[2] He learned of science fiction at about 11 years old when he read an A. E. van Vogt short story in an early edition of Astounding Science-Fiction magazine.

[6] The group was influential in the early history of science fiction fandom and produced fanzines Hyphen and Slant; Shaw contributed material to both.

[9] Originally trained as a structural engineer, he worked as an aircraft designer for Short and Harland, then as science correspondent to The Belfast Telegraph from 1966 to 1969, and as publicity officer for Vickers Shipbuilding (1973–1975), before starting to write full-time.

In April 1973, during the Troubles, Shaw and his family moved from Northern Ireland to England, where he produced most of his published work: first to Ulverston, then to Grappenhall in Warrington.

[11] Shaw is the author of "Pilot Plant" (May 1966) which first appeared in New Worlds (May 1966) and "Light of Other Days" (August 1966), the story that introduced the concept of slow glass, through which the past can be seen.

His work ranged from essentially mimetic stories with fantastic elements far in the background (Ground Zero Man) to van Vogtian extravaganzas (The Palace of Eternity).

At the British science fiction convention Eastercon, he delivered a humorous speech (often part of his famous series known by the tongue-in-cheek label of "Serious Scientific Talks") for many years; these were eventually collected in The Eastercon Speeches (1979) and A Load of Old Bosh (1995), which included a similar talk at the 1979 Worldcon in Brighton, 37th World Science Fiction Convention.