Suntup Editions - All Books

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[sholloman81]

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!

[Martin]

The price would be a lot higher for a lesser known (and less loved) sequel, so there would have been a LOT more copies still available had the specs matched the first book. And there are already a lot of copies still available!

I am not in the least surprised that the production values are different as I have no doubt it would have been a tough sell at the retail it would have required, I am surprised that it is different trim size.

[Splync]

The price would be a lot higher for a lesser known (and less loved) sequel, so there would have been a LOT more copies still available had the specs matched the first book. And there are already a lot of copies still available!

[brlesh]

Didn't even notice that, but it surprises me too! Wonder why... Definitely less fanfare/bells and whistles with the production for this sequel book when compared to what Paul did with the first one but obviously Charlie is a much more famous book for a variety of reasons.

Maybe a cost savings measure.

I noticed that this edition is less expensive than what Suntup has been publishing in its classic / artist editions over the last couple of years.

B

[sholloman81]

I am actually a bit surprised that the trim size is not the same as Charlie. I would have thought he would size them the same as it is a direct sequel.

Didn't even notice that, but it surprises me too! Wonder why... Definitely less fanfare/bells and whistles with the production for this sequel book when compared to what Paul did with the first one but obviously Charlie is a much more famous book for a variety of reasons.

[Martin]

Looks like today's book is Ronald Dahl's "Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator". A pass for me, but it does look very nice and in a perfect world, I would love to have a copy. Just too many other books recently and coming soon that I need to budget for first. Maybe on the aftermarket up the road...

I am actually a bit surprised that the trim size is not the same as Charlie. I would have thought he would size them the same as it is a direct sequel.

[sholloman81]

Looks like today's book is Ronald Dahl's "Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator". A pass for me, but it does look very nice and in a perfect world, I would love to have a copy. Just too many other books recently and coming soon that I need to budget for first. Maybe on the aftermarket up the road...

[Sock Monkey]

Like everyone has mentioned, I think the production is going to look great, but I must admit I was a little disappointed not to see more bonus content related to the story itself, especially to flesh out the page count. It would have been great to have some additional story notes from Joe Hill or his reflections on the story all these years later.

Moreover, I thought it would have been interesting to include some essays about the journey to becoming a feature film or perhaps something from one of the actors in the film, such as Ethan Hawke, explaining his journey to becoming the grabber. Even some movie stills would have been neat, too.

And, with a sequel movie being made, how cool would it have been to get a sequel story from Hill to include along with this one? Oh well, my wallet could use a bit of a break anyway!

I hope everyone that does pick up a copy loves it!

You know, I kinda thought the same thing. I saw that Cargill is doing an afterword and all I could do was wonder why the screenplay wasn't included.

[sholloman81]

Letterpress, slip, nice end papers, are all lovely sounding but for a short story this production is also outside my wheelhouse.

I do agree that this will be a beautiful book for sure.

Like everyone has mentioned, I think the production is going to look great, but I must admit I was a little disappointed not to see more bonus content related to the story itself, especially to flesh out the page count. It would have been great to have some additional story notes from Joe Hill or his reflections on the story all these years later.

Moreover, I thought it would have been interesting to include some essays about the journey to becoming a feature film or perhaps something from one of the actors in the film, such as Ethan Hawke, explaining his journey to becoming the grabber. Even some movie stills would have been neat, too.

And, with a sequel movie being made, how cool would it have been to get a sequel story from Hill to include along with this one? Oh well, my wallet could use a bit of a break anyway!

I hope everyone that does pick up a copy loves it!

[Sock Monkey]

Looks like today's book is The Black Phone by Joe Hill. While I love me some Joe Hill and while I'm sure the production will look great, $155 for a 46-page short story is an easy pass for me. Will be happy just reading the story again in my LE copy of 20th Century Ghosts!

My thoughts exactly. As others have said, it looks like a beautiful production and if I was a diehard Joe Hill collector, this would be a great addition.