Hugo Gernsback

Hugo Gernsback (August 16 1884 - August 19 1967) was born in Luxembourg, and immigrated to the United States in 1905. He married three times: to Rose Harvey in 1906, Dorothy Kantrowitz in 1921, and Mary Hancher in 1951. In 1925, Hugo founded radio station WRNY and was involved in the first television broadcasts and is considered a pioneer in amateur radio. He died in New York City.

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August 16 - 1884 - August 19 - 1967 - Luxembourg - United States - 1905 - 1906 - 1921 - 1951 - 1925 - New York City

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Gernsback started the modern genre of science fiction by founding the first magazine dedicated to it, Amazing Stories, in 1926. He said he became interested in the concept after reading a translation of the work of Percival Lowell as a child. He also played a key role in starting Science Fiction Fandom, by publishing the addresses of people who wrote letters to his magazines. In 1929, he lost ownership of his first magazines after a bankruptcy lawsuit. There is some debate about whether this process was genuine, manipulated by publisher Bernarr Macfadden, or was a Gernsback scheme to begin another company.

Related Topics:
Science fiction - Amazing Stories - 1926 - Percival Lowell - Science Fiction Fandom - 1929 - Bernarr Macfadden

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The Science Fiction Achievement award, given to various works each year by vote of the members of the World Science Fiction Society, is named the "Hugo" after him. He was one of 1996's inaugural inductees into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.

Related Topics:
World Science Fiction Society - Hugo - 1996 - Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame

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Gernsback wrote some fiction, including the novel Ralph 124C 41+ in 1911. This is generally considered to be something to be read for its wealth of ideas, rather than for the quality of writing or plot.

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Ralph 124C 41+ - 1911

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Before creating a literary genre, Gernsback was an entrepreneur in the electronics industry, importing radio parts from Europe to the United States and helping to popularize amateur "wireless." In 1909, he founded the Wireless Association of America, which had 10,000 members within a year. The same year he also founded Modern Electrics, the world's first magazine about electronics. In 1912, Gernsback said that he estimated 400,000 people in the U.S. were involved in amateur radio.

Related Topics:
Modern Electrics - Amateur radio

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He held 80 patents by the time he died.

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See also:

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• Science fiction editors
 
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