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Questar in 1990. All are the kind of hard science fiction for which he is known in Analog.

Looking forward, his new forthcoming short fiction is in the tradition of his best light fantasies. Look for "Standing in the Same Place," "From the Orchard," and "Just for Tonight" in issues of Pulphouse. "Far-Off Things" will appear in Fantasy and Science Fiction.

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So, what else do I know about this guy?

Rob Chilson and I were first introduced by mutual acquaintance at NorthAmericon in 1979. Neither of us was impressed. Another mutual acquaintance introduced us again at Denvention in 1981. We didn't care then either. Someone else introduced us at the Kansas City airport as he returned from Chicon in 1982, while I was waiting to pick up another passenger, and at least we both remembered we had gone through this before.

For the first time, now, we remembered each other's names. We still didn't care.

Even though we both lived in the Kansas City area for the following year, Rob and I had our first actual conversation together in Balticon, 1983. In a sense, yet another mutual acquaintance brought us together, we were griping about the same guy and at last found something in common. Exactly four years had passed, to the week, since we had first been introduced.

During the spring of 1984, we decided to try collaborating on a short story. Both of us felt we were in a rut as writers and recognized that our solo work had very little in common. Working together seemed like a good way to challenge ourselves. When we had finished a story, we sent it off to --where else?-- Analog.

In the summer of 1984, I need a place to live and, I preferred, a housemate. Rob's apartment building mysteriously burned shortly thereafter, leaving him in a similar need. I had nothing to do with it, of course, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Rob and I rented a house together soon after. Originally, we had merely wanted to get better acquainted, try working together, and maybe just sell one lousy story. Now, after seven years and ten collaborations in Analog, people say we've sold a lot of lousy stories.

It figures.

When you meet Rob at the convention, you will find him short, slender, and often quiet, though hard-headed. (Remember to check for youself.) He is quite approachable, however, and can regale (or bore) you with many silly tales of travel to and from conventions in the past, not to mention in them, often in my company. His knowledge of science fiction and fandom is considerable, and (unless you burn down his apartment building and make him mad) you will enjoy his company as a quest of the con.

This page created by: Kevin G. Austin