Obverse Books
Encyclopedia
Obverse Books is a British publisher, best known for publishing books relating to the character Iris Wildthyme
. The imprint was founded by Stuart Douglas in 2008 to provide an outlet for adult-oriented fiction relating to Doctor Who
,. The second book released, The Panda Book of Horror
, came to the attention of Pan Macmillan and was mentioned in the introduction to that company's re-issued Pan Book of Horror
and in articles in various mainstream magazines, including SFX, as an example of the cultural impact the original book has had.
In 2010, Douglas announced on Facebook
and the Gallifrey Base
Doctor Who forum that Obverse were expanding their remit, and would be publishing single author collections and non science fiction collections.
Additionally, Obverse Books acquired the rights to publish short story collections based on Faction Paradox
, with the first volume to be released in 2011.
The first single author collection, With Deepest Sympathy, by noted horror writer and editor, Johnny Mains
, was released in October 2010 to generally good reviews ('a distinctive and impressive debut collection' according to a review in the British Fantasy Society
magazine, Prism), alongside a collection of ghost stories, edited by Cavan Scott
and featuring some of the biggest names on the UK horror scene..
In 2011, The Obverse Quarterly was launched, a series of paperback books aimed at genre fans. Amongst early contributors are Conrad Williams, Reggie Oliver
, Michael Moorcock
, Mark Hodder
and George Mann
..
Also in 2011, Obverse released the first in a series of tete-beche
collections, as part of the resurgence of such books in the speculative fiction market.
Iris Wildthyme
Iris Wildthyme is a fictional character created by writer Paul Magrs, who has appeared in short stories, novels and audio dramas from numerous publishers...
. The imprint was founded by Stuart Douglas in 2008 to provide an outlet for adult-oriented fiction relating to Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
,. The second book released, The Panda Book of Horror
The Panda Book of Horror
The Panda Book of Horror is a short-story anthology edited by Stuart Douglas and Paul Magrs, published by Obverse Books and featuring Iris Wildthyme, a series character with a complicated publishing history....
, came to the attention of Pan Macmillan and was mentioned in the introduction to that company's re-issued Pan Book of Horror
Pan Book of Horror
The Pan Book of Horror Stories was a paperback series of short horror story anthologies published by Pan Books Ltd. The series ran to thirty volumes, the first published in 1959.The series was initially collected and edited by Herbert Van Thal...
and in articles in various mainstream magazines, including SFX, as an example of the cultural impact the original book has had.
In 2010, Douglas announced on Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
and the Gallifrey Base
Gallifrey Base
Gallifrey Base is an Internet forum dedicated to discussion of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It has been described as "one of the largest [Doctor Who] fan forums" and "the biggest Who fansite". , the site had 32,062 members....
Doctor Who forum that Obverse were expanding their remit, and would be publishing single author collections and non science fiction collections.
Additionally, Obverse Books acquired the rights to publish short story collections based on Faction Paradox
Faction Paradox
Faction Paradox is a fictional time travelling cult/rebel group/organized crime syndicate, originally created by the author Lawrence Miles. The Faction's belief-system as portrayed has some similarities to voodoo, and is sometimes described as such...
, with the first volume to be released in 2011.
The first single author collection, With Deepest Sympathy, by noted horror writer and editor, Johnny Mains
Johnny Mains
Johnny Mains is a Scottish editor and writer of horror fiction.-Biography:Johnny Mains is an award winning editor and horror historian whose main area of expertise is British horror anthologies...
, was released in October 2010 to generally good reviews ('a distinctive and impressive debut collection' according to a review in the British Fantasy Society
British Fantasy Society
The British Fantasy Society began in 1971 as the British Weird Fantasy Society, an offshoot of the British Science Fiction Association. The society is dedicated to promoting the best in the fantasy, science fiction and horror genres....
magazine, Prism), alongside a collection of ghost stories, edited by Cavan Scott
Cavan Scott
Cavan Scott is a freelance author, journalist and editor best known for his work on a variety of spin-offs from the BBC Television series Doctor Who...
and featuring some of the biggest names on the UK horror scene..
In 2011, The Obverse Quarterly was launched, a series of paperback books aimed at genre fans. Amongst early contributors are Conrad Williams, Reggie Oliver
Reggie Oliver
Reggie Oliver is an English playwright, biographer and writer of ghost stories.-Life and career:Reggie Oliver was educated at Eton and University College, Oxford , and has been a professional playwright, actor, and theatre director since 1975.He has worked in radio, television, films, and...
, Michael Moorcock
Michael Moorcock
Michael John Moorcock is an English writer, primarily of science fiction and fantasy, who has also published a number of literary novels....
, Mark Hodder
Mark Hodder
Mark Hodder is an English steampunk author currently living in Spain.He also runs a website dedicated to Sexton Blake, .-Novels:* Burton & Swinburne** The Strange Affair of Spring-Heeled Jack Mark Hodder is an English steampunk author currently living in Spain.He also runs a website dedicated to...
and George Mann
George Mann (writer)
George Mann is an author and editor, primarily in genre fiction. He was born in Darlington, County Durham in 1978. He works and lives in Nottinghamshire, England....
..
Also in 2011, Obverse released the first in a series of tete-beche
Tête-bêche
In philately, tête-bêche is a joined pair of stamps in which one is upside-down in relation to the other, produced intentionally or accidentally. Like any pair of stamps, a pair of tête-bêches can be a vertical or a horizontal pair. In the case of a pair of triangular stamps, they cannot help but...
collections, as part of the resurgence of such books in the speculative fiction market.
Iris Wildthyme
- Iris Wildthyme and the Celestial OmnibusIris Wildthyme and the Celestial OmnibusIris Wildthyme and the Celestial Omnibus is a short-story anthology edited by Paul Magrs and Stuart Douglas, published by Obverse Books and featuring Iris Wildthyme, a series character with a complicated publishing history, who previously appeared in the series of Doctor Who books from the BBC.It...
(eds, Paul MagrsPaul MagrsPaul Magrs is a writer and lecturer. He was born in Jarrow, Tyne and Wear, England, and now lives in Manchester with his partner, author and lecturer Jeremy Hoad.-Early life:...
and Stuart Douglas, 29 May 2009) - The Panda Book of HorrorThe Panda Book of HorrorThe Panda Book of Horror is a short-story anthology edited by Stuart Douglas and Paul Magrs, published by Obverse Books and featuring Iris Wildthyme, a series character with a complicated publishing history....
(eds, Stuart Douglas and Paul Magrs, 12 December 2009) - Miss Wildthyme and Friends Investigate (collection of linked novellas, 10 June 2010)
- Iris: AbroadIris: AbroadIris: Abroad is a short-story anthology edited by Paul Magrs and Stuart Douglas, published by Obverse Books and featuring Iris Wildthyme, a series character with a complicated publishing history, and Iris' companion Panda, a ten inch tall sentient toy panda....
(eds, Stuart Douglas and Paul Magrs, December 2010) - Wildthyme in PurpleWildthyme in PurpleWildthyme in Purple is a short-story anthology edited by Cody Quijano-Schell and Stuart Douglas, published by Obverse Books and featuring Iris Wildthyme, a series character with a complicated publishing history, and Iris' companion Panda, a ten inch tall sentient toy panda.The book is themed round...
(ed, Stuart Douglas and Cody Quijano-Schell)
Faction Paradox
- A Romance in Twelve PartsA Romance in Twelve PartsA Romance in Twelve Parts is a short story anthology edited by Lawrence Miles and Stuart Douglas, published by Obverse Books in May 2011, featuring the voodoo-style time-travelling cult Faction Paradox....
(eds, Lawrence MilesLawrence MilesLawrence Miles is a science fiction author known for his work on original Doctor Who novels and the subsequent spin-off Faction Paradox...
and Stuart Douglas, 31 May 2011)
The Obverse Quarterly
- Book 1: Bite Sized Horror (ed Johnny Mains)
- Book 2: Senor 105 and the Elements of Danger (ed Cody Quijano-Schell)
- Book 3: The Diamond Lens and Other Stories (the short fiction of Fitz James O'BrienFitz James O'BrienFitz James O'Brien was an Irish-born American writer, some of whose work is often considered one of the forerunners of today's science fiction.-Biography:...
) - Book 4: ZenithMonsieur ZenithMonsieur Zenith the Albino is an ambiguous villain created by writer Anthony Skene for the "Sexton Blake" series of detective pulp fiction.Zenith is an albinistic, world-weary gentleman thief, originally Romanian nobility but in exile for undetermined reasons. He is full of an ennui which can only...
Lives!
Other titles
- The Obverse Book of Ghosts (ed, Cavan ScottCavan ScottCavan Scott is a freelance author, journalist and editor best known for his work on a variety of spin-offs from the BBC Television series Doctor Who...
, November 2010) - With Deepest Sympathy - Johnny Mains (October 2010)
- Skaldenland - Jim MortimoreJim MortimoreJim Mortimore is a British science fiction writer, who has written several spin-off novels for popular television series, principally Doctor Who, but also Farscape and Babylon 5....
(May 2011) - Team Up - Paul Magrs and George Mann