Hiram Gilmore "Harry" Bates III, who also wrote under the pseudonym Anthony Gilmore, was an American science fiction editor and writer active during the early to mid-twentieth century. Born in October 1900, Bates became an influential figure during the formative years of American science fiction, contributing to the genre's growth through both his editorial leadership and his own prose.
Bates's most enduring contribution to speculative fiction is his 1940 short story "Farewell to the Master." The story tells the tale of a mysterious visitor named Klaatu and his powerful metallic companion, Gnut, who arrive on Earth in a mysterious vessel. This narrative served as the foundational basis for the landmark 1951 science fiction film The Day the Earth Stood Still, cementing Bates's concepts in the annals of popular culture.
As an editor and author active during the pulp era, Bates helped shape the themes and stylistic conventions of early twentieth-century science fiction. His work bridged the gap between early adventure-focused space operas and the more philosophical, ideas-driven narratives that would define the Golden Age of Science Fiction. Bates passed away in September 1981, leaving behind a legacy centered on one of the genre's most famous and adapted stories.
