How the Mama of ‘Star Wars’ revolutionized science fiction and fantasy books

Judy-Lynn del Rey was a pioneering editor and publisher who founded Del Rey Books, a science-fiction and fantasy imprint that played a significant role in popularizing fantasy as a major publishing category. Del Rey was a woman with dwarfism who rose through the ranks of the publishing industry, earning a reputation as a brilliant editor among her authors. She worked with notable authors such as Arthur C. Clarke, Philip K. Dick, and Terry Brooks, and was instrumental in acquiring the rights to Star Wars, which became a huge success for Ballantine Books. Del Rey's mission was to develop a strong backlist of science-fiction novels that could appeal to new generations of readers, and she achieved this through her work on the "Star Trek Log" series and other titles. She was also a key figure in the development of the fantasy genre, which was previously considered unsellable. Del Rey Books dominated genre publishing, producing more best-selling titles than any other science-fiction and fantasy publisher combined. Despite her success, del Rey's reputation was often criticized for prioritizing commercial success over literary merit. However, her authors earned numerous literary accolades, including Locus Poll Awards, World Fantasy Awards, and Science Fiction Book Club Awards. Del Rey's legacy continues to be celebrated, and her contributions to the publishing industry are being recognized through documentaries and other tributes. A recent PBS documentary, "Judy-Lynn del Rey: The Galaxy Gal," highlights her life and career, and serves as a testament to her enduring impact on the science-fiction and fantasy genres.