H. L. Gold
(April 26, 1914 – February 21, 1996)
Horace Leonard Gold, editor of Galaxy Science Fiction, was one of the first post-Campbell editors to take magazine sf in a new direction. He also wrote some sf and was briefly an assistant editor on the prozines Captain Future, Thrilling Wonder Stories and Startling Stories.
Under his direction, Galaxy became one of the leading magazines in the field. (One of Gold's slogans was, "You'll Never See it in Galaxy!") He was also a major anthologist, particularly with this Best from Galaxy series. After Galaxy took over IF, he was also editor of IF until he retired from both in 1961.
Born in Montreal, Canada, Gold moved to the United States at the age of 2. His mother was from Romania and his father was from Russia. The family lived in Rhode Island and in New York City when he was young. Gold served in the military during WWII.
Gold was famously agoraphobic, so many Hydra Club meetings were held at his house. He was married to Evelyn Gold, Galaxy’s assistant editor, from 1939–57, and left it to her to be the prozine’s “Face” at conventions. The Golds had a son, E. J. Gold, in 1941.
Gold married Muriel "Nicky" (Nicholson) Conley in 1965 and became a naturalized citizen in 1970. He died in 1996 in Orange, California. Muriel died in 1999.
His brother was author and critic Floyd C. Gale, who wrote reviews for Galaxy, and with whom he collaborated on fiction.
Entry in The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction.
Awards, Honors and GoHships:
- 1953 -- Best Professional Magazine Hugo
- 1957 -- Best American Professional Magazine Hugo nominee
- 1960 -- Best Professional Magazine Hugo nominee
- 1975 -- Westercon Life Achievement Award
- 1981 -- Forry Award
- 1987 -- Milford Award
- 2001 -- 1951 Best Professional Editor Retro Hugo nominee
- 2004 -- 1954 Best Professional Editor Retro Hugo nominee
| Person | 1914—1996 |
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