Clifford D. Simak

Clifford D. Simak was an American science fiction author and journalist who is regarded as one of the most important and distinctive voices in the history of the genre. Born in 1904 in Wisconsin, he spent most of his career working as a journalist and editor at the Minneapolis Star Tribune while producing a remarkable body of science fiction spanning five decades. A Death in the House is a short story that exemplifies Simak's signature style: quiet, pastoral science fiction set in the rural Midwest, exploring first contact and the relationship between humanity and alien life with warmth, gentleness and philosophical depth. Simak won three Hugo Awards, a Nebula Award and was named the third Grand Master of Science Fiction by the Science Fiction Writers of America. His best-known works include City, Way Station and The Big Front Yard. His audiobooks and books continue to be treasured by readers who appreciate science fiction that is humane, thoughtful and deeply rooted in the American landscape. He died in 1988.