Prime Press, Inc. was a

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...

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 house founded in 1947. It published a number of interesting science fiction books in its brief four-year lifespan. It was founded by Oswald Train, James A. Williams, Alfred C. Prime, and Armand E. Waldo who were all members of the

Philadelphia Science Fiction Society Philadelphia Science Fiction Society (PSFS) is a science fiction club in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Established in 1936, PSFS is the second oldest extant group in science fiction fandom, and hosted what is considered by some to be the first scie ...

(PSFS). The founders originally intended that the press focus on writers living in the

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

area or associated with PSFS. In 1950, Prime and Waldo asked Williams and Train to buy them out. Williams died suddenly in 1951. Train was unable to continue the press on his own. Their next book was to have been ''

Lost Continents ''Lost Continents: The Atlantis Theme in History, Science, and Literature'' is a study by L. Sprague de Camp that provides a detailed examination of theories and speculations on Atlantis and other lost lands, including the scientific arguments ...

'', 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 ...

. Prime had printed the signatures, but handed the project off to

Gnome Press Gnome Press was an American small-press publishing company primarily known for publishing many science fiction classics. Gnome was one of the most eminent of the fan publishers of SF, producing 86 titles in its lifespan — many considered classi ...

who bound them with a new title page.

Works published by Prime Press

* '' The Mislaid Charm'', by Alexander M. Phillips (1947) * ''

Venus Equilateral The Venus Equilateral series is a set of 13 science fiction short stories by American writer George O. Smith, concerning the Venus Equilateral Relay Station, an interplanetary communications hub located at the Lagrangian point of the Sun-Venus ...

'', by George O. Smith (1947) * ''

Equality; or, A History of Lithconia ''Equality; or, A History of Lithconia'' is a utopian fantasy novel. It is the first American utopian novel. The author is unknown, though Donald H. Tuck speculates that it could be Dr. James Reynolds, a zealous liberal crusader. The novel was ...

'', Anonymous (1947) * '' ... And Some Were Human'', by

Lester del Rey Lester del Rey (June 2, 1915 – May 10, 1993) was an American science fiction author and editor. He was the author of many books in the juvenile Winston Science Fiction series, and the editor at Del Rey Books, the fantasy and science ...

(1948) * '' It!'', by

Theodore Sturgeon Theodore Sturgeon (; born Edward Hamilton Waldo, February 26, 1918 – May 8, 1985) was an American fiction author of primarily fantasy, science fiction and horror, as well as a critic. He wrote approximately 400 reviews and more than 120 sh ...

(1948) * '' Without Sorcery'', by

(1948) * '' The Torch'', by

Jack Bechdolt John Ernest Bechdolt (July 13, 1884 – December 28, 1954) was an American short story writer, novelist, and journalist. He wrote under the name Jack Bechdolt as well as his full name. He worked for the ''Seattle Post-Intelligencer'' from 1909 to ...

(1948) * ''

Lest Darkness Fall ''Lest Darkness Fall'' is an alternate history science fiction novel written in 1939 by American author L. Sprague de Camp. Alternate history author Harry Turtledove has said it sparked his interest in the genre as well as his desire to study ...

'', by

(1949) * '' The Homunculus'', by David H. Keller, M.D. (1949) * ''

Lords of Creation ''Lords of Creation'' is a science fiction novel by American author Eando Binder (combined pseudonym for American brothers Earl and Otto Binder). It was first published in book form in 1949 by Prime Press Prime Press, Inc. was a science fiction ...

'', by

Eando Binder Eando Binder is a pen name used by two mid-20th-century science fiction authors, Earl Andrew Binder (1904–1965) and his brother Otto Binder (1911–1974). The name is derived from their first initials ''(E and O Binder).'' Under the Eando nam ...

(1949) * ''

Exiles of Time ''Exiles of Time'' is a science fiction novel by American writer Nelson S. Bond. It was first published in book form in 1949 by Prime Press in an edition of 2,112 copies, of which 112 were signed, numbered and slipcased. The novel first appear ...

'', by

Nelson S. Bond Nelson Slade Bond (November 23, 1908 – November 4, 2006) was an American writer. His works included books, magazine articles, and scripts used in radio, for television and on the stage. The 1998 recipient of the Nebula Author Emeritus award ...

(1949) * ''

The Eternal Conflict ''The Eternal Conflict'' is a fantasy novel by author David H. Keller, M.D. It was first published in 1949 by Prime Press Prime Press, Inc. was a science fiction and fantasy small press specialty publishing house founded in 1947. It published ...

'', by David H. Keller, M.D. (1949) * ''

Three Hundred Years Hence ''Three Hundred Years Hence'' is a utopian science fiction novel by author Mary Griffith, published in 1836. It is the first known utopian novel written by an American woman. The novel was originally published in 1836 as part of Griffith's col ...

'', by Mary Griffith (1950) * ''

The Incomplete Enchanter ''The Incomplete Enchanter'' is a collection of two fantasy novellas by American writers L. Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt, the first volume in their Harold Shea series. The pieces were originally published in the magazine ''Unknown'' in the i ...

'', by

(1950) * ''

Nomad A nomad is a member of a community without fixed habitation who regularly moves to and from the same areas. Such groups include hunter-gatherers, pastoral nomads (owning livestock), tinkers and trader nomads. In the twentieth century, the popu ...

'', by George O. Smith (1950) * ''

The Wolf Leader ''The Wolf Leader'' is an English translation by Alfred Allinson of ''Le Meneur de loups'', an 1857 fantasy novel by Alexandre Dumas. Allinson's translation was first published in London by Methuen in 1904 under the title ''The Wolf-Leader''; t ...

'', by

Alexandre Dumas Alexandre Dumas (, ; ; born Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie (), 24 July 1802 – 5 December 1870), also known as Alexandre Dumas père (where '' '' is French for 'father', to distinguish him from his son Alexandre Dumas fils), was a French writer ...

, translated and edited by

(1950) * '' The Lady Decides'', by David H. Keller, M.D. (1950) * ''

The Blind Spot ''The Blind Spot'' is a science fiction novel by American writers Austin Hall and Homer Eon Flint. The novel was originally serialized in six parts in the magazine '' Argosy'' beginning in May 1921. It was first published in book form in 1951 ...

'', by Austin Hall and

Homer Eon Flint Homer Eon Flint (born as Homer Eon Flindt; 1888 –1924) was an American writer of pulp science fiction novels and short stories. He began working as a scenarist for silent films in 1912 (reportedly at his wife's insistence).Munn, Vella (Mar ...

(1951) *
The PrimePress
', by PrimePress Media India Inc. (2019)

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=181–201 , year=1983, oclc=10489084 Small press publishing companies Defunct book publishing companies of the United States Science fiction publishers Fantasy book publishers Publishing companies established in 1947 1947 establishments in Pennsylvania Publishing companies disestablished in 1951 1951 disestablishments in Pennsylvania