Help Kickstart the Publication of the World’s First SciFi Novel
One of our favorite small presses, Small Beer Press, is currently running a Kickstarter campaign to fund the publication of a new version of what could be considered the world’s first science fiction novel. The Chemical Wedding by Christian Rosencreutz: A Romance in Eight Days by Johann Valentin Andreae in a New Version by John Crowley and illustrated by Theo Fadel is already scheduled for ebook and trade publication in the fall. It’s what they do – publish amazing literary scifi and fantasy – so why are they asking for reader support? Because they have one hell of a special hardcover edition that they want to put in your hands. This is what the fuss is all about:
The plan is to produce three different hardcover versions, each more elaborate than the last. The contents will be the same, but the binding, ink, and paper will be of higher quality at each level. There’s also a pretty nifty slipcase involved, and each print edition comes with a DRM-free ebook. These special editions will only be available through this Kickstarter; they will have no ISBN number and will not be made available to stores. The Kickstarter will end on June 3.
While this is pretty cool, it’s not the only trick Small Beer Press has up its sleeve. A selection of their titles, in DRM-free ebook format, is available as a Humble Bundle. For as little as $1, you will receive 9 titles, including Strange Things Happen by Kelly Link and The Fires Beneath the Sea by Lydia Millet. So far, two additional levels have been added, and there’s some pretty impressive stuff up for grabs.
If you’re on the lookout for other bookish projects to support, Kickstarter has a few more worth checking out:
Chuck Palahniuk’s Lullaby – A pair of independent filmmakers are teaming up with the author and they hope to fund a film adaptation of Palahniuk’s novel Lullaby.
New Poets Project – Copper Canyon Press is seeking support for the publication of debut poetry collections, including Javier Zamora’s Unaccompanied, scheduled for 2017.
iClassics – Reimagining Poe, Wilde, Lovecraft & more … – This project wants to create interactive apps to make the reading of classic literature more accessible for modern readers. And they’re doing it in Spanish and French, too.
