Esquire fiction editor Hills dead at 83

BELFAST, Maine, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- L. Rust Hills, who published works by top U.S. authors during his time as Esquire fiction editor, has died in Belfast, Maine, at the age of 83, his wife says.

Author Joy Williams said her husband died of cardiac arrest while visiting the Maine city ending a career that saw Hills work with such literary greats as Norman Mailer and Raymond Carver, the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday.

Writer Gay Talese said Hills attempted to bring "lofty notions" regarding literature to the publication during the three decades he served as fiction editor.

"He wasn't interested in commercial fiction," Talese said. "He was interested in the standards of serious literature, and he tried to, in a commercial magazine, impose upon its pages some of the lofty notions he had about the written word."

Hills, who died of cardiac arrest Tuesday, also took time to write three personal essays during his literary career including "How to do things right: The revelations of a fussy man," and "How to retire at forty-one: Or, dropping out of the rat race without going down the drain."

The Times said in addition to his wife, Hills is survived by a daughter and grandson.