David Brin correspondence
Collection
Identifier: MS497
One letter from David Brin to Kirby McCauley discussing the possibility of McCauley becoming his literary agent. It includes a copy of Brin's literary resume.
Some creasing and staple stabs at the upper left corners. The resume has a few ink stains to the right margin of the second sheet. Good condition overall.
This collection is open.
These materials are under copyright. Permission to publish materials from this collection must be obtained from the copyright owner.
.1 Linear Feet (1 folder)
One single page typed letter signed on dot matrix computer printout paper from David Brin to Kirby McCauley dated January 25, 1988. It includes a two-page literary resume also on dot matrix printout paper dated 1987.
The letter asks if McCauley would be interested in representing Brin, complaining about the chaotic practices of his present agent. Brin raises a number of business and contractual issues. The tone is generally modest, but the author comes across as quite astute about the business end of writing. Brin had won both Hugo and Nebula awards by this time. His resume indicates a heavy-duty science background in academia. Kirby McCauley was probably the most important literary agent of horror, fantasy and sf writers in the boom years of the 1970s and 1980s.
David Brin, who completed bachelor's, master's and Ph.D. degrees in physics during the 1970s and early 1980s, spent the first part of his career in academia, holding positions at San Diego State University and UC-San Diego. Since 1990, he has been the keynote speaker and consultant for more than 100 government and corporate groups, and he has written numerous science fiction and non-fiction books.
David Brin was born in Glendale, California in 1950. After receiving a B.Sc. degree in astrophysics from Cal Tech in 1973, he worked for about four years as a research engineer for Hughes Aircraft Research Labs while pursuing a master's degree in Electrical Engineering (optics) at UC-San Diego. He completed his master's degree in 1977, and continued his studies at UC-San Diego in space physics, receiving a Ph.D. in 1981.
After completing his education, Brin taught Physics and Writing at San Diego State University and served as a post-doctoral fellow for the California Space Institute from 1982 to 1985. In the late 1980s, he held the position of visiting scholar to the Center for Study of Evolution of Life, Jet Propulsion Lab, NASA NSCORT for Exobiology. Since 1990, he has appeared as a keynote speaker and consultant, he has served on the board of advisors of corporations and nonprofit groups, he has worked as a writer and participant in television and radio programs, and he has written numerous fiction and non-fiction books.
The documents are in one folder with the letter followed by the resume.
Materials are stored onsite.
Purchased from L.W. Currey in April 2023.
Some creasing and staple stabs at the upper left corners. The resume has a few ink stains to the right margin of the second sheet. Good condition overall.
Correspondence processed by Alison Reynolds in 2025.
Part of the Archives and Special Collections, Library, Georgia Institute of Technology Repository