Lester del Rey was the principal pen name of Leonard Knapp (1915-1993), an American science fiction writer, editor, critic, and one of the important figures in twentieth-century speculative publishing. He began publishing during the pulp and Golden Age period of science fiction and wrote across many forms, including short stories, novellas, juvenile science fiction, novels, reviews, and editorial work. His fiction often combines clear plotting with practical speculation, human pressure, scientific puzzles, and a strong sense of story momentum.Del Rey was also influential as an editor and publishing figure, especially through his work with the science fiction and fantasy imprint Del Rey Books, which he helped shape with Judy-Lynn del Rey. His writing includes such works as The Sky Is Falling, Police Your Planet, Badge of Infamy, Nerves, and many shorter pieces from the magazine era. Pursuit, first published in 1952, reflects his ability to combine speculative ideas with psychological suspense, making it a useful entry point for readers interested in Golden Age science fiction, time travel stories, vintage SF magazines, and classic speculative thrillers.
