Ronald Wright

Ronald Wright ( born 1948 in London ) is a Canadian historian and writer. He studied archeology at Cambridge University and at the University of Calgary, where he was in 1996 awarded the honorary doctorate.

His literary work includes novels and non-fiction. A Scientific Romance / The beauty of that ancient city is a sequel to HG Wells' classic science fiction novel " The Time Machine " in which the protagonist visits the future world of the year 2500 according to an ecological catastrophe. The novel's title alludes to the early term of science fiction as a Scientific Romance.

In the four parts of A Short History of Progress / A Short History of Progress Wright recapitulated the downfall of four historical civilizations (Easter Island, Sumer, Mayan, Roman Empire ) due to the blind destruction of their livelihoods. He notes that with increasing size and complexity grow, the cost of doom. He sees the existing global civilization at the crossroads between doom and survival, and questions the costs which would be associated with the downfall.

Awards

• "The David Higham Fiction Prize ", " Sunday Times " Book of the Year 1998, " Globe and Mail Editor's Choice " (1995) for A Scientific Romance.
• " The Andrew Gillen Award of Literary Excellece " (1996).
• " Gordon Montador Award" (1993 ) for Stolen Continents.
• " CBC Literary Award " (1991) for Going to the wall.
• "Canadian Science Writers ' Association Award " (1986) for The Lamanai Enigma.