Edward Elmer Smith (1890-1965) was an American food engineer and science fiction writer. He earned his doctorate in chemistry from George Washington University and worked developing doughnut mixes, which led to his nickname “Doc” when his stories were published under the name Edward E. Smith, Ph.D. He began writing science fiction around 1915, but his first novel, The Skylark of Space, wasn’t published until 1928 in Amazing Stories magazine.
Smith’s Lensman series (1937-1948) and Skylark series defined what would become known as space opera: stories of galactic scope with grand battles, advanced technology, and civilizations spanning entire galaxies. He was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2004. George Lucas has cited the Lensman novels as a major influence, and the first computer video game, Spacewar!, was inspired by Smith’s space battle descriptions.
Frequently Asked Questions
“How many books has E.E. Doc Smith written?”
“E.E. Doc Smith wrote numerous novels and stories across his career, but he is best known for the six-book Lensman series and the four-book Skylark series, which together defined the space opera genre.”
“What was E.E. Doc Smith's first book?”
“E.E. Doc Smith’s first published novel was The Skylark of Space, which appeared in Amazing Stories magazine in 1928. He had begun writing it around 1915 with his neighbor Lee Hawkins Garby.”
“Why is E.E. Doc Smith called the father of space opera?”
“E.E. Doc Smith is called the father of space opera because his novels, particularly the Lensman and Skylark series, established many of the conventions of large-scale space adventure fiction. His stories featured galaxy-spanning conflicts, advanced technology, and cosmic stakes that influenced generations of science fiction writers and inspired works from Star Wars to the first computer video game, Spacewar!”