Author. He will be best remembered for his spy thrillers including the "Assignment" series which introduced his readers to the character of CIA agent Sam Durell in 42 exciting novels. The novels which are set all over the world have also been translated into 17 languages. He also wrote numerous stories for detective magazines such as "Detective Story Magazine" and "Scarab." He was born one of three children (he also had a brother and a sister), to Jacob David 'Jack' Aarons and his wife Anna Weiss Aarons, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as Edward Sidney Aarons. He was educated locally and later attended the prestigious Columbia University in New York City where he graduated with a degree in Literature and History. He then worked at numerous jobs to help put himself through college including as a fisherman and a newspaper reporter. He turned to writing and won a short story contest as a student in 1933. He continued with his writing releasing the novels, "Death In A Lighthouse" (or "The Cowl Of Doom") (1938), "Murder Money" (or "$1,000,000 In Corpses") (1938), and "The Corpse Hangs High" (1939), under the pseudonym of 'Edward Ronns,' until the outbreak of the Second World War. During World War II, he joined the United States Coast Guard and was present at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii when the Japanese attacked on December 7, 1941. He continued to serve in the military until the end of the war in 1945. He finished his duty with the rank of Chief Petty Officer. Following his military career he returned to writing using the pseudonym of 'Edward Ronns' and released, "Catspaw Ordeal" (1950), "Dark Memory" (1950), "Million Dollar Murder" (1950), "State Department Murders" (1950), "The Decoy" (1951), "I Can't Stop Running" (1951), "Don't Cry, Beloved" (1952), "Passage To Terror" (1952), "Dark Destiny" (1953), "The Net" (1953), "Say It With Murder" (1954), "Death Is My Shadow" (1957), "Pickup Alley" (1957), "Gang Rumble" (1958), "The Lady Takes A Flyer" (1958), "The Big Bedroom" (1959), "The Black Orchid" (1959), "But Not For Me" (1959), and "The Glass Cage" (1962). Another novel "Dead Heat" (1950), was written under the pseudonym of 'Paul Ayres.' His other works include the "Assignment" series of spy novels featuring the character of CIA Agent Sam Durell which were written under his true name of Edward S. Aarons. His many "Assignment" novels include, "Assignment To Disaster" (1955), "Assignment—Treason" (1956), "Assignment—Suicide" (1956),"Assignment—Stella Marni" (1957), "Assignment—Budapest" (1957), "Assignment—Angelina" (1958), "Assignment—Madeleine" (1958), "Assignment—Carlotta Cortez" (1959), "Assignment—Helene" (1959), "Assignment—Lili Lamaris" (1959), "Assignment—Zoraya" (1960), "Assignment—Mara Tirana" (1960), "Assignment—Lowlands" (1961), "Assignment—Burma Girl" (1961), "Assignment—Ankara" (1961), "Assignment—Karachi" (1962), "Assignment—Sorrento Siren" (1962), "Assignment—Manchurian Doll" (1963), "Assignment—The Girl In The Gondola" (1964), "Assignment—Sulu Sea" (1964),"Assignment—The Cairo Dancers" (1965), "Assignment—School For Spies" (1966), "Assignment—Cong Hai Kill" (1966), "Assignment—Palermo" (1966), "Assignment—Black Viking" (1967), "Assignment—Moon Girl" (1967), "Assignment—Nuclear Nude" (1968), "Assignment—Peking" (1969), "Assignment—White Rajah" (1970), "Assignment—Star Stealers" (1970), "Assignment—Tokyo" (1971), "Assignment—Golden Girl" (1971), "Assignment—Bangkok" (1972), "Assignment—Maltese Maiden" (1972), "Assignment—Silver Scorpion" (1973), "Assignment—Ceylon" (1973), "Assignment—Amazon Queen" (1974), "Assignment—Sumatra" (1974), "Assignment—Quayle Question" (1975), "Assignment—Black Gold" (1975), "Assignment—Unicorn" (1976), and "Assignment—Afghan Dragon" (1976). He passed away suddenly from a heart ailment on June 16, 1975, at the age of 58, in New Milford, Connecticut, before the "Assignment" series was even finished. Two of the novels were released after his death. He was buried in the Old Judea Cemetery in Washington, Connecticut, with his first and second wife. Following his death, his brother William B. Aarons continued to publish the "Assignment" series as the executor of his estate. They were also ghostwritten by author Lawrence Hall. The new series of novels included, "Assignment—Sheba" (1976), "Assignment—Tiger Devil" (1977), "Assignment—13th Princess" (1977), "Assignment—Mermaid" (1979), "Assignment—Tyrant's Bride" (1980), and "Assignment—Death Ship" (1983). The "Assignment" series ended in 1983, having sold well over 23 million copies.