RAYER, F(rancis) G(eorge)

(1921-1981)

   UK writer and technical journalist who began publishing sf with "Juggernaut" for Link House Publications in 1944. His first sf novel was the unremarkable Realm of the Alien (1946 chap) as by Chester Delray. His most notable was perhaps Tomorrow Sometimes Comes (1951), in which thegeneral who has inadvertently caused a nuclear HOLOCAUST awakens from SUSPENDED ANIMATION to save the world from a destructive COMPUTER; thisthinking machine gave its name to the Mens Magna series, which includes also "Deus Ex Machina" (1950), "The Peacemaker" (1952), "Ephemeral This City" (1955), "Adjustment Period" (1960) and "Contact Pattern" (1961). FGRwas most closely associated with NW, and also had several lead novels in the early years of Authentic, each of which comprised a whole single issue of the journal, and cited therefore in this Encyclopedia as separate titles; they are: The Coming of the Darakua (1952); Earth-Our New Eden (1952) and We Cast No Shadow (1952).

   JC

   Other works: Fearful Barrier (1950); The Star Seekers (1954 chap); The Iron and the Anger (1964); Cardinal of the Stars (1964; vt Journey to the Stars 1964 US).

   As Editor: Worlds at War (anth 1949), containing stories by FGR and his brother-in-law, E.R. James.

   See also: COMPUTERS.