British newspapers have reported that Sir Fred Hoyle, physicist and science fiction writer, died Monday in Bournemouth, England. An astronomy lecturer at Cambridge University, he also wrote science fiction novels under his own name.

One of the best known astronomers of his generation, Hoyle championed the "steady state" theory of the universe which maintained that the cosmos had no beginning. He coined the term "Big Bang" to mock the opposing theory.

Hoyle, age 86, received many scientific prizes, honorary degrees and professorships. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1957 and knighted in 1972.

His genre novels included The Black Cloud, Ossian's Ride, and October the First Is Too Late. He wrote Fifth Planet, Seven Steps to the Sun and several other novels with his son Geoffrey Hoyle, and A for Andromeda with John Elliot.

He is survived by Barbara Clark, his wife of over 60 years, and by a daughter and son.

Posted August 22, 2001