Francis G. Rayer

Who was Francis G. Rayer?

Francis George Rayer was a British science fiction writer and technical journalist.

He was born at Longdon, Worcestershire on 6 June 1921.

As a writer he might be best known for a series called either Mens Magna or Magnus Mesnis. Rayer was largely associated to the John Carnell era of New Worlds As a technical journalist he specialized in radio and electronics. He was the second son of a farmer who started writing after having a heart attack at a young age. He grew to admire the writing of Olaf Stapledon and learned Esperanto. Rayer sometimes published under the pseudonyms of Chester Delray and George Longdon. His work was largely criticized by New Wave science fiction writers.

From about 1960, he specialized in nonfiction and when Michael Moorcock became editor of New Worlds Rayer largely switched to nonfiction writing. Rayer's fiction has since mostly fallen out of popularity.

He held an amateur radio licence, and wrote technical books and numerous articles under the name F.G. Rayer. Rayer often provided illustrations and diagrams for these.

Rayer was able to buy a cottage from his writing, married a teacher named Elizabeth, and had two children. He died 11 July 1981 at Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire.