DARK GODS by T.E.D. Klein (Chiroptera Press)

[Sock Monkey]

Subterranean Press sent out in their newsletter today an announcement for Chiroptera Press's new edition of Klein's DARK GODS. It's being offered in three different states: Regular ($100), Slipcased ($200), and Lettered Clamshelled ($600). I have no experience with this publisher, but I absolutely love this collection of novellas from Klein. I had passed on the PS edition from a few years back in the hopes of a more elaborate edition from another publisher. I don't know if Chiroptera's edition will hit the mark in that regard, but I'm tempted to pull the trigger. Though I do secretly hope that Centipede will do a matching set of the remaining novellas in DARK GODS to match their letterpress edition of CHILDREN OF THE KINGDOM as that edition is so incredibly nice.

Anybody picking this up, had experience with books from this press, or any thoughts in general?

Here's the link to the slipcased edition:
https://chiropterapress.com/collecti...ipcase-edition

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[RonClinton]

No experience with this press, but I did breathe a sigh of relief when I found the design elements of this Chiroptera edition underwhelming, so I can simply be content with my S/L PS edition (of a slightly lower limitation as well). Not that PS hit it out of the park, either, but in that regard they appear on the surface to be in the same subjective ballpark, so a $200 savings was a no-brainer. If I didn't have the PS edition, I'd very likely go for it, though...DARK GODS is a seminal genre volume, and a limited of it belongs in any serious collector's library, and this isn't a bad-looking edition.

[sholloman81]

I'm very tempted but think I will end up passing.  Looks like the SubPress slipcased version already sold-out!

[swintek]

I've a few of their Ligotti books (and a TON of their wonderful spoken word records via their Cadabra Records line) and I think they are nice- if a little overpriced (but, what isn't these days?). I also think they are still feeling their way with editions and formats. I mean, the Slipcased edition adds- a slipcase (and, as far as I can tell "Top Edge Staining", but that's it.). For 100% more. I think you offer all 474 copies- with a slipcase- for, say $125, do your 26 Clamshell Lettereds and Bob's your uncle. I really hate all these BS "tiers" that some folks do now. Just make the damn book as best you can- one edition, at a fair price (e.g. Centipede, usually). Anyway, rant over. I bought the $100 edition and will be happy to have it. I, too, have the P.S. edition, but find it underwhelming for such a seminal collection and will more than likely sell it to help fund this one which I'm sure will be an upgrade.

[RonClinton]

I also think they are still feeling their way with editions and formats. I mean, the Slipcased edition adds- a slipcase (and, as far as I can tell "Top Edge Staining", but that's it.). For 100% more. I think you offer all 474 copies- with a slipcase- for, say $125, do your 26 Clamshell Lettereds and Bob's your uncle. I really hate all these BS "tiers" that some folks do now. Just make the damn book as best you can- one edition, at a fair price (e.g. Centipede, usually).

That was my first reaction as well...the real differences between the low- and mid-tier editions were minor at best, but the price-increase percentage certainly was not.

[Sock Monkey]

That was my first reaction as well...the real differences between the low- and mid-tier editions were minor at best, but the price-increase percentage certainly was not.

Joining into agreement about this point as well. I know slipcases are not necessarily cheap, but I agree with Swintek that I don't know if three levels were necessarily needed for this production. It seems that a middle ground could have been easily struck. I also am wondering about the jump to $600 for the lettered. The description doesn't necessarily sell me on the 300% increase in cost of the slipcased edition, but, you know, Centipede undersells the production qualities of their books all the time, so this might look a lot nicer in hand than in description.

I'm also not too keen on these art portfolio editions that we've been seeing. I know that some people seem to really enjoy these, but they are just not my jam and I'd much rather see the cost for that either cut from the price of the book or folded into better quality production materials. This is just a personal preference and not a complaint.

[Ben Staad]

I remember buying editions like this, sans the slipcase, at a $35 price point. I still have trouble wrapping my mind around the inflation that drove this.

*I would like to preface this by saying $100 doesn't appear to be a bad price point in this day and age. I do not wish to knock this edition. I applaud folks for continue the tradition of publishing, allowing new collectors to discover great works, and provide opportunities for library building.*

[swintek]

I remember buying editions like this, sans the slipcase, at a $35 price point. I still have trouble wrapping my mind around the inflation that drove this.

*I would like to preface this by saying $100 doesn't appear to be a bad price point in this day and age. I do not wish to knock this edition. I applaud folks for continue the tradition of publishing, allowing new collectors to discover great works, and provide opportunities for library building.*

I completely agree with all this.

[Sock Monkey]

Anybody pulling the trigger on the new Lovecraft Collected Stories Volume 1? I'm not a huge Lovecraft fan and I already have Centipede's Library of Weird Fiction edition, so I'm not sure I need this for my collection, but I'm also a sucker for these types of things.

[RonClinton]

Anybody pulling the trigger on the new Lovecraft Collected Stories Volume 1? I'm not a huge Lovecraft fan and I already have Centipede's Library of Weird Fiction edition, so I'm not sure I need this for my collection, but I'm also a sucker for these types of things.

No, too many other options offered over the decades (including that LoWF edition you mention) to make this new (revised/updated) edition of any serious appeal. I'm glad it's being released and one has to admire Joshi's academic approach to the project, but it still feels like very, very well-tread ground.

[sholloman81]

Anybody pulling the trigger on the new Lovecraft Collected Stories Volume 1? I'm not a huge Lovecraft fan and I already have Centipede's Library of Weird Fiction edition, so I'm not sure I need this for my collection, but I'm also a sucker for these types of things.

No for me as well! I personally don't see the need for another Lovecraft volume as there's a glut of them already, but then again, if it exposes someone new to his work, then I'm glad it exists.  I just know that whenever I go to a used bookstore, there's always a ton of Lovecraft/Poe/Stoker on the shelves as it seems like there's a new edition produced every year.

[swintek]

Anybody pulling the trigger on the new Lovecraft Collected Stories Volume 1? I'm not a huge Lovecraft fan and I already have Centipede's Library of Weird Fiction edition, so I'm not sure I need this for my collection, but I'm also a sucker for these types of things.

I did. Gulp. Even though I already have the Hippocampus HC editions- which these are just a prettied-up reprint of. I did, because I do try to collect a fair amount of Lovecraft stuff, and because I absolutely love the Karmazid art- which is not in the Hippocampus editions. Still, I feel this was a missed opportunity in that they should've been deluxe, hardcover illustrated editions of the annotated Penguin Classics 3 volume editions. Then- these would be cause for celebration. The Hippocampus "Variorum" editions are not annotated- they just have all the false starts and different texts before Lovecraft perfected his iconic weird tales. It absolutely astonishes me that we still do not have a definitive, annotated, illustrated hardcover edition of all the Lovecraft stories in 2024. As mentioned above- there are so many editions out there, but NONE have been authoritatively comprehensive. I'm waiting- and keep buying editions that have some part of what I'm talking about- but nothing out there yet can be considered Ultimate.