Sam Merwin Jr. was an American science fiction writer and editor born on April 6, 1910, in Plainfield, New Jersey. He came from a literary background, as his father, Sam Merwin Sr., was also a writer and editor who worked in popular fiction. The younger Merwin attended Princeton University and went on to build a career that straddled both the editorial and creative sides of the publishing world. Merwin is perhaps best remembered for his work as editor of Thrilling Wonder Stories and Startling Stories in the late 1940s and early 1950s, positions he held for Standard Magazines. During his tenure he helped shape the direction of popular science fiction at a time when the genre was experiencing significant growth and transformation. He worked to raise the literary standards of both magazines and encouraged stories that combined adventure with more thoughtful speculative ideas. As a writer Merwin produced a number of science fiction novels and short stories, exploring themes of space travel, time, and societal change. His fiction tended toward fast-paced adventure narratives with pulp sensibilities, and he contributed work to many of the leading science fiction magazines of the era. Among his novels were works such as Killer to Come and The House of Many Worlds, the latter being a well-regarded exercise in parallel universe storytelling. After his editorial career wound down Merwin continued writing fiction across various genres. He lived for a time in Europe before returning to the United States. He died on September 20, 1996, leaving behind a body of work that reflected the golden age of American pulp science fiction.
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