Samuel R. Delany

Biography

Samuel Ray Delany (born 1942) is an American novelist, critic, and professor, one of the most influential and innovative writers in science fiction. Born in Harlem, New York, Delany published his first novel at age twenty and went on to produce a body of work that expanded the literary and intellectual possibilities of the genre. His major works include Babel-17 (1966), The Einstein Intersection (1967), Nova (1968), Dhalgren (1975), and the Neveryon series. Delany’s writing is distinguished by its linguistic sophistication, engagement with semiotics and critical theory, and exploration of race, sexuality, and identity.