American science fiction writer Robert Silverberg

A diverse author of fantastic novels and serious works on history and archeology. He was repeatedly nominated for awards for his works in the genre of fiction. To date, published about two hundred fantastic novels and popular scientific works of the writer.

Youth

Born in New York (Brooklyn) on January 15, 1935 in the family of Michael and Elena (Baim) Silverberg. Brothers and sisters Robert did not have and his main friends from an early age were books. Especially the boy liked to read science fiction. At school age, he began to write fantastic stories, which were published in magazines as early as 1949. Robert Silverberg wrote his first great work "The Rise on Alfa-S" while studying at Columbia University. In 1956, it was published and Robert, as the best young author, received his first Hugo Award.

Commercial period of creativity

Having graduated from the University in 1956 with a degree in Comparative Literary Studies, Robert is working hard as a free writer. He writes many fantastic and adventurous stories for various magazines for several years. In the same period, Robert Silverberg married Barbara Brown. A young family needed money, and the science fiction genre in which the author worked began to lose interest of the reader. Therefore, the writer pays more attention to quantity, and writes in various genres from serious works to unpretentious entertaining stories, fairy tales and easy eroticism. Later the author admitted that during this time he became an enemy to himself, because he was so addicted to sales that he did not use his own talent. Creativity turned into hard work and the author had to write on topics that the market demanded. Robert Silverberg in this commercial period wrote many works that were published only once and never again reprinted. This situation the author decided to change and moved away from the science fiction and entertainment genre.

Return to science fiction

In the early sixties, Silverberg moved on to writing scientific works on archaeological and historical themes for children and gained national fame as a popularizer of such literature. At the same time, he receives a favorable offer of cooperation from Frederick Paul - editor of several science fiction magazines. In the mid-sixties, the popularity of this genre began to grow, and good science fiction writers were becoming more and more in demand. Silverberg returns to writing science fiction works, but now the author's works differ in deeper meaning.

A new stage in creativity

Having reconsidered the commercial approach to creativity, the writer in his works no longer connects himself with the need to tell a heroic story with a happy ending. In his themes, the problem of loneliness and isolation of the individual is often raised, and the ending is often sad or ambiguous, however, not without hope. Oddly, Robert Silverberg makes it clear to the reader that if a person's life is filled with unavoidable suffering, then somewhere there must be an alternative. A vivid example of the renewal in the work were the works "The Open Skies" of 1967 and "Down to Earth" in 1969, published in the journal "Galaktika" by Frederick Paul. Acute problems of the person's personality are also considered in the novel "Dying Inside". It is about a person who has the gift to hear the thoughts of other people. What is worse, to live with such an ability or to lose it? The novel "The Vertical World" by Silverberg critics is often called one of his best works. This is a gloomy and cynical view of the world of the future, people and human essence. Other main works of the author of this period: "To live anew", "The Book of Skulls", "The Glass Tower", "Down to Earth", "Thorns", "Sandes", "Born with the Dead", "Caliban". Virtually all of the author's works from 1969 to 1974 very high level. Therefore, it was during this period that Silverberg received many of its awards: "Night Wings" 1969 - "Hugo", "Time of Change" 1971 - "Nebula" Prize, "Good News from the Vatican" 1971 - "Nebula" Prize.

Changes in creativity and personal life

By 1975, the author again decided to move away from the genre of fiction. He stopped writing stories, published several more novels, and despite the persuasions of editors and fans, publicly announced his departure from the genre, motivating it with fatigue. His creative vacation lasted until 1978 and already in 1980 Silverberg triumphantly returned with the first novel "Lord Valentine's Castle" from a series of books about Majipur. In the same eighties there are changes in the personal life of the writer. He divorces his first wife in 1986 and marries writer Karen Haber. This alliance has become fruitful for both authors. Robert and Karen cooperate on a number of projects, in particular, "Mutant Season". To date, the couple lives in Oakland, continues to please the reader with his works Robert Silverberg. The author's books are still interesting and expected.