Early Issues

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Does anyone think there'd be any interest in compiling volumes (print on demand only) containing early, out-of-print issues of ST? I had in mind the first six or seven issues, which have been unavailable for years now. I would be prepared to publish compilations of these quite slim magazines, perhaps two per volume, on Lulu.com. They contain some excellent stories. However it would be a bit of a job because firstly I'd have to track down writers and get their permission, and secondly I would have to go through each issue to proof them more carefully - early numbers were often rather flawed (and not just the early ones).

So, any thoughts? Or should I just leave well alone?

Comments

James Everington said…
Yeah potentially; or how about a 'best of' if you can't get permission for all the stories?
4 May 2012 at 16:31:00 GMT
Anonymous said…
I agree, I think one or more 'best of' volumes would make sense.
4 May 2012 at 16:39:00 GMT
Sam said…
I agree, I think one or more 'best of' volumes would make sense.
4 May 2012 at 16:40:00 GMT
Kimberly said…
I would go with a "best of" volume--it would be particularly interesting to see what the top-voted stories were in the earlier issues, since I didn't discover ST until issue 14. :)
Kimberly
4 May 2012 at 17:37:00 GMT
Adam Golaski said…
Complete is nice, but my first reaction is that I've either completely revised or consider deceased the stories of mine you published in 5 & 8... (you still have 8 in print, tho, don't you?). So, as an author, I'd want the opportunity to do more than just proof the stories... and that would kind of change the project, wouldn't it? It wouldn't be issue #5 as it was if "Ghost Cycle" was completely rewritten.... Maybe a best of saves you the grief of dealing with your more difficult authors....
5 May 2012 at 06:19:00 GMT
valdemar said…
Adam, there's at least one author I want nothing to do with - and it ain't you! No, it's a paranoid, venomous nutcase who nobody gets on with for more than a year or two.

So, yes, a 'best of' does make more sense. I had thought about the whole revision issue, plus stories already collected in book form. It's tricky, but worth a try. We shall see. But I quite appreciate your position.
5 May 2012 at 07:47:00 GMT
Anonymous said…
'Best of' sounds good to me too.
5 May 2012 at 21:20:00 GMT
Adam Golaski said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
7 May 2012 at 04:23:00 GMT
Adam Golaski said…
I've considered a best of for New Genre. I don't know if it'll happen, but I'd see it as a chance to highlight stories that were overlooked. (The best ofs tend to reprint the most conservative stories I've published; from my point of view, that almost always meant the most impressive story was not reprinted.) With New Genre, since we publish horror and sf, I also considered a "best of horror new genre" type thing (easier to market). You might consider a theme: sex and horror in ST. A little trashy, I know.

As for the nutcase author--I'd be in the same boat. It was just one, but the case was pretty extreme.

You might consider pitching this project to another publisher. I have no idea if Chomu or Swan River or Tartarus or Ex Occidente would be interested, but it would take a lot off you if someone else did the design / printing, and you served just as an editor, writing an intro (and perhaps a history of ST). See if you couldn't get one of your better known authors to write an afterword.
7 May 2012 at 04:24:00 GMT
valdemar said…
Thanks, Adam. I have mentioned the idea of a 'Best Of' casually, but so far no publisher has shown any interest. I may try to pitch it as you suggest. I don't think it's weird enough for Chomu, and I'm not sure Tartarus would want it. Ex Occidente is debatable for several reasons. Oh well.
8 May 2012 at 07:19:00 GMT
Adam Golaski said…
Tell Chomu that Adam Golaski will revise his ghost-that-turns-a-couple-into-sex-slaves story so it's extra-kinky for their special edition of the ST best of. I'll contribute pictures, too.
8 May 2012 at 14:12:00 GMT
Anonymous said…
I case my vote for "Best of". And for Adam's ghosts-and-sex-slaves story, with the pictures please. You could always put that one out as a chapbook, but then my order would be far too transparent. Please fold that one in amongst the "best of" stories. :-)
9 May 2012 at 01:21:00 GMT
Androw said…
So nice to read your lovely aricles and blogs. Thank-you.
Buy Articles
10 May 2012 at 11:21:00 GMT
valdemar said…
Ghosts & Sex Slaves might be a whole new project for me...
11 May 2012 at 15:46:00 GMT
Todd T said…
The book may be a better fit at Sarob or Swan River, if they are not already too busy with their existing plans.
30 May 2012 at 11:51:00 GMT
Unknown said…
Yes, a "best of" would be... best - if Tartarus, Sarob or Swan River did it, well that would be extra special indeed!
10 June 2012 at 16:37:00 GMT
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