Theodore Sturgeon (1918 1985) is considered one of the godfathers of contemporary science fiction and dark fantasy. The author of numerous acclaimed short stories and novels, among them the classics "More Than Human", " Venus Plus X", and "To Marry Medusa", Sturgeon also wrote for television and holds among his credits two episodes of the original 1960s "Star Trek" series, for which he created the Vulcan mating ritual and the expression Live long and prosper. He is also credited as the inspiration for Kurt Vonnegut s recurring fictional character Kilgore Trout.Sturgeon is the recipient of the