Unlike many authors, Armen was not an early reader. He can honestly say that he didn »t voluntarily read a book until he finished The Hobbit in sixth grade. After that, reading became a vice as he ravenously devoured science fiction and fantasy stories. Taking a more practical approach to college, he earned a BS in Electrical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he was an Honorable-Mention All-American swimmer his senior year.