More Details
Posted on January 14, 2005 Posted by John Scalzi 18 Comments
A little more information about the hardcover version of Agent to the Stars (and it should be understood that all of this is very preliminary):
* This is indeed going to be a limited-run edition. The current plan is for a print run of 1,000 copies, each of these copies numbered, as well as signed by yours truly. These hardcovers will probably be a higher price than the average hardcover (but not significantly higher; it’s not like I’m famous or anything), but I expect I might be able to wrangle a discount for Whatever readers. Stay tuned.
* Want your Agent to the Stars version in something more, oh, I don’t know, ritzy? 26 copies of A2S will be printed in an ultra-deluxe edition, which will be lettered, leatherbound and set in their own traycase. These will also be signed, possibly with an ink created from my very blood! Okay, probably not that last part. These versions will be pricey — we’re talking probably $150 or so. Think of it as an investment, and then every time you see me you can yell at me to get back to work in order to keep the value of those books high. See? It’s a motivation tactic!
* We’re looking at a July/August 2005 release for the book, which would situate it nicely between OMW (out now, as if you didn’t know), and The Ghost Brigades, which is tentatively scheduled for January 2006. Naturally, take this with a very large grain of salt, since OMW was originally scheduled for 2003.
* In a very nice gesture, Bill Schafer (Subterranean Press’ big cheese) asked me if there was anyone who I preferred do the cover art, and indeed I did have someone in mind. We’re chatting with him now about it, and if we can get him, time and other factors permitting, well, let’s just say it would rock. We’ll have to see.
That’s where things are at the moment.
You saw Gabe and Tycho selling limited edition cartoon cells didn’t you!
My question, how long is A2S in book form? It seemed like such a quick read (and I read slowwww…like speak everything in your mind slow). Just curious if there will be more leather or parchment :)
*Saw* the limited edition cells? There’s one not more than ten feet away from me in my office.
A2S is about 95,000 words, which makes it about 5% longer than OMW. It’ll be about the same size as OMW, I would guess.
Signing 1,000 books doesn’t sound like too much fun. And to think that I thought my hand got tired when our mortgage closed.
“Signing 1,000 books doesn’t sound like too much fun.”
Possibly. On the other hand, it’s early enough in my career that doing that many signatures peversely sounds like it could be fun.
I don’t think you should encourage people to
think of your books as “investment”.
Because one way of increasing the value
would be to ensure that things dry up
at the supply end. Various painters come
to mind …
*ominoussoundeffects*
Or maybe I should stop reading crime …
To deflect suspicion, of course, Scalzi’s body would be found wrapped in a Confederate flag, surrounded by cheap crucifixes paper-clipped to ACLU cards, with a Bush/Cheney bumper sticker on his forehead and “CHILDFREE!” scrawled atop that in flurorescent marker.
And with a wooden spoon next to him in the bed.
I’d like to pre-reserve (is it possible to “pre-reserve something?) one of the 26….please let me know!
Thanks!
I know this is off-topic, but remember when you were running your “first to find the book in the bookstore” contest and you put up that mp3? I unfortunately didn’t find the book but I loved the song and was wondering if you had any more you’d be willing to share with us or put up for sale somewhere.
Sure, I’ll probably put them back online at some point.
Out of curiosity – do you know how many consistent readers of the Whatever there are? I know there’s no good way to get a number, but it’s sort of important given that your print run should probably include just over that many.
Heh. That’s very flattering, but I find it deeply unlikely that every single Whatever reader will want a copy.
The Whatever averages something along the line of 5,000 unique visits a day during the weekdays, give or take, or at least did the last time I checked. I don’t actually check the stats that often; I don’t do any advertising on the site, so there’s generally no reason to.
John Needham — I will let Subterranean know you’re interested in one of the ultra-deluxe editions.
—- To deflect suspicion, of course, Scalzi’s body would be found wrapped in a Confederate flag, surrounded by cheap crucifixes paper-clipped to ACLU cards, with a Bush/Cheney bumper sticker on his forehead and “CHILDFREE!” scrawled atop that in flurorescent marker.
And with a wooden spoon next to him in the bed. —-
Heh…and lets not forget cat-sized scratches. Lots of deep, angry cat-sized scratches.
“And with” the head of “a wooden spoon next to him in the bed” . . . .
i’d like one of the ultra-deluxe editions, john. who do i talk to? you or subterranean?
I will talk to Subterranean about it — I need to e-mail them today anyway. I will see if there’s anything we can do on the pre-order front.
“I will let Subterranean know you’re interested in one of the ultra-deluxe editions.”
Well if you’re actually keeping track of these.. *raises hand* mememememe I want one!
I’m gonna start saving for that special edition too!! Sign me up! I love having a “Famous” brother!