Terry Carr
Terry Gene Carr (February 19, 1937 – April 7, 1987) was an American science fiction fan, author, editor, and writing instructor.
Also recorded as Terry Gene Carr · Norman Edwards · Carl Brandon
Terry Carr
- Name
- Terry Carr
- Birth Name
- Terry Gene Carr
- Born
- 19 February 1937
- Birthplace
- Grants Pass, Oregon, U.S.
- Died
- 7 April 1987
- Education
- City College of San Francisco University of California, Berkeley
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Terry Gene Carr (February 19, 1937 – April 7, 1987) was an American science fiction fan, author, editor, and writing instructor.
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wikidata · Q1292432 · wikipedia · Terry Carr
In this article
Biography
Biography
Carr worked between 1937 and 1987 across editor, novelist, writer, science fiction writer and publisher. The registers place that work in science fiction. Every statement below returns to a source shown in the evidence panel; where the record is silent or divided, the article says so instead of resolving it.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Terry Carr • Birth Name — Terry Gene Carr • Born — 19 February 1937 • Birthplace — Grants Pass, Oregon, U.S. • Died — 7 April 1987 • Education — City College of San Francisco University of California, Berkeley
Background and discovery of fandom
Background and discovery of fandom
Carr was born in Grants Pass, Oregon. He attended the City College of San Francisco and the University of California, Berkeley from 1954 to 1959. Carr discovered science fiction fandom in 1949, where he became an enthusiastic publisher of fanzines, which later helped open his way into the commercial publishing world. (He was one of the two fans responsible for the hoax fan 'Carl Brandon' after whom the Carl Brandon Society takes its name.) Despite a long career as a science fiction professional, he continued to participate as a fan until his death. He was nominated five times for Hugos for Best Fanzine (1959–1961, 1967–1968), winning in 1959, was nominated three times for Best Fan Writer (1971–1973), winning in 1973, and was Fan Guest of Honor at ConFederation in 1986.
Professional work
Professional work
Though he published some fiction in the early 1960s, Carr concentrated on editing. He first worked at Ace Books, establishing the Ace Science Fiction Specials series which published, among other novels, Behold the Man and The Warlord of the Air by Michael Moorcock, The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin and Rite of Passage by Alexei Panshin. After conflicts with Ace head Donald A. Wollheim, he worked as a freelancer. He edited an original story anthology series called Universe, and a series of The Best Science Fiction of the Year anthologies that ran from 1972 until his death in 1987. He also edited numerous one-off anthologies over the same time span. He was nominated for the Hugo for Best Editor thirteen times (1973–1975, 1977–1979, 1981–1987), winning twice (1985 and 1987). His win in 1985 was the first time a freelance editor had won. Terry Carr commissioned a first novel from William Gibson for the second series of Ace Science Fiction Specials, shortly after the Denver WorldCon, 1981. The purpose of the series was to give attention to first-time novelists. Gibson's fellow Ace Specials first-timers were Kim Stanley Robinson, Michael Swanwick, Lucius Shepard, Carter Scholz, and Howard Waldrop. William Gibson mentions Carr in the introduction to the 20th Anniversary Edition of the book: "Having been talked into signing a contract (by the late Terry Carr, without whom there would certainly be no Neuromancer)..." Carr taught at the Clarion Workshop at Michigan State University in 1978, where his students included Richard Kadrey and Pat Murphy.
Personal life
Personal life
Carr married a fellow science fiction fan, Miriam Dyches, in 1959. They were divorced in 1961. Later that year, Carr married Carol Newmark. He remained married to her until his death. Under her married name of Carol Carr, his widow has also sold science fiction: "You Think You've Got Troubles" (1969), "Inside" (1970), "Some Are Born Cats" (1973, with Terry Carr), "Wally a Deux" (1973), and "Tooth Fairy" (1984).
Death
Death
On April 7, 1987, Carr died of congestive heart failure. A memorial gathering of the science fiction community was held in Tilden Park in Berkeley, California, on May 30. An original anthology of science fiction, Terry's Universe, was published the following year; all proceeds went to his widow. His papers and his large collection of fanzines (71 linear feet and almost 2000 titles) have become part of the Eaton collection of Science Fiction at the University of California, Riverside.
Novels
Novels
• Warlord of Kor (1963) • Invasion From 2500 (1964, with Ted White using the joint pseudonym Norman Edwards) • Cirque (1977)
World's Best Science Fiction
World's Best Science Fiction
• World's Best Science Fiction: 1965 (1965 with Donald A. Wollheim) • World's Best Science Fiction: 1966 (1966 with Donald A. Wollheim) • World's Best Science Fiction: 1967 (1967 with Donald A. Wollheim) • World's Best Science Fiction: 1968 (1968 with Donald A. Wollheim) • World's Best Science Fiction: 1969 (1969 with Donald A. Wollheim) • World's Best Science Fiction: 1970 (1970 with Donald A. Wollheim) • World's Best Science Fiction: 1971 (1971 with Donald A. Wollheim)
The Best Science Fiction of the Year
The Best Science Fiction of the Year
• The Best Science Fiction of the Year (1972) • The Best Science Fiction of the Year #2 (1973) • The Best Science Fiction of the Year #3 (1974) • The Best Science Fiction of the Year #4 (1975) • The Best Science Fiction of the Year #5 (1976) • The Best Science Fiction of the Year #6 (1977) • The Best Science Fiction of the Year #7 (1978) • The Best Science Fiction of the Year #8 (1979) • The Best Science Fiction of the Year #9 (1980) • The Best Science Fiction of the Year #10 (1981) • The Best Science Fiction of the Year #11 (1982) • The Best Science Fiction of the Year #12 (1983) • The Best Science Fiction of the Year #13 (1984) • Terry Carr's Best Science Fiction of the Year (1985) • Terry Carr's Best Science Fiction of the Year #15 (1986) • Terry Carr's Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year #16 (1987)
Universe
Universe
• Universe 1 (1971) • Universe 2 (1972) • Universe 3 (1973) • Universe 4 (1974) • Universe 5 (1975) • Universe 6 (1976) • Universe 7 (1977) • Universe 8 (1978) • Universe 9 (1979) • Universe 10 (1980) • Universe 11 (1981) • Universe 12 (1982) • Universe 13 (1983) • Universe 14 (1984) • Universe 15 (1985) • Universe 16 (1986) • Universe 17 (1987)
Other anthologies
Other anthologies
• New Worlds of Fantasy (1967) • New Worlds of Fantasy #2 (1970) • New Worlds of Fantasy #3 (1971) • Year's Finest Fantasy (1978) • Year's Finest Fantasy 2 (July 1979) • Fantasy Annual III (May 1981) • Fantasy Annual IV (November 1981) • Fantasy Annual V (November 1982) • Science Fiction for People Who Hate Science Fiction (1966) • The Others (1969) • On Our Way to the Future (1970) • This Side of Infinity (1972) • Into the Unknown (1973) • An Exaltation of Stars (1973) • Fellowship of the Stars (1974) • Worlds Near and Far (1974) • Creatures from Beyond (1975) • Planets of Wonder (1976) • The Ides of Tomorrow (1976) • The Infinite Arena (1977) • To Follow a Star: Nine Science Fiction Stories About Christmas (1977) • Classic Science Fiction: The First Golden Age (1978) • Beyond Reality (1979) • Dream's Edge (1980) • A Treasury of Modern Fantasy (1981) with Martin H. Greenberg • 100 Great Fantasy Short Short Stories (1984) with Isaac Asimov and Martin H. Greenberg
Life and work
Life and work
Terry Carr was born on 19 February 1937 in Grants Pass. Carr held the nationality of United States. Carr was educated at City College of San Francisco and University of California, Berkeley. Married to: Carol Carr. Carr worked as editor, novelist, writer and science fiction writer, and the authority record catalogues a further 1 occupations under the same name, among them publisher. Carr was employed by Michigan State University. The fields Carr worked in include science fiction. Carr worked in American English.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
Explore 1937–1987
The full dated record · 16 entries
1937
Born at Grants Pass.
1959
Receives Hugo Award for Best Fanzine.
1972
Receives Locus Award for Best Reprint Anthology/Collection.
1972
Receives Locus Award for Best Original Anthology.
1973
Receives Hugo Award for Best Fan Writer.
1973
Receives Locus Award for Best Reprint Anthology/Collection.
1974
Receives Locus Award for Best Reprint Anthology/Collection.
1975
Receives Locus Award for Best Original Anthology.
1977
Receives Locus Award for Best Anthology.
1979
Receives Locus Award for Best Anthology.
1980
Receives Locus Award for Best Anthology.
1983
Receives Locus Award for Best Anthology.
1984
Receives Locus Award for Best Anthology.
1985
Receives Hugo Award for Best Professional Editor.
1987
Receives Hugo Award for Best Professional Editor.
1987
Dies at United States.
Works, 1952–1980
Catalogued output
Works, 1952–1980
These are texts written by the subject, distinct both from writings about the subject and from printed editions of other people's work. 20 works carry dates between 1952 and 1980. The 1950s are the densest part of the run, with 8 titles, and that concentration is a fact about what the registers have catalogued rather than a judgement on the work itself. They belong to a run of 25 titles in all, from 1952 to 1980.
The run opens with Vulcan and closes with Dream's Edge
Vulcan
1952
Nonsense
1952
Diaspar
1954
Innuendo
1956
Fanac
1958
Lighthouse
1958
Hobgoblin
1959
Klein Bottle
1959
Dark Star
1962
Invasion from 2500
1963
The Dance of the Changer and the Three, dated 1968. Is
1971
Works without a settled date
Catalogued output
Works without a settled date
5 further works are catalogued under Carr's name without a date the collections agree on, which is why they are set apart from the dated run rather than placed in it.
Warlord of Kor
Books and published writings, 1949–1989
Catalogued output
Books and published writings, 1949–1989
These are catalogued publications carrying the name — editions and printings, distinct from the works they contain and from writing about the subject. The 1970s are the densest part of the run, with 50 titles, and that concentration is a fact about what the registers have catalogued rather than a judgement on the work itself. They belong to a run of 102 titles in all, from 1949 to 2020. A selection is set out below and the complete run may be opened beneath it.
92 editions carry dates between 1949 and 1989
The run opens with The others and closes with Fantasias
The entries follow Open Library
The others
1949
World's best science fiction, 1965
1965
World's best science fiction, second series
1966
Science Fiction for People Who Hate Science Fiction
1966
New Worlds of Fantasy
1967
World's best science fiction
1967
Die Superwaffe
1968
On Our Way to the Future
1970
New Worlds of Fantasy No
The complete catalogue · 60
92 editions carry dates between 1949 and 1989
The run opens with The others and closes with Fantasias
The entries follow Open Library
The others
1949
World's best science fiction, 1965
1965
World's best science fiction, second series
1966
Science Fiction for People Who Hate Science Fiction
1966
New Worlds of Fantasy
1967
World's best science fiction
1967
Die Superwaffe
1968
On Our Way to the Future
1970
New Worlds of Fantasy No
World's best science fiction 1971
1971
Universe 1
1971
World's Best S.F
1971
New worlds of fantasy #3
1971
Again, Dangerous Visions
1972
Universe 2
1972
Science fiction tales
1973
No Mind of Man, three original novellas of science fiction
1973
The Best Science Fiction of the Year #2
1973
No mind of man
1973
Into the Unknown
1973
Fellowship of the stars
1974
Universe 4
1974
Universe 5
1974
An Exaltation of Stars
1974
Best Sci Fict of Year #3
1974
World's Near and Far
1974
The best science fiction of the year 4
1975
Creatures from beyond
1975
Universe 6
1976
The best science fiction of the year 5
1976
Planets of wonder
1976
Bst Sci Fic of Yr#2-1976
1976
BST SCI FIC OF YR#3-1976
1976
Bst Sci Fic Yr#1-1976
1976
The Ides of Tomorrow
1976
The light at the end of the universe
1976
Best Science Fiction of the Year #6
1977
To Follow a Star
1977
THE INFINITE ARENA
1977
Universe 7
1977
The best science fiction of the year 7
1978
Best science fiction of the year 1
1978
Classic science fiction
1978
Universe 8
1978
BST SCI FI OF YEAR #7
1978
The Year's Finest Fantasy, dated 1978. The best science fiction of the year #8
1979
Universe
1979
Best science fiction of the year
1979
The best science fiction of the year
1979
Best Science Fiction Novellas of the Year #1
1979
Universe 9
1979
Year's Finest Fantasy 12
1979
CLASSIC SCIENCE FICTION, THE FIRST GOLDEN AGE
1979
Beyond reality
1979
Universe 10
1980
The best science fiction novellas of the year #2
1980
BEST SCI FIC OF YR #9
1980
A further 34 recorded entries stand behind this article and are held on the record.
Books and published writings, 1991–2020
Catalogued output
Books and published writings, 1991–2020
The 2010s are the densest part of the run, with 5 titles, and that concentration is a fact about what the registers have catalogued rather than a judgement on the work itself.
9 editions carry dates between 1991 and 2020
The run opens with Spill! And closes with Amazing Stories Volume 6
Spill!
1991
Masters of Fantasy
1992
Light at the End of the Universe
2011
God Machine and 4 Other Sci-Fi Masterpieces from the Golden Age
2012
One Hundred
2020
Amazing Stories Volume 6
2020
Books and published writings without a settled date
Catalogued output
Books and published writings without a settled date
1 further edition are catalogued under Carr's name without a date the collections agree on, which is why they are set apart from the dated run rather than placed in it.
Dreams Edge Science Fiction Stories
Collections
Collections
• The Incompleat Terry Carr (1972, 1988) • The Light at the End of the Universe (1976) • Fandom Harvest (1986)
Documents and archives
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Terry Carr”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
institutional register
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q1292432: Terry Carr
General reference · Wikimedia Foundation
Where the work is held
Honours and awards
They run from 1959 to 1987.
14 honours stand against the name
Hugo Award for Best Fanzine
1959
Locus Award for Best Reprint Anthology/Collection
1972
Locus Award for Best Original Anthology
1972
Hugo Award for Best Fan Writer
1973
Locus Award for Best Anthology
1977
Hugo Award for Best Professional Editor
1985
Authority records
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessinstitutional register
Wikidata, structured authority record Q1292432: Terry CarrWikimedia Foundation
General reference
Further particulars
Held on the record
Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
This entry is compiled from 6 catalogued sources across 5 independent registers. The registers consulted are Internet Archive, Wikidata, Wikipedia, The Art Institute of Chicago and Wellcome Collection. Every statement above is held against the register that stated it; where the registers are silent, the entry is silent.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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