Donald Wollheim

Donald Wollheim was a fanzine publisher, science fiction editor, writer and fan from New York, U.S.A..

He began publishing zines with Fanciful Tales, and contributed to many others, as well as writing many letters. He organized the first Science Fiction convention in Philadelphia on October 22, 1936 where plans were formed for other meetings around the country including the first Worldcon.

Wollheim may be best known for founding the FAPA in 1937, which has enabled hundreds of science fiction fans to publish zines.

In 1938 he founded The Futurians, a science fiction club that had a decided impact on SF fandom. At the inception their purpose was to combine SF with a political direction, notably left wing. Later on the focus on politics faded, and interest was concentrated on SF.

Wollheim published many articles in the pulp magazines of the day, as well as a number of novels. He was also editor of several antholgies, and workied for different publishing houses releasing paperback editions of important authors such as A. Merrit and H.P. Lovecraft for Avon, and Philip K. Dick, Samuel Delany, Ursula Le Guin and many others for Ace, and Kenneth Bulmer, John Brunner, Andre Norton and A. E. von Vogt for DAW, his own publishing house.