I Am Providence: The Life and Times of H. P. Lovecraft

[Ningauble]

He's pre-signed the signature pages, hasn't he? And those pages will be sewn into ye book? I mean, it would be madness for him to have to sign 350 copies of the actual book!

Yeah, that would be mad. And I see when I examine his blog closer that he did mention signing the signature sheets on July 15, so hopefully the books are not far away now.

 

[pablo]

Anxious with anticipatory angst.

 

[w h pugmire esq]

I finished my newest book last night and sent it to S. T., who is my editor, but I neglected to ask him if he knew anything about I AM PROVIDENCE. I rather don't want to bother him too much, he is always so busy and now going through a divorce, so I kind of want to leave him alone. I suspect Derrick will be a busy lad filling orders so it probably wouldn't help to ask him via email. We must be patient, ducks.

 

[Ningauble]

Gavin Smith just told me "Derrick says expect it in early September".

 

[Viatorium Press]

That's good news. I just checked Hippocampus and here's a nice update: Update 9/6/10: This item will begin shipping in approximately one week. A few signed copies are still available for those who order before September 13th.

Though the typography of the cover could be better, it's great to see this photograph as the new cover. A very big improvement on the old cover art.

 

[Ningauble]

Though the typography of the cover could be better, it's great to see this photograph as the new cover. A very big improvement on the old cover art.

Please note that there are two covers -- one for each volume.

 

[pablo]

Here are those covers:

 

[Ningauble]

My bookdealer Gavin Smith (Gavinicuss books) confirms that Derrick has received "an enormous shipment" of I Am Providence. Gavin posted this new on his mailing list yesterday, so the books should start shipping soon.

 

[pablo]

If I may... wahhooo!

 

[w h pugmire esq]

Here are those covers:

These are the photos used on the covers that S. T. shew'd me, but they are not the covers. The real covers have as background a photo of the Shunned House, with the photo of Grandpa reduced in size and located at lower left (when the book front is facing you). The ones S. T. shew'd me on his computer are far more attractive than these presented here. I hope Derrick didn't suddenly decide to change them for these.

 

[Ningauble]

Gavin's copies are on their way to him as of today.

 

[Ningauble]

These are the photos used on the covers that S. T. shew'd me, but they are not the covers. The real covers have as background a photo of the Shunned House, with the photo of Grandpa reduced in size and located at lower left (when the book front is facing you). The ones S. T. shew'd me on his computer are far more attractive than these presented here. I hope Derrick didn't suddenly decide to change them for these.

Sorry to disappoint you, Wilum, but these ARE the covers -- one of Gavin's customers got the books yesterday and confirmed it for me.

My own copy of the set should be on its way now.

 

[w h pugmire esq]

I am nonplussed. The covers that S. T. shew'd me on his computer were so much better in every way. Oh well, at least it's now published. Haven't gotten my set from Derrick yet, but S. T. is bringing me a set when he picks me up for HPLFF on Friday. I shall ask him in the video interview what happened to the better covers. Ah--publishers, how we need them, yet how they can disappoint.....

 

[Viatorium Press]

Oh those ghastly covers...

There are some fine photos of Lovecraft out there, why choose these? But the true sadness of these covers is the weak typographic treatment. I hope the interior design is much nicer than this cover would indicate. At least the paper and printing quality could be good. Let's hope.

I'm tempted to write to Hippocampus as to the status of my order, but I will be patient for another week. Overall, thanks are due to Hippocampus for bringing out this title in its full scope.

I'm also keen to get down to the HPL film festival. The first one I will attend, and am sad it could be the last in Portland. Incorrigible hermit that I was, I missed out on it when I actually lived in Portland...

I want to catch that AM1200 movie that I heard good things about last time...

 

[pablo]

Mine arrived today! Happy day!

 

[Viatorium Press]

Mine arrived today! Happy day!

How does it look, the quality of the paper, the type, etc? I still await my copy, but feel it could arrive any moment now. I keep getting crestfallen when I check the mail each evening, but am hopeful that in just a few days it will be here...

Until then, please describe the book.

 

[pablo]

It is very similar to other Hippocampus Press books. The design is the same as the Collected Essays volumes. If you have those, they're exactly the same, just thicker. The dust jackets don't looks as ghastly in person, at least to my simple taste. I like the colors. And the books are heavy. All together it's over a thousand pages and heavy. Hadn't had a chance to start reading, but read the preface. Can't wait to delve into it.

 

[w h pugmire esq]

One wonderful difference is the use of many interior photos of HPL, his family, the places he lived, &c. Opposite page 305, for example, we have three photos, one of Clark Ashton Smith shewing one of his sculptures, one of the Lovecraft's apartment (Sonia's, initially) where they lived when first marry'd, and one of the Shunned House at 135 Benefit Street in Providence. I have yet to get my order'd copies from Hippocampus Press, but S. T. brought me a set on Friday. I've started devouring Volume One and it is superb. I am thrill'd to have, at last, this complete version of this historic biography!

 

[Ningauble]

I got it yesterday, but couldn't go to the post office until today, and then only had the time to dump it at home before I dashed to the railway station (where I missed the train...). What little I saw of the book(s) was spectacular.

 

[Viatorium Press]

Just heard from Derrick and my copy is on its way. It could very well be downstairs right now, waiting for me. I know it's been said before in this thread, but I am so excited for this book! It comes at the perfect time, as I am deep in work on a book of some selected Lovecraft works, mostly from his amateur press days, which is planned to be a letterpressed book in fine bindings. I've read that the restored biography has more amateur press material, which is quite interesting to me, not only for more possible info on the stories themselves and the situation of their publication, but for the inspiration of the amateur press movement in general.

I'm going to read I Am Providence straight through. Happily, Joshi's writing is quite smooth, and even with all the minute detail on Lovecraft's life (maybe even because of it), it is addictive.