Editing Bob Shaw (section)

==Life==
Shaw was born and raised in [[Belfast]], the eldest of three sons of a policeman.<ref name="Lyons & O">{{harvnb|Lyons|O'Malley-Younger|2008|p=195}}</ref> He learned of science fiction at about 11 years old when he read an [[A. E. van Vogt]] short story in an early edition of ''[[Analog Science Fiction and Fact|Astounding Science-Fiction]]'' magazine. During the Second World War, American troops passed through Northern Ireland and often left their used SF magazines behind at [[Smithfield Market, Belfast|Smithfield Market]], where they were available for locals.<ref name="Fennell2014">{{Cite book |last=Fennell |first=Jack |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Bo8LDgAAQBAJ&pg=PA171 |title=Irish Science Fiction |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2014 |isbn=9781781381199 |page=157}}</ref> He later described the experience as being more significant and long-lasting than taking [[Lysergic acid diethylamide|LSD]].<ref>{{harvnb|Stableford|1995|p=22}}</ref> He attended [[Belfast Metropolitan College|Belfast College of Technology]].<ref>{{harvnb|Reginald|1974|p=240}}</ref> In 1950 he joined the group Irish Fandom, which also included another Northern Irish science fiction writer [[James White (author)|James White]], and met at the house of [[Walt Willis]] on Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oblique House - Fancyclopedia 3 |url=http://fancyclopedia.org/oblique-house}}</ref> The group was influential in the early history of science fiction fandom and produced fanzines ''Hyphen'' and ''Slant''; Shaw contributed material to both.<ref name="Lyons & O" /> Shaw acquired the nickname "BoSh" during this period.<ref name="ansiblecc">{{Cite web |title=Cloud Chamber 118 – D. Langford |url=http://www.ansible.co.uk/cc/cc118.html |access-date=8 November 2011 |publisher=Ansible.co.uk}}</ref> His first professional science fiction short story was published in 1954,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Title: Aspect |url=http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?44899}}</ref> followed by several others.

He gave up writing and went with his first wife Sadie (née Sarah Gourley) and their son and two daughters to live in Canada from 1956 to 1958. His novel ''Vertigo'' is set in [[Alberta]], and ''Orbitsville'''s limitless grasslands may have been influenced by this period in his life.<ref>{{harvnb|Lyons|O'Malley-Younger|2008|p=197}}</ref> Originally trained as a [[structural engineer]], he worked as an aircraft designer for [[Short Brothers|Short and Harland]], then as science correspondent to ''[[The Belfast Telegraph]]'' from 1966 to 1969, and as publicity officer for [[Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering|Vickers Shipbuilding]] (1973–1975), before starting to write full-time. In April 1973, during [[the Troubles]], Shaw and his family moved from Northern Ireland to England, where he produced most of his published work: first to [[Ulverston]], then to [[Grappenhall]] in [[Warrington]]. After Sadie died suddenly in 1991, Shaw lived alone there for some years.

Shaw nearly lost his eyesight through illness, and suffered [[migraine]]-induced [[aura (symptom)|visual disturbances]] throughout his life. Speculative treatments of seeing, and references to eyes and vision, appear in some of his works.<ref name="ansiblecc" /> He was known as a drinker, and at one stage considered himself an alcoholic.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Priest |first=Christopher |author-link=Christopher Priest (novelist) |title=Bob Shaw &#124; Christopher Priest, author |url=http://www.christopher-priest.co.uk/essays-reviews/contemporaries-portrayed/bob-shaw/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809090144/http://www.christopher-priest.co.uk/essays-reviews/contemporaries-portrayed/bob-shaw/ |archive-date=9 August 2011 |access-date=8 November 2011 |publisher=Christopher-priest.co.uk}}</ref> He was quoted in 1991 as saying: "I write science fiction for people who don't read a great deal of science fiction." He married American Nancy Tucker in 1995 and went to the US to live with her, then returned to England in the last months of his life. Shaw died of cancer on 11 February 1996.<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 February 1996 |title=Bob Shaw Obituary |work=[[The Independent]] |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary--bob-shaw-1319392.html |access-date=8 November 2011}}</ref>