Wollheim, Donald A.

Donald A. Wollheim (1914-1990) was an award-winning science fiction writer, editor, publisher, and fan. Wollheim's first story was published when he was nineteen, and despite his many other activities he continued to be published regularly for more than thirty years. He wrote under numerous pen names, including David Grinnell, Arthur Cooke, Millard Verne Gordon, Martin Pearson, Braxton Wells, Graham Conway, and Lawrence Woods. In addition to his writing, Wollheim the organizer of the first science fiction convention in 1936, publisher of numerous fanzines, and founder of the Fantasy Amateur Press Association. He was also a founding member of The Futurians, alongn with Isaac Asimov, Frederik Pohl, Cyril Kornbluth, James Blish, Damon Knight and many other notable names in science fiction.

From the guide to the Donald A. Wollheim Papers, 1961-1965, (Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries)

Donald A. Wollheim was born on 1 Oct. 1914 in New York, N.Y. and received his education at New York University. He began his career writing science fiction stories and novels, sometimes under the pseudonym David Grinnell, and editing many science fiction anthologies. During this time he also worked as an editor for Albing Publications, Ace Magazines, Avon Books, and later became vice-president and editor-in-chief of Ace Books, 1951-1971. In 1971 he founded and became president and editor of DAW Books, a company whose name is taken from his initials. While with Ace Books and DAW Books, Wollheim introduced the first novels of some of the most important science fiction writers, including Ursula K. LeGuin, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Andre Norton, Philip K. Dick, C.J. Cherryh, Samuel R. Delaney, and John Brunner. Wollheim died on Nov. 2, 1990.

From the description of Donald A. Wollheim letter received from R.N. Gokarn, 1968 Apr. 8. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 65223214

Donald A. Wollheim was born October 1, 1914 in New York City, New York. Wollheim was a writer, editor, and publisher of science fiction, and known as the creator of the science fiction paperback. A member of the Futurians, a group of science fiction fans, he was a leading influence in the development of science fiction and science fiction fandom in the 20th Century.

In 1933 Wollheim sold his first science fiction piece to Astounding Stories magazine. During his career, he authored seventeen novels, numerous short stories, and edited a variety of science fiction anthologies.

Wollheim was the founding editor-in-chief of Ace Books from 1943 to 1946, and held the same position for Avon Books from 1946 to 1951.

In 1971 Wollheim founded DAW Books, after his initials, with his wife, Elsie Balter Wollheim. It was the first mass marketing publishing house for science fiction and fantasy. Wollheim continued to edit DAW Books' annual World's Best Science Fiction series until his death on November 2, 1990.

From the guide to the Donald A. Wollheim papers, 1933-2007, (University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library Department of Special Collections)