McComas, J Francis
Entry updated 18 November 2024. Tagged: Author, Editor.
(1911-1978) US editor and author who published a number of sf stories under his own name – including "Shock Treatment" (in 9 Tales of Space and Time, anth 1954, ed Raymond J Healy) and "Parallel" (April 1955 F&SF) – and as Webb Marlowe. He was co-editor with Raymond J Healy of the thirty-five-story Anthology Adventures in Time and Space: An Anthology of Modern Science-Fiction Stories (anth 1946; cut 1952; differently cut 1953; cut vt Selections from Adventures in Time and Space 1954; recut vt More Adventures in Time and Space: Selections from Adventures in Time and Space 1955; text restored, vt Famous Science-Fiction Stories: Adventures in Time and Space 1957), which was initially published by Random House, one of the two or three most prestigious literary publishers of the time, and whose contents – a very broad selection from the new US sf of the previous decade – were made available for the first time to a wide non-genre audience. In this anthology he reprinted his first story, "Flight into Darkness" (February 1943 Astounding), as by Webb Marlowe. McComas was also joint editor with Anthony Boucher of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction from #1 (1949) until August 1954, though he has not generally received his due share of credit for establishing the direction of that magazine. He also co-edited with Boucher the first four volumes of the Best from F&SF sequence, beginning with The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction (anth 1952). He remained advisory editor of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction until March 1962. McComas was a member of the Mystery Writers of America. [MJE/JC]
see also: Astounding Science-Fiction; Golden Age of SF.
Jesse Francis McComas
born Kansas City, Missouri: 9 June 1911
died Fremont, California: 19 April 1978
works as editor
series
Best from F&SF
- The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction (Boston, Massachusetts: Little, Brown, 1952) with Anthony Boucher [anth: Best from F&SF: hb/Chesley Bonestell]
- The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction Second Series (Boston, Massachusetts: Little, Brown, 1953) with Anthony Boucher [anth: Best from F&SF: hb/Chesley Bonestell]
- The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction Third Series (Garden City, New York: Doubleday, 1954) with Anthony Boucher [anth: Best from F&SF: hb/Chesley Bonestell]
individual titles
- Adventures in Time and Space: An Anthology of Modern Science-Fiction Stories (New York: Random House, 1946) with Raymond J Healy [anth: containing thirty-five stories: hb/George Salter]
- Adventures in Time and Space: An Anthology of Modern Science-Fiction Stories (London: Grayson and Grayson, 1952) with Raymond J Healy [anth: cut vt of the above: containing eleven stories: hb/Mudge Marriott]
- Adventures in Time and Space (New York: Random House, 1953) with Raymond J Healy [anth: cut version of the above: containing thirty stories: hb/George Salter]
- Selections from Adventures in Time and Space (New York: Pennant Books, 1954) with Raymond J Healy [anth: cut vt of the above: containing eight stories: pb/Charles Binger]
- More Adventures in Time and Space (New York: Bantam Books, 1955) with Raymond J Healy [anth: recut vt of the above: containing seven stories: pb/Chesley Bonestell]
- Famous Science-Fiction Stories (New York: Random House, 1957) with Raymond J Healy [anth: vt of above, text restored: all thirty-five stories included: hb/George Salter]
- The Graveside Companion (New York: Ivan Obolensky, 1962) [anth: hb/]
- Crimes and Misfortunes (New York: Random House, 1970) [anth: hb/]
- Special Wonder: The Anthony Boucher Memorial Anthology of Fantasy and Science Fiction (New York: Random House, 1970) [anth: hb/]
- Special Wonder #1 (New York: Beagle Books, 1971) [anth: first half of the above: pb/]
- Special Wonder #2 (New York: Beagle Books, 1971) [anth: second half of the above: pb/]
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