After attempts to get into acting, Warszawski attended the Leningrad Naval School and worked for the merchant navy. During World War II, he evacuated to the Altai Mountains. Following his return to Leningrad he worked as an engineer in various engagements. He turned to writing when losing a bet to his son and published his first work "Robbi" aged 52 ("Роби", 1962). His second story "Index J-81" ("Индекс Е-81", same year) won a price in the magazine Tekhnika Molodezhi. As head of the Leningrad Seminary for Young Sci-fi Writers he was Boris Strugatsky's predecessor, who took over in 1972 when Warszawski retired. Leaving only a mere five collections of his stories, Warszawski became an author of note even internationally, with many of his tales and novellas translated and included in anthologies.