Ellen Asher is an American

science fiction Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...

editor who served as

editor-in-chief An editor-in-chief (EIC), also known as lead editor or chief editor, is a publication's editorial leader who has final responsibility for its operations and policies. The editor-in-chief heads all departments of the organization and is held accoun ...

of the Science Fiction Book Club (SFBC) for thirty-four years, from February 8, 1973, through June 1, 2007. She grew up in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

and began editing

at New American Library from 1970 to 1972. As editor-in-chief of the SFBC, she oversaw the publication of anthologies like ''The Dragon Quintet'', ''Vampire Sextet'', ''Fair Folk'', and ''Masterpieces of Terror and the Supernatural''. In 1984, Asher sat as a judge for the World Fantasy Awards. In 2001, Asher received the New England Science Fiction Association Edward E. Smith Memorial Award. In early 2007, the multinational media corporation,

Bertelsmann The Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA, commonly known as Bertelsmann (), is a German privately held company, private multinational corporation, multinational conglomerate (company), conglomerate corporation based in Gütersloh, North Rhine-Westphalia, ...

, bought a controlling portion of Bookspan, of which the SFBC is an affiliate. In the subsequent restructuring, Asher was given an early retirement. Asher received the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement in 2009 and was a guest of honor at Renovation, the 69th World Science Fiction Convention. She occasionally performs some freelance work.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Asher, Ellen American book editors American book publishers (people) American speculative fiction publishers (people) Living people American science fiction editors Women print editors Women book publishers (people) Year of birth missing (living people)