Assumed Names

Pen names of SFF writers. Essay. 1200 words, 6-minute read.

Jul 31, 2025

Assumed Names

By Ray Tabler

What do actors and porn stars have in common with authors? Well, one thing many who fall into these categories indulge in is the use of aliases, stage names, pseudonyms, or pen names. For a variety of reasons, it is desirable to place a barrier between the real person and the public, and a made-up name often does the trick. Science fiction and fantasy authors are no exception, and this essay will explore some of the more notable examples, along with the circumstances which prompted the ruse. This isn’t an exhaustive list. I will put references below and in the comments of sources which provide such, and additional details. But, here are some of the more interesting items gleaned from a stroll through the subject.

Women authors – There are many women SFF writers, although you might not know how many. Because, for a long time they had to pretend they were men, to be seriously considered by both editors and the reading public.

C.J. Cherryh, aka Carolyn Janice Cherry – Carolyn Janice Cherry wrote science fiction and fantasy as C.J. Cherryh because “Cherry” sounds like a romance author. Or so her publisher thought.

U.K. Le Guin, aka Ursula K. Le Guin, Her story Nine Lives ran in Playboy, under U.K., not Ursala K, because the editor thought male readers would react negatively to a woman author.

Andrew North, aka Andre Norton, aka Alice Norton – Alice Norton wrote fantasy and science fiction under the name Andre Norton, because in the 1930s, when she started publishing, (openly) female SFF writers were an oddity. She concealed her true identity for professional reasons. A second pen name, Andrew North was employed for historical fantasy.

J.K. Rowling and Robert Galbraith, aka Joanne Rowling – The Harry Potter author wanted to see if people would appreciate her writing without the name known for the massively successful Potter franchise. She wrote a series of mystery novels, which have done quite well by most accounts.

James Tiptree, Jr., aka Alice Sheldon – Even the editors who published her, only knew Tiptree as a name and a post office box for year. Then, clever fans tracked her down and revealed Alice Sheldon as an academic who wanted to keep her writing and professional life separate.

Uncredited aka Mary Shelly – Mary Shelly wrote, arguably, the first modern science fiction novel, Frankenstein. It was published without an author because she feared it would cause her children to be taken away, for such wanton behavior.

C.L. Moore aka Catherine Lucille Moore – Catherine Moore altered her name to shroud her sex, a common practice in earlier decades.

Allison V. Harding aka? – No one knows who Allison Harding really was. Or, at least they’re not saying. At least one literary critic believes her to be possibly Jean Milligan. Debate is on-going.

Co-authors – There are a number of writers who decided that it was best to write together under one, assumed name.

James S.A. Corey, aka Ty Franck and Daniel Abraham. The Expanse series of books is actually a collaborative work by two authors. Abraham also writes epic fantasy as himself, and urban fantasy under the pseudonym M.L.N. Hanover.

Lewis Padgett and Lawrence O’Donnell, aka C.L. Moore and Henry Kuttner. – The above-mentioned Catherine Moore and Henry Kuttner were married, and wrote as a team under a pair of pen names, harnessed together, just like they were. C.H. Liddell was them, as well.

Cyril Judd aka C. M. Kornbluth and Judith Merril – Another team of writers which were not married, they used just one name to make sure Judith got paid the same rate as a man. Kornbluth wrote under a raft of pen names: Cecil Corwin, S.D. Gottesman, Edward J. Bellin, Kenneth Falconer, Walter C. Davies, Simon Eisner, and Jordan Park.

Donald Laverty, John MacDougal, and Arthur Lloyd Merlyn aka James Blish – Various names used for collaborations

Ivar Jorgensen/Jorgenson aka Howard Browne, Harlan Ellison, Paul W. Fairman, Randall Garrett, Robert Silverberg, and Henry Slesar and Robert Silverberg – All of these authors wrote stories that were published under Ivar Jorgensen/Jorgenson. They were “house” pen names at Amazing and Fantastic and later at If, Imagination and Imaginative Tales. Cordwainer Bird aka Harlan Ellison and Philip José Farmer – for stories they weren’t happy with, but maybe needed the money. It reminds me of the Hollywood practice of listing “Alan Smithee” as the director of a movie, which the actual director doesn’t want his or her name associated with. David Lynch subbed in Smithee for the TV cut of his movie Dune. He was unhappy with the editing.

Family issues – Sometimes, relatives precipitate the use of a pen name.

Joe Hill, aka Joseph Hillstrom King –Superstar author Stephan King is Joseph Hillstrom King’s father. Which explains why the Joe Hill pseudonym was chosen.

George Orwell aka Eric Blair – To avoid embarrassing his family, Eric Blair wrote under the pen name of George Orwell.

Interferes with the day job – Often, writing doesn’t pay all of the bills (if any of them). So, some protect their livelihood by writing under an assumed name. At least until success arrives.

John Lange, aka Michael Crichton – Crichton was a medical doctor, and used the pen name John Lange until his writing career took off.

Cordwainer Smith, aka Paul M.A. Linebarger – Professor and military officer (specialty: psychological warfare!)

Hal Clement aka Harry Clement – Astronomer

To allow them to write more books in other genres – Readers are sometimes less flexible than writers. They like their authors to stay in one lane. So, authors will regularly use a pen name to publish works in other genres. This was probably the most common justification for a pen name in the past.

Murray Leinster, aka William Fitzgerald Jenkins – Mysteries and westerns as Louisa Carter Lee

Robin Hobb, aka Megan Lindholm – Megan Lindholm was a writer of historical and contemporary fantasy novels. Her Assassin’s Apprentice was so different that her publisher insisted she use a new pen name, Robin Hobb.

Alex Marshall, aka Jesse Bullington – Bullington was already an established author. But he wanted a clean break from previous work for a new series.

K. J. Parker, aka Tom Holt – Tom Holt wrote historical fiction and light fantasy. For a darker fantasy, he chose to write as K.J. Parker. Parker’s true identity was a well-kept secret for 17 years.

Lester del Rey aka Leonard Knapp – Prolific author and editor Lester del Rey produced literature under a number of pen names: Ramon Felipe Alvarez-del Rey, Ramón Felipe San Juan Mario Silvio Enrico Smith, Sierra y Alvarez del Rey y de los Verdes, and Cameron Hall.

Anson MacDonald, and Lyle Monroe aka Robert A. Heinlein – For “lower-grade” stories

Paul French aka Issac Asimov – For the Lucky Starr series of juvenile adventure books.

Harry Harrison, Felix Boyd, Hank Dempsey aka Henry Maxwell Dempsey – Ironically, Harrison might be the only author to use his birth name as a pseudonym. His father changed his legal name to Harrison shortly after Harrison (the author) was born.

As mentioned, this is not a complete list. I encourage you to wander the wonderful world of pseudonyms on your own. You never know who you’ll find.

END.