Robert BlochRobert Albert Bloch (April 5, 1917 – September 23, 1994) was an American novelist who mostly wrote crime, psychological horror, and fantasy, much of which was adapted for radio, film, and television. He also published a minor bit of science fiction. is literary career spanned 60 years, with almost 30 years spent in television and movies. He began his professional writing career as soon as he graduated, at the age of 17. Bloch is best known as the author of Psycho (1959), which served as the foundation for Alfred Hitchcock's film of the same name. He also penned hundreds of short stories and over 30 novels. He was a student of H. P. Lovecraft, who was the first to recognize his brilliance. While he began by mimicking Lovecraft and his brand of cosmic horror, he later specialized in crime and horror stories that took a more psychological approach. Bloch was an early contributor to pulp periodicals like Weird Tales, as well as a prolific screenwriter and a prominent contributor to science fiction fanzines and fandom in general. He received the Hugo Award (for "That Hell-Bound Train"), the Bram Stoker Award, and the World Fantasy Award. Read More Read Less