Lester del Rey
Lester del Rey was an influential figure in the science fiction and fantasy genres, born on June 2, 1915, in Clydesdale, Minnesota. Originally named Ramon Felipe San Juan Mario Silvio Enrico Smith Heathcourt-Brace Sierra y Alvarez del Rey y de los Verdes, he faced a challenging upbringing marked by the Great Depression and personal loss, including the death of his mother shortly after his birth. Del Rey's literary career began when he published his first story, "The Faithful," in 1938, leading to a prolific output that included both adult and young adult fiction. He is particularly known for his 1948 book, … And Some Were Human, which features the notable story "Nerves," later expanded into a novel.
Throughout his career, del Rey engaged deeply in the science fiction community, not only as a writer but also as an editor and educator, teaching fantasy writing at New York University and editing various magazines. He co-founded Del Rey Books in 1977 with his wife, Judy-Lynn Benjamin, which became a prominent imprint in the genre. Del Rey's contributions earned him several accolades, including the E. E. Smith Memorial Award in 1972 and the Nebula Grand Master Award in 1990. Despite a breadth of interests that some critics believed limited his potential, he was highly respected by his peers for his editorial work and collaborations. Del Rey passed away on May 10, 1993, leaving a lasting impact on the literary landscape.
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Lester del Rey
Writer
- Born: June 2, 1915
- Birthplace: Clydesdale, Minnesota
- Died: May 10, 1993
- Place of death: New York, New York
Biography
The man who wrote professionally as Lester del Rey was born on June 2, 1915, in Clydesdale, Minnesota. Christened Ramon Felipe San Juan Mario Silvio Enrico Smith Heathcourt-Brace Sierra y Alvarez del Rey y de los Verdes, he was the son of farmer Franc del Rey. His mother, Jane Sidway del Rey, died soon after her son’s birth. Del Rey grew up during the Great Depression, and his education was erratic. He earned a general educational development (GED) degree but completed only two years of college at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
Del Rey’s first two marriages ended in divorce. His third wife, Evelyn Harrison, died in an automobile accident in 1970. Del Rey went on to marry noted science-fiction and fantasy editor Judy-Lynn Benjamin on March 21, 1971.
Del Rey became interested in science fiction at an early age, deciding to try his hand at the genre after becoming dissatisfied with the quality of the work he was reading in the era’s pulp magazines. Astounding Science Fiction accepted his first attempt, “The Faithful,” in 1938, and although it was some time before he placed another story, del Rey persevered. His first book, … And Some Were Human, appeared in 1948 and included what many regard as his best story, “Nerves.” Del Rey expanded this story, which deals with a near-catastrophe in a nuclear power plant, into a novel in 1956. Over the following years he wrote prolifically under a number of pseudonyms, collaborating on occasion with fellow science-fiction writers Frederik Pohl and Raymond F. Jones. He also wrote more than a dozen books for young adults.
Besides writing, del Rey devoted much of his time and energy to related activities. He worked for the Scott Meredith Literary Agency from 1947 to 1950, edited a number of science- fiction magazines, compiled multiple anthologies, and wrote book reviews. He also taught fantasy writing at New York University during the 1972-1973 academic year. Del Rey and his wife Judy-Lynn, created a notable fantasy and science-fiction imprint, Del Rey Books, for Ballantine Books in 1977. Judy-Lynn died in 1986, and after growing increasingly reclusive in his old age, del Rey himself died of a heart attack on May 10, 1993, in New York City.
Del Rey won the E. E. Smith Memorial Award for Imaginative Fiction in 1972 and the Nebula Grand Master Award in 1990. Although he had many stories and novels to his credit, critics found that the variety of his interests and activities prevented him from realizing his potential. Nevertheless, he was revered by his colleagues in the science-fiction and fantasy communities for his editorial accomplishments, many of them undertaken with the encouragement and collaboration of his wife.