Arthur Sellings


Arthur Sellings was the pseudonym of Arthur Gordon Ley, an English scientist, book and art dealer, and science fiction author. In addition to Sellings he also wrote under the pen names Ray Luther and Martin Luther. He is best known for his well-crafted portraits of adaptability under stress, in stories noted for their humor, suspense and attention to plot and character. His posthumous novel Junk Day is considered his best work.

Life and career

Ley was born on 31 May 1921 in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England, the son of Arthur James and Stella Grace Ley. As well as his native town, he also lived in Kensington and, later, Worthing. He married, on 17 August 1945 in Stoke Newington, Gladys Pamela Judge. In addition to his writing, Ley was a book and art dealer and antiquarian and, from 1955 to 1968, a scientific researcher for the British government. His success in a 1955 writing contest sponsored by The Observer led to the publication of his first book, Time Transfer, by Michael Joseph Ltd. His research work inspired some of his science fiction. His work appeared in Fantastic, Galaxy Science Fiction, Imagination, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Nebula Science Fiction, New Worlds, New Writings in SF, and Worlds of Tomorrow, among other periodicals.
Ley died of a heart attack on 24 September 1968 in Worthing, Sussex, England.

Novels