Ian Ballantine
Encyclopedia
Ian Keith Ballantine was a pioneering American
publisher who founded and published the innovative paperback line of Ballantine Books
from 1952 to 1974 with his wife, Betty Ballantine
.
Born in New York City
, the son of Stella Commins Ballantine (niece of anarchist Emma Goldman
), Ian Ballantine received his undergraduate degree from Columbia College
and his graduate degree from the London School of Economics
. He had done his thesis on the possibilities of paperback printing.
In 1939, the year of his marriage, he initiated the distribution of Penguin Books
in the United States. As a team, the Ballantines were involved in the formation of Bantam Books
in 1945, and he was the first president of Bantam from 1945 to 1952.
Ballantine Books was one of the earliest publishers of original science fiction
paperbacks by such authors as Arthur C. Clarke
and Frederik Pohl
. During the 1960s, they published the first authorized paperback edition of J. R. R. Tolkien
's books. Lin Carter
edited their Ballantine Adult Fantasy series
of classics by H.P. Lovecraft and others in the 1970s.
From 1968 through 1975 Ballantine Books published a series of 156 paperbook books under the series title "Ballantine's Illustrated History of World War II", later retitled "Ballantine's Illustrated History of the Violent Century". These were printed in both the United States and United Kingdom.
In the 1980s, Bantam books published an 18 book series on the Vietnam war in the same trade paperback format as the earlier Ballantine series, featurng color photographs.
After Ballantine Books was acquired by Random House
in 1973, the Ballantines became freelance consulting editors and publishers during the 1970s. Ian and Betty Ballantine won two World Fantasy Award
s (1975 and 1984). Their son Richard Ballantine
is an author and journalist specializing in cycling topics.
Ballantine Books has a backlist of more than 3,000 titles, and its imprints include Ballantine Books, Ballantine Reader's Circle, Del Rey
, Del Rey/LucasBooks, Fawcett
, Ivy, One World and Wellspring.
Ian Ballantine was 79 when he died of a heart attack in 1995, and the speakers at his May 12, 1995, memorial service included Bantam Books publisher Irwyn Applebaum, Ballantine Books vice president George Davidson and Peter Mayer
, chief executive of the Penguin Group.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
publisher who founded and published the innovative paperback line of Ballantine Books
Ballantine Books
Ballantine Books is a major book publisher located in the United States, founded in 1952 by Ian Ballantine with his wife, Betty Ballantine. It was acquired by Random House in 1973, which in turn was acquired by Bertelsmann AG in 1998 and remains part of that company today. Ballantine's logo is a...
from 1952 to 1974 with his wife, Betty Ballantine
Betty Ballantine
Betty Ballantine is a publisher who, with her husband Ian Ballantine, formed Bantam Books in 1945 and Ballantine Books in 1952. They became freelance publishers in the 1970s. Their son Richard is an author and journalist specialising in cycling topics.Ballantine received a Special Committee Award...
.
Born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, the son of Stella Commins Ballantine (niece of anarchist Emma Goldman
Emma Goldman
Emma Goldman was an anarchist known for her political activism, writing and speeches. She played a pivotal role in the development of anarchist political philosophy in North America and Europe in the first half of the twentieth century....
), Ian Ballantine received his undergraduate degree from Columbia College
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
and his graduate degree from the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
. He had done his thesis on the possibilities of paperback printing.
In 1939, the year of his marriage, he initiated the distribution of Penguin Books
Penguin Books
Penguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
in the United States. As a team, the Ballantines were involved in the formation of Bantam Books
Bantam Books
Bantam Books is an American publishing house owned entirely by Random House, the German media corporation subsidiary of Bertelsmann; it is an imprint of the Random House Publishing Group. It was formed in 1945 by Walter B. Pitkin, Jr., Sidney B. Kramer, and Ian and Betty Ballantine...
in 1945, and he was the first president of Bantam from 1945 to 1952.
Ballantine Books was one of the earliest publishers of original science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
paperbacks by such authors as Arthur C. Clarke
Arthur C. Clarke
Sir Arthur Charles Clarke, CBE, FRAS was a British science fiction author, inventor, and futurist, famous for his short stories and novels, among them 2001: A Space Odyssey, and as a host and commentator in the British television series Mysterious World. For many years, Robert A. Heinlein,...
and Frederik Pohl
Frederik Pohl
Frederik George Pohl, Jr. is an American science fiction writer, editor and fan, with a career spanning over seventy years — from his first published work, "Elegy to a Dead Planet: Luna" , to his most recent novel, All the Lives He Led .He won the National Book Award in 1980 for his novel Jem...
. During the 1960s, they published the first authorized paperback edition of J. R. R. Tolkien
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
's books. Lin Carter
Lin Carter
Linwood Vrooman Carter was an American author of science fiction and fantasy, as well as an editor and critic. He usually wrote as Lin Carter; known pseudonyms include H. P. Lowcraft and Grail Undwin.-Life:Carter was born in St. Petersburg, Florida...
edited their Ballantine Adult Fantasy series
Ballantine Adult Fantasy series
The Ballantine Adult Fantasy series was an imprint of Ballantine Books. Launched in 1969 , the series reissued a number of works of fantasy literature, which were out of print or dispersed in back issues of pulp magazines , in cheap paperback form—including works...
of classics by H.P. Lovecraft and others in the 1970s.
From 1968 through 1975 Ballantine Books published a series of 156 paperbook books under the series title "Ballantine's Illustrated History of World War II", later retitled "Ballantine's Illustrated History of the Violent Century". These were printed in both the United States and United Kingdom.
In the 1980s, Bantam books published an 18 book series on the Vietnam war in the same trade paperback format as the earlier Ballantine series, featurng color photographs.
After Ballantine Books was acquired by Random House
Random House
Random House, Inc. is the largest general-interest trade book publisher in the world. It has been owned since 1998 by the German private media corporation Bertelsmann and has become the umbrella brand for Bertelsmann book publishing. Random House also has a movie production arm, Random House Films,...
in 1973, the Ballantines became freelance consulting editors and publishers during the 1970s. Ian and Betty Ballantine won two World Fantasy Award
World Fantasy Award
The World Fantasy Awards are annual, international awards given to authors and artists who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in the field of fantasy...
s (1975 and 1984). Their son Richard Ballantine
Richard Ballantine
Richard Ballantine is a cycling writer, journalist and cycling advocate. Born in America the son of Ian and Betty Ballantine of Ballantine Books fame, he now principally resides in London, England. He is most famous for his 1972 book titled Richard's Bicycle Book and its subsequent editions...
is an author and journalist specializing in cycling topics.
Ballantine Books has a backlist of more than 3,000 titles, and its imprints include Ballantine Books, Ballantine Reader's Circle, Del Rey
Del Rey Books
Del Rey Books is a branch of Ballantine Books, which is owned by Random House and, in turn since 1998, by Bertelsmann AG. It is a separate imprint established in 1977 under the editorship of author Lester del Rey and his wife Judy-Lynn del Rey. It specializes in science fiction and fantasy...
, Del Rey/LucasBooks, Fawcett
Fawcett Publications
Fawcett Publications was an American publishing company founded in 1919 in Robbinsdale, Minnesota by Wilford Hamilton "Captain Billy" Fawcett . At the age of 16, Fawcett ran away from home to join the Army, and the Spanish-American War took him to the Philippines. Back in Minnesota, he became a...
, Ivy, One World and Wellspring.
Ian Ballantine was 79 when he died of a heart attack in 1995, and the speakers at his May 12, 1995, memorial service included Bantam Books publisher Irwyn Applebaum, Ballantine Books vice president George Davidson and Peter Mayer
Peter Mayer
Peter M. Mayer is an American independent publisher who is president of The Overlook Press/Peter Mayer Publishers, Inc., a Woodstock, New York - based publishing company he founded with his father in 1971. At the time of Overlook’s founding, Mayer was head of Avon Books, a large New York - based...
, chief executive of the Penguin Group.