James L. Quinn
Encyclopedia
James L. Quinn was an American
science fiction
editor and publisher.
Quinn was the founding publisher of the science fiction magazine If and, after Paul W. Fairman
left shortly after its launch in 1952, became its editor as well as publisher until 1958. During his tenure, the magazine's circulation never sold as well as he'd hoped, even with the assistance of Larry Shaw
and a short tenure by Damon Knight
as editor of the magazine. After several issues edited by Knight failed to reverse the circulation slide (many sf magazines saw a drop in circulation after the 1957 launch of Sputnik, probably for a variety of reasons), Quinn sold the title to Robert Guinn, publisher of Galaxy
, where it continued with H.L. Gold as the editor, with assistance from eventual editor Frederik Pohl
.
Quinn continued primarily as a publisher of word-puzzle magazines into the 1970s; several of his titles continue to be published by Kappa Publishers Group (as of 2011). (If was merged with Galaxy in 1974, though there have been attempts to revive the title since then.)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
editor and publisher.
Quinn was the founding publisher of the science fiction magazine If and, after Paul W. Fairman
Paul W. Fairman
Paul Warren Fairman was an editor and writer in a variety of genres under his own name and under pseudonyms. His detective story "Late Rain" was published in the February, 1947 issue of Mammoth Detective. He published his story "No Teeth For the Tiger" in the February, 1950 issue of Amazing Stories...
left shortly after its launch in 1952, became its editor as well as publisher until 1958. During his tenure, the magazine's circulation never sold as well as he'd hoped, even with the assistance of Larry Shaw
Larry Shaw
Larry Shaw may refer to:*Larry Shaw , North Carolina State Senator*Larry Shaw , American film and television director*Larry Shaw , science fiction writer*Larry Shaw , founder of Pi Day...
and a short tenure by Damon Knight
Damon Knight
Damon Francis Knight was an American science fiction author, editor, critic and fan. His forte was short stories and he is widely acknowledged as having been a master of the genre.-Biography:...
as editor of the magazine. After several issues edited by Knight failed to reverse the circulation slide (many sf magazines saw a drop in circulation after the 1957 launch of Sputnik, probably for a variety of reasons), Quinn sold the title to Robert Guinn, publisher of Galaxy
Galaxy Science Fiction
Galaxy Science Fiction was an American digest-size science fiction magazine, published from 1950 to 1980. It was founded by an Italian company, World Editions, which was looking to break in to the American market. World Editions hired as editor H. L...
, where it continued with H.L. Gold as the editor, with assistance from eventual editor Frederik Pohl
Frederik Pohl
Frederik George Pohl, Jr. is an American science fiction writer, editor and fan, with a career spanning over seventy years — from his first published work, "Elegy to a Dead Planet: Luna" , to his most recent novel, All the Lives He Led .He won the National Book Award in 1980 for his novel Jem...
.
Quinn continued primarily as a publisher of word-puzzle magazines into the 1970s; several of his titles continue to be published by Kappa Publishers Group (as of 2011). (If was merged with Galaxy in 1974, though there have been attempts to revive the title since then.)