Robert L. Fish | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1912-08-21)August 21, 1912 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | February 23, 1981(1981-02-23) (aged 68) Trumbull, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Pen name | Robert L. Pike, Lawrence Roberts |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Nationality | American |
| Period | 1948–1981 |
| Genre | Crime fiction, detective fiction |
Robert Lloyd Fish (August 21, 1912 – February 23, 1981) was an American writer ofcrime fiction.
Fish was born inCleveland, Ohio, and studied engineering atCase School of Applied Science, where he graduated in 1933. Thereafter, he had a successful career in engineering management and consultancy,[1] working in several countries that he later used as settings for his stories. He served for three years with theOhio National Guard37th Infantry Division.
In 1953 he travelled toRio de Janeiro, as an engineering consultant to a Brazilian vinyl plastics factory[2] In 1960, Fish submitted his first short story toEllery Queen's Mystery Magazine. He subsequently wrote over 30 novels and numerous short stories.
Hisfirst novel,The Fugitive, gained him theMystery Writers of America'sEdgar Allan Poe Award for best first novel in 1962, and his short story "Moonlight Gardener" was awarded the Edgar for best short story in 1972. His 1963 novelMute Witness, written under the pseudonymRobert L. Pike, was filmed in 1968 asBullitt, starringSteve McQueen. The same happened with his 1967 novelAlways Kill A Stranger, which was filmed in 1972 asMissão: Matar, starringTarcisio Meira,Yvonne Buchingham.
He also wrote the novelPursuit (adapted into a two-part TV miniseriesTwist of Fate), and theHolmesparodyThe Memoirs of Schlock Homes.
In 1963, Fish completedJack London's unfinished novelThe Assassination Bureau, Ltd based on the unfinished manuscript with additional notes by London and an ending outline done by London's wife Charmian shortly before her death in 1955.
Fish died in February 1981 at his home inTrumbull,Connecticut.
Two other short stories, "Double Entry" (EQMM, January 1969) and "Hijack" (Playboy, August 1972), were nominated for Edgars in the "best short story" category, but did not win the award.[3]
The Robert L. Fish Memorial Award, sponsored by the author's estate, has been awarded annually since 1984 by the Mystery Writers of America for the best first short story by an American author.
