The literature of science fiction, fantasy, and horror has a rich and glorious history, with roots dating back at least three hundred years to the fantastic voyage popularized by such works as Gulliver's Travels, and continuing with an enormously varied production of novels and story collections through the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Very few of these early tales are known today, even to connoisseurs of the field. Although some have been reprinted in small editions by university and speciality presses, even those penned by the bestselling writers of their day often remain obscure to the scholars and historians of modern fantastic literature. Finding descriptions of the books or information about the authors is difficult at best. Classics of Fantastic Literature provides nearly 200 essays about these early works, arranged alphabetically by author and then by title. Each entry includes bibliographical data, a detailed plot summary, and background information on the author, where appropriate. A comprehensive index provides complete access to the material. Scholars and readers alike will welcome this new guide to the literature.

In the not-quite-Earth of Nova Europa, east is fighting west, in a war of politics, culture, and religion. The King of Korynthia has assembled an army to invest neighboring Pommerelia. Initially, everything seems to favor the invaders--save for the continuing unexplained murders of high-level Korynthia officials. Some malevolent force is at work, driving the combatants forward, driving them toward the climactic battle of Killingford. And there everything--or nothing--will be decided Dr. Michael R. Collings says: "Within the course of a single year, Kings and Kingdoms rise and fall, hopes and ambitions are fulfilled and destroyed. Robert Reginald's The Hieromonk's Tale trilogy is a magnificent medieval triptych featuring exquisitely drawn scenes of heroism and treachery, of domesticity and warfare, of greatness and madness." The Hieromonk's Tale, Book Two.

In the first volume of The Hieromonk's Tale fantasy trilogy, set in an alternate history in the year 1205, Father Afanasy begins searching for clues surrounding the carefully-hidden secret of his birth, Melanthrix the Mage gains much influence at the court of Korynthia, a killer viciously murders members of the government, and someone--or something--seems to be pushing the kingdom steadily towards all-out war with Pommerelia, its neighbor to the west. As Michael R. Collings, author of The Slab, says: " This] is a magnificent medieval triptych featuring exquisitely drawn scenes of heroism and treachery, of domesticity and warfare, of greatness and madness." The Nova Europa Fantasy Saga, Book One.

In this second novel of the trilogy, something is happening in the outer circles of the cosmos, something that is threatening to destabilize the equilibrium holding the universe together. The answer lies on the strange world of the Pachyderms out beyond the Fifth Circle--an almost impossible distance to traverse. These curious creatures are the guardians of the Elephant's Eggs--four magical implements that will give Morpheus the Mage the tools he needs to heal the cracks in space and time. But finding the Eggs is not enough... Michael R. Collings says: "With its two companion novels, The Pachyderms' Lament constitutes a contemporary comic epic in prose, an extravagant Odyssey to the farthest reaches of the imagination--and then home again to touch the essentials of the human heart."

In the alternate Earth called Nova Europa, two countries have fought a great battle over the future of that world. But now the King of Korynthia seems to be going mad: some evil mage is eating away at the very fabric of the the state. The King's heir, Prince Arkady, must rally the forces of good to push back the darkness--and if he fails, then Nova Europa will experience only chaos, calamity, and death Dr. Michael R. Collings says: "Within the course of a single year, Kings and Kingdoms rise and fall, hopes and ambitions are fulfilled and destroyed. Robert Reginald's The Hieromonk's Tale trilogy is a magnificent medieval triptych featuring exquisitely drawn scenes of heroism and treachery, of domesticity and warfare, of greatness and madness." The Hieromonk's Tale, Book Three.

In the tradition of the old "Ace Double" two-in-one novels (flip one over to read the second title)--here is the seventeenth Wildside Double. A LLULL IN THE COMPASS: A Science Fiction Novel, by W. C. Bamberger. The world is running down. People are mysteriously disappearing, leaving behind only small stains of glycerin. Overhead, mysterious objects are appearing just beyond our atmosphere, and deliberately burning themselves to dust as they fall toward earth. Some say our machines are absorbing us, some say aliens have come here to commit suicide. A small band of wanderers spins the wheels of a Llull Machine, trying to make their way safely through a collapsing world, and trying at the same time to solve the mysteries and save themselves--and an unexpected next generation ACADEMENTIA: A Future Dystopia, by Robert Reginald. In the not-so-distant future, America has been subjugated by the fanatical followers of Dr. Theo Fell, who have instituted a fascist religious regime that stifles all dissent and monitors all expression. But all regimes have their breaking points, both personally and generally, and the Fellian States of America are no exception. The nameless narrator of this terrifying tale descends into paranoia and despair even as he rises rapidly through the academic ranks of the California Saints University system. One by one, his enemies are mysteriously overcome, until all that's left is facing the ultimate--the final--challenge: confronting Dr. Fell himself

Twelve years after the events of Invasion , Earth prepares to retaliate by mounting an expedition against the Martians. With great difficulty, our Space Force establishes bases on the two Martian moons, and also on the surface of the Red Planet. But a series of firefights demonstrate that the aliens hold the upper hand, and that communication between the species is the only thing that will keep our bases from being exterminated. Alex Smith once again must step forward, and offer himself as part-prisoner, guest, interpreter, guinea pig, negotiator, and--ultimately--the last, best hope of mankind. But finding any consistent and understandable method of communication with a truly alien race is almost impossible. Can the gulf be breached in time? War of Two Worlds, Book Two.

In the tradition of the old "Ace Doubles" two-in-one books (flip one over to read the second title)--here is the eighth Wildside Double. THREE TALES OF OMNE: A COMPANION TO WORDSMITH, by Michael R. Collings This is Omne, a world enveloped by perpetual clouds, without metals, machines, or technology, whose people harbor the secrets of an unimaginable power for destruction--or redemption. But--before it became Omne, it was Colony, home of a small group of refugees from Earth, struggling to survive on a new planet and understand its rules, unaware of their gradual transformation into something no longer quite human. This is the story of how it all began THE ELDER OF DAYS: TALES OF THE ELDERS, by Robert Reginald They hide among us, these near-immortals, and they go by names like William Shakespeare and John Donne and Napoleon Bonaparte. They're immune to most diseases, heal rapidly from injury, and age so slowly that their life-spans are encompassed by the passage of millennia. These are The Elders. In "Katydid," Jack must penetrate the mystery of a decaying trolley car and the curious 1920s photo album secreted within. A statistical reporting anomaly for "Eldering," a forgotten town tucked away in the Cumberland Mountains, prompts a dying census worker to investigate. Abused wife Jewel-Rose can only find the "chaud" in the "Boneyard" just outside her small Montana town. Time traveler Pat Wardon is determined upon "Saving Jane Austen"--whether she wants to be saved or not Great romantic fantasy stories.

In the tradition of the old "Ace Doubles," two-in-one books (flip one over to read the second title), here is the seventh Wildside Double. SLAUGHTERHOUSE WORLD: A Tale of the Human-Knacker War, by Ardath Mayhar The Knackers looked like a cross between a spider and a crab, except bigger--much bigger, and meaner--much meaner--and they never stopped coming Joel Karsh is just a grunt slugging it out on Plant 3G 789, a bug factory world, where fresh protein (i.e., human flesh) is being processed for reshipment to enemy depots throughout the cluster. All he wants to do is make it back to the SpaceForce pick-up point. But as his buddies are killed, one by one, and the Knackers swarm ever closer, he's beginning to wonder if he'll even live through the next day A rousing SF military adventure by a master storyteller. KNACK' ATTACK: A Tale of the Human-Knacker War, by Robert Reginald On the farming planet of Terr'ferme, Rabbs din Chorest has been sent to the hills to tend a herd of clorses (cloned horses) and beefers. Not far distant is the ruin of Spiretown, a long-abandoned place of the Old-uns, a race that had once inhabited this world. Then the Knack's invade, destroying settlements, devastating ranches, and harvesting human and animal flesh. Rabbs is cut off from all contact with the civilized world. When a group of refugees appears, they become Rabbs's responsibility as well. Trapped by a bug troop in a cave near the ruined city, the humans have nowhere to go and no one to ask for help. Will anyone survive the Knack' attack?

Since 1969, William Maltese has penned more than 180 books under 36 pseudonyms. His early novels are regarded as classics of gay literature, selling on the collectors' market for up to $1000 each. But his fiction has continued to develop, and now has the sheen and polish of the "Draqualian Silk" that he invented for his Stud Draqual mystery series. This volume provides a complete list of the author's books, and includes bibliographical data, excerpts from the first 3 paragraphs of each monograph, and 3 indexes. Here's a book for anyone interested in the history of vintage paperbacks, gay literature, and popular culture.

"Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Review" was founded in 1979 to provide comprehensive coverage of all the major and minor books being released in the genre at that time. This was the golden era of SF publishing, with a thousand titles (old and new) hitting the stands and the bookshelves each and every year. From the older classics to the newest speculative fiction, this was the period when the best and the brightest shined forth their talents.

SF&FBR included reviews by writers in the field, by amateur critics, and by litterateurs and University professors. Over a thousand books were covered during the single year of publication, many of them having been reviewed no where else, before or since. The January 1980 issue includes a comprehensive index of all the works featured during the preceding year. This reprint will be a welcome addition to the literature of science fiction and fantasy criticism.

Neil Barron is a retired bibliographer and literary critic, editor of the acclaimed "Anatomy of Wonder" series. Robert Reginald was the publisher for twenty-five years of Borgo Press, and has authored over 110 books of his own.

Morpheus the Mage has ventured into the Otherworlds from his home planet of Nova Europa to free a woman imprisoned halfway across the universe. But his real quest, as he discovers during his long journey, involves saving the cosmos itself, and restoring it once again to some semblance of balance. To do this he must find the four Elephant's Eggs, magical implements of an unknown nature and function. He learns that the present guardians--and possible creators--of the Eggs are the alien Pachyderms, whose world lies in the Chaos of the Sixth Circle. There he finds the first three Eggs, and manages with the help of his fellow-travelers to finally depart that place. But his greatest challenge is yet to come: discovering the Fourth Elephant's Egg--and figuring out how to use it The thrilling conclusion to The Hypatomancer's Tale Trilogy. Michael R. Collings says: "A contemporary comic epic in prose, an extravagant Odyssey to the farthest reaches of the imagination."

"Help me " These words prompt Morpheus, Scanner Prime to the court of Korynthia in Nova Europa, to embark on a jaw-dropping jaunt through multiverses. To prevent the collapse of the social and political order that he has foreseen on Nova Europa, he must rescue a "Lady" being held prisoner on one of the infinity of alternate earths in the six known circles of the Otherworlds. Accompanied by his faithful wherret, Scooter, and a band of loyal cutthroats, the mage must first find a way to travel off-world--something that very few humans have ever successfully accomplished. Michael R. Collings says: "A contemporary comic epic in prose, an extravagant Odyssey to the farthest reaches of the imagination." The Hypatomancer's Tale, Book One.

As the war between Earth and Mars heats up, threatening the potential destruction of both parties, Alex Smith and his Martian friend, Big Guy, are caught right in the middle--between the humans and the aliens, between various factions of their own people, between the inherent difficulty of establishing communication between two such dissimilar intelligences. Unless Alex can find some way of bridging the gulf between the worlds, both sides will be left vulnerable to the threat posed by a third, much more dangerous alien race that's targeting both worlds. The stunning conclusion to the War of Two Worlds Trilogy!

In the tradition of the old "Ace Doubles" two-in-one books (flip one over to read the second title)--here is the fifth Wildside Mystery Double. MURDER OF A BOOKMAN: A Bentley Hollow Collectibles Mystery Novel, by Gary Lovisi. When the police are asked to investigate the brutal murder of bookseller Brian MacDonald, who's been stabbed in the back with his letter opener, they have no trouble locating suspects, because MacDonald has been less than honest in his dealings. But Detective Bentley Hollow has problems of his own: his wife has left him, and he detests his new partner. Still, he has to find a solution to the crime, and when he does, his life will be irrevocably changed. The first in a new series. THE PAPERBACK SHOW MURDERS, by Robert Reginald. When bookdealer "Freddie the Cur" is murdered at a paperback show, Police Lt. Pfisch is forced to close the con. After all, this is the third untimely death of a show attendee in as many days. First there was Lissa Boaz, called the "Boa Constrictor" for her questionable business practices. Then came Brody Richard "The O-Man" Dameen, the drunken horror writer. What links these victims, other than collectible paperbacks? And why does the identification of the REAL author of an early Ace gothic even matter? A comic mystery novel of the modern con scene.

When the first Martian capsule lands, Alex Smith is drawn to the scene out of curiosity and wonder. But soon he must flee, when the great alien striders begin devastating the countryside and harvesting the living bodies of men and women to drain their blood. Smith wanders south, being drafted into the Army, witnessing major battles between the Martians and the American troops, and following the trail of destruction all the way to San Francisco. There he finds a city deserted of human life. Mankind seems doomed, unless... A grand science-fiction adventure, inspired by H. G. Wells's War of the Worlds. War of Two Worlds, Book One.

In the tradition of the old "Ace Doubles" two-in-one books, here is the second Wildside Mystery Double: DEADLY THINGS: A COLLECTION OF MYSTERIOUS TALES, by Darrell Schweitzer. Darrell Schweitzer's first mystery collection explores the murderous impulse in a variety of historical settings. Three mysteries are set in ancient Rome, two featuring Pliny the Younger as investigator. Two are Shakespearean mysteries, in one of which King Henry V plays detective, with the other based on The Two Noble Kinsmen. Three Sherlock Holmes tales involve the apparent misapplication of the Great Detective's methods to the supernatural, a revelation of one of Watson's unwritten cases, and a multi-genre record-breaker, an alternate history, vampire cat detective story. THE JUDGMENT OF THE GODS AND OTHER VERDICTS OF HISTORY, by Robert Reginald. Four scintillating tales of detection from ancient and medieval times. In "The Judgment of the Gods," a young Greek trader must solve the murder of Assyrian King Sennacherib. William of Occam, the medieval philosopher, is forced by Pope John XXII in "Occam's Razor" to solve the murders of French King Philip IV and Pope Clement V. Occam returns in "Occam's Treasure," this time unraveling the puzzle surrounding the killing of clergymen in Avigon. In "Occam's Measure," the great thinker must stop a vicious serial killer stalking the night-time streets of the papal city. Great mystery--and fantasy--reading

This bio-bibliography of the golden age of the science fiction field includes 308 biographies compiled from questionnaires sent to the authors, and chronological lists of 483 writers' published works. This facsimile reprint of the 1975 edition includes a title index, introduction, and minor corrections. A now-classic guide to the major and minor SF writers active in the early 1970s.

Nothing seemed to stop the little monsters. I shot a second time, wounding or killing another, and then dropped the gun to the ground. I pulled a slender blade from under my belt and whipped it at the little men.

Another couple of strikes against my legs brought me level with the filthy floor of the alley, my fine clothes being soiled by the trash of the Big City -- and although I sliced and diced deeply into the bodies of several of my attackers, I knew that I was doomed to lose this particular battle in the end. There were just too many of them: they would either kill or severely injure me.

Is this how The Phantom meets his end?

This bio-bibliography of the golden age of the science fiction field includes 308 biographies compiled from questionnaires sent to the authors, and chronological lists of 483 writers' published works. This facsimile reprint of the 1975 edition includes a title index, introduction, and minor corrections. A now-classic guide to the major and minor SF writers active in the early 1970s.

An anthology of various ghostly tales by authors such as E.F. Benson and Arthur Conan Doyle.

This was the first bibliography and guide to the American mass market paperback book, and it remains one of the most definitive. The major index is by author, and lists: author, title, publisher, book number, year of publication, and cover price. The title index lists titles and authors only. The publisher index provides a history of that imprint, with addresses, number ranges, and general physical description of the books issued. This is the place that all study of the American paperback must begin.

The fourth issue of this classic magazine features: "The Hollow Land," by William Morris, "The Goddess of Atvatabar" (part 4), more!

The premiere issue of FORGOTTEN FANTASY featured part 1 of "The Goddess of Atvatabar," by William R. Bradshaw -- a rare fantasy novel reprinted for the first time. Plus short works by Arthur Conan Doyle ("The Parasite") and F. Marion Crawford ("The Dead Smile").