Fredric Brown Fredric Brown was an American writer of mystery, crime, science fiction, and short fiction, celebrated for his compression, wit, surprise endings, and ability to build a story around a devastatingly simple premise. Born in 1906, Brown worked as a profreader, journalist, and pulp writer before becoming one of the most distinctive genre voices of the mid-twentieth century.In crime fiction, Brown is best remembered for novels such as The Fabulous Clipjoint, which won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel, along with a body of mysteries and suspense stories that combine sharp plotting with offbeat humor and psychological unease. In science fiction, his stories such as "Arena" and "The Waveries" helped secure his reputation as a master of the short, ingenious, high-impact idea. Read More Read Less