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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

***

News

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
***

Left to right: Mark Saxton, Mark Valentine, Reggie Oliver, Tim Parker Russell

5th May, 2013: Many thanks to all who came to our Dark World afternoon in Carlton-in-Coverdale. We raised Ł250 towards the Amala children's home in India from book sales and donations.

A video of Mark Valentine reading his story "An Incomplete Apocalypse" during the afternoon can be watched here.

Reggie Oliver has very kindly donated a signed and mounted limited edition print of his illustration for his story 'Come into my Parlour', which he read during the afternoon. It is being auctioned on ebay here , along with a signed copy of the out-of-print first edition (limited to 300 copies) of Dark World, signed by editor Timothy Parker Russell, cover illustrator Stephen J. Clark, and contributing authors Mark Valentine, Reggie Oliver, Mark J. Saxton, Rosalie Parker and R.B. Russell. Proceeds from the auction will also go to Amala.

***

   26th April: Nike Sulway and her new novel, Rupetta, are featured at the Weird Fiction Review. On the website you can read their thoughts on Nike and the book, an interview, and, finally, you can read the first full chapter of Rupetta, 'The Miracle of Consciousness'.

***

18th April 2013: We are delighted to announce an afternoon celebrating the publication of the book Dark World, edited by Tim Russell. It is to be held on Saturday May 4th, 1:30-4:30 pm, at the Coverdale Memorial Hall, Carlton, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, DL8 4AY.

Details here.
There will be readings by authors Mark Valentine and Reggie Oliver, an illustrated talk on the ghost story by Dr Gail-Nina Anderson, book sales, signings and refreshments.
Admission free – donations welcome.
For more details email tartarus@pavilion.co.uk, or call 01969 640399
***

15th April 2013: Rupetta by N.A. Sulway is "Novel of the Week" in The Tablet, where it is described as a novel with "a heart".
***

10th April 2013: We are pleased to announce the forthcoming publication of Wormwood 20. The new issue contains the following eclectic mix of essays dealing with literature of the fanstic, supernatural and decadent:

‘Forever Always Ends: Robert Aickman’s Visions of Afterlife’ (part one) by Joel Lane
‘The Baroque of the Void: A Fantastic Fiction of the Austrian Idea’ by John Howard
‘John Cowper Powys: Celtic Colossus and Eminence Grise’ by Adam Daly
‘A Sombre and Unique Beauty: The Stories of Helen Simpson’ by James Doig
‘Fate as a Character: H. Rider Haggard’s Secret Currents' by Thos. Kent Miller
‘Under Review’ by Reggie Oliver
‘Late Reviews’ by Douglas A. Anderson
‘Camera Obscura’ by John Howard

Please note that the price of the new issue has been increased to Ł9.99Wormwood 20 will be published on 19th April.
***
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

***

News

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
***

Left to right: Mark Saxton, Mark Valentine, Reggie Oliver, Tim Parker Russell

5th May, 2013: Many thanks to all who came to our Dark World afternoon in Carlton-in-Coverdale. We raised Ł250 towards the Amala children's home in India from book sales and donations.

A video of Mark Valentine reading his story "An Incomplete Apocalypse" during the afternoon can be watched here.

Reggie Oliver has very kindly donated a signed and mounted limited edition print of his illustration for his story 'Come into my Parlour', which he read during the afternoon. It is being auctioned on ebay here , along with a signed copy of the out-of-print first edition (limited to 300 copies) of Dark World, signed by editor Timothy Parker Russell, cover illustrator Stephen J. Clark, and contributing authors Mark Valentine, Reggie Oliver, Mark J. Saxton, Rosalie Parker and R.B. Russell. Proceeds from the auction will also go to Amala.

***

   26th April: Nike Sulway and her new novel, Rupetta, are featured at the Weird Fiction Review. On the website you can read their thoughts on Nike and the book, an interview, and, finally, you can read the first full chapter of Rupetta, 'The Miracle of Consciousness'.

***

18th April 2013: We are delighted to announce an afternoon celebrating the publication of the book Dark World, edited by Tim Russell. It is to be held on Saturday May 4th, 1:30-4:30 pm, at the Coverdale Memorial Hall, Carlton, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, DL8 4AY.

Details here.
There will be readings by authors Mark Valentine and Reggie Oliver, an illustrated talk on the ghost story by Dr Gail-Nina Anderson, book sales, signings and refreshments.
Admission free – donations welcome.
For more details email tartarus@pavilion.co.uk, or call 01969 640399
***

15th April 2013: Rupetta by N.A. Sulway is "Novel of the Week" in The Tablet, where it is described as a novel with "a heart".
***

10th April 2013: We are pleased to announce the forthcoming publication of Wormwood 20. The new issue contains the following eclectic mix of essays dealing with literature of the fanstic, supernatural and decadent:

‘Forever Always Ends: Robert Aickman’s Visions of Afterlife’ (part one) by Joel Lane
‘The Baroque of the Void: A Fantastic Fiction of the Austrian Idea’ by John Howard
‘John Cowper Powys: Celtic Colossus and Eminence Grise’ by Adam Daly
‘A Sombre and Unique Beauty: The Stories of Helen Simpson’ by James Doig
‘Fate as a Character: H. Rider Haggard’s Secret Currents' by Thos. Kent Miller
‘Under Review’ by Reggie Oliver
‘Late Reviews’ by Douglas A. Anderson
‘Camera Obscura’ by John Howard

Please note that the price of the new issue has been increased to Ł9.99Wormwood 20 will be published on 19th April.
***
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
***

Left to right: Mark Saxton, Mark Valentine, Reggie Oliver, Tim Parker Russell

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
***



5th May, 2013: Many thanks to all who came to our Dark World afternoon in Carlton-in-Coverdale. We raised Ł250 towards the Amala children's home in India from book sales and donations.

A video of Mark Valentine reading his story "An Incomplete Apocalypse" during the afternoon can be watched here.

Reggie Oliver has very kindly donated a signed and mounted limited edition print of his illustration for his story 'Come into my Parlour', which he read during the afternoon. It is being auctioned on ebay here , along with a signed copy of the out-of-print first edition (limited to 300 copies) of Dark World, signed by editor Timothy Parker Russell, cover illustrator Stephen J. Clark, and contributing authors Mark Valentine, Reggie Oliver, Mark J. Saxton, Rosalie Parker and R.B. Russell. Proceeds from the auction will also go to Amala.

Reggie Oliver has very kindly donated a signed and mounted limited edition print of his illustration for his story 'Come into my Parlour', which he read during the afternoon. It is being auctioned on ebay here , along with a signed copy of the out-of-print first edition (limited to 300 copies) of Dark World, signed by editor Timothy Parker Russell, cover illustrator Stephen J. Clark, and contributing authors Mark Valentine, Reggie Oliver, Mark J. Saxton, Rosalie Parker and R.B. Russell. Proceeds from the auction will also go to Amala.
***
26th April: Nike Sulway and her new novel, Rupetta, are featured at the Weird Fiction Review. On the website you can read their thoughts on Nike and the book, an interview, and, finally, you can read the first full chapter of Rupetta, 'The Miracle of Consciousness'.
26th April: Nike Sulway and her new novel, Rupetta, are featured at the Weird Fiction Review. On the website you can read their thoughts on Nike and the book, an interview, and, finally, you can read the first full chapter of Rupetta, 'The Miracle of Consciousness'.
***

18th April 2013: We are delighted to announce an afternoon celebrating the publication of the book Dark World, edited by Tim Russell. It is to be held on Saturday May 4th, 1:30-4:30 pm, at the Coverdale Memorial Hall, Carlton, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, DL8 4AY.

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

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