Bryan Thomas Schmidt
A prolific editor and author who has become a conduit for new voices in science fiction, shaping anthologies that define the genre's present.
Born 1969 (age 57)·American novelist·Birthday: February 13·Generation X
Biography
Bryan Thomas Schmidt didn't just arrive in science fiction; he built a workshop. Starting as a novelist with his 'The Saga of Davi Rhii' space opera series, he quickly realized his passion lay as much in curation as creation. Based in Kansas City, Schmidt became a formidable anthologist, editing over twenty collections that often serve as launching pads for both emerging writers and established names. His editorial work is known for its clear thematic vision, from military SF in 'Shattered Shields' to the definitive author guide 'The Writer's Guide to the Galaxy'. This focus on craft and community is a throughline in his career. While writing his own near-future detective novels and seeing his work optioned for film, his editorial desk has remained a hub of activity. Recognition came with a Hugo Award finalist nod for editing, and his ambitious anthology 'Infinite Stars' aimed to map the entire terrain of space opera. Schmidt's impact is that of a modern-day pulp editor, tirelessly assembling the teams and themes that keep the genre's engine running.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Bryan was born in 1969, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bryan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1969
#1 Movie
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Best Picture
Midnight Cowboy
#1 TV Show
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Bryan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1969Born
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1974Started school
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1982Became a teenager
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Could drive
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1987Could vote
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1990Turned 21
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1999Turned 30
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2009Turned 40
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 50
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 57 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Was a finalist for the 2015 Hugo Award for Best Professional Editor (Long Form) for the anthology 'Shattered Shields'.
- Edited the acclaimed 'Infinite Stars' anthology, which was nominated for a Locus Award for Best Anthology in 2018.
- Has authored multiple novel series including a space opera trilogy and a near-future police procedural series.
- Wrote the non-fiction guide 'The Writer's Guide to the Galaxy: How to Write and Sell Science Fiction and Fantasy'.
Did You Know?
He hosted the popular 'SFFWRTCHT' (Science Fiction and Fantasy Writer's Chat) on Twitter, interviewing hundreds of authors.
One of his novels, 'The Last Hunt', is being developed as a motion picture.
He has edited anthologies featuring original stories from legacy authors like Robert Silverberg alongside newer writers.
“The best science fiction holds a mirror to our present, even when it's set light-years away.”
