William Rotsler

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William "Bill" Rotsler (July 3, 1926 - October 8, 1997) was an American author of several science fiction novels and short stories; television and film novelizations; and a number of non-fiction works on a variety of topics, ranging from Star Trek to pornography. He was also an artist and sculptor, primarily in metal, and contributed to the art at the entrace to Los Angeles Police Department headquarters.

Rotsler's novels include Patron of the Arts (1974), To the Land of the Electric Angel (1976), Zandra (1978), and The Far Frontier (1980). He was also a sculptor (he located the fossils, crystals and stones for the Nebula Award trophies), and a filmmaker, and contributed to the 1994 computer game Inherit the Earth: Quest for the Orb. He also directed several soft-core porn movies, including "Mantis in Lace."

He was known in science fiction fandom for his decades as a cartoonist and fan artist, winning five Hugo Award in that category). He was famously willing to provide artwork for free to even obscure or struggling fanzines.

Rotsler was Fan Guest of Honor at TorCon II (the 1973 Worldcon); winner of the 1977 Down Under Fan Fund; and in 1996 was voted Past President of the Fan Writers of America.

For ten years, he was the cameraman for Bill Warren as they traveled about Los Angeles shooting segments for the French TV series, "Destination Series." Rotsler, like Warren, also appeared on camera in this series. He died in his sleep of complications from the radiation therapy treatment he had been undergoing for cancer.