COLLINS, Paul

(1954-)

   Australian editor, publisher, writer and bookseller. At an early age he began publishing and editing a SEMIPROZINE, VOID SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY (1975-81), which in due course transmuted into a series of original ANTHOLOGIES, including Envisaged Worlds (anth 1978), Ron Graham Presents Other Worlds (anth 1978), Alien Worlds (anth 1979), Distant Worlds (anth 1981) and Frontier Worlds (anth 1983); a later anthology is Metaworlds: Best Australian Science Fiction (anth 1994). His debut novel, Hot Lead - Cold Sweat (1975), not sf, was published by his own SMALL PRESS, Void Publications. With Peter Wilfert he edited Sf aus Australien ("Australian SF") (anth 1982 Germany). In 1980 he set up a second small press, Cory \& Collins, in partnership with Rowena Cory. Despite execrable production standards, this was of some importance in providing a platform for Australian sf and fantasy novelists - authors included Russell BLACKFORD, A. Bertram CHANDLER, David LAKE, Wynne N. WHITEFORD and Jack WODHAMS - but the venture ceased in 1985 after 14 books. PC's sf-writing career began with "The Test" for Weirdbook 12 in 1977, and he has since been remarkably prolific, with over 50 sf stories published, mostly in Australia but some overseas, though even in Australia he has not made the impression on sf readers that his craftsmanlike work may at its best deserve.

   PN

   See also: AUSTRALIA.