Bill, I ordered mine a few weeks ago and am looking forward! It's my favourite book of ever and should prove quite the collectible.

Though sorely tempted by the content of the book, I resisted ordering from Hill House - and am very glad I did.

When Subterranean stepped in, I began to feel more convinced that this project would come to fruition and eventually placed an order.

What Andrew cannot possibly know is the cost to any publisher of the publication rights for Bradbury's hitherto unpublished screenplays. These are among the ingredients that will make this new edition of MC unique.

Bill, please know that some of us have faith in you - but given the preceding fiasco, many fingers are well and truly crossed!

I second philnic, stuff happens. Many of us are happy the PS and SubPress has taken on this new edition. Both are high quality publishers who have yet to let us down with any edition they have produced.

quote:

What Andrew cannot possibly know is the cost to any publisher of the publication rights for Bradbury's hitherto unpublished screenplays.

It's interesting to me that you are somehow aware of what I can or cannot possibly know about anything, particularly the cost of publication rights. Hmm?

Andrew, please tell us how much is being paid for the first publication rights to the Martian Chronicles screenplays.

quote:

Bill, please know that some of us have faith in you - but given the preceding fiasco, many fingers are well and truly crossed!

Understood, and thanks. Right now we're proofing the book, which is fully designed, excepting the two new intro we commissioned. We're also waiting on the new artwork by Edward Miller. With a little luck, we'll be sending the book to the printer in September.

Best,

Bill
www.subterraneanpress.com

Well, I'm not sure what to make out of Andrew or his posts at this point. He clearly appears to be a minority of one here.

Bill, it looks to be a great book. I apparently am covered on my pre-order thru Shocklines according to Matt so I hope he's right! I just saw your announcement regarding the 451 collection volume and that's terrific, although surprising since I believe the semi associated Gauntlet edition may still be in print. I never picked up a copy and I'm OK with that, especially now.

One thing I might as well note, as being a purchaser of Sub Press books for about 8 years I've seen most of what they've put out. The standard limited editions, yes they can sell for $35-$50. But when Sub Press decides to upgrade on the quality of materials and put out a special book it costs more. If you look at their site right now and see Neil Gaiman's the Graveyard Book you'll get an idea what style and type of book you'll be getting with the Martian Chronicles. Sub Press is going to use very nice, and expensive material to create this book.

Also of note I have no idea how much Sub Press paid Bradbury to secure the rights to publish the book. But my guess would be over $20,000, and I have a feeling that's a low estimate.

Wasn't the list price for the numbered Hill House MARTIANS going to be $350?

Yep! it was going to be an expensive one when it was with Hill House too.

Here's an update on the Subterranean Press edition of THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES (as well as the Press' other upcoming Bradbury publications), which appears on the Subterranean website:

"Pete Crowther of the estimable PS Publishing and I have commissioned all new color artwork for our edition of Ray Bradbury’s seminal collection, The Martian Chronicles. Edward Miller has contributed five brand new paintings that we feel are more in keeping with Bradbury’s vision of Mars and its settlers than the illos for the propose Hill House edition that, excellent though they were, didn’t evoke the book as well for us. You can see a couple of the new illos at book page.

Now, the update: We expect the introductions by John Scalzi and Joe Hill to be arrive in our inboxes in the next two weeks. The book itself has already gone through one thorough proofing (Thanks, Gwenda!) and will get another. In the meantime, we’ll be printing ARCs, and have the book scheduled to head to the printer in September, which means the numbered edition should be out by December if all goes well.

Our other Bradbury projects are going well. We’re putting Where Everything Ends, the gathering of MR. B’s semi-autobiographical mystery novels, through one final proofing while we wait for the cover, and have to proof his chapbook, The Shop of the Mechanical Insects, once more, and then it’s off to the printer for that full-color chapbook."

On the Subterranean website recently the publisher noted that they hadn't decided on whether or not to do a dust jacket for the book, or just go with the designed binding as originally planned. Those who have pre-ordered the book were invited to chime in...

www.subterraneanpress.com

It's far too late to get any fair recompense from Hill House and Mr. and Mrs. Peter Schneider, but may the just and fair damage they've done to their own reputations last as long as the book itself lasts. I can't think of a more disgraceful way to treat Ray Bradbury than to rip off his fans and sully his name as they've done.