I've taken the liberty of creating this thread as a sort of "sticky" or placeholder for subsequent announcements related to the publication and availability of Tales of India and Irony.

It is now The Miscellaneous Writings of Clark Ashton Smith.

Quote:

The Miscellaneous Writings of Clark Ashton Smith.

Figures! Oh, well, the original title is catchier, so perhaps this thread can still serve its original purpose.

Received my copies today. They were drop-shipped from the printer, so I imagine it will still take a couple of weeks for Night Shade to receive, process and ship all advance orders and dealer orders. HAven't had a chance to go over it closely yet, but it looks okay.

Great, however delayed. Unfortunately, I won't be receiving it, as Night Shade stopped taking preorders for the complete set a day early and I wasn't able to reserve a copy. I guess I'll look for it on the secondary market.

Radovarl Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Great, however delayed. Unfortunately, I won't be
> receiving it, as Night Shade stopped taking
> preorders for the complete set a day early and I
> wasn't able to reserve a copy. I guess I'll look
> for it on the secondary market.

Then I think I've got a nice surprise for you... [www.nightshadebooks.com]

Strangely more info and the cover on amazon... [www.amazon.co.uk]

EDIT: I've just looked at the close-up of the cover... it's hilarious! Best cover yet! :)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 5 Nov 11 | 05:12AM by The English Assassin.

As The English Assassin notes, this book is now available to non-subscribers, and will be sold via such outlets as Amazon. The scheduled release date is December 6, and, based upon the additional information that Scott provides, above, that date should be firm. (I've pre-ordered my copy from Amazon.)

Many thanks again to all concerned who made this volume available to those of us who missed or opted out of the subscription.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 5 Nov 11 | 09:33AM by Absquatch.

I have some extra copies that I'll sell, signed by Ron and myself, at $30.00 postpaid. I take PayPal.

Scott

Amazon is now listing The Miscellaneous Writings of Clark Ashton Smith as "In stock but may require an extra 1-2 days to process". ANd they have the cover art too.

Amazon have theirs? Then all advance orders from Night Shade Books should be with us before Christmas. Yes? No? Yes?

I can't speak regarding Night Shade, which I am delighted to have bypassed during this process, but, according to Amazon, my copy is due to arrive on November 28.

Absquatch Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I can't speak regarding Night Shade, which I am
> delighted to have bypassed during this process,
> but, according to Amazon, my copy is due to arrive
> on November 28.

Same here - apparently mine is en route... :) Well done, Scott - this has been a marvellous journey! Out of interest, how many years of your life have you dedicated to this?

This is Scott, replying on Ron's computer as he graciously invited me over for Thanksgiving dinner. Thank you for your kind words. As for how long I've been at work on this edition of CAS: IIRC Jason Williams of Night Shade Books first approached me (at the kind recommendation of Mr. Joshi) while I was living in South Carolina, which would have been in 2000 or 1999. There were problems in negotiating with Arkham House, but that problem has been overcome (obviously). We published RED WORLD OF POLARIS in 2003, and that sealed the deal, basically. Anyway, that's done. We're working on a volume of the artwork, prose poems, and essays for Centipede Press (book will be reasonably priced, for a CP title that is :D ), and I'm drafting the biography. So I still have to fulfill all of the terms of the geas laid upon me so many years when I first visited Auburn by Helen Sully Trimble!

Scott

Hmmmm... I wonder what a reasonably priced book by CP will cost? I'm guessing it'll still be approximately $100 or more... which equates to £75+ this side of the pond once shipping is accounted for... Maybe less if it's available via amazon, but that's not always the case with the small presses...

Out of interest, does anyone know if Arkham House actually publish any more or do they just make a living flogging the remainder of their Lovecraft collection?

The English Assassin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hmmmm... I wonder what a reasonably priced book by
> CP will cost? I'm guessing it'll still be
> approximately $100 or more... which equates to
> £75+ this side of the pond once shipping is
> accounted for... Maybe less if it's available via
> amazon, but that's not always the case with the
> small presses...

Their ed. of the Wandrei novels will be $75, I think, and their ed. of Leiber's Our Lady of Darkness will be $65. They also have preorder deals fairly often.

>
> Out of interest, does anyone know if Arkham House
> actually publish any more or do they just make a
> living flogging the remainder of their Lovecraft
> collection?

It's been in limbo, more or less, since the death of April Derleth earlier this year. But they released a nice facsimile ed. of The Arkham Sampler not too long ago -- was it last year?

Martinus Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The English Assassin Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Hmmmm... I wonder what a reasonably priced book
> by
> > CP will cost? I'm guessing it'll still be
> > approximately $100 or more... which equates to
> > £75+ this side of the pond once shipping is
> > accounted for... Maybe less if it's available
> via
> > amazon, but that's not always the case with the
> > small presses...
>
> Their ed. of the Wandrei novels will be $75, I
> think, and their ed. of Leiber's Our Lady of
> Darkness will be $65. They also have preorder
> deals fairly often.

Well, that's not sooooo bad, I suppose... I don't know who I'm kidding - it's not as if I'm not going to buy it...

EDIT: My copy of Misc. Writtings has just arrived... First impressions are: that cover just puts a big smile on my face...



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 25 Nov 11 | 07:27AM by The English Assassin.

asshurbanipal Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Amazon have theirs? Then all advance orders from
> Night Shade Books should be with us before
> Christmas. Yes? No? Yes?

NSB sez that they will start shipping preorders the first week of December.

I'm amazed that Amazon have the cover art for CAS plus a release date of December 6th. The Night Shade site has nothing about the book at all, not even a thumbnail of the cover. I've tried dropping them a line, but it's like sending a message to the wireless operator on board RMS Titanic and getting only an eerie silence.

asshurbanipal Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm amazed that Amazon have the cover art for CAS
> plus a release date of December 6th. The Night
> Shade site has nothing about the book at all, not
> even a thumbnail of the cover. I've tried dropping
> them a line, but it's like sending a message to
> the wireless operator on board RMS Titanic and
> getting only an eerie silence.

I got a reply to my query. See above.

Hi Martinus
Thanks for the info. Sigh, guess NSB just don't like me. Maybe that crack about tea got to them. Merry Christmas to all.

Festive greetings to one and all. I just wondered if anybody has received Miscellaneous Writings from Night Shade Books direct, as opposed to via Amazon.

No. And I cannot honestly say that I am very excited about the book either. I am not particularly interested in what Smith, or indeed anyone else, wrote at the age of 10.

Jojo Lapin X Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> No. And I cannot honestly say that I am very
> excited about the book either. I am not
> particularly interested in what Smith, or indeed
> anyone else, wrote at the age of 10.

Then you will be happy to know that no such text is included.

No one I know who ordered the book directly from Night Shade, whether through the initial subscription offer or a later order, has yet seen their copy.

At a glance, the earliest things included were from when he was 17 or so, and by that time he was already writing some amazing verse and very well constructed -- if not particularly fantastic -- prose.

As for the question about receiving it... I am one of those who subscribed to the original series and no, I haven't received it at this point; but they generally get to me within a month or so of release and, it being this time of year....

I received mine from Amazon today. I wonder why they didn't have the dust jacket match the five volume set. Looks pretty nice at any rate.

How different does this volume look compared to the set?

I asked NSB again, and due to a manpower issue the delivery of the book to subscribers has been delayed till January. :(

That's really rubbish that those who subscribed get their copy a month or so after the rest of us have put it on the shelf after reading it. I thnk NSB have treated subscribers terribly!

If this vol doesn't excite, then it shouldn't be bought, it's as simple as that - unless you are a completest... So stop moaning. It's there if you want it, if not...

Personally, I loved it. No, it's probably not all essential, but the inclusion of Infernal Star and the Dead will Cuckold You, along with his 'ironic' tales make it a great buy. Maybe if I'd already read Infernal and Cuckold I might feel differently, as I can take of leave his 'Indian' tales (bar one). The alt version of 'Hashish Eater' is also a nice inclusion. Also, although I've read it before, it is always a pleasure to re-read the 'Sorcerer Departs.' A truly beautiful essay.

My only complaint would be that I'd argue that both Infernal and Cuckold are so good that they really deserve to be included in the Collected Fantasies rather than sidelined into this companion edition. Okay, one's incomplete and the other is a play, but to my mind both represent CAS at his very best! Certainly any 'greatest hits' or 'selected works' worth its salt has to include both (along with the best of his verse).

I do have a question for Scott & Ron or any other CAS scholar here who knows: is their any clue as to how Infernal Star might have ended?

Also, has no one been tempted to have a go at completing the tale themselves? And if so, just for fun, which author does anyone think could achieve the best results? Gene Wolff, maybe? Jack Vance might have been good...

Also, at the risk of appearing a little foolish, why are his 'ironic' tales called so? Is it because they are ironic in their rhetoric technique or because there is a certain poetic irony to the just deserts dished out in the narrative or is it a reference to romantic irony: that CAS's attitude to them and the genre was ironic as he considered the genre to be in inferior? Or a mix of all three? As I think they all could apply... Did CAS Christen them 'tales of irony' or did that come later?

January? Figures.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 15 Dec 11 | 05:28AM by asshurbanipal.

I realize this adds nothing to the discussion, but I have to say it for the record: Night Shade Books' profound contempt for their customers and utter lack of even the most basic notions of professionalism and courtesy once again stagger and enrage me. If they ever publish anything I'm interested in again, I will get it used. They will never get another penny from me, the diabolical morons.

The English Assassin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I do have a question for Scott & Ron or any other
> CAS scholar here who knows: is their any clue as
> to how Infernal Star might have ended?

As far as I can tell, no. Upon loaning the fragment to Derleth, Smith writes that he can't locate any notes for the continuation (and I don't think there are any in Strange Shadows), but can "recall enough, or devise enough, to bring the tale to 25,000 or 30,000 words" -- and that's as much as he elaborates on it.

Juha-Matti

@jelio

It is not wildly off. Same color and font, different NSB logo, layout and an illustration at the top of the spine.

BeneathTheEarth Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> @jelio
>
> It is not wildly off. Same color and font,
> different NSB logo, layout and an illustration at
> the top of the spine.

Indeed, it fits in nicely, but not exactly - but then it's not exact;y part of the series. I don't like the new look NSB logo tho... and as I said the bikini wearing bat-faced bint is hysterical! Worst and best cover yet!

Different logo? Bat-faced bint?
Sure would like to have a squint.
Another diary bites the dust,
Another year is nearly done.
Night Shade Books have done their wust.
I should have gone to Amazon.

LMAO! Well done!

The English Assassin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> BeneathTheEarth Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > @jelio
> >
> > It is not wildly off. Same color and font,
> > different NSB logo, layout and an illustration
> at
> > the top of the spine.
>
> Indeed, it fits in nicely, but not exactly - but
> then it's not exact;y part of the series. I don't
> like the new look NSB logo tho... and as I said
> the bikini wearing bat-faced bint is hysterical!
> Worst and best cover yet!


For the record, we requested that they use the old logo on the spine, but we were overruled.

Scott

Scott Connors Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> For the record, we requested that they use the old
> logo on the spine, but we were overruled.
>
> Scott

Aw well, it's not reallly a problem. I probably preferred the old logo - I wonder why they bothered to change it?

I can understand the bat in the bikini, but why is the high priest wearing a pink snow hat seemingly more appropriate for a toddler girl? It doesn’t seem to be in accordance with the fearful somberness of his office. Or does his horrid god require even his highest servants to so humble themselves? I am very unclear on this.

weorcstan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I can understand the bat in the bikini, but why is
> the high priest wearing a pink snow hat seemingly
> more appropriate for a toddler girl? It doesn’t
> seem to be in accordance with the fearful
> somberness of his office. Or does his horrid god
> require even his highest servants to so humble
> themselves? I am very unclear on this.

This post shows a total lack of scholarship in the esoteric sciences! Even a cursory perusing of the relevant sections in the library at the University of Arkham will show that the wearing of a 'pink snow hat' representing the phalluses of the Old Ones is essential when summoning a bikini wearing bat-faced bint from a magic lamp! Honestly, this is pretty basic stuff we're talking here!

I still haven't received this book-- have other subscribers?

Kipling Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I still haven't received this book-- have other
> subscribers?

See my post of December 15:

Quote:

Martinus
I asked NSB again, and due to a manpower issue the delivery of the book to subscribers has been delayed till January. :(

Kipling Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I still haven't received this book-- have other
> subscribers?


Not I. Just hoping the answer Martin received means we will see it sometime next month. I received no answer to my own query sent around the same time as Martin's. Do have my receipt for the subscription handy though.

Subscribers are special. We get ours last.

Tantalus Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Subscribers are special. We get ours last.


Does that mean that their policy was inspired by St. Matthew's parable of the Kingdom of Heaven:

"So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen."

Jim

jimrockhill2001 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Tantalus Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Subscribers are special. We get ours last.
>
>
> Does that mean that their policy was inspired by
> St. Matthew's parable of the Kingdom of Heaven:
>
> "So the last shall be first, and the first last:
> for many be called, but few chosen."
>
> Jim

LOL. That's the way I will take it. It makes me less Grrrr ...

Quote:

Does that mean that their policy was inspired by
> St. Matthew's parable of the Kingdom of Heaven:
>
> "So the last shall be first, and the first last:
> for many be called, but few chosen."

More specifically, Matthew 20:16.

X-tians **LOVE** this quote but it really is one of
the most infamous examples of biblical contradiction.
Compare and Contrast with:

Matthew 19:30 (NIV)

"But MANY who are first will be last,
and MANY who are last will be first."
[my emphasis on many]

Mark 10:31 (NIV)

"But many who are first will be last,
and the last first."

Luke 13:30 (NIV)

"Indeed there are those who are last who will be first,
and first who will be last."

This, "rough, slouching Beast", ought to get his story straight.

Happy New Year,

-Cathexis

cathexis Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Does that mean that their policy was inspired by
> > St. Matthew's parable of the Kingdom of Heaven:
>
> >
> > "So the last shall be first, and the first last:
>
> > for many be called, but few chosen."
>
>
> More specifically, Matthew 20:16.
>
> X-tians **LOVE** this quote but it really is one
> of
> the most infamous examples of biblical
> contradiction.
> Compare and Contrast with:
>
> Matthew 19:30 (NIV)
>
> "But MANY who are first will be last,
> and MANY who are last will be first."
>
>
> Mark 10:31 (NIV)
>
> "But many who are first will be last,
> and the last first."
>
> Luke 13:30 (NIV)
>
> "Indeed there are those who are last who will be
> first,
> and first who will be last."
>
> This, "rough, slouching Beast", ought to get his
> story straight.
>
> Happy New Year,
>
> -Cathexis

More specifically, the first line is actually Matthew 20:16 and is from the parable of the laborers in the vineyard. There is no corresponding account of this parable in the other Synoptic Gospels. The second line is Matthew 22:14 and is taken from Jesus parable of the wedding feast. Again, Matthew is the only Synoptic Gospel which records this parable.

The first two examples given to be compared and contrasted to the above verses(Matthew 19:30 and Mark 10:31) are the record of Jesus trying to explain to a rich young man how he might enter the kingdom of heaven while the last example(luke 13:30) was Jesus teaching on the narrow door. These all illustrate the same idea.
To me, this is clearly not a contradiction as the three verses which are offered as an example of biblical contradiction(Matthew 19:30, Mark 10:31 and Luke 10:31) are not drawn from the same lesson as the other one(Matthew 20:16). I do not think the story of the laborers in the vineyard is intended to make the same point as the story of the rich man and heaven or the narrow door.

I see this as an example of taking things out of context and comparing apples to oranges.

But really, the true focus here should be that it is January 4th and though I subscribed for this series of books on February 5th, 2006 I still do not have the final book. What a bummer.

peace

Wow! I wasn't even aware that the book was available and I ordered the pre-order many yrs. ago. I saw the book on Amazon's website and since I received a Kindle for X-mas I ordered the digital edition for $6.00. So all I have to do is wait for Night Shade to take their slow way for the physical copy.

I just wanted to correct myself the price should have been $7.99 at Amazon and $6.99 at Baen Books for the final book. I actually bought my copy for the ebook at www.baen.com and they have a bundled deal for volumes 1-5 for $25. I might purchase the bundle because I like having books on my device that I can read at any time.

Dear Diary
January 6th 2012
Day 2457 (and counting). Still no sign of Batbint. The manpower issue at NSB is therefore presumably unresolved. It's lucky there are only six volumes to rush through the press. God help us, what if they'd decided to do a special edition of Charles Dickens? I know one thing: the next time I order a book from Night Shade, Satan will be skating to work.

asshurbanipal Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I know one thing: the next time I order a
> book from Night Shade, Satan will be skating to
> work.

I don't think Night Shade sells straight to customers anymore, so that is a moot point.

I hope they send all you poor subscribers a handwritten letter of apology (preferably written in the blood of NSB's owners) with your copy too. I think one can forgive them for taking longer than expected to publish the whole of this series, but their obvious lack of effort in keeping subscribers (in particular) informed about proceedings (or the lack of) is nothing short of disgusting. In these days of email, I can see no excuse or explanation other than a total disregard for their readers. I bet if it was the other way around (others owing them money or a service or whatever) they'd take a less laid-back attitude!

LOL. Let's see which of us subscribers gets their book last.

Post when you (a subscriber) get yours.

This delay in sending books to subscribers, (whose subscription fee I assume helped fund the publication in the first place) is so ridiculous that I have to laugh about it. Or I would get angry.

Whether NSB sells directly to customers anymore or not is irrelevant to me. I will always, from now on, get mine from Amazon.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 8 Jan 12 | 01:48AM by Tantalus.

cathexis Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Does that mean that their policy was inspired by
> > St. Matthew's parable of the Kingdom of Heaven:
>
> >
> > "So the last shall be first, and the first last:
>
> > for many be called, but few chosen."
>
>
> More specifically, Matthew 20:16.
>
> X-tians **LOVE** this quote but it really is one
> of
> the most infamous examples of biblical
> contradiction.
> Compare and Contrast with:
>
> Matthew 19:30 (NIV)
>
> "But MANY who are first will be last,
> and MANY who are last will be first."
>
>
> Mark 10:31 (NIV)
>
> "But many who are first will be last,
> and the last first."
>
> Luke 13:30 (NIV)
>
> "Indeed there are those who are last who will be
> first,
> and first who will be last."
>
> This, "rough, slouching Beast", ought to get his
> story straight.
>
> Happy New Year,
>
> -Cathexis

Regarding this little fluff about the first and the last - small dose of reality: If you attend a Pot-Luck Supper in a Methodist or Baptist church, you may be assured of getting all the food you want by standing at the end of the line, since those ahead of you will be niggardly with themselves to assure that there is enough for everyone - In a Roman Catholic potluck - you better get in front of the line, because there will be almost nothing for the ones at the end; in a Greek Orthodox Potluck you can be in front or back because the women will have been in competition to see who could bring the most, resulting in enough food to feed the 6th Army - this information is well-documented in the apocryphal New Testament text, 1st Phaarmar 4:9

Dear Diary
January 9th 2012
Day 2460 (and counting). I always look forward to Mondays. I envisage a plane touching down from the States on Friday afternoon, or a ship docking, and there on board is Clark Ashton Smith. That gives the Post Office all weekend to sort the mail and get my book to me first thing Monday morning. It never arrives, though.
Nice to know Scott Connors received his copy on November 4th. Also nice to know that he had some extra copies (as announced on November 5th) that he was prepared to part with at $30 (he takes Paypal). Meanwhile, as we head for mid-January, the poor saps who paid seven years in advance are still waiting. NSB have had the thing since the beginning of December, with a "scheduled" release date of December 6th. Something called "manpower issues" then got in the way. Presumably this means that nobody was prepared to actually put the things in the post. How many copies are there to go anyway? One hundred? Not more than one hundred and fifty, I'll bet. I'll also bet that undefined "manpower issues" drag on lengi lengi. What utter contempt for the paying customer. Totally insulting. Are you boys still on probation, by the way?

Well, again, I would be more upset if there was anything of really urgent interest to be found in the book. Not that I do not want it, as a matter of principle, of course.

January 16th (Day 2467).
Another Monday, another blank. I presume, from nobody having responded to Tantalus' suggestion that subscribers should record on this site when they finally receive a copy of The Miscellaneous Fiction of CAS, that it's a blank all round for us saps who paid up-front.
Would somebody at NSB therefore kindly enlighten us by ticking one of the following boxes (whichever is most applicable):
1. All preorders have now been despatched and will arrive shortly.
2. The books are still shrink-wrapped on the pallet but we will now move heaven and earth to get them to subscribers as soon as is humanly possible.
3. All available copies have now been sold on Amazon, so tough.

I realise that this request for up to date information adds nothing to the discussion of the enduring genius of Clark Ashton Smith, but, as NSB actively discourage the use of their own discussion boards, TED is just about the only place where these legitimate grievances can be aired.

No sign of the book yet in New York State maybe it will arrive on my birthday in June.

None here, either.

There is no mail service today (Jan 16th) because of Martin Luther King's Birthday (federal holiday here in the USA).

I realize now that I should not have mentioned that I received my author copies when I did. That created expectations that in retrospect I realize to be unrealistic.

The current economic reality is that many small businesses are not hiring new people, for reasons that are wa-a-ay off topic, and this is especially true for small specialty presses like Subterranean Press, Cemetery Dance, and NSB. They usually have only four or five people at most handling shipping, and the rule for shipping out books seems to be "first in, first out." Also, large dealer orders get priority because, let's face it, until they get the books the publisher doesn't get paid.

There is a similar problem being discussed on Facebook. Glen Hirshberg's new collection, JANUS, is in the warehouse at the publisher (Subterranean Press), but because there are other books ahead of it in the shipping queue it isn't being mailed out. Also, Amazon has canceled a number of advance orders that they had accepted. Sub Press does a lot of direct sales, yet I've had to wait six to eight weeks from the time I hear that the printer has delivered the books to the publisher for my copy to arrive. This is personally frustrating, but I understand their position, and getting angry doesn't do anything but screw up my blood pressure and sleep patterns.

NSB changed its business model since it first solicited subscriptions. Back then they did a lot of direct sales, but now they sell all their books through a distributor. This has improved their cash flow tremendously. Their shipping department is even smaller than Sub Press, but this works for dealer orders. Then along comes a legacy obligation like Miscellaneous Writings. It takes almost as long to package and address a package with one book as it does a case of 30, so things slow down. In the meantime, they still have to get out orders for books that arrived in the warehouse before MW. Like I said, first in first out.

Bottom line is that NSB, like Sub Press, is working as hard as it can to fulfill outstanding orders, but MW has to wait its turn to be shipped out. They are not deliberating snubbing, dissing, or ignoring the people who subscribed to the Collected Fantasies (who, I might add, instead of getting a thin trade paperback as a bonus are now getting a full-size hardcover book at no charge). This is reality, people! Publishers can't magically fulfill orders, not if they want to stay in business. If some of you feel better venting your frustration, fine, but it's not going to make the books arrive one nanosecond sooner, and the only person who is going to suffer because of it is you. I've waited a longer time for other books that I actually paid for and I feel no need to cast maledictions, even against one overseas publisher who I am fairly certain will never publish the books I advance ordered a couple of years ago. Why? Because it doesn't do any good.


Scott



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 16 Jan 12 | 05:30PM by Scott Connors.

I ordered my book from amazon.com about 2 weeks ago and i received it within 3-4 business days.

This is all very strange to me how Night Shade Books isnt sending the copies to people after the book was released so long ago.

Maybe its time for people to just give up and pay the 19$ on amazon and move on.

Jeremy

I received a nice email from Night Shade this weekend, after writing them a second time, promising that the contributor's copies would be distributed by the end of this month. Considering I am owed several books by probably the same European publisher Scott alludes to, was recently cheated out of $200 worth of books by another American publisher who shall remain unnamed, am still waiting on a book purchased in 2003 from CD (which also should finally be out this month), am out several subscriptions from magazines published in the 1980s, was owed at least one book by ScreamPress when it folded, etc., Night Shade's tardiness is inconveninent and frustrating, but has not upset me a great deal.

The first copies of the Le Fanu book I coedited for Hippocampus seem to have been dropshipped directly from the printer to Amazon at the end of November. The next batch then shipped directly from Lightning Source in the UK, so that we were receiving comments from the UK, Ireland, and Belgium long before even the publisher had received any copies. Gary Crawford and I did not receive ours from the publisher till last week. I do not blame the publisher for this - that just seems to be the way things work now, and I am glad to have the book.

Jim

I respect the rationale for the delay, but I don't accept that NSB have done much to ease the concerns of the subscribers: hence the legitimate ill feeling.

As I'm not personally involved in the NSB subscription debacle I don't feel that it can be claimed that I'm motivated by my personal woes nor that I am just self-destructively venting my spleen. I take issue that the subscribers have been intolerant or have too easily given in to their frustrations... In fact I'd say that most of the complaints have been fairly humorous and ironic, rather than raging rants.

The fact is if NSB took just ten minutes to email all of the subscribers once or twice over the last few years then much of that ill feeling would have been instantly eased. As far as I can tell, they didn't do that, they didn't attempt to do that, they didn't even consider doing that... And worse still, they've not always been forthcoming in responding to the queries and concerns of the subscribers. You can dress it up any way you like, but ultimately they have taken a substantial advance to help finance their business from the subscribers and have not treated them with any consideration or respect. Okay, in the wider scheme of things this isn't up there with the credit-crunch, but I don't think it's fair to suggest that the grievances felt by many of the subscribers is without merit or a hideous overreaction. If someone feels ripped off, then I for one am not going to suggest that they are wrong or that they should censor their complaints. I know in similar circumstances I too would feel annoyed. It would seem that the only resource NSB have left them is to complain about it online... Pissing in the wind and self-destructive, you might say, but why shouldn't they? Indeed, I'd argue that by complaining they have alerted me (and others) to a potential problem with NSB and the small press in general, thus at no point in the future will I succumb to the allure of a dodgy subscription deal. while NSB might have changed their distribution method thus this exact turn of events might not happen again, this (and the other bad press they have received lately) has ultimately hurt their rep and the loyalty of their customers, which may yet come back, in a small way, to haunt them.

As for the argument that other small press have been equally unreliable (or worse), therefore NSB subscribers have nothing to complain about and should then, presumably, shut up, seems unfair... If I get my wallet pinched on the bus, but in the past you had you house robbed, do I not have a right to complain too? Okay, my complaints should show some perspective, but I see no evidence that anyone has significantly over reacted to this. Indeed, I'd argue that you should make us aware as to which small press publisher you are talking about and what the circumstances were... If they just went bust.... well, them the breaks I guess... But if they're sitting pretty with no intention of giving their customers the goods they have in good faith paid for, then this is less forgiveable. If a bank or corporation was doing it then it wouldn't be tolerated? By publicly outing these companies, it makes them more accountable. By taking a "Que Sera, Sera..." stance then you're just letting them get away with it. Bend over, touch your toes and think of noble sacrifice you're making...

Okay, it might be a case of diminished returns in escalating complaints beyond a few utterances upon a forum or whatever, but I don't see why they should have to take a totally fatalistic stance either... I'm not saying that every small grievance and mistake should result in a boycotting of NSB or whoever and sure maybe we should cut them a bit of slack and give them a chance to fix things, but it would seem that for many that point has been surpassed with NSB.

"As for the argument that other small press have been equally unreliable (or worse), therefore NSB subscribers have nothing to complain about and should then, presumably, shut up, seems unfair... "

That is not what I meant to imply at all. It is simply that due to I do not know how many factors, not all of them within the control of the small press publishers, this phenomenon seems to be occurring more frequently, and this particular incident, irritating as it is, is relatively benign.

Night Shade has not cheated me by taking my money without sending me the books I ordered (yes, the book is delayed, but I know I will receive it). Nor have they asked me to do work for them, then failed to either pay me or even send the book they asked me to assist them with. Those sins are unforgivable, and I am happy to say that Night Shade has not committed either of them. Most of the small presses I have dealt with have treated me fairly, as a customer and as an "employee". I am merely a(n impatient) customer of Night Shade.

I completely agree with you that Night Shade could have spared their customers a great deal of frustration and themselves not only a great deal of ill will, but also what must have amounted to a deluge of unhappy emails if they had either preemptively or reactively sent messages to their subscribers explaining the situation and offering some kind of timeline for delivery of the book they ordered so many years ago.

On the other hand, anyone here who may have preordered the 25th Anniversary Edition of LITTLE, BIG is doubtless aware that sometimes regular updates do NOT help allay the concerns of subscribers. That book is now at least 6 years overdue, and the updates I receive every other month or so, with their terminology of "final lockdown", etc. ceased to mean any more than "we still do not have it finished and the completion date keeps moving towards the horizon". I have no reason to doubt their sincerity, and the book looks as if it is going to be gorgeous when it finally appears, but I no longer find anything reassuring in these updates after having received so many variations on them for so many years.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 17 Jan 12 | 01:08PM by jimrockhill2001.

jimrockhill2001 Wrote:
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> Night Shade has not cheated me by taking my money
> without sending me the books I ordered (yes, the
> book is delayed, but I know I will receive it).
> Nor have they asked me to do work for them, then
> failed to either pay me or even send the book they
> asked me to assist them with. Those sins are
> unforgivable, and I am happy to say that Night
> Shade has not committed either of them.

Not against you, perhaps, and perhaps not recently, but certainly against other people.

For me, though not terribly upset about it, I do think this has been handled in a very inept and unprofessional manner where their customers are concerned, especially those who provided "seed money" (as it were) for the project. Things happen, delays take place, yes; and I think most (including myself) would be more than willing to accommodate and even be sympathetic with such things... provided that those who did subscribe were updated in a reasonable fashion about such things, and were not made to feel (as so many do, including myself, though to a lesser degree than some I think) that those who were there to support such projects when it was still just a proposal, are among the last to receive consideration when it is done. That is simply bad business practice. I have worked an awful lot of customer service positions in my lifetime, and I've seen a lot of businesses suffer and even go under due to such a lack, when all it would take to either alleviate or eliminate the problem is a simple bit of communication.

Nor would that take a lot of time. Set up a program to send out a mass email to the subscribers periodically, letting them know the book has been delayed, or is expected on X date; or even explaining some of the points give above (such as the publishers not receiving copies of the books themselves until some other sources do). A brief email now and again to those customers would make a world of difference, and would have saved them a ton of ill-will. Any business relies to a great extent on the good will of its customers; and in the current situation, where negative views can be propagated very widely very quickly, it behooves any business to keep that in mind. While a specialty publisher doesn't have to worry about that as much as, say, a general retail business -- given they are likely to be the only publisher putting out a particular item -- nonetheless, they do run the risk of enough people getting fed up with this to where they do no business with them, even through distributors, but will look for such items second-hand. That can create a major difficulty for them in the long run, and perhaps even short-term as well. This is especially true given the current economic scenario, and are likely to become a bit more picky in who they deal with.

NSB may be able to repair bridges with some of this, but I get the feeling a lot of people have simply become so fed up that they are going to be more inclined to what I mention above, rather than buying their wares new. And that, of course, means that eventually they may be left sitting in a warehouse eating up overhead for a longer and longer period... again, something no business (most particularly a small business) can well afford. For their own sake, I hope they learn a lesson from this about customer service and improve in future. We've lost a few too many small presses over the years, especially in the field of the fantastic, and I'd just as soon not see another join that number when a fairly minimal effort might avoid such an outcome.

All joking aside, I do sympathise with Scott Connors and his "overseas publisher" dilemma. What kind of a company would take maybe thousands of dollars up-front, then string their customers along for years with flimsy excuses, before finally admitting that the promised title will never appear? They should be ashamed.

Good news, I received the book today in New York State and I hope that all of the subscribers get theirs soon.

I also sent an email to NSB last week, as follows:

Any idea what's going on with the delayed shipment of MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS?
I have to agree with the many pissed-off subscribers who are still waiting for their books some 10 weeks after publication.
Any encouraging news will help!

The response basically reiterated the lack of manpower issue, but also said the books were now shipping and would continue for the next few weeks. So unfortunately it sounds like the shipping will continue to be a slow process. Sorry guys . . . hope you all receive your books ASAP.
-Ron

I have not got mine yet either, but I am excited about this! The fact that it will be a matching hardcover with dust-jacket and still free is pretty cool! Worth the extra year wait!

The Miscellaneous Writings arrived two days ago; excellent in all aspects! Leaving the numerous fragmentary works out seems right-- as well as choosing original version of "The Hashish-Eater"... Arkham House would have done well to include "Fungi From Yuggoth" in Dagon[i][/i]instead of the early tales, in my opinion

January 30th (Day 2481)
Another Monday, another blank. Perhaps NSB's distributor wears a red suit.

February 6th (Day 2488)
Another Monday and still Batbintless.
And the unlucky ones wait in Casablanca. And wait. And wait. And wait ....

asshurbanipal Wrote:
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> February 6th (Day 2488)
> Another Monday and still Batbintless.
> And the unlucky ones wait in Casablanca. And wait.
> And wait. And wait ....

Yikes! I got mine 2 or 3 weeks ago. You may be the winner of the "He Who Got Their's Last" award. That is not a coveted award. :-)

Just as an update: I called them last week, and was told that they were trying to get the last of the subscribers' copies out by the weekend. Whether they were able to or not, I do not know, but from what they said, they should all be out at least by now....

Update: Mine came today; just got back from my early shift at work, and it was waiting on the doorstep.

And a clarification: when I called, I did not give my name; only stated that I was one who had subscribed, and asked if they had been sent out. So -- barring their checking the caller ID and responding by sending the package immediately -- I don't think this is a case of "the squeaky wheel"....

(Meaning: they do seem to be getting them out, and others should receive theirs soon.)

I hope so. I'm 60 next month and I was a mere child of 53 when I took out the subscription. I never dreamt my bus-pass would arrive before this series was complete.

I have now received mine. This should probably mean that all subscribers now have their copies.

I am not quite sure what Sidney-Fryer is driving at here (p 231; emphasis mine):

Quote:

It is probably safe to say that, if his very first complete sexual experience with a human female did not occur precisely when he was fifteen, then it must have happened sometime between his eleventh and fifteenth years.

My copy has crossed the pond (I live in France). Glad to have at last the complete series.
Thanks to Scott and Ron for the excellent editorial work.
Fear Dunn

Day 2498
Batbint is with me at last (at least it beat the bus-pass). Fear Dunn is right to extend his thanks to Scott and Ron for all their work, a sentiment which I echo. However I still intend never to buy anything else from NSB.

This (Dutch) subscriber is still bintless. I can't believe you beat me to it, Asshurbanipal. Seven years! Aargh!

Batbint is here! Batbint is here! And February's not even out! Callooh, callay!

I am so-o-o glad to be able to finally put any and all thoughts of NSB behind me forever. I feel as if I am coming out of an abusive relationship...

Hello Avoosl Wuthoqquan
I'm glad your ordeal is over. Look's like you're the last turkey in the shop, but, as you say, it's time to move on...
NSB deserve ten out of ten for their vision of this definitive series of CAS (also William Hope Hodgson), but only one out of ten for effort and nothing at all for customer relations. They might be better off running a hot-dog stand. Signing off.

Still not arrived here...

PaulK Wrote:
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> Still not arrived here...

Same here, but as far as mail from the US is concerned, Sweden is the posterior of nowhere...

It appears that the winner of the "He Who Got Their's Last" award has not yet been determined.

My Bat Headed Bint finally turned up today, so I guess I'm not quite the last...

PaulK Wrote:
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> My Bat Headed Bint finally turned up today, so I
> guess I'm not quite the last...

No, that'd be me. Next week, according to the latest estimate. ;)

Got it today! :)

Martinus Wrote:
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> Got it today! :)

You had earlier received the signed copy that Ron and I sent to you, right?

Scott Connors Wrote:
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> Martinus Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Got it today! :)
>
> You had earlier received the signed copy that Ron
> and I sent to you, right?

Certainly -- and very nice it was, too, as I wrote you at the time. It made waiting for the copy I (sort of) paid for much easier.