Leigh Brackett was an American writer of science fiction and crime fiction, best known for her space adventure stories. She also worked as a screenwriter on classic Hollywood films, including writing the first draft of The Empire Strikes Back (1980). Her 1955 novel The Long Tomorrow was the first by a woman to be shortlisted for the Hugo Award, and she won a Retro Hugo posthumously for The Nemesis from Terra in 2020.
Leigh Brackett was born in Los Angeles, California, and was raised by her mother after her father's death. She described herself as "tall" and "athletic" and enjoyed sports and theatre. She attended a private girls' school in Santa Monica. It was there that she began writing and took part in school productions.
In her mid-twenties, she published her first story, 'Martian Quest', in the February 1940 issue of Astounding Science Fiction. From 1940 to 1942, she was particularly prolific, writing novels such as 'Citadel of Lost Ships' (1943), which explore the influence of Earth on alien cultures. During this period, she was involved in the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society and wrote for early fan publications.
Brackett’s first detective story was published in 1943, followed by the novel No Good from a Corpse in 1944. It's hard-boiled style impressed director Howard Hawks, who invited 'this guy Brackett' to collaborate with William Faulkner on the screenplay for The Big Sleep (1946). Meanwhile, her science fiction writing evolved, with Shadow Over Mars (1944) and Lorelei of the Red Mist (1946) showcasing a more ambitious style. Ray Bradbury completed the latter after Brackett left to begin her screenwriting career.
Returning to science fiction in 1948, Brackett wrote longer adventure stories, including Sea-Kings of Mars (1949), which was later reissued as The Sword of Rhiannon. She created the character Eric John Stark in Queen of the Martian Catacombs (1949), featuring him in three stories by 1951. These works blended planetary romance with themes of colonialism and loss.
Planet Stories was Brackett’s primary publisher until the magazine ceased publication in 1955. Her story 'Last Call from Sector 9G' appeared in the magazine's final issue. In the same year, she published The Long Tomorrow, which is set in a post-nuclear society. She then shifted her focus to film. She wrote several Westerns for Hawks, including Rio Bravo (1959) and El Dorado (1966).
Leigh Brackett returned to writing fiction in the 1970s with the Skaith trilogy, beginning with The Ginger Star (1974). In 1977, she was hired to write the screenplay for The Empire Strikes Back. She died of cancer shortly after completing her version in 1978.
Leigh Brackett was born in Los Angeles, California, and was raised by her mother after her father's death. She described herself as "tall" and "athletic" and enjoyed sports and theatre. She attended a private girls' school in Santa Monica. It was there that she began writing and took part in school productions.
In her mid-twenties, she published her first story, 'Martian Quest', in the February 1940 issue of Astounding Science Fiction. From 1940 to 1942, she was particularly prolific, writing novels such as 'Citadel of Lost Ships' (1943), which explore the influence of Earth on alien cultures. During this period, she was involved in the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society and wrote for early fan publications.
Brackett’s first detective story was published in 1943, followed by the novel No Good from a Corpse in 1944. It's hard-boiled style impressed director Howard Hawks, who invited 'this guy Brackett' to collaborate with William Faulkner on the screenplay for The Big Sleep (1946). Meanwhile, her science fiction writing evolved, with Shadow Over Mars (1944) and Lorelei of the Red Mist (1946) showcasing a more ambitious style. Ray Bradbury completed the latter after Brackett left to begin her screenwriting career.
Returning to science fiction in 1948, Brackett wrote longer adventure stories, including Sea-Kings of Mars (1949), which was later reissued as The Sword of Rhiannon. She created the character Eric John Stark in Queen of the Martian Catacombs (1949), featuring him in three stories by 1951. These works blended planetary romance with themes of colonialism and loss.
Planet Stories was Brackett’s primary publisher until the magazine ceased publication in 1955. Her story 'Last Call from Sector 9G' appeared in the magazine's final issue. In the same year, she published The Long Tomorrow, which is set in a post-nuclear society. She then shifted her focus to film. She wrote several Westerns for Hawks, including Rio Bravo (1959) and El Dorado (1966).
Leigh Brackett returned to writing fiction in the 1970s with the Skaith trilogy, beginning with The Ginger Star (1974). In 1977, she was hired to write the screenplay for The Empire Strikes Back. She died of cancer shortly after completing her version in 1978.
years of life: 7 December 1915 – 18 March 1978
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