Hal Clement (Harry Clement Stubbs) was born in Somerville, Massachusetts, on May 30, 1922. He received a B.S. in astronomy from Harvard in 1943, an M.Ed from Boston University in 1946, and an M.S. in chemistry from Simmons College in 1963.

From Harvard he entered the Army Air Corps Reserve, received pilot wings and commission at Steward Field, N.Y., in March, 1944, and flew 35 combat missions in Liberator (B-24) bombers with the 8th Air Force. Recalled to active duty in 1951, he spent eight months as a squadron executive officer at Bolling Air Force Base and 16 months as a technical instructor at the Armed Forces Special Weapons School at Sandia Base, New Mexico. He retired from the service as a full colonel in 1976.

His first story, "Proof", appeared in the June, 1942, issue of Astounding Science Fiction (now Analog) Magazine, and his first novel, Needle, was serialized there in 1949. His best known story (unfortunately, he feels), Mission of Gravity, appeared in 1953, and has been in print most of the time since. Other novels are Iceworld, Close to Critical, Star Light, Still River, Fossil, and Half Life.

Mr. Stubbs married Mary Elizabeth Myers in 1952. They have two sons, George Clement and Richard Myers, and a daughter, Christine.

He is a 23 gallon Red Cross blood donor and hopes to reach 25. He taught high school science for forty years, two in a public school and thirty-eight at Milton Academy, from which he retired in 1987. He served the New England Association of Chemistry Teachers as a division chairman, in various positions for its regular summer conferences, and finally as President. He is an honorary member of NEACT and of Aula Laudis, an honor organization of high school chemistry teachers.

Since 1972 he has also painted astronomical and science fiction art as "George Richard."