William L. Crawford
Encyclopedia
William Levi Crawford was an American
publisher and editor.
, although it was never published in the magazine. He also accepted Lovecraft's Celephais
and The Doom That Came to Sarnath
for Unusual Stories, but they were published instead in Marvel Tales (May 1934 and March–April 1935, respectively). Around July 1934 Lovecraft wrote Some Notes on Interplanetary Fiction for one of Crawford's magazines, but the essay was published in the magazine The Californian (Winter 1935).
In 1935, Crawford published the collection Mars Mountain
, by Eugene George Key
. It was the first full-size book issued by a publisher that specialized in science fiction
.
During the spring of 1935 Crawford contemplated reviving the defunct magazine Fantasy Fan
with Lovecraft as editor, but the plan was never realized. He also thought of issuing one of Lovecraft's stories At the Mountains of Madness or The Shadow Over Innsmouth as a booklet, or bound together in one volume; he considered submitting the latter story to Astounding Stories after learning of the acceptance there of At the Mountains of Madness and The Shadow Out of Time but it is not known whether he did so. In late 1935, he began the process of issuing The Shadow Over Innsmouth as a book. The project came to fruition in November 1936 (although the copyright page declares the date of publication as April 1936), but the book had so many typographical errors that Lovecraft insisted on an errata sheet (which was also faulty). The Shadow Over Innsmouth, issued with the imprint of the Visionary Publishing Co, was the only book of Lovecraft's fiction to be published and distributed during Lovecraft's own lifetime. Crawford printed 400 copies but bound only 200; the others were destroyed later. The book features a dust jacket and four interior illustrations by Frank Utpatel. Crawford wrote of the venture in his essay "Lovecraft's First Book" in The Shuttered Room and Other Pieces
; reprinted in Lovecraft Remembered
.
Crawford published books with a number of different imprints before founding the Fantasy Publishing Company, Inc.
in 1946. He edited several anthologies that he also published. He co-wrote the 1936 novel Behind the Evidence
with Amelia Reynolds Long
under the combined pseudonym Peter Reynolds. The William L. Crawford Memorial Award
for the best first fantasy novel is named in his honor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
publisher and editor.
Career
During the autumn of 1933, Crawford proposed to start a non-paying weird fiction magazine, Unusual Stories, which was initiated soon afterward. About the same time he also published the magazine Marvel Tales. For Unusual Stories he commissioned a brief autobiography by H.P. Lovecraft, Autobiography: Some Notes on a NonentityAutobiography: Some Notes on a Nonentity
Autobiography: Some Notes on a Nonentity is an autobiographical essay by American author H. P. Lovecraft. It was released in 1963 by Arkham House in an edition of 500 copies. The essay was originally included in Beyond the Wall of Sleep. This reprinting includes annotations by August Derleth...
, although it was never published in the magazine. He also accepted Lovecraft's Celephais
Celephaïs
"Celephaïs" is a fantasy story by American horror fiction writer H. P. Lovecraft, written in early November 1920 and first published in the May 1922 issue of the Rainbow.The title refers to a fictional city that later appears in H. P...
and The Doom That Came to Sarnath
The Doom that Came to Sarnath
"The Doom that Came to Sarnath" is an early short story by H. P. Lovecraft. It is written in a mythic/fairy tale style and is associated with his Dream Cycle...
for Unusual Stories, but they were published instead in Marvel Tales (May 1934 and March–April 1935, respectively). Around July 1934 Lovecraft wrote Some Notes on Interplanetary Fiction for one of Crawford's magazines, but the essay was published in the magazine The Californian (Winter 1935).
In 1935, Crawford published the collection Mars Mountain
Mars Mountain
Mars Mountain is a collection of science fiction short stories by Eugene George Key. It was first published in 1935 by Fantasy Publications. It is the first full length book to be issued by a publisher that specialized in science fiction....
, by Eugene George Key
Eugene George Key
Eugene Key was an American short story writer. His collection, Mars Mountain was the first full length book to be issued by a publisher that specialized in science fiction....
. It was the first full-size book issued by a publisher that specialized in 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...
.
During the spring of 1935 Crawford contemplated reviving the defunct magazine Fantasy Fan
Fantasy Fan
The Fantasy Fan was the first fan magazine in the weird fiction field and therefore holds an important place in the history of the American fantasy and horror fiction pulp magazine. Issued monthly, it was first published in September 1933, and discontinued 18 issues later in February 1935. The...
with Lovecraft as editor, but the plan was never realized. He also thought of issuing one of Lovecraft's stories At the Mountains of Madness or The Shadow Over Innsmouth as a booklet, or bound together in one volume; he considered submitting the latter story to Astounding Stories after learning of the acceptance there of At the Mountains of Madness and The Shadow Out of Time but it is not known whether he did so. In late 1935, he began the process of issuing The Shadow Over Innsmouth as a book. The project came to fruition in November 1936 (although the copyright page declares the date of publication as April 1936), but the book had so many typographical errors that Lovecraft insisted on an errata sheet (which was also faulty). The Shadow Over Innsmouth, issued with the imprint of the Visionary Publishing Co, was the only book of Lovecraft's fiction to be published and distributed during Lovecraft's own lifetime. Crawford printed 400 copies but bound only 200; the others were destroyed later. The book features a dust jacket and four interior illustrations by Frank Utpatel. Crawford wrote of the venture in his essay "Lovecraft's First Book" in The Shuttered Room and Other Pieces
The Shuttered Room and Other Pieces
The Shuttered Room and Other Pieces is a collection of fantasy, horror short stories, essays and memoirs by American author H. P. Lovecraft and others. It was released in 1959 by Arkham House in an edition of 2,527 copies and was the fifth collection of Lovecraft's work to be released by Arkham House...
; reprinted in Lovecraft Remembered
Lovecraft Remembered
Lovecraft Remembered is a collection of memoirs about H. P. Lovecraft and is edited by Peter Cannon. It was released in 1998 by Arkham House in an edition of 3,579 copies. Nearly all the memoirs from previous Arkham publications of Lovecraft miscellany are included.-Contents:Lovecraft Remembered...
.
Crawford published books with a number of different imprints before founding the Fantasy Publishing Company, Inc.
Fantasy Publishing Company, Inc.
Fantasy Publishing Company, Inc., or FPCI, was a science fiction and fantasy small press specialty publishing company established in 1946. It was the fourth small press company founded by William L...
in 1946. He edited several anthologies that he also published. He co-wrote the 1936 novel Behind the Evidence
Behind the Evidence
Behind the Evidence is a science fiction novel by authors Amelia Reynolds Long and William L. Crawford writing under the pseudonym Peter Reynolds. It was published in 1936 by the Visionary Publishing Company in an edition of 100 copies....
with Amelia Reynolds Long
Amelia Reynolds Long
Amelia Reynolds Long was an American detective fiction and science fiction writer and novelist. Her story, "The Thought-Monster" was made into the 1958 film Fiend Without a Face. She co wrote the 1936 novel Behind the Evidence with William L. Crawford under the combined pseudonym Peter Reynolds....
under the combined pseudonym Peter Reynolds. The William L. Crawford Memorial Award
Crawford Award
The IAFA William L. Crawford Fantasy Award is a literary award given to a writer whose first fantasy book was published during the preceding 18 months. It's one of several awards presented by the International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts , and is presented at the conference each...
for the best first fantasy novel is named in his honor.