- His first professional sale was the science fiction story "Mountains Like Mice," published in "Worlds of If," May, 1966.
- He earned a B.S.M.E. from the University of Houston in 1956. After graduation, Wolfe worked for sixteen years for Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati, Ohio (1956-1972); among his other projects, he designed the machine that forms Pringle's potato chips. After leaving Procter & Gamble, he was hired as Senior Engineering Editor at "Plant Engineering" journal.
- Son of Roy Emerson Wolfe (a restaurateur and shopkeeper) and Mary Olivia Ayres. Gene and Rosemary had four children: Roy Emerson II (born 1958), Madelaine (born 1960), Therese Georgeanne (born 1963), and Matthew Dietsch (born 1966).
- American science fiction and fantasy writer critically acclaimed for his gorgeous and formidable use of language (which has sometimes been called almost opaque) and his labyrinthine plotting.
- He earned a Combat Infantry Medal during his time (1952-1954)in the Korean War.
- He earned the Nebula Award for his novella "The Death of Dr. Island". This was one of three stories which in various ways parody "The Island of Doctor Moreau" by H.G. Wells, the other two being "The Doctor of Death Island" and "The Island of Doctor Death.".
- Wolfe was honored with a World Fantasy Life Achievement Award in 1996 and was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2007.
- Science fiction author Kim Stanley Robinson coined the term "slingshot ending" to describe the typical ending of a Gene Wolfe story. It implies that the (happy) ending has not been shown, but must be inferred. It can also be used to describe the endings of many novels by thriller author Dick Francis.
- Sold his first story at the age of 35 and published his first book at age 39.
- Did not start writing full-time until he was 35 years old.
- He was an Industrial Engineer before he started writing.
- Acclaimed Science Fiction writer.
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