Search SFE    Search EoF

  Omit cross-reference entries  

Santesson, Hans Stefan

Entry updated 14 August 2023. Tagged: Author, Editor.

Icon made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com

pic

(1914-1975) US editor and author born in France of Swedish parents, raised in Sweden and emigrated with his mother to the USA in 1923 after his parents divorced. They settled in Brooklyn where his mother worked as a commercial artist. Before entering the world of publishing Santesson devoted much of his time helping immigrants to America, especially from India. He was noted for his humanitarianism and this was reflected in his work as an editor with a selfless dedication to helping others. His career began as an editor of mystery fiction, running the Unicorn Mystery Book from 1945 to 1952, and editing the short-lived magazine Private Eye in 1953. He was hired as editor of The Saint Detective Magazine in 1956 and took over the reins of its companion SF Magazine Fantastic Universe from September 1956, remaining editor until its demise in March 1960. Santesson's interest in sf was fairly eclectic, but he had a special interest in Pseudoscience – he was a member of the Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained, and later edited its magazine Pursuit – and introduced into Fantastic Universe articles on UFOs, Monsters and other such mysteries. He would later compile Flying Saucers in Fact and Fiction (anth 1968), plus two other volumes, Reincarnation (1969) and Understanding Mu (1970), a study of the life and beliefs of James Churchward (1851-1936). Before Fantastic Universe ceased Santesson also compiled the US edition of New Worlds (5 issues 1960). He remained as editor of both the UK and US editions of The Saint Mystery Magazine, as it had now been retitled, until 1967.

Thereafter Santesson worked chiefly as an anthologist. His sf and fantasy volumes include The Fantastic Universe Omnibus (anth 1960; cut 1962), Rulers of Men (anth 1965), Gods for Tomorrow (anth 1967), Crime Prevention in the 30th Century (anth 1969), Gentle Invaders (anth 1969), The Mighty Barbarians: Great Sword and Sorcery Heroes (anth 1969), The Mighty Swordsmen (anth 1970) and The Days After Tomorrow (anth 1971). The crime collection The Saint Magazine Reader (anth 1966; vt The Saint's Choice 1967) edited with Leslie Charteris includes two sf stories. During 1971-1972 Santesson served as the science-fiction editor for Walker & Company. On rare occasions, usually to fill a blank space, Santesson wrote short mystery and sf vignettes under the pen names Stephen Bond, John Stephens and Vithaldas H O'Quinn. His last book published just before his death was The Case for Exorcism (1974). [MA/PN]

Hans Nils Stefan Santesson

born Paris, France: 8 July 1914

died Edgewater, New Jersey: 20 February 1975

works

nonfiction

works as editor

links

previous versions of this entry



x
This website uses cookies.  More information here. Accept Cookies