Focus on Laser Books
March 7th, 2007 by Alan Chudnow
An imprint of Harlequin Books, the Laser Books series was published between 1975 and 1977. Following the successful formula of its romance line, Harlequin produced the series on a strict schedule releasing three books a month all with a distinctly similar design, each featuring a cover illustration by Kelly Freas. A series subscription was offered in addition to the normal distribution to booksellers.
The series was not popular with readers of the time most probably because of inconsistency in quality and a general sense of it being too “institutional” in its production. It is however, rather famous in science fiction fan circles for the phenomenon surrounding the appearance of premier title, Thomas F. Monteleone’s first novel, Seeds of Change.
In an effort to get widespread exposure for the series Seeds was given away in large quantities as a free promotional “collector’s edition”. Large quantities of the book were distributed to attendees of a number of science fiction conventions. The result was less than ideal.
Unfortunately the book was not very good and immediately attracted the mockery of a large number of convention attendees. I happened to attend the Equicon SF convention in Los Angeles that year. By Saturday night of the con, groups of fans were gathered around on the upper balconies of the hotel publicly mocking the text as it was read aloud. As each page was finished it was ceremoniously ripped out of the book and flung out over the balconies to the convention floor below. It was a scenario that was repeated at several conventions that year.
Regardless of its rather ignominious introduction the series continued until February of 1977 ultimately totaling 58 titles. Of interest to collectors is the fact that all the titles in the series are paperback originals, among them books by Jerry Pournelle, Kathleen Sky, David Bischoff, Raymond F. Jones and Dean Koontz under the pen name Aaron Wolfe. Especially notable are early works by then unknowns Tim Powers and K. W. Jeter. Aficionados of Hugo Award winning artist Kelly Freas as well as collectors of exceptional genre cover art will also find the series well worth collecting.
Many of the titles are available inexpensively though a handful of titles such as the Koonz, Powers, Jeter and the last two titles of the series, which were only available by subscription, command higher prices.
A series title checklist of the Laser Books series is available on the collectingsf.com site.
