# Thomas A. Easton

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American writer

**Thomas A. Easton** (born 17 July 1944) is a teacher and well-known [science fiction](/source/Science_fiction) critic and author. He retired as a [professor](/source/Professor) from [Thomas College](/source/Thomas_College) of [Maine](/source/Maine) in 2014 and now teaches part-time at Mount Ida College in Newton, MA.

Easton holds a [Bachelor of Arts](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts) in Biology from [Colby College](/source/Colby_College) and a [doctorate](/source/Doctorate) in [theoretical biology](/source/Theoretical_biology) from the [University of Chicago](/source/University_of_Chicago).[1]

He wrote the [book review](/source/Book_review) column in SF magazine *[Analog Science Fiction and Fact](/source/Analog_Science_Fiction_and_Fact)* from 1979 - 2009. He appears frequently at [Boston](/source/Boston)-area [science fiction conventions](/source/Science_fiction_convention).

His work on scientific and futuristic issues has appeared in many magazines, from *Astronomy* to *Robotics Age*. His latest nonfiction books are *Careers in Science* (VGM, 4th ed., 2004), *Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Issues in Science, Technology, and Society* (McGraw-Hill Dushkin, 8th ed., 2008), and *Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Environmental Issues* (McGraw-Hill Dushkin, 12th ed., 2007). His latest novels are *Firefight* (Betancourt, 2003) and *The Great Flying Saucer Conspiracy* (Wildside, 2002).

## Bibliography

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (June 2017)

### Novels

- Easton, Thomas A. (1995). *Silicon karma*. San Simeon, Calif.: Serendipity Systems.

**Organic Future series**

- *Sparrowhawk* (1990)

- *Greenhouse* (1991)

- *Woodsman* (1992)

- *Tower of the Gods* (1993)

- *Seeds of Destiny* (1994)

- *The Electric Gene Machine* (2000), a collection of short stories

### Anthologies edited

- *Visions of Tomorrow: Science Fiction Predictions That Came True* (2010) with Judith K. Dial [https://www.skyhorsepublishing.com/search-results/?keyword=Visions+of+tomorrow](https://www.skyhorsepublishing.com/search-results/?keyword=Visions+of+tomorrow)

- *Impossible Futures* (2013) with Judith K. Dial [https://www.pinknarc.com/store/p10/Impossible_Futures.html](https://www.pinknarc.com/store/p10/Impossible_Futures.html)

- Easton, Thomas A. & [Judith K. Dial](/source/Thomas_Easton), eds. (2015). *Deco punk : the spirit of the age*. Auburn, Mass.: Pink Narcissus Press.

- *Conspiracy!* (2016) with Judith K. Dial [http://www.nesfa.org/press/Books/Conspiracy.html](http://www.nesfa.org/press/Books/Conspiracy.html)

### Chapterbooks

- "Alien Resonance" (1990)

- "Maine Quartet" (2009)

### Short fiction

#### Collections

- *Ten Science Fiction Stories* (1989)

- *Gedanken Fictions: Stories on Themes in Science, Technology, and Society* (1996)

- *Bigfoot Stalks the Coast of Maine and Other Twisted Downeast Tales* (2000)

- *The Electric Gene Machine* (2000)

#### List of stories

**Howie Wyman series**

- *Mood Wendigo* (1980)

- *Downeast Encounter* (1980)

- *Gambling Man* (1980)

- *Fishing Trip* (1981)

- *Alas, Poor Yorick* (1981)

- *Return of the Native* (1981)

- *Energy Crisis* (1982)

**Jimmy Brane series**

- *Down on the Truck Farm* (1990)

- *Matchmaker* (1990)

**Other**

- "Next" (1974)

- "End and Beginning" (1974)

- "Shrine" (1975)

- "Preview Preview Test: The GB Roachster" (1976)

- "The Chicago Plan to Save a Species" (1976)

- "Notes from the Safety Overground" (1976) with W. Dinteman

- "Help Not Wanted" (1977)

- "Movers and Shakers" (1979)

- "Closest Kin" (1979)

- "Breakfast of Champions" (1980)

- "Tetherball" (1980)

- "Protection Racket" (1981)

- "The Last Flute" (1981)

- "The Blue-Tail Fly" (1981)

- "Speed Trap" (1982)

- "The Bung-Hole Caper" (1982)

- "Needle and Thread" (1982)

- "Ground Truth" (1983)

- "The Tailor" (1983)

- "A Love Story" (1983)

- "Right to Life" (1985)

- "Social Climber" (1988)

- "The Tree" (1988)

- "Hard Times" (1988)

- "Roll Them Bones" (1988)

- "To Fan the Flame" (1988)

- "The Coming of the Mayflower" (1989)

- "Kiss Me, Kate" (1989)

- "When Life Hands You a Lemming ..." (1989)

- "Sing a Song of Porkchops" (1989)

- "Going Home" (1990)

- "Lost Luggage" (1990)

- "Alien Resonance" (1990)

- "Versey Vicey" (1991)

- "Micro Macho" (1991)

- "Black Earth and Destiny" (1991) (Collected in [Mike Resnick](/source/Mike_Resnick)'s anthology *[Alternate Presidents](/source/Alternate_Presidents)*)

- "Swingin Proud'n Free" (1992)

- "The Pragmatists Take a Bow" (1993)

- "Clem, The Little Copper" (1994)

- "Wallflower" (1996)

- "Real Men Don't Bark at Fire Hydrants" (2000)

- "Foggy Acres Blues" (2002)

### Poetry

- "Surrender the Buddy Electrical" (1987)

- "Alien Heat" (1988)

- "Interstellar Arcs" (1988)

- "Modern Madness" (1989)

- "Reality Is Morally Neutral" (1989)

- "Love Song for Lonely Aliens" (1989)

- "The Alien's Revenge" (1989)

- "Seafood Futures" (1990)

- "Hackers Crack the Papal Porn" (1990)

- "Bubbles" (1991)

- "Chromosomes" (1993)

### Non-fiction

#### Books

- *Periodic Stars: An Overview of Science Fiction Literature in the 1980s and '90s* (1997)

- *Off the Main Sequence* (2007)

#### Essays and reporting

- "Life Needs a beginning" (1975)

- "Is the Universe a Yo-Yo?" (1979)

- "Amazing Facts" (Amazing Stories, February 1980) (1980)

- "Fantastic Facts - Weather Report: Chicago 2000" (1980)

- "Amazing Facts" (Amazing Stories, May 1980) (1980)

- "Fantastic Facts: Alternate Worlds" (1980)

- "State of the Art: Poetry with Rivets" (1988)

- "Is Science Fiction Just Tabloid Futurism ? or The Great Untapped Market" (1989)

- "Speculative Poetry, Pt. 1: Filler, Fiber, or Forgettable" (1991) with Marge B. Simon and John Grey and [G. Sutton Breiding](/source/G._Sutton_Breiding)

- "Book Reviewing: A Matter Of Opinion" (1992)

- "Letter" (Locus #392) (1993)

- "Concluding Statements" (1996) with Stephen L. Gillett, Ph.D.

- "Beware the Virtual Reality Jungle" (1996)

- "Introduction" (Bigfoot Stalks the Coast of Maine and Other Twisted Downeast Tales) (2000)

- "Astounding Continuity" (2007)

- "Preface" (Visions of Tomorrow: Science Fiction Predictions that Came True) (2010) with Judith K. Dial

- "Destinies: Issues to Shape our Future" (2020)

#### Science Fact (Analog) series

- "Robots - Rams from Cams" (1972)

- "Let There Be Light!" (1974)

- "Life is in The Stars" (1974)

- "The Biopump Solution" (1974)

- "Turing Point" (1975)

- "Altruism, Evolution, and Society" (1976)

- "Twenty Years to Space" (1979)

- "Decline and Fall" (1981)

- "The Future of Biological Engineering" (1982)

- "Trapped Between Damnations: The True Meaning of the Population Crisis" (1996)

- "The 3D Trainwreck" (2008)

- Easton, Thomas A. (Nov 2013). "3D printing and dancing bears". Science Fact. *Analog Science Fiction and Fact*. **133** (11): 19–23.

#### Review columns

- *The Reference Library* (Analog book review column, 1978–2008)

#### Interior art

- *The Biopump Solution* (1974)

### Critical studies and reviews of Easton's work

***Deco punk***

- [Sakers, Don](/source/Don_Sakers) (October 2015). "The Reference Library". *Analog Science Fiction and Fact*. **135** (10): 105–108.

## References

- Entries in *Contemporary Authors*, *International Authors and Writers Who's Who*, *Who's Who in the East*, *Who's Who in the World*, *Who's Who in Entertainment*, *Dictionary of International Biography*, and *Encyclopedia of Science Fiction*, 2nd ed. (1993).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Dr. Tom Easton - Thomas College"](https://web.archive.org/web/20121226185826/http://www.thomas.edu/content/4371/dr-tom-easton). Archived from [the original](http://www.thomas.edu/content/4371/dr-tom-easton) on 2012-12-26. Retrieved 2014-01-08.

## External links

- [Thomas A. Easton](https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ea.cgi?Thomas_A._Easton) at the [Internet Speculative Fiction Database](/source/Internet_Speculative_Fiction_Database)

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND WorldCat National United States Czech Republic Netherlands Latvia Israel Catalonia People LibraryThing Other IdRef Open Library Yale LUX

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