Merril Collection of Science Fiction, Speculation & Fantasy

One of the world's leading research collections of speculative fiction and popular culture.

Our 80,000+ items cover speculative fiction including science fiction, fantasy, horror and magic realism. Includes:

fiction books, non-fiction critical works, biographies
pulp magazines
graphic novels
manuscripts, correspondence and other archival records
periodicals
original art
role-playing game (RPG) books

Jump to collection details & highlights.

Explore the collection

Come in person to view everything. A portion of full items are digitized and many books are searchable in TPL's catalogue.

View digitized items

View catalogued print books (tip: to search just this collection, replace "ALL" in the search at top of page with new search terms)

Plan your visit

Using the collection

All welcome! Walk in to see exhibits or ask questions.

To access most items, you simply need to fill out a brief form and show a piece of identification or your library card when you arrive. To see original art, call ahead (416-393-7748).

Items are non-circulating. You can view them in the Merril Collection's reading room.

Location

Lillian H. Smith branch (239 College Street), 3rd floor.

Hours

Monday to Friday: 9 am to 8:30 pm
Saturday: 9 am to 5 pm
Sunday: 12 to 5 pm

Class or group visits

Contact

416-393-7748
lsmestaff@tpl.ca

Exhibits & events

Collection details & highlights

Fiction books, non-fiction critical works, biographies

Since the 1970s, science fiction has been an accepted field of academic study. Our collection includes many works from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. It supports middle school students to postgraduates.

First editions of books such as Bram Stoker's Dracula and H. G. Wells' War of the Worlds
Early paperback editions including Ace Doubles, DAW and Lancer pocket books
Biographies and critical works about authors, editors, illustrators, filmmakers
Bibliographies and indexes to pulp magazines, journals and fanzines
Speculative fiction in other media: cinema, television, comic books and music

Yellow cover of worn book with red lettering reading Dracula Bram Stoker,

Dracula by Bram Stoker, 1897. First edition.

Pulp magazines

Our extensive collection of pulps dates back to the 1920s. These popular magazines, named for their inexpensive paper made from wood pulp, are fragile but vividly colourful — they pre-date other entertainments such as television and movies.

First science fiction pulp magazine Amazing Stories (1926) published by Hugo Gernsback
First horror/fantasy fiction pulp magazine Weird Tales (1923) published by Rural Publishing Corporation
Popular science fiction digest-sized magazine Galaxy Science Fiction (1950 to 1980) published by World Editions

Two vintage covers of sci fi pulp magazines

Two pulps: Science Wonder Stories (1929) and Galaxy Science Fiction (1955).

Graphic novels

We have over 5,000 titles consisting of comic book compilations and full-length narratives.

DC Archives Editions and Marvel Masterworks, which reprint early classics, including first appearances of a variety of superheroes. We also have Dark Horse Archives, which reprint more obscure comics. Useful for researchers of the history of graphic novels, plus fans of particular superheroes, such as Wonder Woman or Captain America.
Artist's Editions, which reproduce the artist renderings in original dimensions before they were inked, coloured and sent to the publishers for printing
In addition to well-known series such as Batman and the Avengers, our collection also has some representative titles from other parts of the world, including France, Belgium and Japan

Book cover with DC superhereos

World's Finest Comics Archives, Volume 2, 2001.

Manuscripts, correspondence and other archival records

Original manuscripts and archival materials from prominent speculative fiction creators and organizations.

Judith Merril: select correspondence and ephemera
Guy Gavriel Kay: manuscripts and drafts for several novels including Tigana and The Summer Tree
S. M. Stirling: manuscripts for novels and short stories
A. E. van Vogt: manuscripts for novels and short stories

Periodicals

Our holdings include scholarly journals, publishing, film, and science magazines, fiction periodicals and fanzines.

Entire run of Asimov's Science Fiction magazine, founded in 1977 and featuring the first appearance of Daenerys Targaryen along with works by Octavia Butler, Kelly Link and Kim Stanley Robinson
Genre industry periodicals such as Locus and The New York Review of Science Fiction
Scholarly journals such as Foundation, Extrapolation and Arthuriana
Magazines on the paranomal such as Skeptical Inquirer and Fortean Times
Fanzines (self-published magazines made and distributed fans, including some famous authors)
Canadian fiction magazines, On Spec (Alberta), Neo-Opsis (British Columbia) and Solaris (Quebec)

Publication cover with wolf creature in futuristic suit

Asimov's Science Fiction, December 1995.

Original art

Includes both original science fiction and fantasy art. Our holdings feature some of the most gifted artists in the field: Frank Kelly Freas, Leo and Diane Dillon, Stephen Hickman, Ron Lightburn, Ed Emshwiller and Virgil Finlay.

Interior art from pulp magazines from the 1950s to 1970s by Jack Gaughan, Vincent Di Fate, Frank R. Paul and others
Original cover art for novels and pulp magazines by artists such as Frank Kelly Freas, Ed Emswhiller and John Berkey
A selection of space art by Jon Lomberg, who worked with Carl Sagan on the television show Cosmos

Green man in key hole

Cover illustration for Martians, Go Home from a repainting by Frank Kelly Freas. First used as the cover of Astounding Science-Fiction, September 1954.

Role-playing game (RPG) books

Since the first tabletop RPG, Dungeons & Dragons, was published, there has been a considerable increase in the number of titles available and the themes explored. Holdings span hundreds of titles, including player guides, modules, campaigns, and more.

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Master's Guide, including the famed Appendix N — the list of books that inspired Gary Gygax to create Dungeons & Dragons
Empire of the Petal Throne, set in the world of Tékumel, created by a professor of linguistics and built around his invented language
Popular games like D&D, Call of Cthulhu, Vampire the Masquerade, Cyberpunk, GURPS and Pathfinder
RPGs based on pop culture sensations like Star Trek, Star Wars, Firefly and Sailor Moon

Cover of Sailor Moon book

Sailor Moon: The Sailor Moon Role-Playing Game and Resource Book by Mark C. MacKinnon, 1999.

Finding aids

Fanzine Finding Aid (PDF)

A list of fanzines in the Merril Collection.

Graphic Novel Finding Aid (PDF)

A list of graphic novels and comics in the Merril Collection.

Manuscripts Finding Aid (PDF)

An inventory of over 100 boxes of manuscripts and other archival items in the Merril Collection.

Role Playing Game Finding Aid (PDF)

A list of our RPG resources and boxed sets of RPG games in the Merril Collection.

Series & Sequels List (PDF)

A complete list of over 17,000 speculative fiction titles that are part of a series — a resource for chronological, and in some cases suggested, reading order.

Award winners

We hold many books — including hard-to-find titles — that have won literary awards related to speculative fiction. Some can be borrowed from other TPL branches. All can be read in the Merril Collection reading room.

Arthur C. Clarke Award Winners

For a science fiction novel first published in the previous year in Great Britain. Selected by a jury of volunteers.

Aurora Award Winners

For Canadian science fiction or fantasy in several different categories. Awarded by the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association.

Hugo Award Winners

For several categories of works in science fiction and fantasy. Voted on by members of the World Science Fiction Convention.

LAMBDA Literary Award - LGBTQ Speculative Fiction

For 2SLGBTQ+ books in several categories across multiple genres. Awarded by LAMBDA Literary.

Nebula Award Winners

For books voted on and selected by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.

Philip K. Dick Award Winners

For science fiction books published in the United States for the first time as paperback originals. Presented by the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society in collaboration with the Philip K. Dick Trust.

Sunburst Award Winners

For Canadian novels or book-length collections, as well as young adult books and short stories. Voted on by a jury and presented by the Sunburst Awards Society.

Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction

For a book-length work of speculative fiction by a single author — awarded by a jury.

World Fantasy Award Winners

For works of fantasy. Awarded at the World Fantasy Convention by a judging panel.

History of collection

1968

Judith Merril - a prominent science fiction author/editor - moves to Toronto and loans her science fiction collection to residents of Rochdale College, University of Toronto.

1970

On August 10, an agreement is signed between Judith Merril and the Board of the Toronto Public library. Merril agrees to donate her collection of 5,000 items related to science fiction, fantasy and associated non-fiction.

The collection opens at 566 Palmerston Avenue, originally named The Spaced Out Library. Madge Aalto (Madeleine Morton) is appointed Head of Collection.

1972

Nathan Lewis Bengis, President of the North American Jules Verne Society, donates a substantial collection of Jules Verne materials to the Spaced Out Library.

1973

Doris Mehegan is appointed Head of Collection.

1975

With 17,000 items, the Spaced Out Library moves to the Boys & Girls House (40 St. George Street), a former branch of Toronto Public Library.

1980

The Friends of the Spaced Out Library is established. (They later change their name to the Friends of the Merril Collection.)

A circulating collection of science fiction is established at the Spaced Out Library in addition to the existing reference collection.

1981

The Building Committee is given the task of finding a new permanent home for the Spaced Out Library's growing collection.

1985

Spaced Out hosts the launch of “Tesseracts: an Anthology of Canadian Science Fiction”, edited by Judith Merril and the first anthology of its kind. The event is attended by science fiction celebrities Ursula K. Le Guin, Phyllis Gotlieb, L. Sprague de Camp and Elisabeth Vonarburg.

1986

Lorna Toolis is appointed Head of Collection.

1987

A Writer-in-Residence program is launched, featuring Judith Merril as the first Writer-in-Residence. Members of the program form the Cecil Street Writer's Group. (Later Writers-in-Residences will include Robert J. Sawyer and Karl Schroeder.)

Robert Bruce Robbins, patron and Friend of the Spaced Out Library, leaves a large bequest of material to the collection.

1990

The collection is officially renamed The Merril Collection of Science Fiction, Speculation & Fantasy.

1995

The collection moves to the Lillian H. Smith branch, its current location. In this location, the book stacks are temperature- and humidity-controlled to preserve the items. There is also a dedicated reading room for quiet, individual study.

The Merril Collection co-sponsors an exhibition (“Out of this World”) on Canadian science fiction and fantasy at the National Library of Canada (now Library and Archives Canada).

1997

The first Academic Conference on Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy is held at the Merril Collection, featuring guest speakers Judith Merril and Guy Gavriel Kay, with a special tribute to Phyllis Gotlieb.This event recurs every two years.

The first Fantastic Pulps Show and Sale is held on May 3, 1997. This becomes an annual event.

On September 12, 1997 Judith Merril dies at age 74. The library plants a tree in her memory. The Toronto Public Library Board donates Leo and Diane Dillon's painting Worldly Wonders to the Merril Collection in her honour.

2000

Margaret Atwood uses the collection to research the pulp fiction aspect of her novel The Blind Assassin and for book publicity.

2002

A book launch is held for “Better to Have Loved: The Life of Judith Merril”, compiled from Merril's memoirs by her granddaughter Emily Pohl-Weary. The book later wins a Hugo Award.

2003

The Merril Collection curates Other Worlds: Get There From Here, an exhibit exploring the many worlds of science fiction and fantasy, held in TD Gallery at Toronto Reference Library.

2008

The Merril Collection hosts the presentation of SF Canada's Lifetime Achievement Award to science fiction author and poet Phyllis Gotlieb.

2013

The Merril Collection contributes to Flight: A Thrilling History of an Idea, an exhibit held in TD Gallery at Toronto Reference Library. Leo and Diane Dillon’s Worldly Wisdom is the exhibit’s key image.

2017

Sephora Henderson (formerly Hosein) is appointed Head of Collection.

2018

The Merril Collection hosts the relaunch of Amazing Stories as a print magazine.

2019

The Merril Collection curates Retro Futures, an exhibit celebrating futuristic visions from early science fiction and science fact, held in TD Gallery at Toronto Reference Library.

2020

50th anniversary of the Merril Collection of Science Fiction, Speculation & Fantasy.

Support the collection

Friends of the Merril Collection

A volunteer organization to support and promote the Merril Collection. The Friends sponsor book launches and author readings, and publish the SOL Rising newsletter.

Friends website