Robert L. Forward
Robert L. Forward was an influential American physicist and science fiction author, born in Geneva, New York, in 1932. He earned his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Maryland in 1965 and worked at Hughes Aircraft, where he conducted significant research on gravity and held eighteen patents. In 1987, Forward transitioned from his role at Hughes to focus on writing and consulting for NASA and the U.S. Air Force. He founded Forward Unlimited, a company dedicated to research in physics and space propulsion, and co-founded Tethers Unlimited, which specializes in space tether design.
His foray into science fiction writing began unexpectedly, leading to his first novel, *Dragon's Egg*, published in 1980, which won a Locus Award. Forward became known for his expertise in hard science fiction, often assisting other writers with scientific accuracy. He contributed to various scientific journals, including *Analog*, and was recognized for bridging the gap between scientific concepts and literature. Forward passed away in 2002 at the age of eighty, leaving behind a legacy in both science and speculative fiction.
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Robert L. Forward
Writer
- Born: August 15, 1932
- Birthplace: Geneva, New York
- Died: September 21, 2002
- Place of death: Seattle, Washington
Biography
Robert Lull Forward was born in Geneva, New York, in 1932. He attended the University of Maryland, obtaining a Ph.D. in physics in 1965. After completing his education, Forward went to work as a researcher for Hughes Aircraft, where he conducted research about the measurement of gravity and obtained eighteen patents. In 1987, Forward retired from Hughes to focus on his writing and serve as a consultant for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the U.S. Air Force.
He founded his own company, Forward Unlimited, which conducted research about physics and space propulsion, and he was the chief scientist of the firm for many years. In 1994, Forward and Robert P. Hoyt founded Tethers Unlimited, a company specializing in the design of space tethers. Forward also was a frequent contributor to such scientific journals as Analog.
For many years, Forward had a reputation among hard science- fiction writers as the person who could answer their scientific questions. Forward began his own science-fiction writing career by accident after his friends asked him to participate in a course on science and science fiction at the University of California, Los Angeles. The course presented lectures by scientists and writers. Forward agreed to be the scientific lecturer on the same evening that his friend, author Larry Niven, would talk about writing. After the lecture, Forward told Niven that he knew a lot about neutron star physics and would compile the background information on the subject for Niven to use in a novel. Niven did not have time to write the story, so Forward wrote it and it became his first novel, Dragon’s Egg, which was published in 1980. Forward won a Locus Award for the novel. Forward went on to write several additional hard science-fiction novels as well as nonfiction books and popular science articles. In 2002, Forward died of cancer at the age of eighty.