Mission Statement 2010 -- Sapientiant Astutiantque
In 1939, two successful authors, August Derleth and Donald Wandrei, decided to publish a hardcover collection of short stories by their late friend and mentor, H.P. Lovecraft. Lovecraft, who had died in 1937, was considered by many to be the finest horror writer of the 20th century, yet no mainstream publisher was willing to take a chance on a volume of his short fiction. Derleth and Wandrei named their new press, Arkham House, after the eerie New England village where most of Lovecraft’s stories took place. Over the next seven decades, Arkham House published the best horror and supernatural fiction in the world. A brother-in-arms press, Mycroft & Moran, issued mysteries.
The goal of Arkham House as established by Derleth and Wandrei, then continued by Derleth alone when Wandrei was drafted, was simple. Arkham House was dedicated to publishing the finest horror fiction available, in attractive limited hardcover editions. Books were selected by merit, not on whether they were commercially viable projects. Quality of content was what made Arkham House the most honored and imitated small press in the fantasy field.
That same mission, to publish the finest horror and mystery fiction in attractive hardcover format, remains the goal of Arkham House today.
The Arkham Brotherhood & Arkham Sisterhood
Many people strive to be writers. Few succeed. It takes a rare combination of talents to become a published author. Writers need to be patient; passionate; hardworking yet dreamers; disciplined yet wildly unpredictable; and most of all, dedicated to their craft. Thousands try, but only a small handful see print. Of this handful, only a select number compose fiction that meets the high standards of Arkham House. The men of this small group form the Arkham House Brotherhood. The women are members of the Arkham House Sisterhood. Long may they write and reign. The world of letters would be a much more boring place without them.
This will be an interesting mix of revised and expanded classic favorites and well as interesting, outré and provocative new authors. Two books a year – one new and one old.
George Vanderburgh and Robert Weinberg, Editors