Ian Ballantine
(1916 - 1995)
Ian Keith Ballantine was a publisher who founded and published the paperback line of Ballantine Books (1952 to 1974) with his wife, Betty.
In 1939, Ian Ballantine initiated the distribution of Penguin Books in the United States. As a team, the Ballantines were involved in the formation of Bantam Books in 1945, and Ian was the first president of Bantam (1945 to 1952).
Ballantine Books was one of the earliest publishers of SF paperback originals, with writers that included Arthur C. Clarke, Chad Oliver, and Frederik Pohl. During the 1960s, Ballantine published the first authorized paperback editions of Tolkien's books. In the 1970s, Lin Carter edited their Ballantine Adult Fantasy series that included works by H. P. Lovecraft.
After Ballantine Books was acquired by Random House in 1973, the Ballantines became freelance consulting editors and publishers. Ian Ballantine died of a heart attack in 1995 at the age of 79.
Awards, Honors and GoHships:
- 1975 -- OakLaCon, World Fantasy Award
- 1979 -- LepreCon 5
- 1980 -- (Coveted) Balrog Award, Invisible Little Man Award
- 1984 -- World Fantasy Special Award, Best Non-Fiction Book Hugo nominee
- 1985 -- Hatcon 3, Nebula Award
- 1989 -- Noreascon 3 with Betty
- 1991 -- Lunacon 34
- 2008 -- Science Fiction Hall of Fame
| Person | 1916—1995 |
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