Solaris Books
Encyclopedia
Solaris Books is an imprint
which focuses on publishing science fiction
, fantasy
and dark fantasy
novel
s and anthologies
. The range includes titles by both established and new authors. The range is owned by Rebellion Developments
and distributed to the UK and US booktrade via local divisions of Simon & Schuster
.
, to trade alongside their existing licence-based imprint the Black Library
, and the then-existing Black Flame
imprint. When asked why BLP had started a the new imprint, Consulting Editor George Mann
stated that "...between... the major corporate publishers... and... the small and independent press... there seems to be little or no room left for the midlist," and that Solaris would provide a mass-market platform for up-and-coming writers, or established writers with smaller readerships.
In September 2009, it was announced that Solaris Books had been bought by Rebellion Developments
, who also publish comics and graphic novels under 2000 AD imprint and genre fiction under the Abaddon Books
imprint, for an undisclosed sum. The imprint came under the leadership of Abaddon editor Jonathan Oliver
, who ran both imprints side by side as Editor-in-Chief, along with editors David Moore and Jenni Hill.
The new team continues to publish books in the Solaris tradition, maintaining existing relationships with authors such as Brian Lumley, Andy Remic and Juliet McKenna and also discovering new voices in the SF and fantasy genres. As of August 2010, Solaris had published seventy-three titles by twenty-nine authors, including anthologies and new editions of out-of-print titles.
Imprint
In the publishing industry, an imprint can mean several different things:* As a piece of bibliographic information about a book, it refers to the name and address of the book's publisher and its date of publication as given at the foot or on the verso of its title page.* It can mean a trade name...
which focuses on publishing science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
, fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
and dark fantasy
Dark fantasy
Dark fantasy is a term used to describe a fantasy story with a pronounced horror element.-Overview:A strict definition for dark fantasy is difficult to pin down. Gertrude Barrows Bennett has been called "the woman who invented dark fantasy". Both Charles L...
novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
s and anthologies
Anthology
An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...
. The range includes titles by both established and new authors. The range is owned by Rebellion Developments
Rebellion Developments
Rebellion is a British computer games company, based in Oxford, who are most famous for the first Aliens vs. Predator computer game. It has published comic books since 2000 and launched its own book imprint, Abaddon Books, in 2006.-History:...
and distributed to the UK and US booktrade via local divisions of Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
.
History
Solaris Books was founded in February 2007 by BL PublishingBL Publishing
BL Publishing is a division of Games Workshop, and is split into three sections:* The Black Library publishes novels, art books, background books and graphic novels set in the Warhammer Fantasy world and the Warhammer 40,000 universe....
, to trade alongside their existing licence-based imprint the Black Library
Black Library
The Black Library is a division of Games Workshop which is devoted to publishing novels and audiobooks set in the Warhammer Fantasy Battle and Warhammer 40,000 fictional universes...
, and the then-existing Black Flame
Black Flame
Black Flame was an imprint of BL Publishing, the publishing arm of Games Workshop and a sister imprint to the Black Library and Solaris Books. Black Flame was devoted to publishing cult fiction in the fields of science fiction, fantasy and horror...
imprint. When asked why BLP had started a the new imprint, Consulting Editor George Mann
George Mann (writer)
George Mann is an author and editor, primarily in genre fiction. He was born in Darlington, County Durham in 1978. He works and lives in Nottinghamshire, England....
stated that "...between... the major corporate publishers... and... the small and independent press... there seems to be little or no room left for the midlist," and that Solaris would provide a mass-market platform for up-and-coming writers, or established writers with smaller readerships.
In September 2009, it was announced that Solaris Books had been bought by Rebellion Developments
Rebellion Developments
Rebellion is a British computer games company, based in Oxford, who are most famous for the first Aliens vs. Predator computer game. It has published comic books since 2000 and launched its own book imprint, Abaddon Books, in 2006.-History:...
, who also publish comics and graphic novels under 2000 AD imprint and genre fiction under the Abaddon Books
Abaddon Books
Abaddon Books is a British publishing imprint, founded in 2006. It is part of the Rebellion group of companies, along with publishing companies Solaris Books, 2000 AD, 2000 AD Graphic Novels, and Cubicle 7....
imprint, for an undisclosed sum. The imprint came under the leadership of Abaddon editor Jonathan Oliver
Jonathan Oliver (Publishing)
Jonathan Oliver is a British science fiction, fantasy and horror author and editor.-Biography:After five years working for Taylor & Francis academic publishers, Oliver started working for Rebellion as Graphic Novels Editor on the 2000 AD line in 2006, and launched the Abaddon Books genre fiction...
, who ran both imprints side by side as Editor-in-Chief, along with editors David Moore and Jenni Hill.
The new team continues to publish books in the Solaris tradition, maintaining existing relationships with authors such as Brian Lumley, Andy Remic and Juliet McKenna and also discovering new voices in the SF and fantasy genres. As of August 2010, Solaris had published seventy-three titles by twenty-nine authors, including anthologies and new editions of out-of-print titles.
Authors
- Natasha RhodesNatasha RhodesNatasha Rhodes is a British-born author best known for her contemporary fantasy book series Dante's Girl, starring supernatural crime-fighter Kayla Steele. She has also written many film novelizations of popular blockbuster movies such as Blade: Trinity and the Final Destination series of movies,...
- Brian LumleyBrian LumleyBrian Lumley is an English horror fiction writer.Born in County Durham, he joined the British Army's Royal Military Police and wrote stories in his spare time before retiring with the rank of Warrant Officer Class 1 in 1980 and becoming a professional writer.He added to H. P...
- Gail Z. MartinGail Z. MartinGail Z. Martin is an American writer and the author of The Chronicles of The Necromancer fantasy adventure series for Solaris Books.-Biography:...
- Andy RemicAndy RemicAndy Remic is a UK born author of thrillers, science fiction and military science fiction. His first three novels, Spiral , Quake and Warhead were published by Orbit Books...
- James LovegroveJames LovegroveJames Lovegrove is a British writer of speculative fiction. His first novel was The Hope, published by Macmillan in 1990. He was short-listed for the Arthur C. Clarke Award in 1998 for his novel Days and for the John W. Campbell Memorial Award in 2004 for his novel Untied Kingdom...
- Juliet McKenna
- Eric Brown
- Ed GreenwoodEd GreenwoodEd Greenwood is a Canadian writer and editor who created the Forgotten Realms. He invented the Forgotten Realms as a child, as a fantasy world in which to set the stories he imagined, and later used this world as a campaign setting for his own personal Dungeons & Dragons playing group...
- Paul KearneyPaul KearneyPaul Kearney is a Northern Irish fantasy author. He is noted for his work in the epic fantasy subgenre and his work has been compared to that of David Gemmell.-Life:...
- James Maxey
- Emily Gee
- Tim Akers
- George MannGeorge Mann (writer)George Mann is an author and editor, primarily in genre fiction. He was born in Darlington, County Durham in 1978. He works and lives in Nottinghamshire, England....
- Simon R. Green
- Ian WhatesIan WhatesIan Whates is a British speculative fiction author and editor. In 2006 he launched the independent publishing house NewCon press. He lives with his partner Helen in Camebridgeshire....
- Keith BrookeKeith BrookeKeith Brooke is a science fiction author, editor, web publisher and anthologist from Essex, England. He is the founder and editor of the infinity plus webzine. He also writes children's fiction under the name Nick Gifford.- Biography and publishing history :...
- Adam Roberts
Publications
- The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction (edited by George MannGeorge MannGeorge Mann CBE, DSO, MC was an English cricketer, who played for Cambridge University, Middlesex and England.-Life and career:...
, February 20072007 in literatureThe year 2007 in literature involves some significant new books.-Events:*November 19 - First Kindle e-book reader released.*December 11 - Terry Pratchett informs fans on-line that he has been diagnosed with a rare form of Alzheimer's disease.-Literature:...
, ISBN 1-84416-374-1) - The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction, Volume Two (edited by George MannGeorge MannGeorge Mann CBE, DSO, MC was an English cricketer, who played for Cambridge University, Middlesex and England.-Life and career:...
, 2008, ISBN 978-1844165421)) - The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction, Volume Three (edited by George MannGeorge MannGeorge Mann CBE, DSO, MC was an English cricketer, who played for Cambridge University, Middlesex and England.-Life and career:...
, 2009, ISBN 978-1844167098)) - The Summoner (by Gail Z. MartinGail Z. MartinGail Z. Martin is an American writer and the author of The Chronicles of The Necromancer fantasy adventure series for Solaris Books.-Biography:...
, February 2007, ISBN 1-84416-468-3) - Deadstock (by Jeffrey ThomasJeffrey Thomas (writer)Jeffrey Thomas is a prolific writer of science fiction and horror, best known for his stories set in the nightmarish future city called Punktown, such as the novel Deadstock and the collection Punktown , from which a story was reprinted in St. Martin's The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror #14...
, March 2007, ISBN 1-84416-447-0) - Dante's Girl (by Natasha RhodesNatasha RhodesNatasha Rhodes is a British-born author best known for her contemporary fantasy book series Dante's Girl, starring supernatural crime-fighter Kayla Steele. She has also written many film novelizations of popular blockbuster movies such as Blade: Trinity and the Final Destination series of movies,...
, March 2007, ISBN 1-84416-666-X) - The Touch (by Brian LumleyBrian LumleyBrian Lumley is an English horror fiction writer.Born in County Durham, he joined the British Army's Royal Military Police and wrote stories in his spare time before retiring with the rank of Warrant Officer Class 1 in 1980 and becoming a professional writer.He added to H. P...
, March 2007, ISBN 1-84416-485-1) - Thief With No Shadow (by Emily Gee, May 2007, ISBN 1-84416-469-1)
- Helix: (by Eric Brown, June 2007, ISBN 1-84416-469-1)
- Bitterwood (by James Maxey, July 2007, ISBN 978-1-84416-487-1)
- Infinity Plus (edited by Keith BrookeKeith BrookeKeith Brooke is a science fiction author, editor, web publisher and anthologist from Essex, England. He is the founder and editor of the infinity plus webzine. He also writes children's fiction under the name Nick Gifford.- Biography and publishing history :...
and Nick GeversNick GeversNick Gevers is a South African science fiction editor and critic, whose work has appeared in The Washington Post Book World, Interzone, Scifi.com, SF Site, The New York Review of Science Fiction and Nova Express...
, August 2007, ISBN 978-1-84416-489-9) - Set the Seas on Fire (by Chris Roberson, August 2007, ISBN 978-1-84416-488-2)
- Splinter (by Adam Roberts, September 2007, ISBN 978-1-84416-490-5)
- The Solaris Book of New Fantasy (edited by George MannGeorge MannGeorge Mann CBE, DSO, MC was an English cricketer, who played for Cambridge University, Middlesex and England.-Life and career:...
, December 20072007 in literatureThe year 2007 in literature involves some significant new books.-Events:*November 19 - First Kindle e-book reader released.*December 11 - Terry Pratchett informs fans on-line that he has been diagnosed with a rare form of Alzheimer's disease.-Literature:...
, ISBN 978-1-84416-523-0) - Dark Lord (by Ed GreenwoodEd GreenwoodEd Greenwood is a Canadian writer and editor who created the Forgotten Realms. He invented the Forgotten Realms as a child, as a fantasy world in which to set the stories he imagined, and later used this world as a campaign setting for his own personal Dungeons & Dragons playing group...
, September 20072007 in literatureThe year 2007 in literature involves some significant new books.-Events:*November 19 - First Kindle e-book reader released.*December 11 - Terry Pratchett informs fans on-line that he has been diagnosed with a rare form of Alzheimer's disease.-Literature:...
, ISBN 978-1-84416-519-3) - Arch Wizard (by Ed GreenwoodEd GreenwoodEd Greenwood is a Canadian writer and editor who created the Forgotten Realms. He invented the Forgotten Realms as a child, as a fantasy world in which to set the stories he imagined, and later used this world as a campaign setting for his own personal Dungeons & Dragons playing group...
, December 20082008 in literatureThe year 2008 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*January 1 - In the 2008 New Year Honours, Hanif Kureishi , Jenny Uglow , Peter Vansittart and Debjani Chatterjee are all rewarded for "services to literature".*June 15 - Gore Vidal, asked in a New York Times...
, ISBN 978-1-84416-651-0)
Awards
- Paul CornellPaul CornellPaul Cornell is a British writer best known for his work in television drama as well as Doctor Who fiction, and as the creator of one of the Doctor's spin-off companions, Bernice Summerfield....
's story "One of Our Bastards is Missing", from The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction: Volume Three, was nominated for the 2010 Hugo AwardHugo AwardThe Hugo Awards are given annually for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was officially named the Science Fiction Achievement Awards...
for Best NoveletteHugo Award for Best NoveletteThe Hugo Awards are given every year by the World Science Fiction Society for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was once officially...
. - Ellen DatlowEllen DatlowEllen Datlow is an American science fiction, fantasy, and horror editor and anthologist.-Biography:Datlow was the fiction editor of Omni magazine and Omni Online from 1981 through 1998, and edited the ten associated Omni anthologies...
's Poe Anthology won the 2010 Black Quill Award for Best Dark Genre Anthology (Readers' Choice), and the 2010 Shirley Jackson AwardShirley Jackson AwardThe Shirley Jackson Awards are literary awards named after Shirley Jackson in recognition of her legacy in writing. These awards for outstanding achievement in the literature of psychological suspense, horror and the dark fantastic are presented at Readercon, an annual conference on imaginative...
for an Edited Anthology, and was nominated for the 2010 Bram Stoker AwardBram Stoker AwardThe Bram Stoker Award is a recognition presented by the Horror Writers Association for "superior achievement" in horror writing. The awards have been presented annually since 1987, and the winners are selected by ballot of the Active members of the HWA...
for Superior Achievement in an Anthology. - Alastair ReynoldsAlastair ReynoldsAlastair Preston Reynolds is a British science fiction author. He specialises in dark hard science fiction and space opera. He spent his early years in Cornwall, moved back to Wales before going to Newcastle, where he read physics and astronomy. Afterwards, he earned a PhD from St Andrews, Scotland...
' story "The Fixation", from The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction: Volume Three, won the 2009 Sidewise Award for Alternate History (Short Form). - Chris RobersonChris Roberson (author)Chris Roberson is a science fiction author, tromboner, and publisher based in Austin, Texas, best known for alternate history novels and short stories.-Biography:Chris Roberson grew up near Dallas, Texas, and attended the University of Texas, Austin...
's The Dragon's Nine Sons won the 2008 Sidewise Award for Alternate History (Long Form). - Stephen BaxterStephen BaxterStephen Baxter is a prolific British hard science fiction author. He has degrees in mathematics and engineering.- Writing style :...
's story "Last Contact", from The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction, was a finalist in the 2008 Locus AwardLocus AwardThe Locus Award is a literary award established in 1971 and presented to winners of Locus magazine's annual readers' poll. Currently, the Locus Awards are presented at an annual banquet...
for Short Story and a nominee for the 2008 Hugo AwardHugo AwardThe Hugo Awards are given annually for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was officially named the Science Fiction Achievement Awards...
for Short StoryHugo Award for Best Short StoryThe Hugo Awards are given every year by the World Science Fiction Society for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was once officially...
. - Mary RosenblumMary RosenblumMary Rosenblum is a science fiction and mystery author. Mary Rosenblum grew up in Allison Park, "a dead little coal mining town outside Pittsburgh PA," and attended Reed College in Oregon, earning a biology degree. She attended the Clarion West workshop in 1988.Her first story came out in 1990...
's story "Sacrifice", from Sideways in Crime, won the 2008 Sidewise Award for Alternate History (Short Form). Tobias Buckell's story "The People's Machine", and Kristine Kathryn RuschKristine Kathryn RuschKristine Kathryn Rusch is an American writer. She writes under various pseudonyms in multiple genres, including science fiction, fantasy, mystery, romance, and mainstream....
's story "G-Men", both from Sideways in Crime, were nominated in the same category.
See also
- Abaddon BooksAbaddon BooksAbaddon Books is a British publishing imprint, founded in 2006. It is part of the Rebellion group of companies, along with publishing companies Solaris Books, 2000 AD, 2000 AD Graphic Novels, and Cubicle 7....
, another Rebellion imprint releasing speculative fiction novels in a number of themed lines - 2000 AD, a comics anthologyComics anthologyComics anthologies collect works in the medium of comics that are too short for standalone publication.- U.S. :- UK :British comics have a long tradition publishing comics anthologies, often weekly...
, publishing fiction featuring characters such as Judge DreddJudge DreddJudge Joseph Dredd is a comics character whose strip in the British science fiction anthology 2000 AD is the magazine's longest running . Dredd is an American law enforcement officer in a violent city of the future where uniformed Judges combine the powers of police, judge, jury and executioner...
and, through their sister comics magazine Judge Dredd MegazineJudge Dredd MegazineJudge Dredd: The Megazine is a monthly British comic magazine, launched in October 1990. It is a sister publication to 2000 AD. Its name is a play on words, formed from "magazine" and Dredd's locale Mega-City One.-Content:...
, Tank GirlTank GirlTank Girl is a British comic created by Jamie Hewlett and Alan Martin. Originally drawn by Jamie Hewlett, it has also been drawn by Rufus Dayglo, Ashley Wood, and Mike McMahon.The eponymous character Tank Girl drives a tank, which is also her home... - Black FlameBlack FlameBlack Flame was an imprint of BL Publishing, the publishing arm of Games Workshop and a sister imprint to the Black Library and Solaris Books. Black Flame was devoted to publishing cult fiction in the fields of science fiction, fantasy and horror...
, another BL PublishingBL PublishingBL Publishing is a division of Games Workshop, and is split into three sections:* The Black Library publishes novels, art books, background books and graphic novels set in the Warhammer Fantasy world and the Warhammer 40,000 universe....
imprint largely focused on licensed franchisesMedia franchiseA media franchise is an intellectual property involving the characters, setting and trademarks of an original work of media , such as a film, a work of literature, a television program or a video game. Generally, a whole series is made in a particular medium, along with merchandising and endorsements...