Fantasy Publishing Company, Inc., or FPCI, was an American science fiction and

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving Magic (supernatural), magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy ...

small press A small press is a publisher with annual sales below a certain level or below a certain number of titles published. The terms "indie publisher" and "independent press" and others are sometimes used interchangeably. Independent press is general ...

specialty publishing company established in 1946. It was the fourth small press company founded by

William L. Crawford William Levi Crawford (September 10, 1911 – January 25, 1984) was an American publisher and editor. Career During the autumn of 1933, Crawford, a West Coast science fiction fan, proposed to start a non-paying weird fiction magazine, ''Unusu ...

. Crawford's first company was Fantasy Publications which he started in 1935 in Everett, Pennsylvania, primarily to publish his magazines ''Marvel Tales'' and ''Unusual Stories''. However, three books were published under the imprint. In 1936, Crawford initiated his second company, Visionary Publishing Company, with the intention of publishing books with this imprint. Visionary is notable for publishing the only hardcover book by H. P. Lovecraft that was published during his lifetime. Later in 1936, Crawford assumed management of publication of ''Fantasy Magazine'' from Conrad H. Ruppert and ceased all book publications in order to concentrate on the magazine. After relocating to California, Crawford again published books as "A Crawford Publication". Finally, he incorporated as Fantasy Publishing Company, Inc. in December 1946.

Forrest J. Ackerman Forrest James Ackerman (November 24, 1916 – December 4, 2008) was an American magazine editor; science fiction writer and literary agent; a founder of science fiction fandom; a leading expert on science fiction, horror, and fantasy films; a pr ...

served as a partner for the company and many of the books published by FPCI were from authors Ackerman represented as agent. Undercapitalization was a major problem with FPCI and many of the books had a cheap look. FPCI reprinted a number of novels by John Taine,

Ralph Milne Farley Roger Sherman Hoar (April 8, 1887 – October 10, 1963) was an American state senator and assistant Attorney General, for the state of Massachusetts. He wrote and published science fiction under the pseudonym of Ralph Milne Farley. Family Hoar w ...

, Stanton Coblentz and

L. Ron Hubbard Lafayette Ronald Hubbard (March 13, 1911 – January 24, 1986) was an American author, primarily of science fiction and fantasy stories, who is best known for having founded the Church of Scientology. In 1950, Hubbard authored '' Dianetic ...

. FPCI continued publishing books until 1972. During this period, Crawford also used the Griffin Publishing Company to publish books which were not science fiction or fantasy. Two additional books were published by Crawford in 1978, but a publisher was not cited.

Books published by Fantasy Publications

* '' Men of Avalon / The White Sybil'', by

David H. Keller David Henry Keller (December 23, 1880 – July 13, 1966) was an American writer who worked for pulp magazines in the mid-twentieth century, in the science fiction, fantasy, and horror genres. He was also a psychiatrist and physician to shell- ...

and

Clark Ashton Smith Clark Ashton Smith (January 13, 1893 – August 14, 1961) was an American writer and artist. He achieved early local recognition, largely through the enthusiasm of George Sterling, for traditional verse in the vein of Algernon Charles Swinburne ...

(1935) * ''

Mars Mountain ''Mars Mountain'' is a collection of science fiction short stories by Eugene George Key Eugene Key (1907–1968) was an American short story writer. His collection, '' Mars Mountain'' (1935) was the first full-length book to be issued by a pu ...

'', by

Eugene George Key Eugene Key (1907–1968) was an American short story writer. His collection, '' Mars Mountain'' (1935) was the first full-length book to be issued by a publisher that specialized in science fiction. Key enlisted in the United States Army Air C ...

(1935)

Books published by Visionary Publishing Company

* '' The Shadow Over Innsmouth'', by H. P. Lovecraft (1936) * '' Behind the Evidence'', by Peter Reynolds, pseudonym of Amelia Reynolds Long and

(1936)

Books published as A Crawford Publication

* '' The Garden of Fear and Other Stories'', edited by

(1945) * '' The Creator'', by

Clifford D. Simak Clifford Donald Simak (; August 3, 1904 – April 25, 1988) was an American science fiction writer. He won three Hugo Awards and one Nebula Award. The Science Fiction Writers of America made him its third SFWA Grand Master, and the Horror Wr ...

(1946)

Books published by FPCI

* '' The Night People'', by Francis Flagg (1947) * ''

Out of the Unknown ''Out of the Unknown'' is a British television science fiction anthology drama series, produced by the BBC and broadcast on BBC2 in four series between 1965 and 1971. Most episodes of the first three series were a dramatisation of a science f ...

'', by

A. E. van Vogt Alfred Elton van Vogt ( ; April 26, 1912 – January 26, 2000) was a Canadian-born American science fiction author. His fragmented, bizarre narrative style influenced later science fiction writers, notably Philip K. Dick. He was one of the ...

and E. Mayne Hull (1948) * '' The Sunken World'', by Stanton A. Coblentz (1948) * '' Death's Deputy'', by

(1948) * ''

The Radio Man ''The Radio Man'' is a science fiction novel by American writer Ralph Milne Farley. It is the first book in Farley's ''Radio Man'' series. The novel was originally serialized from the June 28, 1924 issue of '' Argosy''. It was first published in ...

'', by

(1948) * '' The Works of M. P. Shiel'', by

A. Reynolds Morse Albert Reynolds Morse (October 20, 1914 – August 15, 2000) was an American businessman and philanthropist. His wife, Eleanor Reese Morse (October 21, 1912 – July 1, 2010) was also an American philanthropist. They founded the Salvador Dalí Museu ...

(1948) * ''

The Cosmic Geoids and One Other ''The Cosmic Geoids and One Other'' is a collection of two science fiction novellas by author John Taine (pseudonym of American writer Eric Temple Bell). It was first published in 1949 by Fantasy Publishing Company, Inc. in an edition of 1,200 c ...

'', by John Taine (1949) * '' The Kingslayer'', by

(1949) * '' Planets of Adventure'', by Basil Wells (1949) * ''

Murder Madness ''Murder Madness'' is a science fiction novel by American writer Murray Leinster. It was first published in book form in 1931 by Brewer and Warren. It was Leinster's first book. The novel was originally serialized in four parts in the magazine ...

'', by Murray Leinster (1949) * '' The Radium Pool'', by Ed Earl Repp (1949) * ''

Triton Triton commonly refers to: * Triton (mythology), a Greek god * Triton (moon), a satellite of Neptune Triton may also refer to: Biology * Triton cockatoo, a parrot * Triton (gastropod), a group of sea snails * ''Triton'', a synonym of ''Triturus' ...

'', by

(1949) * '' Worlds of Wonder'', by Olaf Stapledon (1949) * '' The Stellar Missiles'', by Ed Earl Repp (1949) * ''

The Rat Race ''The Rat Race'' is a 1960 American drama film adapted from the play of the same name by Garson Kanin. Directed by Robert Mulligan, it stars Tony Curtis and Debbie Reynolds as struggling young entertainment professionals in New York City. Film ...

'', by

Jay Franklin John Franklin Carter a.k.a. Jay Franklin a.k.a. Diplomat a.k.a. Unofficial Observer (1897–1967) was an American journalist, columnist, biographer and novelist. He notably wrote the syndicated column, "We the People", under his pen name Jay ...

(1950) * '' After 12,000 Years'', by Stanton A. Coblentz (1950) * ''

The Omnibus of Time ''The Omnibus of Time'' is a collection of science fiction short stories by Ralph Milne Farley. It was first published in 1950 by Fantasy Publishing Company, Inc. in an edition of 1,500 copies. An additional 500 copies were bound as a Gnome Pre ...

'', by

(1950) * ''

The Dark Other ''The Dark Other'' is a horror novel by Stanley G. Weinbaum. It was first published in 1950 Events January * January 1 – The International Police Association (IPA) – the largest police organization in the world – is formed. * ...

'', by Stanley G. Weinbaum (1950) * '' The Hidden Universe'', by

(1950) * ''

The Undesired Princess ''The Undesired Princess'' is a 51,000 word fantasy novella by American writer L. Sprague de Camp. It was first published in the fantasy magazine '' Unknown Worlds'' for February 1942. It was published in book form by Fantasy Publishing Company, I ...

'', by

L. Sprague de Camp Lyon Sprague de Camp (; November 27, 1907 – November 6, 2000) was an American writer of science fiction, fantasy and non-fiction. In a career spanning 60 years, he wrote over 100 books, including novels and works of non-fiction, including biog ...

(1951) * ''

The Toymaker ''The Toymaker'' is a collection of science fiction short stories by Raymond F. Jones. It was first published in 1951 by Fantasy Publishing Company, Inc. in an edition of 1,300 copies of which 1,000 were hardback. The stories originally appeared ...

'', by

Raymond F. Jones Raymond Fisher Jones (15 November 1915 – 24 January 1994) was an American science fiction author. He is best known for his 1952 novel ''This Island Earth'', which was adapted into the eponymous 1955 film. Personal life Jones w ...

(1951) * '' Doorways to Space'', by Basil Wells (1951) * ''

The Iron Star ''The Iron Star'' is a science fiction novel by American writer John Taine (pseudonym of Eric Temple Bell). It was first published in 1930 by E. P. Dutton. Plot introduction The novel concerns an African expedition. Swain, a member of the exped ...

'', by John Taine (1951) * '' The Atom Clock'', by Cornel Lengyel (1951) * '' Drome'', by John Martin Leahy (1952) * ''

Green Fire ''Green Fire'' is a 1954 American CinemaScope and Eastmancolor adventure drama film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed by Andrew Marton and produced by Armand Deutsch, with original music by Miklós Rózsa. The picture stars Grac ...

'', by John Taine (1952) * '' The Planet of Youth'', by Stanton A. Coblentz (1952) * '' Max Brand: The Man and His Work'', by Darrell C. Richardson (1952) * ''

Science-Fantasy Quintette ''Science-Fantasy Quintette'' is a collection of science fiction short stories by American writers L. Ron Hubbard and Ed Earl Repp, edited by William L. Crawford. It was published in 1953 by Fantasy Publishing Company, Inc. in an edition of 300 c ...

'', by Ed Earl Repp and

(1953) * '' From Death to the Stars'', by

(1953) * '' Fantasy Twin'', by

and Stanley G. Weinbaum (1953) * '' Quadratic'', by Olaf Stapledon and Murray Leinster (1953) * '' Strange Worlds'', by

(1953) * ''

Science and Sorcery ''Science and Sorcery'' is an anthology of fantasy and science fiction stories edited by Garret Ford (a pseudonym for William L. Crawford). It was published by Fantasy Publishing Company, Inc. in 1953 in an edition of 500 copies. Most of the s ...

'', edited by

Garret Ford William Levi Crawford (September 10, 1911 – January 25, 1984) was an American publisher and editor. Career During the autumn of 1933, Crawford, a West Coast science fiction fan, proposed to start a non-paying weird fiction magazine, ''Marve ...

(1953) * '' Stardrift and Other Fantastic Flotsam'', by

Emil Petaja Emil Petaja (12 April 1915 – 17 August 2000) was an American science fiction and fantasy writer whose career spanned seven decades. He was the author of 13 published novels, nearly 150 short stories, numerous poems, and a handful of books and ...

(1971) * '' Atlantean Chronicles'', by Henry M. Eichner (1971) * '' Garan the Eternal'', by Andre Norton (1972)

Books published by Griffin Publishing Company

* '' Griffin Science-Fantasy Booklet Number One'', edited by

(1947) * '' People of the Comet'', by Austin Hall (1948) * '' The Machine God Laughs'', edited by

(1949) * '' The Hypnotism Handbook'', by Charles Edward Cooke and

(1956) (The second edition with the Wehman Bros. is the first Griffin edition.)

Books published by William L. Crawford without imprint

* '' The Moon Maiden'', by

Garrett P. Serviss Garrett Putnam Serviss (March 24, 1851 – May 25, 1929) was an American astronomer, popularizer of astronomy, and early science fiction writer. Serviss was born in Sharon Springs, New York and majored in science at Cornell University. He t ...

(1978) * '' Index to Fantasy and Science Fiction in Munsey Publications'' (1978)

Notes

References

* * *{{cite book , last=Eshbach , first=Lloyd Arthur , authorlink=Lloyd Arthur Eshbach , title=Over My Shoulder: Reflections on a Science Fiction Era , location=Philadelphia, publisher=Oswald Train , pages=251–264 , year=1983, oclc=10489084 American speculative fiction publishers Small press publishing companies Book publishing companies based in Pennsylvania Science fiction publishers Fantasy book publishers Publishing companies established in 1946 1946 establishments in Pennsylvania