GRIBBIN, John

(1946-)

   UK writer known mostly for his very numerous science popularizations. Most of his novels have been in collaboration and have tended to a certain narrative predictability, though the science content has always been impressively presented. Sixth Winter(1979) with Douglas (William) Orgill (1922-1984) is a HARD-SF tale dealing with the coming ofa new ice age. Brother Esau (1982), again with Orgill, charts the events following the discovery of the Yeti. Double Planet (1988) and its remote sequel Reunion (1991), both with Marcus CHOWN, are set in the same universe, though 1000 years apart. In the first, astronauts must intercept a comet thought to be on collision course with Earth; in the second the lunar population comes under the influence of a cult claiming to hold the secret to the replenishment of the MOON's atmosphere. JG's only solo novel, Father to the Man (1989), arguably his best book, is a readable and witty tale of a geneticist hero pitted against a world of spreading religious fundamentalism. Ragnarok (1991) with D.G. COMPTON is a NEAR FUTURE cautionary tale in a traditional vein: a SCIENTIST threatensto end human civilization unless peace is declared; almost inadvertantly, Ragnarok does indeed occur. Innervisions (1993) is a weak POCKET UNIVERSEtale.

   MB

   Other works: Very many science books, including: The Jupiter Effect (1974) and Beyond the Jupiter Effect (1983), both with Stephen Plagemann (Immanuel VELIKOVSKY); White Holes: Cosmic Gushers in the Universe (1977); In Search of Schrodinger's Cat (1984); Blinded by the Light (1991).

   See also: ANTHROPOLOGY; APES AND CAVEMEN (IN THE HUMAN WORLD); BLACK HOLES; GENETIC ENGINEERING; PARALLEL WORLDS.