Joseph Schlossel (21 December 1902 – 1 December 1977) was a

science fiction Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...

writer and pioneer of the

space opera Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes Space warfare in science fiction, space warfare, with use of melodramatic, risk-taking space adventures, relationships, and chivalric romance. Set mainly or entirely in outer space, i ...

genre.

E. F. Bleiler Everett Franklin Bleiler (April 30, 1920 – June 13, 2010) was an American editor, bibliographer, and scholar of science fiction, detective fiction, and fantasy literature. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, he co-edited the first "year's best" s ...

, in his bibliographic work ''Science-Fiction: The Early Years'', described Schlossel's work as "crude and amateurish", but notes that it anticipated further developments. Despite his poor storytelling skills, he was credited by showing "tremendous inventiveness in his adventures, with intergalactic wars and invasions on an immense scale". Mike Ashley states that "Schlossel's writing was basic but his imagination and vision made him one of the more significant contributors to the early SF Magazines".SF Encyclopedia
/ref> Weird tales 192501

Schlossel was born in

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

in 1902. He was raised in

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

and became a tailor, his father's line of work. His first story was published in ''

Weird Tales ''Weird Tales'' is an American fantasy and horror fiction pulp magazine founded by J. C. Henneberger and J. M. Lansinger in late 1922. The first issue, dated March 1923, appeared on newsstands February 18. The first editor, Edwin Baird, printe ...

'' in 1925, where his next two stories appeared. Beginning in 1926, his remaining work was sold to ''

Amazing Stories ''Amazing Stories'' is an American science fiction magazine launched in April 1926 by Hugo Gernsback's Experimenter Publishing. It was the first magazine devoted solely to science fiction. Science fiction stories had made regular appearance ...

''. After the

Great Depression The Great Depression was a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939. The period was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty, drastic reductions in industrial production and international trade, and widespread bank and ...

set in, he left his trade, took employment in

metal plating Plating is a finishing process in which a metal is deposited on a surface. Plating has been done for hundreds of years; it is also critical for modern technology. Plating is used to decorate objects, for corrosion inhibition, to improve solderab ...

, and stopped writing. He died in 1977. His work usually carried the byline "J. Schlossel". None of his stories have appeared in book form, although two were reprinted in later sf magazines.Se
ISFDB bibliography
/ref>

Short fiction

*"Invaders from Outside" (1925) *"Hurled into the Infinite" (1925) *"A Message from Space" (1926) *"The Second Swarm" (1928) *"To the Moon by Proxy" (1928) *"Extra-Galactic Invaders" (1931)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Schlossel, Joseph American science fiction writers American short story writers American male novelists American male short story writers 1902 births 1977 deaths