Bibliography of English-Language Science-Fiction, Science, Fantasy, and Horror Poetry Anthologies:
21st century • 20th century • 19th century
Mythic, speculative, macabre, science fictional, weird, fantastic, dystopian, cosmic, magical, surreal, astrological, supernatural, futurist, spiritual, horrific, mystical, astronomic, grotesque, ethereal, folkloric, spectral, utopian, scientific, terrifying, starry, elfin-regardless of the differences in their emphases, all of these anthologies have one thing in common: poetry that seeks to explore the uncommon or the unknown. Though there are others out there, these are some of the best collections of English-language fantastic poetry of the past 150+ years.
Note that this page is no longer updated. The last update was August, 2021.
Eccentric Orbits 2: An Anthology of Science Fiction Poetry. Ed. Wendy Van Camp. Dimensionfold Publishing, 2021.
Eccentric Orbits: An Anthology Of Science Fiction Poetry. Ed. Ken Goudsward. Dimensionfold Publishing, 2020.
The Alchemy of Stars II: Rhysling Award Winners Showcase. Ed. Sandra J. Lindow. US: SFPA, 2019. [ISBN 978-1-09-317263-8]
The Call of the Chupacabra. Eds. Juan Manuel Pérez & Dr. Malia A. Pérez, The House of the Fighting Chupacabras, 2018.
The Book of Night: Poems of The Macabre. Ed. Richard Groller, Moondream Press, 2015.
Speculative Poets of Texas, Volume One. Ed. Dr. Malia A. Pérez, The House of the Fighting Chupacabras, 2015.
The Stars Like Sand: Australian Speculative Poetry. Eds. Tim Jones & P.S. Cottier. Carindale, QLD: Interactive Press, 2014
Cthulhu Haiku II. Ed. Lester Smith. Elkhorn, WI: Popcorn Press, 2013.
Flying Higher. Eds. Shira Lipkin & Michael D. Thomas. 2013.
Avatars of Wizardry: Poetry Inspired by George Sterling and Clark Ashton Smith. Ed. Charles Lovecraft. Sydney, Australia: P’rea Press, 2012.
Cthulhu Haiku and Other Mythos Madness. Ed. Lester Smith. Elkhorn, WI: Popcorn Press, 2012.
Lady Poetesses from Hell. Minneapolis, MN: Bag Person Press Collective, 2012.
On the Brink of Never: An Anthology of Apocalyptic Poetry. Ed. David C. Kopaska-Merkel. Sam’s Dot Publications, 2012.
Halloween Haiku. Ed. Lester Smith. Elkhorn, WI: Popcorn Press, 2011.
In the Garden of the Crow. Ed. Angela Charmaine Craig. Richardson, TX: Elektrik Milk Bath Press, 2011.
The Hungry Dead. Ed. Lester Smith. Elkhorn, WI: Popcorn Press, 2010.
Vampyr Verse. Ed. Lester Smith. Elkhorn, WI: Popcorn Press, 2009.
Voyagers: Science Fiction Poetry from New Zealand. Eds. Mark Pirie and Tim Jones. Interactive Publications, 2009.
Book of Tentacles. Eds. Scott Virtes and Edward Cox. Cedar Rapids, IA: Sam's Dot Publishing, 2007.
The Alchemy of Stars: Rhysling Award Winners Showcase. Eds. Roger Dutcher & Mike Allen. US: SFPA, 2005. [ISBN 0809511622]
Medusa: A Poetry Anthology. Ed. Steve Sneyd. West Yorkshire, UK: Hilltop Press, 2005. [ISBN 0905262379]
On the Wing: American Poems of Air and Space Flight. Ed. Karen Yelena Olsen. Iowa City, IA: University of Iowa Press, 2005. [ISBN 0877459444]
Science Verse. Eds. Jon Scieszka & Lane Smith. NY: Viking, 2004. [ISBN 0670910570] [young readers] [2005 Golden Duck Award Winner]
Dreaming Scryers True Deceivers: Science Fiction Poets Read at Oxford. Ed. Steve Sneyd. West Yorkshire, UK: Hilltop Press, 2003. [ISBN 0905262328]
Magic in Rhyme: A Magician's Anthology of Poems, Verses, and Limericks. Ed. William V. Rauscher. Oxford, CT: 1878 Press Co, 2003.
Random Planets: A Scifaiku Odyssey. Eds. Teri Santitoro & L.A. Story Houry. Cedar Rapids, IA: Sam's Dot Publishing, 2003. [no ISBN]
The Stars as Seen From this Particular Angle of Night: An Anthology of Speculative Verse. Ed. Sandra Kasturi. Calgary: Red Deer Press, 2003. [ISBN 0889952809]
2001: A Science Fiction Poetry Anthology. Ed Keith Allen Daniels. San Francisco, CA: Anamnesis Press, 2001. [ISBN: 1892842238]
Letting Go of the Earth. Ed. Marni Griffin. Lincolnshire, UK: Be Strong Press, 2000. [no ISBN]
Uncommonplaces: Poems of the Fantastic. Eds. Judith Kerman & Don Riggs. Saginaw, MI: Mayapple Press, 2000. [ISBN 0932412173]
The Cerulean Anthology of Sci-Fi, Outer Space, Fantasy Poetry and Prose Poems. Ed. Blair H. Allen. Cucamonga, CA: Cerulean Press, 1999. [ISBN 0917458176]
Dreamers on the Sea of Fate: An Anthology of SF Poetry. Ed. Steve Sneyd. Essex, UK: Sol Publications, 1999. [ISBN 0907376150]
Verse & Universe: Poems about Science and Mathematics. Ed. Kurt Brown. Minneapolis, MN: Milkweed Editions, 1998. [ISBN 1571314075]
Virtual Paradise: An Anthology of Mythical Poetry. Brighton, UK: Pentagraph Press, 1997. [ISBN 1899774807]
Star Walk. Ed. Seymour Simon. NY: Morrow Junior Books, 1995. [ISBN 0688118879] [young readers]
Terminal Velocities: An Anthology of Speculative Poetry. Ed. Andrew Joron. Berkeley, CA: Pantograph Press, 1993. [ISBN 0938075268]
Time Frames: A Speculative Poetry Anthology. Ed. Terry A. Garey. Minneapolis, MN: Rune Press, 1991. [ISBN 0960265620]
Poly: New Speculative Writing. Ed. Lee Ballentine. Mountain View, CA: Ocean View Books, 1989. [ISBN 0938075055]
Poets of the Fantastic: An Anthology of Horror, Fantasy, and Science Fiction (Speculative) Verse. Eds. Marge Simon & Steve Eng. Walnut Creek, CA: SPWAO, 1988.
1988 Odyssey Poetry Awards. Ed. Virginia E. Baker. 1988. [no ISBN]
Spaceways: An Anthology of Space Poems. Ed. John Foster. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1986. [ISBN 0192760068]
Nonsense!: Oklahoma Science Fiction Writers Poetry Anthology. Ed. Carol T. L. Phillips. Jet Pack Clam Publishing, 1985.
Songs from Unsung Worlds: Science in Poetry. Ed. Bonnie Bilyeu Gordon. Boston: Birkhauser, 1985. [ISBN 0817632964]
Burning With a Vision: Poetry of Science and the Fantastic. Ed. Robert Frazier. Philadelphia: Owlswick Press, 1984. [ISBN: 0913896225]
Poems of Science. Ed. John Heath-Stubbs & Phillips Salman. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1984. [ISBN 0140423176]
Aliens and Lovers: An Anthology of Erotic Poetry with Fantasy and Science Fiction Themes. Ed. Millea Kenin. Oakland, CA: Unique Graphics, 1983. [no ISBN]
The Umbral Anthology of Science Fiction Poetry. Ed. Steve Rasnic Tem. Denver, CO: Umbral Press, 1982. [ISBN 0943422000]
Why Am I Grown So Cold?: Poems of the Unknowable. Ed. Myra Cohn Livingston. NY: Atheneum, 1982. [ISBN 0689502427] [young readers]
Lifeline: International Poets. Ed. Gene van Troyer. Los Angeles: SFPA, 1981. [SF poetry from England, Denmark, the Philippines, Spain, Canada, Poland, Scotland, and the U.S.A.]
Hidden Places, Secret Words: An Anthology of Fantasy Poetry. Ed. Anita Loreta Anderson. Stafford, VA: Northwoods Press, 1980. [ISBN 089002149X]
Rocket Candy: Speculative Poetry. Ed. Duane Ackerson. Salem, OR: Dragonfly Press, 1977. [This is #16 (volume 4, issue 4) of The Dragonfly.]
Omniumgathum: An Anthology of Verse by Top Authors in the Field of Fantasy. Eds. Jonathan Bacon & Steve Travanovich. Lamoni, IA: Stygian Isle Press, 1976.
Edge: SF Directions. Ed. Bruce McAllister. Christchurch, New Zealand: The Edge Press, 1973. [this is Edge #5/6, Autumn/Winter 1973]
Poetry for Space Enthusiasts. Ed. Leland B. Jacobs. Champaign, IL: Garrard Publishing, 1971. [ISBN 0811641082] [young readers]
Inside Outer Space: New Poems of the Space Age. Ed. Robert Vas Dias. Garden City, NY: Anchor Books, 1970. [no ISBN]
The Isle of Gramarye: An Anthology of the Poetry of Magic. Ed. Jennifer Westwood. London: Hart-Davis, 1970. [ISBN 0246973579] [young readers]
Frontier of Going: An Anthology of Space Poetry. Ed. John Fairfax. London: Panther, 1969. [ISBN 0586026886]
Holding Your Eight Hands: An Anthology of Science Fiction Verse. Ed. Edward Lucie-Smith. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1969. [no ISBN] [A British edition of this anthology was published in 1970 by Rapp & Whiting, London]
A Book of Science Verse. Ed. W. Eastwood. London: Macmillan, 1962.
Fire and Sleet and Candlelight: New Poems of the Macabre. Ed. August Derleth. Sauk City, WI: Arkham House, 1961. [ISBN 0836964020]
Today the Stars. Ed. Lilith Lorraine. Alpine, TX: Different Press, 1960.
Imagination's Other Places: Poems of Science and Mathematics. Ed. Helen Plotz. NY: Thomas Y. Crowell Co., 1955.
Starbound!: Poems of Science-Fiction, Fantasy, and Terror. Ed. Kenneth Krueger. Buffalo, NY: Pegasus Publications, 1954. [The Space-Trails Series #5]
Snowflakes in the Sun: A Collection of Fantasy in Verse. Ed. W, Paul Ganley. North Tonawanda, NY: SSR Publications, 1952.
Dark of the Moon: Poems of Fantasy and the Macabre. Ed. August Derleth. Sauk City, WI: Arkham House, 1947.
Fantaverse (or Fanta-Verse). Ed. Bob Formanek. [1938 or 1939?].
Songs of Science. Ed. Virginia Shortridge. Boston: Marshall Jones Co., 1930.
The Haunted Hour. Ed. Margaret Widdemer. NY: Harcourt, Brace and Howe, 1920.
The Magic Casement: An Anthology of Fairy Poetry. Ed. Alfred Noyes. London: Chapman & Hall, 1908.
Elfin Music. Ed. Arthur Edward Waite. London: T. Whittaker, 1888.
Tales of Terror and Wonder. Ed. Matthew Gregory Lewis. London, NY: Routledge and Sons, 1887. [Reprints Tales of Terror and Tales of Wonder, originally published in 1801; that Lewis was the editor is in dispute]
This is, naturally, a work-in-progress. Please send corrections and suggestions to Dr. Drew Morse at amorse@jcu.edu. At this time, the parameters for this bibliography are: the majority of the anthology's content fits the above description; the anthology contains at least 80% poetry; the anthology includes poetry by at least 6 different authors; the anthology is a stand-alone publication, or a substantially different edition of a serial publication; and the anthology was published—or has been reprinted—after 1850. Note also that this list does not include ongoing SFPA-associated annual anthologies; the Rhysling and Dwarf Stars anthologies are catalogued elsewhere on this site. At present this bibliography provides only English-language anthologies; if you are aware of anthologies in other languages, please inform Dr. Morse.
