Laser Books

Laser Books was a line of 58 paperback science fiction (SF) novels published from 1975 to 1977 by Canadian romance powerhouse Harlequin Books. Laser published three titles per month, available by subscription as well as in stores. The books were limited to 50,000-60,000 words. They were numbered as a series, though each was a standalone novel. All the covers were painted by Hugo Award winning artist Kelly Freas.

Editorial problems

Tim Powers, whose first book was published by Laser, has said that ''Epitaph in Rust'' was "mangled" by the editors at Laser Books. An unedited version was later issued by a different publisher.Tim Powers: An Epitaph In Rust
/ref> Piers Anthony had problems with their publication of his novel ''But What Of Earth?''. This novel was also issued later, through Tor Books.

Harlequin edited the Laser books to conform to the standards then imposed on the Harlequin Romances. This included prohibition of blasphemous and scatological words and explicit sexual scenes, but not of sexual situations and implied sex. There was also a tendency to edit to correct grammar and exclude slang in exposition but not in dialogue.

When Harlequin closed the Laser line, all rights were reverted to the authors. Several works including Jerry Pournelle's ''Exile to Glory'' had been accepted and the acceptance payment made, but the book was not yet published. Those were also returned to the authors without any attempt to reclaim the advances paid. The Laser line was important to many beginning writers and greatly expanded the market for 50,000 to 60,000 word books. Many Laser books were later published by Pocket, Ace Books, and Tor. Some remain in print.

Titles

:0. ''Seeds of Change'' by Thomas F. Monteleone, 1975,
::: This book was not numbered, and was not part of the actual series. It was a "Laser Books Limited Collector's Edition", not available for sale, given away at selected bookstores to launch the series and then given away with subscriptions to Laser Books or with mail-in orders. This novel was also given away at science fiction conventions in 1975, starting many science fiction fans collecting them.
:1. ''Renegades of Time'' by Raymond F. Jones, 1975,
:2. ''Herds'' by Stephen Goldin, 1975,
:3. ''Crash Landing on Iduna'' by Arthur Tofte, 1975,
:4. ''Gates of the Universe'' by Robert Coulson with Gene DeWeese, 1975,
:5. ''Walls Within Walls'' by Arthur Tofte, 1975,
:6. ''Serving in Time'' by Gordon Eklund, 1975,
:7. ''Seeklight'' by K. W. Jeter, 1975,
:8. ''Caravan'' by Stephen Goldin, 1975,
:9. ''Invasion'' by Aaron Wolfe (pseudonym of Dean R. Koontz), 1975,
:10. ''Falling Toward Forever'' by Gordon Eklund, 1975,
:11. ''Unto the Last Generation'' by Juanita Coulson, 1975,
:12. ''The King of Eolim'' by Raymond F. Jones, 1975,
:13. ''Blake's Progress'' by Ray Nelson, 1975,
:14. ''Birthright'' by Kathleen Sky, 1975,
:15. ''The Star Web'' by George Zebrowski, 1975,
:16. ''Kane's Odyssey'' by Jeff Clinton, 1976,
:17. ''The Black Roads'' by J. L. Hensley, 1976,
:18. ''Legacy'' by J. F. Bone, 1976,
:19. ''The Unknown Shore'' by Donald Malcolm, 1976,
:20. ''Space Trap'' by Juanita Coulson, 1976,
:21. ''A Law for the Stars'' by John Morressy, 1976,
:22. ''Keeper'' by Joan Hunter Holly, 1976,
:23. '' Birth of Fire'' by Jerry Pournelle, 1976,
:24. ''Ruler of the World'' by J. T. McIntosh, 1976,
:25. ''Scavenger Hunt'' by Stephen Goldin, 1976,
:26. ''To Renew the Ages'' by Robert Coulson, 1976,
:27. ''The Horde'' by Joseph Green, 1976,
:28. ''The Skies Discrowned'' by Timothy Powers, 1976,
:29. ''The Iron Rain'' by Donald Malcolm, 1976,
:30. ''The Seeker'' by David Bischoff with Christopher Lampton, 1976,
:31. ''Galactic Invaders'' by James R. Berry, 1976,
:32. ''Then Beggars Could Ride'' by Ray Nelson, 1976,
:33. ''The Dreamfields'' by K. W. Jeter, 1976,
:34. ''Seas of Ernathe'' by Jeffrey Carver, 1976,
:35. ''I, Aleppo'' by Jerry Sohl, 1976,
:36. ''Jeremy Case'' by Gene DeWeese, 1976,
:37. ''The Meddlers'' by J. F. Bone, 1976,
:38. ''Ice Prison'' by Kathleen Sky, 1976,
:39. ''Brandyjack'' by Augustine Funnell, 1976,
:40. ''Master of the Stars'' by Robert Hoskins, 1976,
:41. ''Future Sanctuary'' by Lee Harding, 1976,
:42. ''Cross of Empire'' by Christopher Lampton, 1976,
:43. ''Spawn'' by Donald Glut, 1976,
:44. ''But What Of Earth?'' by Piers Anthony and Robert Coulson, 1976,
:45. ''Finish Line'' by Stephen Goldin, 1976,
:46. ''Dance of the Apocalypse'' by Gordon Eklund, 1976,
:47. ''Epitaph in Rust'' by Timothy Powers, 1976,
:48. ''Rebels of Merka'' by Augustine Funnell, 1976,
:49. ''Tiger in the Stars'' by Zach Hughes, 1976,
:50. '' West of Honor'' by Jerry Pournelle, 1976,
:51. ''Mindwipe!'' by Steve Hahn, 1976,
:52. ''The Extraterritorial'' by John Morressy, 1977,
:53. ''The Ecolog'' by Ray Nelson, 1977,
:54. ''The River and the Dream'' by Raymond F. Jones, 1977,
:55. ''Shepherd'' by Joan Hunter Holly, 1977,
:56. ''Gift of the Manti'' by J. F. Bone and Roy Meyers, 1977,
:57. ''Shadow on the Stars'' by Robert B. Marcus Jr., 1977,

References

External links

* {{isfdb series s

Laser Book 247

Science fiction book series
Books with cover art by Frank Kelly Freas