SF Masterworks
Series of science fiction novel reprints
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
S.F. Masterworks is a series of science fiction novel reprints published by UK-based company Orion Publishing Group, a subsidiary of Hachette UK. The series is intended for the UK and Australian markets, but many editions are distributed to the United States and Canada by Hachette Book Group. As of December 2025[update], 199 unique titles and approximately 308 volumes, including hardcover, revised, or reprinted editions, have been published.
A bookshelf containing every published SF Masterworks title, as of August 2025 | |
| Country | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Publisher |
|
| Published | 1999–present |
| Media type | |
| No. of books |
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| Website | store.gollancz.co.uk |
Superseding the earlier series Gollancz Classic SF (1986–1987) and VGSF Classics (1988–1990),[1] the SF Masterworks series began publication in 1999. Developed to feature important and out of print science fiction novels, the selections were described by science fiction author Iain M. Banks as "amazing" and "genuinely the best novels from sixty years of SF".[2] Many of the selections had been out of print in the United Kingdom for many years.
Its companion series include Fantasy Masterworks and Gateway Essentials.
Numbered series
Softcover editions (1999–2007)
Not all printings include a number stamp. Some printings do not include markings or cover designs to indicate they are volumes of any series.
In 2010, several volumes were reprinted with cover designs and colored spines matching the relaunch series. The ISBNs for those volumes were not changed.
- † Hardcover editions only.
- ^ No relaunch edition with distinct ISBN as of October 2025[update].
Hardcover editions (2001)
Not all printings include a number stamp. Some printings do not include markings or cover designs to indicate they are volumes of any series.
| No. | Title | Author(s) | Reprint date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dune | Frank Herbert | 25 October 2001 | 0-575-07334-9 |
| 2 | The Left Hand of Darkness | Ursula K. Le Guin | 18 October 2001 | 0-575-07219-9 |
| 3 | The Man in the High Castle | Philip K. Dick | 0-575-07335-7 | |
| 4 | The Stars My Destination | Alfred Bester | 0-575-07337-3 | |
| 5 | A Canticle for Leibowitz | Walter M. Miller Jr. | 0-575-07220-2 | |
| 6 | Childhood's End | Arthur C. Clarke | 0-575-07263-6 | |
| 7 | The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress | Robert A. Heinlein | 0-575-07336-5 | |
| 8 | Ringworld | Larry Niven | 0-575-07339-X | |
| 9 | The Forever War | Joe Haldeman | 0-575-07318-7 | |
| 10 | The Day of the Triffids | John Wyndham | 0-575-07338-1 |
Relaunch series

Softcover editions (2010–present)
The relaunched series features yellow–white spines, the S.F. Masterworks marquee printed vertically atop tinted artwork, and newly typeset and corrected text. As with the numbered volumes, many printings, with identical ISBNs, do not include markings or cover designs to indicate they are volumes of any series.
Hardcover editions (2010–2019)
Hardcover editions distributed to the U.K. market, initially. Many printings distributed outside the U.K. market do not include markings or cover designs to indicate they are volumes of any series.
Unpublished softcover editions
The following editions were announced, but appear to have been withdrawn:
| Tentative Title | Author(s) | Scheduled | Known ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camp Concentration | Thomas Disch | 10 August 2006 | 0-575-07877-4 |
| 334 | 9 November 2006 | 0-575-07897-9 | |
| The Long Loud Silence | Wilson Tucker | February 2015 | 978-1-4732-0773-8 |
| The Iron Dream | Norman Spinrad | 14 November 2017 | 978-1-4732-2264-9 |
| Forge of God | Greg Bear | 2017; 31 December 2025 | 978-1-4732-2266-3 |
Related series
Other series originally marketed as S.F. Masterworks by Gollancz and its publishing partners. Many printings do not include markings or cover designs to indicate they are volumes of any series.
Rounded-corner editions (2006)
A special edition collection with matte, non-glossy covers, rounded corners and minimalist cover art by Marc Adams.
Gollancz 50th Anniversary (2011)
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Gollancz imprint, Orion published a ten-volume series of fan-chosen volumes. Each volume featured a yellow–red typeset cover designs similar to designs used by Gollancz from 1929 until the mid-1980s.
| No. | Title | Author(s) | Release date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shadow and Claw (The Book of the New Sun, Vol. 1) |
Gene Wolfe | 1 September 2011 | 978-0-575-11673-3 |
| 2 | Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? | Philip K. Dick | 978-0-575-11676-4 | |
| 3 | Flowers for Algernon | Daniel Keyes | 978-0-575-11674-0 | |
| 4 | I Am Legend | Richard Matheson | 978-0-575-11670-2 | |
| 5 | Dune | Frank Herbert | 978-0-575-11678-8 | |
| 6 | The Lies of Locke Lamora | Scott Lynch | 978-0-575-11672-6 | |
| 7 | Eric | Terry Pratchett | 978-0-575-11669-6 | |
| 8 | Hyperion | Dan Simmons | 978-0-575-11677-1 | |
| 9 | The Name of the Wind | Patrick Rothfuss | 978-0-575-11671-9 | |
| 10 | The Time Machine | H. G. Wells | 978-0-575-11675-7 |
Golden Age Masterworks (2019–present)
Initially marketed as part the S.F. Masterworks series until adopting the Gold Age Masterworks series name. Yellow cover designs for the series were inspired by cover designs used by Gollancz from 1929 until the mid-1980s.
| Title | Author(s) | Release date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doomsday Morning | C. L. Moore | 10 January 2019 | 978-1-4732-2326-4 |
| Galactic Patrol | E. E. 'Doc' Smith | 978-1-4732-2470-4 | |
| Fury | Henry Kuttner | 978-1-4732-2255-7 | |
| The Sands of Mars | Arthur C. Clarke | 978-1-4732-2236-6 | |
| Earthlight | 7 February 2019 | 978-1-4732-2237-3 | |
| Grey Lensman | E. E. 'Doc' Smith | 978-1-4732-2471-1 | |
| Second Stage Lensman | 7 March 2019 | 978-1-4732-2472-8 | |
| Northwest of Earth | C. L. Moore | 978-1-4732-2254-0 | |
| Jirel of Joiry | 4 April 2019 | 978-1-4732-2252-6 | |
| Children of the Lens | E. E. 'Doc' Smith | 978-1-4732-2473-5 | |
| Against the Fall of Night | Arthur C. Clarke | 2 May 2019 | 978-1-4732-2234-2 |
| Judgment Night | C. L. Moore | 13 June 2019 | 978-1-4732-2253-3 |
| The Stainless Steel Rat | Harry Harrison | 19 September 2019 | 978-1-4732-2768-2 |
| The Deathworld Omnibus | 14 November 2019 | 978-1-4732-2837-5 | |
| Sidewise in Time | Murray Leinster | 3 September 2020 | 978-1-4732-2739-2 |
| The Outward Urge | John Wyndham | 5 August 2021 | 978-1-4732-3072-9 |
| Stories of Mars | Edgar Rice Burroughs | 17 March 2022 | 978-1-4732-3482-6 |
Best of the Masterworks (2022–23)
Softcover volumes
Hardcover volumes
| Title | Author(s) | Release date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dune | Frank Herbert | 27 October 2022 | 978-1-399-61117-6 |
| The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy | Douglas Adams | 24 August 2023 | 978-1-399-61724-6 |