The Newcastle Forgotten Fantasy Library was a series of trade paperback books published in the United States by the

Newcastle Publishing Company The Newcastle Publishing Company was a Southern California-based small trade paperback publisher founded by bookstore owner Al Saunders, active from July 1971 through October 1992, under the editorial direction of Robert Reginald and Douglas Men ...

between 1973 and 1980. Presumably under the inspiration of the earlier example set by the

Ballantine Adult Fantasy series The Ballantine Adult Fantasy series was an imprint of American publisher Ballantine Books. Launched in 1969 (presumably in response to the growing popularity of Tolkien's works), the series reissued a number of works of fantasy literature which w ...

, the series reissued a number of works of

fantasy literature Fantasy literature is literature set in an imaginary universe, often but not always without any locations, events, or people from the real world. Magic, the supernatural and magical creatures are common in many of these imaginary worlds. Fa ...

that had largely been forgotten, being out of print or otherwise not easily available in the United States, in durable, illustrated trade paperback form with new introductions. For a number of works the Library’s editions constituted the first U.S. or first paperback edition. Together with the earlier series from

Ballantine Books Ballantine Books is a major book publisher located in the United States, founded in 1952 by Ian Ballantine with his wife, Betty Ballantine. It was acquired by Random House in 1973, which in turn was acquired by Bertelsmann in 1998 and remains p ...

, it contributed to the renaissance of interest in the fantasy genre of the 1970s. The Library was produced under the editorship of

Robert Reginald The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...

and Douglas Menville, editors of ''

Forgotten Fantasy ''Forgotten Fantasy: Classics of Science Fiction and Fantasy'' was a short-lived American fantasy and science fiction magazine published by Nectar Press. The headquarters is in Hollywood, California. Douglas Menville served as editor, and Robert ...

'' magazine, who were also responsible for several other similar series from other publishers. It included works by authors such as

William Morris William Morris (24 March 1834 – 3 October 1896) was a British textile designer, poet, artist, novelist, architectural conservationist, printer, translator and socialist activist associated with the British Arts and Crafts Movement. He w ...

H. Rider Haggard Sir Henry Rider Haggard (; 22 June 1856 – 14 May 1925) was an English writer of adventure fiction romances set in exotic locations, predominantly Africa, and a pioneer of the lost world literary genre. He was also involved in land reform t ...

Lord Dunsany Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany (; 24 July 1878 – 25 October 1957, usually Lord Dunsany) was an Anglo-Irish writer and dramatist. Over 90 volumes of fiction, essays, poems and plays appeared in his lifetime.Lanham, M ...

, and

Leslie Barringer Leslie Barringer (1895–1968) was an English editor and author of historical novels and historical fantasy novels, best known for the latter. Life Barringer was a Quaker, born in Yorkshire, England. He served in an ambulance unit during World ...

, among others. Projected to include a total of twenty-six fantasy classics, the Library ultimately released only twenty-four. Possibly the remaining two are represented by two non-fantasy books Newcastle published without the series designation, the first two Dr. Nikola novels by Guy Boothby: '' Enter, Dr. Nikola'' (September 1975), and '' Dr. Nikola Returns'' (March 1976). The covers for the first eight books were generic and described by their designer Douglas Menville as "rather crude". With the fourth book in the series, artists such as George Barr were engaged to produce more attractive covers at a discount, under an arrangement whereby the artist was able to retain the original paintings for private sale after the books were published. The ninth book onward featured more imaginative, wrap around art, and two of the first eight (''She and Allan'' and ''Gerfalcon'') were later reissued in this style.

Books

# ''

The Glittering Plain ''The Story of the Glittering Plain'' (full title: ''The Story of the Glittering Plain which has been also called the Land of Living Men or the Acre of the Undying'') is an 1891 fantasy novel by William Morris, perhaps the first modern fantasy w ...

'',

(September 1973) # '' The Saga of Eric Brighteyes'',

(March 1974) # '' The Food of Death: Fifty-One Tales'',

(September 1974) # ''

The Haunted Woman ''The Haunted Woman'' is a dark, metaphysical fantasy novel by British writer David Lindsay. It was first published, somewhat cut, as a serial in '' The Daily News'' in 1921. It was first published in book form by Methuen & Co. Ltd., London, i ...

'', David Lindsay (March 1975) # ''

Aladore ''Aladore'' is a classic allegorical fantasy novel written by English poet Henry Newbolt. It was first published in hardcover by William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh, in 1914. An American edition from E. P. Dutton & Company, followed in 1915. Th ...

'', Sir Henry Newbolt (September 1975) # ''

She and Allan ''She and Allan'' is a novel by H. Rider Haggard, first published in 1921. It brought together his two most popular characters, Ayesha from ''She'' (to which it serves as a prequel), and Allan Quatermain from ''King Solomon's Mines''. Umslopoga ...

'', H. Rider Haggard (September 1975) # '' Gerfalcon'',

(March 1976) # ''

Golden Wings and Other Stories ''Golden Wings and Other Stories'' is a collection of fantasy short stories by British writer William Morris, first published in trade paperback by the Newcastle Publishing Company in March 1976 as the eighth volume of the celebrated Newcastle For ...

'', William Morris (March 1976) # ''

Joris of the Rock ''Joris of the Rock'' is a fantasy novel by Leslie Barringer, the second book in his three volume Neustrian Cycle. The book was first published in the United Kingdom by Heinemann in 1928; an American edition followed from Doubleday in 1929. It ...

'', Leslie Barringer (September 1976) # '' Heart of the World'', H. Rider Haggard (September 1976) # ''

The Wonderful Adventures of Phra the Phoenician ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'',

Edwin Lester Arnold Edwin Lester Linden Arnold (14 May 1857 – 1 March 1935) was an English author. Most of his works were issued under his working name of Edwin Lester Arnold. Life and literary career Arnold was born in Swanscombe, Kent, as son of Sir Edwin Arnold ...

(April 1977) # ''

Child Christopher and Goldilind the Fair ''Child Christopher and Goldilind the Fair'' is a fantasy novel by William Morris, perhaps the first modern fantasy writer to unite an imaginary world with the element of the supernatural, and thus the precursor of much of present-day fantasy ...

'', William Morris (April 1977) # ''

Shy Leopardess ''Shy Leopardess'' is a fantasy novel by Leslie Barringer, the third and last book in his three volume Neustrian Cycle. The book was first published in the United Kingdom by Methuen in 1948. Its significance was recognized by its republication ...

'', Leslie Barringer (October 1977) # '' Ayesha: the Return of She'', H. Rider Haggard (October 1977) # ''

The Fates of the Princes of Dyfed ''The Fates of the Princes of Dyfed'' is a fantasy novel written by Welsh author and theosophist Kenneth Morris under the pseudonym Cenydd Morus, a Celticized version of his name, and illustrated by R. Machell. It was first published in hardcove ...

'', Kenneth Morris (April 1978) # ''

The House of the Wolfings ''A Tale of the House of the Wolfings and All the Kindreds of the Mark'' is a fantasy novel by William Morris, perhaps the first modern fantasy writer to unite an imaginary world with the element of the supernatural, and thus the precursor of muc ...

'', William Morris (April 1978) # '' Under the Sunset'',

Bram Stoker Abraham Stoker (8 November 1847 – 20 April 1912) was an Irish author who is celebrated for his 1897 Gothic horror novel '' Dracula''. During his lifetime, he was better known as the personal assistant of actor Sir Henry Irving and busi ...

(October 1978) # ''

Allan Quatermain Allan Quatermain is the protagonist of H. Rider Haggard's 1885 novel ''King Solomon's Mines'', its one sequel '' Allan Quatermain'' (1887), twelve prequel novels and four prequel short stories, totalling eighteen works. An English professional ...

'', H. Rider Haggard (October 1978) # ''

The Roots of the Mountains ''The Roots of the Mountains: Wherein is Told Somewhat of the Lives of the Men of Burgdale, Their Friends, Their Neighbors, Their Foemen, and Their Fellows in Arms'' is a fantasy romance novel by William Morris, perhaps the first modern fantasy ...

'', William Morris (April 1979) # ''

Nada the Lily ''Nada the Lily'' is an historical novel by English writer H. Rider Haggard, published in 1892. It is said to be inspired by Haggard's time in South Africa (1875–82). It was illustrated by Charles H. M. Kerr. The novel tells the tale of the ...

'', H. Rider Haggard (April 1979) # '' Jaufry the Knight and the Fair Brunissende'', translated by Alfred Elwes (October 1979) # '' The Spirit of Bambatse'', H. Rider Haggard (October 1979) # ''

When the Birds Fly South ''When the Birds Fly South'' is a lost race fantasy novel by American writer Stanton A. Coblentz, defined as a "significant tale ... involving avian theriomorphy." It was first published in hardcover by The Wings Press, Mill Valley, Calif ...

'',

Stanton A. Coblentz Stanton Arthur Coblentz (August 24, 1896 – September 6, 1982) was an American literature, American writer and poet. He received a Master's Degree in English literature and then began publishing poetry during the early 1920s. His first publi ...

(April 1980) # '' Allan's Wife'', H. Rider Haggard (October 1980)

Notes

External links

The Haunted Bibliophile's page on the Forgotten Fantasy Library
{{Fantasy fiction Book series introduced in 1973 Fantasy books by series Lists of fantasy books