Sci-Fi Author Bruce Balfour Joins TEID as New Writer/Editor

Flying high above the Earth and capturing infrared images of the Space Shuttle on reentry not only gave Bruce Balfour an opportunity to use his artificial intelligence training, but ideas for his subsequent science fiction novels. Bruce counts working on a NASA team on the Kuiper Airborne Observatory, a high-altitude research aircraft, as one of the high points of his career.

“I like to write about real science in my books,” he said. “A lot of people will nail me if I get the science wrong, so that keeps me accurate.”

Now as a new writer/editor in TEID, Bruce is working on a number of projects from various Lab sectors, including the Advanced Light Source, Materials Sciences, the Computer Protection Program and NERSC.

“He has an insatiable curiosity and over 20 years of experience working on a wide range of science subjects,” said Julie McCullough, who manages TEID’s writer/editors. “He brings a wonderful infusion of energy to our group.”

Bruce has also worked as an engineering test driver for Subaru, a systems manager for NASA, a freelance journalist, a software development manager, and a computer game designer of such games as Neuromancer, Outpost and The Dagger of Amon Ra. He sold his first short stories to Twilight Zone Magazine in 1981.

His national bestselling books, The Forge of Mars (2002) and The Digital Dead (2003) explore such diverse subjects as artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, international politics, the future of the Internet and the future of marketing. His new novel, Prometheus Road, will be published on October 26.