Edward Elmer Smith (also
E. E. Smith,
E. E. Smith, Ph.D.,
E. E. "Doc" Smith,
Doc Smith,
"Skylark" Smith, or—to his family—
Ted) (May 2, 1890 – August 31, 1965) was an American
food engineer (specializing in
doughnut and pastry mixes) and an early
science fiction author, best known for the
Lensman and
Skylark series. He is sometimes called the father of
space opera.