Cordwainer Smith

Cordwainer Smith, born Paul Myron Anthony Linebarger in 1913, was an American author, political scientist, and expert on psychological warfare. His science fiction, published under the pseudonym Cordwainer Smith, is celebrated for its lyrical, almost mythic quality and its deeply original future history, the "Instrumentality of Mankind." This series, including stories like "Scanners Live in Vain" and "The Game of Rat and Dragon," explores themes of humanity, animal uplift, and the nature of consciousness. Smith's work, though limited in volume, has had an outsized influence on the genre, admired for its emotional depth and stylistic innovation. He died in 1966, leaving a legacy as one of science fiction's most distinctive and visionary voices.