Lee Hawkins Garby

Lee Hawkins Garby (1890–1957) was an early science fiction writer best known for co-authoring the seminal 1928 serial novel The Skylark of Space alongside Edward Elmer Smith. This groundbreaking work is widely recognized as the first science fiction story in which human characters travel beyond the boundaries of the Solar System, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of the space opera genre. Garby was married to Dr. Carl DeWitt Garby, who was a college friend of Smith from their time at the University of Idaho, a connection that facilitated the literary partnership.

The Skylark of Space was first published in book form in 1946 by the Buffalo Book Company as The Skylark of Space: The Tale of the First Inter-Stellar Cruise. While the title page credited both Garby and Smith, the cover of this initial edition attributed the work solely to Smith, featuring a frontispiece by Charles Schneeman. The Library of Congress officially cataloged the book as a collaboration between Smith and Garby, published by Southgate Press.

In subsequent years, the publishing history of the novel grew complex. A revised edition, credited only to Smith, was published by Pyramid Books in 1958 and went on to be reissued numerous times. However, the historical significance of Garby's contribution has been preserved, and the original collaborative version of the novel has been back in print since 2007, ensuring her legacy as a pioneer of early space travel fiction remains recognized.