Conklin, Groff
Entry updated 14 August 2023. Tagged: Author, Editor.
(1904-1968) US editor who began his career as manager of Doubleday Book Stores 1930-1934, and who intermittently held various editing positions, in and out of commercial publishing, for the rest of his life; he was, however, primarily a freelance. The first of his many sf Anthologies was The Best of Science Fiction (anth 1946; vt The Golden Age of Science Fiction 1980), a huge compendium which vied in size and potential influence with Raymond J Healy's and J Francis McComas's Adventures in Time and Space (1946), although the latter book was contracted earlier and had first pick of the material. Nevertheless, The Best of Science Fiction and its successors from the same publisher – A Treasury of Science Fiction (anth 1948; much cut 1957), The Big Book of Science Fiction (anth 1950; much cut 1957) and Omnibus of Science Fiction (anth 1952; much cut vt Strange Travels in Science Fiction 1953; much cut vt Strange Adventures in Science Fiction 1954; much cut vt Science Fiction Omnibus 1952; cut 1986, with all cut versions differing in their excisions) – are rewarding compilations. In his later career, he increasingly produced anthologies on increasingly specific subject matter – they were in fact the first fully fledged theme anthologies to appear in the field – including Invasion in Invaders of Earth (anth 1952; much cut 1953; much cut 1955; much cut 1962; much cut 2vols vt Invaders of Earth 1962 UK and Enemies in Space 1962 UK, with all cut versions differing in their excisions); Time Travel and Parallel Worlds in Science Fiction Adventures in Dimension (anth 1953; cut 1955; cut 1965); Robots, Androids and Computers in Science Fiction Thinking Machines (anth 1954; cut vt Selections from Science Fiction Thinking Machines 1955) and Mutants in Science Fiction Adventures in Mutation (anth 1955; cut 1965). Conklin eventually became consultant sf editor to Collier Books, for whom he produced the notable anthologies Great Science Fiction by Scientists (anth 1962) and Fifty Short Science Fiction Tales (anth 1963), the latter with Isaac Asimov.
Conklin wrote a book-review column for Galaxy Science Fiction from #1 (October 1950) until October 1955. He also edited for Grosset and Dunlap a series of $1 hardcover sf novels, starting in 1950 with works by A E van Vogt, Jack Williamson and others. The series included the first book publication of Fury (May-July 1947 Astounding as by Lawrence O'Donnell; 1950; vt Destination Infinity 1956) as by Henry Kuttner alone (though in fact a collaboration with C L Moore); the intelligent introduction by Conklin has been reprinted in subsequent editions. Conklin's anthologies were never definitive but were always considered and capable; as an enabler, through these anthologies and as a series editor, Conklin was of considerable importance in legitimizing American Genre SF for the book markets it only began to penetrate after World War Two. For more recent readers, his 41 anthologies now seem to be the best and most sustained presentation imaginable of the virtues of the Golden Age of SF. [MJE/JC]
see also: Aliens; Cybernetics; Publishing.
Edward Groff Conklin
born Glen Ridge, New Jersey: 6 September 1904
died Pawling, New York: 19 July 1968
works
- The Best of Science Fiction (New York: Crown Publishers, 1946) [anth: hb/Robert Josephy]
- The Golden Age of Science Fiction (New York: Crown Publishers, 1980) [anth: vt of the above: hb/Ray Yeldham Mendola]
- A Treasury of Science Fiction (New York: Crown Publishers, 1948) [anth: hb/nonpictorial]
- A Treasury of Science Fiction (New York: Berkley Books, 1957) [anth: cut version of the above: pb/Richard Powers]
- The Big Book of Science Fiction (New York: Crown Publishers, 1950) [anth: hb/nonpictorial]
- The Big Book of Science Fiction (New York: Berkley Books, 1957) [anth: cut version of the above: pb/Richard Powers]
- The Classic Book of Science Fiction (New York: Bonanza Books, 1978) [anth: vt of the above: text restored: hb/]
- Science Fiction Galaxy (New York: Permabooks, 1950) [anth: hb/Richard Powers]
- In the Grip of Terror (New York: Permabooks, 1951) [anth: pb/]
- Possible Worlds of Science Fiction (New York: Vanguard, 1951) [anth: hb/nonpictorial]
- Possible Worlds of Science Fiction (London: Grayson and Grayson, 1952) [anth: cut version of the above: hb/E B Mudge-Marriott]
- Possible Worlds of Science Fiction (New York: Berkley Books, 1955) [anth: differently cut version of the above: pb/uncredited]
- Selections from Possible Worlds of Science Fiction (New York: Berkley Medallion, 1968) [anth: vt of the above: pb/]
- Invaders of Earth (New York: Vanguard, 1952) [anth: hb/Morton Roberts]
- Invaders of Earth (London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1953) [anth: cut version of the above: hb/]
- Invaders of Earth (New York: Pocket Books, 1955) [anth: cut version of the above: pb/Morton Roberts]
- Invaders of Earth (New York: Tempo Books, 1962) [anth: cut version of the above: pb/]
- Invaders of Earth (London: Digit Books, 1962) [anth: cut version of the above: companion to Enemies in Space below: pb/]
- Enemies in Space (London: Digit Books, 1962) [anth: cut vt of the above: companion to Invaders of Earth above: pb/]
- Omnibus of Science Fiction (New York: Crown Publishers, 1952) [anth: hb/]
- Strange Travels in Science Fiction (London: Grayson and Grayson, 1953) [cut vt of the above: hb/]
- Strange Adventures in Science Fiction (London: Grayson and Grayson, 1954) [cut vt of the above: hb/]
- Science Fiction Omnibus (New York: Berkley Books, 1956) [cut vt of the above: pb/Richard Powers]
- The Omnibus of Science Fiction (New York: Chatham River, 1986) [anth: cut vt of the above: hb/Eddie Jones]
- Crossroads in Time (New York: Permabooks, 1953) [anth: pb/Richard Powers]
- Science Fiction Adventures in Dimension (New York: Vanguard, 1953) [anth: hb/]
- Science Fiction Adventures in Dimension (London: Grayson and Grayson, 1955) [anth: cut version of the above: hb/E J Pagram]
- Science Fiction Adventures in Dimension (New York: Berkley Medallion, 1965) [anth: cut version of the above: pb/Paul Lehr]
- The Supernatural Reader (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: J B Lippincott, 1953) with Lucy Conklin [anth: hb/Robert Hallock]
- The Supernatural Reader (London: World Distributors (Manchester) Ltd, 1958) with Lucy Conklin [anth: cut version of the above: pb/]
- 6 Great Short Novels of Science Fiction (New York: Dell Books, 1954) [anth: not to be confused with Six Great Short Science Fiction Novels from 1960 (see below): pb/Richard Powers]
- Science Fiction Thinking Machines (New York: Vanguard, 1954) [anth: hb/]
- Selections from Science Fiction Thinking Machines (New York: Bantam Books, 1955) [anth: cut vt of the above: pb/Richard Powers]
- Operation Future (New York: Permabooks, 1955) [anth: pb/Robert Schultz]
- Science Fiction Adventures in Mutation (New York: Vanguard, 1955) [anth: hb/]
- Science Fiction Adventures in Mutation (New York: Berkley Medallion, 1965) [anth: cut version of the above: pb/Richard Powers]
- Science Fiction Terror Tales (New York: Gnome Press, 1955) [anth: hb/Ed Emshwiller]
- Science Fiction Omnibus (New York: Berkley Books, 1956) [anth: pb/Richard Powers]
- The Graveyard Reader (New York: Ballantine Books, 1958) [anth: pb/Richard Powers]
- Br-r-r! (New York: Avon Books, 1959) [anth: pb/Richard Powers]
- 4 for the Future: Science-Fiction Short Novels (New York: Pyramid Books, 1959) [anth: pb/Richard Powers]
- 13 Great Stories of Science Fiction (New York: Gold Medal, 1960) [anth: pb/Richard Powers]
- Six Great Short Science Fiction Novels (New York: Dell Books, 1960) [anth: not to be confused with 6 Great Short Novels of Science Fiction from 1954 (see above): pb/Richard Powers]
- Great Science Fiction by Scientists (New York: Collier Books, 1962) [anth: pb/]
- Twisted (New York: Belmont Books, 1962) [anth: pb/]
- Worlds of When (New York: Pyramid books, 1962) [anth: pb/John Schoenherr]
- 12 Great Classics of Science Fiction (New York: Gold Medal, 1963) [anth: pb/]
- 17 x Infinity (New York: Dell Books, 1963) [anth: pb/]
- Fifty Short Science Fiction Tales (New York: Collier Books, 1963) with Isaac Asimov [anth: pb/]
- Great Science Fiction About Doctors (New York: Collier Books, 1963) with Noah D Fabricant [anth: pb/]
- Great Stories of Space Travel (New York: Tempo Books, 1963) [anth: pb/]
- Human and Other Beings (New York: Collier Books, 1963) with Allen de Graeff [anth: pb/]
- Dimension 4 (New York: Pyramid Books, 1964) [anth: pb/Jack Gaughan]
- Five-Odd (New York: Pyramid Books, 1964) [anth: pb/John Schoenherr]
- Possible Tomorrows (London: Sidgwick and Jackson, 1972) [anth: vt of the above: hb/Chris Simmonds]
- Great Detective Stories About Doctors (New York: Collier Books, 1964) with Noah D Fabricant [anth: pb/]
- 13 Above the Night (New York: Dell Books, 1965) [anth: pb/]
- 5 Unearthly Visions (New York: Gold Medal Books, 1965) [anth: pb/Richard Powers]
- Giants Unleashed (New York: Grosset and Dunlap, 1965) [anth: hb/L S G]
- Minds Unleashed (New York: Tempo Books, 1970) [anth: vt of the above: pb/L S G]
- Another Part of the Galaxy (New York: Gold Medal Books, 1966) [anth: pb/]
- Science Fiction Oddities (New York: Berkley Books, 1966) [anth: pb/Don Ivan Punchatz]
- Science Fiction Oddities (London: Rapp and Whiting, 1969) [anth: the above title cut into two volumes (see below): hb/]
- Science Fiction Oddities, Second Series (London: Rapp and Whiting, 1969) [anth: vt of the above title cut into two volumes (see immediately above): hb/]
- Seven Come Infinity (New York: Gold Medal Books, 1966) [anth: pb/Richard Powers]
- Elsewhere and Elsewhen (New York: Berkley Books, 1968) [anth: pb/Don Ivan Punchatz]
- Science Fiction Elsewhen (London: Rapp and Whiting, 1970) [anth: vt of the above title cut into two volumes (see immediately below): hb/]
- Science Fiction Elsewhere (London: Rapp and Whiting, 1970) [anth: vt of the above title cut into two volumes (see immediately above): hb/]
- Seven Trips through Time and Space (New York: Gold Medal Books, 1968) [anth: pb/]
about the authors
- Bud Webster. "41 Above the Rest: An Index to the Anthologies of Groff Conklin" (February 2002 New York Review of Science Fiction vol 14, #6, whole #162) [mag/]
links
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