AST (publisher)

AST (АСТ) is one of the largest book publishing companies in Russia, headed by Oleg Bartenev (Олег Бартенев). It owns a bookstores chain "Bukva" (Буква, lit. A Letter).

Among AST partners are publishing companies Astrel, Zebra E, Molodaya Gvardiya, CenterCom, bookstores Moscow and Biblio Globus and online shops, such as Ozon.ru. It also owns comic book and manga publisher Comics Factory.

History
The company was established in 1990 by Andrey Gertsev, Sergei Derevianko and Tatiana Derevianko as "Creative Cooperative Association AST" (Творческое кооперативное объединение «АСТ»). AST is an abbreviation meaning Andrey-Sergei-Tatiana. In 1993 the company was divided into AST itself, headed by Andrey Gertsev, and AST-PRESS.

As of 2007, AST and its rival (later parent company) Eksmo together published approximately 30% of all Russian books. In 2008 AST purchased Avanta+.

On April 19, 2012 the commercial subdivision of AST "Pyaty okean" filed for bankruptcy, as their debts exceeded 7,5 billion roubles. Eksmo stated that they had plans for AST purchase. In June 2012, the general director of Eksmo, reported that Eksmo gained control on several subdivisions of AST, with an exception of "Bukva" bookstores chain.

Book series

 * Alchemy Spirit (Алхимия духа
 * Alternative (Альтернатива) — works of detection and fantasy
 * Classics of Historical Thought (Классики исторической мысли)
 * Dragon Age (Век Дракона
 * Exclusive Classic (Eksklyuzivnaya klassika)
 * Higher Intelligence (Высший разум
 * Horror (Uzhastiki)
 * The Hunger Games Trilogy (Трилогия «Голодные игры»
 * Intelligent Detective (Интеллектуальный детектив)
 * Legend of the Seeker (Легенда об Искателе
 * Library of Classics (Библиотека классики
 * Library of World Fiction (Библиотека мировой фантастики)
 * Opening (Открытие - nonfiction books
 * Revelations of Guardian Angels (Откровения ангелов-хранителей
 * Stars of World Philosophy (Звёзды мировой философии