Tartarus Press Goes Digital With New Sarban E-books

Tartarus Press is the latest weird fiction publisher to break into the digital market, following a small minority, most notably spearheaded by Chomu Press. They have decided to release several books by Sarban as electronic e-books for the Kindle. Tartarus' foray into e-publishing is a wise experiment that also introduces one of modern supernatural literature's more obscure figures to a broad new market.

Sarban's three best known works are hitting the Kindle circuits right now. The Sound of His Horn, an alternate history novel, is the most affordable and offers the widest appeal outside the weird. His two fantasy collections, Ringstones and The Doll Maker join the novel, completing a multi-tiered blast of Sarban works unseen since...probably ever.

All three e-books don't stretch the wallet, as each title is significantly cheaper than a good paperback. It also presents the previously unthinkable opportunity to own all of Sarban's work on a dime. This development may well increase Sarban's following, bringing the fantasist in from the cold and into wider appeal. Sometimes, boosting accessibility is all it takes, and churning out electronic volumes of his work is a definite path to wider notoriety.

Tartarus' move is an interesting one that will be closely monitored in the weird fiction niche. Seeing classic names in supernatural literature available for a few dollars could permanently change literary horror forever. As any reader and entrepreneur might guess, this poses obvious perils as well as opportunities. Moreover, e-books stand to help reduce the lengthy waiting times that have characterized some publication cycles in recent years. Unlike traditional books, an e-book's publication is virtually instantaneous, posing another interesting change in the industry.

-Grim Blogger