Link to the Show / Show Notes
After
working his way up through the publishing trade during the 1950s and
1960s, Tom Doherty became publisher of Tempo Books in 1972 and later
Ace Books. In 1980 he established his own publishing firm Tom Doherty
Associates Inc., with the help of several investors including silent
partner Richard Gallen (of Dell Emerald Books fame), and with it the
Tor Books imprint.
Early Tor titles included Nortonâs Forerunner; Fred Saberhagenâs Water of Thought; Poul Andersonâs Winners, Starship, Explorations and Guardians of Time; Keith Laumerâs The Breaking Earth, Beyond the Imperium, and The House in November; Harry Harrisonâs Planet of No Return and Planet of the Damned; Roger Zelazny and Fred Saberhagenâs Coils; and Steve Barnes and Larry Nivenâs Belial
Honours during the early/mid eighties included The Prometheus Award for The Probability Broach by L. Neil Smith (1982) and the Nebula Award for Best Novel for Orson Scott Cardâs Enderâs Game (1985).
In
1986 Doherty sold his company to St. Martinâs Press and TDA/Tor Books
became a division of the larger company. Over time the portion of
non-SF "mainstream" titles at Tor grew, to a point where, by 1993,
they made up more than half the list. As a result a new imprint, Forge
Books, was established in order to better market these titles.
Tom
does a much better job of charting the history of his career and these
companies than I have here with these written words. Hear and learn how
and why he has enjoyed such success in publishing; you can just tell
how much fun heâs had in the business. Itâs a joy to listen to him.
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