Robert J. Szmidt


Robert Jerzy Szmidt is a Polish science fiction and fantasy writer, translator and journalist.

Biography

Szmidt trained as a sailor, however he never worked as one. In the late 80s and early 90s he was a sales representative for Amber Publishing House, and worked in video and bookselling business. He was also the owner of one of the first legal video rentals in Poland. In late 80s he founded two magazines: Video Business and Video Premiery. Afterwards he moved into video games publishing and as a translator.
Robert Szmidt joined the Polish Science Fiction fandom in the early 80s and soon became a co-founder of the Sphinx Award, which later was renamed the Zajdel Award.
In 1985 he was awarded the Śląkfa Prize as The Fan Of The Year. In 2015 he received the award Wrocławianin Roku, and in 2017 and 2018 a Silver and Gold, respectively, Odznaka Honorowa Zasłużony dla Województwa Dolnośląskiego.
He founded the Science Fiction magazine and Nautilus Award.
He was a publisher and editor in chief of the Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror monthly magazine.
Szmidt has lived in Katowice, Poland, since 1986.

Novels

Schmidt wrote two books which were included in the official Universe of Metro 2033