Homer Hickam
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Brief Biography
Homer Hickam is a native of the coal mining community of Coalwood, West Virginia. He exhibited a keen interest in storytelling and avidly consumed science fiction literature during his formative years. Encouraged by his admiration for rocket scientist Dr. Wernher von Braun, Hickam and a group of friends constructed and launched their own rockets following the launch of the Soviet satellite Sputnik in 1957. After earning a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and serving in the United States Army, Hickam became a government engineer, working for various agencies, including NASA. Since retiring from engineering, Hickam has devoted his time to writing. He has published several fiction and nonfiction books, the first of which was published in 1998. He continues to write and currently resides in Huntsville, Alabama.
Publications
Torpedo Junction. Maryland; Naval Institute Press, 1989.
Back to the Moon. New York; Random House, 1999.
Rocket Boys. New York; Dell, 1998. Published as October Sky, 1999.
The Coalwood Way. New York; Delacorte Press, 2000.
Sky of Stone. New York; Delacorte Press, 2001.
We Are Not Afraid: Strength and Courage from the Town That Inspired the #1 Best Seller and Award-Winning Movie "October Sky". Florida; Health Communications, Inc., 2002.
The Keeper's Son. New York; Thomas Dunne Books, 2003.
The Ambassador's Son. New York; Thomas Dunne Books, 2005.
Red Helmet. Nashville, Tenn.; Thomas Nelson, 2007.
The Far Reaches. New York; Thomas Dunne Books, 2007.
The Dinosaur Hunter. New York; Thomas Dunne Books, 2010.
Crater. Nashville, Tenn.; Thomas Nelson, 2012.
Paco: The Cat Who Meowed in Space. California; CreateSpace, 2012.
Crescent. Nashville, Tenn.; Thomas Nelson, 2013.
From Rocket Boys to October Sky: How the Classic Memoir Rocket Boys Was Written and the Hit Movie October Sky Was Made. California; CreateSpace, 2013.
Crater Trueblood and the Lunar Rescue Company. Nashville, Tenn.; Thomas Nelson, 2014.
Carrying Albert Home: The Somewhat True Story of a Man, His Wife, and Her Alligator. New York; Morrow, 2016.
Don't Blow Yourself Up: The Further True Adventures and Travails of the Rocket Boy of October Sky. Nashville, Tenn.; Post Hill Press, 2021.
Joint Publication:
My Dream of Stars: From Daughter of Iran to Space Pioneer. New York; St. Martin’s Press, 2010.
Back to the Moon. New York; Random House, 1999.
Rocket Boys. New York; Dell, 1998. Published as October Sky, 1999.
The Coalwood Way. New York; Delacorte Press, 2000.
Sky of Stone. New York; Delacorte Press, 2001.
We Are Not Afraid: Strength and Courage from the Town That Inspired the #1 Best Seller and Award-Winning Movie "October Sky". Florida; Health Communications, Inc., 2002.
The Keeper's Son. New York; Thomas Dunne Books, 2003.
The Ambassador's Son. New York; Thomas Dunne Books, 2005.
Red Helmet. Nashville, Tenn.; Thomas Nelson, 2007.
The Far Reaches. New York; Thomas Dunne Books, 2007.
The Dinosaur Hunter. New York; Thomas Dunne Books, 2010.
Crater. Nashville, Tenn.; Thomas Nelson, 2012.
Paco: The Cat Who Meowed in Space. California; CreateSpace, 2012.
Crescent. Nashville, Tenn.; Thomas Nelson, 2013.
From Rocket Boys to October Sky: How the Classic Memoir Rocket Boys Was Written and the Hit Movie October Sky Was Made. California; CreateSpace, 2013.
Crater Trueblood and the Lunar Rescue Company. Nashville, Tenn.; Thomas Nelson, 2014.
Carrying Albert Home: The Somewhat True Story of a Man, His Wife, and Her Alligator. New York; Morrow, 2016.
Don't Blow Yourself Up: The Further True Adventures and Travails of the Rocket Boy of October Sky. Nashville, Tenn.; Post Hill Press, 2021.
Joint Publication:
My Dream of Stars: From Daughter of Iran to Space Pioneer. New York; St. Martin’s Press, 2010.
Themes
Homer Hickam writes nonfiction and fiction books based on his diverse interests, which include history, war, science, and space. Many of his works are rooted in his West Virginia hometown.
Publisher
Alabama Authors of the 19th and 20th Centuries, edited by Beverley Park Rilett, http://AlabamaAuthors.org
Collection
Citation
Hickam, Homer, “Homer Hickam,” Alabama Authors of the 19th & 20th Centuries, accessed September 19, 2024, https://alabamaauthors.org/items/show/607.