Conference noted::sf

308.0. "Judy-Lynn Benjamin del Rey" by AKOV68::BOYAJIAN (I'm weird, but I'm proud of it!) Wed Mar 05 1986 05:42

    I heard from a friend today that Judy-Lynn Benjamin del Rey died
    the other week. He saw the obit in the NEW YORK TIMES. Judy-Lynn
    had been in a coma for some time, so it comes as no surprise, and
    it's probably for the better.
    
    As Judy-Lynn Benjamin, she was a guiding force behind the GALAXY/IF
    magazines in the late 60's/early 70's. She later took over control
    of the science fiction line of Ballantine Books when Ian & Betty
    Ballantine retired.
    
    A few years later, the science fiction line became a separate imprint,
    Del Rey Books. Judy-Lynn and husband Lester del Rey were responsible
    for turning Del Rey Books into one of the, if not *the*, most success-
    ful publishing imprints in the business. She had a real taste for
    what sells, managing to have numerous hardcover and paperback best-
    sellers in the last few years (mostly books by Piers Anthony, Isaac
    Asimov, Robert Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke, Anne McCaffrey, and MISTS
    OF AVALON by Marion Zimmer Bradley).
    
    She also knew how to package the books, with extremely attractive
    cover paintings and cover layouts. I know that the Del Rey books
    always leaped out from the bookshelves in the stores.
    
    Her coma and subsequent death are a real blow to the sf publishing
    industry.
    
    --- jerry

    Judy-Lynn did make a significant impact in the publishing business,
    and will be missed.
    
    Strangely, _Analog_, which has a five-month lead time on publishing,
    replaced the "in times to come" section with a "Judy-Lynn will be
    missed" comment (anent her coma); my issue reached me in the mail
    _days_ before her passing.
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.