George Alec Effinger (June 14, 1947–April 27, 2002) was an American science fiction writer and author of such acclaimed works as the Budayeen trilogy and the novel What Entropy Means to Me, as well as the Hugo Award-winning story Schrodingers Kitten.
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Effinger studied English at the University of New Orleans until he was drafted into the United States Army in 1968. Following his service, Effinger taught creative writing classes at the University of New Orleans for several years before turning to writing full time.
Effingers Budayeen series focuses on a group of crime and computer hackers living in a futuristic Middle East. The series is often cited as one of the forerunners of the cyberpunk fiction genre. His writing style is known for its dark humor, vivid imagery, and complex character interactions.
Effinger was a prolific author, with more than 20 books and more than 100 short stories to his credit. His novel What Entropy Means to Me won a John W. Campbell Memorial Award for best science fiction novel of the year in 1986. Effinger also had several Hugo Award nominations, as well winning the Hugo for Best Short Story in 1989 for Schrodingers Kitten.
Effinger was a popular guest at science fiction conventions, possessing an entertaining wit and sharp intellect. Despite his critical successes, Effingers life was often marred by financial hardship due to his drinking and poor business decisions.
Effingers last novel, The Wolves of Memory, was published posthumously in 2006. A collection of his works, Martian Blues: The Life and Times of George Alec Effinger, was published in 1996.
At the time of his death, Effinger was working on a novel, Oceanspace, which has yet to be published.
His influence on science fiction has been very broad, having a particular influence on the cyberpunk subgenre. Many of his works, including those in the Budayeen series and What Entropy Means to Me, have been republished in various editions, ensuring that his legacy lives on for future readers.
