Erik Simon

Erik Simon (born 1950) is a German science fiction writer, editor of anthologies of science fiction, literary critic of science fiction, and translator.^[1][2]

Erik Simon, 2004

Biography

Erik Simon was born in Dresden. He studied physics at TU Dresden and received qualifications of translator. For a short time he worked as an engineer at a concrete factory, since 1974 he became editor at the Das Neue Berlin [de] publishing house. He translated many science fiction texts from Soviet Union, Bulgaria, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Anglophone world.^[3]: 36 Erik Simon was one of the key figures in science fiction publishing in GDR. He also contributed to theoretical research on the genre.^{[4]: 27–31}

Selected works

• Simon, Erik and Olaf R. Spittel [de] , editors. Die Science-Fiction der DDR. Autoren und Werke: Ein Lexikon. Das Neue Berlin, 1988.^[5]
• Lichtjahr issues 1-7 (1980-1989); editor^[6]
• Short story collections: Sternbilder – Simon’s Fiction 1 (2002) and Mondmysterien – Simon’s Fiction 2 (2003) as well as Reisen von Zeit zu Zeit – Simon’s Fiction 3 (2004) with Reinhard Heinrich. He also published two volumes of short stories prior to 1989: Fremder Sterne (Strange Stars, 1979) and Mondphantome, Erdbesucher (Moon Phantoms, Earth Visitors, 1987).^[2]

Awards

• 1987: Eurocon award for editing a series of Lichtjahr ("Light Year") anthologies
• 1989: Wilhelm-Bracke-Medaille [de] from German booksellers for editing work

Kurd Laßwitz Award:

• Von der Zeit, von der Erinnerung (best short story, 1992)
• Leichter als Vakuum (best short story, 1994) with Angela Steinmüller and Karlheinz Steinmüller as "Simon Zwystein"
• Vernor Vinge: Ein Feuer auf der Tiefe (Best translation, 1995)
• for Lichtjahr 7 (special prize, 1999) together with the publisher Freundeskreis Science Fiction Leipzig e.V.
• Spiel beendet, sagte der Sumpf (best short story, 2002)