Firebird Books is an imprint of Penguin Group

Penguin Group

The Penguin Group is a trade book publisher, the largest in the world , having overtaken Random House in 2009. The Penguin Group is the name of the incorporated division of parent Pearson PLC that oversees these publishing operations...

 (USA) Inc., publishing mainly paperback reprint editions of science fiction

Science fiction

Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...

 and fantasy

Fantasy

Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...

 for teenagers and adults.

It was created by Sharyn November

Sharyn November

Sharyn November is an American editor of books for children and teenagers. She is Senior Editor for Viking Children's Books and Editorial Director of Firebird Books, which is a mainly paperback imprint publishing fantasy and science fiction for teenagers and adults...

, one of the few children's book editors who works with teenagers. In the process, she discovered that some of her best readers loved speculative fiction

Speculative fiction

Speculative fiction is an umbrella term encompassing the more fantastical fiction genres, specifically science fiction, fantasy, horror, supernatural fiction, superhero fiction, utopian and dystopian fiction, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, and alternate history in literature as well as...

, and were going into the adult genre sections of bookstores and libraries in order to find it.

Firebird has quickly become the most recognizable imprint of its kind, and Sharyn November

Sharyn November

Sharyn November is an American editor of books for children and teenagers. She is Senior Editor for Viking Children's Books and Editorial Director of Firebird Books, which is a mainly paperback imprint publishing fantasy and science fiction for teenagers and adults...

 was named a World Fantasy Award

World Fantasy Award

The World Fantasy Awards are annual, international awards given to authors and artists who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in the field of fantasy...

 Finalist in both 2004 and 2005 for her work. Firebirds Rising, the second anthology November edited for the imprint, is a 2007 World Fantasy Award

World Fantasy Award

The World Fantasy Awards are annual, international awards given to authors and artists who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in the field of fantasy...

 Finalist.

"Firebirds", the first anthology, consists of short sci-fi/fantasy stories by the likes of Lloyd Alexander

Lloyd Alexander

Lloyd Chudley Alexander was a widely influential American author of more than forty books, mostly fantasy novels for children and adolescents, as well as several adult books...

, Emma Bull

Emma Bull

Emma Bull is a science fiction and fantasy author whose best-known novel is War for the Oaks, one of the pioneering works of urban fantasy. She has participated in Terri Windling's Borderland shared universe, which is the setting of her 1994 novel Finder...

, Charles Vess

Charles Vess

Charles Vess is an American fantasy artist and comic-book illustrator who has specialized in the illustration of myths and fairy tales. His illustrations are strongly influenced by the work of artists and illustrators such as Arthur Rackham and Alphonse Mucha...

, Michael Cadnum

Michael Cadnum

Michael Cadnum is an American poet and novelist. He has written more than thirty books for adults, teens and children. He is best known for his adult suspense fiction, and young adult fiction based on myths, legends, and historical figures....

, Kara Dalkney, Nancy Farmer

Nancy Farmer

Nancy Farmer may refer to:* Nancy Farmer , former State Treasurer of Missouri* Nancy Farmer , three-time winner of the Newbery Honor and winner of National Book Award...

, Nina Kiriki Hoffman

Nina Kiriki Hoffman

Nina Kiriki Hoffman is an American fantasy, science fiction and horror writer.-Profile:Hoffman started publishing short stories in 1975. Her first nationally published short story appeared in Asimov's Science Fiction magazine in 1983...

, Diana Wynne Jones

Diana Wynne Jones

Diana Wynne Jones was a British writer, principally of fantasy novels for children and adults, as well as a small amount of non-fiction...

, Patricia A. McKillip

Patricia A. McKillip

Patricia Anne McKillip is an American author of fantasy and science fiction novels. Her novels have been winners of the World Fantasy Award, Locus Award and Mythopoeic Award. In 2008, she was a recipient of the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement...

, Garth Nix

Garth Nix

Garth Nix is an Australian author of young adult fantasy novels, most notably the Old Kingdom series, The Seventh Tower series, and The Keys to the Kingdom series. He has frequently been asked if his name is a pseudonym, to which he has responded, "I guess people ask me because it sounds like the...

, Meridith Ann Pierce, Delia Sherman

Delia Sherman

Cordelia Caroline Sherman , known professionally as Delia Sherman, is a fantasy writer and editor. Her novel The Porcelain Dove won the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award...

, Sherwood Smith

Sherwood Smith

Sherwood Smith writes fantasy and science fiction for young adult as well as adults. She has participated in and organized writing groups for many years.Smith's works include the YA novel Crown Duel...

, Nancy Springer

Nancy Springer

Nancy Connor Springer is an American author of fantasy, young adult literature, mystery, and science fiction. Her novel Larque on the Wing won the Tiptree Award, and she has also received the Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America.-Series:Book of the Isle* 1. The White Hart * 2...

, Megan Whalen Turner

Megan Whalen Turner

Megan Whalen Turner is an American author of fantasy fiction for young adults. She received her BA with honors in English language and literature from the University of Chicago in 1987. She is best known for her series of young adult novels primarily revolving around a character named Eugenides...

, Elizabeth E. Wein

Elizabeth E. Wein

Elizabeth E. Wein is an American author of historical fiction for young adults. She is best known for her three books featuring her version of the King Arthur stories and her character Medraut...

, and Laurel Winter

Laurel Winter

Laurel Winter is an author of fantasy, science fiction, and poetry. In childhood she attended a one-room schoolhouse....

(not in the correct order).