Delirium Books, launched in the summer of 1999 by
Shane Ryan Staley, was a horror publisher in the collector's market, producing low print-run
limited editions intended for collectors and readers alike.[1] Limited-edition books published by Delirium were reputed to sell out quickly, making their publications highly collectable.[2][3] Delirium Books published The Rising, the first book in a series of zombie-themed horror novels written by
Brian Keene, which won the
Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel in 2003.[4]
In 2005, Delirium Books won the
Bram Stoker Award for Excellence in Specialty Press Publishing, presented by the Horror Writers Association (HWA).[5][6] The same year, Delirium took home the first annual Shocker Award for Small Press of the Year, presented by Shocklines.com.[7][8]
Per Staley, Delirium Books ceased activities in January 2013.[9]
Magazines
Some of the first offerings from Delirium Books were magazines, all
digest-sized with color covers. The print run for these magazines is unknown.
Delirium's Hardcover Line features first-edition titles produced in limited editions with full-color dust jackets. Delirium produces true limited-edition hardcovers, as the runs in this line are signed and numbered from less than 50 to 500 copies. The first five Hardcover Line books were released without dust jackets. Beginning in September 2008, the Hardcover Line is published as a subscription of 150 copies.
1999
The House Spider and Other Strange Visitors by
Kurt Newton (
August 1999): Published as a 50-copy limited hardcover. Approximately 40 copies were actually printed.
Demons, Freaks, and Other Abnormalities by
Michael Laimo (
October 1999): Published in as a 150-copy limited hardcover. Approximately 100 copies were actually printed.
2000
I Love You and There is Nothing You Can Do About It by
Gerard Houarner (
January 2000): Published as a 200-copy limited hardcover. Approximately 125 copies were actually printed.
Terror Incognita by
Jeffrey Thomas (
March 2000): Published as a 200-copy limited hardcover. Approximately 125 copies were actually printed.
Up, Out of Cities that Blow Hot and Cold by
Charlee Jacob (
May 2000): Published as a 20-copy leather-bound hardcover (Delirium's first leather-bound) and a 300-copy limited hardcover. Approximately 200 copies of the limited hardcover were actually printed.
Cage of Bones and Other Deadly Obsessions by
John Everson (
October 2000): Published as a 300-copy limited hardcover.
2001
Cobwebs and Whispers by
Scott Thomas (
June 2001): Published as a 250-copy limited hardcover.
Guises by
Charlee Jacob (
June 2002): Published as a 15-copy leather-bound hardcover and a 150-copy limited hardcover.
Atmosphere by
Michael Laimo (
July 2002): Published as a 15-copy leather-bound hardcover and a 300-copy limited hardcover. Delirium's first full-length novel.
Visions Through A Shattered Lens by
Gerard Houarner (
September 2002): Published as a 15-copy leather-bound hardcover and a 300-copy limited hardcover.
2003
Mean Sheep by
Tom Piccirilli (
January 2003): Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and a 400-copy limited hardcover.
The Rising by
Brian Keene (
April 2003): Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover, and a 300-copy limited hardcover.
Sesqua Valley and Other Haunts by
W. H. Pugmire (
July 2003): Published as a 250-copy limited hardcover.
No Rest At All by
Brian Keene (
August 2003): Published as a 15-copy leather-bound hardcover and a 150-copy limited hardcover.
All the Lonely People by
David B. Silva (
December 2003): Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and a 300-copy limited hardcover.
2004
Dreadful Delineations by
John Maclay (
January 2004): Published as a 250-copy limited hardcover.
The Attraction by
Douglas Clegg (
March 2004): Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and a 500-copy limited hardcover.
Fear of Gravity by
Brian Keene (
March 2004): Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and a 400-copy limited hardcover.
Nether: Improper Bedtime Stories by
Scott Thomas and
Jeffrey Thomas (
June 2004): Deluxe edition of Honey is Sweeter Than Blood and Shadows of Flesh. Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover.
Honey Is Sweeter Than Blood by
Jeffrey Thomas (
June 2004): Published as a 250-copy limited hardcover.
Shadows of Flesh by
Scott Thomas (
June 2004): Published as a 250-copy limited hardcover.
Earthworm Gods by
Brian Keene (
October 2005): Published as a 52-copy leather-bound hardcover.
Deep Night by
Greg F. Gifune (
November 2005): Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and a 150-copy limited hardcover.
Night of the Daemon: Night Trilogy Part 3 by
Harry Shannon (
December 2005): Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and a 174-copy limited hardcover.
2006
Thirteen Specimens by
Jeffrey Thomas (
January 2006): Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and a 150-copy limited hardcover. The leather-bound hardcover was packaged with an exclusive 30-copy hardcover chapbook entitled Thirteen More Specimens.
Running With The Devil: The Best of Hail Saten Vol. 2 by
Brian Keene (
January 2006): Published as a 150-copy limited hardcover.
In Delirium edited by
Brian Keene (
January 2006): Published as a 26-copy leather-bound and a hardcover 274-copy limited hardcover.
The Pines by
Robert Dunbar (
May 2006): Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and a 240-copy limited hardcover.
Blindsided by
Barry Hoffman (
May 2006): Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover (
June 2006 and a 185-copy limited hardcover.
Collected Tales of the Baja Express by
Gene O'Neill (
November 2006): Published as a 237-copy limited hardcover. Limited to preorders.
Clickers by
J. F. Gonzalez (
December 2006): Published as a 344-copy limited hardcover. Limited to preorders.
2007
The Rising: Death in Four Colors by
Brian Keene (
February 2007): Published as a 500-copy limited hardcover.
Recalled to Life: The Cycle of the Aegis Trilogy Book 1 by
Weston Ochse (
September 2007): Published as a 52-copy leather-bound hardcover and a 500-copy limited hardcover.
The Sinister Mr. Corpse by
Jeff Strand (
February 2007): Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover (
March 2007) and as a 250-copy limited hardcover.
Ghoul by
Brian Keene (
March 2007): Published as a 52-copy leather-bound hardcover and a 400-copy limited hardcover.
Sacrifice by
John Everson (
March 2007): Published as a 250-copy limited hardcover. Sequel to Covenant.
Clickers II: The Next Wave by
J. F. Gonzalez and
Brian Keene (
April 2007): Published as a 52-copy leather-bound hardcover and a 500-copy limited hardcover.
The Shore by
Robert Dunbar (
May 2007): Published as a 52-copy leather-bound hardcover (
June 2007) and a 500-copy limited hardcover.
Demogorgon by
Brian Lumley (
May 2007): Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover (
June 2007) and a 300-copy limited hardcover.
Blood in Electric Blue by
Greg F. Gifune (
March 2008): Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover (
May 2008) and as a 250-copy limited hardcover.
Gleefully Macabre Tales by
Jeff Strand (
March 2008): Published as a 300-copy limited hardcover.
Saying Uncle by
Greg F. Gifune (
June 2008): Published as a 150-copy limited hardcover. Reprint of December Girl Press trade paperback.
Dead and Gone by
Harry Shannon (
August 2008): Published as a 150-copy limited hardcover and as a trade paperback in the Paperback Book Club.
The Golden Thread: The Cycle of the Aegis Trilogy Book 2 by
Weston Ochse (
September 2008): Published as a 250-copy limited hardcover.
Passenger by
Ronald Damien Malfi (
September 2008): Published as a 150-copy limited hardcover and as a trade paperback in the Paperback Book Club.
"I'll Be Damned" by
Shane Ryan Staley (
September 2001): Published in September 2001 as a 250-copy limited trade paperback and a 500-copy trade paperback.
Host by
Bryan Eytcheson (
August 2005): Published as a 1500-copy trade paperback. First book in the Trade Paperback series.
Fear of Gravity by
Brian Keene (
November 2005): Published as a 1500-copy trade paperback. Second book in the Trade Paperback series.
Sympathy For The Devil: The Best of Hail Saten Vol. 1 by
Brian Keene (
January 2006): Published as a 1500-copy trade paperback. Third book in the Trade Paperback series.
Slime After Slime: A Short Story Collection by
Mark McLaughlin (
May 2006): Published as a 1500-copy trade paperback. Fourth book in the Trade Paperback series.
Deep Night by
Greg F. Gifune (
May 2006): Published as a 1500-copy trade paperback. Fifth book in the Trade Paperback series.
Running With The Devil: The Best of Hail Saten Vol. 2 by
Brian Keene (
July 2007): Published as a 1500-copy trade paperback. Sixth book in the Trade Paperback series.
No Further Messages by
Brett Alexander Savory (
November 2007): Published as a 1500-copy trade paperback. Seventh book in the Trade Paperback series.
Oogie Boogie Central by
M. Stephen Lukac (
February 2008): Published as a 1500-copy trade paperback. Eighth book in the Trade Paperback series.
The Rising: Selected Scenes from the End of the World by
Brian Keene (
July 2008): Published as a 1500-copy trade paperback. Ninth book in the Trade Paperback series.
Clickers by
J. F. Gonzalez and Mark Williams (
July 2008): Published as a 1500-copy trade paperback. Tenth book in the Trade Paperback series.
Saying Uncle by
Greg F. Gifune (
August 2008): Published as a 1500-copy trade paperback. Eleventh book in the Trade Paperback series.
Paperback Book Club
The Bleeding Season by
Greg F. Gifune (
October 2007): First book in the Paperback Book Club. Reprints hardcover.
Dreadful Delineations by
John Maclay (
November 2007): Second book in the Paperback Book Club. Reprints hardcover.
Broken Angel by Brian Knight (
December 2007): Third book in the Paperback Book Club. Reprints hardcover.
The Condemned by
David Jack Bell (
January 2008): Fourth book in the Paperback Book Club. Reprints hardcover.
Manhattan Grimoire by
Sandy DeLuca (
October 2008): Thirteenth book in the Paperback Book Club. Reprints hardcover.
New Dark Voices 2 edited by
Brian Keene (
February 2009): Fourteenth book in the Paperback Book Club. Reprints hardcover.
Children of Chaos by
Greg F. Gifune (
February 2009): Fifteenth book in the Paperback Book Club. Reprints hardcover.
Ultra Editions
Delirium publishes the Ultra Series, genuine leather books housed in a leather hinged box. Buyers have the option to personalize their copies by getting their names on a special "thanks" page from the author, as well as having their book personally inscribed. Only 26-36 copies are produced of each title.
Mean Sheep by
Tom Piccirilli (
January 2003): Published as a 6-copy ultra hardcover, an early prototype for the Ultra Collector's series.
The Rising by
Brian Keene (
April 2003): Published as a 6-copy ultra hardcover, an early prototype for the Ultra Collector's series.
Book #1: Punktown by
Jeffrey Thomas (
May 2003): Published as a 26-copy ultra hardcover. Delirium's first official release in the Ultra Collector's series.
Book #2: Broken On The Wheel Of Sex by
Jack Ketchum (
July 2003): Published as a 26-copy ultra hardcover.
Book #3: The Logan Chronicles by
William F. Nolan (
October 2003): Published as a 26-copy ultra hardcover. Included a signed drawing by
Nolan.
Book #4: Sixteen Sucking Stories by
Brian Lumley (
January 2004): Published as a 35-copy ultra hardcover. Included an audio CD of
Lumley reading "The Mirror of Nitocris".
Book #5: Crota by
Owl Goingback (
May 2004): Published as a 26-copy ultra hardcover.
Book #1: Epiphany: A Flying Tiger's Story by Stephen Mark Rainey (
September 2003): Published as a 100-copy limited hardcover.
Book #2: The Seventh Victim by
Charlee Jacob (
November 2003): Published as a 100-copy limited hardcover.
Book #3: The Man Who Killed Kew Gardens by
Brain Lumley (
January 2004): Published as a 100-copy limited hardcover.
Book #4: The Arms of the Sun by
Jeffrey Thomas (
March 2004): Published as a 100-copy limited hardcover.
Book #5: The God of Foulness by
Matt Cardin (
June 2004): Published as a 100-copy limited hardcover.
Book #6: An Outsider by
John Pelan (
September 2004): Published as a 100-copy limited hardcover.
Dark Essential Series
This series focuses on titles that have never before seen print in hardcover. In each limited-edition hardcover, Delirium includes special original bonus material not found in the original paperbacks. Each book is signed by the author and limited to no more than 200 copies.
At the end of each year, Delirium offers custom-made slipcases to house the entire volume of books. This slipcase features the Dark Essentials logo as well as the volume lineup.
Volume One
Book #1: Dragonfly by Brian Knight (
October 2003): Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and a 100-copy limited hardcover.
Book #2: Hexes by
Tom Piccirilli (
December 2003): Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and 100-copy limited hardcover.
Volume Two
Book #1: Soma by
Charlee Jacob (
February 2004): Published as a 15-copy leather-bound hardcover and a 150-copy limited hardcover.
Book #2: Grave Markings by
Michael Arnzen (
April 2004): Published as a 15-copy leather-bound hardcover and a 150-copy limited hardcover.
Book #3: Ravenous Ghosts by
Kealan Patrick Burke (
July 2004): Published as a 15-copy leather-bound hardcover and 150-copy limited hardcover.
Book #4: The Many by
David B. Silva (
August 2004): Published as a 15-copy leather-bound hardcover and a 150-copy limited
hardcover.
Book #5: The Deceased by
Tom Piccirilli (
October 2004): Published as a 15-copy leather-bound hardcover and a 150-copy
limited hardcover.
Book #6: AAAIIIEEE!!! by
Jeffrey Thomas (
December 2004): Published as a 15-copy leather-bound hardcover and a 150-copy limited hardcover.
Volume Three
Book #1: Hush by
Tim Lebbon and Gavin Williams (
April 2005): Published as a 200-copy limited hardcover.
Book #2: Deathgrip by
Brian Hodge (
June 2005): Published as a 200-copy limited hardcover.
Bonus Book: The Wishnik by
Kurt Newton (
October 2006): Offered free with subscription to the Dark Essentials, Vol. 3 series. Published as a 115-copy limited hardcover.
Delirium Books Exclusive Series (known as the X-series) are extremely limited-edition hardcovers that are only sold in preorder, within a reservation period of 1–3 months. The total number of books ordered in the reservation period becomes the total print run.
Book #11: Broken Shadows by
Tim Waggoner (
February 2009): Published as a 100-copy limited hardcover.
Special Edition Series
Book #1: A Puppet Show For No One by
Jeffrey Thomas (
March 2004): Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover. Included a puppet by Jesse Wroblewski and Florence Ivy
Book #3: The Doll Who Ate His Mother by
Ramsey Campbell (
September 2005): Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover. Included a doll created by Jesse Wroblewski of Puppet Terrors and Florence Ivy.
Book #4: The Rising: Selected Scenes From the End of the World by
Brian Keene (
March 2006): Published as a 32-copy leather-bound hardcover with two addition copies produced (one for the publisher and one for the author). Also published as a 500-copy limited hardcover (
October 2007). A reprint trade paperback published in (
July 2008).
Book #5: Earthworm Gods: Selected Scenes from the End of the World by
Brian Keene (
July 2008): Published as a 32-copy leather-bound hardcover with two addition copies produced (one for the publisher and one for the author). Also the same month published as a 500-copy limited hardcover. A trade paperback was scheduled but cancelled before release.
Chapbooks Series
Starting in the Fall of 2005, Delirium began publication of signed, limited hardcover chapbooks. As of September 2008, the Chapbook Series has been placed on hiatus.
^"The Locus Index to SF Awards". Locus Mag. Archived from the original on July 6, 2006. Retrieved November 22, 2023.{{
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^"2005 Shocker Awards". Shocklines.com [Internet Archive: Wayback Machine]. Archived from the original on February 13, 2006. Retrieved November 23, 2023.{{
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link)