David G. Hartwell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids David G. Hartwell
Hartwell the morning after winning the Hugo, 2006
Born	David Geddes Hartwell (1941-07-10)July 10, 1941 Salem, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	January 20, 2016(2016-01-20) (aged 74) Plattsburgh, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Editor literary critic publisher
Education	Williams College (BA) Colgate University (MA) Columbia University (Ph.D.)
Period	1965–2016
Genre	Science fiction fantasy horror
Spouse	Patricia Lee Wolcott ​ ​ (m. 1969; div. 1992)​ Kathryn Cramer ​ (m. 1997)​
Children	4

David Geddes Hartwell (born July 10, 1941 – died January 20, 2016) was an American expert in books. He worked as a critic, publisher, and editor. He helped create thousands of science fiction and fantasy novels.

He was very well-known for his work with big publishers. These included Signet, Pocket, and Tor Books. He also won awards for editing collections of stories called anthologies. Many people in the science fiction world thought he was one of the most important book editors for over 40 years.

Early Life and Education

David Hartwell was born in Salem, Massachusetts. He went to Williams College and earned a bachelor's degree in 1963. He then continued his studies at Colgate University, getting a master's degree in 1965. Later, he earned a Ph.D. from Columbia University in 1973. His Ph.D. was in comparing different types of medieval literature.

Even while studying, David was busy. By 1965, he was already editing and publishing. He worked on a small literary magazine called The Little Magazine. This magazine ran from 1965 to 1988.

His Career in Publishing

David Hartwell started his career as a book review editor. He worked for Crawdaddy!, a rock music magazine. In 1968, he helped start a publishing company called Entwhistle Books. This company published books by famous writers like Philip K. Dick.

He worked for several major book publishers. These included Signet (1971–1973) and Pocket Books. At Pocket Books, he created a special line of books called Timescape Books. He also started the Pocket Books Star Trek publishing line.

From 1984 until he passed away, he worked for Tor Books. He helped bring many Canadian and Australian writers to the U.S. market. By 1995, he was a "Senior Editor" at Tor/Forge Books.

David also had his own small publishing company, Dragon Press. He used it to publish important books about science fiction criticism. In 1988, he started The New York Review of Science Fiction through Dragon Press. He was the reviews editor for this publication.

In 1977, David edited a short-lived magazine. It was called Cosmos Science Fiction and Fantasy. Even though it only had four issues, it was known for its high-quality stories. It also had beautiful full-color pictures inside.

David was also involved in big events for writers. He led the board of directors for the World Fantasy Convention. He also helped manage the Philip K. Dick Award. He edited many collections of stories and wrote essays about science fiction and fantasy.

Awards and Achievements

Hartwell in 2008

David Hartwell edited two yearly collections of stories. These were Year's Best SF and Year's Best Fantasy. He started Year's Best SF in 1996. Since 2002, he co-edited both with his wife, Kathryn Cramer. These collections were very popular. They often ranked among the top 10 in the Locus reader polls.

In 1988, he won the World Fantasy Award for Best Anthology. This was for his collection called The Dark Descent.

David was nominated for the Hugo Award many times. The Hugo Award is a top prize in science fiction and fantasy. He was nominated 41 times in total! He won the Hugo Award for Best Professional Editor three times: in 2006, 2008, and 2009. He also consistently ranked as one of the best editors in the Locus poll for 27 years in a row.

He edited several award-winning novels. These included:

• Timescape by Gregory Benford (won a Nebula Award)
• The Claw of the Conciliator by Gene Wolfe (won a Nebula Award)
• No Enemy But Time by Michael Bishop (won a Nebula Award)
• Hominids by Robert J. Sawyer (won a Hugo Award)
• The Shadow of the Torturer by Gene Wolfe (won a World Fantasy Award)
• The Dragon Waiting by John M. Ford (won a World Fantasy Award)

In 2009, David was a special guest at the 67th World Science Fiction Convention. After he passed away, he was given the World Fantasy Life Achievement Award in 2016.

Personal Life

David Hartwell was known for his fun and colorful clothing choices. In 1969, he married Patricia Lee Wolcott. They had two children together. They later divorced in 1992. In 1997, he married Kathryn Cramer, and they also had two children. At the time of his death, David lived in Westport, New York. He had also lived in Pleasantville, New York.

His Passing

On January 19, 2016, David Hartwell had an accident at his home. He fell down some stairs and was taken to a hospital in Plattsburgh, New York. He had a serious head injury. He passed away the next day, at 74 years old.

His Works

Books He Wrote

• Age of Wonders: Exploring the World of Science Fiction (1985)

Magazines He Edited

• The Little Magazine (1965-1988)
• Cosmos Magazine (1977)
• The New York Review of Science Fiction (1988–2016)

Standalone Anthologies (Story Collections)

• The Battle of the Monsters and Other Stories (1976) with L. W. Currey
• The World Treasury of Science Fiction (1988)
• Masterpieces of Fantasy and Enchantment (1988) with Kathryn Cramer
• Christmas Stars (1993)
• The Ascent of Wonder: The Evolution of Hard SF (1994) with Kathryn Cramer
• The Science Fiction Century (1997)
• The Space Opera Renaissance (2006) with Kathryn Cramer
• The Sword & Sorcery Anthology (2012) with Jacob Weisman

Anthology Series (Ongoing Collections)

See also

In Spanish: David G. Hartwell para niños

• Hard science fiction