Ken Slater (science fiction)

Ken Slater is a British science fiction author primarily known for his contributions to the Worlds Beyond magazine series published by Badger Books in the 1950s. He also wrote under the pseudonyms "Knox Thorne" and "Victor La Salle." Little is known about Slater's personal life beyond his writing credits.

Slater's stories, published mostly between 1953 and 1959, are characteristic of the space opera and pulp science fiction prevalent at the time. They typically feature themes of interplanetary exploration, alien encounters, and technological marvels. Common tropes in his works include daring space pilots, advanced weaponry, and struggles against hostile alien civilizations.

While his work is not considered groundbreaking or critically acclaimed, it represents a significant part of the British pulp science fiction scene of the mid-20th century. Collectors and enthusiasts of vintage science fiction magazines often seek out issues containing Slater's short stories and novellas. His writing provides a snapshot of the popular science fiction themes and styles that captured the imaginations of readers during the early years of the Space Age. He contributed numerous stories to magazines that specialized in the era’s science fiction, making him a prolific albeit relatively obscure figure in the genre's history.