If you had a book that publishing houses would fight for, what three would you choose? Why do you think they're the best?
What are the top three fantasy publishing houses, and why?
- Thread starter Nateskate
- Start date
- Status
Wow...that's an extremely hypothetical situation 
I would say Tor, Orbit, and Night Shade. They've all got incredible books and authors, especially Tor. Tor seems to be embracing Teh Internets more than any other publishers are right now, Orbit is growing a lot, and Night Shade has gone from teensy start-up to proper major publisher in less than ten years. They are all very impressive IMO.
I would say Tor, Orbit, and Night Shade. They've all got incredible books and authors, especially Tor. Tor seems to be embracing Teh Internets more than any other publishers are right now, Orbit is growing a lot, and Night Shade has gone from teensy start-up to proper major publisher in less than ten years. They are all very impressive IMO.
You might want to consider the best editors, as opposed to the best publishers.
And throw in content while you're at it: There's a world of difference between Charlaine Harris' work and Tanya Huff, but they're both "fantasy."
And throw in content while you're at it: There's a world of difference between Charlaine Harris' work and Tanya Huff, but they're both "fantasy."
This is very subjective, and you're going to get a lot of different answers. I think it depends on the specifics of the story (sub-genre, length, style) as to which publishers would be a good fit for a particular person. Great question...
Exactly. "Fantasy" encompasses a wide range of sub-genres, from high-fantasy to urban fantasy. If you're asking this question to decide which publishers to query (or mention in your query letter), then you need to decide where exactly your WIP will best fit. For example, my latest novel that's getting shopped around is more light-hearted traditional fantasy, so I think my best target publishers will be Ace or DAW based on some of the books they publish. Those wouldn't the best publishers for my UF/Paranormal Romance stuff, however.
I'd look to Tor. I respect their editors, and the production and marketing staff are top notch.
My second and third would depend on the book.
My second and third would depend on the book.
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2005
- Messages
- 16,339
- Reaction score
- 4,111
- Location
- East O' The Sun & West O' The Moon
- Website
- www.jlevitt.com
Opinions abound. And it does depend on what type of fantasy your writing. I know a lot of authors who have had issues with Tor, nothing earth shattering, but I'm not sure Tor would be my first choice.
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2007
- Messages
- 1,417
- Reaction score
- 142
- Location
- Connecticut
- Website
- danstraka.blogspot.com
I would say Tor and Orbit. Admittedly I don't know much about the editors. An area I shall have to improve myself in.
From my side of the world, the biggest one by far is Minotauro, which pretty much holds the monopoly for Tolkien, Gibson, Bradbury, Dick and Le Guin for the Spanish language. Montena, which is the young adult sci-fi & fantasy branch for the Spanish speakers of Random House is on a far second and can see why along to their sister, Plaza & Janés (and you thought Microsoft had a monopoly) doing, for example, finishing series before time (as in the case of A Series of Unfortunate Events) or minstranslating it all together (I mean, seriously, they mispelled Terry Pratchett's name, the bastards). I deeply suspect Montera and Plaza & Janés sees fantasy as something only people under 15 read and older people should be deeply ashamed to do so.
I would go Minotauro all the way.
I would go Minotauro all the way.
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2009
- Messages
- 44,834
- Reaction score
- 2,929
- Age
- 42
- Location
- The exact centre of all of existence
I'd hit up all the ones that my favourite authors were published by in Australia. That said, I don't actually know any of the names of the publishing houses without checking the spine of my book collection...
Let's see...
Pan, Picador, Harper Collins, Corgi, Headline, Atom.
Of course, some of these could be international imprints with world rights...
Let's see...
Pan, Picador, Harper Collins, Corgi, Headline, Atom.
Of course, some of these could be international imprints with world rights...
Talk a walk through the SciFi section of your favorite book store and see who published most of the books.
I bet it's Tor.
I bet it's Tor.
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2007
- Messages
- 2,962
- Reaction score
- 629
- Location
- Bay Area, CA
- Website
- www.geardrops.net
I like Tor and Orbit.
I'm not familiar enough with other publishers to say anything about them offhand. Though I should probably sift through my shelves and see who has published what I like. I'm an irresponsible reader
I'm not familiar enough with other publishers to say anything about them offhand. Though I should probably sift through my shelves and see who has published what I like. I'm an irresponsible reader
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2006
- Messages
- 4,527
- Reaction score
- 1,182
- Location
- Ottawa, Canada and Spring City, PA
- Website
- janetursel.com
Tor is the first name that springs to mind for me too, although they have recently frustrated me with some sloppy copy-editing. I really did expect better from them.
I keep hearing a lot about Baen but my assumpation is that they are an e-publisher...
Tor, Ace, Daw, all the big houses, expect a long wait, sometimes 6-12 months...
Nick Anthony
Tor, Ace, Daw, all the big houses, expect a long wait, sometimes 6-12 months...
Nick Anthony
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2007
- Messages
- 2,962
- Reaction score
- 629
- Location
- Bay Area, CA
- Website
- www.geardrops.net
Baen's not an epublisher. They're a normal regular old publisher.
Go to a bookstore and hit the SFF section, and check out the rows upon rows of David Weber books. Baen.
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2009
- Messages
- 24,466
- Reaction score
- 12,761
- Location
- Enchanted Forest and/or editing cave
- Website
- bettielee.wordpress.com
It's pretty interesting to whittle it down. I've done searches on the best authors of our time, and they're pretty much spread out to various publishers. I think that Tor has the most "fantasy authors", but when it comes to big names, they're just slightly ahead of DAW and HarperCollins...etc.
So many things would factor in. Who is most solvent during these times? Who does the best marketing? Who treats their authors the best?
Tor and DAW both focus entirely on Sci Fi and Fantasy, but does that make it harder to distinguish yourself from the rest of the pack? Is it better to be a big fish in a smaller pond?
So many things would factor in. Who is most solvent during these times? Who does the best marketing? Who treats their authors the best?
Tor and DAW both focus entirely on Sci Fi and Fantasy, but does that make it harder to distinguish yourself from the rest of the pack? Is it better to be a big fish in a smaller pond?
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2005
- Messages
- 23,708
- Reaction score
- 10,661
- Location
- In a world of my own making
- Website
- shadowferret.wordpress.com
I never even heard of Orbit or Night Shade.
I'd pick Tor, Ace, and DAW, but not based on knowledge of how they big they are today, merely that they've been around forever and I've heard of them.
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2005
- Messages
- 28,750
- Reaction score
- 2,937
- Location
- right here
- Website
- www.veinglory.com
Baen would be in my top five. They are by no means an epublisher as they have a habit of giving away the ebook version for free, because they base their financial model on selling paperbacks.
Last edited:
Unless something's changed since Jim died, Baen is the one of the few (if not still the only) major SF/F publisher who's still independent and not an imprint of one of the Big Five.
Other independents: Night Shade Books (30-35 titles/yr), Pyr (just a handful), and Subterranean Press (30-50 titles/yr). Baen is the big daddy with 60-70 titles/yr
Random Baen fact: Baen has a handful of books available to read free online. If you have a disability that impacts your ability to read a regular paper book (vision impairment, physical disability, cognitive disability), Baen will give you access to their ENTIRE library in digital form, free. Pretty awesome. They're the only publishers who do that AFAIK.
Indeed.
And I suggest to everyone that they check out the older F/SF short stories that Baen gives away as part of selling their anthologies. This is virtually the only way you can get your hands on some of these works these days.
Orbit are part of Hachette (I think) and are the biggest player in the UK market. They opened a NY office about 4 years ago, and you'll find an increasing number of their books is US bookstores.
Linky here: http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/...e World Turned Upside Down/0743498747_toc.htm If you explore the site there are loads more stories and novels.
But ST, it kinda ruins the fun of rooting around in dusty cat-infested bookstores sneezing while looking for old mildewy SFF anthologies! Who doesn't love doing that?
- Status