Phantasia Press
A small press founded by Sid Altus and Alex Berman publishing short-run, hardcover limited editions of science fiction and fantasy books. It was active from 1978–1989. The company was based in West Bloomfield, MI. A young Leah Zeldes worked for them as a proofreader.
After being unable to find a copy of L. Sprague de Camp’s Wall of Serpents, Alex got permission and reprinted the book in 1978. Sid dropped out due to fafia in 1984, and from then until the press closed in 1989, Berman was the sole publisher/editor.
The press specialized in quality limited first hardcover editions of authors prominent in the field, such as Philip José Farmer, C. J. Cherryh, L. Sprague de Camp, and Alan Dean Foster. Some of its offerings were true first editions, typically brought out in a small, collectors’ edition just before a larger publisher’s release; others were the first hardcover editions of works previously published in paperback. In a few instances, there had been previous hardcover editions. In all, they published 49 titles.
The Phantasia Press editions were printed on long-life, acid-free paper and Smyth sewn in reinforced bindings. Many were boxed.
Alex is still slowly selling off the stock. In 2022, he began publishing again, leading off with a 14-copy, $3,600 “Binary” edition of The Robots of Dawn by Isaac Asimov, meant as a fundraiser for future works, and announced that “Book 50” was underway.
| Publisher | 1978— |
| This is a publisher page, referring to science fiction book and prozine publishers. |
