Tom Doherty
Tom Doherty | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Doherty in 2017 | |
| Born | Thomas Doherty April 23, 1935 |
| Education | Trinity College (Connecticut) |
| Occupation(s) | Chairman, former President & Publisher |
| Years active | 1958–present[1] |
| Employer(s) | Tom Doherty Associates, Macmillan Publishers, Holtzbrinck Publishers |
| Known for | Tor Books, The Wheel of Time |
Tom Doherty (born Thomas Patrick Doherty, April 23, 1935) is an American publisher and the founder of the science fiction and fantasy book publisher Tor Books.[2][3] He started as a salesman for Pocket Books and rose to be Division Sales Manager. From there, he went to Simon & Schuster as National Sales Manager, then became publisher of paperbacks at Grosset & Dunlap, including Tempo Books, in 1969.[4] In 1975, he became publisher for Ace Books. In 1979, he left Ace to establish his own company, Tom Doherty Associates (TDA), publishing under the Tor Books imprint starting in 1980, which has grown to become the largest publisher of science fiction and fantasy in the United States.[5]
TDA became a subsidiary of St. Martin's Press in 1987; both are now separate divisions of Macmillan Publishers, ultimately owned by Holtzbrinck Publishers. Doherty continues as Chairman of Tom Doherty Associates, publishing under the Tor, Forge, Tordotcom, Starscape, Tor Teen, and Nightfire imprints.[6][7]
Biography
[edit]Early Life and Education
[edit]Born Thomas Patrick Doherty in Hartford, Connecticut, his father worked as an engineer for Pratt & Whitney during World War II and was part of the team that designed the United States' first jet engines.[4][8] From an early age, he developed an interest in reading, especially science fiction. His mother and grandfather bought him a subscription to Astounding Science Fiction as soon as he could read independently, and he later branched out to reading similar magazines like Galaxy Science Fiction.[8]
Doherty attended Marianapolis Academy (now Marianapolis Preparatory School) before enrolling at Trinity College. His major was initially chemical engineering, but he graduated with a degree in philosopy after an abrupt change when he realised he did not want to pursue chemistry as a career.[4][2] During college, he played guard in football, got tuition money as a "sub-rosa professional boxer", and was a member of the school’s Reserve Officer Training Corps.[9][2][8]
Early Career
[edit]After graduation, Doherty had initially planned to join the U.S. Air Force, but due to cutbacks in recruiting and being told he needed to lose weight to be a pilot, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and posted at Fort Polk (now Fort Johnson) in Indiana. He spent two years there as an FDC artilleryman and doing a lot of reading in his spare time. His enjoyment of literature prompted him to search for a job in publishing when he got out of the army.[8]
Doherty was first connected to Mory Solomon, vice-president of sales for Pocket Books through his father, who was now vice-president of a floor covering company doing work in Solomon's building. While Pocket did not employ him directly, he was given a job on recommendation as a sales rep working in the Boston north area for one of their national distributors, Select Magazines.[10][4] This proved to be short-lived, however, as they were forced to let him go after only seven months due to the loss of a major contract.[4] After being offered a local sales job for Pocket in Philidelphia, he moved to the city.
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Awards
[edit]In 1993 Doherty was the recipient of the Skylark Award (also known as the Edward E. Smith Memorial Award[11]) awarded by the New England Science Fiction Association for outstanding contribution to the field of science fiction. Doherty received a "Lifetime Achievement Award"[12] at the 2005 World Fantasy Convention, and in 2006, the Raymond Z. Gallun Award for outstanding contribution to the genre of science fiction.[13] In 2007, Doherty received the Lariat Award[14] from the Western Writers of America for contribution to literacy; and was honored with a proclamation from Charles B. Rangel, Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress, for outstanding leadership to enhance and provide literacy programs throughout the nation.[15] In 2009 Doherty received the Solstice Award[16] from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America for his significant impact on the science fiction and fantasy landscape; and in 2017 the Thriller Legend Award from the International Thriller Writers, an award honoring an icon in the industry;[17][18] and in 2024 the Robert A. Heinlein Award.[19]
References
[edit]- ^ "World Without End". Retrieved April 3, 2021.
- ^ a b c Boskone 23 Program Book. Boston, MA: New England Science Fiction Association. February 14–16, 1986. p. 36. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
- ^ Clute, John; Nicholls, Peter, eds. (1993). The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. New York: St. Martin's Press, Inc. p. 1235. ISBN 0-312-09618-6.
- ^ a b c d e "Tom Doherty: Story First". 2016. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
- ^ "Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Publishers". 2021. Archived from the original on January 22, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
- ^ "Fritz Foy to Take Over Tor/Forge". 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
- ^ "About Tom Doherty Associates". 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Liptak, Andrew (February 26, 2016). "Building a Brand: Tom Doherty's Tor Books". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
- ^ Doherty, Tom (October 2003). "Tom Doherty interview excerpts". Locus Magazine. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
- ^ Doherty, Tom (November 17, 2014). "In Conversation With Tom Doherty". The Arched Doorway. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
- ^ "THE E. E. SMITH MEMORIAL AWARD". 1993. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
- ^ World Fantasy Convention (2010). "Award Winners and Nominees". Retrieved February 4, 2011.
- ^ Fancylopedia 3 (2006). "Raymond Z. Gallun Award". Retrieved April 4, 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Western Writers of America (2007). "Lariat Award". Retrieved April 4, 2021.
- ^ SFScope (2007). "Rangel Proclamation Honoring Doherty Doherty". Archived from the original on June 7, 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
- ^ SFWA (2019). "Search the Nebula Awards". Retrieved April 4, 2021.
- ^ International Thriller Writers (2021). "Past Nominees and Winners". Retrieved April 4, 2021.
- ^ Publishers Weekly (2017). "Hawley, Petrie Among Winners at 12th Annual Thrillerfest". Retrieved April 4, 2021.
- ^ "Robert A. Heinlein Award".
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