Betty Ballantine (born Elizabeth Jones; September 25, 1919 – February 12, 2019) was an American publisher, editor, and writer.[1] She was born during the Raj to a British colonial family. After her marriage to Ian Ballantine in 1939, she moved to New York where they created Bantam Books in 1945 and established Ballantine Books in 1952.[2][3] They became freelance publishers in the 1970s. Their son, Richard, was an author and journalist specializing in cycling topics.

Betty Ballantine
Born
Elizabeth Jones

(1919-09-25)September 25, 1919
DiedFebruary 12, 2019(2019-02-12) (aged 99)
Occupation(s)Publisher, editor, writer
Known forBantam Books
SpouseIan Ballantine
ChildrenRichard Ballantine

Company

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Ian and Betty Ballantine won one special World Fantasy Award for professional work in 1975 and another one shared with Joy Chant and other creators of The High Kings (Bantam, 1983), a reference book on the Matter of Britain that incorporates retellings. (It was also a runner-up in nonfiction Hugo and Locus Award categories.)[4][5] Betty Ballantine received a Special Committee Award from the annual World Science Fiction Convention in 2006 and a World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement from the World Fantasy Convention in 2007.[4][6] The Ballantines were both inducted by the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2008, with a shared citation.[7]

Publications

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Ballantine wrote the novel The Secret Oceans published by Bantam in 1994 (ISBN 0553096605) with illustrations by twelve artists.[8]

References

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  1. ^ Italie, Hillel. "Paperback pioneer Betty Ballantine dead at 99". Seattle Times. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  2. ^ Clute, John; Peter Nichols (1993). The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. 83–84. ISBN 0-312-09618-6.
  3. ^ ""Paperback Publishers"". Archived from the original on April 17, 2012. Retrieved June 2, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). Hyde Park Books; retrieved 2013-04-08.
  4. ^ a b "Ballantine, Betty". The Locus Index to SF Awards: Index of Literary Nominees. Locus Publications. Archived from the original on September 1, 2010. Retrieved July 5, 2010.
  5. ^ The High Kings title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database (ISFDB); retrieved April 8, 2013.
  6. ^ World Fantasy Convention (2010). "Award Winners and Nominees". Archived from the original on December 1, 2010. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  7. ^ ""2008 Science Fiction Hall of Fame Ceremony Tickets On Sale May 15"". Archived from the original on May 10, 2008. Retrieved May 10, 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). Press release April/May 2008. Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame; retrieved March 19, 2013.
  8. ^ "Betty Ballantine – Summary Bibliography", ISFDB; retrieved March 21, 2013.

Further reading

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