celebrity: "When your life starts to look like a soap opera, it's time to change the channel." He has worked with Jerry Pournelle on a number of projects including "The Mote in God's Eye" and "Lucifer's Hammer".
9. Born November 26, 1919, this American writer travelled for much of his early life, until his family settled in Brooklyn when he was seven. Can you name this prolific writer and editor, the first person to win Hugo awards for both disciplines, including a best novel award in 1978 for "Gateway"?

Answer: Frederick Pohl

Due to the Great Depression he had to drop out of school at the age of 14, yet he published his first science fiction story aged 18, under a nom de plume. It was good to hear Fred Pohl speak at the 2008 World Science Fiction Convention in Denver - talking about his latest project, completing Arthur C. Clarke's final work "The Last Theorem". Nearly ninety years of age and still writing!
10. Born on January 15, 1935 in Brooklyn New York, he was a keen reader, and began writing in his teens. He sold his first book aged 20, and soon was writing, by his own account, over a million words a year. Which prolific writer took us to the "World Inside" and later to "Lord Valentine's Castle"?

Answer: Robert Silverberg

Silverberg announced his retirement from writing in 1975 following an illness and a house fire - but he didn't stay retired, fortunately, because in 1980 he returned with "Lord Valentine's Castle", first of the Majipoor series, and arguably his best work. It didn't win the Hugo, but by then he already had a number of those.
Source: Author Flamis

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Snowman before going online.
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