SF Masterworks
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Italic title Template:Infobox book series 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. Template:As of, 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 on 31 December 2025. 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),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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
Softcover editions (1999–2007)
Not all printings include a number stamp.<ref name="Complete List">Template:Cite web</ref> Some printings do not include markings or cover designs to indicate they are volumes of any series.
In 2010, several volumes were reprinted with cover designs and colored spines matching the relaunch series. The ISBNs for those volumes were not changed.
Hardcover editions (2001)
Not all printings include a number stamp. Some printings do not include markings or cover designs to indicate they are volumes of any series.
Relaunch series
Softcover editions (2010–present)
The relaunched series features yellow–white spines, the S.F. Masterworks marquee printed vertically atop tinted artwork, and newly typeset and corrected text. As with the numbered volumes, many printings, with identical ISBNs, do not include markings or cover designs to indicate they are volumes of any series.
Hardcover editions (2010–2019)
Hardcover editions distributed to the U.K. market, initially. Many printings distributed outside the U.K. market do not include markings or cover designs to indicate they are volumes of any series.
Forthcoming editions
Announced editions:
| Title | Author(s) | Reprint date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barefoot in the Head | Brian Aldiss | 20 November 2025 | Template:ISBNT |
| Forge of God | Greg Bear | 31 December 2025 | Template:ISBNT |
| Galaxies Like Grains of Sand | Brian Aldiss | 19 February 2026 | Template:ISBNT |
| Beginning Operations: Sector General Omnibus I | James White | 19 March 2026 | Template:ISBNT |
| Alien Emergencies: Sector General Omnibus II | 21 May 2026 | Template:ISBNT |
Unpublished softcover editions
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 Iron Dream | Norman Spinrad | 14 November 2017 | 978-1-4732-2264-9 |
Related series
Other series originally marketed as S.F. Masterworks by Gollancz and its publishing partners. Many printings do not include markings or cover designs to indicate they are volumes of any series.
Rounded-corner editions (2006)
A special edition collection with matte, non-glossy covers, rounded corners and minimalist cover art by Marc Adams.
Gollancz 50th Anniversary (2011)
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Gollancz imprint, Orion published a ten-volume series of fan-chosen volumes. Each volume featured a yellow–red typeset cover designs similar to designs used by Gollancz from 1929 until the mid-1980s.
Golden Age Masterworks (2019–present)
Initially marketed as part the S.F. Masterworks series until adopting the Gold Age Masterworks series name. Yellow cover designs for the series were inspired by cover designs used by Gollancz from 1929 until the mid-1980s.
| Title | Author(s) | Release date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doomsday Morning | C. L. Moore | 10 January 2019 | Template:ISBNT |
| Galactic Patrol | E. E. 'Doc' Smith | Template:ISBNT | |
| Fury | Henry Kuttner | Template:ISBNT | |
| The Sands of Mars | Arthur C. Clarke | Template:ISBNT | |
| Earthlight | 7 February 2019 | Template:ISBNT | |
| Grey Lensman | E. E. 'Doc' Smith | Template:ISBNT | |
| Second Stage Lensman | 7 March 2019 | Template:ISBNT | |
| Northwest of Earth | C. L. Moore | Template:ISBNT | |
| Jirel of Joiry | 4 April 2019 | Template:ISBNT | |
| Children of the Lens | E. E. 'Doc' Smith | Template:ISBNT | |
| Against the Fall of Night | Arthur C. Clarke | 2 May 2019 | Template:ISBNT |
| Judgment Night | C. L. Moore | 13 June 2019 | Template:ISBNT |
| The Stainless Steel Rat | Harry Harrison | 19 September 2019 | Template:ISBNT |
| The Deathworld Omnibus | 14 November 2019 | Template:ISBNT | |
| Sidewise in Time | Murray Leinster | 3 September 2020 | Template:ISBNT |
| The Outward Urge | John Wyndham | 5 August 2021 | Template:ISBNT |
| Stories of Mars | Edgar Rice Burroughs | 17 March 2022 | Template:ISBNT |
Best of the Masterworks (2022–23)
Softcover volumes
Hardcover volumes
| Title | Author(s) | Release date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dune | Frank Herbert | 27 October 2022 | Template:ISBNT |
| The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy | Douglas Adams | 24 August 2023 | Template:ISBNT |