Robert Sheckley

Many years ago I wrote a story called "Zirn Left Unguarded, the Jenz-hik Palace in Flames, Jon Westerly Dead." Don Wollheim called me. He was interested in acquiring rights to the story. He wanted to hire someone to expand it into a novel. We discussed the possibility of me writing it. I remember Don's voice over the phone—an incisive New York voice. Trouble was, I was tied up with other assignments at that time, and didn't want to commit myself too far ahead. We decided to talk about it again further down the line—maybe in a year. I guess we both forgot about the project—until now, when you asked me for an anecdote about Don. This is the best one I can remember—maybe the only one. I still regret never having written that novel for Don.
I was born in New York in 1928. Raised in New Jersey, I settled in New York again after my tour of duty in the Army. I've done a lot of traveling over the years, and a lot of writing. I'm still going strong, and hope to continue indefinitely.
—RS