Algirdas Jonas Budrys, who wrote, reviewed and edited science fiction as Algis Budrys, passed away on Monday, June 9, 2008 following an extended illness. He was 77.
He came to the United States from Lithuania at the age of 5 with his father, who was consul-general of the Lithuanian government.
Known to countless fans and friends as AJ, his writing career began in 1952 with the sale of “The High Purpose” to Astounding Science Fiction. He went on to publish over 200 short stories and novels, including Who?, Rogue Moon, and Michaelmas. He used many pseudonyms, among them were David S. Hodgkins, Ivan Janvier, Paul Janvier, Albert Stroud, and William Scarff.
AJ’s editorial career included stints at Gnome Press, Galaxy Science Fiction, Regency Books, and Playboy Press, as well as creating the magazine Tomorrow Speculative Fiction, which had 24 print editions prior to going online. For many years, he was Co-ordinating Judge of the L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of The Future and an advisor to the Illustrators of The Future Contest.
