David Geddes Hartwell was an American critic, publisher, and editor who became one of the most influential figures in science fiction publishing. He worked with major publishers including Signet, Pocket, and Tor Books, where he edited thousands of science fiction and fantasy novels throughout his career. Hartwell was particularly noted for his work as an editor of anthologies, earning recognition and awards for these contributions. The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction described him as perhaps the single most influential book editor of the past forty years in American science fiction publishing, reflecting the significant impact he had on the field. Hartwell was born in Salem, Massachusetts in 1941 and spent much of his career shaping which science fiction and fantasy works reached readers. He died in Plattsburgh, New York in 2016.