Roc Books is a fantasy imprint of Penguin Group, as part of their New American Library. The imprint was launched in April 1990 after Penguin Chairman, Peter Mayer, asked John Silbersack, the editor in chief of New American Library's science fiction program, to launch a new imprint that would draw more attention to Penguin's SF presence. The name Roc Books was chosen as a homage to Penguin's many famous bird named publishing imprints. Roc was named after the enormous predatory bird of the Arabian Nights. After Penguin's merger with G.P. Putnam's Sons the imprint was aligned to Ace books and the current editorial team at Roc is the same team that edits the Ace imprint, although the two imprints maintain a separate identity.
Inaugural List:
The first monthly list at Roc was:
- ROBOT VISIONS: Isaac Asimov
- THE WARRIOR LIVES: Joel Rosenberg
- PROJECT SOLAR SAIL: Arthur C. Clarke
- AMONG MADMEN: Jim Starlin & Daina Grazuinas
- BARROW: Jim Deakins
Roc's authors have included:
- Isaac Asimov
- Stephen Baxter
- Peter S. Beagle
- Anne Bishop
- Jim Butcher
- Rachel Caine
- Karen Chance
- Nancy A. Collins
- Arthur C. Clarke
- Glen Cook
- Mary Gentle
- Charles L. Grant
- Simon R. Green
- Laurell K. Hamilton
- Guy Gavriel Kay
- Patricia Kennealy-Morrison
- E. E. Knight
- Ursula K. LeGuin
- Dan McGirt
- Grant Naylor
- Andre Norton
- Terry Pratchett
- Kat Richardson
- Joel Rosenberg
- Jim Starlin
- S. M. Stirling
- Harry Turtledove
- Rob Thurman
- Boris Vallejo
Roc was publisher of FASA's game related Battletech and Shadowrun novels beginning with Shadowrun: The Secrets of Power #2 : Choose Your Enemies Carefully by Robert N. Charette in February 1991.
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“The study of tools as well as of books should have a place in the public schools. Tools, machinery, and the implements of the farm should be made familiar to every boy, and suitable industrial education should be furnished for every girl.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)