E.E. Smith (1890-1965)

Edward Elmer "Ted" Smith, son of Fred Jay Smith and Carolyn Mills, was form in Sheboygan, WI on 2 May 1890 and died in Seaside, OR on 31 Aug 1965. In 1915 he married Jeanne Craig MacDougall with whom he had three children: Roderick N., Verna Jean and Clarissa M.

Also known as "Doc" Smith and "Skylark" Smith, Edward was an American food engineer (specializing in doughnut and pastry mixes) and an early science fiction author. He was best known for the "Skylark" and "Lensman" series. He is sometimes called the father of space opera.

One evening in 1915, the Smiths were visiting a former classmate, Dr. Carl Garby, who had also moved to Washington, DC. A long discussion about journeys into outer space ensued and it was suggested that Smith should write down his ideas and speculations as a story about interstellar travel. Although he was interested, Smith believed that some thought that some romantic elements would be required and he was uncomfortable with that.

Mrs. Garby offered to take care of the love interest and the romantic dialogue, and Smith decided to give it a try. The sources of inspirations for the main characters in the novel were themselves; the "Seatons" and "Cranes" were based on the Smiths and Garbys respectively. About one-third of "The Skylark of Space" was completed by the end of 1916, when Smith and Garby gradually abandoned work on it.

In 1919 Smith was hired as chief chemist for F.W. Stock & Sons of Hillsdale, MI, working on doughnut mixes. One evening late in 1919, after moving to Michigan, Smith was baby-sitting while his wife attended a movie; he resumed work on "The Skylark of Space," finishing it in the spring of 1920. He submitted it to many book publishers and magazines, spending more in postage than he would eventually receive for its publication. Bob Davis, editor of Argosy, sent an encouraging rejection letter in 1922, saying that he liked the novel personally, but that it was too far out for his readers. Finally, upon seeing the April 1927 issue of Amazing Stories, he submitted it to that magazine; it was accepted, initially for $75, later raised to $125. It was published as a three-part serial in the August to October 1928 issues and it was such a success that managing editor Sloane requested a sequel before the second installment had been published.

Mrs. Garby was not interested in further collaboration so Smith began work on "Skylark Three" alone. It was published as another three-part serial, in the August to October 1930 issues of Amazing, introduced as the cover story for August. This was as far as he had planned to take the Skylark series; it was praised in Amazing's letter column, and he was paid 3/4¢ per word, surpassing Amazing's previous record of half a cent.

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