{"id":3232,"date":"2019-09-05T00:29:37","date_gmt":"2019-09-05T07:29:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beatzo.net\/blog\/?p=3232"},"modified":"2019-09-05T00:48:12","modified_gmt":"2019-09-05T07:48:12","slug":"subterranean-conundrums","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beatzo.net\/blog\/2019\/09\/subterranean-conundrums\/","title":{"rendered":"Subterranean Conundrums"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Every now and then, when it comes to buying stuff <\/s> indulging in collectorial practices, the imaginary line I draw in the imaginary sand is smudged by an imaginary eraser. As a result of which the aforementioned line becomes the kind that would give Cecil Radcliffe a severe case of the runs, followed by the chills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Case in point: offerings from Subterranean Press. I have whittled down my purchases to the barest necessary, but my resolve was tested earlier this month, when it was announced that Joe Hill’s latest collection of short stories, Full Throttle<\/em>, would have a SubPress limited\/signed release. Seeing as how my waffling over NOS4A2 did my blood pressure no good in the past, I knew I would go for it. But it took about a week of gritting my teeth and wringing my hands before I actually ventured to lay down $175 for the pleasure of owning a copy of the book, sight unseen, numbered and signed by Messrs Hill and McKean, he of Sandman renown. But the limiteds of 20th Century Ghosts<\/em> and Heart-Shaped Box <\/em>are biblionicorns of the kind that make hearts and wallets bleed, and I would rather not take a chance with a Hill book. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It also did not hurt that the Suntup Press limited edition of Hill’s <\/a>Horns<\/a><\/em> just came to Papa about 2 weeks ago, after a wait of about half a year. I confess to owning the PS Publishing signed\/limited edition <\/a>that came out in 2010, but Suntup’s version was too hard to pass on. The line in the sand that I drew for signed limited editions was that I would only buy one if the original author was among the signers, and Horns <\/em>met the criteria, while Haunting of Hill House<\/em> and Rosemary’s Baby<\/em> did not. Not that I did not have severe crises of conscience, but the line held. It did not however hold for Cormac McCarthy’s The Road<\/a>,<\/em> one of my favorite works by the man. Suntup’s edition, not out yet, but sold out in pre-orders, has an introduction and an autograph by Joyce Carol Oates<\/a>. McCarthy is notorious for not signing his books, specifically The Road<\/em>, which he has apparently signed a few copies for his son alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really rubbed the line this week was the announcement that Tamsyn Muir’s first book Gideon The Ninth<\/em> would have a limited release via Subterranean, and copies would go on sale on Tuesday morning. Now here was the situation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n