Terry Carr

Terry Carr (1937–1987) was an American science-fiction writer and editor whose career linked the genre’s lively fan culture with its expanding professional publishing world. Raised in Oregon, he became active in science-fiction fandom before making his way into publishing. As an editor at Ace Books and later as a freelancer, he helped bring new voices and ambitious work to readers. He is especially remembered for The Best Science Fiction of the Year, an annual anthology series he began in 1972, and for Universe, a series of original-fiction anthologies. These projects gave readers a guide to the field’s changing concerns and offered writers a place to publish work beyond the conventional boundaries of the genre.

Carr also wrote fiction of his own, including Cirque, The Light at the End of the Universe, and Wakers, as well as the story “The Dance of the Changer and the Three.” His writing often turns to questions of perception, identity, and the limits of human understanding—concerns shared by much of the science fiction he championed as an editor. His prose is direct and idea-driven, inviting readers to consider how unfamiliar possibilities might alter ordinary assumptions. Carr’s influence is felt both in his own imaginative work and in the stories he helped bring to light. If you’re curious about science fiction’s many directions, his books and anthologies in this collection offer an engaging place to explore.