DEL REY BOOKS

   US paperback imprint, founded 1977, a subsidiary of BALLANTINE BOOKS, itself a part of Random House. The imprint was named by then-Ballantine editor Judy-Lynn DEL REY for her husband Lester DEL REY; the original Ballantine imprint is now little used for sf. Judy-Lynn, who died in 1986, was editor-in-chief and, from 1982, publisher; Lester, the very successful fantasy editor, retired from the company in 1991 at the age of 76. DRB is an sf/fantasy imprint, though it is in fantasy that it has had the majority of its commercial successes, which have been very substantial. Its fantasy authors, some of whom began their career with DRB, have included Piers ANTHONY, James P. BLAYLOCK, Terry Brooks, Stephen DONALDSON, David Eddings, Barbara HAMBLY and Katherine KURTZ. Its sf authors have included Arthur C. CLARKE, Anne MCCAFFREY, Larry NIVEN, Frederik POHL and Charles SHEFFIELD. DRB is an important sf/fantasy publisher in terms of big-selling books; it has also published a number of good books. The two categories overlap.

   PN