Luke Rhinehart is the pseudonym of George Cockcroft, an acclaimed author of fiction known for his unique and thought-provoking works. Cockcroft was born in the United States and received his education at prestigious institutions, including a BA from Cornell University, an MA from Columbia University, and a PhD in psychology, also from Columbia. He went on to teach Western and Zen literature among other courses at the university level, where he first introduced the idea of living according to the casting of dice in a lecture. This concept would later become the basis for his groundbreaking novel, "The Dice Man."
Cockcroft's teaching career provided the inspiration for "The Dice Man," but he had already been experimenting with dice for some time before writing the novel. The idea of living by the roll of the dice was met with a strong reaction from his students, with some finding it intriguing and others expressing disgust. It wasn't until later, when a London-based publisher showed interest in the concept, that Cockcroft began to seriously consider turning it into a novel. "The Dice Man" was published in 1971 and quickly gained a cult following, with the book being translated into 26 languages and published in more than 60 countries.
In addition to his writing, Cockcroft lived an adventurous life, including a round-the-world voyage in a large trimaran ketch and time spent in a sailboat in the Mediterranean. He was also known for his sense of humor, as evidenced by his decision to arrange for his own death to be announced as a joke in 2012 (he passed away for real in 2020 at the age of 87). Cockcroft's work, including "The Dice Man" and his new novel "Invasion," continue to be celebrated for their originality, entertainment value, and challenging perspective on contemporary issues.