Paula Guran

Paula Guran

Paula Guran is an accomplished editor, anthologist, and reviewer whose influence spans decades of speculative fiction, dark fantasy, and horror publishing. Widely respected for her sharp critical eye and deep genre knowledge, she has helped spotlight emerging voices while preserving the legacies of established writers.

Guran served as senior editor at Prime Books for seven years and, prior to that, helmed the pioneering Juno Books imprint from its founding and was there to see it get acquired by Pocket Books. Through these roles, she championed innovative fantasy and dark fiction, shaping the direction of imprints known for their commitment to bold and imaginative storytelling. She edited the long-running Year’s Best Dark Fantasy & Horror series for fifteen years. She curated the Year’s Best Fantasy series for four years, making her annual volumes essential reading for fans, scholars, and writers seeking a snapshot of the field’s most compelling work.

In addition to her editorial accomplishments, Guran created the weekly e-mail newsletter DarkEcho, a key early voice in online horror criticism. The newsletter earned two Bram Stoker Awards, an International Horror Guild (IHG) Award, and a nomination for the World Fantasy Award. Her three-year tenure as editor of Horror Garage brought her another IHG Award and a second World Fantasy Award nomination, further recognizing her curatorial excellence.

As a critic, Guran has reviewed for Locus Magazine for more than seven years and spent over a decade writing reviews for Publishers Weekly. Her nonfiction and editorial work has appeared in Cemetery Dance magazine, and she has both written for and edited Cinemafantastique. She also served as nonfiction editor for Weird Tales, contributing to the revitalization of one of speculative fiction’s most storied magazines.

Guran is a member of the National Book Critics Circle, underscoring her ongoing commitment to literary excellence. Through her editing, reviewing, and advocacy, she has played a significant role in shaping contemporary fantasy, horror, and dark fiction, influencing both the genres’ evolving canon and the readers who continue to discover them.

Paula Guran: Awards & Accolades

Guran's books have won multiple awards, DarkEcho Newsletter, Vol. 5. #1-50 won the Bram Stoker Awards, Superior Achievement in Non-Fiction, in 1998 as well as the International Horror Guild Award - Best Nonfiction in 1998, Bram Stoker Awards - Superior Achievement in Non-Fiction in 1999.

Paula Guran books have also been nominated for multiple awards, DarkEcho Newsletter, Vol. 5. #1-50 was nominated for the World Fantasy Award, Non-Professional, in 1998. The Jacaranda Smile was nominated for the Shirley Jackson Award, Best Short Fiction, in 2009. The Year's Best Dark Fantasy & Horror, 2010 Edition was nominated for the Suspense Magazine Awards, Best Historical, in 2010 as well as the Suspense Magazine Awards - Best Anthology in 2010. The Year's Best Dark Fantasy & Horror, 2011 Edition was nominated for the British Fantasy Award, Best Anthology, in 2012. The Year's Best Dark Fantasy & Horror, Volume 2 was nominated for the World Fantasy Award, Anthology, in 2022.

For her work editing the Horror Garage publication, Paula Guran received the 2002 International Horror Guild Award for Best Periodical. The publication also received a nomination for the Non-Professional Special Award in the 2002 World Fantasy Awards.

Related Authors

Fans of Paula Guran also enjoy these authors:

1. Neil Gaiman, author of the American Gods Series.
2. Brandon Sanderson, author of the Mistborn Series.
3. Jim Butcher, author of The Dresden Files Series.
4. Stephen King, author of The Dark Tower Series.
5. Philip K. Dick, author of the Blade Runner Series.

Paula Guran: F.A.Q