Tartarus Press
Tartarus Press is an independent English publisher specialising in finely produced classic and contemporary supernatural, strange and decadent fiction.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Tartarus Press is an independent book publisher based in Coverdale, North Yorkshire, England. The press is associated with carefully produced editions of supernatural, strange, fantastic and decadent fiction, combining the recovery of overlooked or out-of-print literature with the publication of contemporary writers working in related traditions. Its catalogue places particular emphasis on literary quality, atmosphere, rarity and book-collecting appeal rather than mass-market volume. The press is run by R. B. Russell and Rosalie Parker. Its publishing programme has included classic authors such as David Lindsay, Arthur Machen, Walter de la Mare, Oliver Onions and Edna W. Underwood, alongside twentieth-century and modern writers including Robert Aickman and Sarban. Contemporary authors associated with the catalogue include Andrew Michael Hurley, Nike Sulway, Rhys Hughes, Mark Valentine, Angela Slatter, Reggie Oliver, Mark Samuels and Joel Lane. The range covers novels, short-story collections, anthologies and related literary projects, with editions generally positioned for readers of supernatural fiction, speculative literature and specialist book collecting. One of the press's notable editorial projects was Strange Tales, an anthology of new short fiction. It won the 2004 World Fantasy Award for Best Anthology. Tartarus Press itself received the World Fantasy Award for Special Award: Non-Professional in 2002, 2004, 2012 and 2015, recognising the significance of its publishing activity within the field. In 2009, the Horror Writers Association presented the press with its Excellence in Specialty Press Publishing award. Several books published by Tartarus have also achieved recognition beyond the specialist-press sector. Angela Slatter's The Bitterwood Bible won the World Fantasy Award for Best Collection, while Andrew Michael Hurley's The Loney won the Costa Award for First Novel. These successes illustrate the press's role as a route through which unusual or genre-adjacent literary work can reach broader critical attention. Tartarus Press also published Wormwood, a journal devoted to discussion of fantastic, supernatural and decadent literature. The journal appeared twice yearly but has ceased publication. In 2025, the press published, in association with the Brontë Society, the first edition of A Book of Ryhmes by Charlotte Brontë, with an introduction by Patti Smith. This project extended the press's interest in literary rediscovery into an important archival and historical publication. Overall, Tartarus Press remains a small, specialist publisher whose identity is built around distinctive texts, durable physical editions and the preservation and expansion of supernatural and strange fiction traditions.
History
Tartarus Press is an independent publisher located in Coverdale, North Yorkshire, England. It is run by R. B. Russell and Rosalie Parker and has developed a specialist identity around supernatural, strange, fantastic and decadent literature. Rather than concentrating on general commercial publishing, the press has built its catalogue through a combination of literary rediscovery and carefully selected contemporary work. The classic and twentieth-century authors associated with its list include David Lindsay, Arthur Machen, Walter de la Mare, Oliver Onions, Edna W. Underwood, Sarban and Robert Aickman. Their inclusion reflects the press's interest in fiction that occupies the boundaries between literary modernism, ghost stories, fantasy, horror and the uncanny. Tartarus has also published contemporary writers such as Andrew Michael Hurley, Nike Sulway, Rhys Hughes, Mark Valentine, Angela Slatter, Reggie Oliver, Mark Samuels and Joel Lane. Across these publications, the press has served both as a custodian of neglected traditions and as a platform for new authors working within them. A significant part of the press's profile comes from the quality and specialist character of its books. Its output is associated with limited or carefully produced editions that appeal to readers of genre literature as well as collectors. The press's anthology Strange Tales, devoted to new short fiction, won the 2004 World Fantasy Award for Best Anthology. Tartarus Press itself received the World Fantasy Award for Special Award: Non-Professional in 2002, 2004, 2012 and 2015. The Horror Writers Association further recognised the publisher in 2009 with its Excellence in Specialty Press Publishing award. The catalogue has also produced books with wider literary recognition. Angela Slatter's The Bitterwood Bible won the World Fantasy Award for Best Collection, and Andrew Michael Hurley's The Loney won the Costa Award for First Novel. These awards helped demonstrate that a small specialist press could publish books capable of crossing from niche supernatural and speculative readerships into broader literary discussion. Tartarus Press's editorial activity has included periodical publishing. Wormwood was a twice-yearly journal focused on fantastic, supernatural and decadent literature. Although the journal has ceased publication, it represented the press's broader intellectual role: not only issuing fiction, but also supporting criticism and conversation around historically marginal or underappreciated literary forms. In 2025, Tartarus Press worked with the Brontë Society to publish the first edition of Charlotte Brontë's A Book of Ryhmes, accompanied by an introduction from Patti Smith. The project connected the press's tradition of literary recovery with an important historical manuscript or text associated with a major British author. It also showed that the publisher's remit can extend beyond contemporary supernatural fiction into archival and culturally significant literary publishing. The available reference material does not establish a founding year, corporate parent, ownership structure, financial results or public listing. Tartarus Press is best understood as an active independent specialist publishing house whose reputation rests on selective curation, literary preservation, award-recognised books and distinctive physical editions.
- 2025
Publication of A Book of Ryhmes
[1]In association with the Brontë Society, Tartarus Press published the first edition of Charlotte Brontë's A Book of Ryhmes, introduced by Patti Smith.
- 2012
World Fantasy Award recognition
[1]Tartarus Press received the World Fantasy Award for Special Award: Non-Professional.
- 2009
Specialty press publishing award
[1]The Horror Writers Association honoured Tartarus Press for Excellence in Specialty Press Publishing.
- 2004
World Fantasy Award recognition and Strange Tales award
[1]The press received another Special Award: Non-Professional, while Strange Tales won Best Anthology.
- 2002
First recorded World Fantasy Award recognition
[1]Tartarus Press received the World Fantasy Award for Special Award: Non-Professional.
Products and positioning
A specialist independent press for literary supernatural, strange, fantastic and decadent fiction, with an emphasis on distinctive authors, neglected classics, high-quality physical editions and the interests of serious readers and collectors.
Anthology · 2004
Strange Tales
An anthology of new short fiction published by Tartarus Press. Its recognition with the 2004 World Fantasy Award for Best Anthology established it as one of the press's most prominent individual publications and exemplified the publisher's commitment to contemporary strange and supernatural writing.
Short-story collection
The Bitterwood Bible
A collection by Angela Slatter published by Tartarus Press. The book received the World Fantasy Award for Best Collection, making it one of the press's notable examples of contemporary speculative and dark literary fiction.
Novel
The Loney
Andrew Michael Hurley's novel published by Tartarus Press. The book later won the Costa Award for First Novel, giving the specialist press a particularly visible success beyond its established supernatural-fiction readership.
Literary journal
Wormwood
A twice-yearly journal devoted to criticism and discussion of fantastic, supernatural and decadent literature. Wormwood extended Tartarus Press's activities from book publishing into literary scholarship and commentary, but the journal is no longer published.
Historical literary edition · 2025
A Book of Ryhmes
A first-edition publication of a work by Charlotte Brontë, issued by Tartarus Press in association with the Brontë Society in 2025 and introduced by Patti Smith. It represents the press's work in literary recovery and archival publishing.
Brand decisions
2025
Publish a first edition of A Book of RyhmesProduct launchBackground
The press's established interest in literary recovery and specialist editions provided a context for a collaboration with the Brontë Society on a Charlotte Brontë publication.
Action taken
Tartarus Press published the first edition of A Book of Ryhmes in association with the Brontë Society, with an introduction by Patti Smith.
Aftermath
The publication broadened the visible scope of the press's catalogue into historically significant British literary material.
Recent events
- 2025
Tartarus Press publishes A Book of Ryhmes with the Brontë Society[1]
Product launch
The press published the first edition of A Book of Ryhmes by Charlotte Brontë in association with the Brontë Society, with an introduction by Patti Smith.
- 2015
Tartarus Press receives World Fantasy Award for Special Award: Non-Professional[1]
Other
Tartarus Press was recognised again with the World Fantasy Award for Special Award: Non-Professional.
- 2012
Tartarus Press receives World Fantasy Award for Special Award: Non-Professional[1]
Other
The press received another World Fantasy Award for its non-professional publishing work.
- 2009
Tartarus Press receives Horror Writers Association specialty-press award[1]
Other
The Horror Writers Association awarded the press its Excellence in Specialty Press Publishing honour.
- 2004
Tartarus Press receives World Fantasy Award for Special Award: Non-Professional[1]
Other
Tartarus Press was again recognised by the World Fantasy Awards for its publishing activity.
- 2004
Strange Tales wins World Fantasy Award for Best Anthology[1]
Other
Tartarus Press's anthology of new short fiction received the World Fantasy Award for Best Anthology.
- 2002
Tartarus Press receives World Fantasy Award for Special Award: Non-Professional[1]
Other
The press received the World Fantasy Award in recognition of its non-professional publishing work.
Sources2 sources
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