Perhaps it’s no coincidence that the 100th Subterranean Press book in my library is the anthology, Collectibles, edited by Lawrence Block. This takes me to just over 10 percent of all Subterranean Press books. In my typical haphazard way about collecting books from small press publishers, I’ve picked up Subterranean Press books over the years from various places, and with no real plan in mind. In some cases, it’s because the book is by a favorite author. In others, the price point made it an easy choice. I have added some books by authors I never expected to read, and from that decision added their name to my list of authors to look for and read – Connie Willis is prime here, as I’ve become a fan from reading several of her novellas published by Subterranean Press.
I’ve long been a fan of small press publishers, from Arkham House to Dark Harvest, Subterranean Press to Centipede Press, Mark V. Zeising to Gauntlet Press, Cemetery Dance to Underwood-Miller, Golden Gryphon to Borderlands Press, and NESFA to PS Publishing, and several others. These names cover only a fraction of the small press publishers who’ve produced limited editions in science fiction, fantasy, horror, and a little bit of mystery in the 20th and 21st centuries. Many of these publishers have faded into the mists of time. There are some publishers that I’ve never considered, or never come across. More ardent collectors go for those books. Charnel House is out of my price range, as are some others. In many cases, titles by some of these publishers climb quickly in terms of price on the secondary market, if they are available at all. Collectors, after all, tend to hold on to their prized possessions.
I don’t foresee acquiring all the Subterranean Press books ever published. Then again, as I understand they plan to retire their press sometime in 2027, picking up a book from this publisher is bittersweet. I no longer go to SF conventions, where I’d see some of their books available in the dealers’ room, titles that I’d never expected to find anywhere. Also, there’s no longer a specialist SF bookstore near where I live, so my choices are only two-fold at the moment: stumble across one in a used book store, or find the book online by chance. I don’t seek one out unless it’s by a tiny handful of authors, and apparently those authors no longer have their books published by Subterranean Press (i.e. Tim Powers, James P. Blaylock, and Robert McCammon).
It’s a shame that Subterranean Press is planning to cease operations. They’ve always been a place for variety, not just genres, but authors and formats. From SF to fantasy, horror to mystery, classic writers to modern ones, they covered it all. It’s a sad day for both readers and collectors when they ship the last book from their warehouse.
