Lester del Rey; Science Fiction Author

Lester del Rey, 77, editor and author of more than 40 books of science, science fiction and fantasy. Perhaps his best known books were “Nerves” in 1956 about an errant nuclear power plant, and “The 11th Commandment” in 1962 about a militant religious cult. Born in Saratoga County, Minn., Del Rey was educated at George Washington University. He published his first story when he was 22. In addition to books and stories on science and science fiction under his own name, many dealing with outer space and robots, he wrote dozens of magazine pieces of sports fiction, Westerns, and mysteries under pen names. In 1975, Del Rey joined Random House as fantasy editor, and in 1977 with his wife, Judy, formed Del Rey Books. On Monday in New York after a brief illness.