Suntup Editions - All Books

[Sock Monkey]

Anyone pick-up the new Suntup today, Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang by Kate Wilhelm? Really like the artwork but will be a pass for me as there are too many other items at the moment. Maybe I can check it out up the road on the aftermarket!

I passed. I hadn’t heard of the book before and I’m not a big science fiction reader, so it’s not quite in my wheelhouse. I’m also getting burnt out by what feels like every book being $150+ . I just can’t take that many chances at that price point anymore.

[RonClinton]

I passed. I hadn’t heard of the book before and I’m not a big science fiction reader, so it’s not quite in my wheelhouse. I’m also getting burnt out by what feels like every book being $150+ . I just can’t take that many chances at that price point anymore.

I passed as well...hadn't heard of it before, and while I enjoyed the Wilhelm set from Centipede (though still have Vol. 2 to read), that's probably as much Wilhelm SF as I need for the moment.

I had a chance to watch this week's Facebook stream on repeat (since their page isn't protected against non-Facebook types like some, it seems), and was struck by Paul's mention that the AE are essentially break-even, so when they're not a sellout they're effectively a loss, and if he has too many more of those he'll have to start looking harder at which ones receive the AE treatment and which will not. Given that this in turn would mean limiting offerings for us non-Numbered Suntup types, that was unfortunate to hear. Guess time will tell how that issue plays out.

[Ben Staad]

I only caught a portion of the live and missed that part. I'm very surprised that AE's are a break even venture at these price points.

If anything I'm encouraged that Paul mentioned this, recognizes that a business decisions needs to be made, and appears to be following his companies mission of producing high end books.

While it limits my ability to purchase his books I love looking at them from a distance.

and was struck by Paul's mention that the AE are essentially break-even, so when they're not a sellout they're effectively a loss, and if he has too many more of those he'll have to start looking harder at which ones receive the AE treatment and which will not.

[sholloman81]

I had a chance to watch this week's Facebook stream on repeat (since their page isn't protected against non-Facebook types like some, it seems), and was struck by Paul's mention that the AE are essentially break-even, so when they're not a sellout they're effectively a loss, and if he has too many more of those he'll have to start looking harder at which ones receive the AE treatment and which will not. Given that this in turn would mean limiting offerings for us non-Numbered Suntup types, that was unfortunate to hear. Guess time will tell how that issue plays out.

Thanks for this info! I wasn't able to watch the livestream and find this very interesting. I adore what Suntup produces, but their recent AE books seem to be running near the $150-200 range which is pretty close to the breaking point for what I want to spend for an AE, especially if it isn't a must-have book. For that reason alone, I passed on the most recent Wilhelm book. Sounds good and would love to give it a try but with shipping, it will be close to $200 which just isn't something I can justify at the moment. Hopefully, it will sell-out for Paul so he can keep the AE line going as I do have a handful that I love and can see myself purchasing more in the future..

I also wonder if producing such a wide range of books/styles is feeding into this issue. I know the last three books have been a 70's sci-fi (Wilhelm), a children's book (the Dahl sequel), and a shorty story (Hills Black Phone). Personally, while I collect some sci-fi, it's not a must-have genre for me so the Wilhem was an easy pass. For the Dahl/Charlie sequel, while it would feed my nostalgia, I just don't really read YA books much anymore and don't need an AE for one except in a few extremely rare cases. And finally, for the Hill, it just wasn't a book I could justify purchasing. I'm a Hill fan like everyone, but I already have this story in another LE & the price for a volume this small (46 pages-$155-over $3 per page!) feels ridiculous, especially as there really aren't any cool extras being included IMO. So for me, the last three months have been easy passes. That could change next quarter and all three books could be must-haves for me but there's really no way to know.

[RonClinton]

I also wonder if producing such a wide range of books/styles is feeding into this issue.

Honestly, I've always found it both puzzling and impressive that Paul is able to offer such a varied offering of books and still succeed. The common thought has largely always been that a small-press publishing house needs to specialize, often not only in the specific type of genre but in timeframe (i.e. classic horror, or contemporary Fantasy, or vintage pulp, or Golden Age SF, etc.) and, generally speaking, edition format. That Paul is counter-intuitively able to offer horror, SF, modern and classic literature, crime (Thomas Harris), children's books, and so on, in all sorts of different formats and page-counts, and succeed in doing so, is pretty impressive. Centipede does that as well, but not to the degree Suntup does. I kind of keep expecting and fearing that that open-minded support for Suntup's approach will diminish among, let's face it, a pretty niche and finite customer base, but for the most part it appears to be holding generally strong since the press's inception, which I think is great. Sellouts are often slower these days, yes, but that seems to be holding true across the small-press board.

[RonClinton]

3rd quarter schedule hints just released...my guesses:

July is -- I hope to God, because this is one of my favorite novels -- THE RATMAN'S NOTEBOOKS (adapted into the film Willard, which really has little similarity to the source book by Stephen Gilbert). Someone in the know also mentioned a couple years ago that a limited of this book was in the works but wouldn't divulge from who. This is, apparently, that edition. I'm beyond thrilled.

August is NATIVE SON by Richard Wright.

September: NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, Cormac McCarthy.

[JeremyM]

September...I have no idea.

'No Country for Old Men' - Cormack McCarthy

[RonClinton]

'No Country for Old Men' - Cormack McCarthy

Yep, I edited my answer a second or two ago...I just remembered Paul's mention on the live that that was happening, and the Yeats allusion flipped the ah-ha light in my head.

[sholloman81]

Yep, I edited my answer a second or two ago...I just remembered Paul's mention on the live that that was happening, and the Yeats allusion flipped the ah-ha light in my head.

I'm sure that you are correct on this guess; however, I am a little surprised since it mentions there being an artist edition, and I don't believe any of the other McCarthy books had an AE. Would be happy if this one did as I couldn't swing the others in that numbered price range.