Betsy Curtis

Betsy Curtis
Born
Elizabeth King McGee

(1917-09-17)September 17, 1917
Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
DiedApril 17, 2002(2002-04-17) (aged 84)
Meadville, Pennsylvania, U.S.
EducationOberlin College
Alma materAllegheny College
OccupationWriter
Children4, including Maggie Thompson
RelativesHarold McGee (nephew)
Stephen Thompson (grandson)
Otis Freeman Curtis (father-in-law)
Writing career
Years active1950-1973
GenresScience fiction
Fantasy

Elizabeth King McGee Curtis (September 17, 1917 – April 17, 2002) was an American science fiction and fantasy writer. She published at least sixteen stories, and was nominated for the Hugo Award in 1969.[1]

Early life and education

Curtis was born in Toledo, Ohio, the daughter of Harold Gilbert McGee and Margaret Coffin Bradshaw McGee. Her father was an engineer and statistician.[2] She earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in English, both from Oberlin College. In 1966, she earned a master of education degree (MEd) from Allegheny College.[3]

Career

Curtis's first short story was published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction in 1950. Her second story was published later that same year in Imagination. Her work appeared in various publications, including Amazing Stories, Analog Science Fiction and Fact, Authentic Science Fiction, Galaxy Science Fiction, If, Infinity Science Fiction and Marvel Science Stories.[3] In all, she is known to have published sixteen stories from 1950 through 1973.[4] In 1969, she was nominated for a Hugo Award for Best Short Story for "The Steiger Effect".[3]

Curtis also wrote poetry and essays, and edited a zine called The Cricket. Curtis was known for her costuming skills, and was an active member of the Society for Creative Anachronism.[3] She corresponded with Robert A. Heinlein for many years, and at his request she accepted the Hugo Award for Stranger in a Strange Land in 1962.[5]

Publications

In addition to the stories listed below, Curtis wrote and published poetry and essays.

  • "Divine Right" (1950, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction)
  • "The Old Ones" (1950, Imagination)
  • "First Generation" (1951, Orb)
  • "The Protector" (1951, Galaxy Science Fiction)[6]
  • "The Ones" (1951, Marvel Science Fiction)
  • "A Peculiar People" (1951, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction)
  • "By Induction" (1952, Orb)
  • "Temptress of Planet Delight" (1953, Planet Stories)
  • "The Trap" (1953, Galaxy Science Fiction)[7]
  • "Of the Fittest" (1954, Universe)
  • "Rebuttal" (1956, Infinity Science Fiction)[8]
  • "Conservative Choice" (1963, Vorpal Glass)
  • "Latter-Day Daniel" (1967, If)
  • "The Steiger Effect" (1968, Analog)
  • "The Key to Out" (1970, in Anne McCaffrey, ed., Alchemy and Academe)[9]
  • "Earth to Earth" (1972, Amazing Science Fiction)
  • "Of Course" (1973, Amazing Science Fiction)

Personal life

McGee married biologist William Edgar "Ed" Curtis, the son of plant pathologist Otis Freeman Curtis, in 1941;[10] they had four children, including editor Maggie Thompson.[11] Her husband died in 1975, and Curtis died in 2002, at the age of 84, in Meadville, Pennsylvania.[4] A manuscript by Curtis is in the special collections library at Syracuse University.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "Summary Bibliography: Betsy Curtis". Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
  2. ↑ Beech, Keyes (1941-04-06). "Biography In Brief - - Harold McGee". The Akron Beacon Journal. p. 49. Retrieved 2026-05-13 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Davin, Eric Leif (2006). Partners in Wonder: Women and the Birth of Science Fiction, 1926-1965. Lexington Books. p. 375. ISBN 0739112678.
  4. 1 2 "Deaths". Locus. 2002-05-30.
  5. ↑ Patterson, William H. (2014-06-03). Robert A. Heinlein: In Dialogue with His Century: The Man Who Learned Better, 1948–1988. Macmillan. ISBN 978-1-4299-8796-7.
  6. ↑ Curtis, Betsy (February 1951). "The Protector". Galaxy. 1 (5): 76–83 – via Internet Archive.
  7. ↑ Curtis, Betsy (August 1953). "The Trap". Galaxy. 6 (5): 103–115 – via Internet Archive.
  8. ↑ Curtis, Betsy (June 1956). "Rebuttal". Infinity Science Fiction: 100–109 – via Internet Archive.
  9. ↑ McCaffrey, Anne (1980). Alchemy and academe : a collection of original stories concerning themselves with transmutations, mental and elemental, alchemical and academic. Internet Archive. New York : Ballatine Books. ISBN 978-0-345-28643-7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
  10. ↑ "Marriage Licenses". The Akron Beacon Journal. 1941-09-17. p. 23. Retrieved 2026-05-13 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Sci-fi expert to visit comic book center". Tampa Bay Times. 1982-10-15. p. 11. Retrieved 2026-05-13 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Betsy Curtis Papers". Syracuse University. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
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