Welcome to the Tartarus Press

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Tartarus is a small, British independent press founded in 1990. We specialise in collectable hardback limited editions of literary supernatural/strange/horror fiction, and we also publish paperbacks and ebooks.We have been the recipient of three World Fantasy Awards, and in 2010 received a "Stoker" from the Horror Writers Association.

"When first encountered, the publications of Tartarus Press seem almost as numinous as the supernatural tales they contain. The simple elegance of their presentation. . . jacketed in uniform cream covers with only minimal decoration, recall an earlier age when books were as rare and treasured as jewels. These are not commodities to be piled high on three-for-two tables, but rarities which remain hidden unless sought out . . . The stories hoarded in their pages are so little known you might be forgiven for wondering if you have dreamed them. The Triumph of Night and Other Tales by Edith Wharton. The Supernatural Tales of H.G. Wells. The Lost Poetry of William Hope Hodgson. And dozens of other titles by authors both famous and obscure which taken as a whole form a secret library, a catalogue of weird fiction from its roots in Victorian Britain through to the modern day." -- Damien G. Walter, The Guardian

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News

14th June, 2013: Our next publication will be a paperback reprint of The Life of Arthur Machen by John Gawsworth, edited by Roger Dobson, originally published by Tartarus Press in 2005 with the Friends of Arthur Machen and Reino de Redonda. This new paperback edition includes an index, and (while stocks last), each copy is accompanied by the booklet 'Hail, O King', The Last Days of John Gawsworth by Roger Dobson, and a dvd of the BBC LINE-UP documentary on Gawsworth, narrated by Barry Humphries, originally released by The Friends of Arthur Machen in 2005.
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31st May: Dark World has received a very positive review from Publishers Weekly:
"Whether they provide their ghosts with a rationale for appearing, or present them as frightening because they are inexplicable, all the authors exercise restraint in their storytelling that encourages readers to fit their own worst fears to the story's supernatural events. This anthology, whose proceeds will benefit the Amala Children's Home of India, is Russell's first, but it shows a seasoned editor's understanding of effective weird tale telling."
***

30th May 2013: We have now accepted all the stories required for Strange Tales IV, and plan to publish the book later in 2013. We are now reading submissions for Strange Tales V, and the submissions window will remain open until we have accepted enough stories for the volume.
***

28th May, 2013: Although we have now received copies of Night Voices from the printers, unfortunately the jackets will have to be reprinted, which will take a couple of weeks. We apologise for any inconvenience, but the books will be shipped as soon as we possibly can.

24th May:
Nike Sulway's Rupetta receives a great review at Publishers Weekly:
"Sulway uses rich and evocative prose to pull the reader irresistibly into her tale's vividly rendered alternate Europe and its centuries of human power struggles. Her profound reflections on human frailty and the price for everlasting life seem as much a bonus as an integral part of its telling."

Wormwood 17 gets a very good review at She Never Slept:
"Once again, Mark Valentine has assembled an adept and well-read team of scholars who discuss fiction writers dealing in the unusual, whether famous, infamous, or obscure. Indeed, the lesser-known individuals are often the most interesting subjects."
***

23rd May 2013: We've received a few very positive notices on blogs today. Mark Valentine's Herald of the Hidden is positively reviewed by Mark Andresen at The Pan Review and by David Longhorn at the Supernatural Tales blog. Additionally, The Mumpsimus discuss our reprints of Robert Aickman here.
***

22nd May 2013: Our next publication will be Night Voices by Robert Aickman. It contains all of the original stories from the posthumous 1985 collection, plus Aickman's fantasy novella 'The Model', along with Aickman’s ‘An Essay’ (written on winning the first World Fantasy Award in 1976), and his Introductions to The Fontana Book of Great Ghost Stories series, which he edited. In ‘Robert Remembered’, author Ramsey Campbell concludes this volume with memories of his friend.
It will be published on 29th May, 2013.
***

We are sad to learn of the death of Roger Dobson, a real, old-fashioned bookman who was devoted to a number of neglected writers, including Arthur Machen, M.P. Shiel, George Gissing, C.W. Blubberhouse and Julian Maclaren-Ross. His essays on literary matters were published in the Antiquarian Book Monthly Review and The Book and Magazine Collector, along with amateur publications like All Hallows, The Doppelganger Broadsheet, and his own Lost Club Journal (published with Mark Valentine).

Back in 1990 Roger Dobson and Mark Valentine encouraged Ray Russell to research and publish The Anatomy of Taverns, the first publication issued by Tartarus Press. Always supportive of Tartarus, Roger contributed to a number of our publications over the years, including the Introductions to our reprints of Arthur Machen's Tales of Horror and the Supernatural. He also edited Gawsworth's Life of Arthur Machen and contributed to Wormwood. We collaborated with Roger and Mark on the publication of our editions of Aklo and Ornaments in Jade.

Those who knew Roger will miss accompanying him on obscure literary expeditions and his conversations on all manner of bookish topics, for which he had great enthiusiasm and profound knowledge. RIP Roger.

A fine obituary of Roger can be found at the Wormwoodiana blog here

They are not long, the weeping and the laughter,
Love and desire and hate:
I think they have no portion in us after
We pass the gate.

They are not long, the days of wine and roses:
Out of a misty dream
Our path emerges for awhile, then closes
Within a dream.
                                                                                       Ernest Dowson
***

..... to see all Tartarus Press News, click here
News

14th June, 2013: Our next publication will be a paperback reprint of The Life of Arthur Machen by John Gawsworth, edited by Roger Dobson, originally published by Tartarus Press in 2005 with the Friends of Arthur Machen and Reino de Redonda. This new paperback edition includes an index, and (while stocks last), each copy is accompanied by the booklet 'Hail, O King', The Last Days of John Gawsworth by Roger Dobson, and a dvd of the BBC LINE-UP documentary on Gawsworth, narrated by Barry Humphries, originally released by The Friends of Arthur Machen in 2005.
***

31st May: Dark World has received a very positive review from Publishers Weekly:
"Whether they provide their ghosts with a rationale for appearing, or present them as frightening because they are inexplicable, all the authors exercise restraint in their storytelling that encourages readers to fit their own worst fears to the story's supernatural events. This anthology, whose proceeds will benefit the Amala Children's Home of India, is Russell's first, but it shows a seasoned editor's understanding of effective weird tale telling."
***

30th May 2013: We have now accepted all the stories required for Strange Tales IV, and plan to publish the book later in 2013. We are now reading submissions for Strange Tales V, and the submissions window will remain open until we have accepted enough stories for the volume.
***

28th May, 2013: Although we have now received copies of Night Voices from the printers, unfortunately the jackets will have to be reprinted, which will take a couple of weeks. We apologise for any inconvenience, but the books will be shipped as soon as we possibly can.

24th May:
Nike Sulway's Rupetta receives a great review at Publishers Weekly:
"Sulway uses rich and evocative prose to pull the reader irresistibly into her tale's vividly rendered alternate Europe and its centuries of human power struggles. Her profound reflections on human frailty and the price for everlasting life seem as much a bonus as an integral part of its telling."

Wormwood 17 gets a very good review at She Never Slept:
"Once again, Mark Valentine has assembled an adept and well-read team of scholars who discuss fiction writers dealing in the unusual, whether famous, infamous, or obscure. Indeed, the lesser-known individuals are often the most interesting subjects."
***

23rd May 2013: We've received a few very positive notices on blogs today. Mark Valentine's Herald of the Hidden is positively reviewed by Mark Andresen at The Pan Review and by David Longhorn at the Supernatural Tales blog. Additionally, The Mumpsimus discuss our reprints of Robert Aickman here.
***

22nd May 2013: Our next publication will be Night Voices by Robert Aickman. It contains all of the original stories from the posthumous 1985 collection, plus Aickman's fantasy novella 'The Model', along with Aickman’s ‘An Essay’ (written on winning the first World Fantasy Award in 1976), and his Introductions to The Fontana Book of Great Ghost Stories series, which he edited. In ‘Robert Remembered’, author Ramsey Campbell concludes this volume with memories of his friend.
It will be published on 29th May, 2013.
***

We are sad to learn of the death of Roger Dobson, a real, old-fashioned bookman who was devoted to a number of neglected writers, including Arthur Machen, M.P. Shiel, George Gissing, C.W. Blubberhouse and Julian Maclaren-Ross. His essays on literary matters were published in the Antiquarian Book Monthly Review and The Book and Magazine Collector, along with amateur publications like All Hallows, The Doppelganger Broadsheet, and his own Lost Club Journal (published with Mark Valentine).

Back in 1990 Roger Dobson and Mark Valentine encouraged Ray Russell to research and publish The Anatomy of Taverns, the first publication issued by Tartarus Press. Always supportive of Tartarus, Roger contributed to a number of our publications over the years, including the Introductions to our reprints of Arthur Machen's Tales of Horror and the Supernatural. He also edited Gawsworth's Life of Arthur Machen and contributed to Wormwood. We collaborated with Roger and Mark on the publication of our editions of Aklo and Ornaments in Jade.

Those who knew Roger will miss accompanying him on obscure literary expeditions and his conversations on all manner of bookish topics, for which he had great enthiusiasm and profound knowledge. RIP Roger.

A fine obituary of Roger can be found at the Wormwoodiana blog here

They are not long, the weeping and the laughter,
Love and desire and hate:
I think they have no portion in us after
We pass the gate.

They are not long, the days of wine and roses:
Out of a misty dream
Our path emerges for awhile, then closes
Within a dream.
                                                                                       Ernest Dowson
***

..... to see all Tartarus Press News, click here
News

14th June, 2013: Our next publication will be a paperback reprint of The Life of Arthur Machen by John Gawsworth, edited by Roger Dobson, originally published by Tartarus Press in 2005 with the Friends of Arthur Machen and Reino de Redonda. This new paperback edition includes an index, and (while stocks last), each copy is accompanied by the booklet 'Hail, O King', The Last Days of John Gawsworth by Roger Dobson, and a dvd of the BBC LINE-UP documentary on Gawsworth, narrated by Barry Humphries, originally released by The Friends of Arthur Machen in 2005.
***

31st May: Dark World has received a very positive review from Publishers Weekly:
"Whether they provide their ghosts with a rationale for appearing, or present them as frightening because they are inexplicable, all the authors exercise restraint in their storytelling that encourages readers to fit their own worst fears to the story's supernatural events. This anthology, whose proceeds will benefit the Amala Children's Home of India, is Russell's first, but it shows a seasoned editor's understanding of effective weird tale telling."
***

30th May 2013: We have now accepted all the stories required for Strange Tales IV, and plan to publish the book later in 2013. We are now reading submissions for Strange Tales V, and the submissions window will remain open until we have accepted enough stories for the volume.
***

28th May, 2013: Although we have now received copies of Night Voices from the printers, unfortunately the jackets will have to be reprinted, which will take a couple of weeks. We apologise for any inconvenience, but the books will be shipped as soon as we possibly can.

24th May:
Nike Sulway's Rupetta receives a great review at Publishers Weekly:
"Sulway uses rich and evocative prose to pull the reader irresistibly into her tale's vividly rendered alternate Europe and its centuries of human power struggles. Her profound reflections on human frailty and the price for everlasting life seem as much a bonus as an integral part of its telling."

Wormwood 17 gets a very good review at She Never Slept:
"Once again, Mark Valentine has assembled an adept and well-read team of scholars who discuss fiction writers dealing in the unusual, whether famous, infamous, or obscure. Indeed, the lesser-known individuals are often the most interesting subjects."
***

23rd May 2013: We've received a few very positive notices on blogs today. Mark Valentine's Herald of the Hidden is positively reviewed by Mark Andresen at The Pan Review and by David Longhorn at the Supernatural Tales blog. Additionally, The Mumpsimus discuss our reprints of Robert Aickman here.
***

22nd May 2013: Our next publication will be Night Voices by Robert Aickman. It contains all of the original stories from the posthumous 1985 collection, plus Aickman's fantasy novella 'The Model', along with Aickman’s ‘An Essay’ (written on winning the first World Fantasy Award in 1976), and his Introductions to The Fontana Book of Great Ghost Stories series, which he edited. In ‘Robert Remembered’, author Ramsey Campbell concludes this volume with memories of his friend.
It will be published on 29th May, 2013.
***

We are sad to learn of the death of Roger Dobson, a real, old-fashioned bookman who was devoted to a number of neglected writers, including Arthur Machen, M.P. Shiel, George Gissing, C.W. Blubberhouse and Julian Maclaren-Ross. His essays on literary matters were published in the Antiquarian Book Monthly Review and The Book and Magazine Collector, along with amateur publications like All Hallows, The Doppelganger Broadsheet, and his own Lost Club Journal (published with Mark Valentine).

Back in 1990 Roger Dobson and Mark Valentine encouraged Ray Russell to research and publish The Anatomy of Taverns, the first publication issued by Tartarus Press. Always supportive of Tartarus, Roger contributed to a number of our publications over the years, including the Introductions to our reprints of Arthur Machen's Tales of Horror and the Supernatural. He also edited Gawsworth's Life of Arthur Machen and contributed to Wormwood. We collaborated with Roger and Mark on the publication of our editions of Aklo and Ornaments in Jade.

Those who knew Roger will miss accompanying him on obscure literary expeditions and his conversations on all manner of bookish topics, for which he had great enthiusiasm and profound knowledge. RIP Roger.

A fine obituary of Roger can be found at the Wormwoodiana blog here

They are not long, the weeping and the laughter,
Love and desire and hate:
I think they have no portion in us after
We pass the gate.

They are not long, the days of wine and roses:
Out of a misty dream
Our path emerges for awhile, then closes
Within a dream.
Ernest Dowson
***

..... to see all Tartarus Press News, click here



14th June, 2013: Our next publication will be a paperback reprint of The Life of Arthur Machen by John Gawsworth, edited by Roger Dobson, originally published by Tartarus Press in 2005 with the Friends of Arthur Machen and Reino de Redonda. This new paperback edition includes an index, and (while stocks last), each copy is accompanied by the booklet 'Hail, O King', The Last Days of John Gawsworth by Roger Dobson, and a dvd of the BBC LINE-UP documentary on Gawsworth, narrated by Barry Humphries, originally released by The Friends of Arthur Machen in 2005.
***

31st May: Dark World has received a very positive review from Publishers Weekly:
"Whether they provide their ghosts with a rationale for appearing, or present them as frightening because they are inexplicable, all the authors exercise restraint in their storytelling that encourages readers to fit their own worst fears to the story's supernatural events. This anthology, whose proceeds will benefit the Amala Children's Home of India, is Russell's first, but it shows a seasoned editor's understanding of effective weird tale telling."
***

30th May 2013: We have now accepted all the stories required for Strange Tales IV, and plan to publish the book later in 2013. We are now reading submissions for Strange Tales V, and the submissions window will remain open until we have accepted enough stories for the volume.
***

28th May, 2013: Although we have now received copies of Night Voices from the printers, unfortunately the jackets will have to be reprinted, which will take a couple of weeks. We apologise for any inconvenience, but the books will be shipped as soon as we possibly can.
"Whether they provide their ghosts with a rationale for appearing, or present them as frightening because they are inexplicable, all the authors exercise restraint in their storytelling that encourages readers to fit their own worst fears to the story's supernatural events. This anthology, whose proceeds will benefit the Amala Children's Home of India, is Russell's first, but it shows a seasoned editor's understanding of effective weird tale telling."
***

30th May 2013: We have now accepted all the stories required for Strange Tales IV, and plan to publish the book later in 2013. We are now reading submissions for Strange Tales V, and the submissions window will remain open until we have accepted enough stories for the volume.
***

28th May, 2013: Although we have now received copies of Night Voices from the printers, unfortunately the jackets will have to be reprinted, which will take a couple of weeks. We apologise for any inconvenience, but the books will be shipped as soon as we possibly can.

24th May:
Nike Sulway's Rupetta receives a great review at Publishers Weekly:
"Sulway uses rich and evocative prose to pull the reader irresistibly into her tale's vividly rendered alternate Europe and its centuries of human power struggles. Her profound reflections on human frailty and the price for everlasting life seem as much a bonus as an integral part of its telling."

Wormwood 17 gets a very good review at She Never Slept:
"Once again, Mark Valentine has assembled an adept and well-read team of scholars who discuss fiction writers dealing in the unusual, whether famous, infamous, or obscure. Indeed, the lesser-known individuals are often the most interesting subjects."
***

23rd May 2013: We've received a few very positive notices on blogs today. Mark Valentine's Herald of the Hidden is positively reviewed by Mark Andresen at The Pan Review and by David Longhorn at the Supernatural Tales blog. Additionally, The Mumpsimus discuss our reprints of Robert Aickman here.
***

22nd May 2013: Our next publication will be Night Voices by Robert Aickman. It contains all of the original stories from the posthumous 1985 collection, plus Aickman's fantasy novella 'The Model', along with Aickman’s ‘An Essay’ (written on winning the first World Fantasy Award in 1976), and his Introductions to The Fontana Book of Great Ghost Stories series, which he edited. In ‘Robert Remembered’, author Ramsey Campbell concludes this volume with memories of his friend.
***

22nd May 2013: Our next publication will be Night Voices by Robert Aickman. It contains all of the original stories from the posthumous 1985 collection, plus Aickman's fantasy novella 'The Model', along with Aickman’s ‘An Essay’ (written on winning the first World Fantasy Award in 1976), and his Introductions to The Fontana Book of Great Ghost Stories series, which he edited. In ‘Robert Remembered’, author Ramsey Campbell concludes this volume with memories of his friend.
It will be published on 29th May, 2013.
***



..... to see all Tartarus Press News, click here
..... to see all Tartarus Press News, click here

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