Lawrence Eisenberg (born 1919) is a science fiction writer. He is best known for his short story "What Happened to Auguste Clarot?," published in Harlan Ellison

Harlan Ellison

Harlan Jay Ellison is an American writer. His principal genre is speculative fiction.His published works include over 1,700 short stories, novellas, screenplays, teleplays, essays, a wide range of criticism covering literature, film, television, and print media...

's groundbreaking anthology Dangerous Visions

Dangerous Visions

Dangerous Visions is a science fiction short story anthology edited by Harlan Ellison, published in 1967.A path-breaking collection, Dangerous Visions helped define the New Wave science fiction movement, particularly in its depiction of sex in science fiction...

. Eisenberg's stories have also been printed in a number of leading science fiction magazines, including The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Galaxy Science Fiction

Galaxy Science Fiction

Galaxy Science Fiction was an American digest-size science fiction magazine, published from 1950 to 1980. It was founded by an Italian company, World Editions, which was looking to break in to the American market. World Editions hired as editor H. L...

, and Asimov's Science Fiction

Asimov's Science Fiction

Asimov's Science Fiction is an American science fiction magazine which publishes science fiction and fantasy and perpetuates the name of author and biochemist Isaac Asimov...

. His stories have been reprinted in anthologies such as Great Science Fiction of the 20th Century, The 10th Annual of the Year’s Best S-F, and Great Science Fiction By the World's Great Scientists.

Life

Born in New York City in 1919, Eisenberg was educated at City College of New York

City College of New York

The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...

 and the Polytechnic Institute, Brooklyn (where he received his Ph.D. in Electronics). After serving in the Air Force for two years, Eisenberg married Frances Brenner in 1950. They have one daughter and one son.

Eisenberg was for many years a biomedical engineer at Rockefeller University

Rockefeller University

The Rockefeller University is a private university offering postgraduate and postdoctoral education. It has a strong concentration in the biological sciences. It is also known for producing numerous Nobel laureates...

, where he and Dr. Robert Schoenfeld were co-heads of the Electronic Lab. He designed the first transistorized radio frequency coupled pacemaker in about 1960 in collaboration with Dr. Alexander Mauro. It is currently on display at Caspary Hall, Rockefeller University.

Writing

Eisenberg published his first short story, "Dr. Beltzov's Polyunsaturated Kasha Oil Diet," in Harper's Magazine

Harper's Magazine

Harper's Magazine is a monthly magazine of literature, politics, culture, finance, and the arts, with a generally left-wing perspective. It is the second-oldest continuously published monthly magazine in the U.S. . The current editor is Ellen Rosenbush, who replaced Roger Hodge in January 2010...

 in 1962. Shortly after that, he began publishing his stories in many of the leading science fiction magazines of the day, including The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Galaxy Science Fiction

Galaxy Science Fiction

Galaxy Science Fiction was an American digest-size science fiction magazine, published from 1950 to 1980. It was founded by an Italian company, World Editions, which was looking to break in to the American market. World Editions hired as editor H. L...

, and If

If (magazine)

If was an American science fiction magazine launched in March 1952 by Quinn Publications, owned by James L. Quinn. Quinn hired Paul W. Fairman to be the first editor, but early circulation figures were disappointing, and Quinn fired Fairman after only three issues. Quinn then took over the...

. Many of these stories have a humorous style and feature his character Professor Emmet Duckworth, a research scientist and two-time winner of the Nobel Prize

Nobel Prize

The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...

.

Eisenberg is best known for his short story What Happened to Auguste Clarot?, which was published in the anthology Dangerous Visions

Dangerous Visions

Dangerous Visions is a science fiction short story anthology edited by Harlan Ellison, published in 1967.A path-breaking collection, Dangerous Visions helped define the New Wave science fiction movement, particularly in its depiction of sex in science fiction...

edited by Harlan Ellison

Harlan Ellison

Harlan Jay Ellison is an American writer. His principal genre is speculative fiction.His published works include over 1,700 short stories, novellas, screenplays, teleplays, essays, a wide range of criticism covering literature, film, television, and print media...

. His stories have also been reprinted in anthologies such as Great Science Fiction of the 20th Century, The 10th Annual of the Year’s Best SF, and Great Science Fiction By the World's Great Scientists.

He has published two books of limericks (both with George Gordon), and one collection of short stories, Best Laid Schemes. More recently, he has gained a cult following for the limericks he posts in the comments sections of various New York Times articles.

Limericks and other books

• Limericks for Lantzmen (1965) with George Gordon.
• Limericks for the Loo (July 1966) with George Gordon.
• Games People Shouldn't Play (November 1966) with George Gordon.

Selected Short Fiction

"Dr. Beltzov's Polyunsaturated Kasha Oil Diet," Harper's Magazine Harper's Magazine Harper's Magazine is a monthly magazine of literature, politics, culture, finance, and the arts, with a generally left-wing perspective. It is the second-oldest continuously published monthly magazine in the U.S. . The current editor is Ellen Rosenbush, who replaced Roger Hodge in January 2010... , 1962. "The Mynah Matter," Fantastic Stories Fantastic Stories Fantastic Stories is a collection of six short stories written by Soviet author Andrei Sinyavsky under the pseudonym Abram Tertz between 1955 and 1961. The stories are titled: At the Circus, The Graphomaniacs, The Tenants, You and I, The Icicle and Phkents... , August 1962. "The Fastest Draw," Amazing Stories Amazing Stories Amazing Stories was an American science fiction magazine launched in April 1926 by Hugo Gernsback's Experimenter Publishing. It was the first magazine devoted solely to science fiction... , October 1963. Reprinted in Tin Stars, edited by Isaac Asimov Isaac Asimov Isaac Asimov was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000... , Martin H. Greenberg, Charles G. Waugh, NAL Signet, 1986. "The Marvelous Marshal," The Best Laid Schemes by Larry Eisenberg, Macmillan, 1971. "The Pirokin Effect," Amazing Stories, June 1964. Reprinted in The 10th Annual of the Year’s Best S-F, edited by Judith Merril Judith Merril Judith Josephine Grossman , who took the pen-name Judith Merril about 1945, was an American and then Canadian science fiction writer, editor and political activist.... . "The Scent of Love," Fantastic Stories Fantastic Stories Fantastic Stories is a collection of six short stories written by Soviet author Andrei Sinyavsky under the pseudonym Abram Tertz between 1955 and 1961. The stories are titled: At the Circus, The Graphomaniacs, The Tenants, You and I, The Icicle and Phkents... , August 1964. "The Two Lives of Ben Coulter," The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, April 1967. "Conqueror," If If (magazine) If was an American science fiction magazine launched in March 1952 by Quinn Publications, owned by James L. Quinn. Quinn hired Paul W. Fairman to be the first editor, but early circulation figures were disappointing, and Quinn fired Fairman after only three issues. Quinn then took over the... , October 1967. "The Saga of DMM," The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, December 1967. "What Happened to Auguste Clarot?" Dangerous Visions Dangerous Visions Dangerous Visions is a science fiction short story anthology edited by Harlan Ellison, published in 1967.A path-breaking collection, Dangerous Visions helped define the New Wave science fiction movement, particularly in its depiction of sex in science fiction... edited by Harlan Ellison Harlan Ellison Harlan Jay Ellison is an American writer. His principal genre is speculative fiction.His published works include over 1,700 short stories, novellas, screenplays, teleplays, essays, a wide range of criticism covering literature, film, television, and print media... , Doubleday, 1967. "The Time of His Life," The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, April 1968. Reprinted in Alpha 1 edited by Robert Silverberg Robert Silverberg Robert Silverberg is an American author, best known for writing science fiction. He is a multiple nominee of the Hugo Award and a winner of the Nebula Award.-Early years:... , 1970; Arbor House Treasury of Modern SF edited by Robert Silverberg, Martin H. Greenberg Martin H. Greenberg Martin Harry Greenberg was an American speculative fiction anthologist and writer.-Biography:Dr. Martin H. Greenberg was born March 1, 1941, to Max and Mae Greenberg in South Miami Beach, Florida... , Arbor House, 1980; Great Science Fiction of the 20th Century edited by Robert Silverberg, Martin H. Greenberg, Avenel Books, 1987. "The Open Secrets," Galaxy Science Fiction Galaxy Science Fiction Galaxy Science Fiction was an American digest-size science fiction magazine, published from 1950 to 1980. It was founded by an Italian company, World Editions, which was looking to break in to the American market. World Editions hired as editor H. L... , May 1969. "Hold Your Fire!," Venture Science Fiction Magazine Venture Science Fiction Magazine Venture Science Fiction was an American digest-size science fiction magazine, first published from 1957 to 1958, and revived for a brief run in 1969 and 1970. Ten issues were published of the 1950s version, with another six in the second run. It was founded in both instances as a companion to The... , May 1969. "Project Amnion," Venture Science Fiction Magazine, August 1969. "IQ Soup," Venture Science Fiction Magazine, November 1969. "A Matter of Time and Place," The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, January 1970. "The Cameleon," The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, March 1970. Reprinted in American Government Through Science Fiction edited by Joseph D. Olander, Martin H. Greenberg, and Patricia S. Warrick, McNally, 1974; Election Day 2084: Science Fiction Stories About the Future of Politics edited by Isaac Asimov and Martin H. Greenberg, Prometheus, 1984; "The Quintopods," If, September/October 1970 "A Matter of Recordings," If, February 1970. "Human Element," If, May/June 1970. "The Fifth Planet," If, July/August 1970. "The Orgy," Venture Science Fiction Magazine, August 1970. "Duckworth and the Sound Probe," Galaxy Science Fiction, Jul/Aug 1971. "Heart of the Giant," Worlds of Tomorrow Worlds of Tomorrow (magazine) Worlds of Tomorrow was an American science fiction magazine published from 1963 to 1967, after it was merged into If. It briefly resumed publication in 1970 and 1971. The magazine was edited by Frederik Pohl in its first period of publication, and by Ejler Jakobsson in the second. It has published... , Spring 1971. "The Buyer," Galaxy Science Fiction, May/Jun 1971. "The Teacher," Galaxy Science Fiction, January 1971. "The Grand Illusions," Galaxy Science Fiction, May/Jun 1972. "The Executive Rat," Worlds of If Science Fiction, Nov/Dec 1972. Reprinted in Psy-Fi One: An Anthology of Psychology in Science Fiction edited by Kenneth B. Melvin, Stanley L. Brodsky, and Raymond D. Fowler, Jr., Random House, 1977.

"Sikh, Sikh, Sikh," Vertex: The Magazine of Science Fiction, December 1973. "The Merchant," Worlds of If Science Fiction, Sep/Oct 1973. Reprinted in Flying Saucers edited by Isaac Asimov, Martin H. Greenberg, and Charles G. Waugh Fawcett Crest, Ballantine/Fawcett Crest, 1982/1987. "Elephants Sometimes Forget," The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, September 1974. "Televerite," Vertex: The Magazine of Science Fiction, April 1974. "The Look Alike Revolution," The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, November 1974. "The Money Machine," Vertex: The Magazine of Science Fiction, August 1974. "Time and Duckworth," Galaxy Science Fiction, May 1974. "The Baby," Galaxy Science Fiction, March 1974. Reprinted in Psy-Fi One: An Anthology of Psychology in Science Fiction edited by Kenneth B. Melvin, Stanley L. Brodsky, and Raymond D. Fowler, Jr., Random House, 1977. "Dr. Snow Maiden," The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, August 1975. Reprinted in Great Science Fiction By the World's Great Scientists, edited by Isaac Asimov, Martin H. Greenberg, and Charles G. Waugh, Donald I. Fine, 1985. "The Spurious President," Vertex: The Magazine of Science Fiction, April 1975 "My Random Friend," The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, August 1977 "The Interface," The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, August 1978. "Djinn & Duckworth," Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, March 1979. "Me and My Shadow," The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, February 1986. "Live It Up, Inc.," The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, March 1988.

External links