McCOMAS, J(esse) Francis

(1911-1978)

   US editor and writer who published a number of sf stories under his own name - including "Shock Treatment" (1954) and "Parallel" (1955) - and as Webb Marlowe. He was co-editor with Raymond J. HEALY ofthe 35-story ANTHOLOGY Adventures in Time and Space (anth 1946; cut vt Selections from Adventures in Time and Space 1954; recut vt MoreAdventures in Time and Space 1955; text restored vt Famous Science-Fiction Stories 1957), which was initially published by Random House, one of the two or three most prestigious literary publishers of the time, and whose contents - a very wide selection from the new US sf of the previous decade - were made available for the first time to a wide non-genre audience. Itwas in this anthology that he published his first story, "Flight into Darkness" (1946) as by Webb Marlowe. JFM was also joint editor withAnthony BOUCHER of The MAGAZINE OF FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION from \#1 (1949) until Aug 1954, though he has not generally received his due share of credit for establishing the direction of that magazine. He also co-edited with Boucher the first 3 vols of the Best from FSF sequence: The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction (anth 1952), \#2 (anth 1953) and \#3(anth 1954). He remained advisory editor of FSF until March 1962. JFM was a member of the Mystery Writers of America.

   MJE/JC

   Other works as editor: The Graveside Companion (anth 1962); Crimes and Misfortunes (anth 1970); Special Wonder: The Anthony Boucher Memorial Anthology of Fantasy and Science Fiction (anth 1970; in 2 vols vt Special Wonder \#1 1971 and \#2 1971).

   See also: ASTOUNDING SCIENCE-FICTION; GOLDEN AGE OF SF.