L. Neil Smith

L. Neil Smith – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Learn about L. Neil Smith (1946–2021) — libertarian science fiction author, political activist, and founder of the Prometheus Award. Discover his biography, major works, philosophy, and memorable quotes.

Introduction

Lester Neil Smith III, known by his pen name L. Neil Smith, was an American science fiction writer, libertarian thinker, and political activist. He used speculative fiction as a vehicle to explore themes of freedom, individual rights, and critiques of coercive government. Over the course of his career, he left behind a distinctive oeuvre in libertarian SF, founded the Prometheus Award, and became a provocative voice in political commentary. Though he passed away in 2021, his legacy lives on through his novels, essays, and the community of readers he inspired.

Early Life and Family

L. Neil Smith was born on May 12, 1946 in Denver, Colorado. St. John’s, Newfoundland and then Fort Walton Beach, Florida, where he finished high school.

This peripatetic childhood exposed him to diverse regions and cultures, shaping a worldview receptive to change, skepticism, and exploring alternatives to the political status quo.

Education & Early Career

Smith attended Colorado State University from 1964 to 1969, studying philosophy and psychology, with special interest in anthropology and human evolution. These experiences—engagement with arms, law enforcement, and philosophical inquiry—are visible in the themes of his fiction and political works.

Career and Achievements

Libertarian Science Fiction & the North American Confederacy Universe

Smith is best known for his North American Confederacy series (also called the “Gallatin Universe”). The foundational novel is The Probability Broach (first published 1979), which imagines an alternate history in which a small change to the U.S. Declaration of Independence leads to a libertarian society replacing the United States.

Several of his other works are set in that universe:

• The Nagasaki Vector

• The Venus Belt, Tom Paine Maru, The American Zone

• Their Majesties’ Bucketeers

Beyond this core universe, his bibliography spans varied works:

• He wrote Star Wars / Lando Calrissian novels (three in 1983) about the character Lando Calrissian: Lando Calrissian and the Mindharp of Sharu, Flamewind of Oseon, and Starcave of ThonBoka.

• He authored Pallas, the first in his “Ngu Family Saga,” which merges libertarian themes and speculative concepts.

• Other works include Forge of the Elders, The Wardove, Henry Martyn, Bretta Martyn, Brightsuit MacBear, Sweeter Than Wine, The Mitzvah, and more.

Smith was heavily recognized by the Libertarian Futurist Society: he won the Prometheus Award (for libertarian science fiction) multiple times—for The Probability Broach, Pallas, and Forge of the Elders. Special Award for Lifetime Achievement by the same society.

Political Activism & Libertarian Engagement

Smith joined the Libertarian Party in 1972, and served on its Platform Committee in 1977 and 1979.

In 2000, he attempted a presidential campaign. He asked for 1,000,000 online petition signatures; failing to get that, he nonetheless ran as a Libertarian in Arizona, receiving 5,775 votes (less than 0.01%) nationally.

Smith also cultivated non-fiction and political commentary through The Libertarian Enterprise, a journal reflecting anarcho-capitalist and paleolibertarian views.

Historical & Intellectual Context

Smith’s career unfolded amid growing libertarian thought movements in the late 20th century, including opposition to the “war on drugs,” critiques of welfare and regulation, and experiments in voluntary societies. His fiction often reflects counter-factuals to real-world political trends, imagining societies freed from centralized coercion.

His blending of speculative technology, alternate history, and libertarian theory places him in a lineage of authors who use SF to explore political philosophy (akin to Robert Heinlein, though with a more radical orientation).

Within the libertarian community, Smith was both respected and controversial: his uncompromising rhetoric and willingness to critique any deviation from his principles made him a polarizing figure among libertarians themselves.

Legacy and Influence

Smith’s legacy is multifaceted:

• Libertarian SF canon: His North American Confederacy novels remain foundational texts in libertarian science fiction.

• Prometheus Award: Because he founded and maintained this award, his influence extends through many other libertarian and free-market authors.

• Intellectual provocateur: His essays, non-fiction works (Down With Power, Lever Action), and polemics continue to be read in libertarian circles.

• Cultural bridging: The fact that he wrote popular tie-in works (e.g. Star Wars) alongside deeply ideological fiction gave him broader reach.

• Inspiration to writers: Many younger libertarian and science fiction writers cite Smith’s willingness to infuse politics with imaginative story as an influence.

Though he passed away on August 27, 2021, Smith’s works continue to circulate and provoke debate among readers of speculative and political fiction.

Personality, Character & Style

Smith was known for his uncompromising verbosity, provocative style, and intellectual rigor. He did not shy from sharp criticism—whether of politicians, other libertarians, or activists he perceived as straying from principle.

His fiction combines speculative imagination with political polemic; characters often embody ideological struggles, and settings often present radical alternatives to the status quo. His plots do not shy from moral and strategic complexity.

He also valued individual sovereignty, self-defense, free markets, and minimal coercion—views evident in both his fiction and his public statements.

Famous Quotes of L. Neil Smith

Here are some representative quotations by L. Neil Smith, reflecting his views on government, freedom, media, and power:

“Gun control: The theory that a woman found with a firearm in a stranger’s house is telling her hostess, ‘I don’t trust you unless you’re rendered harmless.’” “I’m tired of being lied to by government, by the media, and by every corporation I have anything to do with.” “The function of government is to provide you with service; the function of the media is to supply the Vaseline.” “Choose your enemies carefully: you'll probably be known much better and far longer for who they were, than for anything else you ever managed to accomplish.” “Violent crime is a solved problem — all they have to do is repeal the laws that keep those intelligent, capable, and responsible men and women from arming themselves, and violent crime evaporates like dry ice on a hot summer day.” “Beloved friends and comrades… the national Libertarian Party is dead.”

These quotes show his combative style, prioritization of individual rights, distrust of institutions, and belief in self-defense.

Lessons from L. Neil Smith

From L. Neil Smith’s life and work, we can draw several lessons:

1. Fiction as philosophy: Storytelling can be a powerful medium for exploring political ideas and challenging complacency.

2. Consistency matters: Smith’s commitment to his principles—though polarizing—made his work coherent and identifiable.

3. Engage both worlds: He did not confine himself to niche ideologues; by writing tie-in fiction and popular works, he reached wider audiences.

4. Be provocative conscientiously: Provocation can attract attention, but requires rigor beneath the rhetoric.

5. Legacy through institutions: Founding awards, journals, and communities can extend one’s influence beyond individual works.

Conclusion

L. Neil Smith was a singular voice in speculative fiction and libertarian thought—one unafraid to blend narrative invention with political conviction. His alternate histories, libertarian universes, and provocative essays challenged readers to question power, coercion, and the role of government. Though his life spanned only 75 years, his influence endures among those who seek to imagine freer worlds and engage critically with political reality.