Gauntlet Press (with and w/out Borderlands partnership)...

[Martin]

I hate to admit this but checking any copies of Blake Crouch books for 'signatures' whenever I am in Powell's will be my new hobby.

[RonClinton]

I think this signature is printed on the page. Perhaps they threw it in as a way for Crouch to sign off on the series? I just wish they would have stated something about it on the copyright page.

I think you’re exactly correct, Jeff, and I couldn’t agree more that it should have been disclosed on the copyright page as something like “Facsimile signature edition (c) 2017” or whatever the date was. From all appearances, it looks real, very smooth and flowing…there’s no fade or pixilated spots. I didn’t think to check for a rear impression last night, but smart money is on the lack of it…it has to be printed on.

[jeffingoff]

Ron I’m shocked that there was something I could point out to you! I think this signature is printed on the page. Perhaps they threw it in as a way for Crouch to sign off on the series? I just wish they would have stated something about it on the copyright page or something.

I highly doubt that his signature will be printed or auto pen in the Gauntlet editions. I wouldn’t expect anything less than an authentic signature.

He signed his Little Book from Borderlands.

[Ben Staad]

Take a magnifying glass (or I'm sure there is an app) and see if there are any breaks in the ink. I'm not entirely sure but I don't think an autopen leaves any breaks. Maybe someone could correct or confirm this?

Classic Autopen:

https://www.sportscollectorsdaily.co...e-the-autopen/

Computer generated autopen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf5sqhP3u18

[Ben Staad]

If it were autopen I think you would see the indentations.

Check out the reverse of the signed page. Typically you can see the indent in the paper where the author pressed down to sign, especially with the lesser quality of paper in trade editions.

[slayn666]

Check out the reverse of the signed page. Typically you can see the indent in the paper where the author pressed down to sign, especially with the lesser quality of paper in trade editions.

[Splync]

Crouch is likely on Twitter. Anybody want to ask him?

It'd certainly be quite a bummer if he ends up using an autopen on the Gauntlet Pines...

[RonClinton]

It certainly seems to be identical.
Mine:
334777E4-5CE5-46FA-93D3-4A51FFE4824D.jpeg

[Splync]

Mind blown. You prompted me to check my copy of the third PINES book…and my copy is signed, too! What kind of autopen sorcery is this??

Is your signed copy identical to Jeff's two copies?

[RonClinton]

Do you have a hardcover or a trade paperback? I'm going to check every trade paperback I see for the rest of my life.

Mind blown. You prompted me to check my copy of the third PINES book…and my copy is signed, too! What kind of autopen sorcery is this??

[jeffingoff]

Wow, I see what you mean. If those aren’t autopen, he has a superhuman ability for consistentcy…I don’t see any variation whatsoever. No idea what the story is behind that, but I’d also be curious to know… it’s pretty odd to see an autopen session for a midlist author and a non-Covid-era pub date.

Do you have a hardcover or a trade paperback? I'm going to check every trade paperback I see for the rest of my life.

[jeffingoff]

Those are obviously the same books Jeff.

hahahahaha Maybe this is the same signed book from a parallel universe that somehow slipped into ours so now there are two

[RonClinton]

Wow, I see what you mean. If those aren’t autopen, he has a superhuman ability for consistentcy…I don’t see any variation whatsoever. No idea what the story is behind that, but I’d also be curious to know… it’s pretty odd to see an autopen session for a midlist author and a non-Covid-era pub date.

[TacomaDiver]

Those are obviously the same books Jeff.

[jeffingoff]

D586EB65-A281-4D31-AA22-5AC9CB4E8CF1.jpeg

I haven’t heard of anything like that, though I suppose anything is possible. But I can’t imagine it would be economical for the publisher to bind in a (real) signature page in a mass-market tpb, and a facsimile signature without context seems unlikely as well. My suspicion is that it’s just a coincidence, and maybe there are subtle differences in your two that just aren’t readily apparent…?

Here are the digs side by side. I can’t find any variation.