Suntup Editions - All Books

[Ben Staad]

I cannot wait to see how these turn out. Paul is passionate and talented about his publications so I'm sure these will be beautiful.

I am happy and content to see the sexy photos of each of his books as people receive them.

[jeffingoff]

I cannot wait to see how these turn out. Paul is passionate and talented about his publications so I'm sure these will be beautiful.

I am happy and content to see the sexy photos of each of his books as people receive them.

I'll be cheering from the sidelines as well.

[WebInterceptor]

Yeah and the book looks fantastic. Had this book been in the $400 range and the next one was $700, then maybe I would have talked myself into it, but it seems the price is going to be around here going forward (maybe?) and I just can't commit to that long term. I'm thrilled to have two editions of Horns coming my way. And congratulations to all who get this one and maintain their number!

Unimaginable how a single book is 700$+. It's tough to cough up such amounts. Might have been easier if he published a few more books and kept the book price lower. Ah well I guess some people do want the extreme limitation or maybe it has something to do with the contract.

[TacomaDiver]

Unimaginable how a single book is 700$+. It's tough to cough up such amounts. Might have been easier if he published a few more books and kept the book price lower. Ah well I guess some people do want the extreme limitation or maybe it has something to do with the contract.

I know that this topic has been discussed at length over on TDT, but Paul's books are definitely a step, maybe two steps, above what the rest of the small publisher world is doing, and the quality is definitely worth the price.

Now saying that, there's no way I can justify spending that much money on a single book - at what seems like a two book per year release schedule. Especially for a book or author I've never read before. (I was tempted for Hill House, but after reading the book for the first time, I'm glad I didn't spend the money. Similar with Rosemary's Baby - I've never read the book, or seen the movie, just know the name.) I've bought so many blind purchases from CD and SubPress and Centipede, that I can't do it, especially when it's $700.

I can't enjoy the Bentley lifestyle on my 1988 S-10 budget . . .

Those of you who can and did - congrats! I'm sure it'll be spectacular! And I'm jealous.

[jeffingoff]

Unimaginable how a single book is 700$+. It's tough to cough up such amounts. Might have been easier if he published a few more books and kept the book price lower. Ah well I guess some people do want the extreme limitation or maybe it has something to do with the contract.

I'm not going to get into what Paul should do to lower his prices. I'm not even going to say that Paul should lower his prices. He's said before that the book determines the materials and materials dictates the price. He's creating books at a certain level and for those who can afford them, they are treasures. There's a reason that the numbered and lettered of Horns have sold out and the AGE hasn't yet--people want Paul's best. That's his customer base. I'd hate to see him lower the quality in order to lower the price. That would be the complete wrong move.

Anyway, I'll always be a Suntup fan and his books are worth what he charges and I will buy whatever I can afford at every opportunity.

[WebInterceptor]

I'm not going to get into what Paul should do to lower his prices. I'm not even going to say that Paul should lower his prices. He's said before that the book determines the materials and materials dictates the price. He's creating books at a certain level and for those who can afford them, they are treasures. There's a reason that the numbered and lettered of Horns have sold out and the AGE hasn't yet--people want Paul's best. That's his customer base. I'd hate to see him lower the quality in order to lower the price. That would be the complete wrong move.

Anyway, I'll always be a Suntup fan and his books are worth what he charges and I will buy whatever I can afford at every opportunity.

Wasn't saying to lower the quality. What i was saying is what I keep seeing sub press doing. 500 books for 80$ each, 1000 books for 40$ and so on. Yes that does decrease the "limited"ness of the book i completely agree. I wasn't even saying to double the book count, if he offered say 50 books more, perhaps the price could be a bit lower... Oh well, it's whoever thinks the book is worth it, they will buy it, since there will always be fans of an author.

[Martin]

I feel Paul is doing fantastic. Are all of his books for me, no. But I am ok with that.

[Dan Hocker]

Wasn't saying to lower the quality. What i was saying is what I keep seeing sub press doing. 500 books for 80$ each, 1000 books for 40$ and so on. Yes that does decrease the "limited"ness of the book i completely agree. I wasn't even saying to double the book count, if he offered say 50 books more, perhaps the price could be a bit lower... Oh well, it's whoever thinks the book is worth it, they will buy it, since there will always be fans of an author.

For what it's worth 50 books wouldn't be enough to change the price all that much. Honestly I think with the type of product he's making 250 or 1000 he'd probably have to price it really similarly. It's just he wouldn't be able to sell 1000 at that price point.

[jeffingoff]

Wasn't saying to lower the quality. What i was saying is what I keep seeing sub press doing. 500 books for 80$ each, 1000 books for 40$ and so on. Yes that does decrease the "limited"ness of the book i completely agree. I wasn't even saying to double the book count, if he offered say 50 books more, perhaps the price could be a bit lower... Oh well, it's whoever thinks the book is worth it, they will buy it, since there will always be fans of an author.

I hear you. Trust me, I'd love for more Suntups to be on my shelf. The same way I'd love to have a Mercedes SUV in my driveway. There's a reason I have an Artist Edition of The Stand preordered from Cemetery Dance and not the lettered edition, I'm just not a collector at that level. And either I'm ok with that or I'm broke. Because there are so many incredible books that I want.

[jeffingoff]

I feel Paul is doing fantastic. Are all of his books for me, no. But I am ok with that.

I disagree with you on one point--all his books are for me!

[Brian861]

I know that this topic has been discussed at length over on TDT, but Paul's books are definitely a step, maybe two steps, above what the rest of the small publisher world is doing, and the quality is definitely worth the price.

Now saying that, there's no way I can justify spending that much money on a single book - at what seems like a two book per year release schedule. Especially for a book or author I've never read before. (I was tempted for Hill House, but after reading the book for the first time, I'm glad I didn't spend the money. Similar with Rosemary's Baby - I've never read the book, or seen the movie, just know the name.) I've bought so many blind purchases from CD and SubPress and Centipede, that I can't do it, especially when it's $700.

I can't enjoy the Bentley lifestyle on my 1988 S-10 budget . . .

Those of you who can and did - congrats! I'm sure it'll be spectacular! And I'm jealous.

Although you don't need the book at this price to enjoy it, Jason, you should pick up a beat up copy of the book at some point. It's a great read and probably one, if not the best, adaptation of a novel to screen.

Wasn't saying to lower the quality. What i was saying is what I keep seeing sub press doing. 500 books for 80$ each, 1000 books for 40$ and so on. Yes that does decrease the "limited"ness of the book i completely agree. I wasn't even saying to double the book count, if he offered say 50 books more, perhaps the price could be a bit lower... Oh well, it's whoever thinks the book is worth it, they will buy it, since there will always be fans of an author.

I'll apologize in advance but there's no way in hell you can compare a $40, $80, etc book to Paul's press. What you're getting from these other small presses are basically a "better" trade edition at that price point. Furthermore, I find it annoying and tacky that each time Paul releases a book, some folks get all up in the air over the price. Paul's books will always be at this price point or higher. That's not going to change, ever. It's unfortunate that Paul wasn't able to offer an AGE this time. No doubt he would have if you could have. It's also unfortunate that not everyone can afford his books. There was a time that I couldn't afford them as well. But don't begrudge those that can or choose to pay the asking price. I'm sure plenty of more folks can afford it and choose not to make a purchase.

[Brian James Freeman]

This isn't directed at anyone, but just a reminder to keep things respectful, please.

The price of this "kind" of Limited Edition is always a topic of discussion and that's very understandable. Expensive things are interesting to discuss! Beautiful books are interesting to discuss! Thus, beautiful expensive books are very interesting. At least if you're one of the maniacs who hangs out in places like this!

For anyone who wonders "where the money goes," I've priced out the specs on books like this. To do them right, the way Paul does, isn't cheap. Tons of hand-labor. Lots of custom-made pieces.

I've also done the cost analysis on scaling up a print run to lower the price point, and that is really easy to do with a traditionally manufactured book for sure... You run the risk of printing more copies than you can sell, of course, if the lower price doesn't attract enough customers to buy those additional copies.

But for books that have so much hand labor, customized features, exotic material, etc... scaling up doesn't put nearly the dent in the retail price as you would expect. ("Wow, that hand-woven cloth from India is $50,000 for the amount I need, but if I double the size of the order that'll be...$98,000." or "These hand-made cases cost $915 each for 30, but if have 60 made it'll be $905 each...")

Just my two cents from having run specs for 300+ books ranging from trade editions to $3000 Lettered Editions over the past 16 years.

Best,
Brian

[mhatchett]

This is all I have to say about that...“To be a book-collector is to combine the worst characteristics of a dope fiend with those of a miser.”
Robertson Davies. LOL!!

[Dan Hocker]

This isn't directed at anyone, but just a reminder to keep things respectful, please.

The price of this "kind" of Limited Edition is always a topic of discussion and that's very understandable. Expensive things are interesting to discuss! Beautiful books are interesting to discuss! Thus, beautiful expensive books are very interesting. At least if you're one of the maniacs who hangs out in places like this!

For anyone who wonders "where the money goes," I've priced out the specs on books like this. To do them right, the way Paul does, isn't cheap. Tons of hand-labor. Lots of custom-made pieces.

I've also done the cost analysis on scaling up a print run to lower the price point, and that is really easy to do with a traditionally manufactured book for sure... You run the risk of printing more copies than you can sell, of course, if the lower price doesn't attract enough customers to buy those additional copies.

But for books that have so much hand labor, customized features, exotic material, etc... scaling up doesn't put nearly the dent in the retail price as you would expect. ("Wow, that hand-woven cloth from India is $50,000 for the amount I need, but if I double the size of the order that'll be...$98,000." or "These hand-made cases cost $915 each for 30, but if have 60 made it'll be $905 each...")

Just my two cents from having run specs for 300+ books ranging from trade editions to $3000 Lettered Editions over the past 16 years.

Best,
Brian

Yea that's pretty much where I was coming from as well. Sure you get bulk discounts on materials, but they tend to not make much of a dent. In hand made stuff it's all labor costs really and there's no bulk discounts on labor. This is coming not from the perspective Brian has knowing the actual costs of things, but from the perspective of someone who makes stuff by hand and sells them.

[Martin]

I disagree with you on one point--all his books are for me!

Don't get me wrong I would love to own everyone of them. The not for me in this case is strictly due to "price point" not matching my "must have" threshold.

[jeffingoff]

This is all I have to say about that...“To be a book-collector is to combine the worst characteristics of a dope fiend with those of a miser.”
Robertson Davies. LOL!!

That's too perfect. We want it all. We want it now. We want it limited. We want it at the price we say.

[bsaenz24]

That's too perfect. We want it all. We want it now. We want it limited. We want it at the price we say.

You forgot “in stock now!!” Jeez Jeff! Oops nevermind.

[TacomaDiver]

Although you don't need the book at this price to enjoy it, Jason, you should pick up a beat up copy of the book at some point. It's a great read and probably one, if not the best, adaptation of a novel to screen.

You're not the boss of me Brian!

[Martin]

You're not the boss of me Brian!

So you haven't been told yet.

[TacomaDiver]

So you haven't been told yet.

I'm sure the notice is in the mail.