4 ms·

What was special / good about that publication? It's signed by somebody I can best understand as "Not Ian M. Banks", and the description doesn't really tell me

What was special / good about that publication? It's signed by somebody I can best understand as "Not Ian M. Banks", and the description doesn't really tell me anything about "hardware", nor do they have a photo of the product :-/

Veen 4y ago
Yeah, I mean, Ken McLeod is a decent enough writer, but he's not in the same league as Banks. Can't imagine why I'd want to pay that much for a copy of a Banks book signed by him.
- Apocryphon 4y ago
  I wouldn't mind an edition of H.P. Lovecraft writings signed by August Derleth, or a Tolkien book signed by C.S. Lewis (or vice versa), and so on. A Discworld novel signed by Neil Gaiman.
  - iamacyborg 4y ago
    If you like Gaiman there are some very nice copies of his works from some smaller fine press publishers. https://www.arete-editions.com/artists-edition https://www.arete-editions.com/artists-edition https://www.lyrasbooks.com/shop/coraline/coraline-lettered-edition/ https://www.lyrasbooks.com/shop/coraline/coraline-lettered-e...
iamacyborg 4y ago
SubPress make very good, high quality books. Sometimes it's just quite nice to own a nicely made physical object for something you deeply enjoy.
- arglebargle123 4y ago
  I do most of my reading on a high end eink device these days and I still get excited when I can buy sub press epubs. Even their digital releases are great quality.
- NikolaNovak 4y ago
  Right, but at $250, can anybody provide any details of how good these high quality books are? I don't know if I came off antagonistic, but I'm actually coming from position of genuine curiosity; the webpage linked describes plot of the book (I love Mr. Banks to death and have gifted use of weapons to more than one person, so I'm interested in a good copy:), but it doesn't have a photo of the product, and doesn't tell me where my $250 go to - what is the binding? What is the paper? Is there special typeset? Are there some bespoke illustrations? What is, actually, good about it? (to other people's points, I'm sure Mr. McLeod is a fine writer and a splendid human being, and to some his signature on Iain M. Banks' book adds value, sentimental or otherwise; it does not to me but that's subjective:).
  - iamacyborg 4y ago
    Yeah the product page is quite lacking, normally subpress do a much better job of highlighting what makes one of their editions special
ZeroGravitas 4y ago
Ken is a lifelong friend of Iain's, and wrote many prefaces and seems to be his kind of literary executor, publishing e.g. early poems as well as sketches related to The Culture: https://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/news/14019050.friend-keeps-book-promise-to-late-author-iain-banks/ https://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/news/14019050.friend-kee...

Veen 4y ago

Yeah, I mean, Ken McLeod is a decent enough writer, but he's not in the same league as Banks. Can't imagine why I'd want to pay that much for a copy of a Banks book signed by him.

Apocryphon 4y ago
I wouldn't mind an edition of H.P. Lovecraft writings signed by August Derleth, or a Tolkien book signed by C.S. Lewis (or vice versa), and so on. A Discworld novel signed by Neil Gaiman.
- iamacyborg 4y ago
  If you like Gaiman there are some very nice copies of his works from some smaller fine press publishers. https://www.arete-editions.com/artists-edition https://www.arete-editions.com/artists-edition https://www.lyrasbooks.com/shop/coraline/coraline-lettered-edition/ https://www.lyrasbooks.com/shop/coraline/coraline-lettered-e...

iamacyborg 4y ago

SubPress make very good, high quality books. Sometimes it's just quite nice to own a nicely made physical object for something you deeply enjoy.

arglebargle123 4y ago
I do most of my reading on a high end eink device these days and I still get excited when I can buy sub press epubs. Even their digital releases are great quality.
NikolaNovak 4y ago
Right, but at $250, can anybody provide any details of how good these high quality books are? I don't know if I came off antagonistic, but I'm actually coming from position of genuine curiosity; the webpage linked describes plot of the book (I love Mr. Banks to death and have gifted use of weapons to more than one person, so I'm interested in a good copy:), but it doesn't have a photo of the product, and doesn't tell me where my $250 go to - what is the binding? What is the paper? Is there special typeset? Are there some bespoke illustrations? What is, actually, good about it? (to other people's points, I'm sure Mr. McLeod is a fine writer and a splendid human being, and to some his signature on Iain M. Banks' book adds value, sentimental or otherwise; it does not to me but that's subjective:).
- iamacyborg 4y ago
  Yeah the product page is quite lacking, normally subpress do a much better job of highlighting what makes one of their editions special

ZeroGravitas 4y ago

Ken is a lifelong friend of Iain's, and wrote many prefaces and seems to be his kind of literary executor, publishing e.g. early poems as well as sketches related to The Culture: https://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/news/14019050.friend-keeps-book-promise-to-late-author-iain-banks/ https://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/news/14019050.friend-kee...