Potential new edition of Raw Shark Texts?!
I posted this at the Velvet, but figured more than a couple culties would be into this...
Stephen Hall claims this is 'Just a mock up - for now anyways,' but damn if it's not among the sexier book designs I've seen. I'd love to see this thing go into publication, possibly including some of the found Negatives and fragments.
discussion at stephen hall's site
its not just beautiful, its downright fucking hot sex.
Frackin' cool.
-P.D.
We had a discussion with him a while back.
Every edition of the book was a little different - like he had different things revealed in it - if I remember right.
Like Europe, the two different color versions, the paperback - they were each slightly different in content.
I wonder what will be added and taken away on this one.
That's like the nicest book I think I've ever seen - design wise that is. I'm definitely going to have to grab a copy.
labelleza wrote:
This is what I thought Pete said.
I'm going to assume you're talking dirty to me because I'm the Book Club god.
Yeah, I've been following the subtle differences in content between editions. I've got a 1st edition US, UK, Canadian, and also the 1st edition UK signed & limited to 500 copies printing with the slipcase and extra letter included. I'd love to get my hands on some of the other European versions, but as they arent in English I'd be in trouble. The Italian supposedly has the largest deviation in content from the main text published elsewhere.
There's also the Negative chapter phenomenon, where each published chapter of the book has a negative chapter linked to it. They've surfaced, a few of them, online, in the real world, and otherwise. I can't wait until this thing stands in some form in it's entirety.
Since Hall said this is just a mock-up for now, I cant help but wonder if this might be preparation for the whole Raw Shark Texts, all bits included. I realize it's a mock up, but that's an awful lot of pages prior to the third chapter displayed - negative chapters perhaps?
Does anyone else think it's pretty shitty to have to buy all these different editions if you want the entire thing? That's just beyond gimmicky and a big fuck-you to the collector and fan, if you ask me.
Woooow.. o___o
I've never even read the book! Should I?!
I want the one from this thread. That's sexy indeed. O___O
I want to be your medicine
I want to feed the sparrow in your heart
Mmm. It could go either way, really.
From the start, before even releasing the book, Hall had some interesting promotional tactics, everything ranging from mailing people letters and materials related to the unreleased book to an 'alternate reality game.' The textual differences and inclusions in each edition are pretty small, but present enough to peak my curiousity. At it's core it is still the same story, though. On top of that, Hall has actively encouraged fans worldwide to piece together the fragments and negative chapters, and doesn't seem to mind at all if people scan and share the source materials.
If he were being a copyright nazi, and weren't so actively involved directly wtih his fanbase, then yes, I'd agree with you completely. Seems he's weaving a mighty fine puzzle to me though... I'm pretty happy with it. In William Gibson's Pattern Recognition, a lot of the plot centers around fragments of film found various places, making sense of it. I always thought that was a neat idea, so this really appeals to me.
As for the multiple copies I've picked up, I collect books. Some baseball cards, others notches on the bedpost. It's just what I do naturally.
I've never even read the book! Should I?!
I want the one from this thread. That's sexy indeed. O___O
I think you should give it a shot, Imke. It was clever writing and contained some really clever, creative ideas.
Where do we find some of these negative chapters? And what does it mean 'negative chapter'???
-P.D.
Yeah, it's just a mock-up for the time being. If these ever went into production I'd be on it.
this
I've never even read the book! Should I?!
I want the one from this thread. That's sexy indeed. O___O
I think you should give it a shot, Imke. It was clever writing and contained some really clever, creative ideas.
agreed. I read it over a year ago and it's one of the most creative books I've ever read.
BUT my friend Mike hated it. The good news is that whether or not you love it or hate it, you'll know immediately.
Def give it a shot.
"I thought I had mono once for an entire year. Turns out I was just really bored."
Wayne Campbell
I’ve noticed here and here and in a few other places too that rumours are circulating about a new/definitive edition of The Raw Shark Texts featuring Jesse Walker’s amazing design work. I’d love to release a limited, expanded edition featuring everything found so far, and it’s great to see the interest in that happening popping up around the web. I’m going to speak to Canongate about it very soon, and would quietly suggest that the more heat there is around this online, the more likely it is to happen... ;)
My God, yes.
I’ve noticed here and here and in a few other places too that rumours are circulating about a new/definitive edition of The Raw Shark Texts featuring Jesse Walker’s amazing design work. I’d love to release a limited, expanded edition featuring everything found so far, and it’s great to see the interest in that happening popping up around the web. I’m going to speak to Canongate about it very soon, and would quietly suggest that the more heat there is around this online, the more likely it is to happen... ;)
My God, yes.
Quoted out of excitement, and hoping this gets even more heat from google.
Does anyone else think it's pretty shitty to have to buy all these different editions if you want the entire thing?
I think it's a little shitty, unless it's nothing of importance, the writing you are missing?
It is to me anyway, I can't get different editions of the same book just to read stuff that was missed out on purpose, especially the way I read, would take me forever when I have other books to read. 
Plus, I prefer the cover on the edition I have here in Britain. 
Jesus, that's a beautiful book!