Small Beer Press
Encyclopedia
Small Beer Press is a publisher of fantasy and literary fiction
, based in Northampton, Massachusetts
. It was founded by Gavin Grant
and Kelly Link
in 2000 and publishes novels, collections, and anthologies. It also publishes the zine
Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet
, chapbooks, the Peapod Classics line of classic reprints, and limited edition printings of certain titles. The Press has often been acknowledged for spearheading a genre described as "new wave fabulism" and praised for its children and young-adult publications, though it is also recognized as a leading small-publisher of literary science-fiction and fantasy.
According to the Press' website: "Small Beer Press books have: won the Philip K. Dick Award; sold reprint rights to the UK, Finland, Japan, Turkey, Hungary, Latin America, Romania, Russia, and Italy; been nominated for the Impac Prize and finalists for the Story Prize
, Nebula, and World Fantasy Awards; been chosen as best of the year by Booklist, Time Magazine, Salon, Village Voice, the San Francisco Chronicle, and Locus among others; been reprinted by Penguin and iBooks; been Book Sense picks; been excerpted on Salon.com; and have received starred reviews in Booklist, Publishers Weekly, and Library Journal". Authors published to date include Kate Wilhelm
, John Crowley
, Sean Stewart
, Maureen McHugh, Benjamin Rosenbaum
, Kelly Link
, Carol Emshwiller
, Ray Vukcevich
, Joan Aiken
, Howard Waldrop
, Ellen Kushner
, John Kessel
, and Alan DeNiro.
Small Beer Press is also known for its political liberalism, releasing many of its publications in both print and Creative Commons-licensed electronic format and during the 2008 Presidential race donating 20% of their October sales to Barack Obama's campaign. In a 2008 interview with the Los Angeles Times
, Gavin Grant said, "I am an immigrant and small-business owner who is very interested in immigration, health insurance issues, tax plans and so on, and I support Obama".
's Armitage Family short stories, originally published separately between 1953 and 1984.
Peapod Classics - Created in 2004 to reprint classic works of fiction. To date the imprint has published three volumes, debuting with the influential first novel of Carol Emshwiller
, Carmen Dog, a feminist work first published by Mercury House
in 1990 and out of print since then.
that primarily publishes fiction, drawing on a diverse pool of prominent and lesser known authors writing within a variety of genres, though it also publishes smaller selections of poetry, essays and non-fiction, comics and art, and features cover-art from a number of different artists. Each issue is typically between 50 and 70 pages long. The zine published its twenty-third issue in November 2008.
In 2007, Del Rey Books
published a 416 page anthology of fiction published in Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet, edited by Grant and Link, titled The Best of Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet.
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
, based in Northampton, Massachusetts
Northampton, Massachusetts
The city of Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of Northampton's central neighborhoods, was 28,549...
. It was founded by Gavin Grant
Gavin Grant
Gavin J. Grant is a science fiction editor and writer. He runs Small Beer Press along with his wife Kelly Link. In addition, he has been the editor of Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet since 1996 and, from 2003 to 2008, was co-editor of the Year's Best Fantasy and Horror anthology series along with...
and Kelly Link
Kelly Link
Kelly Link is an American editor and author of short stories. While some of her fiction falls more clearly within genre categories, many of her stories might be described as slipstream or magic realism: a combination of science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, and realism...
in 2000 and publishes novels, collections, and anthologies. It also publishes the zine
Zine
A zine is most commonly a small circulation publication of original or appropriated texts and images. More broadly, the term encompasses any self-published work of minority interest usually reproduced via photocopier....
Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet
Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet
Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet is a twice-yearly small press zine published by Small Beer Press, edited by Gavin Grant and Kelly Link. It contains an eclectic mix of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction, with an emphasis on speculative fiction, fantasy or slipstream. Link, Karen Joy Fowler, and...
, chapbooks, the Peapod Classics line of classic reprints, and limited edition printings of certain titles. The Press has often been acknowledged for spearheading a genre described as "new wave fabulism" and praised for its children and young-adult publications, though it is also recognized as a leading small-publisher of literary science-fiction and fantasy.
According to the Press' website: "Small Beer Press books have: won the Philip K. Dick Award; sold reprint rights to the UK, Finland, Japan, Turkey, Hungary, Latin America, Romania, Russia, and Italy; been nominated for the Impac Prize and finalists for the Story Prize
Story Prize
The Story Prize is an annual book award established in 2004 that honors the author of an outstanding collection of short fiction with a $20,000 cash award. Each of two runners-up receives $5,000. Eligible books must be written in English and first published in the United States during a calendar...
, Nebula, and World Fantasy Awards; been chosen as best of the year by Booklist, Time Magazine, Salon, Village Voice, the San Francisco Chronicle, and Locus among others; been reprinted by Penguin and iBooks; been Book Sense picks; been excerpted on Salon.com; and have received starred reviews in Booklist, Publishers Weekly, and Library Journal". Authors published to date include Kate Wilhelm
Kate Wilhelm
Kate Wilhelm is an American writer whose works include science fiction, mystery, and fantasy.- Career :Wilhelm was born in Toledo, Ohio....
, John Crowley
John Crowley
John Crowley is an American author of fantasy, science fiction and mainstream fiction. He studied at Indiana University and has a second career as a documentary film writer...
, Sean Stewart
Sean Stewart
Sean Stewart is a U.S.-Canadian science fiction and fantasy author.Born in Lubbock, Texas, Sean Stewart moved to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in 1968...
, Maureen McHugh, Benjamin Rosenbaum
Benjamin Rosenbaum
Benjamin Rosenbaum is an American science fiction, fantasy, and literary fiction writer and computer programmer, whose stories have been finalists for the Hugo Award, the Nebula Award, the Theodore Sturgeon Award, the BSFA award, and the World Fantasy Award...
, Kelly Link
Kelly Link
Kelly Link is an American editor and author of short stories. While some of her fiction falls more clearly within genre categories, many of her stories might be described as slipstream or magic realism: a combination of science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, and realism...
, Carol Emshwiller
Carol Emshwiller
Carol Emshwiller is an American writer of avant garde short stories and science fiction who has won prizes ranging from the Nebula Award to the Philip K. Dick Award. Ursula K...
, Ray Vukcevich
Ray Vukcevich
Ray Vukcevich is a writer of fantasy and literary fiction. His loopy, sometimes surreal stories have been compared to the works of R. A. Lafferty, George Saunders, and David Sedaris. Some seventy-five stories, with titles such as "White Guys in Space," have appeared in science fiction and...
, Joan Aiken
Joan Aiken
Joan Delano Aiken MBE was an English novelist. She was born in Rye, East Sussex, into a family of writers, including her father, American poet Conrad Aiken , her sister, Jane Aiken Hodge and her brother John Aiken Joan Delano Aiken MBE (4 September 1924 – 4 January 2004) was an English novelist....
, Howard Waldrop
Howard Waldrop
Howard Waldrop is a science fiction author who works primarily in short fiction.Waldrop's stories combine elements such as alternate history, American popular culture, the American South, old movies , classical mythology, and rock 'n' roll music. His style is sometimes obscure or elliptical...
, Ellen Kushner
Ellen Kushner
Ellen Kushner is an American writer of fantasy novels, who for many years was the host of the radio program Sound & Spirit, produced by WGBH in Boston and distributed by Public Radio International.- Background and personal life :...
, John Kessel
John Kessel
John Kessel is an American author of science fiction and fantasy. He is a prolific short story writer and the author of two solo novels, Good News From Outer Space and Corrupting Dr...
, and Alan DeNiro.
Small Beer Press is also known for its political liberalism, releasing many of its publications in both print and Creative Commons-licensed electronic format and during the 2008 Presidential race donating 20% of their October sales to Barack Obama's campaign. In a 2008 interview with the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, Gavin Grant said, "I am an immigrant and small-business owner who is very interested in immigration, health insurance issues, tax plans and so on, and I support Obama".
Imprints
Big Mouth House - Created in 2008 to publish works of fiction for all ages. The imprint first began publishing with the appearance of a complete collection of celebrated English novelist Joan AikenJoan Aiken
Joan Delano Aiken MBE was an English novelist. She was born in Rye, East Sussex, into a family of writers, including her father, American poet Conrad Aiken , her sister, Jane Aiken Hodge and her brother John Aiken Joan Delano Aiken MBE (4 September 1924 – 4 January 2004) was an English novelist....
's Armitage Family short stories, originally published separately between 1953 and 1984.
Peapod Classics - Created in 2004 to reprint classic works of fiction. To date the imprint has published three volumes, debuting with the influential first novel of Carol Emshwiller
Carol Emshwiller
Carol Emshwiller is an American writer of avant garde short stories and science fiction who has won prizes ranging from the Nebula Award to the Philip K. Dick Award. Ursula K...
, Carmen Dog, a feminist work first published by Mercury House
Mercury House
Mercury House may refer to:* Mercury House , a book publishing company based in San Francisco* Mercury House , a building in London, headquarters of Cable and Wireless....
in 1990 and out of print since then.
Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet
Founded by Gavin Grant and Kelly Link (who jokingly characterize the zine as "Laterally Cut Rigid Wedges" on their website) in 1996 and first printed in 1997, Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet is a biannual, Hugo Award-nominated zineZine
A zine is most commonly a small circulation publication of original or appropriated texts and images. More broadly, the term encompasses any self-published work of minority interest usually reproduced via photocopier....
that primarily publishes fiction, drawing on a diverse pool of prominent and lesser known authors writing within a variety of genres, though it also publishes smaller selections of poetry, essays and non-fiction, comics and art, and features cover-art from a number of different artists. Each issue is typically between 50 and 70 pages long. The zine published its twenty-third issue in November 2008.
In 2007, Del Rey Books
Del Rey Books
Del Rey Books is a branch of Ballantine Books, which is owned by Random House and, in turn since 1998, by Bertelsmann AG. It is a separate imprint established in 1977 under the editorship of author Lester del Rey and his wife Judy-Lynn del Rey. It specializes in science fiction and fantasy...
published a 416 page anthology of fiction published in Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet, edited by Grant and Link, titled The Best of Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet.
2002
- Lord Stink & Other Stories, by Judith BermanJudith BermanJudith Berman is an American science fiction and fantasy writer. She is a linguistic anthropologist by training and has published articles on Native American myth and translations. In particular those of the Pacific Northwest. She also has a form of synesthesia.Her science fiction and fantasy has...
- The Mount, by Carol EmshwillerCarol EmshwillerCarol Emshwiller is an American writer of avant garde short stories and science fiction who has won prizes ranging from the Nebula Award to the Philip K. Dick Award. Ursula K...
- Report to the Men's Club and Other Stories, by Carol EmshwillerCarol EmshwillerCarol Emshwiller is an American writer of avant garde short stories and science fiction who has won prizes ranging from the Nebula Award to the Philip K. Dick Award. Ursula K...
- Rossetti Song: Four Stories, by Alex Irvine
- Meet Me in the Moon Room, by Ray VukcevichRay VukcevichRay Vukcevich is a writer of fantasy and literary fiction. His loopy, sometimes surreal stories have been compared to the works of R. A. Lafferty, George Saunders, and David Sedaris. Some seventy-five stories, with titles such as "White Guys in Space," have appeared in science fiction and...
2003
- Howard Waldrop Interview (CD Recording), Conducted by Ellen Datrow
- Kalpa Imperial: The Great Empire That Never War, by Angélica GorodischerAngélica GorodischerAngélica Gorodischer is an Argentine writer known for her collection of short stories, which belong to a wide variety of genres, including science-fiction, fantasy, crime and stories with a feminist perspective....
- Trampoline: An Anthology, Edited by Kelly LinkKelly LinkKelly Link is an American editor and author of short stories. While some of her fiction falls more clearly within genre categories, many of her stories might be described as slipstream or magic realism: a combination of science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, and realism...
- Foreigners and Other Faces, by Mark Rich
- Other Cities, by Benjamin Rosenbaum
- Bittersweet Creek, by Christopher Rowe
2004
- Horses Blow Up Dog City & Other Stories, by Richard Butner
- Carmen Dog, by Carol EmshwillerCarol EmshwillerCarol Emshwiller is an American writer of avant garde short stories and science fiction who has won prizes ranging from the Nebula Award to the Philip K. Dick Award. Ursula K...
- Trash Sex Magic, by Jennifer Stevenson
- Perfect CirclePerfect CirclePerfect Circle can refer to:*The Perfect Circle, a 1997 movie by Bosnian director Ademir Kenovic.*Perfect Circle , 2004 novel by Sean Stewart*Perfect Circle , song from R.E.M.'s debut album Murmur*A Perfect Circle, rock band...
, by Sean StewartSean StewartSean Stewart is a U.S.-Canadian science fiction and fantasy author.Born in Lubbock, Texas, Sean Stewart moved to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in 1968...
2005
- Magic for BeginnersMagic for BeginnersMagic for Beginners is a collection of nine works of fantasy and light horror short fiction by Kelly Link. The stories were all previously published in other venues from 2002 to 2005.The book won the 2006 Locus Award for best short story collection...
, by Kelly LinkKelly LinkKelly Link is an American editor and author of short stories. While some of her fiction falls more clearly within genre categories, many of her stories might be described as slipstream or magic realism: a combination of science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, and realism... - Travel Light, by Naomi MitchisonNaomi MitchisonNaomi May Margaret Mitchison, CBE was a Scottish novelist and poet. She was appointed CBE in 1981; she was also entitled to call herself Lady Mitchison, CBE since 5 October 1964 .- Childhood and family background :Naomi Margaret Haldane was...
- Mockingbird, by Sean StewartSean StewartSean Stewart is a U.S.-Canadian science fiction and fantasy author.Born in Lubbock, Texas, Sean Stewart moved to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in 1968...
- Storyteller: Writing Lessons and More from 27 Years of the Clarion Writers' Workshop, by Kate WilhelmKate WilhelmKate Wilhelm is an American writer whose works include science fiction, mystery, and fantasy.- Career :Wilhelm was born in Toledo, Ohio....
2006
- Skinny Dipping in the Lake of the Dead, by Alan DeNiro
- The Privilege of the Sword, by Ellen KushnerEllen KushnerEllen Kushner is an American writer of fantasy novels, who for many years was the host of the radio program Sound & Spirit, produced by WGBH in Boston and distributed by Public Radio International.- Background and personal life :...
- Mothers & Other Monsters, by Maureen F. McHughMaureen F. McHughMaureen F. McHugh is a science fiction and fantasy writer.Her first published story appeared in Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine in 1989. Since then, she has written four novels and over twenty short stories. Her first novel, China Mountain Zhang , was nominated for both the Hugo and the...
- Howard Who?Howard Who?Released July 1, 1986, Howard Who? is the first short story collection by science fiction writer Howard Waldrop.-Contents:* "Howard Who?" * "The Ugly Chickens"...
, by Howard WaldropHoward WaldropHoward Waldrop is a science fiction author who works primarily in short fiction.Waldrop's stories combine elements such as alternate history, American popular culture, the American South, old movies , classical mythology, and rock 'n' roll music. His style is sometimes obscure or elliptical...
2007
- Generation LossGeneration Loss-Reception:*The Washington Post states that the "portrayal of gritty suffering is as strong as its fantastical elements" -Awards:*It won the first Shirley Jackson Award.*Shortlisted for the Believer Book Award.-External links:**...
, by Elizabeth Hand - Water Logic, by Laurie J. MarksLaurie J. Marks- Life :In 2003, her novel Fire Logic, the first in her Elemental Logic series, won the Gaylactic Spectrum Award for "best novel"; in 2005 Earth Logic, the second in the series, won the same award. She teaches writing at the University of Massachusetts Boston and lives with Deb Mensinger...
- Interfictions: An Anthology of Interstitial Writing, Edited by Delia ShermanDelia ShermanCordelia Caroline Sherman , known professionally as Delia Sherman, is a fantasy writer and editor. Her novel The Porcelain Dove won the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award...
and Theodora GossTheodora GossTheodora Goss is a Hungarian American writer of fantasy short stories. Her stories have been nominated for major awards, including the 2007 Nebula Award for "Pip and the Fairies," and the 2005 World Fantasy Award for Best Short Fiction for "The Wings of Meister Wilhelm." She won the 2004...
2008
- The Serial Garden: The Complete Armitage Family Stories, by Joan AikenJoan AikenJoan Delano Aiken MBE was an English novelist. She was born in Rye, East Sussex, into a family of writers, including her father, American poet Conrad Aiken , her sister, Jane Aiken Hodge and her brother John Aiken Joan Delano Aiken MBE (4 September 1924 – 4 January 2004) was an English novelist....
- Endless Things: An Ægypt Novel, by John CrowleyJohn CrowleyJohn Crowley is an American author of fantasy, science fiction and mainstream fiction. He studied at Indiana University and has a second career as a documentary film writer...
- The Baum Plan for Financial Independence and Other Stories, by John KesselJohn KesselJohn Kessel is an American author of science fiction and fantasy. He is a prolific short story writer and the author of two solo novels, Good News From Outer Space and Corrupting Dr...
- The Ant King and Other Stories, by Benjamin RosenbaumBenjamin RosenbaumBenjamin Rosenbaum is an American science fiction, fantasy, and literary fiction writer and computer programmer, whose stories have been finalists for the Hugo Award, the Nebula Award, the Theodore Sturgeon Award, the BSFA award, and the World Fantasy Award...
- The King's Last SongThe King's Last SongThe King's Last Song is a novel by Canadian author Geoff Ryman. It was first published in 2006 by HarperCollins in the UK. It was published in the United States in 2008 by Small Beer Press.- Plot introduction :...
, by Geoff RymanGeoff RymanGeoffrey Charles Ryman is a writer of science fiction, fantasy and surrealistic or "slipstream" fiction.Ryman currently lectures in Creative Writing for University of Manchester's English Department. His most recent full-length novel, The King's Last Song, is set in Cambodia, both at the time of...
2009
- Clouds & Ashes, by Greer GilmanGreer GilmanGreer Ilene Gilman is an American author of fantasy stories.Her stories are noted for their dense prose style, which is strongly focused on native English roots, sometimes reminiscent of Gerard Manley Hopkins...
- CouchCouchA couch, also called a sofa, is an item of furniture designed to seat more than one person, and providing support for the back and arms. Typically, it will have an armrest on either side. In homes couches are normally found in the family room, living room, den or the lounge...
, by Benjamin ParzybokBenjamin ParzybokBenjamin I Parzybok is an American novelist. His debut novel, Couch, written in a six month period while the author was living in Ecuador was published in 2008 by Small Beer Press.... - Interfictions II: The Second Anthology of Interstitial Writing, Edited by Delia ShermanDelia ShermanCordelia Caroline Sherman , known professionally as Delia Sherman, is a fantasy writer and editor. Her novel The Porcelain Dove won the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award...
and Christopher BarzakChristopher BarzakChristopher Barzak is an American author. He has published many short stories, beginning with "A Mad Tea Party" in Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet in 1999. In 2007 he published his debut novel, One for Sorrow, which has won the 2008 Crawford Award, and was a nominee for the 2008 Great Lakes Book... - A Working Writer's Daily Planner 2010: Your Year in Writing, by Small Beer Press
External links
- Interview with Gavin Grant and Kelly Link about Small Beer Press, conducted by Cheryl Morgan in the June, 2004 issue of Emerald CityEmerald City (magazine)Emerald City was a science fiction fanzine published in print and on the internet by Cheryl Morgan. She had assistance from Kevin Standlee and Anne Murphy. The magazine published 134 regular issues and 6 special issues between September 1995 and November 2006...
#106 - http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=11674E0B50A33760&p_docnum=10&s_dlid=DL0110111203183210508&s_ecproduct=SUB-FREE&s_ecprodtype=INSTANT&s_trackval=&s_siteloc=&s_referrer=&s_subterm=Subscription%20until%3A%2012%2F14%2F2015%2011%3A59%20PM&s_docsbal=%20&s_subexpires=12%2F14%2F2015%2011%3A59%20PM&s_docstart=&s_docsleft=&s_docsread=&s_username=freeuser&s_accountid=AC0107071613144804057&s_upgradeable=noThe Book People, Northampton's Small Beer Press takes a real chance on surreal books] by Daniel Oppenheimer, from the Valley Advocate, July 28, 2005