Belmont Books
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 1960 |
| Founder | John L. Goldwater, Louis Silberkleit, Maurice Coyne |
| Defunct | 1971 |
| Fate | Merged with Tower Publications to form Belmont Tower |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Paperback originals in science fiction, horror, fantasy, Westerns, mystery, detective fiction |
| Parent | Archie Comics (ownership linked) |
Belmont Books, alternatively known as Belmont Productions, was a United States-based publisher specializing in paperback originals within genre fiction. Established in 1960, Belmont focused on science fiction, horror, and fantasy works, releasing publications from 1961 through 1971. The company featured prominent writers including Philip K. Dick, Philip José Farmer, Lin Carter, Robert Bloch, Frank Belknap Long, and Gardner Fox. Ownership of Belmont was linked to the same parent organization behind Archie Comics.
History
Founded by John L. Goldwater, Louis Silberkleit, and Maurice Coyne—who were also the founders of Archie Comics—Belmont emerged after the closure of their pulp magazine venture Columbia Publications in 1960, prompted by the decline of the pulp market. The company's name was drawn from Belmont Park, reflecting the founders' enthusiasm for horse racing.
Initially, Belmont issued four titles spanning Westerns, mystery, science fiction, and detective genres. The publisher swiftly grew its output to roughly a dozen titles monthly, with print runs ranging from 30,000 to 70,000 copies. Distribution strategies targeted unconventional retail venues such as train stations, airports, bus depots, pharmacies, and office building foyers.
Between 1962 and 1965, Belmont released several science fiction anthologies edited by Ivan Howard that compiled stories originally appearing in pulp magazines once published by co-owner Louis Silberkleit. Beginning in 1963, the company produced nine revised The Shadow novels—one authored by Walter B. Gibson and eight penned by Dennis Lynds under the pseudonym Maxwell Grant.
From 1969 to 1970, Belmont published Gardner Fox’s sword and sorcery saga centered on the barbarian Kothar. In 1971, Belmont merged with Tower Publications (the parent company of Tower Comics) to form Belmont Tower, a combined entity that continued publishing until 1980.
Titles published (selected)
- Michael Avallone:
- Shock Corridor (1963) — adaptation of Samuel Fuller's film screenplay
- Tales of the Frightened, edited by Boris Karloff (1963) — featuring stories authored by Avallone with Karloff’s likeness on the cover
- Robert Bloch:
- House of the Hatchet (1960)
- More Nightmares (1961)
- Terror (1962)
- Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper (1962)
- Horror 7 (1963)
- The Living Demons (1967)
- Ladies Day / This Crowded Earth (1968) — presented as a "Belmont Double"
- Lin Carter:
- Beyond the Gates of Dream (1969) — collection of short stories
- Giant of World's End (1969)
- The Quest of Kadji (1971) — inaugural volume in the Chronicles of Kylix series
- The Thief of Thoth (1972) — issued as a "Belmont Double"
- Groff Conklin (editor): Twisted (1962) — horror anthology; reissued in 1967
- Philip K. Dick: The Penultimate Truth (1964)
- John M. Faucette: The Warriors of Terra (1970)
- Philip José Farmer: The Gate of Time (1966)
- Harlan Ellison:
- Doomsman (1972) — part of a "Belmont Double"
- Gardner Fox:
- Kothar series:
- Kothar: Barbarian Swordsman (1969)
- Additional titles released between 1969 and 1970
- The Lady from L.U.S.T. series (under the pseudonym "Rod Gray"):
- Titles published from 1970 to 1971
- Kothar series:
- Ivan Howard (editor):
- Numerous anthologies from 1962 to 1965 featuring stories originally appearing in prominent science fiction magazines such as Future Fiction, Science Fiction, and Dynamic Science Fiction
- Laurence Janifer: The Final Fear (1967)
- Damon Knight: The Metal Smile (1968)
- Lloyd Kropp: The Drift (1971) — reprinted by Doubleday
- Frank Belknap Long:
- A range of notable collections and novels spanning from 1961 to 1968 including collaborations with Lin Carter and reprints
- Robert Payne ("Richard Cargoe"): The Back of the Tiger (1961)
- Don Rico: Lorelei (1966)
- Joseph Ross (editor): The Best of Amazing (1969)
- David Saunders: M Squad: The Chicago Cop Killer (1962)
- The Shadow series:
- Multiple entries authored by Walter B. Gibson and Dennis Lynds ("Maxwell Grant") between 1963 and 1967 that reinforced Belmont’s presence in the market
- Harry Shorten: There Oughta Be a Law (published in 1969 and 1971)
- Warren Smith: Finder's Keepers (1965)
- Denys Val Baker: Bizarre Loves (1964)
- Charles Willeford: The Machine in Ward Eleven (1963) — short story collection addressing themes pertinent to mid-20th-century American society
This curated list exemplifies Belmont’s strategic dedication to genre fiction through leveraging established authors and series to sustain its foothold within science fiction, horror, and fantasy markets.