Thornwillow Press - Parable of the Sower, by Octavia Butler

Thornwillow is launching a Kickstarter campaign on Monday for an edition of 'Parable of the Sower' by Octavia Butler - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thornwillow/parable-of-the-sower-by-octavia...

Excited to see Thornwillow go with a little more modern title for this release.

Just read the graphic novel version. I will have to have this one. I checked the graphic novel out by mistake from my library; I don't know if I was in a hurry or if it wasn't clearly marked as such. Anyway, I wanted to go back and read the actual book. Maybe not just right away since it seems too close to home right now. Tough reading.

Excited to see this!

I NEED THIS

And an edition of the same author's "Speech Sounds", via their Dispatch program.

here it is - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thornwillow/parable-of-the-sower-by-octavia...

This will be my first Thornwillow book- debating between the paper or half-cloth...

They certainly opted for a ton of binding variations - a full dozen, even more than were available for their Poe collection. Some really interesting designs available, but I'll likely end up subscribing for a half-leather edition.

I really like the addition of the USGS maps into the edition, think that will be a nice element. Was hoping that this edition would include an introduction though, and given the timely nature of the release I think that's a missed opportunity.

Any thoughts on the different bindings for this one? I was put off by the “God is Change” half-leather at first, but it’s really growing on me...

The half-leather with "scorched wood" paste paper boards looks beautiful to me. Unfortunately, I can't really convince myself to spend 3x the cost of the half-cloth binding. This has been a problem for me with all the Thornwillow projects I've backed to date: too big a price jump between half-cloth and half-leather.
For the half-cloth, in this case, I also wish they'd chosen a less trade-edition-looking paper for the sides....

Beautiful but thornwillow is teetering on the lips of hubris here with some of the pricier options. Unless your name is Sangorski and/or Sutcliffe, no one needs a $5000 option.

>10 kermaier: It is a bit of a markup. Still, I opted for the half-leather, using the early bird to make it more cost-effective, and the clamshell box for the half-leather helps with the value proposition, at least a little. I do like the look of the half-leather much more than the half-cloth.

>11 MobyRichard: Pricing for the higher tiers seems consistent with their other campaigns. The Poe campaign went as high as $5000 (albeit with optional tattoo) and the Genesis campaign went as high as $4500.

>9 const-char-star: I initially pledged for God is Change, which is my favourite binding, but then I reconsidered -- I don't think it's worth a 60 percent jump over the standard half leather.

>9 const-char-star: I like the 'God is Change', just can't see the premium on the standard half-leather though. Once the early-bird expires this might make a little more sense, but as at the moment it's a significant jump. I don't think I've seen Thornwillow do a limp vellum binding before - will be interested to see pictures of the finished product.

>11 MobyRichard: I agree some of the variations are a bit over the top in pricing. However, Thornwillow does provide relatively affordable entry points to their editions - so it's not a choice between having to over-spend vs missing out on the edition altogether.

>12 AMindForeverVoyaging: I like the printed papers being used for the paper/half-cloth quite a bit. I'm guessing based on description they might be used as endpapers in the half-leather?

>14 gmacaree: Fair enough. Yeah, I’ve considered the regular half-leather as well, but the wood-grain paste paper isn’t really my cup of tea.

>15 jeremyjm: Thornwillow did a limp vellum binding for Genesis. Perhaps someone in the group picked this one up and would be willing to share some photos?

I'm in for paper, as usual. Really looking forward to this one but begging the obvious question in these cases: What about Parable of the Talents?

The burl wood cover has to be one of the most attractive bindings I’ve seen in quite some time, at least in the picture. Above my price point, and I haven’t read the novel before, so I’m unsure if it would be a book I’d want in such a luxurious treatment, but props to the designer.

I love the cheaper full leather versions and purple/plum leather especially does it for me. Limp vellum is tricky. It can be done well, but usually just feels too fragile and there's no needs for it these days as it's well understood what causes the warping problem with vellum over boards.

>19 MobyRichard: I’d been considering the purple leather as well. At this point, I’m torn between that one and the psychedelic “God is Change” half-leather.

God is Change seems the most striking design but it seems too anachronistic against the classically styled spine with the raised bands, they just don't seem to mesh together for me. Definitely agree with the purple leather binding, it seems the most cohesively designed binding of the sub-$1000 bunch.

Some really attractive cover designs here. Not interested in the least but the work looks to be some of Thornwillow's best.

>16 const-char-star: I've posted photos of the limp vellum Genesis in that thread so that people can see what a Thornwillow limp vellum looks like. Like others above, I think Thornwillow's half-cloth offerings are generally the best value for money, but that hasn't stopped me from upgrading from time to time.

For Parable of Sower, I have tentatively gone in for the early bird half leather. I like the scorched earth paste paper boards on it, but I might still upgrade to the tempting full leather purple one or downgrade to the wallet pleasing half-cloth. It seems that aside from the bindings, there are three varieties of paper: vellum finish (paper and half-cloth bound), felt finish (sub-$1000 leather and half leather), and gypsum felt finish (plus-$1000 bindings). I'm curious how different these papers are.

>23 mnmcdwl: Thanks for calling that out. Will definitely take a look.

Also, it looks like there’s a fourth paper being used for the three $4000+ bindings (if anyone’s considering those): all-cotton fiber stock.

>24 const-char-star: I missed that. It's too bad they're saving the cotton paper for the +$4000 level bindings. Assuming it's the same stock, they used it on all editions above half-leather for Genesis and I felt it was the best paper they've used to date. Fan as I am of the paper though, I don't think I'll be splurging for it in this edition.

Sigh, if money were no issue I would definitley go for the edition bound in ash wood boards, it's gorgeous!



I also think the other editions are really lovely. I think Thornwillow hit a home-run with these beautiful bindings. The only thing I would wish for, alas not to be, is for Butler's autograph. Were that possible, this would be one of those editions that would be known to collectors for generations.

Ordered the half-leather. Beautiful.

>26 astropi: I'd have been very tempted if I wasn't already committed to the Barbarian Press's upcoming release. Ash is a lovely wood.

>28 gmacaree: Which is that? The Curwen Press borders and decorations?

It looks like someone went in for the El Dorado edition.

>29 ultrarightist: The Mollie Holden poems

Sittin' on the fence, kickstarter ends tomorrow.

Same. I'm also on the fence, but I did sign up for their dispatch for the first time because they are printing "Speech Sounds" which is a great short story, also by Octavia Butler.

For the deluxe editions, does Thornwillow make the full limitation or only what is pledged? For example, the Destiny edition currently has 10/14 pledged. Will they make 10 or 14?

>34 zachp: That's a good question. I suspect they do NOT make them unless they are pledged. It would seem risky to do so. Some of the standard bindings where the limitation states "100 more than pledged" are obviously made (or at least the sheets are made to be bound as necessary) to be sold after the Kickstarter.

>34 zachp: >35 jveezer: I’ve noticed instances where super limited bindings were available for sale through their website, but never the super unique ones. The Half-Calf facsimile binding of Pride & Prejudice (limited to 9 copies), for example, was listed for sale until very recently. Same for the Blue Full-Leather Death on the Nile.

>34 zachp: Yes, they make the full limitation of what is pledged. If they say 10 copies, and only 5 are sold on kickstarter, 10 will still be made.

>37 astropi: Hmmm....I'll have to take a snapshot of the Kickstarter page right at the end and then compare it to the final limitation page in a book. Like const-char-star I'd be suprised if they made up the super deluxe ones without a pledge. But I'm probably not curious enough to do that sleuth work, and I'm happy with paper-wrapped, so...

Got my Thornwillow survey today to verify address and whatnot, so I'm excited that it might be on the way soon. Even better is they pinged supporters on whether they would like to see the second book. Definite buy for me, same state.

>39 jveezer: Agreed, hope they follow up with Talents.

Looks like Sower is shipping, at least in the paper wrappers. I just got a notification today...

Just returned from out of town and my half leather copy of Sower was waiting. About what I expected, looking forward to reading it.

I was briefly in possession of the Purple leather edition. The Ash Wood edition became available, visually it’s one of my favorite Thornwillow’s, so I ordered a copy and returned the Purple Destiny edition. The Ash Wood isn’t finished yet, but here is the Purple Destiny edition while I had it:

>42 kdweber: I'm excited to read my paper-wrapped copy as well. I've only read the graphic novel adaptation, which I accidentally reserved at the library instead of the actual novel, and read anyway under time pressure of a book club discussion. So I'll be interested to see all the areas between each pane filled in.

Read my copy of Parable of the Sower over the past few days. I didn't remember the story as well as I thought, and it was a really good read.
Beyond a few spelling errors, I only noticed one serious typesetting mistake. Page 253, 2nd paragraph:

>45 kermaier: honestly not too bad an error as typesetting goes - nothing repeated, doesn’t take you out of it.

Typos in fine and limiteds are always a pain point for me though since so many of these beautiful books end up with first-edition quality proofing at best.