Easton, Thomas A(twood) 1944-

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EASTON, Thomas A(twood) 1944-

PERSONAL: Born July 17, 1944, in Bangor, ME; son of Thomas W. (a biologist) and Janet (a nurse; maiden name, Bartlett) Easton; married Elizabeth Susan Nelson (a homemaker), June 13, 1967; children: Joellen. Education: Colby College, B.A., 1966; University of Chicago, Ph.D., 1971.

ADDRESSES: Home and offıce—R.F.D. 2, Box 805, Belfast, ME 04915. Agent—Donald Maass, 157 West 57th St., Suite 1003, New York, NY 10019.

CAREER: Scott, Foresman and Co., Glenview, IL, associate editor, 1972-76; Unity College, Unity, ME, instructor in biology, 1978-80; University of Maine—Orono, Orono, instructor in technical writing, 1980-83; freelance writer, 1983—. Thomas College, Waterville, ME, adjunct assistant professor of biology, beginning 1983; Bangor Community College, instructor and adjunct assistant professor, 1983; science advisor to Conant for Congress Campaign, 1983-85.

MEMBER: Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (short fiction representative to Grievance Committee, 1980-84), American Association for the Advancement of Science.

WRITINGS:

NOVELS; "ORGANIC FUTURE" SERIES

Sparrowhawk, Ace Books (New York, NY), 1990.

Honeysuckle Wine, Ace Books (New York, NY), 1991.

Greenhouse, Penguin Group (New York, NY), 1991, Volume 2, Wildside Press (Holicong, PA), 1991.

Woodsman, Woodsman, Ace Books (New York, NY), 1992.

Tower of the Gods, Ace Books (New York, NY), 1993.

Seeds of Destiny, Ace Books (New York, NY), 1994.

OTHER FICTION

Silicon Karma (novel), White Wolf (Stone Mountain, GA), 1997.

Unto the Last Generation (novel), e-book version, Mind's Eye Fiction, 1998, print edition, Wildside Press (Holicong, PA), 2000.

Stones of Memory (novel), Wildside Press (Holicong, PA), 2000.

Alien Resonance (novel), Wildside Press (Holicong, PA), 2000.

The Electric Gene Machine (short stories), Wildside Press (Holicong, PA), 2000.

Bigfoot Stalks the Coast of Maine and Other Twisted Downeast Tales (short stories), Wildside Press (Holicong, PA), 2000.

(Editor) Gedanken Fictions: Stories on Themes in Science, Technology, and Society, Wildside Press (Holicong, PA), 2000.

The Great Flying Saucer Conspiracy (novel) Wildside Press (Holicong, PA), 2002.

Firefight (novel), Wildside Press (Holicong, PA), 2003.

OTHER

(With Carl Rischer) Bioscope, Mayfield Publishing (Palo Alto, CA), 1979, 2nd edition, C. E. Merrill (Columbus, OH), 1984.

How to Write a Readable Business Report, Dow Jones-Irwin (Homewood, IL), 1983.

Careers in Science, foreword by Richard C. Atkinson, Dow Jones-Irwin (Homewood, IL), 1984, 2nd edition, VGM Career Horizons, 1990.

Working for Life: Careers in Biology, Plexus (Homewood, IL), 1984.

(With Ralph Conant) Using Consultants: A Consumer's Guide for Managers, Probus (Chicago, IL), 1985.

(With Ralph Conant) Cutting Loose: Making the Transition from Employee to Entrepreneur, Probus (Chicago, IL), 1985.

(Editor, with B. J. Carroll and Ralph Conant) Private Means—Public Ends: Private Business in Social Service Delivery, Praeger (New York, NY), 1987.

Think Thunder (creativity software and manual), R. K. West Consulting, 1989.

(With Carl Rischer) Focus on Human Biology, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 1992.

(Editor and author of introductions) Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Issues in Science, Technology, and Society, Dushkin Publishing Group (Guilford, CT), 1995, 5th edition, 2002.

Periodic Stars: An Overview of Science Fiction Literature in the 1980s and '90s, Borgo Press (San Bernardino, CA), 1997.

Frontiers of Wonder, Serendipity Systems, 1999.

Book columnist, Analog, beginning 1979, and Galaxy-Online, beginning 2000. Contributor of articles and short stories to science fiction magazines, scientific journals, and popular magazines, including Tomorrowsf (online journal), Astronomy, Consumer Reports, and Robotics Age.

SIDELIGHTS: "Having obtained my doctorate in theoretical biology," Thomas A. Easton once commented, "I consider myself a generalist. Having also found that writing is personally rewarding, I tell people that I know a little bit about almost everything, and I like to tell about it. I seem to be best known at present as a critic, which I hope will pass.

"Like many writers, I put in some time as an editor. I quit editing and writing on the side when I got the contract to do Bioscope, an introductory college biology textbook, which—unfortunately!—seemed to appeal more to students than to their professors. That contract allowed me to move home to Maine and become a full-time writer, with the income supplemented by part-time teaching. The teaching in turn led to a number of different books, like the Dushkin title, an anthology of pro and con essays on science and technology issues. I find it interesting how training and experience combine to lead me into seemingly unconnected areas, even as my writing continually reflects my concern with educating and encouraging people to think.

"Following my development of a computer program that stimulates the creative process, I found myself able to write publishable poetry and salable novels. So far, Ace Books has bought some novels, and two (plus related short stories) have been optioned for the movies. These novels and stories in essence track the rise of a technology (genetic engineering) until the reactionary public rejects it, and then propose a religion whose highest good is learning."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Analog, April 1, 1980.

Kliatt Young Adult Paperback Book Guide, July, 1996, review of Careers in Science, p. 30.

Locus, November, 1990, p. 56; December, 1990, p. 29; November, 1991, p. 54; May, 1992, p. 45.

Publishers Weekly, August 26, 2002, review of The Great Flying Saucer Conspiracy, p. 49.

Science Books and Films, March, 1997, review of Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Issues in Science, Technology, and Society, p. 42.

Science Fiction Chronicle, March, 1991, p. 33; May, 1992, p. 29; May, 1998, review of Silicon Karma, p. 45; August, 2001, review of Bigfoot Stalks the Coast of Maine and Other Twisted Downeast Tales and Alien Resonance, p. 39; October, 2001, review of Stones of Memory, p. 41.

Washington Post Book World, May 25, 1997, review of Silicon Karma, p. 8.