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Groff Conklin

January 01, 1970

Edward Groff Conklin (September 6, 1904 – July 19, 1968) was an American science fiction anthologist. He edited 40 anthologies of science fiction, one of mystery stories (co-edited with physician Noah Fabricant), wrote books on home improvement and was a freelance writer on scientific subjects as well as a published poet. From 1950 to 1955, he was the book critic for Galaxy Science Fiction.

Born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, Conklin was educated at Dartmouth College and Harvard University, and graduated from Columbia University in 1927.[1] He drifted through a series of jobs in the 1930s and 1940s, working for several government agencies during WWII. He was a book editor for Robert M. McBride & Co. and did public relations work for the Federal Home Loan Bank, the Office of Strategic Services, the Department of Commerce, the National Cancer Institute and the American Diabetes Association. He was also a former scientific researcher for the N.W. Ayer & Son advertising agency.

Short fiction edit

It was as an editor of fiction that Conklin found his niche, beginning as early as 1930. At the age of 26, while employed as an assistant manager at New York's Doubleday Bookstore, he arranged for the hardcover publication of a story first published in The Smart Set (November 1913), reprinting "A Flood" by the Irish writer George Moore in a limited edition of 185 signed copies. In 1934, Conklin and Burton Rascoe published The Smart Set Anthology (reissued in 1944 as The Bachelor's Companion), the first collection of stories from that literary magazine.

Conklin's interest in short fiction continued with the 1936 publication of The New Republic Anthology: 1915-1935, edited with Bruce Bliven. The following year, he married Lucy Tempkin on October 1. During the next decade, he wrote books about subways, rental libraries and home construction, in addition to poetry and numerous magazine articles.

Science fiction edit

Conklin did not grow up as a reader of science fiction, but came to it later in life. In his Galaxy Five-Star Shelf column of December, 1954, he states, "...I actually did not become an earnest devotee of the form until 1944, about a year before the Atomic Age actually opened....The first item I remember reading that could be classified as science fiction was H. G. Wells' Men Like Gods, back in 1924 when I was a college sophomore. It had a tremendous effect on me...." A roommate from 1930 provided him with "bound volumes of tear-sheets of early weirds, fantastics and 'scientifictions' from the old Argosy, All-Story and others...." He sent a proposal for his first science fiction anthology to Crown Publishers in 1944, and the book was issued in 1946, several months ahead of the other great sf anthology of that year, Adventures in Time and Space edited by Raymond J. Healy and J. Francis McComas.

After his first science fiction anthology, The Best of Science Fiction (1946), weighing in at 785 pages, he followed with A Treasury of Science Fiction (1948). Readers soon began to seek out books with his strikingly unusual and exotic name on the cover—The Science Fiction Galaxy (1950), The Big Book of Science Fiction (1950) and Possible Worlds of Science Fiction (1951). The prominent display of Conklin's huge hardcover anthologies in the "New Titles" section of libraries led numerous American readers to discover science fiction during the genre's early 1950s boom. In the Grip of Terror (Permabooks, 1951) was an offbeat collection of horror tales, and he collaborated with Lucy Conklin on The Supernatural Reader in 1953, a year before her death. Four years later, he married Florence Alexander Wohlken.

His book review column, "Galaxy's Five-Star Shelf", was a key feature in Galaxy Science Fiction from its premiere issue (October 1950) until October 1955. During that period, he also edited Grosset & Dunlap's Science Fiction Classics series, which he conceived as an inexpensive alternative to hard-to-find small-press editions of such titles as Robert A. Heinlein's Beyond This Horizon and Isaac Asimov's I, Robot, although the first title in the series (Henry Kuttner's Fury) was that story's first book publication.

The Weather-Conditioned House (1958) is not science fiction but a practical discussion of methods involved in weather-conditioning a house. The book was authoritative enough that it was reissued with an update in 1982.

In the last three years of his life, Conklin was the staff science editor for The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. He lived in New York at 150 West 96th Street. At the age of 63, he died of emphysema in his summer home at Pawling, New York.[1]

A major survey of Conklin's contribution to science fiction is contained in Bud Webster's 41 Above the Rest: An Index and Checklist for the Anthologies of Groff Conklin. Webster's study prompted this comment from Barry N. Malzberg:

Groff Conklin was the most important science fiction anthologist through the years of the genre's true second generation, that point at which its previously magazine-bound masterpieces were being systematically located, aligned and placed into permanent format. His contribution over the period of two decades was irreplaceable and all of our postwar history exists in the penumbra of his work. Bud Webster has in this index granted an act of scholarship and homage of equal irreplaceability.

Groff Conklin was also a contributor of definitions to the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. He can be found listed under the heading of Definitions, along with others.

Bibliography edit

Non-fiction edit

  • How to Run a Rental Library (1934)
  • All About Subways (1938)
  • All About Houses (1939)
  • Good News About Diabetes (1954) with Lucy Conklin
  • Insulate and Air Condition Your Home (1955) with Arthur Watkins
  • The Weather Conditioned House (1958)
  • Diabetics Unknown (1961)
  • The Dangerous Cold: Its Cures and Complications (1965) with Noah D. Fabricant

Anthologies edited edit

Single-author collections edited edit

  • 28 Science Fiction Stories by H. G. Wells (1952)
  • A Way Home by Theodore Sturgeon (1955)
  • Thunder and Roses (collection)|Thunder and Roses by Theodore Sturgeon (1957)
  • Ten Great Mysteries by Edgar Allan Poe (1960)

References edit

  1. ^ a b c . Archived from the original on 2008-07-25. Retrieved 2017-05-21.

Sources edit

  • R. Reginald. Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature: A Checklist; Volume 2: Contemporary Science Fiction Authors II (p. 860). Detroit, Michigan: Gale Research Company, 1979. ISBN 0-8103-1051-1

External links edit

January 01, 1970
groff, conklin, edward, september, 1904, july, 1968, american, science, fiction, anthologist, edited, anthologies, science, fiction, mystery, stories, edited, with, physician, noah, fabricant, wrote, books, home, improvement, freelance, writer, scientific, sub. Edward Groff Conklin September 6 1904 July 19 1968 was an American science fiction anthologist He edited 40 anthologies of science fiction one of mystery stories co edited with physician Noah Fabricant wrote books on home improvement and was a freelance writer on scientific subjects as well as a published poet From 1950 to 1955 he was the book critic for Galaxy Science Fiction Born in Glen Ridge New Jersey Conklin was educated at Dartmouth College and Harvard University and graduated from Columbia University in 1927 1 He drifted through a series of jobs in the 1930s and 1940s working for several government agencies during WWII He was a book editor for Robert M McBride amp Co and did public relations work for the Federal Home Loan Bank the Office of Strategic Services the Department of Commerce the National Cancer Institute and the American Diabetes Association He was also a former scientific researcher for the N W Ayer amp Son advertising agency Contents 1 Short fiction 2 Science fiction 3 Bibliography 3 1 Non fiction 3 2 Anthologies edited 3 3 Single author collections edited 4 References 5 Sources 6 External linksShort fiction editIt was as an editor of fiction that Conklin found his niche beginning as early as 1930 At the age of 26 while employed as an assistant manager at New York s Doubleday Bookstore he arranged for the hardcover publication of a story first published in The Smart Set November 1913 reprinting A Flood by the Irish writer George Moore in a limited edition of 185 signed copies In 1934 Conklin and Burton Rascoe published The Smart Set Anthology reissued in 1944 as The Bachelor s Companion the first collection of stories from that literary magazine Conklin s interest in short fiction continued with the 1936 publication of The New Republic Anthology 1915 1935 edited with Bruce Bliven The following year he married Lucy Tempkin on October 1 During the next decade he wrote books about subways rental libraries and home construction in addition to poetry and numerous magazine articles Science fiction editConklin did not grow up as a reader of science fiction but came to it later in life In his Galaxy Five Star Shelf column of December 1954 he states I actually did not become an earnest devotee of the form until 1944 about a year before the Atomic Age actually opened The first item I remember reading that could be classified as science fiction was H G Wells Men Like Gods back in 1924 when I was a college sophomore It had a tremendous effect on me A roommate from 1930 provided him with bound volumes of tear sheets of early weirds fantastics and scientifictions from the old Argosy All Story and others He sent a proposal for his first science fiction anthology to Crown Publishers in 1944 and the book was issued in 1946 several months ahead of the other great sf anthology of that year Adventures in Time and Space edited by Raymond J Healy and J Francis McComas After his first science fiction anthology The Best of Science Fiction 1946 weighing in at 785 pages he followed with A Treasury of Science Fiction 1948 Readers soon began to seek out books with his strikingly unusual and exotic name on the cover The Science Fiction Galaxy 1950 The Big Book of Science Fiction 1950 and Possible Worlds of Science Fiction 1951 The prominent display of Conklin s huge hardcover anthologies in the New Titles section of libraries led numerous American readers to discover science fiction during the genre s early 1950s boom In the Grip of Terror Permabooks 1951 was an offbeat collection of horror tales and he collaborated with Lucy Conklin on The Supernatural Reader in 1953 a year before her death Four years later he married Florence Alexander Wohlken His book review column Galaxy s Five Star Shelf was a key feature in Galaxy Science Fiction from its premiere issue October 1950 until October 1955 During that period he also edited Grosset amp Dunlap s Science Fiction Classics series which he conceived as an inexpensive alternative to hard to find small press editions of such titles as Robert A Heinlein s Beyond This Horizon and Isaac Asimov s I Robot although the first title in the series Henry Kuttner s Fury was that story s first book publication The Weather Conditioned House 1958 is not science fiction but a practical discussion of methods involved in weather conditioning a house The book was authoritative enough that it was reissued with an update in 1982 In the last three years of his life Conklin was the staff science editor for The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language He lived in New York at 150 West 96th Street At the age of 63 he died of emphysema in his summer home at Pawling New York 1 A major survey of Conklin s contribution to science fiction is contained in Bud Webster s 41 Above the Rest An Index and Checklist for the Anthologies of Groff Conklin Webster s study prompted this comment from Barry N Malzberg Groff Conklin was the most important science fiction anthologist through the years of the genre s true second generation that point at which its previously magazine bound masterpieces were being systematically located aligned and placed into permanent format His contribution over the period of two decades was irreplaceable and all of our postwar history exists in the penumbra of his work Bud Webster has in this index granted an act of scholarship and homage of equal irreplaceability Groff Conklin was also a contributor of definitions to the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language He can be found listed under the heading of Definitions along with others Bibliography editNon fiction edit How to Run a Rental Library 1934 All About Subways 1938 All About Houses 1939 Good News About Diabetes 1954 with Lucy Conklin Insulate and Air Condition Your Home 1955 with Arthur Watkins The Weather Conditioned House 1958 Diabetics Unknown 1961 The Dangerous Cold Its Cures and Complications 1965 with Noah D Fabricant Anthologies edited edit The Smart Set Anthology 1934 variant title The Bachelor s Companion 1944 with Burton Rascoe The New Republic Anthology 1915 1935 1936 with Bruce Bliven The Best of Science Fiction 1946 variant title The Golden Age of Science Fiction 1980 A Treasury of Science Fiction 1948 Big Book of Science Fiction 1950 variant title The Classic Book of Science Fiction 1978 The Science Fiction Galaxy 1950 In the Grip of Terror 1951 Possible Worlds of Science Fiction 1951 Invaders of Earth 1952 variant title Invaders of Earth abridged 1955 Enemies in Space abridged 1962 Omnibus of Science Fiction 1952 variant titles Strange Travels in Science Fiction abridged 1953 Strange Adventures in Science Fiction abridged 1954 Science Fiction Omnibus 1956 Crossroads in Time 1953 Science Fiction Adventures in Dimension 1953 variant title Adventures in Dimension 1955 The Supernatural Reader 1953 with Lucy Conklin 6 Great Short Novels of Science Fiction 1954 Science Fiction Thinking Machines 1954 variant title Selections from Science Fiction Thinking Machines abridged 1955 Operation Future 1955 Science Fiction Adventures in Mutation 1955 Science Fiction Terror Tales 1955 The Graveyard Reader 1958 Br r r 1959 4 for the Future 1959 13 Great Stories of Science Fiction 1960 Six Great Short Science Fiction Novels 1960 Great Science Fiction by Scientists 1962 Twisted 1962 Worlds of When 1962 12 Great Classics of Science Fiction 1963 17 X Infinity 1963 Fifty Short Science Fiction Tales 1963 with Isaac Asimov Great Science Fiction About Doctors 1963 with Noah D Fabricant Great Stories of Space Travel 1963 Human and Other Beings 1963 with Allen de Graeff Dimension 4 1964 Five Odd 1964 variant title Possible Tomorrows 1973 Great Detective Stories About Doctors 1965 with Noah D Fabricant 13 Above the Night 1965 5 Unearthly Visions 1965 Giants Unleashed 1965 Variant Title Minds Unleashed 1965 Another Part of the Galaxy 1966 Science Fiction Oddities 1966 variant titles Science Fiction Oddities abridged 1969 Science Fiction Oddities Second Series abridged 1969 Seven Come Infinity 1966 Elsewhere and Elsewhen 1968 variant titles Science Fiction Elsewhere abridged 1970 Science Fiction Elsewhen abridged 1970 Seven Trips Through Time and Space 1968 1 Single author collections edited edit 28 Science Fiction Stories by H G Wells 1952 A Way Home by Theodore Sturgeon 1955 Thunder and Roses collection Thunder and Roses by Theodore Sturgeon 1957 Ten Great Mysteries by Edgar Allan Poe 1960 References edit a b c Conklin Groff c SPACELIGHT Archived from the original on 2008 07 25 Retrieved 2017 05 21 Sources editR Reginald Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature A Checklist Volume 2 Contemporary Science Fiction Authors II p 860 Detroit Michigan Gale Research Company 1979 ISBN 0 8103 1051 1External links editGroff Conklin at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database FBI file on Groff Conklin Book Think Interview with Bud Webster about 41 Above the Rest An Index and Checklist for the Anthologies of Groff Conklin Book Think A Bibliographer s Job Is Never Done by Bud Webster Anthopology 101 41 Above the Rest by Bud Webster at Galactic Central Anthopology 101 The Best of Time and Space by Bud Webster at Galactic Central Anthopology 101 Time and Time Again by Bud Webster at Galactic Central Anthopology 101 They Blinded Us With Science by Bud Webster at Galactic Central Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Groff Conklin amp oldid 1219948118, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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