The dark horror, science fiction and fantasy publishing firm Prime Books was founded by Sean Wallace in late 2001 following the collapse of publishing company Imaginary Worlds. At the time a freelance editor for Wildside Press (although living in Ohio), Wallace had initially stepped in to try and help the ailing company but by then it was too late. The initial reason for starting Prime was to provide an outlet for several books which Imaginary Worlds had been unable to publish prior to folding.
In 2003 Wallace licensed Prime Books to Wildside Press, and moved from Ohio to Maryland. He later became a senior editor at the company. In early 2009, Wallace re-acquired his company and relaunched it as an independent publishing house (Prime Books Publishing) in May that year.
Prime Books lauched Fantasy Magazine in 2005 (it has been published online since 2007) and Lightspeed in 2010. Two years late Wallace transferred ownership of
both magaines to editor John Joseph Adams.
Prime Books was published out of Rocvkville, Maryland between 2004 and ca. 2011. As of 2012 the business is located in Gaithersburg, Maryland.
