Robert Jerzy Szmidt, born 26 July 1962 in Wrocław, Poland, is a Polish science fiction and fantasy writer, translator and journalist. He was the founder of the Science Fiction magazine and Nautilus Award, and author of three novels and 12 short stories as well as several translations.
Szmidt is currently a publisher and editor in chief of the Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror monthly magazine. Szmidt has lived in Katowice, Poland, since 1986.
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Szmidt trained as a sailor, however he never worked as one. In the late 80s and early 90s he was a sales representative for Amber Publishing House, and worked in video and bookselling business. He was also the owner of one of the first legal video rentals in Poland. In late 80s he founded two magazines: Video Business and Video Premiery. Afterwards he moved into video games publishing (PlayStation Plus and Player Station Plus magazines) and as a translator.
Robert Szmidt joined the Polish Science Fiction fandom in the early 80s and soon founded the Sphinx (Polish: Sfinks) Award, which later was renamed the Zajdel Award.
In 1985 he was awarded the Śląkwa Prize as The Fan Of The Year.
He founded the Science Fiction magazine (2000) and Nautilus Award (2004).