The informal story of the science fiction book field in the 1930's, 40's, and 50's then almost totally the providence of the amateur specialist publisher, set against the background and life of an early science fiction fan and writer. Fantasy Press, Gnome, Shasta, Prime, Grant, FPCI, Arkham House -- those were the kingpins of science fiction publishing three or four decades ago. From its details emerges a picture of a handful of men who accomplished things as fantastic in their own way as the fiction they published. With a 16-page photo supplement, index, and checklist of published books.