Milton A. Rothman
Encyclopedia
Milton A. Rothman was a United States
nuclear physicist and college professor.
He was also an active science fiction
fan
and a co-founder of the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society
. An occasional author as well, he published stories usually with the pseudonym
"Lee Gregor".
, and attended Central High School
. He attended Oregon State University
, where he received a bachelor's degree
in engineering
, and graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania
, receiving his doctorate
in physics
during 1952.
Rothman died at Wyncote
, in 2001, of heart failure
, from complications due to diabetes and Parkinson's disease
.
His complete science fiction stories were published posthumously during 2004 by Wildside Press
with the title Heavy Planet and Other Science Fiction Stories edited by Darrell Schweitzer and Lee Weinstein.
Milton Rothman's son is science fiction writer Tony Rothman
.
. From 1959 until 1969, he worked at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
on Project Matterhorn, which studied methods of heating ionized gas to very great temperatures. During 1963, while working in the laboratory, he wrote The Laws of Physics
(ISBN 0-4650-3860-3).
During 1969, Rothman joined the faculty at Trenton State College (now the College of New Jersey). He retired from teaching during 1979.
, Rothman also organized the first Philcon
science fiction convention
in October 1936. The event consisted of 9 people, including future science fiction author/editors Frederik Pohl
and Donald A. Wollheim
, and was held, in part, in Rothman's home. Rothman published his fanzine "Milty's Mag" sporadically over a few years in the early forties. Rothman later chaired the 1947 and 1953 Philcons. The first Hugo award
was presented at the 1953 Philcon.
In honor of Dr. Rothman's lifetime of work in science fiction fandom, his name was voted into the First Fandom
Hall of Fame during 1998.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
nuclear physicist and college professor.
He was also an active science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
fan
Science fiction fandom
Science fiction fandom or SF fandom is a community or "fandom" of people actively interested in science fiction and fantasy and in contact with one another based upon that interest...
and a co-founder of the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society
Philadelphia Science Fiction Society
The Philadelphia Science Fiction Society is a science fiction club in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. PSFS is the second oldest group in science fiction fandom and hosted what is considered by some to be the first science fiction convention...
. An occasional author as well, he published stories usually with the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
"Lee Gregor".
Biography
Rothman was born in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, and attended Central High School
Central High School (Philadelphia)
Central High School is a public secondary school in the Logan section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Central, the second-oldest continuously public high school in the United States , was founded in 1836 and is a four-year university preparatory magnet school...
. He attended Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
, where he received a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
, and graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, receiving his doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
during 1952.
Rothman died at Wyncote
Wyncote, Pennsylvania
Wyncote is a census-designated place in Cheltenham Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,044 at the 2010 census...
, in 2001, of heart failure
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
, from complications due to diabetes and Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
.
His complete science fiction stories were published posthumously during 2004 by Wildside Press
Wildside Press
Wildside Press is an independent publishing company located in Maryland, USA. It was founded in 1989 by John Gregory and Kim Betancourt. While the press was originally conceived as a publisher of speculative fiction in both trade and limited editions, it has broadened out somewhat since then, both...
with the title Heavy Planet and Other Science Fiction Stories edited by Darrell Schweitzer and Lee Weinstein.
Milton Rothman's son is science fiction writer Tony Rothman
Tony Rothman
Tony Rothman is an American theoretical physicist, academic and writer.-Early life:Tony is the son of science fiction writer Milton A. Rothman....
.
Professional career
After receiving his doctorate, Rothman spent the next seven years investigating nuclear energy at the Bartol Research Foundation in Swarthmore, PennsylvaniaSwarthmore, Pennsylvania
Swarthmore is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. Swarthmore was originally named Westdale in honor of noted painter Benjamin West, who was one of the early residents of the town. The name was changed to Swarthmore after the establishment of Swarthmore College...
. From 1959 until 1969, he worked at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory is a United States Department of Energy national laboratory for plasma physics and nuclear fusion science located on Princeton University's Forrestal Campus in Plainsboro Township, New Jersey. Its primary mission is research into and development of fusion as an...
on Project Matterhorn, which studied methods of heating ionized gas to very great temperatures. During 1963, while working in the laboratory, he wrote The Laws of Physics
The Laws of Physics
This article is about the book The Laws of Physics. For general information about the laws of physics, see physical lawThe Laws of Physics is a book written in 1963 by Milton A. Rothman. It describes some fundamental laws of physics in language that is both easy and pleasant to read....
(ISBN 0-4650-3860-3).
During 1969, Rothman joined the faculty at Trenton State College (now the College of New Jersey). He retired from teaching during 1979.
Fandom
He was an active science fiction fan from an early age. Besides co-founding the Philadelphia Science Fiction SocietyPhiladelphia Science Fiction Society
The Philadelphia Science Fiction Society is a science fiction club in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. PSFS is the second oldest group in science fiction fandom and hosted what is considered by some to be the first science fiction convention...
, Rothman also organized the first Philcon
Philcon
Philcon, also known as the "Philadelphia Science Fiction Conference", is an annual science fiction convention, which has been held in or near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, nearly every year since 1936. The convention is run by the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society...
science fiction convention
Science fiction convention
Science fiction conventions are gatherings of fans of various forms of speculative fiction including science fiction and fantasy. Historically, science fiction conventions had focused primarily on literature, but the purview of many extends to such other avenues of expression as movies and...
in October 1936. The event consisted of 9 people, including future science fiction author/editors Frederik Pohl
Frederik Pohl
Frederik George Pohl, Jr. is an American science fiction writer, editor and fan, with a career spanning over seventy years — from his first published work, "Elegy to a Dead Planet: Luna" , to his most recent novel, All the Lives He Led .He won the National Book Award in 1980 for his novel Jem...
and Donald A. Wollheim
Donald A. Wollheim
Donald Allen Wollheim was an American science fiction ' editor, publisher, writer, and fan. As an author, he published under his own name as well as under pseudonyms, including David Grinnell....
, and was held, in part, in Rothman's home. Rothman published his fanzine "Milty's Mag" sporadically over a few years in the early forties. Rothman later chaired the 1947 and 1953 Philcons. The first Hugo award
Hugo Award
The Hugo Awards are given annually for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was officially named the Science Fiction Achievement Awards...
was presented at the 1953 Philcon.
In honor of Dr. Rothman's lifetime of work in science fiction fandom, his name was voted into the First Fandom
First Fandom
First Fandom is an association of experienced science fiction fans.In 1958 a number of fans at Midwestcon realized amid table-talk that they all had been active in fandom for more than 20 years. This inspired the creation of an organization for longstanding fans under the initial chairmanship of...
Hall of Fame during 1998.