Steve Miller (science fiction writer)


Steve Miller is an American science fiction writer from Winslow, Maine, best known for his works set in the Liaden universe, written in collaboration with his wife Sharon Lee.

Background

Miller was born July 31, 1950 in Baltimore, Maryland. He attended Franklin High School in Reisterstown, Maryland, graduating in 1968; and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in the late 1960s and 1970s, where he was news editor and managing editor of the campus newspaper, The Retriever and founding president of the Infinity Circle, the school's first science fiction club. He served as founding Curator of the UMBC Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery's science fiction research collection. Miller was an active member of science fiction fandom for many years, serving as Director of Information of the Baltimore Science Fiction Society for some years, and as vice-chair of the bid committee to hold the 38th World Science Fiction Convention in Baltimore.
Miller married Baltimore-area science fiction fan Sue Nice in 1975; they divorced in 1979. He and Sharon Lee were married in 1980. In 1988, they relocated to central Maine, and now live in Winslow.

Writing

In 1973, Miller attended the Clarion West Writers Workshop. He sold short fiction to semi-professional markets, and wrote for science fiction fanzines, before selling a short story, "Charioteer" to Amazing Stories. He has since published dozens of novels and over 50 short stories, as well as book reviews, essays and other non-fiction; much in collaboration with Lee. He has also collaborated with Lee on some non-Liaden works.

On fan fiction

Miller and Lee strongly oppose fan fiction written in their universe. In Lee's words:
I don't want 'other people interpreting' our characters. Interpreting our characters is what Steve and I do; it's our job. Nobody else is going to get it right. This may sound rude and elitist, but honestly, it’s not easy for us to get it right sometimes, and we've been living with these characters ... for a very long time ... We built our universes, and our characters; they are our intellectual property; and they are not toys lying about some virtual sandbox for other kids to pick up and modify at their whim. Steve and I do not sanction fanfic written in our universes; any such work that exists, exists without our permission, and certainly without our support.

Publishing

Miller ran a small press from 1995 through 2012, specializing in chapbooks containing 2-3 short stories set in the Liaden Universe, and other settings from books by him, Sharon Lee and other authors. The works published under this imprint by Miller and Lee have been published as ebooks in editions from Baen Books following the termination of operations of SRM Publishers, Ltd.

Works

Liaden Universe novels

All written by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller.
;Agent of Change Sequence
;The Great Migration Duology
;Other
Miller has received various literary awards.
YearOrganizationAward title, CategoryWorkResultRefs
2012Edward E. Smith Memorial AwardSkylarkn/a
2014Locus Locus Award, Science Fiction NovelNecessity's Child
2014Locus Locus Award, Science Fiction NovelTrade Secret
1981Fool-ConBalrog Award, Short FictionA Matter of Ceremony
2010Golden Duck AwardHal Clement AwardFledgeling
2005Golden Duck AwardHal Clement AwardBalance of Trade
2013SF SiteSF Site Reader's PollDragon Ship
2012SF SiteSF Site Reader's PollGhost Ship
2011SF SiteSF Site Reader's PollSaltation
2002Romantic TimesRomantic Times Book Club Reviewers Choice Award for Best Science Fiction NovelScout's Progress
2002Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal Chapter of the Romance Writers of AmericaPrism AwardScout's Progress
2002Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal Chapter of the Romance Writers of AmericaPrism AwardLocal Custom

Miller, usually with Lee, has been a Guest of Honor or Special Guest at a number of science fiction conventions, including:
SiliCon ; SheVaCon ; Albacon ; Balticon and MarsCon ; PortConME ; CONduit and Trinoc*coN ; Penguicon and COSine ; Stellarcon ; DucKon and Oasis ; and ConQuesT and Chattacon.