Avon Fantasy Reader


Avon Fantasy Reader was a digest size magazine which reprinted science fiction and fantasy literature by now well-known authors. It was edited by Donald A. Wollheim and published by Avon. The magazine had one spin off, Avon Science Fiction Reader, with which it merged on its cancellation to become Avon Science Fiction and Fantasy Reader.

Writers

Avon strived to bring readers little known stories by then little recognized writers such as H. P. Lovecraft, Ray Bradbury, C. L. Moore, A. Merritt, Murray Leinster and William Hope Hodgson. Avon Fantasy Reader was published from 1946 to 1952 and had 18 issues in full.

Stories

It was sold at many newsstands around the United States. The back cover of Avon Fantasy Reader carried this blurb:
The majority of the fiction published in Avon Fantasy Reader were reprints of works published in pulp magazines.

Spin offs

In 1951 Avon launched a sister title, Avon Science Fiction Reader, featuring reprints of science fiction. This magazine lasted just three issues before being cancelled in 1952. In January 1953, both magazines merged to become Avon Science Fiction and Fantasy Reader, which lasted for two issues before being cancelled as well in April of the same year.