Difference between revisions of "Lester del Rey"

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(June 2, 1915 – May 10, [[1993]])
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(June 2, 1915 – May 10, 1993)
  
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Del Rey was a professional  [[science fiction]] writer and editor. Del Rey is especially famous for juvenile novels, like those that comprise the [[Winston Juveniles]], and for [[Del Rey Books]], the [[fantasy]] and [[science fiction]] imprint of [[Ballantine Books]], edited by del Rey and his wife [[Judy-Lynn del Rey]].
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'''Lester del Rey''' (born '''Leonard Knapp''' in Clydesdale, [[Minnesota]]) was a [[fan]] and a professional  [[science fiction]] writer and editor. Del Rey is especially famous for juvenile novels, like those that comprise the [[Winston Juveniles]], and for [[Del Rey Books]], the [[fantasy]] and science fiction imprint of [[Ballantine Books]], edited by del Rey and [[Judy-Lynn del Rey]], his fourth wife.
  
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His first stories were in the [[pulp magazines]] in the late 1930s. But he first came to prominence with his stories in ''[[Astounding Science Fiction]]'' in its [[golden age]]. After the [[war]] (after [[Robert A. Heinlein]] and [[Andre Norton]]) he was one of the major writers of [[sf]] for the [[YA]] market under his own name and his pseudonyms '''Erik van Lhin''' and '''Philip St. John'''.  (He also used the [[pennames]]  '''Wade Kaempfert''' and '''Cameron Hall'''.)
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He was always outspoken and a great contrarian, being always willing to (ably) defend an unpopular viewpoint. He was one of those people around whom anecdotes collect.
  
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During 1952-53, he edited ''[[Space SF]]'', ''[[Fantasy Fiction]]'', ''[[Science Fiction Adventures]]'', ''[[Rocket Stories]]'' and ''[[Fantasy Fiction]]'' His greatest success came as an editor at [[Ballantine Books]] with his final wife, [[Judy-Lynn del Rey]] where they founded [[Del Rey Books]], in 1977.
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His first stories were in the [[pulp magazines]] in the late 1930s. But he first came to prominence with his stories in ''[[Astounding Science Fiction]]'' in its [[Golden Age]]. In the years after the [[War]], behind only [[Robert A. Heinlein]] and [[Andre Norton]], he was one of the major writers of [[sf]] for the [[YA]] market under his own name and some of his many [[pseudonyms]], '''Erik van Lhin''' and '''Philip St. John'''.  (He also used the [[pennames]] '''Wade Kaempfert''' and '''Cameron Hall'''.)
  
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In 1957, [[del Rey]] and [[Damon Knight]] co-edited a [[fanzine]] named ''[[Science Fiction Forum]]''. In response to a debate about symbolism within the magazine, he accepted [[Knight]]'s challenge to write an analysis of [[James Blish]]'s story "Common Time" that showed the story was about a man eating a ham sandwich.
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During 1952–53, he edited ''[[Space SF]]'', ''[[Science Fiction Adventures]]'', ''[[Rocket Stories]]'' and ''[[Fantasy Magazine]]''. His greatest success came as an editor at [[Ballantine Books]] with his wife [[Judy-Lynn del Rey]], when they founded [[Del Rey Books]], in 1977.
  
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Del Rey refused to accept a posthumous [[Hugo]] award for [[Best Editor]] at [[Torcon 2]] on behalf of [[Judy-Lynn]] after her death that year.
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In 1957, del Rey and [[Damon Knight]] co-[[edited]] a [[fanzine]] named ''[[Science Fiction Forum (Knight)]]''. In response to a debate about symbolism within the magazine, he accepted [[Knight]]'s challenge to write an analysis of [[James Blish]]'s story "Common Time" that showed the story was about a man eating a ham sandwich.
  
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According to Wikipedia: Del Rey often told people that his real name was Ramon Felipe Alvarez-del Rey (or sometimes even Ramon Felipe San Juan Mario Silvio Enrico Smith Heartcourt-Brace Sierra y Alvarez del Rey y de los Uerdes). He also claimed that his family was killed in a car accident during 1935. However, his sister has confirmed that his name was really [[Leonard Knapp]] and that while the accident in 1935 killed his first wife, his parents, brother, and sister were not killed in the accident.
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He refused to accept a posthumous [[Hugo Award]] for [[1986 Best Professional Editor Hugo|Best Editor]] at [[Confederation]] in 1986 on behalf of [[Judy-Lynn del Rey|Judy-Lynn]] after her death that year, saying that she wouldn’t have wanted it just because of her death.  
  
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The two volumes of del Rey's writings published by [[NESFA Press]] include a note of thanks with a listing of 16 known [[pennames]] as well as del Rey's birth name.
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According to the [[Encyclopedia of Science Fiction]], del Rey often told people that his real name was '''Ramon Felipe Alvarez Del Rey''', which name he used in the [[lettercol]] of ''[[Astounding]]'' as early as [https://archive.org/details/sim_astounding-science-fiction_1935-05_15_3/page/156/mode/2up May 1935] (or sometimes even Ramon Felipe San Juan Mario Silvio Enrico Smith Heartcourt-Brace Sierra y Alvarez del Rey y de los Verdes). He also claimed that his whole family was killed in a car accident during 1935. However, his sister confirmed (per ''[[Locus]]'', January 2008, p. 8) that his name was really '''Leonard Knapp''' and that the accident in 1935 killed his first wife, but not his parents, brother or sister.
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His second wife was [[Helen Schlaz del Rey]], who later married [[Damon Knight]]. No. 3 was [[Harry Harrison]]'s ex-wife [[Evelyn Harrison|Evelyn]], who died in 1970.
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The two volumes of his writings published by [[NESFA Press]] include a note of thanks with a listing of 16 known [[pennames]] as well as del Rey's birth name.
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{{SFE|name=del_rey_lester}}.
  
 
{{recognition}}
 
{{recognition}}
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* 1975 -- [[Fan Fair III]]
 
* 1975 -- [[Fan Fair III]]
 
* 1976 -- [[Fellow of NESFA]]
 
* 1976 -- [[Fellow of NESFA]]
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* 1985 -- [[coveted Balrog Award]]
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* 1985 -- [[Coveted Balrog Award]]
 
* 1990 -- [[SFWA Grand Master Award]]
 
* 1990 -- [[SFWA Grand Master Award]]
  
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{{person}}
 
  
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{{person | born=1915 | died=1993}}
 
[[Category:pro]]
 
[[Category:pro]]
 
[[Category:US]]
 
[[Category:US]]
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[[Category:penname]]
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[[Category:fan]] [[Category:first_fandom]]

Latest revision as of 01:39, 18 October 2022

(June 2, 1915 – May 10, 1993)

Lester del Rey (born Leonard Knapp in Clydesdale, Minnesota) was a fan and a professional science fiction writer and editor. Del Rey is especially famous for juvenile novels, like those that comprise the Winston Juveniles, and for Del Rey Books, the fantasy and science fiction imprint of Ballantine Books, edited by del Rey and Judy-Lynn del Rey, his fourth wife.

He was always outspoken and a great contrarian, being always willing to (ably) defend an unpopular viewpoint. He was one of those people around whom anecdotes collect.

His first stories were in the pulp magazines in the late 1930s. But he first came to prominence with his stories in Astounding Science Fiction in its Golden Age. In the years after the War, behind only Robert A. Heinlein and Andre Norton, he was one of the major writers of sf for the YA market under his own name and some of his many pseudonyms, Erik van Lhin and Philip St. John. (He also used the pennames Wade Kaempfert and Cameron Hall.)

During 1952–53, he edited Space SF, Science Fiction Adventures, Rocket Stories and Fantasy Magazine. His greatest success came as an editor at Ballantine Books with his wife Judy-Lynn del Rey, when they founded Del Rey Books, in 1977.

In 1957, del Rey and Damon Knight co-edited a fanzine named Science Fiction Forum. In response to a debate about symbolism within the magazine, he accepted Knight's challenge to write an analysis of James Blish's story "Common Time" that showed the story was about a man eating a ham sandwich.

He refused to accept a posthumous Hugo Award for Best Editor at Confederation in 1986 on behalf of Judy-Lynn after her death that year, saying that she wouldn’t have wanted it just because of her death.

According to the Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, del Rey often told people that his real name was Ramon Felipe Alvarez Del Rey, which name he used in the lettercol of Astounding as early as May 1935 (or sometimes even Ramon Felipe San Juan Mario Silvio Enrico Smith Heartcourt-Brace Sierra y Alvarez del Rey y de los Verdes). He also claimed that his whole family was killed in a car accident during 1935. However, his sister confirmed (per Locus, January 2008, p. 8) that his name was really Leonard Knapp and that the accident in 1935 killed his first wife, but not his parents, brother or sister.

His second wife was Helen Schlaz del Rey, who later married Damon Knight. No. 3 was Harry Harrison's ex-wife Evelyn, who died in 1970.

The two volumes of his writings published by NESFA Press include a note of thanks with a listing of 16 known pennames as well as del Rey's birth name.

Entry in The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction.

Awards, Honors and GoHships:


Person 1915—1993
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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