Geoffrey A. Landis is a scientist and a science fiction writer. As a scientist, he is researcher working at the NASA John Glenn Research Center. He has a PhD in physics, and works on projects related to advanced power and propulsion systems for space and planetary exploration, and development of technologies for future missions. He was a member of the science team for the Mars Exploration rovers mission, directing the operation of rovers "Spirit" and "Opportunity" on the surface of Mars, and before that was a member of the Sojourner rover team on the Mars Pathfinder mission. In 2005 and 2006, he was the Ronald E. McNair Visiting Professor of Astronautics at MIT. He holds eight patents, and is the author of 400 scientific papers on subjects ranging from interstellar travel to semiconductor physics.
As a writer, Geoffrey Landis won the Hugo award for best short story in 1992 for the story "A Walk in the Sun," and again in 2003 for the story "Falling onto Mars." He won the Nebula award in 1990 for "Ripples in the Dirac Sea". His novel MARS CROSSING from Tor books won the Locus award for best first novel in 2001. His many science fiction stories has been translated into twenty two languages, ranging from Chinese through Swedish. His short story collection IMPACT PARAMETER (AND OTHER QUANTUM REALITIES), published by Golden Gryphon Books, was named as a notable book of 2001 by Publisher's Weekly. He also sometimes writes poems.
He lives in Berea, Ohio with his wife, writer Mary A. Turzillo, and his cats Samurai and Scaramouche. In his spare time he goes to fencing tournaments and stabs perfect strangers with a sword.
More information can be found on his web page: http://www.geoffreylandis.com