CONKLIN, Groff (Edward)

(1904-1968)

   US editor who began his career as manager of Doubleday Book Stores 1930-34, and who intermittently held various editing positions, in and out of commercial publishing, for the rest of his life; he was, however, primarily a freelance. The first of his many sf ANTHOLOGIES was The Best of Science Fiction (anth 1946), a huge compendium which vied in size and potential influence with Raymond J. HEALY's and J. Francis MCCOMAS's Adventures in Time and Space (1946), although the latter book was contracted earlier and had first pick of the material. Nevertheless, The Best of Science Fiction and its successors from the same publisher - A Treasury of Science Fiction (anth 1948; much cut 1957), The Big Book of Science Fiction (anth 1950; much cut 1957) and The Omnibus of Science Fiction (anth 1952; much cut vt Science Fiction Omnibus 1952; much cut vt Strange Travels in Science Fiction 1953; much cut vt Strange Adventures in Science Fiction 1954 UK; cut 1986 - all cut versions differing in their excisions) - are rewarding compilations. GC wrote a book-review column for GALAXY SCIENCE FICTION from \#1 (Oct 1950) until Oct 1955. He also edited for Grosset \& Dunlap a series of $1 hardcover sf novels, starting in 1950 with novels by A.E. VAN VOGT, Jack WILLIAMSON and others. The series included the first book publication of Henry KUTTNER's Fury (1947 ASF as Lawrence O'Donnell; 1950) with an introduction by GC which has been reprinted in subsequent editions. GC produced anthologies on various themes, including INVASION in Invaders of Earth (anth 1952; much cut 1953 UK; much cut 1955 US; much cut 1962 US; much cut in 2 vols vt Invaders of Earth 1962 UK and Enemies in Space 1962 UK - all cut versions differing in their excisions), TIME TRAVEL and PARALLEL WORLDS in Science Fiction Adventures in Dimension (anth 1953; cut vt Adventures in Dimension 1955 UK; cut under original title 1965 US), ROBOTS, ANDROIDS and COMPUTERS in Science Fiction Thinking Machines (anth 1954; cut vt Selections from Science Fiction Thinking Machines 1955) and MUTANTS in Science Fiction Adventures in Mutation (anth 1955; cut 1955). Later GC became consultant sf editor to Collier Books, for whom he produced the notable anthologies Great Science Fiction by Scientists (anth 1962) and Fifty Short Science Fiction Tales (anth 1963), the latter with Isaac ASIMOV. GC's anthologies were never definitive but were always considered and capable.

   MJE/JC

   Other works as editor: The Science Fiction Galaxy (anth 1950); Possible Worlds of Science Fiction (anth 1951); In the Grip of Terror (anth 1951); Crossroads in Time (anth 1953); The Supernatural Reader (anth 1953) with Lucy Conklin; 6 Great Short Novels of Science Fiction (anth 1954), not the same collection as Six Great Short Science Fiction Novels (anth 1960), though both are from the same publisher; Science Fiction Terror Tales (anth 1955); Operation Future (anth 1955); The Graveyard Reader (anth 1958); 4 for the Future (anth 1959); Br-r-r-! (anth 1959); 13 Great Stories of Science Fiction (anth 1960); Twisted (anth 1962); Worlds of When (anth 1962); 12 Great Classics of Science Fiction (anth 1963); 17 x Infinity (anth 1963); Dimenson 4 (anth 1964); Five-Odd (anth 1964; vt Possible Tomorrows 1972 UK); 5 Unearthly Visions (anth 1965); Giants Unleashed (anth 1965; vt Minds Unleashed 1970); 13 Above the Night (anth 1965); Another Part of the Galaxy (anth 1966); Seven Come Infinity (anth 1966); Science Fiction Oddities (anth 1966; cut vt Science Fiction Oddities, Second Series 1969 UK); Elsewhere and Elsewhen (anth 1968; vt in 2 vols Science Fiction Elsewhen 1970 UK and Science Fiction Elsewhere 1970 UK); Seven Trips through Time and Space (anth 1968).

   See also: ALIENS; CYBERNETICS; PUBLISHING.