Tachyon Publications

Tachyon Publications is an independent American publishing press founded in San Francisco in 1995 by Jacob Weisman. The company focuses primarily on science fiction and fantasy, with a catalog that emphasizes literary quality, distinctive voices, short fiction, novellas, collections, and anthologies rather than a broad commercial mass-market list. Its publishing program has included both established and emerging writers and has helped bring genre literature into conversation with the wider literary field. The press developed out of Weisman’s earlier involvement in small-press speculative-fiction publishing. Between 1992 and 1994, before establishing Tachyon Publications, Weisman published Thirteenth Moon, a magazine featuring short stories, poetry, and essays. The magazine’s contributors included writers such as Michael Bishop, Lisa Goldstein, Ursula K. Le Guin, David Sandner, and other authors associated with speculative and literary fiction. This background in short-form and experimental writing helps explain Tachyon’s continuing interest in carefully selected collections and anthologies. Tachyon’s catalog has included original fiction, reprints, themed anthologies, and books by prominent genre authors. Its work is often positioned toward readers seeking sophisticated, idea-driven, and stylistically ambitious science fiction and fantasy. The press’s books have received major recognition from the field’s award institutions. In 2013, Nancy Kress’s After the Fall, Before the Fall, During the Fall, published by Tachyon, won both the Nebula Award and the Locus Award for Best Novella. In the same year, Tachyon’s edition of Brandon Sanderson’s The Emperor’s Soul won the Hugo Award for Best Novella. These awards gave the publisher a particularly visible role in contemporary speculative fiction and demonstrated the strength of its novella and short-form publishing program. Tachyon remains identified with independent publishing and with a curated, author-centered approach to science fiction and fantasy. Its core business is the publication and distribution of books, while its distinctive identity comes from combining genre expertise with literary ambition. Publicly available reference material does not establish a larger parent corporation, public listing, detailed financial information, or a complete current executive roster.

Tachyon Publications emerged from the San Francisco independent-press scene and was founded in 1995 by Jacob Weisman. Its specialty has been science fiction and fantasy, particularly books that combine genre premises with literary ambition. Rather than presenting itself as a general-interest trade publisher, Tachyon has built its identity around a focused speculative-fiction list that includes novels, novellas, short story collections, and anthologies. The press’s origins are connected to Weisman’s earlier editorial work. From 1992 to 1994, he published Thirteenth Moon, a magazine devoted to short stories, poetry, and essays. The magazine featured a broad group of speculative and literary contributors, including Michael Bishop, Lisa Goldstein, Ursula K. Le Guin, David Sandner, and others. Although Thirteenth Moon preceded Tachyon Publications, it indicates an early commitment to short-form writing and to a literary approach to speculative genres. After its establishment, Tachyon developed a catalog centered on carefully selected science fiction and fantasy. Its publishing model has been associated with independent-press curation: individual titles and collections are treated as distinctive works, and the list gives substantial attention to authors, themes, and forms that may not fit conventional commercial categories. Short fiction and novella publishing have been especially important aspects of the house’s profile, alongside anthologies that assemble work around genre, subject, or authorial themes. The publisher achieved notable award visibility in 2013. Nancy Kress’s After the Fall, Before the Fall, During the Fall won both the Nebula Award and the Locus Award for Best Novella. In the same year, Brandon Sanderson’s The Emperor’s Soul won the Hugo Award for Best Novella. These results linked Tachyon with some of the most important professional recognitions in science fiction and fantasy and highlighted the publisher’s ability to bring award-caliber shorter works to readers. Tachyon is therefore best understood as an independent specialist press rather than as a large diversified publishing corporation. Its public identity rests on science fiction and fantasy expertise, literary presentation, and a catalog of novels, novellas, collections, and anthologies. Available reference material does not provide a complete chronology of later corporate developments, ownership changes, financial performance, or a full list of current staff. The company’s official website remains its principal public channel for current publishing information.

• 2013

  Multiple major novella awards

  [1]Tachyon Publicationsen.wikipedia.org

  Tachyon-published works received major recognition: Nancy Kress's After the Fall, Before the Fall, During the Fall won the Nebula and Locus awards for Best Novella, while Brandon Sanderson's The Emperor's Soul won the Hugo Award for Best Novella.

• 1995

  Tachyon Publications founded in San Francisco

  [1]Tachyon Publicationsen.wikipedia.org

  Jacob Weisman founded Tachyon Publications as an independent press specializing in science fiction and fantasy.

• 1994

  Thirteenth Moon publication period ends

  [1]Tachyon Publicationsen.wikipedia.org

  The available reference identifies 1994 as the end of Weisman’s publication period for Thirteenth Moon.

• 1992

  Thirteenth Moon magazine begins publication

  [1]Tachyon Publicationsen.wikipedia.org

  Jacob Weisman published Thirteenth Moon, a magazine of short stories, poetry, and essays, before founding Tachyon Publications.

An independent, literary-minded science fiction and fantasy press known for curated fiction, short story collections, anthologies, novellas, and award-recognized speculative literature.

• Science fiction novella

  After the Fall, Before the Fall, During the Fall

  Nancy Kress's science fiction novella published by Tachyon Publications. The work became one of the press's most prominently recognized titles after winning both the Nebula Award and the Locus Award for Best Novella in 2013.

• Fantasy novella

  The Emperor's Soul

  Brandon Sanderson's fantasy novella published by Tachyon Publications. It won the Hugo Award for Best Novella in 2013 and is among the publisher's best-known award-recognized releases.

• Short fiction

  Science fiction and fantasy short story collections

  Tachyon's catalog includes collections of short fiction by speculative-fiction writers. These books reflect the press's continuing emphasis on concise, literary, and thematically focused works alongside longer fiction.

• Anthology

  Science fiction and fantasy anthologies

  The publisher issues anthologies that gather speculative fiction around selected authors, subjects, or themes. Anthology publishing extends Tachyon's specialist role beyond individual novels and supports its focus on varied voices and short-form work.

1. 1Tachyon Publicationsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Tachyon Publications official websitetachyonpublications.com