Arthur Sellings

Arthur Sellings
Arthur Sellings c.1956
Born
Arthur Gordon Ley

(1921-05-31)31 May 1921
Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England
Died24 September 1968(1968-09-24) (aged 47)
Worthing, Sussex, England
OccupationsAuthor, scientist
Writing career
Pen nameRay Luther, Martin Luther
LanguageEnglish
GenreScience fiction

Arthur Sellings was the pseudonym of Arthur Gordon Ley, (31 May 1921 – 24 September 1968) an English scientist, book and art dealer, and science fiction author. In addition to Sellings he also used the pseudonyms Ray Luther and Martin Luther for his publications. He is known best for his well-crafted descriptions of adaptability during stress, in stories noted for their humor, suspense and attention to plot and character. His posthumous novel Junk Day is considered his best work.

Life and career

Ley was born on 31 May 1921 in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England, the son of Arthur James Ley and Stella Grace (Sellings) Ley. As well as his native town, he also lived in Kensington and, later, Worthing. He married, on 17 August 1945 in Stoke Newington, Gladys Pamela Judge.

In addition to his writing, Ley was a book and art dealer and antiquarian and, from 1955 to 1968, a scientific researcher for the British government. His success for a 1955 writing contest sponsored by The Observer resulted in the publication of his first book, Time Transfer, by Michael Joseph Ltd. His research work inspired some of his science fiction. His work appeared in Fantastic, Galaxy Science Fiction, Imagination, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Nebula Science Fiction, New Worlds, New Writings in SF, and Worlds of Tomorrow, among other periodicals.

Ley died of heart failure on 24 September 1968 in Worthing, Sussex, England.

Bibliography

Novels

Collections

Short stories

Nonfiction

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Clute and Nicholls 1995, p. 1082.
  2. ↑ Birth certificates of Arthur Gordon Sellings, and, on legitimisation, of Arthur Gordon Ley
  3. ↑ London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea electoral records
  4. ↑ Death certificate
  5. ↑ Marriage certificate
  6. ↑ "Profile: Arthur Sellings", New Worlds, July 1956, ifc
  7. ↑ Death certificate

Bibliography

  • Clute, John and Peter Nicholls. The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. New York: St Martin's Grifin, 1995. ISBN 0-312-13486-X.
  • Macdonald, Gina. "Arthur Sellings," in Harris-Fain, Darren (ed.). Dictionary of Literary Biography, Volume 261: British Fantasy and Science-Fiction Writers Since 1960. Shawnee State University, Gale Group, 2002, pages 344–349.