Night Shade Books

Night Shade Books
Founded1997
FounderJason Williams
Country of originUnited States
Headquarters locationSan Francisco
Publication typesBooks
Fiction genresscience fiction, fantasy, and horror
Owner(s)Skyhorse Publishing and Start Publishing
Official websitewww.nightshadebooks.com

Night Shade Books is an American, San Francisco–based imprint, formerly an independent publishing company, that specializes in science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Among its publications have been the U.S. edition of Iain M. Banks' novel The Algebraist, which was nominated for a Hugo Award, and Paolo Bacigalupi's novel The Windup Girl, which won several awards. The company was started in 1997 by Jason Williams, with Jeremy Lassen coming on board as a partner shortly after the company's founding.[1] Night Shade won the 2003 World Fantasy Award (Non-Professional).[2]

On July 9, 2010, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) placed Night Shade Books on probation after it admitted to, and apologized to authors for, contractual irregularities.[3] On November 30, 2011, SFWA lifted the probation based on good behavior during the probationary period.[4] However, an investigation was reopened when further complaints were submitted to SFWA the following year. Once Night Shade Books indicated that it was possibly facing bankruptcy, SFWA subsequently delisted Night Shade Books as a qualifying market around April 2013.[5] Two interested parties, Skyhorse Publishing and Start Publishing, offered to buy out the contracts and continue Night Shade Books as an imprint of their respective companies.[6] On June 3, 2013, the final details of the corporate acquisition were announced.[7]

As of 2017, Night Shade Book's main office and sales office are in New York, and its distribution is through Simon & Schuster.[8][9]

  1. ^ "Night Shade Books | About Us". Archived from the original on January 15, 2019. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  2. ^ "2003 World Fantasy Awards Winners and Nominees". Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  3. ^ "A Note to SFWA Members Regarding Night Shade Books". July 9, 2010. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
  4. ^ "Night Shade Books' probation has been lifted". November 30, 2011. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
  5. ^ "SFWA Delists Night Shade Books as Qualifying Market". April 3, 2013. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
  6. ^ "Night Shade Books: What went wrong?". April 4, 2013. Archived from the original on April 25, 2013. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
  7. ^ Skyhorse & Start Acquire Night Shade at Locus; published June 3, 2013; retrieved July 6, 2013
  8. ^ "Night Shade Books". Night Shade Books. 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  9. ^ "A Shadow of All Night Falling". Simon & Schuster. 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2017.