Peter Crowther

Peter Crowther is a British writer, editor and publisher born in 1949 who has made significant contributions to speculative fiction since the 1990s. As the founder of PS Publishing and editor of Postscripts anthology series, he has helped shape the contemporary science fiction and fantasy publishing landscape. Crowther's own writing spans multiple formats, including novels, short stories, and collaborations. His notable works include the Forever Twilight series, beginning with "Darkness, Darkness" (2002), and "Escardy Gap" (1996), co-written with James Lovegrove. His short story collections like "The Longest Single Note" and "Jewels in the Dust" showcase his range in speculative fiction. As an editor, Crowther has curated numerous themed anthologies for DAW Books, demonstrating his expertise in identifying emerging talent and compelling works in the science fiction genre. His role at PS Publishing has provided a platform for both established and upcoming authors in speculative fiction. His ongoing influence in genre publishing continues through PS Publishing's output and the evolution of Postscripts anthology series, which has expanded to include specialized collections like the Exotic Gothic series. Since 1992, Crowther has maintained an active presence in multiple aspects of speculative fiction publishing.

Readers appreciate Crowther's atmospheric writing and ability to build tension, particularly in his horror and dark fantasy works. His short story collections receive praise for creative premises and unexpected endings. On Goodreads, multiple reviewers highlight his skill at creating unsettling moods without relying on gore or shock value. Readers like: - Strong character development in longer works - Blend of horror and science fiction elements - Unique takes on familiar tropes - Quality of prose and dialogue Common criticisms: - Pacing issues in novels - Some stories feel unresolved - Plot threads sometimes left dangling - Occasional difficulty following multiple narrative threads Average ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (across all works) Amazon: 3.9/5 LibraryThing: 3.8/5 Individual works receive varying scores, with short story collections typically rating higher than novels. "The Longest Single Note" maintains the highest average rating at 4.1/5 across platforms, while "Forever Twilight" series entries average 3.5/5.

Constellations - An anthology of science fiction stories exploring humanity's relationship with space and the cosmos, edited by Peter Crowther.

Forbidden Planets - A collection of stories paying homage to the 1956 film "Forbidden Planet," featuring tales of distant worlds and alien encounters.

Mars Probes - An anthology of original stories centered around Mars exploration and colonization themes.

Tales in Space - A compilation of science fiction narratives focusing on various aspects of space travel and exploration.

Tales in Time - An anthology examining temporal themes through collected stories about time travel and its consequences.

We Think, Therefore We Are - A collection of stories exploring artificial intelligence and the nature of consciousness.

The Longest Single Note - A collection of Crowther's personal short stories spanning horror and dark fantasy genres.

Escardy Gap - A collaborative horror novel with James Lovegrove about a mysterious traveling show arriving in a small town.

Darkness, Darkness - The first installment in the Forever Twilight series, depicting a world where most of humanity mysteriously vanishes.

Jewels in the Dust - A collection of Crowther's short stories exploring various supernatural and speculative themes.

Ramsey Campbell Writes horror fiction that blends psychological unease with supernatural elements in British settings. His work shares Crowther's focus on atmosphere and gradual tension building through short stories and novels.

Charles L. Grant Created quiet horror stories emphasizing mood and suggestion over explicit content. His editing work and short fiction collections parallel Crowther's career path in both publishing and writing.

Robert McCammon Produces speculative fiction that crosses genre boundaries between horror, science fiction, and dark fantasy. His work features similar themes of transformation and apocalyptic scenarios found in Crowther's Forever Twilight series.

Jeffrey Ford Writes short stories and novels that mix literary elements with speculative fiction concepts. His approach to blending genres and focus on character-driven narratives mirrors Crowther's storytelling style.

Jonathan Carroll Creates narratives that merge everyday reality with supernatural elements and unexplained phenomena. His work demonstrates the same interest in reality-bending concepts that appears throughout Crowther's fiction.