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{{Short description|American writer and editor (1951–2023)}}
{{other people|Michael Banks}}
{{other people|Michael Banks}}
{{Multiple issues|
'''Michael A. Banks''' (born 21 March 1951 in [[Princeton, Indiana]]<ref>[http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ea.cgi?229 ISFDB, Michael A. Banks - Summary Bibliography] Retrieved 2014-11-06.</ref>) is a writer and editor of [[science fiction]] and non-fiction. In the science fiction field he is perhaps best known for nonfiction works about the genre (including "Understanding Science Fiction," 1980) and collaborations with [[Mack Reynolds]]. Banks has several other novels to his credit, (including [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0671655531/michaelbanks-20''The Odysseus Solution''], with Dean R. Lambe), and has been a frequent contributor to ''Analog'', ''Asimov's SF'', and other publications.
{{Like resume|date=June 2015}}
{{Sources|date=July 2023}}
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}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox writer
⚫
| name = Michael A. Banks
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1951|03|21}}
| birth_place = [[Princeton, Indiana]], U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2023|06|19|1951|03|21}}
| death_place =
| occupation = {{flatlist|
* [[Editing|Editor]]
* novelist
* short story author
}}
| pseudonym =
| genre = [[Science fiction]], [[Fantasy]]
| period = 1976–2022
| movement =
| notableworks =
| influences =
| influenced =
| website =
}}


'''Michael A. Banks''' (March 21, 1951 – June 19, 2023) was a writer and editor of [[science fiction]] and non-fiction.
A former columnist for ''Windows Magazine'' and ''Computer Shopper'', Banks was early on the scene as an Internet journalist, documenting the growth of online services and, later, the Internet and Web from the early 1980s onward. His book [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0135898625/michaelbanks-20 ''The Modem Reference''] (Brady/Simon & Schuster) was a standard guide to the online world throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s, selling more than 200,000 copies.


== Biography ==
Banks explored Internet crime and computer privacy with books such as [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1576101371/michaelbanks-20] [''Web Psychos, Stalkers and Pranksters'' (Coriolis) and [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0782127479 /michaelbanks-20 ''PC Confidential''] (Sybex).
Banks was born in [[Princeton, Indiana]] on March 21, 1951.<ref>[http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ea.cgi?229 ISFDB, Michael A. Banks - Summary Bibliography] Retrieved 2014-11-06.</ref> He wrote several biographies for magazines, including those about aviators, inventors, and other figures. His book, ''Crosley'', is the story of inventor [[Powel Crosley, Jr.]], who founded [[Radio broadcasting|radio station]] [[WLW]] and built the Crosley automobile, Moonbeam aircraft, and low-cost radios that touched off the broadcasting industry in 1921.


Banks died on June 19, 2023, at the age of 72.<ref>[https://wfc2023.org/in-memorium/ World Fantasy Convention 2023 In Memoriam] Retrieved 2023-06-21.</ref>
He also served as a freelance acquisitions editor for Baen Books, and associate editor for Baen's quarterly "book-a-zine," ''New Destinies,'' in the 1980s.


== Career ==
Banks has lately turned to the biography field, writing about noted aviators, inventors, and other figures for magazines. One such [http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578602912/ ''CROSLEY''] is the story of inventor Powel Crosley, Jr., whose low-cost radios touched off the broadacsting industry in 1921. (Crosley also founded WLW, the world's most powerful radio station, built the Crosley automobile and Moonbeam aircraft, and was involved in a number of other high-tech ventures during the first half of the 20th Century.)


=== Computing ===
⚫
Banks more recently wrote ''On the Way to the Web: The Secret History of the Internet'' (APress, 2008), ''Before Oprah: Ruth Lyons, the Woman Who Created Talk TV'' (Orange Frazer, 2009). On the Way to the Web carries special appeal in that it tells the complete story of what was happening online before the Web—including the histories of Videotex and online services such as [[CompuServe]], [[The Source (online service)|The Source]], [[PlayNET]], [[AOL]], [[Q-Link]], [[Viewdata]], [[Prestel]],
A former columnist for ''Windows Magazine'' and ''Computer Shopper'', Banks documented the growth of online services and the Internet and Web from the early 1980s onward. His book ''The Modem Reference'' was a guide to the online world during the 1980s and into the 1990s, selling more than 200,000 copies.{{citation needed|date=June 2015}} Banks explored Internet crime and computer privacy with his books ''Web Psychos'', ''Stalkers and Pranksters'', and ''PC Confidential''. He also served as a freelance acquisitions editor for [[Baen Books]] and associate editor for Baen's quarterly "book-a-zine", and ''New Destinies'' in the 1980s.{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}


⚫
Banks also wrote ''On the Way to the Web: The Secret History of the Internet'', which tells the story of what was happening online before the Web, including the histories of Videotex and online services such as [[CompuServe]], [[The Source (online service)|The Source]], [[PlayNET]], [[AOL]], [[Q-Link]], [[Viewdata]], and [[Prestel]].
His most recent book. [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1583882936/michaelbanks-20] ''Crosley and Crosley Motors'' (Iconografix, 2012) presents the full history of the Crosley automobile, and biographical details of Powel Crosley. Many previously unpublished photos and info about the man and the car unavailable elsewhere round out the story of the car, America's first compact.

=== Science fiction ===
His nonfiction works in the science fiction field include ''Understanding Science Fiction'' and collaborations with [[Mack Reynolds]].

Banks wrote several novels, including ''The Odysseus Solution'' with Dean R. Lambe, and has also been a contributor to ''Analog'', ''Asimov's SF'', and other publications.

=== Other work ===
Banks also wrote ''Before Oprah: Ruth Lyons, the Woman Who Created Talk TV''.

==See also==
⚫
* ''[[The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction]]'', pages 88–89{{Full citation needed|date=June 2015}}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
⚫
*[[The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction]], pages 88–89


==External links==
==External links==
*{{isfdb name|id=Michael_A._Banks|name=Michael A. Banks}}
*{{isfdb name|id=Michael_A._Banks|name=Michael A. Banks}}
*[http://mikebanks.blogspot.com Blog]
*[http://mikebanks.blogspot.com Mike Banks blog]


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
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| NAME = Banks, Michael A.
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = [[American literature|American writer]]
| DATE OF BIRTH = 21 March 1951
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
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}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Banks, Michael A.}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Banks, Michael A.}}
[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:2023 deaths]]
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[[Category:20th-century American biographers]]
[[Category:20th-century American novelists]]
[[Category:20th-century American novelists]]
[[Category:American biographers]]
[[Category:20th-century American male writers]]
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[[Category:20th-century American short story writers]]
[[Category:American male biographers]]
[[Category:American male novelists]]
[[Category:American male novelists]]
[[Category:American science fiction writers]]
[[Category:American science fiction writers]]
[[Category:American short story writers]]
[[Category:American male short story writers]]
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[[Category:Male short story writers]]
[[Category:People from Princeton, Indiana]]
[[Category:People from Princeton, Indiana]]
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[[Category:20th-century biographers]]




Latest revision as of 08:25, 6 October 2023

For other people named Michael Banks, see Michael Banks (disambiguation).

Michael A. Banks
Born(1951-03-21)March 21, 1951
Princeton, Indiana, U.S.
DiedJune 19, 2023(2023-06-19) (aged 72)
Occupation
  • Editor
  • novelist
  • short story author
Period1976–2022
GenreScience fiction, Fantasy

Michael A. Banks (March 21, 1951 – June 19, 2023) was a writer and editor of science fiction and non-fiction.

Biography

[edit]

Banks was born in Princeton, Indiana on March 21, 1951.[1] He wrote several biographies for magazines, including those about aviators, inventors, and other figures. His book, Crosley, is the story of inventor Powel Crosley, Jr., who founded radio station WLW and built the Crosley automobile, Moonbeam aircraft, and low-cost radios that touched off the broadcasting industry in 1921.

Banks died on June 19, 2023, at the age of 72.[2]

Career

[edit]

Computing

[edit]

A former columnist for Windows Magazine and Computer Shopper, Banks documented the growth of online services and the Internet and Web from the early 1980s onward. His book The Modem Reference was a guide to the online world during the 1980s and into the 1990s, selling more than 200,000 copies.[citation needed] Banks explored Internet crime and computer privacy with his books Web Psychos, Stalkers and Pranksters, and PC Confidential. He also served as a freelance acquisitions editor for Baen Books and associate editor for Baen's quarterly "book-a-zine", and New Destinies in the 1980s.[citation needed]

Banks also wrote On the Way to the Web: The Secret History of the Internet, which tells the story of what was happening online before the Web, including the histories of Videotex and online services such as CompuServe, The Source, PlayNET, AOL, Q-Link, Viewdata, and Prestel.

Science fiction

[edit]

His nonfiction works in the science fiction field include Understanding Science Fiction and collaborations with Mack Reynolds.

Banks wrote several novels, including The Odysseus Solution with Dean R. Lambe, and has also been a contributor to Analog, Asimov's SF, and other publications.

Other work

[edit]

Banks also wrote Before Oprah: Ruth Lyons, the Woman Who Created Talk TV.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ ISFDB, Michael A. Banks - Summary Bibliography Retrieved 2014-11-06.
  2. ^ World Fantasy Convention 2023 In Memoriam Retrieved 2023-06-21.
[edit]


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