title: Neal Barrett Jr.
text: # Neal Barrett Jr.
  
  Neal Barrett Jr. (November 3, 1929 – January 12, 2014) was an American writer of fantasy, science fiction, mystery/suspense, and historical fiction. He also worked under the pseudonyms Victor Appleton, Chad Calhoun, Franklin W. Dixon (Stratemeyer Syndicate house names), Rebecca Drury, and J. D. Hardin.
  
  ## Biography
  
  Barrett was born in San Antonio, Texas, but grew up in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma after his family relocated there in his infancy. His first published science fiction story was "To Tell the Truth" in the August, 1960 issue of Galaxy Science Fiction. After that he contributed short work to science fiction magazines with some regularity, but he was better known for his novels. His reputation was made in the late 1980s with the publication of his novel Through Darkest America and its sequel, Dawn's Uncertain Light. Beginning in the 1990s and continuing into his later years, Barrett focused less on science fiction and more on crime thrillers, though he continued to work in both genres, often in the screwball comedy style such as in his short story "Perpetuity Blues". He died in 2014 at the age of 84.
  
  ## Awards and honors
  
  Barrett's story "Ginny Sweethips' Flying Circus" was nominated for both the 1988 Nebula Award for Best Novelette and the 1989 Hugo Award for Best Novelette. In 1997, he was the toastmaster at the 55th World Science Fiction Convention held in San Antonio. In 2010, he was named Author Emeritus by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.
  
  