Emil Petaja
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Emil Petaja (1915 - 2000) was an American science fiction writer. Born in Western Montana he studied at Montana State University where he published his first book, a book of poems, himself. It was illustrated by his close friend Hannes Bok.
After three years of college he moved to California where he became a member of the Lovecraft circle and an early member of the California Futurians. He began selling stories to science fiction pulps in the 1940s and continued until the 1950s. In the 1960s he started selling novels (actually novellas) to Donald A. Wollheim at Ace Books and to other paperback publishers.
His most popular books are his Otava series, which celebrate his Finnish heritage by combining classic science fiction motifs with the Kalevala. Four were originally published by Ace. These were later reprinted by Daw Books in two volumes.
In April 1967, three years after Bok's death, Petaja founded the Bokanalia Memorial Foundation to keep his friend's memory alive. It published collections of Bok's art and poetry and played some part in his continuing popularity.
In 1995 SFWA made Petaja its Author Emeritus.
[edit] External link
- Obituary on Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.
- Emil Petaja at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
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