Henry Kuttner was an American prolific author of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. He published his first story in 1936. Some of his most famous works include The Twonky (1942), Mimsy Were the Borogoves (1943), and The Dark World (1946). Kuttner wrote under many pen names, including Lewis Padgett, Lawrence O'Donnell, and Kelvin Kent.
He was born in Los Angeles and began writing in the early 1930s. Kuttner was known for his imaginative and often humorous approach to science fiction and fantasy. He was also highly regarded for collaborations with his wife, fellow author C. L. Moore. Their works, which spanned the breadth of the pulp magazine market, included many fantasy novels that have since faded into obscurity.
Kuttner's science fiction novels, including Fury (1947) and Mutant (1953), have stood the test of time and are still highly regarded by fans of the genre.
Despite his success in long forms, Kuttner's shorter works truly showcased his talents. Home There Is No Returning, Home Is the Hunter, Two-Handed Engine, and Rite of Passage are widely regarded as some of the most significant achievements in the field and remain in print today.
His writing was so exceptional that James Blish, a well-respected critic, once remarked that passages from Kuttner's Mutant were of a quality rarely seen in any genre of literature.
In the early 1950s, Kuttner and Catherine Moore desired to step away from science fiction writing, citing creative exhaustion.
Kuttner earned an undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Southern California with plans to become a clinical psychologist. However, he did continue to write a few science fiction short stories and novelettes, including Humpty Dumpty, which concluded the Baldy series in 1953.
Henry Kuttner died suddenly in his sleep, probably from a stroke, in February 1958.
