Paizo Publishing’s new line of classic science fiction and fantasy reprints, Planet Stories, has already released its first three books: The Anubis Murders by Gary Gygax; City of the Beast by Michael Moorcock; and Black God’s Kiss by C.L. Moore. Now they’re announcing their upcoming through next Spring.
Next to be released will be the collection Elak of Atlantis by Henry Kuttner, to be published in November. This book features six classic tales of sword and sorcery from the pages of Weird Tales and Strange Tales. “Elak’s adventures feature a brutal world of flashing swords and primal magic touched by a hint of H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu mythos. Never collected in a mass-market edition since their publication in the late 1930s, these exciting tales helped to establish a genre and are a critical part of any fantasy library. Also included are Kuttner’s extremely rare Prince Raynor stories “Cursed be the City” and “The Citadel of Darkness.” Includes an introduction by Joe R. Lansdale, author of Bubba Ho-Tep and The Bottoms, winner of the 2000 Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America.”
In December, they’ll be releasing The Secret of Sinharat by Leigh Brackett. Planet tells us that this book is “a pivotal work of science fantasy form the screenwriter of The Empire Strikes Back. Raised on the savage world of Mercury, Eric John Stark lives among the people of the civilized solar system, but his calm veneer masks a warrior’s spirit. In the murderous Martian Drylands, criminals hatch a conspiracy that leads Stark to the ruins of the Martian Low Canals, an unlikely romance, and a secret that could shake the Red Planet to its core. In a special bonus novel, People of the Talisman, Stark ventures to the polar icecap of Mars to return a stolen talisman to an oppressed people. Includes an introduction by Planet Stories author and Nebula Award-winner Michael Moorcock.”
January 2008 will mark the release of the 75th anniversary edition of C.L. Moore’s Northwest of Earth: The Complete Northwest Smith. Smith “blazes a trail through the underbelly of the solar system in 13 action-packed stories that are among the best-written and most emotionally complex stories of the Pulp Era. The tales of intergalactic smuggler Northwest Smith still resonate strongly 75 years after their first publication. For the first time ever, all of Northwest Smith’s adventures have been collected in a single volume, including ‘Quest of the Starstone,’ which pairs Smith with Moore’s other famous creation, the fierce swordswoman Jirel of Joiry. Includes an introduction by Hugo Award-winning author C.J. Cherryh.”
And in February, Lord of the Spiders by Michael Moorcock “leaps once more into the matter transmitter for an unforgettable journey to ancient Mars. Pulled back to earth on the eve of his marriage to the beautiful Princess Shizala, physicist Michael Kane must once again journey to the Red Planet to reclaim a life of swordplay and high adventure in the tradition of Edgar Rice Burroughs! Kane finds himself on a different Mars, a place of blue giants and red revolution that ultimately leads to a ruined obsidian city inhabited by savage spider-men. A fast-paced adventure of swords, sorcery, and super-science waits in this classic tale by an undisputed master of fantasy. Includes an introduction by Roy Thomas, former Editor-in-Chief of Marvel Comics.”
The Samarkand Solution by Gary Gygax should appear in March. “The governor is dead! While vacationing in the treacherous city of On, Magister Setne Inhetep—personal wizard-priest to the Pharaoh and part-time detective—stumbles upon a scene of murder by magic at the highest levels of government. With suspects ranging from the high priest of Set to a consortium of merchants and wizards from across the world, Inhetep must piece together the mystery before more luminaries are killed in a plot that threatens the Triple Kingdom of Ægypt! An exotic mystery by the father of fantasy roleplaying, The Samarkand Solution is Gary Gygax at his most thrilling and mysterious.”
Finally, April should see the publication of Leigh Brackett’s The Ginger Star, in which “Eric John Stark, Outlaw of Mars, travels beyond the solar system for exciting science fantasy adventures on the planet of Skaith, a lawless sphere at the edge of the known universe. Raised as a savage on the hostile planet of Mercury and honed into a fearless warrior in the low canals of the Red Planet, Stark is one of science fiction’s greatest adventurers and is Leigh Brackett’s most famous character. The first in a trilogy of stories set on Skaith, The Ginger Star is a pivotal work of science fantasy from the famous screenwriter of The Empire Strikes Back and The Big Sleep.” With an introduction by Ben Bova.
For more information on the Planet Stories line, see paizo.com/planetstories.