Difference between revisions of "Raymond A. Palmer"

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(August 1, 1910 -- August 15, 1977)  
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(August 1, 1910 – August 15, 1977)  
  
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He discovered [[science fiction]] in [[Gernsback]]'s ''[[Amazing]]'' read it voraciously. He became a [[fan]] and is credited, along with [[Walter Dennis]], with editing the first [[fanzine]], ''[[Cosmology|The Comet]]'', in May, 1930. He published ''[[Forum]]'' and ran the short-lived [[Jules Verne Prize Club]].
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'''Ray Palmer''', then in [[Milwaukee]], discovered [[science fiction]] in [[Gernsback]]'s ''[[Amazing]]'' read it voraciously. He became a [[fan]] and is credited, along with [[Walter Dennis]], with creating the [[Science Correspondence Club]] and [[editing]] what some consider the first [[fanzine]], ''[[Cosmology|The Comet]]'', in May, 1930. He published ''[[Forum]]'' and ran the short-lived [[Jules Verne Prize Club]].
  
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[[Ziff Davis]] acquired ''[[Amazing Stories]]'' in 1938, sacked then [[T. O'Connor Sloane]] and, on the recommendation of writer [[Ralph Milne Farley]], offered the editorship to Palmer.  He was the editor of ''Amazing Stories'' from 1938 through 1949.  During this time, he was responsible for turning the venerable magazine into an embarrassment to [[fandom]].  See [[Palmerism]].  The [[Shaver Mystery]] was probably the most egregious example.
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He wrote [[sf]] for the [[pulps]] and, when [[Ziff Davis]] acquired ''[[Amazing Stories]]'' in 1938 and sacked then-editor [[T. O'Connor Sloane]], on the recommendation of writer [[Ralph Milne Farley]], they offered the editorship to Palmer.  He ran ''Amazing Stories'' from [[Chicago]], 1938 through 1949.  His outré schemes for increasing circulation of the venerable [[Gernsback]] [[prozine]], dubbed [[Palmerism]] by [[fandom]], included the [[Shaver Mystery]] as probably the most egregiously embarrassing example.
  
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When he left [[Ziff Davis]] he set up his own company to publish and edit ''[[Fate Magazine]]'', and other, similar, occult drivel, as well as several books related to flying saucers, including "The Coming of the Saucers," co-written by Palmer with [[Kenneth Arnold]].  He did publish the more-or-less straight [[SF]] magazines ''[[Imagination]]'' and ''[[Other Worlds]]''.
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He was generous to [[fans]], donating original [[art]] from the magazines to [[convention]] [[auctions]] and graciously spending time with young fans who dropped into his offices. However, he was appalled at [[Claude Degler]]’s [[star-begotten]] [[Cosmic Circle]], and nearly severed relations with [[fandom]] because of it.
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When [[Ziff Davis]] moved to [[New York]], he set up his own company to publish and edit ''[[Fate Magazine]]'' and similar occult drivel, as well as several books related to flying saucers, including "The Coming of the Saucers," co-written by Palmer with [[Kenneth Arnold]].  He published the more-or-less straight [[SF]] magazines ''[[Imagination]]'' and ''[[Other Worlds]]'', too.
  
 
A [[biography]] of Palmer by [[Fred Nadis]], ''The Man from Mars--Ray Palmer's Amazing Pulp Journey'', was published in 2013.
 
A [[biography]] of Palmer by [[Fred Nadis]], ''The Man from Mars--Ray Palmer's Amazing Pulp Journey'', was published in 2013.
  
 
See also [[Earl Kemp]]'s ''[[Racing to Lemuria]]''.
 
See also [[Earl Kemp]]'s ''[[Racing to Lemuria]]''.
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{{SFE|name=palmer_raymond_a}}.
  
 
{{recognition}}
 
{{recognition}}
 
* 2013 -- [[First Fandom Hall of Fame]]
 
* 2013 -- [[First Fandom Hall of Fame]]
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{{person | born=1910 | died=1977}}
 
{{person | born=1910 | died=1977}}

Revision as of 13:44, 25 January 2021

(August 1, 1910 – August 15, 1977)

Ray Palmer, then in Milwaukee, discovered science fiction in Gernsback's Amazing read it voraciously. He became a fan and is credited, along with Walter Dennis, with creating the Science Correspondence Club and editing what some consider the first fanzine, The Comet, in May, 1930. He published Forum and ran the short-lived Jules Verne Prize Club.

He wrote sf for the pulps and, when Ziff Davis acquired Amazing Stories in 1938 and sacked then-editor T. O'Connor Sloane, on the recommendation of writer Ralph Milne Farley, they offered the editorship to Palmer. He ran Amazing Stories from Chicago, 1938 through 1949. His outré schemes for increasing circulation of the venerable Gernsback prozine, dubbed Palmerism by fandom, included the Shaver Mystery as probably the most egregiously embarrassing example.

He was generous to fans, donating original art from the magazines to convention auctions and graciously spending time with young fans who dropped into his offices. However, he was appalled at Claude Degler’s star-begotten Cosmic Circle, and nearly severed relations with fandom because of it.

When Ziff Davis moved to New York, he set up his own company to publish and edit Fate Magazine and similar occult drivel, as well as several books related to flying saucers, including "The Coming of the Saucers," co-written by Palmer with Kenneth Arnold. He published the more-or-less straight SF magazines Imagination and Other Worlds, too.

A biography of Palmer by Fred Nadis, The Man from Mars--Ray Palmer's Amazing Pulp Journey, was published in 2013.

See also Earl Kemp's Racing to Lemuria.

Entry in The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction.

Awards, Honors and GoHships:


Person 1910—1977
This is a biography page. Please extend it by adding more information about the person, such as fanzines and apazines published, awards, clubs, conventions worked on, GoHships, impact on fandom, external links, anecdotes, etc. See Standards for People and The Naming of Names.

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