John Varley, a renowned science fiction author, was born in Austin, Texas, and received a National Merit Scholarship to attend Michigan State University. Initially, he planned to pursue a career in science, but he eventually dropped out of college. Following a series of unconventional jobs, Varley decided to become a science fiction writer, and his first published work, "Picnic on Nearside," was featured in the August 1974 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction.
Varley's remarkable writing career spanned several decades, earning him three Hugo Awards and two Nebula Awards. He wrote numerous novels and short stories, solidifying his position as one of the most respected science fiction authors in the field. During the late 1980s and 1990s, Varley's productivity slowed, and he primarily focused on a few notable works, including the novels Steel Beach (1992) and The Golden Globe (1998).
During this period, Varley also worked in Hollywood, maintaining an office at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio gate. Although he reportedly earned a significant amount of money, he grew disillusioned with the industry, citing the production of only one subpar film, Millennium (1989),as a notable outcome. Varley took full responsibility for this outcome.
In the early 2000s, Varley seemed to regain his creative momentum, publishing new short stories and novels. His 2003 novel, Red Thunder, was followed by Mammoth in 2005, signaling a resurgence in his writing career.
