Solar Press Books

07/10/2025

How does a man awakened from cryonic sleep react to a strange new humanity that alters its genes the way 21st century man changed his clothes?
Can medically induced nightmares that seem to last a lifetime take the place of capital punishment?
What does the mind experience when severed from the body?
What are the ultimate limits of artistic expression in a post-human age?
These intriguing questions and more are answered in Mac Tonnies' macabre, mind-expanding collection of science-fiction short stories.

Originally published in 1995, Illumined Black was a sensation among the science-fiction community. Mac Tonnies was a radical new voice in the genre, and his storytelling — combining JG Ballard, Philip K Dick, and internet-age verve — was a breath of fresh air. Unfortunately, due to Mac Tonnies' untimely passing at just 34 years old, Illumined Black remains the only volume of fiction he ever published.

This new Solar Press edition of Illumined Black greatly expands on the long out-of-print first-edition, containing both the original 9 story 'Illumined Black' collection, and 9 new stories collected from magazines, ezines, and the Mac Tonnies archive — including 'One-Hundred Years,' Mac's apocalyptic magnum opus, originally published in Flurb #3 (edited by cyberpunk godfather Rudy Rucker). This volume represents the entirety of Mac Tonnies' science-fiction writing in a single epic volume.

https://solarpressbooks.com/products/illumined-black-by-mac-tonnies
[SHIPS JULY 31, 2025]

06/06/2025

''Simon sat stiff and motionless, unspeaking, his face like a mask, trying to reproach them by looking as much like a murdered co**se as possible.''

The early 1970s is a frightening time to discover you're gay. Disillusioned with his unfulfilling life in Glasgow, and threatened on all sides by casual bigotry and well-meaning oppression, the irrepressibly romantic and idealistic young Simon Palmer slips away from the only world he's ever known and heads for London—where the Gay Liberation Front offers the promise of a world where q***r people of every kind are free to be themselves.

But, as he moves from discussion group, to bar, to bed across the city, his new relationships begin to appear as problematic as the ones he left behind. Eventually, only by crossing the world is Simon able to reconcile his dreams with reality and find a way to be himself.

Barry Nonweiler's only novel, That Other Realm of Freedom is gorgeously written, lightly philosophical literary coming-out tale.

Touching on everything from feminism, alienation, and asexuality, to English drinking culture, activism as a search for community, and casual encounters as a search for love, Barry Nonweiler's masterpiece remains as relevant today as it was in 1983.

'[A] Harsh but truthful account of being a gay man in the 70s; reminded me of myself in the 80s, but more gruelling. A GMP classic...'
Stephen Benson

'Barry Nonweiler's writing displays a rare combination of craft and integrity. The reader will be dazzled by his intricacy and the extent of thematic concern.'
Gay Community News

This new Solar Press Edition of 'That Other Realm of Freedom' also contains two additional short pieces—'Becalmed' and 'The Door Into the Rose Garden'—which originally appeared in 'Cracks in the Image: Stories by Gay Men' (1981)

The early 1970s is a frightening time to discover you're gay. Disillusioned with his unfulfilling life in Glasgow, and threatened on all sides by casual bigotry and well-meaning oppression, the irrepressibly romantic and idealistic young Simon Palmer slips away from the only world he's ever known an...

04/16/2025

‘I started my tour of duty believing in aircraft lights, but I ended it believing in aliens.’

From 1991 to 1994, Nick Pope was appointed to the Ministry of Defense Secretariat Department 2A—better known to insiders as 'The UFO Desk.'

In 'Open Skies, Closed Minds', Nick delves into the contents of the MoD's 'real X-Files' and details the strange and eerie cases that came across his desk while working as the UK government's official UFO expert.

Starting out as a skeptic, Nick gradually comes to believe that something bizarre and otherworldly is occurring in our skies—and, if it is, those lights in the sky might represent a threat unlike anything the world has ever seen.

Pre-order now:
https://solarpressbooks.com/products/open-skies-closed-minds-by-nick-pope
(Ships May 14th, 2025)

From 1991 to 1994, Nick Pope was appointed to the Ministry of Defense Secretariat Department 2A—better known to insiders as 'The UFO Desk.' His job was to assess and analyse claims of UFO sightings and close encounters that came across his desk. His superiors wanted to know if the UFO phenomenon r...

04/05/2025

'In London, no one can hear you scream.'

A modern classic of gay literature, back in print for the first time since 1984.

The scandalous memoir of 'Flame'—prostitute, crossdresser, and self-confessed 'scene queen'.

Shocking, disturbing, and relentlessly charming—Flame: A Life on the Game is a tumultuous tale of gay awakening and self-discovery in 1970s England.

Pre-order now:
https://solarpressbooks.com/products/flame-a-life-on-the-game-by-flame
(Ships April 25th, 2025)

A modern classic of gay literature, finally back in print.The scandalous memoir of 'Flame'—prostitute, crossdresser, and self-confessed 'scene queen'.

10/27/2024

The Solar Press Halloween Sale 2024

Get 30% off our spookiest titles until Nov 1, 2024!

https://solarpressbooks.com/

Solar Press Books Reprinting lost classics and publishing future ones.

06/19/2024

This Mortal Coil by Cynthia Asquith

Haunted houses, hypnotic poetry, and unearthly stalkers with the power to make men mad.

Nine literary tales of the eerie, the weird, and the macabre.

Available now at:
https://solarpressbooks.com/products/this-mortal-coil-by-cynthia-asquith (UK & EU)
https://solarpressbooks.com/products/this-mortal-coil-by-cynthia-asquith /(USA & Canada)

Nine literary tales of the eerie, weird, and macabre. Lonely ghosts who simply want to make friends; ethereal poetry with a strange hypnotic effect; a woman driven mad by her unearthly stalker... Blending delicate, pretty prose with a shameless pulp sensibility, the nine stories that make up This Mo...

03/16/2024

A metaphysical coming of age tale set against the backdrop of religious conflict, Marion Campbell's The Dark Twin is part Dune, part Herman Hesse, part speculative historical fiction.

Inspired by a series of waking dreams Marion Campbell had while working on an archaeological dig in Mid-Argyll, The Dark Twin is a unique, profound, and intelligent work of adult fantasy—originally published in 1973.

Available now at:
https://solarpressbooks.com/products/the-dark-twin-by-marion-campbell (UK/EU)
https://www.orbitdvd.com/collections/solar-press/products/the-dark-twin-solar-press (USA/CA)

U.S. CUSTOMERS: This item is available at Orbit DVD! Buy it on their website 'This fair one is to be our king and this is his Dark Twin; it is our custom that two should carry the kingship, for it is too great to be housed in one body.'The Dark Twin—the shadow of the king—condemned to share the ...

03/09/2024

Mario Guslandi over at The Horror Tree recently reviewed The Solar Press Horror Anthology Vol. I and gave it a full five stars!

Read the review here:
https://horrortree.com/epeolatry-book-review-the-solar-press-horror-anthology-vol-i-ed-finnigan-houston-nickol-houston/

(image courtesy of Horror Tree)

12/17/2023

Reasons by Greta Burton

Part of The Solar Press Horror Anthology Vol. I

GET IT NOW:
UK/EU - https://solarpressbooks.com

USA/CA - https://www.orbitdvd.com/collections/solar-press

12/16/2023

Two Islands by Eóin Dooley

Part of The Solar Press Horror Anthology Vol. I

GET IT NOW:
UK/EU - https://solarpressbooks.com

USA/CA - https://www.orbitdvd.com/collections/solar-press

12/10/2023

'FATE IS YOUR SLAVE'

The 1960s occult cult classic!
The perfect gift for the witch in your life!

Order by December 18th to get it in time for Christmas!

www.SolarPressBooks.com

U.S. CUSTOMERS: This item is available at Orbit DVD! Buy on their website ''Fate is your slave.''The 1960s cult-classic finally back in print!Equal parts pop-philosophy, motivational work and introduction to witchcraft, Power Through Witchcraft is a psychedelic, postmodern grimoire.Integrating eleme...

12/06/2023

Seven Ghosts by Gordon Linzner

Part of The Solar Press Horror Anthology Vol. I

GET IT NOW:
UK/EU - https://solarpressbooks.com
USA/CA - https://www.orbitdvd.com