The NEW WORLDS profiles of Robert Presslie;
on the left that from NW 77, of November 1958, on the right from NW 133, August 1963.

NW 77, November 1958

NW 133, August 1963

Mr. Presslie's first science fiction stories appeared in the now-defunct Authentic Science Fiction, since when he has appeared in all the British magazines but notably in New Worlds and Science Fantasy. A native of the same Scottish city which produced author J. T. Mclntosh, he states, " I am an alien from Aberdeen who touched down on London four years ago and am pleased to report no signs of allergies to the local beverages. Gainfully employed as a pharmacy manager for a firm of multiple chemists, I believe the scientific education which went before is probably the reason for a long-standing love affair with science fiction. On the other hand, it could well be that boyhood reading of science fiction had something to do with the choice of career. This is an egg-and-chicken type problem which I have never been able to solve.

" If I was given the choice of an era to live in, I would choose the one I have because - like everyone who is in science fiction - I am a dreamer, and dreamers never had it so good. This must be the only age in which dreams come true while you wait. And for this selfsame fact I think the next few years will see a drastic and dramatic change in science fiction : who wants to read a make-believe yarn about the first man on the Moon when his photograph could well be on the front page of tomorrow's newspapers?

"The change is going to call for a vast unfolding of the imagination by readers and writers alike. I hope to be able to contribute to that change."

Mr. Presslie's guest editorial this month, which is a different analytical approach to the general subject theme of science fiction writing than generally expressed by previous guests, has triggered off some interesting possible themes for further editorials, the first of which will be published in the next issue.

In a quiet but solidly satisfying manner, Mr. Presslie has been doing this sort of thing almost since he first commenced writing s-f, even his stories produce many fresh approaches to ideas which are often commonplace. This is not too surprising as he works in the field of pharmaceutical chemistry, being a manager for a firm of multiple chemists and it is in this field that he draws much of his background analysis for scientific facts in his stories.

He admits that he is a dreamer and that today dreamers never had it so good. " This must be the only age in which dreams come true while you wait." he once stated. "And for this selfsame fact," he continued, " I think the next few years will see a drastic and dramatic change in science fiction; who wants to read a make-believe yarn about the first man on the Moon when his photograph could well be on the front page of tomorrow's newspapers? " That was nearly five years ago - and the dramatic change has come over science fiction; and it is almost certain that the photograph of the first man (or woman) to land on the Moon has already been printed.

In the changing world of science fiction writing, as he points out this month, the cardboard character is beginning: to breathe and the focus is on characterisation rather than the grandiose sweep of galactic backgrounds. In this respect, he has been just as great a pioneer as most of his contemporaries. For this reason, too, several of his stories have been anthologised—and doubtless others will be in the future.