Name: LINEBARGER, Paul Myron Anthony Aged: 53
Born: July 11, 1913 Where: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Died: August 6, 1966 Where: Baltimore, Maryland
Interred: Arlington National Cem., Sec 35, Gr-4712 (Bronze Star)
Married: Margaret Snow When: September 7, 1936 (div 49)
Married 2: Genevieve Collins When: March 20, 1950

"Cordwainer Smith"

"In my stories I intend to lay bare the chambers of the human mind
and soul, wherein the ageless dramas of self-respect, courage,
sex, love, hope, envy, decency, power, and God go on forever."

While playing as a young boy, Linebarger was blinded in his left eye and had his vision impaired by infection in the right. This handicap bothered him physically, impeding his military ambitions, and also caused a psychological withdrawal into more academic pursuits.

Paul M. A. Linebarger was the son of Paul Myron Wentworth Linebarger who was diplomat to China where Paul Jr. acquired his early education, then moved on to Japan. Paul Jr. would also attended school in Germany and visit Russia as a teen. Linebarger continued his schooling until graduating with a Ph D in 1936. He was a professor at Duke University from 1937 to 1946. Overcoming his visual handicap, Linebarger was able to acquire a commission as Second Lt during WWII, serving in the psychological warfare department and oriental affairs area. Linebarger rose to the rank of Major, in the service, and then Colonel in the reserves.

Linebarger's roll was often veiled in the areas of propaganda, psychological warfare, and oriental affairs. Paul remained closely associated with the U.S. Intelligence Community. Acquiring a job as Professor of Asiatic Studies at John Hopkins in 1947 also served as covert cover. He was recalled to service during the Korean conflict, but opted not to help with Viet-Nam, feeling his country's position was incorrect.

With Alice Sheldon (James Tiptree, Jr.), Linebarger brought Science Fiction's spy count to 2. Paul's covert work was dangerous because he was well known from his parental connection, a military man, and because he looked like a spy. Linebarger was hawk featured, slight, wore the gray fedora hat, and had tinted glasses because of his visual problems (may even have been unable to resist wearing a patch occasionally). While his appearance may have made the Devil break stride, his toothy, winning grin worked for him and coupled with his brilliant mind, allowed him to survive.

Linebarger was an expert on Sun Yat Sen, writing four non-fiction books on China during that period, and then wrote the definitive book Psychological Warfare on that subject in 1948. Paul resided with his family in Washington, DC. Viewed in retrospect, and looking at his assignments, continuous travel, huge volume of work in the academic and political sectors...it is simply amazing that Paul Linebarger had any time left for Science Fiction, his "fun fiction."

Cordwainer Smith first appeared in 1949 with the publication of the short story, "Scanners Live in Vain." Smith's SF stories had religious overtones that were wrapped in philosophy and whose characters were victimized by repeating life cycles beyond their control. Cordwainer Smith's works, like those of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien, are now widely studied in England where the home of analytical Christian thought seems to reside.

The majority of the Cordwainer Smith fictions were published in four books after his death; Norstrilia (et al) 1975, The Best of Cordwainer Smith 1975, Quest of the Three Worlds 1978, and The Instrumentality of Man in 1979, all from Del Rey Books. Three volumes are currently available: The Rediscovery of Man (a 1999 UK retitle of The Best of Cordwainer Smith), The Rediscovery of Man: The Complete Short Science Fiction of Cordwainer Smith (1993 NESFA Press), and Norstrilia (1994 NESFA Press).

Linebarger was still writing Science Fiction at the time of his death and had not completed Norstrilia to his satisfaction.

Thumbnail made from a larger color photo from Rosana Hart, which appears on her site at http://www.cordwainer-smith.com.

PEN NAMES: Felix C. Forrest, Carmichael Smith, Anthony Bearden (poems)

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Mine here.

BIOGRAPHY: Who Was Who in America, Vol IV, p577

OBITUARY: The New York Times, Sunday, Aug 7, 1966, p80

Send relevant email to George C. Willick