RIP: Barrington J. Bayley (1937-2008)

British New Wave author, Barrington John Bayley, passed away October 14, 2008 following a recent surgery for bowel cancer. He was 71.

Bayley was born in Birmingham, England and lived in the UK. Although usually writing as Barrington J. Bayley he also wrote as Alan Aumbry and P. F. Woods.

His first story was published when he was 17 and he went on to publish at least 16 science fiction novels plus numerous short stories and essays between 1954 and 2006. Bayley’s novels include Collision Course, The Soul of the Robot and Star Virus. His 1983 novel, Zen Gun, was nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award.

Bayley may have been better known for his influence on the work of other writers, than for the direct success of his own work.