Margroff, Robert E.

US author who published his first story, “Monster Tracks”, in If in October 1964 solo, but became best known for the collaborations with Piers Anthony which comprise all his book-length work. These began with two sf novels, The Ring (1968) – the titular device being imposed on criminals to provide an artificial conscience that punishes conscious wrongdoing with severe pain (see Crime and Punishment) – and the rather more lightweight The E.S.P. Worm (1970). After a substantial delay, the collaborations with Anthony continued with the five-book Kelvin of Rud series of fantasies: Dragon’s Gold (1987), Serpent’s Silver (1988), Chimaera’s Copper (1990), Orc’s Opal (1990) and Mouvar’s Magic (1992).