SF Masterworks
A bookshelf containing every published SF Masterworks title, as of August 2025 | |
| Country | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Publisher |
|
| Published | 1999–present |
| Media type | |
| No. of books |
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| Website | store.gollancz.co.uk |
S.F. Masterworks is a series of science fiction novel reprints published by UK-based company Orion Publishing Group, a subsidiary of Hachette UK. The series is intended for the UK and Australian markets, but many editions are distributed to the United States and Canada by Hachette Book Group. As of July 2025[update], there are 198 unique titles in the series, 196 of which have been printed in the relaunched series. The 200th SF Masterwork is scheduled for publication in 2026. Approximately 308 volumes, including hardcover, revised, or reprinted editions, have been published in total.
Superseding the earlier series Gollancz Classic SF (1986–1987) and VGSF Classics (1988–1990),[1] the SF Masterworks series began publication in 1999. Developed to feature important and out of print science fiction novels, the selections were described by science fiction author Iain M. Banks as "amazing" and "genuinely the best novels from sixty years of SF".[2] Many of the selections had been out of print in the United Kingdom for many years.
Its companion series include Fantasy Masterworks and Gateway Essentials.
Numbered series
[edit]Softcover editions (1999–2007)
[edit]Not all printings include a number stamp.[3] Some printings do not include markings or cover designs that indicate they are part of the series. In 2010, several volumes were reprinted with cover designs similar to the relaunch series however the text block remained unchanged.
- † Hardcover editions only.
- ^ No relaunch edition as of October 2025[update].
Hardcover editions (2001)
[edit]Not all printings include a number stamp. Some printings do not include markings or cover designs that indicate they are part of the series.
| No. | Title | Author(s) | Reprint date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dune | Frank Herbert | 25 October 2001 | 0-575-07334-9 |
| 2 | The Left Hand of Darkness | Ursula K. Le Guin | 18 October 2001 | 0-575-07219-9 |
| 3 | The Man in the High Castle | Philip K. Dick | 0-575-07335-7 | |
| 4 | The Stars My Destination | Alfred Bester | 0-575-07337-3 | |
| 5 | A Canticle for Leibowitz | Walter M. Miller Jr. | 0-575-07220-2 | |
| 6 | Childhood's End | Arthur C. Clarke | 0-575-07263-6 | |
| 7 | The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress | Robert A. Heinlein | 0-575-07336-5 | |
| 8 | Ringworld | Larry Niven | 0-575-07339-X | |
| 9 | The Forever War | Joe Haldeman | 0-575-07318-7 | |
| 10 | The Day of the Triffids | John Wyndham | 0-575-07338-1 |
Relaunch series
[edit]
Softcover editions (2010–present)
[edit]Series features yellow–white spines, SF Masterworks marquee printed vertically atop tinted artwork, and newly typeset text. As with the numbered series, some printings do not include markings or cover designs that indicate they are part of the series.
Hardcover editions (2010–2019)
[edit]Volumes may not indicate they are part of a series.
Forthcoming editions
[edit]Announced editions:
| Title | Author(s) | Reprint date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barefoot in the Head | Brian Aldiss | 20 November 2025 | 978-1-399-63540-0 |
| Forge of God | Greg Bear | 31 December 2025 | 978-1-4732-2266-3 |
| Galaxies Like Grains of Sand | Brian Aldiss | 19 February 2026 | 978-1-399-63541-7 |
| Beginning Operations: Sector General Omnibus I | James White | 19 March 2026 | 978-1-399-63622-3 |
| Alien Emergencies: Sector General Omnibus II | James White | 21 May 2026 | 978-1-399-63627-8 |
Unpublished softcover editions
[edit]The following editions were announced, but appear to have been withdrawn:
| Tentative Title | Author(s) | Scheduled | Known ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camp Concentration | Thomas Disch | 10 August 2006 | 0-575-07877-4 |
| 334 | 9 November 2006 | 0-575-07897-9 | |
| The Long Loud Silence | Wilson Tucker | February 2015 | 978-1-4732-0773-8 |
| The Forge of God | Greg Bear | 2017 | 978-1-4732-2266-3 |
| The Iron Dream | Norman Spinrad | 14 November 2017 | 978-1-4732-2264-9 |
Related series
[edit]Other series that were marketed as S.F. Masterworks by Gollancz. Some printings do not include markings or cover designs that indicate they are part of the series.
Rounded-corner editions (2006)
[edit]A special edition collection with matte, non-glossy covers, rounded corners and minimalist cover art by Marc Adams.
Gollancz 50th Anniversary (2011)
[edit]To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Gollancz imprint, Orion published ten fan-chosen editions. Each novel featured Gollancz's red-on-yellow cover design. The series was initially marketed as part the S.F. Masterworks series.
| No. | Title | Author(s) | Release date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shadow and Claw (The Book of the New Sun, Vol. 1) |
Gene Wolfe | 1 September 2011 | 978-0-575-11673-3 |
| 2 | Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? | Philip K. Dick | 978-0-575-11676-4 | |
| 3 | Flowers for Algernon | Daniel Keyes | 978-0-575-11674-0 | |
| 4 | I Am Legend | Richard Matheson | 978-0-575-11670-2 | |
| 5 | Dune | Frank Herbert | 978-0-575-11678-8 | |
| 6 | The Lies of Locke Lamora | Scott Lynch | 978-0-575-11672-6 | |
| 7 | Eric | Terry Pratchett | 978-0-575-11669-6 | |
| 8 | Hyperion | Dan Simmons | 978-0-575-11677-1 | |
| 9 | The Name of the Wind | Patrick Rothfuss | 978-0-575-11671-9 | |
| 10 | The Time Machine | H. G. Wells | 978-0-575-11675-7 |
Golden Age Masterworks (2019–present)
[edit]Initially marketed as part the S.F. Masterworks series, until adopting the name Gold Age Masterworks.
| Title | Author(s) | Release date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doomsday Morning | C. L. Moore | 10 January 2019 | 978-1-4732-2326-4 |
| Galactic Patrol | E. E. 'Doc' Smith | 978-1-4732-2470-4 | |
| Fury | Henry Kuttner | 978-1-4732-2255-7 | |
| The Sands of Mars | Arthur C. Clarke | 978-1-4732-2236-6 | |
| Earthlight | 7 February 2019 | 978-1-4732-2237-3 | |
| Grey Lensman | E. E. 'Doc' Smith | 978-1-4732-2471-1 | |
| Second Stage Lensman | 7 March 2019 | 978-1-4732-2472-8 | |
| Northwest of Earth | C. L. Moore | 978-1-4732-2254-0 | |
| Jirel of Joiry | 4 April 2019 | 978-1-4732-2252-6 | |
| Children of the Lens | E. E. 'Doc' Smith | 978-1-4732-2473-5 | |
| Against the Fall of Night | Arthur C. Clarke | 2 May 2019 | 978-1-4732-2234-2 |
| Judgment Night | C. L. Moore | 13 June 2019 | 978-1-4732-2253-3 |
| The Stainless Steel Rat | Harry Harrison | 19 September 2019 | 978-1-4732-2768-2 |
| The Deathworld Omnibus | 14 November 2019 | 978-1-4732-2837-5 | |
| Sidewise in Time | Murray Leinster | 3 September 2020 | 978-1-4732-2739-2 |
| The Outward Urge | John Wyndham | 5 August 2021 | 978-1-4732-3072-9 |
| Stories of Mars | Edgar Rice Burroughs | 17 March 2022 | 978-1-4732-3482-6 |
Best of the Masterworks (2022–23)
[edit]Softcover volumes
[edit]Hardcover volumes
[edit]| Title | Author(s) | Release date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dune | Frank Herbert | 27 October 2022 | 978-1-399-61117-6 |
| The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy | Douglas Adams | 24 August 2023 | 978-1-399-61724-6 |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Gollancz Classic SF - 1986-1987". SFandFantasy.co.uk.
- ^ "Locus Online: Malcolm Edwards interview excerpts". Locus. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
- ^ a b c "The SF Masterworks: A Complete List". 12 January 2016.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Millennium / Gollancz SF Masterworks series listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
- Gollancz SF Masterworks (HC) series listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
- Gollancz SF Masterworks (II) series listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
- SF Masterworks at LibraryThing
- SF Masterworks at Worlds Without End