Donald Albert Wandrei (1908–1987) was an American writer, poet, and editor who made significant contributions to the fields of science fiction, fantasy, and weird fiction during the mid-twentieth century. Born in Minnesota, he was the older brother of fellow science fiction writer and artist Howard Wandrei. Over his active writing career, Wandrei became a prominent voice in the pulp magazine era, publishing numerous stories across several of the period's most influential speculative fiction magazines.
Wandrei's fiction frequently appeared in leading publications of his day. He contributed fourteen stories to the legendary magazine Weird Tales and another sixteen to Astounding Stories, while also placing work in mainstream venues such as Esquire. His writing spanned cosmic horror, speculative science fiction, and dark fantasy, helping to shape the landscape of early twentieth-century American speculative literature.
Beyond his own creative writing, Wandrei is highly regarded for his monumental contributions to the preservation and promotion of weird fiction. Alongside fellow author August Derleth, he co-founded Arkham House, a prestigious publishing house dedicated to keeping the works of H. P. Lovecraft and other fantasy and horror writers in print. Through this venture, Wandrei played a crucial role in establishing the legacy of modern horror and speculative fiction.
