Wilson Tucker Father, Friend, Mentor and SF Writer November 23, 1914 - October 6, 2006

    
Arthur Wilson Tucker,
    "Bob" and "Pop", will be remembered by many as a father, friend
    and mentor.

    
Tucker, a few weeks before turning 92,
    passed away Friday, October 6 in a Florida hospital. Wilson is
    proceeded in death by his wife, Fern, who passed away in June,
    2006.

    
Remembering
    Bob Tucker SFWA Website


    


    
Tucker has had over 60 short stories
    and novels published. In addition to science fiction, Wilson
    wrote successful mysteries too. His awards and honors include
    the 1970 HUGO for Best Fan Writer. His Year of the Quiet Sun,
    won him the J.W. Campbell Memorial Award in 1976, a nomination
    for a NEBULA in 1970, and a HUGO nomination in 1971. Also in
    1970 Wilson won The Bob Bloch Black Block Award.   A
    fan of aerospace, Tucker was awarded a Certificate of Merit from
    Pan American World Airways, Inc., -Aerospace Division- for launching
    a meteorological rocket from Pad 43, Cape Canaveral, Florida,
    March 15, 1976.

    
Other awards include: First Fandom Hall
    of Fame Award, 1985; E.E. Smith Memorial Award, 1986; Commissioned
    a Kentucky Colonel, 1993; and Archon Hall of Fame Award, Grand
    Master, 1997. At a ceremony on the Queen Mary in 1996, Tucker
    was the second person honored by the Science Fiction and Fantasy
    Writers of America as Author Emeritus.

    

    
Most recently published book was Three
    in Time; a book of three complete novels edited by Jack Dann.
    (1995)

    
When asked about any advice Tucker could
    give new writers today, he said to write first for your editor.
    They say they don't look for a formula, but he thinks they do.
    Secondly, Wilson says, write for yourself. Wilson also adds writers
    shouldn't rely on relatives to read stories. Give a copy to a
    stranger for a real unbiased opinion.

    
If not writing, Wilson worked as a projectionist
    at theatres such as the Castle in Bloomington, Illlinois. He
    also was an electrician for touring companies that visited the
    Bloomington/Normal area. The show that stands out most in his
    mind was the Phantom of the Opera. The show visited Illinois
    State University. Wilson was lugging a heavy door back and forth
    as part of his props and specials effects preparation. "I
    nearly broke my back during that show," Wilson claims.
 

    
 



    


    

      
"When I woke up on January 1,
      2001, I was disappointed in this respect:
      
Nothing in the world outside my window
      resembled Arthur C. Clark's novel or movie "2001."
      No busy space ships, no hotel in orbit, no mining activity on
      the moon, no black monolith leading us to the far planets. After
      peering through the window and finding none of that I almost
      went back to bed."
      
Wilson "Bob" Tucker
January 5, 2001
    


     
 

     
 

    

      
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