Roc Books is a

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 ...

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, as part of its

New American Library The New American Library (also known as NAL) is an American publisher based in New York, founded in 1948. Its initial focus was affordable paperback reprints of classics and scholarly works as well as popular and pulp fiction, but it now publish ...

. It was launched in April 1990 after Penguin Chairman Peter Mayer asked John Silbersack, the editor in chief of New American Library's science fiction (SF) program, to launch a new imprint that would draw more attention to Penguin's SF presence. The name Roc Books was chosen as a homage to Penguin's many famous bird-named publishing imprints. Roc was named after the enormous predatory bird of the Arabian Nights. After Penguin's merger with G.P. Putnam's Sons the imprint was aligned with Ace books and the current editorial team at Roc is the same team that edits the

Ace An ace is a playing card, die or domino with a single pip. In the standard French deck, an ace has a single suit symbol (a heart, diamond, spade, or club) located in the middle of the card, sometimes large and decorated, especially in the c ...

imprint, although the two imprints maintain a separate identity.

Inaugural list

The first monthly list at Roc was: * ''Robot Visions'': Isaac Asimov * ''The Warrior Lives'': Joel Rosenberg * ''Project Solar Sail'': Arthur C. Clarke * ''Among Madmen'': Jim Starlin & Daina Grazuinas * ''Barrow'': John Deakins

List of authors

Taylor Anderson Taylor Anderson is an author, historical artillery and firearm expert, re-enactor, and former history professor. He is the author of the '' Destroyermen'' series, about , , and , and their fight against the Grik. Anderson has also written several ...

Isaac Asimov yi, יצחק אזימאװ , birth_date = , birth_place = Petrovichi, Russian SFSR , spouse = , relatives = , children = 2 , death_date = , death_place = Manhattan, New York City, U.S. , nationality = Russian (1920–1922)Soviet (192 ...

John Steakley John William Steakley, Jr. (July 26, 1951 – November 27, 2010) was an American science fiction author. He published two major novels, ''Armor'' (1984) and ''Vampire$'' (1990); the latter was the basis for John Carpenter's ''Vampires'' movi ...

* Stephen Baxter * Peter S. Beagle * Jim Murdoch * Steve Bein *

Carol Berg Carol Berg (born 1948) is the author of fantasy novels, including the books from the ''Rai-Kirah'' series, ''Song of the Beast'', the books from ''The Bridge of D'Arnath'' series, the ''Lighthouse'' novels, and ''Collegia Magica''. She also writ ...

Anne Bishop Anne Bishop is an American fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, wh ...

* M. L. Brennan *

Jim Butcher Jim Butcher (born October 26, 1971) is an American author., He has written the contemporary fantasy ''The Dresden Files'', ''Codex Alera'', and ''Cinder Spires'' book series. Personal life Butcher was born in Independence, Missouri, in 1971. He ...

Rachel Caine Rachel Caine was the pen name of Roxanne Longstreet Conrad (April 27, 1962 – November 1, 2020) who was an American writer of science fiction, fantasy, mystery, suspense, and horror novels. Personal life Conrad grew up in West Texas and gradu ...

Jacqueline Carey Jacqueline A. Carey (born October 9, 1964)"Jacqueline Carey – Summary Bib ...

* J. Kathleen Cheney *

Karen Chance Karen Chance is an American novelist. She grew up in Orlando, Florida. She has lived in France, Great Britain, Hong Kong and New Orleans, where she has taught history. She is currently living in Florida. She has been a full time author since 2008. ...

Nancy A. Collins Nancy A. Collins (born September 10, 1959) is an American horror fiction writer best known for her series of vampire novels featuring her character Sonja Blue. Collins has also written for comic books, including the ''Swamp Thing'' (vol. 2) se ...

* Arthur C. Clarke *

Glen Cook Glen Charles Cook (born July 9, 1944) is an American writer of fantasy and science fiction, known for ''The Black Company'' and '' Garrett P.I.'' fantasy series. Biography Cook was born in New York City.Mary Gentle Mary Rosalyn Gentle (born 29 March 1956) is a UK science fiction and fantasy author. Literary career Mary Gentle's first published novel was ''Hawk in Silver'' (1977), a young-adult fantasy. She came to prominence with the '' Orthe'' duology, w ...

* Charles L. Grant * Simon R. Green * Chris Marie Green *

Laurell K. Hamilton Laurell Kaye Hamilton (born February 19, 1963) is an American fantasy and romance writer. She is best known as the author of two series of stories. Her The New York Times Best Seller list, ''New York Times''-bestselling ''Anita Blake: Vampire H ...

Barb Hendee Barb Hendee is a fantasy author. She is co-author with her husband J. C. Hendee of the Saga of the Noble Dead ''Saga of the Noble Dead'' (also known as ''The Noble Dead Series'') written by Barb Hendee and J. C. Hendee is a set of chronol ...

* J. C. Hendee *

Douglas Hulick Douglas Hulick is an American fantasy writer. Born in Fargo, North Dakota, he obtained a B.A. in history and English at the University of Illinois, and a master's degree in medieval history at New Mexico State University. He subsequently worked o ...

Faith Hunter Gwendolyn Faith Hunter is an American author and blogger, writing in the Fantasy literature, fantasy and Thriller (genre), thriller genres. She writes as Faith Hunter in the fantasy genre, and as Gwen Hunter in the thriller genre.Guy Gavriel Kay Guy Gavriel Kay (born November 7, 1954) is a Canadian writer of fantasy fiction. The majority of his novels take place in fictional settings that resemble real places during real historical periods, such as Constantinople during the reign of Jus ...

* Caitlin R. Kiernan *

Patricia Kennealy-Morrison Patricia Kennealy-Morrison (born Patricia Kennely; March 4, 1946 – July 21, 2021) was an American author and journalist. Her published works include rock criticism, a memoir, and two series of science fiction/fantasy and murder mystery novels ...

E. E. Knight E. E. Knight (born March 7, 1965) is the pen name for American science fiction and Fantasy literature, fantasy writer Eric Frisch, born in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He grew up in Stillwater, Minnesota and now resides in Oak Park, Illinois, with his w ...

Ursula K. Le Guin Ursula Kroeber Le Guin (; October 21, 1929 – January 22, 2018) was an American author best known for her works of speculative fiction, including science fiction works set in her Hainish universe, and the '' Earthsea'' fantasy series. She was ...

* Dan McGirt *

Dennis L. McKiernan Dennis Lester McKiernan (born April 4, 1932) is an American writer best known for his high fantasy '' The Iron Tower''. His genres include high fantasy (set in various fictitious worlds), science fiction, horror fiction, and crime fiction. His p ...

Devon Monk Devon Monk is an American writer of urban fantasy novels. She has also published over 50 short stories in fantasy, science fiction, horror, humor, and young adult magazines and anthologies. Monk currently resides in Oregon with her husband, two ...

Grant Naylor Grant Naylor was the collective name used by writers Rob Grant and Doug Naylor for their collaborative work, including the television series ''Red Dwarf''. Grant and Naylor themselves called this pseudonym a "gestalt entity" (i.e., something ...

Chloe Neill Chloe Neill (born May 1975 in the United States) is the ''New York Times'' and ''USA Today'' bestselling author of the Devil's Isle and Chicagoland Vampires series. She writes in the urban fantasy and paranormal romance genres. Life and caree ...

Andre Norton Andre Alice Norton (born Alice Mary Norton, February 17, 1912 – March 17, 2005) was an American writer of science fiction and fantasy, who also wrote works of historical and contemporary fiction. She wrote primarily under the pen name ...

Terry Pratchett Sir Terence David John Pratchett (28 April 1948 – 12 March 2015) was an English humourist, satirist, and author of fantasy novels, especially comical works. He is best known for his ''Discworld'' series of 41 novels. Pratchett's first nov ...

Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens are a ''The New York Times, New York Times''-bestselling husband-and-wife writing/producing team. In June, 2013, at the Constellation Awards ceremony in Toronto, the writing couple were honored with the Constell ...

Kat Richardson Kat Richardson (born May 22, 1964) is an American author best known for her ''Greywalker'' urban fantasy series. Biography In addition to the Greywalker series, Kat has published in other text forms and media, including role-playing games, vide ...

* Joel Rosenberg * Jamie Schultz * M. J. Scott * Luke Scull * Thomas E. Sniegoski *

Jim Starlin James P. Starlin (born October 9, 1949) is an American comics artist and writer. Beginning his career in the early 1970s, he is best known for space opera stories, for revamping the Marvel Comics characters Captain Marvel and Adam Warlock, and ...

S. M. Stirling Stephen Michael Stirling (born September 30, 1953) is a Canadian-American science fiction and fantasy author who was born in France. Stirling is well known for his Draka series of alternate history novels and his later time travel/alternate hi ...

Harry Turtledove Harry Norman Turtledove (born June 14, 1949) is an American author who is best known for his work in the genres of alternate history, historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction, and mystery fiction. He is a student of history and completed ...

* Kathleen Tierney *

Rob Thurman Robyn Thurman, writing under the name Rob Thurman, is a ''New York Times'' Best Selling American novelist. To date, she has written three series and two short stories, totaling 17 books, and has been published in the US, UK, Germany, and Japan. ...

Boris Vallejo Boris Vallejo (born January 8, 1941) is a Peruvian-American painter who works in the science fiction, fantasy, and erotica genres. His hyper-representational paintings have appeared on the covers of numerous science fiction and fantasy fiction ...

Django Wexler Django Wexler is an American fantasy author. He has published the "flintlock fantasy" series ''The Shadow Campaigns'' (2013–2018), the Young adult fiction, young adult ''Forbidden Library'' fantasy series, and other works. Career Wexler obtained ...

Roc was publisher of FASA's game-related ''Battletech'' and ''Shadowrun'' novels beginning with ''Shadowrun: The Secrets of Power #2: Choose Your Enemies Carefully'' by Robert N. Charette in February 1991.

References

1990 establishments in New York City American speculative fiction publishers Book publishing companies based in New York (state) Fantasy book publishers Publishing companies established in 1990 Science fiction publishers Roc (mythology) {{US-publish-company-stub

Inaugural list

List of authors

See also

References