BBC - h2g2 - Theodore Sturgeon and Sturgeon's Law

Theodore Sturgeon (26 February 1918 - 8 May 1985)

Sturgeon is considered to be one of the best writers to come out of the 'Golden Age' of science fiction, along with such greats as Asimov, Bradbury, and Heinlein.

His writing dealt with the human condition, more specifically with the many different forms of love and the ways that they are expressed (or not expressed). Considered to be iconoclastic and controversial at the time they were written, Sturgeon's stories illustrated the failings of many of societies' views on religion, sexuality, and ethics.

He is also known for formulating Sturgeon's Law: "Ninety percent of everything is crud." (Note: various other terms, including some colourful Anglo-Saxon ones, are often substituted in the place of the word 'crud', depending on the intended audience.)

Sturgeon was born as E.H. Waldo, but this name was changed in early adolescence when his mother remarried. Although many libraries list 'Theodore Sturgeon' as a pen name for E.H. Waldo, Sturgeon is his legal name.

Noted works include:

Short Stories: "Mr. Costello, Hero", "Slow Sculpture" (winner of both the Hugo and the Nebula Award), "...And My Fear is Great", "The Clinic", "The Skills of Xanadu"

Novels: Godsbody, The Golden Helix, More Than Human, Killdozer, The Dreaming Jewels (later renamed The Synthetic Man)

Sturgeon wrote scripts for several television shows, including two for the well-known science fiction programme Star Trek: Amok Time and Shore Leave.

Sturgeon is also given credit for creating the concept of the "Prime Directive" (a principle of non-interference in which advanced cultures are forbidden to alter the natural development of less developed civilisations) in Star Trek.