Summer 2020 Release

As April comes to a close, does anyone have any news on when the Summer collection will be released?

Glad you started this thread. I'm honestly as impatient as ever. Current offer must end April 30th, so if we see a stack of books on Wednesday teasing us, then I assume one week further. My assumption is, too long from now! Guessing May 13th hoping May 6th.

It was May 1 last year, so I'm guessing/hoping for May 6 this year. We will know on Wednesday if they put out their usual teaser stack. Looking forward to this year's list more than usual.

Something to look forward to. I thought that it was coming out in June.

No way of knowing to what extent the pandemic has disrupted summer plans but if all is well I'd expect the release on the 6th, as >3 Redshirt: suggests

>5 gmacaree:

I would agree with all of that.

Have we any idea of what is coming out or any hints? I would LOVE to see them put out Dandelion Wine, by Ray Bradbury. Didn't they hint a while back that it was on the list to be published? Stardust, The Graveyard Book & Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman, would be happy additions to my FS collection. Another Bronte to add to their recent Bronte publications would be fabulous. Dead Souls, The Odd Women, New Grub Street, would be nice classics. Memoirs of a Geisha, Year of Wonders, Girl with a Pearl Earring, etc. would be nice for more modern works. And aren't we all still waiting for Watership Down?

>7 Lady19thC: This is for sure going to be the release with Shogun in it. I can feel it. It's really true this time. It's gotta be!

Seriously though more Gaiman would please me immensely.

I'm guessing 14 new titles, including Clash of Kings.

Other 13.

Of Plymouth Plantation by Bradford
Frankenstein, Illustrated by Sam Weber
The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, Illustrated by Q. Blake
Stardust, Illustrated by Balbusso Sisters
The BFG
The Brothers Karamazov, reprint
Plutarch's Moralia
Wolf Hall
Roadside Picnic
Cat's Cradle
The Nuremberg Chronicle
The Wilderness Journeys, John Muir (3) vols
Hitler by Ian Kershaw

>9 Cubby.R.S.: Beautiful list. Were this hinted? Would love to know your reasoning behind these particular titles!

Most of those titles are part of past surveys. I just pulled them out of a hat and perhaps tweaked a bit and inserted some self interest... There's a few things I've learned, but if Folio ever divulged upcoming releases, I wouldn't speak. So Folio, you can tell me.

>11 Cubby.R.S.: if Folio ever divulged upcoming releases, I wouldn't speak. So Folio, you can tell me.

Good luck with that one.

I'm hoping your guesses come true. It would save me a boatload of money. One definite, two vaguely possible.

>12 folio_books:

Secretly, saving you money is my plan. I'm in that release for 6, and based on the titles I would be choosing, I would estimate about 550 USD shipped. My best guess is that I get between 1 and 0 right, with 0 being the standard bearer.

Otherwise I will back catalog.

Care to choose for me:

The Door in the Wall
Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella
Montaigne's Essays and Steppenwolf

>13 Cubby.R.S.:

For me, Sleeping Beauty/Cinderella (it's the one I haven't already got).

For you, not Sleeping Beauty/Cinderella. The least attractive of the three. The Door in the Wall is beautiful. Montaigne's Essays is also highly desirable but Steppenwolf, not so much.

I messaged Folio Society directly on Twitter yesterday to ask when the summer collection is due, as I have a birthday voucher I’d like to use but first want to see what new books are released. They replied today to say it will be some point ‘in the next couple of weeks’.

>9 Cubby.R.S.: I was thinking about Frankenstein, I wonder if they will be doing it as an LE around Halloween, given the success of Dracula - kind of a "matching" set - I wonder if they'll go that route with it, presuming they publish it. I'd love to see it as an LE.

>7 Lady19thC: I would like to see another Bronte, but I think they indicated these three were the only ones they planned on - which would be a shame, I like how these three were done, would like to see the series expand.

I also wonder about The Invisible Man (HG Wells) which has been hinted at before in the past year, and they did say some more Agatha Christie will be coming eventually when I asked. Might we see a reprint in there as well, such as Little Women or another Fairy Book? Or an updated edition of The Celts or something along those lines?

They just posted on their Facebook page along with this picture

"Our Summer Collection will be revealed this time next week! Despite all the recent worldwide events, we have 10 lovely new editions to share with you - from one of the great murder mysteries, to treasured poetry, and a definitive modern military history."

I may be overly optimistic but I'm hoping that the books with black top stain are a reprint of Book of the New Sun...

>18 uru: They look to me like A Clash of Kings - this has already been released, but don't they tend to include very recent releases in their "new" collections?

Nice looking stack. I don't see Karamazov and I think my list above might be askew.

Do you think the bottom book is von Clausewitz On War? Probably could stand next to Montaigne at that size.

>20 Cubby.R.S.:

I think On War was already fairly recent? 2011? Doubt they'd redesign and reprint already.

Woohoo! Was hoping for more new books, but also excited for the release!

Antony Beevor's The Second World War? FS have already done Stalingrad I believe.

Two books with a flat back? That doesn't happen often. I wonder if they will also be bound in paper...

The two books with the black top stain are from the Clash of Kings. I already have received it and that is exactly what it looks like. So that is a definite.

I'm not really into military history, nor murder mystery, so that will be a pass for me. If the poetry is another small thin book, like the recent Wordsworth, it may be something I'll pick up eventually, but not unless I have several other books I am buying. My first impression was "thin pickings", both in number and size. They are putting out a lot of thin books lately, rather than novels. At their prices I would prefer to wait for sales on these, add them to birthday/Christmas wishlists or just pass altogether. It doesn't look promising for any of the titles I was hoping for.

Alas....

>24 joco30:

My FS copies of Hopkins and Yeats are like that. Maybe those are more poetry.

Doesn’t seem like there’s much hope for another Gaiman :(

>27 RRCBS:

Sadly, no. None of these look thick enough for his works. I doubt anything by Bradbury is in here either. Besides, they usually hype them up well in advance, showing us artwork and hinting. With the world the way it is, this makes me very concerned about publications for the fall and the holiday release. :(

Hope there is another Miss Marple in there :)

The two flat-back books: yuck! Does anyone know whether they’ve done that before?

If those are Clash of Kings, then the whole bottom of the stack is pretty hefty. And most of Gaiman’s books aren’t that large.

>30 LondonLawyer: Relativity by Albert Einstein has a flat back.

>30 LondonLawyer: 2001: A Space Odyssey has a flat spine, but cannot immediately think of any others. I don’t have a problem with the flat spine for 2001, but I prefer curved (there must be some technical word!) spines.

>30 LondonLawyer:
Long time ago, Wilde's Salome, and The Young Visiters -- both with few pages.

Will we finally see A Battle Cry Of Freedom?

>17 Mujaddadi:

Looks like two new books with square spines. Is the FS now GLUING some editions?

That bottom one has gilting on the top...you can see the reflection on the table.

So, I'm curious... what's the big deal about a squared spine?

The Gerard Manley Hopkins also had a flat spine, which enabled it to be opened with the pages flatter. Nothing to do with whether it's sewn or glued.
edited for sp. error

From the top, books 1, 5, and 11 don't appear to have any illustrations - at least, not full-page ones.

Is there an issue with flat spines?

All of the following have flat spines and have stood the test of time:

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man 1965
The Trial 1967
Brave New World 1971
All twenty of the Folio Press Fine Editions 1987-1991

>41 bookfair_e:

And perhaps the most spectacular of all the flat spines, the 1991 Ian Pollock Paradise Lost - and no, >36 EclecticIndulgence:, that does NOT mean that that huge book is glued: I'm sure that, in your more reflective moments, you appreciate that many glued books having squared spines does not imply that a book with a squared spine is glued?

>29 StrangerThing: Me too! It may be wishful thinking, but I'm hoping the 2nd book from the top is a Christie novel. It looks like it might be the right size, and I'm pretty sure FS mentioned they intended to publish more of her works in the future. It looks like it may be slim pickings for me, as the Spring Collection was, but I won't want to pay for expedited shipping to the US anyway, and will likely place an order during the Summer sale (if it happens) or when the shipping rates go back to normal.

Last year’s May collection included a free Mystery Book (one of seven mystery titles) with orders for three or more books.

Disappointed to see so many small volumes. Slim pickings for sure. Anyway I have lot of books in my TBB list. So I don't mind that there isn't anything interesting here. For me expedited shipping itself takes 3 weeks and moreover now for the past one and a half months the post and couriers don't operate. Plus the 50% customs on books, sigh. Even the sale is not really a sale for me. :-(

Teaser image released on social media for one of the summer 2020 collection books:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_mZvSFo4Jj/?utm

>45 bookish_elf: "...there isn't anything interesting here" - at least keep an open mind until the collection is unveiled! ;)

I'd like to believe this is J.G. Ballard's Crash, but I can't really see FS doing Crash. I'd love to proven wrong though...

> 47 CLWggg I have been keeping an open mind for quiet sometime and have been disappointed by the past releases :-) I was hoping to see some classics.

Looks like some heft there to me. Third from the bottom has to be at least 600 pages given the Clash of Kings scale comparison we get. And the one on the bottom is enormous.

The teaser looks like it could be The Road. They spend a night in a truck on a bridge (I recently re-read the excellent Suntup version so it came to mind).

>48 SolerSystem: I also find Crash hard to believe, but maybe... If they're going to do some more JG Ballard, I've love to see High-Rise get the Folio treatment. Could result in some spectacular illustrations!

>50 Jason461: And the one on the bottom is enormous.

Yes – enormous, similar to Ulysses.

>42 affle:

It simply follows the general trend of decreasing the quality of materials that seems to occur with many companies after hiring management focused on cost cutting.

In my limited experience, square-spined books have a higher incidence of being glued. It will be interesting to see what the quality of these volumes is like, but in my opinion, the trend (with some exceptions, of course) has been going the wrong way.

I'm very curious to see what the bottom volume will be and already bracing myself for the sticker shock.

Folio Society? Decreasing the quality of their materials? No, I don't wanna believe that.

Although with the current worldwide situation I think they might have decreased the quality for the time being.

>55 Scholastico:

If the pandemic affected manufacturing quality, we wouldn't see the effects until later in the year. The current release was created on a pre-pandemic supply chain.

New teaser image of book binding:

https://twitter.com/foliosociety/status/1256177588856291329

As one of the commenters on the Twitter thread said (or at least meant to say): these look like the aperture blades from a camera lens. They suggested Bridges of Madison County. It could also be something like On Photography by Sontag, although I guess that particular work isn't modern enough to be picked up by Folio.

I have a feeling the second one down could be a Hercule Poirot novel.

I'm not sure about the fourth one down, but I'd hazard a wild guess it could be an Arthur C Clarke in series with 2001 A Space Odyssey.

The colours on the top edge of the thick book third from the bottom remind me of the Graves' Greek myths. Not a guess (I can't imagine why they'd need to reissue those), just a visual association.

The binding pattern they tweeted looks Art Deco-ish to me, so maybe something 1920s-30s?

>61 LolaWalser: The colours on the top edge of the thick book third from the bottom remind me of the Graves' Greek myths.

Oh yes, I see what you mean. I hope it isn't but I see what you mean.

>61 LolaWalser:
>62 folio_books:

Or could it be another Mary Renault novel?

Anyone have a guess about that large book on the bottom of the stack?

>64 Forthwith:

My guess is about 4 pounds. :-)

>35 NLNils:
Will we finally see A Battle Cry Of Freedom?

I live in hope, although I also expect it would still take a few years before it came down to an affordable price for me, given the recent record.

>58 ubiquitousuk: aperture was my first thought too but I don't have a guess as to the actual book. The one on the bottom of the stack still seems most interesting to me. Only 5 days till we know!

>61 LolaWalser:
Blurb says 'New Edition', so possibly Berlin Diaries, "I am a Camera"?

>59 fiascoborelli:
I sincerely hope you are correct about the Poirot novel.

>69 uncledaveh: I have my fingers crossed for Peril at End House. Or perhaps Five Little Pigs.

The next teaser

https://twitter.com/foliosociety/status/1256534655593058310/photo/1

Looks like a sci-fi ?

The new teaser could be Rendezvous with Rama.

Rendezvous with Rama would be nice.

Oops. >72 yanks25111: beat me to it.

Could also be Roadside Picnic?

>72 yanks25111:
>73 fiascoborelli:

If the illustration is taken from one of the books with the flat spines there's every chance it's Rendezvous with Rama, complementing 2001: A Space Odyssey, published by Folio (with a flat spine) in 2016.

Rama is what I thought too, seeing the picture.

Rama has been on my wishlist for 7 years! Would love it

... another muffled cry of excitement for Rama! Although it's 4 books I wouldn't be too sad if FS decides to publish just the one.

>29 StrangerThing: I generally prefer me a Poirot, but A Murder is Announced would be a pleasant surprise.

>70 fiascoborelli: Either one would work for me. I currently have The Murder On the Links on order from Easton in their Great New Titles selections.

I'll be honest, I'm feeling burnt out on Christie, and we had a Tey last time. I'd rather have some Margery Allingham or Edmund Crispin. Now, their Crispin has a distinctive bright yellow trade dress that isn't there, but I'm not ruling out some Campion. (That said... A Murder Is Announced is a favorite, I'd probably cave on it.)

> 75 it's "Rendezvous with Rama, complementing 2001: A Space Odyssey, published by Folio (with a flat spine) in 2016."

That would make sense. I hope it is because I haven't read this book yet and its on my TBR list.

>81 Kieran_Cowan: I read most of Campion about ten years or so ago, I thought they were okay, but I have re-read them in Folios a few months ago and have truly enjoyed them in a new way, not sure if I just grew older or what, but I would be delighted with another Campion.

>81 Kieran_Cowan:
Have you read Chesterton?

Oh of course, and I have a nice annotated edition from the Battered Silicon Dispatch Box Press, the Folio Father Brown is just a selection of stories, though, and not a complete edition.

>85 Kieran_Cowan:
the Folio Father Brown is just a selection of stories, though, and not a complete edition.
I may be wrong, but I think you'll find that the 2-volume set issued in 1996 was a complete edition. It included all the stories from 5 volumes of FB books.

All I want is contemporary fiction that isn't genre. I like sci-fi perfectly well, but there's been too much of it lately, imho. I wish I thought much of GRRM as a writer, those books are gorgeous, but I'll never read them. Give me another Chabon or Morrison or A.S. Byatt.

>87 Jason461: Wonder Boys by Chabon would be an instant buy for me, although I can't imagine it would be the first they'd choose to publish.

>88 ubiquitousuk:

Absolutely the same. If we're being honest, fancy editions of classics and genre lit are common. Even ones I'm interested in, I tend to put off buying. But I bought Kavalier and Clay the day it was released.

>89 Jason461:
If we're being honest, fancy editions of classics......are common.
Interesting. Aside from Folio Society, who would you go to for good quality editions? I'm not talking limited editions, nor bog standard Heron type publications, but that in-between market that FS used to provide well for, but now appears to have largely abandoned aside from a few obvious perennials. I'm obviously looking in the wrong places, because I'm struggling to fnd them. Everyman classic, and Library of America for that side of the pond, are the only ones that sort of fit so far (and they're not as good as FS was, although excellent VFM).

>90 Willoyd: Good point and good question.

I was very happy to see FS publish Kavalier and Clay. It was an easy buy for me and I'd be happy to see more modern literature (some Cormac McCarthy or Don DeLillo would be very nice). That said, I am most interested in classic literature and would love to see a bit more in that area, both new takes on the perennials and some more creative/obscure choices. Much as I admire Library of America, the uniform presentation format leaves me a little cold.

I'll second the desire to see a FS version of some Cormac McCarthy work, along with some Neal Stephenson.

Latest preview picture from the FS Twitter account. Does it look like a non-fiction book? Copernicus's Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres comes into mind

https://twitter.com/foliosociety/status/1256995195725516800?s=20

The Fourth Part of the World? It could do with a decent presentation.

Chabon would be a definite for me.

>93 jeremyjm:
My desire to see FS do more on the classics front, and certainly show a bit more imagination and flair, does not preclude more recent material. I recently read McCarthy's All The Pretty Horses for a book group, and was wowed by it - I am reading from the Everyman volume of the Border trilogy, but would agree that he is thoroughly deserving of FS treatment and would be very tempted. Same with Stephenson, particularly Cryptonomicon and/or the Baroque trilogy.

>90 Willoyd:

Well, Folio has done an awful lot of them multiple times. And Easton exists. And various others. Ranging in price and quality.

Easton barely exists in my opinion. I have collected EP long before I heard of FS, but I am glad I discovered FS (or more accurately they discovered me via postal flyer) because EP has pretty much stopped publishing affordable fiction. They mostly now publish coffee table books and DLEs, neither of which interest me. So for my money it’s no longer a competition.

The problem with classic lit isn't that publishers are or are not making them, it's that nobody is making the less popular work. But quite honestly, unless it's Russian or Gothic, my ADHD won't comply. Modern lit works because reading every fifth line has about the same value as a real read.

>100 Cubby.R.S.: "Modern lit works because reading every fifth line has about the same value as a real read."

That's the most backhanded criticism I've seen of modern literature.

>101 ultrarightist:

To be fair, there's some good books being written and quite honestly some really bad old books. There are a lot more crappy books in this world than there are good books, and if you account for taste, that leaves us all with a few percent?

>102 Cubby.R.S.: I do not disagree. Your comment amused me.

>100 Cubby.R.S.:

I think you are being rather generous there!

The next teaser:

https://twitter.com/foliosociety/status/1257236536178982912/photo/1

Pretty confident that’s the chunky one, 3rd from bottom. The red and white stripes in the background look like they could be the Japanese Rising Sun flag, which would lead me to believe it’s related to WW2.

I would also hazard a guess that the claw belongs to an Eagle, possibly representative of the US.

Going to take a guess at Eugene Sledge, With the Old Breed.

Edit: someone on Twitter has suggested ‘Eagle against the sun: the American war with Japan’, by Ronald Spector. Certainly sounds possible, given the teaser.

>106 Condor9001: agconnah I'll gladly give that a pass. I have zero interest in that book.

Would love The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt, but it is probably something involving Japan

>106 Condor9001: I agree - it’s hard to see that combination as anything other than WWII in the Pacific. Here’s a guess: “Retribution: The Battle for Japan, 1944-1945” By Max Hastings - it would fit with this year being the 75th Anniversary of the end of the war and they have already published his book, “Bomber Command” so perhaps they have rights to others of his books.

>109 vmb443:

Beautiful logic.

>94 Scholastico: "Copernicus's Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres comes into mind"

Hope so! Would be an instant buy 👍

People who dismiss all new literature always strike me as the old person versions of my high school students who dismiss all classics as boring and dumb. It's possible for something to be good but not your thing.

>110 Cubby.R.S.: Thanks! He also wrote a companion volume on the end of the war in Europe called "Armageddon" - would be delighted to see one or both given the Folio treatment.

>112 Jason461:

A generalized statement about something as a collection isn't necessarily critical of everything. To say Nazi Germany did evil things, does not mean everyone in Germany was evil. To be overtly critical of someone about their meaning, without perhaps understanding the entirety, now that is somewhat concerning, no?

>98 Jason461:
Well, Folio has done an awful lot of them multiple times.
Yes, there's a goodly range of FS on the secondary market, which I do go into regularly. But we're talking new books, so those 'multiple times' are largely irrelevant. Anway, I did say 'Aside from the Folio Society', so will move on.
.
And Easton exists.
Easton? Have you looked at the Easton website lately? There's the odd classic - Pride and Prejudice, Great Expectations, Chaucer, The Odyssey, some Mark Twain and two or three others. Easton exists - it doesn't do classics. (On a different tack - they are also, IMO, hideous).

And various others. Ranging in price and quality.
And various others.....which is where I came in with my question, and to which this isn't really an answer. But thanks for trying.

>115 Willoyd:

The classics you're pointing out on Easton's site are just the one-offs and/or "enhanced" versions. If you consider the (100) Greatest Books Series, which largely derives from LEC/Heritage Press offerings, they still offer a lot of classics. You can ask them for a list of what's in the set, what is currently in stock, and can buy titles individually. They've always sold that set as a book-a-month subscription and only keep a subset of those titles in print at any given time, though, which is probably why they don't list them all individually. 'Hideous' is unfair; I prefer simple and durable. Though, I agree with >99 StrangerThing: about the affordability of their books having decreased in recent years. Folio has been offering a far more interesting variety (to me) in so most of my book money has been going to them. I can't wait to see what's getting released this week!

>116 treereader:
Thanks for that and putting me right. Because they didn't actually list the books, I missed it. Yes, that certainly improves the range. However what I'm dealing with is the comment from Jason that there are plenty of fancy editions of the classics. There may be of a relatively few core titles, the very sort of range that FS has retreated into, but Jason's answer didn't answer the question who covers the classics as a whole - an area that Folio used to cover so much better. Certainly Easton isn't a replacement, unfortunately, although that list is better than I initially surmised.

As to hideous - I don't think that's unfair at all, simply (as I tried to make clear) an opinion, one that others obviously don't share (otherwise they wouldn't sell!). Actually, looking through pictures of the Greatest Books series, these are, in general terms, far more attractive than those enhanced ones, which really are, again IMO, hideous - garish and cheap looking, a bit like someone whose laid on the makeup far too heavily.

>112 Jason461:
People who dismiss all new literature always strike me as the old person versions of my high school students who dismiss all classics as boring and dumb.
Whereas those who generalise to all classics on the basis of a few well-worn titles are? ;-)

>117 Willoyd:

Well, to be frank, there's never going to be a market for obscure classics that isn't extremely niche and high-priced or fairly standard and workman like (LOA, etc.). I suppose in terms of classics, I was thinking of things that would probably fall into the canon for most people. Some Dickens, Dante, Hardy, Eliot, Austen, and so forth. The more obscure titles may be classic, of course, simply by virtue of being books that were both old and very good, but very few people are looking for fine editions of those. I can find nice looking, well made canonical classics in any decent used bookstore. But the same can't be said for contemporary lit.

And my other comment was referring, of course, to the person who said modern lit only requires you to read every fifth line. Which is absurdly generalizing, however others might choose to qualify it. One generalization deserve another, and I'm not about to engage with someone over particular titles when they've just dismissed every book written for decades. Whenever someone is that dismissive of something that many other, very intelligent, people regard as great art, it says to me that they came to it with such strong bias and unwillingness to engage meaningfully with the subject and fulfill the obligations of the reader that their opinion isn't worthwhile.

I'll note also that you removed my other sentence. Which is that it is possible for something to be both good and not your taste. I dislike every bit of Bronte I've ever read. But too many people I respect love them, so I assume I just can't see it. Such is life. But I also don't go around here crapping on a post every time one of their books is published by FS. However, these kinds of comment crop up every time I, or anyone else, brings up a desire to see contemporary literary fiction. To which I say, go back in your houses grouchy old people, and let people like things.

There I've said my piece. Bye.

>118 Jason461:

I don't think that's very nice and certainly not the greatest method of improving either of us, and for that you should feel very sad. I also didn't crap on anyone's post, but additionally said that modern literature agrees with my ADHD and later proceeded to admit in a following post that there are still some good books. However, it is very unfortunate, that because I don't worship at the alter of The Hunger Games or Divergent or Fifty Shades of Gray or any of the other best sellers of the last ten years, I'm a cranky old guy.

>119 Cubby.R.S.:

Lord. No one would call those book literature, and you know it. You're creating a straw man.

>87 Jason461: "All I want is contemporary fiction that isn't genre."

Most books fall into a genre of one shape or form including the genre of literary fiction; a genre which has many fine works, but also a vast quantity of self-indulgent navel-gazing.

115 Easton - hideous? The binding style either appeals or doesn't so that's subjective, but what isn't subjective at all is that the quality of printing of illustrations is truly hideous.

>120 Jason461:

A bit, but honestly I never openly criticized all modern literature, and I also don't think those are as different as you might think from many modern works.

I had hoped that someone would have received a catalogue by now, but I guess they have learned and aren't sending them early (I think).

>87 Jason461: "All I want is contemporary fiction that isn't genre."

I know exactly what you mean.

>87 Jason461: "All I want is contemporary fiction that isn't genre."

Isn't it human nature that compels us to categorize everything? No matter what, all works of literature are going to be categorized one way or another...we currently do so with the construct of 'genre'.

Looks like we're getting Eagle Against the Sun: The American War With Japan

>126 just_visiting:

I hope so. That's a very easy one for me to ignore.

>126 just_visiting: I am hoping not - it’s thirty-five years old, and there have been many advances in understanding the war since then.

>199 red_guy:
"However, it is very unfortunate, that because I don't worship at the alter of The Hunger Games or Divergent or Fifty Shades of Gray or any of the other best sellers of the last ten years, I'm a cranky old guy.''

I don't like these books either, and if somebody tells me he's read these books (especially Fifty Shades of Grey) and nothing else, I'll probably raise an eyebrow. But there are some other books published in the last years 10 years that are really good. The Sympahizer is one of my favourite books of all time. It was a bestseller, just as All the Light We Cannot See, A Gentleman in Moscow, The Underground Railroad were when they were published. These books will go on to be classics in the future.

There are some contemporary poets who spring to mind too... like Ilya Kaminsky, Danez Smith or Ocean Vuong.
Anyway, I also like classics (preferably those published after 1940), but literature is doing pretty fine in our time too.

>129 Kainzow:

Of the books you mentioned; The Sympathizer, All the Light We Cannot See and A Gentleman in Moscow all seem interesting enough, and written well enough. I don't see a problem with them. I made a comment in jest, and I'm not a favorite of Jason461's, so I got some guff for it, in fact I tried to remedy the statement in my next comment, but it was too late. It's really no big deal to me, and like I said, not all modern literature is bad.

The newest teaser pic is very recognizably Charles van Sandwyck art and I’m excited!

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_zkmJVIkHB/?igshid=mac4c2mho4ps

Just received one of the birthday vouchers a bit early, really hoping for a good collection tomorrow. Or today, if someone lucks out with the brochure.

>132 adriano77:

You know there is someone working at Post, chuckling that they accidentally dropped the catalog and searched the pages to make sure they were alright. Undoubtedly they performed this act under direction from the global elite.

>131 ChampagneSVP: The newest teaser pic is very recognizably Charles van Sandwyck art

Indeed you are right. That's the first one out of this collection I've heard of that counts as a definite probable.

>118 Jason461:
In your initial comment, you said "If we're being honest, fancy editions of classics and genre lit are common." I do now understand that what you meant was actually "fancy editions of the most popular classics". I wouldn't disagree with the latter, but that wasn't what you said, which is why I asked my questions. I also thought we were talking about new books - what publishers are currently producing, and hadn't realised that you were also including second-hand books, which you allude to you in your latest post for the first time. I genuinely thought you might be able to help, but obviously not. Incidentally, if a book is regarded as a 'classic', then I'm not sure how it can be described as 'obscure', but I suspect, again, we're talking a slightly different language.

Cubby's more than capable of answering for himself, but just to say that his posts read very differently to me. He even said effectively that he preferred modern literature to the classics, so to accuse him of absurd generalisations in condemning all modern literature was, to me at least, distinctly unfair.

I'll note also that you removed my other sentence. Which is that it is possible for something to be both good and not your taste.
Yes I did, because it was, and remains, irrelevant to what I was saying. I think you missed my point. I wasn't referring to your feelings or preferences about classics, but back to that comment "fancy editions of classics and genre lit are common", where you had generalised 'most popular classics' to 'classics' in general.

Whilst I appreciate (and hope!) that other comments in the same para aren't aimed at me specifically, just to be clear: I have absolutely no issue with the FS publishing contemporary literary fiction. Indeed, I've bought a fair amount of it over the years (and read it often!). What I regret is the massive fall away in the range and depth of classic literature that they publish, and their dependence on rehashes of old favourites (I'm generally not interested in limited editions). You would like to see them more adventurous in their approach to cotemporary fiction, I would like to see them more adventurous in their approach to classics. The two aren't incompatible!

>131 ChampagneSVP:
That illustration appears both on Charles Sandwyk's website in the section "Pocket Guide etc", and also, as a black ink drawing, in the You Tube video of CVS narrating Mr Rabbit's Symphony of Nature (it's the very last frame, in the credits) - so an FS edition of an extant CVS publication, or simply using an extant picture in specifically commissioned work? Will find out tomorrow!

In fairness to the FS they do produce the occasional obscure classic. A Voyage to the Moon and Sun was something I had never heard of before they did it. They also have an excellent record with scientific works. The modern works will always have issues with publishers and copyright so this is more of a minefield.

>136 Willoyd: Nice sleuthing. My guess is that they’re doing Mr. Rabbit’s Symphony in series with How to see Fairies

>137 DMulvee:

A Voyage to the Moon and Sun was a reprint.

Folio used to produce those sorts as a regular offering. They also used to produce a significant amount of rare first hand accounts, including many commissioned works. You should look through the old prospectuses, the diversity is quite amazing.

They also printed a significant amount of works that were 15 or 20 years beyond initial publishing. Don't get me wrong, they are still the best, but they are not as creative and passionate about book making.

Does anyone remember about what time they release the collection? I know London is in an earlier time zone so I’m trying to decide if I should stay up past midnight 😉

>135 Willoyd:

I mean, once a book is old enough to be a classic, if it's not popular, then it's obscure. Dickens is the easiest illustration. Great Expectations, A Tale of Two Cities, A Christmas Carol, David Copperfield, and maybe Oliver Twist are all popular-ish. Few people read his other books.

My point was that if you want a nice copy of a classic, odds are you can find it. The same cannot be said of all but a very small percentage of contemporary lit that is likely to eventually receive classic status.

>140 StrangerThing: Usually around 10 AM London Time.

Isn’t the Charles van Sandwyk art from Folio’s new Limited Edition of Dan Brown’s novel The Da Vinci Toad?

>141 Jason461:
All fair comments (although I think quite a lot of classics are harder to come by in anything but bog standard paperback than you think). It seems to me that we talk a slightly different language, and I think that's been the root cause of the dissonance - I thought you meant one thing, you actually meant another; what you regard as obscure, I regard as simply undertreated (Bleak House, Pickwick Papers, Nicholas Nickleby, Little Dorrit etc all only read by a few? Says much if true. BTW, my son studied and read Hard Times for his GCSEs!); and so on. But, I do understand your frustrations - after all I have them as well, just with a different timeframe in mind!

The same cannot be said of all but a very small percentage of contemporary lit that is likely to eventually receive classic status.
Now that's an interesting one, trying to predict classics. Amazing what's regarded as great at the time of publication or even soon afterwards, and what actually makes to that exalted status 100 years later - and what comes and what goes,and maybe comes again, throughout that timespan. Just take a look at the lists of early Nobel laureates for literature, or Pulitzer Fiction winners, or indeed Bookers since 1969 - all highly regarded at the time, but an awful lot disappeared off the radar. I would personally replace the words 'likely to' with 'might'!

So, tricky one to predict accurately, which, along with rights issues etc, makes that sort of publishing quite challenging - suspect that's part of the problem. Quite a fun challenge to try and make up a list - problem is that I would never know if I was right or wrong!.

>129 Kainzow: "I also like classics (preferably those published after 1940)"

Why after 1940?

>145 cpg:

Interesting, as 1940 (or at least WWII) is something of a pivotal time for me too, but in the reverse way: suddenly not much of what was being written appeals to me. Mark Valentine observes, regarding the fall from favour of Claude Houghton's fiction, that "During the 1940s and 1950s... the predominant literary vogues were for kitchen-sink realism and the seasoned despair of existentialism": I don't tend to find either very rewarding by comparison with what they displaced. It's a generalisation of course, and there were writers who barely responded at all to such changes as were befalling typical social attitudes and the literary marketplace.

Adrianoooo... Are you home? I believe you had the early catalog last time.

>143 fiascoborelli: we can only hope....

>147 Cubby.R.S.:

No luck this time. Oh well. Ten or twelve hours to go!

>143 fiascoborelli: Hilarious.

The time draws near - I'll be checking regularly tomorrow, until the new issues appear. I hope it's worthwhile.

>144 Willoyd:

Yeah. That's a fair way to put it. But yeah, I'd call most Dickens obscure. Most people don't read Dickens in the first place, and the percentage who get past the big titles is even smaller.

Classic status is so weird. Moby Dick and The Great Gatsby were both forgotten for decades and now they're regarded as greats. Longfellow and Scott held on for quite a long time, but seem to have general been discarded at this point.

>151 Jason461:
I suspect you're speaking from personal, anecdotal experience about Dickens. My own suggests the opposite, including traffic in the public library where I work. I'd be interested in any evidence you have seen to support your contention, because for an author not to have any of their books ever out of print, to feature 7 titles in the BBC Big Read 200, etc etc suggests they may be more popular than you suggest. Especially compared to most contemporary fiction, here today and gone tomorrow. A classic, by definition, survives because people do read them through time.

As for 'most people', I'd in broad brush terms agree. Most people don't read many books at all. But I think we're talking about book readers?

>151 Jason461: A couple of years ago I read all of the Dickens moves and really enjoyed them. I think with some authors there are one or two works that overshadow the rest. With Dickens half of them are very well known.

>152 Willoyd: Complete agreement here from another librarian albeit not in the public library domain. I'd add that the adaptability of Dickens' characters and settings for the small screen has contributed to his enduring popularity.

>154 HuxleyTheCat:
I do wonder how many people know Dickens solely through screen and how many go on to read him. I actually came to Dickens through reading Pickwick at school (set by teacher in year 10, which we then discussed as a class a la book group, but didn't write about or do to death - perfect!). In my later time as a primary teacher, most of my year 5 classes had never read Harry Potter, but knew the stories (as told in cinema) intimately. So much for that reading revolution!

>155 Willoyd: The screen (small or large) has a broader appeal these days than books, sadly, but whichever way someone comes to reading I don't think it really matters, as long as they get there in the end; after all, a dripping Colin Firth did wonders for Jane Austen's sales figures...

Happy to see The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas S. Kuhn. Day one purchase :-)

So looks like it's

Eagle Against the Sun
De Profundis
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
Mr Rabbit's Sympthony of Nature and other Tails
Ring of the Nibelung
Clash of Kings
Rendezvous with Rama
Five Little Pigs
Collected Poems
Killing Floor

Some nice works of illustration and book design in this collection, even though the chosen books themselves don't very much appeal to me.

The Lee Child book is certainly going to generate a reaction on here. Top trolling by The Folio Society ;-)

In my basket:

Eagle Against the Sun
De Profundis
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
Ring of the Nibelung
Rendezvous with Rama
Larkin Collected Poems

also throwing in 1776 from the Spring collection. Good release for me; thrilled with Rama.

>160 LondonLawyer: All bets are now off that negotiations are actively taking place with representatives of EL James.

>160 LondonLawyer:
>162 HuxleyTheCat:

Sadly shaking head. The Rubicon has been crossed.

>163 folio_books: Not read any of Child's work and don't intend to but surely can't be worse than Fleming's ;-)

Hmm.. a mystery book was added to my cart. Hope it's for everyone!

>164 gmacaree: I blame all those who purchased the Fleming books for encouraging Folio in this direction!

Nothing in there for me. I love Rendezvous with Rama, I consider it Clarke's greatest book, but perfectly happy with the EP copy I already have. If you have not read that yet, I strongly recommend it even to non-science fiction fans, it's very thought provoking.

>162 HuxleyTheCat: That’s a joke, surely? It’s so hard to tell these days...

Nothing for me unfortunately. Rendezvous with Rama would be interesting, however I can’t stand the cover

Okay, so I've ordered:

The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
Mr Rabbit's Sympthony of Nature and other Tails
Rendezvous with Rama
Five Little Pigs
Larkin's Poems

Ring of the Nibelung, illustrated by John Vernon Lord, is pretty tempting but that goes into the "waiting for a sale" category.

And a free mystery book, otherwise known as eBay fodder. I do wish they'd stop doing that.

For those not familiar with Philip Larkin, one of his most famous poems is as follows:

This Be The Verse

They fuck you up, your mum and dad.
They may not mean to, but they do.
They fill you with the faults they had
And add some extra, just for you.

But they were fucked up in their turn
By fools in old-style hats and coats,
Who half the time were soppy-stern
And half at one another’s throats.

Man hands on misery to man.
It deepens like a coastal shelf.
Get out as early as you can,
And don’t have any kids yourself.

The Folio Society edition should become very popular and attract new bibliophiles with this book.

My want list now includes:

- Eagle Against the Sun
- The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
- Mr Rabbit's Sympthony of Nature and other Tails

Have already bagged Clash of Kings.

Rendezvous with Rama is a “maybe”.

Definitely ordering

Five Little Pigs
Clash of Kings
Rendezvous with Rama

Thinking about De Profundis, Ring of the Ninbelung and Mr Rabbit. Given that I’ll have to pay for express shipping, want to make sure I buy everything I want and might even wait and order in June during the sale. Fairly nice collection though was surprised by Lee Child.

so, so disappointing, Rama looks like a paperback masquerading as a hardback. Only Sandwyck and Eagle against the sun look like folio society

It looks like my bank account is safe for a while longer. I would definitely have gone for "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions" but don't like the design and reluctant to pay £40 for a book with paper sides. I want something that last centuries rather than a few weeks. "Eagle Against the Sun" looks nice but do we really need more WWII? And Lee Childs - I do really just despair...

Yet another disappointing release. I find my interest and enthusiasm for FS waning.

Mr Rabbit's Sympthony of Nature and other Tails, Rendezvous with Rama and Larkin's Poems are the only ones I'm interested in. Since I still have a lot of books to buy from Folio in a way I'm happy that this collection did not expand my TBB list.

I went to order Mr Rabbit, but had forgotten what a hassle it is to log in - went round and round in circles, got there, put Rabbit in basket, went back to see if I could find something else to add, put Stig of the Dump in basket but it went into a different basket as if I were not logged in, started all over again, finally had three books including a mystery one, added the postage, it came to over CHF100 so I backtracked and cancelled everything.

I also noticed that they still have the filter list of authors ordered by first name, which is quite ridiculous.

Mr Rabbit's Symphony of Nature looks to be an absolutely glorious little book. I'm happy enough that Rama matches 2001 but it's a bit pricey at £40 so a maybe on that one. Ring of the Nibelung is very tempting with those John Vernon Lord illustrations.

>168 LondonLawyer: Let's just say, a trifle tongue in cheek.

I’m not as excited for the Summer collection as I was for Spring. Only two I take an interest in are Rendezvous with Rama and Eagle Against the Sun. The latter one being pricy, I will not pick it up soon. I like the SF offerings of late in the £30-40 range. I might add a few of them to a sale order this Summer. First this Corona pandemic must be halted as best it can be, so to reopen society in a somewhat normalized state.

Mr Rabbit is the only definite to me. I picked up the other three Van Sandwyks last year and they're now amongst my favourite Folios. I'm counting down the days till I can share them with the kids, still far too young. I'll probably add the book to my summer sale order. Of the others, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions will be added to the wishlist. I've been umming and ahhing over 2001 for some time, and will probably do the same with Rendezvous with Rama. The problem is that whenever I think about a purchase I go to my shelves and take down my slightly battered - though still in quite good nick considering - paperbacks from circa 1994, and am reminded of the the awe and wonder I felt as a young'un reading them for the first time decades ago. This is something a modern fine edition, however fancy, will never be able to replicate, so what's the point? I may be convinced one day.

May pick up Rama down the line, Eagle Against the Sun looks good but too expensive and a little dated for insight.
Genuinely intrigued by the Lee Child - I would never have though there was a Fleming/Pratchett style fan base willing to shell out £50 for such a volume. Must be backed by some serious market research.

What a great collection! Phillip Larkin, Arthur C. Clarke, and Wagner? Were they worried I've been too careful with money recently?

Also, while not my thing, congratulations to the society on doing the first Jack Reacher illustrated edition - with a Malcolm Gladwell foreword! I suspect this is on the back of Game of Thrones success, and hopefully will be good news for their finances.

Nothing for me, other than Clash of Kings. Eagle Against the Sun looks beautiful, but not a period of history I'm hugely interested in. It also occupies a strange no man's land for history; too old contain the latest scholarship and research, not old enough to be of historical interest in it's own right. Maybe one for a future sale.

Makes me tempted to go back and look at some recent limited editions.

Going on my wishlist are:
Eagle Against the Sun
Five Little Pigs
A Clash of Kings

I’ve never read any Lee Child, and won’t at $75, but if this is in a future sale for $20 I can see myself giving it a shot.

>181 Levin40: My SF paperbacks date from the 1970’s and novels like Midnight’s Children and The Bloody Chamber from the 1980’s, and although I keep them all for sentimental reasons, I also love having less fragile, more robust and beautiful FS editions.
Unfortunately none of the Summer Collection are “must buys” for me, so I will be awaiting the next sale before making another purchase. For some reason I never read Rendezvous with Rama, and although I enjoyed 2001, I would have much preferred more Bradbury or Le Guin (short stories or Malafrena, if FS are unable to obtain rights for The Tomb of Atuan).

The Kuhn looks interesting - worthy of FS treatment, otherwise zilch. Lee Child? LOL!

Can only agree with Jason: genre fiction seems to have taken over. Fantasy - tick, SF - tick, Golden age detective - tick, pretty fairy pictures - tick, thriller - tick. Contemporary literature, classical, whatever, I just want something to read.

(Summer collection seems to be confirming a recent trend for me: much anticipation, then utter deflation. I should have learned by now).

Does anybody know what the Mystery Book might be?

Whilst placing my Summer collection order I clicked on the mystery book thumbnail in my basket and it took me through to the page for Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder. Unsure if that's actually the mystery book or just a quirk of the website.

Don't think I'll be trading in my Complete Larkin of 2012 for a Collection that is also a Selection, from a poet who wasn't prolific. And that photo of his momma is doing my head in. Another blank for me.

For those interested in the van Sandwyck, any feedback on the stories? My train of thought is that while it looks beautiful, it’s pretty expensive for just the illustrations. I already have the illustrated van Sandwyck books, which I do love. So I would only buy this book if I thought the stories were special.

Ordered:

Mr Rabbit’s Symphony of Nature and Other Tails
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
Rendezvous with Rama
A Clash of Kings

Aside from the mystery book, there was also a mystery discount of £20 which made me happy.

>171 Steventon:

Agree. Philip Larkin was a superior poet.

>190 RRCBS:
For those interested in the van Sandwyck, any feedback on the stories?
Have a look on YouTube - there's a review of it the Sandwyk-published version, where the reviewer leafs through the book. Strikes me as more picture than text, but I didn't watch in depth.

>188 Condor9001: I clicked the picture of the mystery book in the cart and it brought me to the store page for Sophie’s World.

Well, I welcome the Larkin. Folio hasn't done nearly enough 20th C. poetry. But yes, how about a great novel of some era that isn't Sci-fi. (And again, I LIKE sci-fi, just mix it up a bit, huh?)

>193 Willoyd: thanks! That takes this one off my list. Want to order but still unsure about the Wagner...though I really should just save it for a sale.

I remember the only time I was able to visit the FS Holborn store, just months before they closed it. I wanted so bad to buy 2001 but upon seeing the edition physically I balked. I did not like neither the square back nor the metallic foil. Rendezvous with Rama is going the same way, so alas, I don't think I'm buying it. This may be one of the very rare instances where I would prefer to get the Easton one.

>196 RRCBS:

The Ring of the Nibelung is the actual libretto from Wagner's Ring cycle (four opera) and reading this without actually hearing the music and seeing the stage production is, in my opinion, quite boring. A better alternative may be the Limited Editions Club 'Nibelungenlied' published in 1960. It contains the original stories (thirty-nine adventures) that Wagner's opera is based upon, with excellent color illustrations by Edy Legrand. Best of all, it was designed and printed by Jan van Krimpen at the Joh. Enschedé en Zonen in Haarlem, Holland, using his fourteen-point Romulus type. The paper is also a bit special - Simili Japon, manufactured specially for this edition by Van Gelder en Zonen in Amsterdam. Fine copies can easily be found for around $75 USD, less than 1/2 the price of the new FS edition.

dlphcoracl - That's what I'm looking really looking forward to with the Wagner.

I have any number of vintage recordings, and there are countless others on my streaming service, none of which have the libretto - it's the bane of the new digital world for the opera fan. Having the libretto to sit and follow without ferreting around in old CD sets for titchy booklets will be such bliss! The Folio G&S Savoy operas set has been incredibly useful for this.

>199 red_guy:

Now that makes perfect sense. Using it as intended while listening to the opera would be splendid.

Does anyone have sight of the details of the mystery book offer? It adds to my basket with just one title, but Folio twitter seems to think it requires the purchase of two.

Pretty excited because this is the first time a collection has included a title I specifically requested (nearly three years ago) - Kuhn's Structure of Scientific Revolutions. The binding itself is whatever, nothing special, but it does at least appear to be in series with the rest of the 'modern science' collection.

Eagle Against the Sun, on the other hand, has a great binding, IMO. Yet I know nothing about it. Still, I've always meant to read up more on the Pacific War. Will include this too.

I'd never heard of Lee Child or The Killing Floor but I laughed when I read the description and the name 'Jack Reacher' as I recognize it from a Tom Cruise movie from a few years ago. Figured it would be met with derision here.

>189 Jayked:

Quite. It's hard to see quite how the FS could have made such a cock of the Larkin. If it's not the collected poems, why title it that? Clive James in the title essay in his Larkin collection, Somewhere becoming rain, originally published in the New Yorker, takes issue with Anthony Thwaite's decision to publish in his 1988 Collected Poems much which Larkin had suppressed, and if the FS did not want to take the comprehensive path it might reasonably have followed Larkin's own choice - and called it Selected Poems to reflect the fact that more poems have been published. The muddled copywriting suggests they are scarcely aware of what they have put together. It would have been far better to leave it unillustrated than use photographs more suitable to a biography. And then to wrap it in one of the least appealing bindings for a poetry book in their long and on the whole rather distinguished history of poetry books. Pity - my 1988 collected poems is yellowing with age, as well as being rather well thumbed, and a decent new edition would have been good to have. I already have a first edition of The Whitsun Weddings, so perhaps I'll go back to the other originals.

I only bought one book, but the mystery book was added to my basket and is shown on my receipt. I paid £8.99 P+P, which I believe is the standard P+P price when more than one book is purchased (previously I am sure I have paid P+P of £5.99 for a single book). If a mystery book does not come with my order I will be asking questions as to why I have been charged £8.99 P+P.

The Wagner is the pick of the bunch for me, just a pity about the price.

And I like the elegant simplicity of De Profundis.

Kuhn's Structure is an undoubted classic but I can't say I find the design especially alluring.

Larkin, Christie, and Rama bubbling under.

For me, it's probably an improvement on the Spring Collection but I shall sleep on it and wait for the physical brochure.

>204 Condor9001:

Strange. A mystery book was added to my cart after putting in my first title but when I cleared it to start over the mystery book no longer shows up.

-edit. NM. Logging in and out has corrected.

$83 on shipping will necessitate I find more things to buy. Jeez.

>199 red_guy: Having the libretto to sit and follow without ferreting around in old CD sets for titchy booklets will be such bliss!

Well, there's also the libretto book from Thames and Hudson, which can be had for one tenth of the FS price. It's not hardback, but the paper is of the same quality as an FS book and it's smyth sewn bound.

And there is (or was) the Deluxe edition of the Pentatone Janowski Ring cycle which includes the libretto in a big large LP-size book.

>204 Condor9001: raises a very valid point about the shipping cost. I also ordered one book earlier today and had the mystery book added to my basket. When I paid, I thought the shipping charges seemed higher than normal, but as agconnah points out this would be because I've been charged the shipping for two books. Of course, if I'd been a little more on the ball I could have removed the mystery book from my basket and paid the lower shipping rate. As it is, I've ended up paying £3 for something that FS told me was free, and which I might not actually want anyway when I receive it. Feels a little misleading on FS's part...

FYI:

When I add $300 (or more) worth of books to my basket, not only does the mystery book appear but an additional $30 discount is also added. No voucher code required.

This may be Folio's attempt to optimize both customer order sizes and shipping charges because the total shipping charge for 5-7 books, depending on what I add, remains at $30 (standard shipping).

>209 treereader:

Really glad I read your post. My subtotal was at $299.95!!

-edit. Combined with the birthday voucher this makes express (the only means offered, standard is absent) much more palatable.

>210 adriano77:

That's the risk we play in placing orders before having the printed brochure handy, with all of its final collection and sale details laid out. I'm hoping I found this before most of our early orders were placed!

For those of you not in the US, please post the discount amount and threshold, if you discover one!

>211 treereader: For those of you not in the US, please post the discount amount and threshold, if you discover one!

ROW - £207.75. Discount £20.00

With £199.95 no discount

>171 Steventon:

I did consider including "This be the Verse" but decided against in case it offended those of a nervous disposition. You put my cowardice to shame.

Ugh, gutted to learn that Kuhn's book is printed in China. Just ditched it from my cart.

>204 Condor9001: I just saw this as I was going to get hold of a copy of Relativity as the stock is low, but £8.99 for regular delivery on a £29 book is really outrageous. I don't want a copy of Sophie's world and can't delete it from my cart

>204 Condor9001: Actually scratch that, have managed to delete it, and shipping costs have gone back to normal.

>214 adriano77: You found that out quickly. Bummer that you can now not have this book!

>217 NLNils:

No doubt. Andrew at CS replied almost instantaneously. Now I have to figure out what to buy in its place with the summer sale and its possible discounts in mind.

>216 woollymasters:

Something must've been updated on their site. Now, with only a single priced book in basket, the mystery book now shows a footnote that no additional charge will be applied for shipping. To the US, both books will only cost $16 instead of $30 for standard shipping.

>207 joco30:

That set does look lush! No more physical releases for me though. I've ripped most of my collection, and use Roon (a streaming program) to play them, and a set like this, piped in from Qobuz, appears exactly as if it were another disc in my library. So the Folio Wagner will more than earn its keep - and I don't seem to be that good at saving money anyway!

Well, the Kuhn, Clarke, and Larkin have landed on my "keep an eye on these and maybe add them to a summer sale order" list. Unfortunately, no Canticle For Leibowitz. I live in hope.

The Ring and the Rabbit are both definite buys from me. I adore the Ring cycle and one of my daughters adores all things Charles Sandwyk.

I find myself dismayed to see Lee Child being published in this release. Jack Reacher are you kidding me? I can never let me wife know about FS publishing this or she'll use it against me when I make fun of her for reading Jack Reacher books!

Overall, meh. The Ring and the Rabbit are both very exciting though not the price for the Ring. Not that it matters I'll buy it anyway. Cause I'm a FS junkie and remarkably impatient.

Serious question: Do people find there to be a significant difference in terms quality between Bond and Jack Reacher? Bond has more cultural cache, for sure, but I admit to general ignorance, because when I've dipped my toe in, none of the writing from either of these has exactly set my world on fire.

Seventeen Jack Reacher books I believe, and this is the first in the series, which looks ominous for a lot of people here. Doesn't the that spine look as if it is designed with a shelf-full in mind ? I haven't read any, but have noticed that when a new one is published all the heavyweight press usually gives them favourable reviews, and I will try one someday. If they're good enough for Philip Pullman ... and the illustrations look right, talking of which -

I must say that personally I prefer to look down my nose at Folio publishing so much of Charles van Sandwyk's derivative syrupy tosh, whose spiritual home is surely at a garden centre shop, somewhere between the Yankee Candles and Country Diary of An Edwardian Lady biscuit tins. An unpopular opinion, I know but there must be someone else who wants to strangle all those ickle wickle bunny-wunnies with their stripey scarves? Anyone?

>224 red_guy: not sure i'd go so far as to garrote a bunny-wunnie but I shan't buy one either

>210 adriano77:

Did the birthday voucher work for you? The system does put the 20 Pound discount into my basket, but won't accept my birthday voucher, which is disappointing. There isn't even any comment about why it's refused.

>226 SF-72: I remember when I had mine, it couldn’t be combined with another offer. So in the end I didn’t get to use it!

>198 dlphcoracl: Thanks! You always have such knowledgeable advice!

>226 SF-72:

Yes, I'm able to combine them. Try inputting it on the second step of the checkout process (review and payments), there's a space for vouchers on this page. I wasn't able to input vouchers on the initial basket page either.

>224 red_guy:

24 Novels and counting https://www.librarything.com/series/Jack+Reacher

Another collection for me to sit out. I'm touched by van Sandwyk's talent but not to the extent of wanting to live with it, the Ring volume would be largely redundant here in view of the five booklets accompanying my 22 LP wooden box of the Solti/Vienna Phil. recording, and Lee Child will remain unknown territory unless and until someone persuades me that he shouldn't.

>229 adriano77:

Thank you very much, that solved the problem.

>227 RRCBS:

I thought that was it at first, but it didn't work at all, even before the 20 Pound voucher was applied, and it didn't say in my email that it couldn't be combined with another, just that it wasn't to be used with limited editions or for shipping.

>230 dfmorgan:

Good grief - even more cash for Folio than I ever dreamed possible!

In that case maybe have some illustrated by Charles van Sandwyk?

>224 red_guy:
An unpopular opinion, I know but there must be someone else who wants to strangle all those ickle wickle bunny-wunnies with their stripey scarves?

Couldn't have put it better myself!

My, admittedly, non-important opinion on the titles:

Van Sandwick - nice for what it is, but not literature and decidedly boring for me. Seems like FS is just trying to keep the artist employed and in the fold.
Scientific Revolutions - in keeping with their science series, the covers of which I find truly jarring with the coloured cloth against paper boards.
The Ring - such a beautiful production, that I am intrigued - though, I think the previous 'Legends of the Ring' was the FS book I wanted to own, and it is a treasure with the content that I prefer as literature. It references the Ring saga and discusses it, without presenting the opera printed out, as it does in the new edition.
Rama - the title I wanted the most, but I find the book itself hideously produced (the website says cloth boards, but looks like coated paper to me). Squared spine consistent with the hideousness of the book. Usless die-cut slipcase. A candidate for ugliest of this release.
Five Little Pigs - I like the cover, but the illustrations leave me wanting and the content is just not my thing.
Eagle of the Sun - perhaps the nicest cover of the lot. I have many unread war books on my shelves, so a pass for me but not due to the production, which I like quite a bit. The pictorial slipcase is tired and takes away from the work, IMO.
De Profundis - *yawn* looks like FS tried to throw something together on the cheap. Do yourself a favour and go buy the Folio Fine edition, which is not illustrated, but has wonderful printing/paper.
Larkin - I'm unfamiliar with the poet, but it is no secret, the square binding and paper sides with jarring cloth spine makes me unable to even take a flier on a new poet.
Killing Floor - not my thing, but the production is above average for this release. I'm not a fan of the huge black lines on the spine, but full cloth and decent images makes it a solid single right up the gap.
GoT part deux - While not a fan of all the illustrations (a near impossible feat to please everyone), I think FS has done a great job with this set so far.

So, since nobody seems to like a Debbie Downer, in terms of production, I'd rank the top choices as..

1. Wagner's Ring
2. A Clash of Kings
3. Eagle Against the Sun

>224 red_guy:
My wife loves the 'bunny-wunnies', but she also agrees with me that your "I prefer to look down my nose at Folio publishing so much of Charles van Sandwyk's derivative syrupy tosh, whose spiritual home is surely at a garden centre shop, somewhere between the Yankee Candles and Country Diary of An Edwardian Lady biscuit tins" is DEAD ON.

So for those of you who are feeling the angry jitters, might I recommend The Book of Bunny Suicides, which is pure, bitter (a syrupy antidote) GOLD.

>235 EclecticIndulgence: De Profundis - *yawn* looks like FS tried to throw something together on the cheap. Do yourself a favour and go buy the Folio Fine edition, which is not illustrated, but has wonderful printing/paper.

The Fine Edition is a thing of beauty, definitely preferable to this one. It was never easy to find on the secondary market but if you can find a copy, go for it.

I happen to be a huge Lee Child fan. His oeuvre graces my shelves between Chaucer and Churchill. I had custom velvet-lined slipcases made for the first editions (both UK and US). I had to dispense with my Chekhov to free up the shelf space.

Those of you who think Charles van Sandwyck might illustrate the second Reacher novel (Die Trying) are very much mistaken. In the "Reacherworld" forum (official name: Kill 'Em Dead!!) it was revealed that Folio will publish the volumes "in series" (by then it will be a series of 48). FS has commissioned David Gentleman to illustrate Die Trying, with a specially commissioned introduction by Mary Beard. Word on the street is that 61 Hours will be printed letterpress, in an edition of 61 (with a further nine copies hors de commerce).

Not much for me - the Agatha Christie will be purchased at some point and the Ring (though not at full price, we’ll see if it ever ends up on sale - presumably it will be). No need to purchase anything now, I’ll wait until the summer sale. That’s two releases for me now with only 1 or 2 I am interested in - good for the wallet, bad for the library.

I am placing an order to the US and, above $ 300, not only do I get the $ 30 discount, but also free express shipping.

Edit: Looks like an error on the page, it's finally $ 30 off, but I had to pay for shipping.

>240 yllanes: Seriously? Wow. I may need to revisit my plans to wait for the summer sale. I’ll load my cart and see what happens - thanks for the tip!

>241 vmb443: Hmmm... looks like an error on the website. As I was selecting my payment information, the shipping cost disappeared but then I got an error message and now it is back again. It seemed too good to be true.

Anyway, the Wagner and the Kuhn were instant buys, plus an item on my wish list makes for a decent haul.

The Spector is a good book, even if it is old, it is probably still the best single-volume history of the Pacific War (though the competition is not fierce, all have serious shortcomings, hopefully the new work by Richard B. Frank will fill the gaps, though that's a trilogy). But not at that price, that's one for a future sale or the secondary market.

One or two other additions to the wish list.

I will eventually pick up Rama and Eagle Against the Sun, but am not in any hurry.

Nothing that quickens my heart.

>214 adriano77: adriano77 I still don't understand why they continue to print books in China. Their books are not exactly cheap. It really irks me too and hope they discontinue this horrible business of printing books in China. And also appreciate that you took a stand against it by cancelling your order.

I ordered 12 books last Sunday as a b'day gift. Good that I didn't wait for the summer collection. Now anxiously waiting for the 50% import duty that I'll have to pay. :-( We live in a world where knowledge is taxed heavily.

I'm continuously amazed by the number of folks comfortable displaying casual racism.

>246 kcshankd:

I don't get you. Are you talking about the bunnies?

>247 rundstedt:

We should stop slander bunnies. Yes they dress funny with their stripey scarves but we should not discriminate them. CVS's books are also choke-full of red-nosed dwarves and you never hear a peep about the chronic drunkenness in display. Humanoid privilege, that's what it is. If you dont have something nice to say about the bunnies, dont say anything.

>238 NYCFaddict:

I am taking all this at face value.

>246 kcshankd: Leaving aside what constitutes racism, it's just a very dated view of the world. The world's high end tech devices are largely manufactured in China. You can get every level of quality made here, right up to a Tesla.

The Kuhn looks great, and we have no indication there is any problem with it.

>214 adriano77: >244 bookish_elf:
Is this because of objective issues over production quality, or because you disapprove of sourcing books in China? I remember discussion of the former, but have not seen any evidence of it myself.

>235 EclecticIndulgence:
Excellent summary.

>245 bookish_elf: Ouch! Where do you live?

I have no concern about books being printed in China, or any other country, provided it is high quality work.
I have some beautifully presented books (non-FS) that have been printed in China (and India).
With the FS editions, there is no way you can tell if they are printed in China, Slovakia, Germany or England unless you check the colophon page. Quality has not been compromised by geography, let alone race.

>251 Willoyd: the only example of poor Chinese production quality on a Folio book that I've seen was the more recent printing of the Silmarillon. There were photos posted here showing very poor type when compared to the earlier printings done by the Bath Press. https://www.librarything.com/topic/1756#7087213

To me printing or not printing books in China has nothing to do with racism, and I do not doubt that the production quality can be very high.

My worry is that soon everything is made in China, and if the rest of the world loses their production facilities and knowledge, it will be very difficult to start over again when the day comes that China is in the position to raise their prices.

Look what has just happened with medicine, face masks, et cetera. It is necessary that every nation makes sure that it can produce what it needs in case of a crisis.

There is a lot of unfair competition with state support and for example shipping costs. It is horrible that the world post organization still subsidizes shipping from China, just like if it still were an underdeveloped country.

>219 treereader: That's good! Unfortunately here in the UK the free offer still counts as 2 books and coming up as £8.99. Think I will email FS and see if they can do the same here in the UK.

>255 rundstedt: By this logic, one shouldn't buy food from France, as their agricultural sector receives massive government support, and it means we can't produce our own in a crisis.

Now, to be fair, some level of self-sufficiency is reasonable for the absolute essentials. But refusing to buy Chinese-made luxury books feels very far from that.

>245 bookish_elf: Sad to see such a high import duty that's a crazy amount. I know if I sell any books or send gifts I fill in the customs form as a gift, and try to keep the value low, then cross my fingers for the person at the other end. It is a shame that books can't get some sort of exemption.

Why would anyone equate not wanting books printed in China with racism? It is a common fact that things are made in China because they are cheap to be made there. Lets not kid ourselves about that. Have you seen the busloads of Chinese people ferried to their factories and the deplorable conditions in which they work? I have. So don't spring racism on me. Do you think they have rights like in Western European countries? You cannot imagine the exploitation there. They are overworked so much that some factories even have nets to protect them from dying while trying to commit suicide. I try to avoid as much as possible from buying anything from China because of that reason alone. I don't even buy any clothes that are made in China and I don't even want to get into the fashion industry's exploitation of the workforce. Also when Folio is located in London and their neighboring European countries have good craftsmanship why would one increase the carbon foot print by transporting books all the way from China when they could very well be made nearby?

The inclusion of De Profundis in the sale has prompted me to take my copy of the Folio Fine edition from the shelf and read it again. Long overdue.

>257 HarpsichordKnight: Yes I agree, but it all comes down to a number. Not the price that an item costs but an adjusted figure after you take into account where the item is from, and conditions there. If food is from the other side of the world you need to add cost for pollution from transport. If it is artificially cheaper because of a subsidy (eg European subsidy) then you add some more as this is unsustainable and perhaps you want another choice to be available for when this ends. If the brand is in the news because they aren’t paying taxes (Amazon) the you add 50% on all prices, which most of the time means your local bookshop is cheaper.
You can’t assume all companies are the same, so perhaps the Chinese published book is a labour of love where all workers are treated well. However if there are two copies of a hardback, one from China and one from Germany from different publishers, avoiding the Chinese one isn’t racist but can be down to a variety of factors, yet if you lived in Hong King you might make the opposite choice even if you had the same knowledge

>261 DMulvee: That's a more nuanced take, thank you. And yes, it's probably best to give the benefit of the doubt and assume people aren't being racist, though sometimes when someone says sweeping things like 'don't buy Chinese products!!', it comes across badly.

In terms of pollution from transport, this is logical if you really stick by it. If you truly buy everything locally, then it makes more sense for a Brit to buy a European book than a Chinese one - though you should similarly rule out the rest of Asia and the US while you are at it.

For working conditions, I think it's very hard. Most developing countries have whole swathes of industries that would not be profitable if held to German working standards. While European countries have been fortunate enough to move up the value chain, their own workers were treated just the same not so long ago. I am not sure if cutting less developed countries off from global demand for their products is truly the ethical thing to do, though this is probably a debate that can't be easily settled here.

>257 HarpsichordKnight: If you buy rice from China and wine from France, you can still eat potatoes and drink beer when they raise their prices.

But

If you move your car or computer factories and the knowhow to China and close the factories at home, you are f*cked when they raise their prices.

>251 Willoyd:

Latter. In my limited experience with FS stuff made there the quality isn't too distinguishable. I'm sure plenty might disagree on that though as I'm no expert. The sticking point I've come to have is virtually everything else about how business and labour are conducted. I won't be watching the next world cup, by that same token, but that's probably very racist of me.

I'm reading Behind the Wall. I find it very interesting. One can really see how the Chinese people are no different than anyone else. The scary part is the path that the educated are willing to walk down. But I guess, most don't really recognize it, until it's too late or they are finally affected.

I bought the Poirot and added Night. Him hawing on my other order.

>262 HarpsichordKnight: Unfortunately I am not at all consistent. When buying bananas I insist on buying bananas from the Commonwealth (Windward islands) rather than Puerto Rico (Del Monte), as I think I should support commonwealth countries over non-commonwealth. In my mind there is logic behind this, but I skip over certain rules for certain products, and have no idea on the carbon miles between these

I’ve been playing about with my Folio shopping basket this morning to find the mystery book and the £20 discount offers have disappeared and are no longer applied at any stage of the ordering process. Anyone else experienced this?

>263 rundstedt: It might be others do not get your alias, but I do: comment under your real name 248 or get back to your hole and stop trolling this forum.

>259 bookish_elf: Have you seen the busloads of Chinese people ferried to their factories and the deplorable conditions in which they work?

So I guess we first-world nations should stop trading with India as well as most of the world too. Hiding nationalistic hatred behind pseudo-economic reasons is a very old trick; it won't work with most educated people, but it sure does with the majority of the masses in most countries.

>267 bookfair_e:

Try clearing your basket, then logging in and out of your account. Sorted it for me yesterday.

Folio parcel just arrived. My mystery book is Homage to Catalonia, which I think is pretty good, but it's heading to eBay.

I'd certainly be happy with that. As it is, I'm worried mine will be 'Sophie's World' when it arrives.

just ordered over $300 US and got the $30 discount and free mystery book

I would be happy with both Sophie's World and Homage :)

Is it wrong of me to be put off by Lee Child because he supports Aston Villa? -InVitrio, 100% blue

I’m interested to see if any Devotees buy the Lee Child’s book...had never heard of him.

>160 LondonLawyer: >162 HuxleyTheCat:
How unpatriotic of you! If Child's stunning mercantile prose is good enough for Her Majesty to bestow the honours of a Commander of the Order of the British Empire upon him, it should be good enough for a Folio treatment.

>163 folio_books:
To me, the Rubicon was crossed with Rand, and a bridge firmly established with the predictable successive crossing of Coelho. Floodgates have been standing open for quite some time now.

Any Dan Brown fans around here? Perhaps >238 NYCFaddict:? David, who would you have to boot to clear space for the Langdon series? Balzac, Boswell, or the Brontes?

Hmmm.. so the "save 20 GBP when you spend 150 GBP or more" from last year has been changed to spend 200 GBP or more...

The Jack Reacher novels sound like commercial low-brow junk.

If the Folio Society really need to resort to this sort of cheap, one-dimensional trashy novels, they should consider keeping the existing brand unpolluted and market them under some other name.

Read the latest Ex-Foliated Jack Reacher drivel!

OK hands up - has ANYBODY here ever read a Jack Reacher novel? Or are we all the sort who don't actually need to bother with that sort of thing before spouting off ....

I don't see the Lee Child book as anything out of Folio's realm. I'm not buying it, but I can't imagine why liking The Game of Thrones is somehow more dignified than liking The Killing Game.

>279 red_guy: I've read a Jack Reacher novel. In Nairobi airport. And I liked it.

I do hope it's a huge commercial success for Folio and helps to subsidise other releases. However, like a previous poster, I do wonder whether there's quite as devoted a following for expensive editions of his novels as there is for James Bond or Game of Thrones books.

There are other modern thrillers which I'd have preferred to see released by them.

>279 red_guy: OK hands up - has ANYBODY here ever read a Jack Reacher novel?

My wife was a fan at one time (until she discovered all his novels were the same) and tried to persuade me to try him, so I read one. No recollection of what it was called but that shouldn't matter (as they're all the same anyway). You can probably guess my response by my comments in the wake of this awful news.

The Guardian's take on Jack Reacher :-)

https://www.theguardian.com/books/picture/2020/jan/24/tom-gauld-on-the-enduring-...

>277 joco30: Hmmm.. so the "save 20 GBP when you spend 150 GBP or more" from last year has been changed to spend 200 GBP or more...

Yes, so it says in the catalogue I received today just before my order arrived. Sadly, that wasn't mentioned on the website when I was ordering yesterday, or if it was I didn't see it. My order amounted to £199 plus a few pennies. Had I known I would undoubtedly have ordered something else (with, effectively, £20 off who wouldn't?). Maybe even Eagle Against the Sun, for which they seem desperately to be trying to drum up interest. I hope Moley is taking careful note.

>282 folio_books: are they similar in writing quality to GoT and Bond in your opinion?

I was in a cheeky mood yesterday, but my actual attitude is less Reith, more "horses for courses." (I'm not a cultural snob, but on the other hand I do have a very high regard for merit.) I do not like the work of Rand, Coelho (especially!) and Child, and do not consider them worthy of the Folio treatment -- but, and this is a big but, if they sell well and thus subsidize higher-quality works, I do not object to their publication so long as they remain a single-digit percentage of the Folio output. If the percentage were to creep up too high, I would have to start worrying that Dick Francis were about to crowd out Robert Musil. It seems strange to me that Folio has neglected certain great works of literature that have not yet, in English at least, appeared in fine press editions (The Man Without Qualities, for example).

> "If the Folio Society really need to resort to this sort of cheap, one-dimensional trashy novels, they should consider keeping the existing brand unpolluted and market them under some other name."

This is an interesting idea, and one that had occurred to me, too. But I suspect that the intended authors, proud of their success, would not go for a second-class Folio imprint in the absence of commercial gain (to them the royalties would be an absolutely insignificant sum of money).

I'm seeing with some interest this debate about Folio printing more mass appeal titles to subsidize production of more literary, but more obscure works, but I don't recall having this level of debate with the Get Shorty one. Was there a debate for that one? I simply can't remember.

>270 folio_books: ...Homage to Catalonia

This could be good for me. This title has been bouncing back and forth between my wish list and basket for some time now. I almost bought it yesterday while trying to push from $290 to over $300 to get the discount.

I don't think anyone thinks Elmore Leonard is a bad writer (he is not on my shelves, but I enjoyed and appreciated what I've read). The issue for me is not whether a work has mass appeal, but rather whether or not the writing is high quality. I don't doubt that there is plenty of high-quality writing with mass appeal.

>248 Niurn:

>268 IgnatiusR:

I'm afraid I'm neither a Goblin nor an investor.

Real name? IgnatiusR? Are you a dunce?

I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest a possibly heretical position (I don't necessarily hold this stance, I'm just playing devil's advocate): Virtually all books deserve the Folio treatment.

Why not? There are a lot of people out there and they all have different interests and aptitudes. They also have varying interest and appreciation in the quality level of the books that they are or could be purchasing. If someone out there is a huge fan of author XYZ but that author isn't a producer of high literature or revered non-fiction, should that really prohibit said fan from having a chance at enjoying a higher quality implementation of their favorite books?

I kind of like this secondary brand idea. Folio Society for literature and non-fiction of high standards, and then something else (the People's Society?) for general literature. Would you want to have it play out similarly to the Limited Editions Club and the Heritage Press paradigm?

In this instance part of the surprise is surely that is that this isn't being given the smaller, cheaper Christie, Tey et al. treatment. This is the heftier fine-ish £50 10 x 6 3/4" size like the two wonderful Raymond Chandler short story books (Did anybody think Folio went too far into the gutter with those? He and Child are both Brits who seem to have presented America with enduring archetypes of itself ).

They must have done extensive market research, as the rights would not be cheap unless Child was flattered to have his work in a snazzy edition (possible). And I do know his fans are quite obsessive; a friend of mine has been trying to get me to read them for years, and he has read his copies more than once. Apparently they take you over and you have no rest until the book is finished, which is what you want in a thriller I suppose.

For the purposes of my argument, I have looked and tried to find a bad review of a Child book - not on Goodreads or Amazon, but in The Telegraph, Guardian, Washington Post, New York Times etc. and the ones I read are uniformly pretty good. A couple said that X was not his best, or as good as Y, but no talk of trash (that cartoon seems quite affectionate), and the twin spectres of Dan Brown and EL James are never ever raised. If you can find a real stinkers in a quality publication (OK, Telegraph is stretching it a bit nowadays I know) I would be really interested!

I also found out that Lee Child has been a Booker Prize judge, so he must have a skill set that somebody values.

I know nothing about Jack Reacher but Tom Gauld is much fun for anyone who ever worked in a lab.

As is:

https://xkcd.com/

>291 treereader:
I’ma heretic, too. Who decides what the “high standards” are and which authors meet them? Being a bestseller certainly doesn’t disqualify a writer, as Dickens, Twain, and Tolkien were all bestsellers in their day. I’m certain that many of today’s novels will one day be considered classics, but who today can say which ones? I enjoy John Grisham and Stephen King, but will “The Firm” and “The Shining” be on tomorrow’s high school reading lists? Who can tell? It will take 50-100 years to sort it all out.

If it were up to me, Folio would really just publish genuine works of literature. They don't and haven't for some time. Bond isn't literature. There's plenty of stuff they put out for the clear purpose of lining the coffers. Child is no different. I'll shrug and move on and wait for them to publish more books that appeal to me.

>284 folio_books: My order amounted to £199 plus a few pennies

Aaahh... That must be really frustrating...
And to think it would be perfectly doable to give a message each time when you add a book to your cart, saying "spend xxx GBP more to get a 20 GBP discount" .

>295 Jason461:

I suspect that you've just put it in a nutshell.

The author of the Reacher novels Jim Grant is an exact English contemporary of mine and his views on his Reacher novels are - it appears from publicly available interviews - the same as mine.

Mr Grant writes his action novels for the money and has no highfalutin views on their literary merits.

I admire Mr Grant's frankness, his self-awareness and his ability to make so much money from such poor books.

What I do not like is The Folio Society trashing their reputation.

The directors of such a fine publishing house should above all else value fine writing.

>295 Jason461:
>297 boldface:

Agreed.

Oxford indicates that literature is something of value, which of course, is a subjective quantification. Thus, some people won't place much value on Folio's recent releases but others will. That seems rather normal.

https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/literature

>285 RRCBS: are they similar in writing quality to GoT and Bond in your opinion?

That's an easy one - no.

That said, I wouldn't rate Ian Fleming or Martin as good writers, particularly, but they do have some attributes which make them potentially a Folio author, more so than Lee Child, anyway. My honest opinion is that neither should have been given the Folio accolade, but they have been. Let's not dilute the brand further, hmm?

>301 folio_books: Have to agree. Personally wish they would go back to publishing a few more less popular classics (Gissing for example)...

LOL, nothing wrong with a good read just for fun. I wouldn't clear space, but I would buy another bookcase if Folio wants to publish Dan Brown :)

I've purchased literally hundreds of copies of the Jack Reacher books over the years and yes, I have sampled the wares. I'd put Child in the same category as Wilbur Smith or James Patterson or Clive Cussler as a writer of popular page-turners. He's certainly no worse a writer than Frederick Forsyth.

Folio can and will publish whatever it wishes, but it isn't us that has defined Folio's purpose, it's them and they still claim that "The Folio Society publishes carefully crafted editions of the world’s finest literature." Perhaps they should just stop pretending to be something which they no longer are and then we can stop having the same discussion every time they chose to publish something lowbrow.

>300 treereader:

Over the last several years there has been growing scientific research on different kinds of books. Perhaps, unsurprisingly, the results (thus far) seem to indicate that "literary" fiction - as in, the kind of fiction that is character driven rather than plot driven - impacts the ability of people to feel empathy and is processed by the brain in different ways. They've done studies of fiction vs. nonfiction and with different kinds of fiction. And the kinds of things that tend to be viewed as literary, which are also the kinds of books one typically teaches have this empathy-inducing trait.

Maybe not relevant to this particular discussion, but interesting all the same, i think.

>290 rundstedt: Are you a dunce?

No, Mr. Troll, I am not; but as in that novel, I like to expose them.

I am sure wasting my time here, but what I mean by real name is your ordinary account. It is quite cheap to use a newly created account, using a well-known Nazi general as your nickname, to spread ideas you don't dare to write under your usual name. Grow up and skip this childish game.

>305 Jason461:

That is interesting, thank you.

>303 StrangerThing: nothing wrong with a good read just for fun

I couldn't agree more. But there's no need to make a Folio out of it.

>304 HuxleyTheCat: Folio can and will publish whatever it wishes, but it isn't us that has defined Folio's purpose, it's them and they still claim that "The Folio Society publishes carefully crafted editions of the world’s finest literature." Perhaps they should just stop pretending to be something which they no longer are and then we can stop having the same discussion every time they chose to publish something lowbrow.

As so often, you hit the nail right on the head, Fiona. Folio's aspirations are what got me involved in this nearly fifty years ago. They have drifted very far since then but I think are still "mostly" worthy of my support. The espousal of Lee Child just makes me question that a bit (well, a lot) more.

>295 Jason461:

Absolutely agree.
My worry is that they appear to be publishing fewer and fewer books that appeal to me (precisely one this time - more than in some other recent collections though). If the Childs of this list were in addtion, I wouldn't worry, but they appear to be instead of.

What exactly does "diluting the brand" mean? Are there seriously people out there who would stop buying Folio books because they'd hate to be associated with a brand that publishers the likes of Lee Child?

As far as I'm concerned, the Folio brand is reasonably priced books of a high standard of design and workmanship. The Killing Floor fits that brand perfectly well as far as I can see. Folio now publishes more of those books than ever, including still plenty of work by Austin, Bronte, Dickens, et al. That Folio has survived where others have failed is surely thanks to the publication of at least some commercially successful titles that keep the business afloat. If all they published was Letterpress Shakespeare--and let's be honest, no serious snob wants to waste time with modern stuff like Dickens--then they'd probably have gone bust years ago.

>305 Jason461:
I would be interested in reading some of the scientific studies, if you have references.

Wikipedia discusses several definitions of “literary fiction,” including yours. Two others are “a concern with social commentary, political criticism, or reflection on the human condition“ and “a slower pace than genre fiction” - in other words, dull.

The Folio board of directors used to consist of experts in the field of publishing. Now it's members of the owner's family plus Ms Omni. Perhaps the list reflects their personal taste. One of the traditional perks of ownership.

I am delighted with the inclusion of Jack Reacher and I'll be buying just for the novelty of having a fine binding of a favourite "mainstream" writer, and seeing if they do more in series. For anyone interested- the novel FS is doing is the first reacher book and one of the few in first person. It's pretty good but not as action packed as later titles. Reacher books are basically detective stories where the villain is usually clear from the outset and Reacher spends most of the book just pummelling the bad guys until he gets to the main bad guy and then pummels them as well. He always ends up romancing whatever female agent he's on a case with, he drinks a comical amount of black coffee and thinks in short, simple sentences without a great deal of reflection.

In my opinion, the series is very worthwhile for crime fans. There's something great about the way british people present america, in a way that americans are too close to see. The vastness of the big open spaces, the small towns, the diners, the truck stop coffees and truckers and cowboys and dust. It's something an American writer knows doesn't really exist, but to the british it's an enormous playground to escape the starchy britishness of England, where class and manners dictate every interaction, and an all encompassing corporate monoculture renders every small town high street as identical. It certainly would be more boring to see Reacher eating at a different Wagamamas in every town, and drinking 99p filter coffee from Pret every day. Certainly, these books are as hit or miss as Bond, and the writing is not insightful or poetic by any standard. I would call them predictable, but that's not really the point. They are filled with beat-em-up action and a vision of a faded Americana. As feel-good comfort reading, you can definitely do worse.

for me- the Larkin is an instant purchase. Maybe we'll get a modern female poet next- Alice Oswald, Carol Ann Duffy. ;) Would love to see Larkin's novels get the folio treatment as they aren't in print as hardcover elsewhere.

The Wagner ring cycle is going on the "wait for a sale" list at that price.
The van sandwyk is lovely but I do have the original printing already. I'm from Vancouver, where his handmade books are readily available in stores.

Unfortunately when I go to check out the only shipping option is express for $80. Anyone know if there's a way to not pay $80 shipping to canada?

>310 ubiquitousuk: I don't think I can agree that a publisher has to go mainstream and lower the plank in order to stay in business. Look at the Everyman's Libary catalogue. They managed to keep it perfectly respectable, and they print and sell many more books than FS.

Put in a small order to take advantage of the mystery book and discount - I ordered A Clash of Kings, Five Little Pigs and Howl’s Moving Castle. Have the published a Folio Magazine this go round?

>314 elladan0891: Everyman’s Library has had 400 volumes across the US and U.K. (as some are only availability in one due to copyright), since 1991. About half of these were released in 1991-1994, so on average since 1995 there have been about 8 volumes a year. Whilst I agree that Everyman’s has became more exclusive than Folios (or rather Folio has became less exclusive) FS has released far more books over that time frame.
I can’t even think of many SF works in the Everyman: Foundation Trilogy by Asimov, Bradbury Collected Stories and HG Wells Trilogy? Is that it?

>315 vmb443:
Oh dear. Just because something or someone takes things slower, it does not necessarily make them dull, except perhaps to an adrenaline junky. Personally, I find the likes of Jack Reacher as dull and predictable as it's possible to be. Doing it faster doesn't make it any less so.

>316 DMulvee:
8 classics a year - do FS release that many?

>305 Jason461:, >307 SF-72:

Yes, indeed. Quite interesting. I'd be curious to see some of the conclusions from these research works.

>318 Willoyd: I should state these are classics or contemporary classics. I’m recognising less and less of the authors they publish - though they do seem to be averaging 1000 pages a volume and doing collected works which makes for a nice introduction.
They published ‘Lucky Per’ and I had never heard of the work or author. Upon arrival I discovered that the author won the Nobel Prize in 1917 and I really enjoyed the book. Unexpected surprises always linger longer in the mind, and I do hope Folio continues trying to unearth some older gems

>317 Willoyd:
I suppose if I were to analyze my tastes in fiction, they would be a riveting plot (such as Scott or Dumas) or some great humor (as in Cervantes, Sterne, Rabelais, or Aristophanes).

If I want “social commentary, political criticism, or reflection on the human condition,” as suggested by one of Wikipedia’s definitions, I will read a sociology textbook.

I realize the two aren’t mutually exclusive, as Rabelais and Sterne certainly contain a lot of social criticism, but I like to be entertained when I read fiction.

Wondering what folks thoughts are on ... best suggested time to buy from FS ... if someone has patience.

I see some saying ... 'put in an order to take advantage of discount and mystery book'.

Wondering if the summer sale tends to have 'discounts' and maybe better shipping offer? Also ... is the mystery book frequently offered?

I'm wanting to grab a copy of the latest GOT offering and maybe Kav and Clay.

Just wondering if anyone has thoughts on best time to buy titles like this ... that don't seem to be in any threat of go missing from the website.

Thanks in advance!

>311 jroger1:

I don't think dull is quite the synonym there. I think of it more as the difference between a finely prepared, nutritious meal and a scoop of ice cream. Both are food. Both have their merits. But living on ice cream won't get it done.

In any case, for those interested in the fiction and empathy studies, search for appropriate terms in association with Doctors Keith Oatley and Raymond Mar, who've been involved in several of the studies. That'll get you there. I probably need to poke around again myself. It's been a couple of years since I looked to see how things were progressing.

>306 IgnatiusR:

Speaking of not diluting the brand, maybe we should reserve the word "Nazi" for members of the Nazi party.

>319 treereader:
Yes, I've bought far more from Everyman than FS in the last few years for that very reason, both contemporary and older.

and I do hope Folio continues trying to unearth some older gems
I think we're past the stage of 'continues' and have reached that of 'returns to', but I'm not optimistic.

>322 thisGuy33:

Well, the summer sale is just around the corner (late June or thereabout). So, if you don't mind paying up on shipping for a separate order now, there isn't really any reason NOT to go after newly-released titles that don't have much of a chance to be discounted.

Sales incentives like the spend X amount to get Y off usually expire just before the main sale begins, by the way. So, sure, take advantage if that's appealing.

Mystery books aren't infrequent really. Maybe once a year you'll see something involving them I'd guess.

>322 thisGuy33: you should wait to hear a few more opinions than mine since others have been around here for longer than me. But I'd say if those are the two books you want then just buy them. It's certainly hard to see the GoT going on sale any time soon given that it's brand new and they seem to sell like hotcakes. I'd bet on a wait of years before they go on sale, if at all. I think I remember reading the Lord of the Rings, for instance, has never been on sale, despite having been in continuous publication by Folio Society for decades.

K&C might be more likely for a sale. But it seems like books in the £~75 price-range go on sale a bit less often than do cheaper volumes (and that one is still quite new). I'd say it has a less than 25% chance of being in the next sale.

Mystery book and shipping offers tend to coincide with releases of new collections, so a couple to a few times a year. The sale probably won't have any shipping discount.

>322 thisGuy33: That was me - and just to follow-up on >326 adriano77: my thoughts were that none of those books is likely to go on sale (maybe Five Little Pigs but not for a while). The cost of the three put me over the $300 dollar mark, thereby getting the $30 discount. Express Shipping was $51, so with the discount I was looking at Express Shipping at down to $21 (in effect) and if I like the Mystery Book I get it for free and if I don’t, chances are I can sell it for at least $21 - so, basically I got free express shipping. I know that’s a tortuous explanation, but it’s why I decided to do it now. I have numerous books on my Wish List but none (well, one really) that I’m willing to pay full price for - I’ll put in an order on the Summer Sale I’m sure. But, for me, I have two mental “wishlists” - one is “I’ll pay full price,” the other is “Only on Sale.” If they offer a special or discount that makes ordering at full-price cost efficient, I’ll do it. And, let me also be honest, I love opening up Folio Society boxes!

>321 jroger1:
Oh, I want to be entertained, or at least to enjoy, my fiction. A riveting plot and/or humour can help, but there are many other qualities that can contribute too. My specific point was about your comment on slow paced necessarily meaning dull, with which I fundamentally disagree.

>315 vmb443: Have the published a Folio Magazine this go round?

There wasn't one in the package I received this morning.

>311 jroger1: “a concern with social commentary, political criticism, or reflection on the human condition“

Guessing not everyone here will be happy with that definition. It would include a lot of proper sci-fi and fantasy (e.g. Pratchett, Asimov, Philip K Dick, Bradbury) slap bang in the middle of high literature as far as I'm concerned. I'll gladly take my dose of distopian sci-fi though.

Back on topic: actually a pretty good collection for me, this one! I like the look of several books which is more than can be said of last years' releases.

I'm wondering if the Ring of Nibelund is the same size as the two giant James Joyce volumes illustrated by John Vernon Lord. If so, I'm seriously considering it. If no, I'll happily wait for it to show up in a sale. Also glad to see the return of the modern science series, as well ass Christie and another Arthur C Clarke (looks pretty, so I'll take it!). That being said, I'll wait for the summer sale for my next order as always. Shipping is increasingly a factor in my FS budget unfortunately.

>331 Fierylunar: I'm wondering if the Ring of Nibelund is the same size as the two giant James Joyce volumes illustrated by John Vernon Lord.

Yes, it's the same size as Ulysses, 11.5" x 8".

>330 folio_books: Thanks for the info! Kind of bummed we don’t have one this time!

>314 elladan0891: I love Everyman’s Librsry and wish they published more books each year! They have a book by a writer from Iceland coming out this October that looks really interesting! Always neat choices that help me discover books I wouldn’t have known about otherwise (another example is the Transylvania trilogy).

>334 RRCBS: Independent People by Laxness? U.K. release date is September 3rd.

Ah sorry I see the US release date is October 7th. Never heard of the author but he won the Nobel prize in 1955. These are the types of authors not well known in English that I think the FS should be publishing

>326 adriano77: >327 ubiquitousuk: >328 vmb443: ... thanks for the thoughts.

Yeah, I don't suspect either GOT or Kav/Clay would go on sale for quite a while ... as the first GOT that released last year has not ever been on sale ... and Kav/Clay after lightly watching it for the last year or so also has not ever been offered at a discount.

I was just wondering about the shipping ... seeing how it is so high at the moment ... I thought sometimes FS might offer 'free shipping' during summer/winter sales.

And I thought sometimes ... even though specific books don't have discounts ... they sometimes offer ... buy $200/$300 of books and get $20 off or 10% off plus free shipping.

I remember ordering with these types of offers ... but it was well over a year ago.

The current offer is $30 off if your purchase is more than $300. Also free mystery book.

Books like GoT, Reacher, etc. also brings in an audience who may not be familiar with Folio and thereby brings in additional demand to their more classic offerings. I myself never purchased a Folio book until last year when during some searching for a nice copy of Kavalier and Klay as well as GoT came across Folio and opened myself (unfortunate for my wallet!) to a whole new world of nicely made books.

>316 DMulvee:
Sure, Everyman's Library doesn't release titles as often as FS, but I'm not sure I'm following the counterargument here. In my mind the number of titles they release per year is irrelevant; what matters is the fact that they print more copies of their titles than FS does, which means that there is plenty of demand for books that are not utiliatarian mainstream/lowbrow. In turn it follows that Folio doesn't have to lower the bar and go mass-market mainstream to stay in business. As for the higher number of titles FS releases per year - it's not like they're about to run out of decent titles to publish, so I don't see a problem there.

>334 RRCBS: >335 DMulvee:
Ooh, Halldor Laxness has been on my Folio wish list for the past 5 years or so! I really wish FS started dipping more into Nobel prize winners...

The Summer 2020 catalogue has been scanned by Folio_books (Glenn) and uploaded to the FSD wiki here.

So everyone knows, the £20/etc coupon can be applied twice. I just placed two orders:

Order 1: £200 (-£20)

• Ring of the Nibelung


• Eagle Against the Sun

Order 2: £202.75 (-£20)

• The Structure of Scientific Revolutions


• De Profundis


• Rendezvous with Rama


• 1776


• The Prophet

I was only officially sent one mystery book, but I bet I'll get two.

>340 wcarter: Brilliant, thank you.

>341 gmacaree: Two very nice orders! When are you expecting the glorious arrival?

>327 ubiquitousuk:

I bought all the Tolkiens when they were discounted, and quite generously, too, but that was several years ago. They've been full price since.

>279 red_guy: OK hands up - has ANYBODY here ever read a Jack Reacher novel? Or are we all the sort who don't actually need to bother with that sort of thing before spouting off ....

Well, I've now read, thanks to Amazon, six pages of the one Folio are offering. I'm not disposed to wring my hands or gnash my teeth over the decision to publish, but going by such engagement as I was able to muster the volume will have to settle for a place a little below the Folio Book of Terms-of-Service Agreements on my virtual wishlist.

>342 HarpsichordKnight: Probably sometime at the end of next week. It's a day off in the UK so they won't be despatched until Monday, and then standard shipping will take a couple of days

The summer catalogue is also available online now:

https://www.foliosociety.com/uk/summer-catalogue
https://www.foliosociety.com/usa/summer-catalogue
https://www.foliosociety.com/ca/summer-catalogue
https://www.foliosociety.com/au/summer-catalogue
https://www.foliosociety.com/row/summer-catalogue

Ring of the Nibelung nice but at $275 plus express post, makes it a silly price.

>339 elladan0891: My last OT Everyman’s Library comment: I noticed that they have very few titles planned for this year and hope that’s not reflective of declining sales.

>344 terebinth: Good for you! At least you can now criticise with some authority (well, six pages worth at any rate). Now I'm fired up, I think I'll do the same and see if I can finish one. Having a critical faculty which extends beyond 'I don't like this book because it's bad' probably helps informed discussion. I've read trashy books from Folio before, including Mysteries of Udolpho and The Italian (Lee Child for bonnet-botherers ) some of those Rudyard Kipling stories and a bit of John Buchan, so I'm sure I can cope with a Jack Reacher.

The £20 and mystery book got me, and so I went for the Wagner and the Montaigne, which I have been waiting for a suitable opportunity to buy.

Looking as best I could at the Wagner translation that you can see in the pictures on the site, there is a huge improvement over the standard one which comes with recordings. An actual sense of rhythm about it, less awkwardness. I can't wait to see the difference it makes when listening.

>351 red_guy:

I repeat myself, but as I said, the same book is also available from Thames and Hudson for 100 GBP less. Since I already own that one, I'm still asking myself if only a cloth hardcover (and a rather ugly one IMO) , a little larger format and some illustrations justify that price...

>312 Jayked: I thought Tom Walker (publishing director) chose the books?

>352 joco30: Of course I do take your point, but then every Folio book is cheaper in a standard edition, and the T&H version will not have the slipcase, the illustrations, the binding, the paper etc. etc.

Enjoyment of books as objects that enhance our reading (and in this case listening) pleasure is rather why we're all here, surely - and I am lucky enough to be in a position where saving money isn't always the major consideration.

If you think this is a waste of money, you should see my my fountain pen collection.

>353 RATBAG.: the T&H version will not have the slipcase, the illustrations, the binding, the paper etc. etc.

Well, in regard of the paper quality, I'm rather curious on how thick this FS edition will turn out to be. The T&H has 384 pages and the text block is 34mm (~1.33 inch) thick. The 8 pages of integrated images are also in the T&H.

>355 joco30: Folio says 448 pages, and I'm expecting it to be the same dimensions as the recent Ulysses, i.e. substantial and definitely one of their fine editions. Then there are the illustrations by John Vernon Lord. It suddenly popped into my head the other day that he also did the cover for the second Deep Purple LP, Book of Taliesyn. I checked and it was true; so weird the way the mind works and how you remember the oddest things. I do vividly remember The Giant Jam Sandwich, which was a popular 70's children's book that I read many times as a teacher (dull, I thought, but it was often requested). Folio describe him as 'one of the most distinguished modern-day illustrators of myths, sagas and other fantastical works', which I think is a stretch, but I do think Ulysses is a triumph.

>354 red_guy:

"If you think this is a waste of money, you should see my my fountain pen collection." I am sure PLENTY of people on this forum collect really bizarre overpriced stuff, really its the one thing that unites us!

All this hate for Jack Reacher but surely high-fantasy-grateful-dead-tribute A Game of Thrones is of a similar literary merit? I didn't hear so much groaning when they announced The Alchemist either... personally I like seeing "lowbrow" books because it probably means they are saving up for a complete dickens set! ;)

It's just that I expected more from a FS edition of Wagner's Ring. I thought, hoped, that they would release it as a limited edition. Imagine quarter bound in leather, with an accompanying book with lots of extra information, pictures, ...

If you're into Wagner and into beautiful books, you should really get "Richard Wagner, The Sorcerer of Bayreuth"

Thames & Hudson
Hardcover
Smyth sewn bound
320 pages
283 illustrations, 165 in colour,
Printed by C & C Offset printing Co Ltd - (China, but it's the same printing house that the Folio Society uses for some of their books.)

Really, really beautiful book. Although a lot cheaper (printed in China), the quality is the same as any standard FS book (which are also sometimes printed in China, although you wouldn't tell given the price they ask for their books.)

>358 joco30: Thank you for that; it does look beautiful. I've wondered why the Arthur Rackham has never appeared. Although I imagine the translation is a bit ratty now- and of course no parallel German, but Rackham fans would enjoy it.

>344 terebinth:

Yep,i have read the first few. They were ok if one likes tough guy fiction, which i do occasionally. Still, i am fine with the trade editions of these, and it is a bit puzzling for FS selection. I guess FS is just dipping their toes in the water to see what happens.

>250 HarpsichordKnight: Leaving aside what constitutes racism

Glad you're not going for the tired cries of racism

it's just a very dated view of the world. The world's high end tech devices are largely manufactured in China.

Agree, but I also think that assuming that people object to China simply because they think that "made in China" means poor quality is just as outdated a view. There are certainly folks who still do think this way, but I think it's safe to assume that majority of people on this forum who have objections to producing goods in China are not that simplistic. There are many reasons to object to Chinese-produced goods.

One has nothing to do with China per se. People object to the fact that many Western governments have been killing off their local industries and economies of scale just to make their largest corporations richer and refuse to partake. It really is a huge problem on many levels. It's not just about factory workers losing jobs, or about countries becoming completely reliant on China for essentials such as antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals and medical equipment. Take small businesses and startups, for example. Personal story: my wife is working on her startup. She had problems even building prototypes of her product because few people do that particular stuff in the US now. And once that was done, producing small batches for initial market launch became very problematic - this particular industry was pretty much killed off in the US, no big factories left that could take up the task for a small company and produce the goods at an acceptable price. A few idealistic mom and pop shops which can produce it charge arm and leg because they can't scale. And going to China is not that great for a small guy - you have to discuss production details with someone on the other side of the world, mind the shipping costs, you can't pay frequent personal visits, you have no leverage, and you have 0 protection. If you start getting successful, you're running a very high risk of your intellectual property being stolen, etc. etc.

Then there are political and ecological reasons, I don't think I need to explain those.

In general, I don't get the knee-jerk reactions to China objections. People are free to buy from wherever and whoever they want and boycott whatever or whoever they want for whatever reasons. Some people prefer to avoid China, some might boycott the US or amazon - what's the big deal? Conversely, if someone decides to live and work in China, that's great too! I guess I just don't get how people get personal so quickly and start labeling and dismissing others when they disagree with a single political view or take...

Perhaps I'm wrong and it's always been that way, but I feel that people, at least in the US, get more and more divisive and dismissive of each other. You just *must* align with them on every single issue, and heaven forbid if you don't - you're either a science-denying racist Nazi hillbilly, or an evil, America-hating, criminal-loving, lazy, filthy commie.

And I find it particularly interesting when some folks (not you, >250 HarpsichordKnight:) are quick to attach the label of a racist to anyone who dares to object to making China stronger and richer. You would think that internet racism fighters should actually be the first ones to object to supporting an actual racist totalitarian government engaged in sinicization, forced cultural assimilation of the relatively recently conquered peoples, and running concentration camps for ethnic minorities, but I what do I know, apparently objecting to a racist totalitarian state is racist.

>171 Steventon:
Well, I guess I have to check out Larkin - and I don't even share the sentiment!

>270 folio_books:
Is This Be the Verse included in the Folio volume?

>361 elladan0891:

apparently objecting to a racist totalitarian state is racist.

Is the Chinese state printing books for Folio?

You have created a strawman argument for the purposes of airing your opinions about "racist totalitarian government engaged in sinicization, forced cultural assimilation of the relatively recently conquered peoples, and running concentration camps for ethnic minorities". The only trouble is I don't recall anyone here ever defending the Chinese government in general or its policies (of any kind) in particular.

But, we ARE in the middle of a global health crisis that is accompanied by open expression of viciously anti-Chinese (in particular) sentiment: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_incidents_of_xenophobia_and_racism_related...

which means that bashing the Chinese under the guise of bashing the nasty evil commies, shoddy manufacture, worker oppression (that last one gets a special "LOL" from me), exotic gastronomy or whathaveyou, has never been more popular.

You are the arbiter of your own reasons for expressing hatred of the Chinese... state... but I don't think you can authoritatively proclaim about everyone else.

Is the Chinese state printing books for Folio?

It very well might. At least half of all factories are government-owned. You don't know where C&C sends their orders and where materials for these orders are produced. And even if their whole chain is in privately-owned hands (which is a very questionable subject in itself - I'm sure you understand that large percentage of factory owners are nothing more than Party officials' family members and other tight connections) - what's the difference? By financing Chinese private industries you ARE financing Chinese state through taxes, contribute to increase of China's GDP and overall help a racist, totalitarian state get stronger.

Again, this is just one aspect, but you can't dismiss it. And again, I'm not telling anyone to boycott China. I deal with China myself, but I prefer to buy non-Chinese goods. Some people here choose not buy Chinese-made Folios. That's fine with me. Some here actually live and work in China. Well, guess what - that's fine too. People are free to make their own decisions. Stop labeling and deriding them and get all round up about people having different views.

And what strawman exactly have I created? I just said that there are multiple perfectly valid reasons to object to outsourcing to China that have absolutely nothing to do with racism (or even China itself). And my quote about forced cultural assimilation is not an opinion - those are facts.

>362 elladan0891:
>270 folio_books: folio_books:
Is This Be the Verse included in the Folio volume?

Oh, for sure. You can't have a Larkin compilation without it. And if you like cross-referencing, the peculiar title is a quote from a Robert Louis Stevenson poem, Requiem. Worth looking up.

>364 elladan0891:

By financing Chinese private industries you ARE financing Chinese state through taxes, contribute to increase of China's GDP and overall help a racist, totalitarian state get stronger.

And by financing non-Chinese private indutries I'm contributing to making all sorts of other, non-Chinese, despicable entities stronger. Between enriching the Chinese state, and shits like Trump, it's a tough choice indeed.

Stop labeling and deriding them and get all round up about people having different views.

Labelling people, as in "SJW"? :) You're very sensitive about someone calling an argument racist, but have had no compunction about deriding people in person. Me in particular, if you forget.

And what strawman exactly have I created? I just said that there are multiple perfectly valid reasons to object to outsourcing to China that have absolutely nothing to do with racism. And my quote about forced cultural assimilation is not an opinion - those are facts.

It's a strawman here where no one has, now or before, defended the Chinese government and its policies. As a response to someone demurring about racism it's actually an attempt to justify China-bashing; "no, YOU are racist."

Is this enough discussion about this topic here? You'll find several people more than happy to bash the Chinese state, industry etc. over in Pro & Con.

>365 folio_books:
Thanks! What do you think about the book as a whole?

The company with which Folio deals has been based in Hong Kong for decades with an excellent reputation, and numerous industry awards for excellence. Now that Hong Kong has been theoretically assimilated into China, no doubt there is pressure on them to use more mainland sources, though you may have noticed that there is some resistance in general. If you wish to consult the company website you will find that their hiring practices and educational opportunities put most Western companies to shame. The subject has been done to death in previous threads.

I believe that people will rise to the occasions they see fit, for removing government as they see fit. If the Chinese people are content to allow their obviously corrupt and evil government to use whatever means necessary to rule them, it is their problem. If they produce a product for Folio that I like, I will buy it.

As far as Trump goes, who cares? Does the U.S. make any books for Folio? He's the ultimate reflection of the Baby Boomer generation. A blatant fart joke, maybe. As opposed to what? A slithering, sneaking, undermining liar in Obama? Honestly, the open attacks on either of those crappy presidents are fine with me, but it has nothing to do with supporting or not supporting Folio printing books in China. The obsession with that man is the most bizarre thing that I've ever seen, pull the plug on the news for a while

>366 LolaWalser: Labelling people, as in "SJW"? :) You're very sensitive about someone calling an argument racist, but have had no compunction about deriding people in person. Me in particular, if you forget.

Hold on a minute, I have to rinse my mouth after the words you put there.
Ah... better. Thankfully, LT has a search capability, so let me quote how I derided you in person. Oh wait, I didn't:

Incidentally, I did run into sociopolitical criticism of LoTR and The Hobbit in one curios Guardian article. Quite honestly, I'm not sure what to think of Damien Walter's Weird things column. He (or Guardian editors) describe it as "weird ideas worth thinking about from the world of science fiction, fantasy and beyond." The article could have been funny if it were an intentional parody of the looney SJWs of the far left, but as it seems that he actually does believe in the underlining thesis it's just... weird.
http://www.librarything.com/topic/307064#6848823

over in Pro & Con
No, thanks. I don't find watching the deaf and the mute screaming at each other particularly entertaining.

>367 elladan0891:

Bear in mind I've little chance to do anything other than open it, flick through, smile at the long-remembered poems .. well, that's about it. I'll say it's a striking-looking volume - you'll pick it out on a shelf at twenty paces. I'm not sure if I like the binding. Okay, I get it, he fancied himself a photographer and the abstract design represents apertures. I'm just not sure it looks that good. Some of the photos are semi-interesting but I could have lived without them. You know the poetry is a selection rather than the complete works? Well, the selection has been made by ex-Poet Laureate Andrew Motion, who's also added a foreword. He's done a pretty good job in my non-expert opinion.

Anyway, that's my review based on the ten minutes or so I've had it in my hands. Make what you will of it.

>370 Cubby.R.S.:
Well said.

>372 folio_books:
Thank you! I added it to my wish list.

A few days a go I pulled a trigger on Do Androids...? when there were 11 copies left. Not a fan of coated papers, but I figured the chances of regretting missing out on it were high anyway, so it's on its way.

Nothing from this release yet, as I'm playing the never-ending game of catch up. Not sure if the following 3 will last until the summer sale, so decided to get them now:

The Snow Leopard (69 copies left)
And Then There Were None (64)
Something Wicked This Way Comes (117)

I guess they might reprint Bradbury soon as it's been selling like hot cakes, but I'm not taking chances.

From this release,
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
Five Little Pigs
Philip Larkin
to the wish list,
Eagle Against the Sun and Rendezvous with Rama to the very bottom of the wishlist.

>358 joco30: >359 red_guy: ... Most FS'ers will disagree with this ... but I love my copy of EP's DLE WAGNER'S RING CYCLE. But I am a huge Arthur Rackham fan. I love the feel and look of these white leather bound books ... and the paper used is wonderful to the touch and the tipped in illustrations are just tasty eye candy. I've only read a bit of it ... and it's a bit difficult. Not sure if that's just the style of this title or the translation. But regardless ... it's a worthwhile option in my opinion.

>374 elladan0891:

Androids is worth it for the binding alone. Lime green catches a lot of hate here for some reason though.

Having said that, I admit the paper is bit unusual for reading. Bright white and fairly glossy. Feels a bit like thumbing through a well-made store catalogue or something.

Just an extremely general observation (general, because I haven't dwelled on the specifics of many of the contributions): a lot of this thread has been taken up with issues tangential to FS. This is, without doubt, a stressful time for everyone. Perhaps we can effect a reset and renew our efforts to celebrate what we have in common: FS. (Yes, I still love it, even in the Lee Child epoch.) Goodwill to all!

>334 RRCBS: >335 DMulvee:
Laxness? Independent People? I'd be in their like a shot if FS did that (at a reasonable price), and that's exactly the sort of book I'd like to see more of from them. I only have that in paperback so, given the very limited chance FS will change their direction soon, I will pick up the Everyman version asap. Thanks for the heads up .
Seen the Transylvania Trilogy but know zilch about it. Any thoughts >334 RRCBS:?

>279 red_guy:
Yes I've tried Lee Child. Bog standard 'thriller'. On this occasion I was so thrilled I didn't finish and won't be returning. Fortunately it was a library copy.

>361 elladan0891: Thanks for the detailed reply. And I strongly agree that throwing around 'racist' is not very helpful. Ideally the bar would be very, very high for calling someone that, so let's try to give people the benefit of the doubt, especially in these trying times.

To answer your main point, I don't think it's too unreasonable to feel unhappy with the tone and content of the comments which started this all:

"Ugh, gutted to learn that Kuhn's book is printed in China. Just ditched it from my cart."
"I still don't understand why they continue to print books in China. Their books are not exactly cheap. It really irks me too and hope they discontinue this horrible business of printing books in China. And also appreciate that you took a stand against it by cancelling your order."

Neither of these show any nuance, and the second does at least imply an objection on quality grounds by referencing the price.

Now, as established, there are some good reasons for wanting things made locally. The UK in particular, has largely let its manufacturing die off during globalization, a mistake which countries like Germany did not make. But I feel one can be pro-UK local business, while also not singling out particular countries in quite that way.

"And going to China is not that great for a small guy - you have to discuss production details with someone on the other side of the world, mind the shipping costs, you can't pay frequent personal visits, you have no leverage, and you have 0 protection. If you start getting successful, you're running a very high risk of your intellectual property being stolen, etc. etc."

Shipping costs are pretty low for everything in the modern world, and buyers of course have enormous leverage. Even for small businesses, China is still a competitive option.

For nearly every reason not to manufacture in China, the same argument can be made against 90% of developing countries, for 90% of the things we buy. But as it's not, it does feel a bit targeted.

>372 folio_books: Thanks for the Larkin review in progress, and please tell us more when you get a chance to examine it further.

I am also on the fence about the whole photography angle. The pictures (from the website), see fine, but have to admit I'd probably be more excited if it was a complete set of his poems with a nicer binding, even if at the cost of photos. One to mull over I guess.

For the Jack Reacher debate, I read the first couple of chapters (the Kindle 'send me a sample' feature is excellent). It just seems like a standard thriller, written in very short sentences. If I had nothing else to read I'd keep going, but have to say I expected a bit more. Maybe I'll borrow one from a friend and try the whole thing before passing final judgement.

>377 NYCFaddict: ... welp, it was worth a shot!

I'm happy to admit that I shall be buying the Lee Child book, and if they publish any more in the series I shall be buying those as well.

As to why I find the books intoxicating - well, I can't put it any better than Rick Gekoski did a few years ago in the Guardian:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2013/aug/29/lee-child-jack-reacher

Someone further up the thread commented that there are 17 books in the series. I hate to break it to you all, but there are actually 24, with a 25th planned for later this year. However, Lee Child has hung up his writing gloves, and from now on any/all Reacher books will be written by his brother. There are plenty of people who think that last year's book (number 24 in the series) was not written by Lee, but rather was his brother easing himself into Lee's shoes.

If there are any devotees who have seen the films but not read the books, it is worth noting that the films miss the point completely. The plots follow the books fairly closely, but the main character is simply not Reacher. It is not down to stature (much has been made of Tom Cruise's height relative to Reacher), but the way that the character is written and acted. The films have turned Reacher into Hollywood's idea of what a male action hero should be, and that is not how he is portrayed in the books. Indeed, the contrast between Reacher (in the books) and the typical male hero is part of what makes the books (IMHO) so compelling.

>374 elladan0891:
How did you see the counter for Something Wicked This Way Comes? :/
It's not on the last chance to buy page. Neither is it visible when I click on the book itself.

>381 TheEconomist:
Great article, thanks for the link. It does, however, actually emphasise my slight perplexity at Lee Child being brought on to the FS roster. As Gekocki himself says This is genre fiction at its most basic, of the Grisham, Patterson sort – books that grip but don't abide. You forget them pretty quickly, and unless your memory is as bad as mine (and you cannot remember them a year or two later) you never return for a second go. You know who did it, to whom, why and how.
Not the sort of book I'd want to spend a lot of money on, then occupy space long term on my book shelves. I've my own 'guilty pleasures' (most of us, all of us maybe, do), but at most I buy them in paperback, then move on.
But then we all have different motivations, and that's probably enough to know.

>371 elladan0891:
Try not to get sucked into arguing with some notable exceptions on here, as it is for the most part a group of decent and tolerant folk who post.

>381 TheEconomist:

Thanks from me too for the link. It helps me to see the kind of reader I can't be. I don't think anything I've ever read could have been spoiled for me by a spoiler, and Child's writing - the six pages I've seen at least, but quite possibly most or all of it - is so purely of its kind that I just don't know what to do with it in search of any sort of reward. To me it's like trying to squeeze juice from a brick, or build a house with lemons. It's probably time I stopped following the Folio publishing programme at all assiduously, and settled for being drawn to and rewarded by an unexpected LE every now and then.

Anybody else get a mystery book yet? I know someone got Homage to Catalonia, which is really not bad. Curious what others might show up.

Okay, enough everyone. Can we please keep posts within the bounds of FS? That is what we are here for.

>388 NYCFaddict: Seconded.

>388 NYCFaddict:
I concur.

>383 Willoyd: I understand your point. There is a subcurrent in Gekoski's article, though - he is asking himself why he enjoys Lee Child's books when he feels that they ought to be put in a box with Grisham, Patterson et al. Like him, I don't really understand why I enjoy the Reacher series so much whilst having no difficulty in putting down any of the other supposedly-not-put-downable authors, but IMHO that means there must be something to them. There are plenty of FS authors whose books I would not remotely consider reading a second time - Agatha Christie perhaps the most obvious example - and I don't see that this disqualifies them from meriting the FS treatment.

I can remember in broad terms what happens in Killing Floor. However, I will open it on my birthday later this month, and I will spend the whole of the next day re-reading it, and I am looking forward to that already :>)

It would be interesting if a poll could be created and each registered user could vote for which one book they were most excited by. If the poll were private until they had voted, how these 10 books would stack up.
I don’t think it is a great selection (after seeing the sneak peek I was convinced it was Copernicus on the revolutions of celestial spheres), but not sure it is terrible either.

>391 TheEconomist:
I don't really understand why I enjoy the Reacher series so much whilst having no difficulty in putting down any of the other supposedly-not-put-downable authors, but IMHO that means there must be something to them. There are plenty of FS authors whose books I would not remotely consider reading a second time - Agatha Christie perhaps the most obvious example - and I don't see that this disqualifies them from meriting the FS treatment.
That's one of life's perennial mysteries - why one author appeals so much above so many supposedly similar others. I don't understand my own predelictions for those particular crime authors I enjoy (thrillers not being my thing!), so sympathise.
At the risk of becoming tediously repetitive (if I'm not already for some here!), I like to think I am not 'against' any particular author being published by the FS - at the end of the day they are a commercial organisation and it's completely up to them what they include on their list. They used to pride themselves on their focus on 'great literature', but as others have pointed out, it's never been consistent. As I said, the real mystery to me is why people buy certain books, but then my wife is completely mystified as to why I spend any money on FS books when there are perfectly good paperbacks and libraries available, so maybe I shouldn't be so puzzled! No, as I hope I've been consistent on, my bugbear is the loss of coverage of other types of books, specifically 'classics', in particular pre-war literature, both fiction and non-fiction, and the recent tendency to simply rehash/revisit a relatively narrow range of well-worn titles. There's the very odd exception, but they're usually priced at the upper end (eg East of Eden) and beyond my range anyway nowadays (retirement!). I have total sympathy with Jason's similar concern over general literary fiction (another area I enjoy), as opposed to the more genre driven selections. If it was 'with' I really wouldn't be bothered; sadly it seems to be 'instead of', and that's what I'm on about.

>392 DMulvee: "Not great, not terrible" (in paraphrase)

I hear it in Anatoly Dyatlov 's voice, from the HBO Chernobyl serie. The implied context does aptly describe what i'm thinking of that Rama binding.

>392 DMulvee:
The operating system used by LT only allows a yes no answer to a poll, and one poll per post.
You would have to set up a poll for each book, each in a separate post, asking "Do you like book xxxx" Answer "Yes" or "No".
It could be done, but it would be tedious.

Or start a new thread, allow on nomination per post, with manual totals in first post? Happy to do that if an interest.

> 386

I also got Homage to Catalonia. It was sealed within its own opaque plastic wrap (as well as the regular clear wrap underneath, just to add to the single-use plastic involved), which was labelled "MB1 - Mystery Book 1". This suggests that other mystery books are available.

>396 Willoyd: I don’t think that would do what I had hoped. There would be no way of stopping other posts from being seen before you posted. Let’s say I bought two books and 1 had lots of posts and the other none. I might vote for the one that has no posts (because I do like it) even if it wasn’t my favourite. I wondered if all 10 books would get votes or if perhaps 3 or 4 would dominate. If over time books from the same categories always dominate then the FS would be justified heading down that route. This is diffferent from book sales figures because customers can buy more than one book, whilst users here could only vote once.

>397 CLWggg:

I understand there are 8 different mystery books available, having asked Folio Society directly last week.

My order is due to arrive today and I would certainly be happy with Homage to Catalonia.

>398 DMulvee: If the totals weren't included in the first post of this new thread, and instead just the idea was explained, with each poster asked to give their reply before reading the other replies, wouldn't that work? Would require some honesty, but even 'real' poll systems do as well.

Just received my latest haul. Some quick initial thoughts, mostly in terms of design as I obviously haven't had a chance to read them yet.

Mystery Folio Book 1: Homage to Catalonia
Really pleased to receive this volume. Slightly worried that this may indicate it hasn't been selling well, as I'd love to see Folio release more of Orwell's work. A wonderful "freebie".

Rendezvous with Rama
I like this presentation. It looks great beside my copy of 2001. The illustrations are wonderful. Really beautiful. The cover seems reminiscent to me of sci-fi paperbacks from decades gone by. I'm not wowed by the binding, but I don't dislike it at all. I'm really looking forward to reading this.

Five Little Pigs
This was a title I requested a couple of years ago. I like the relationships between some of the characters. I think the binding design and Andrew Davidson's illustrations are a perfect match for Christie. A lovely volume to add to my shelves next to the rest of Folio's Christie collection.

De Profundis
A classy understated, petite volume. I love the typeface on the binding.

Collected Poems
I like the design of this. It's thicker than I had anticipated. The term "collected" may be misleading, but it contains all of the poems I remember studying at school, and then some. It doesn't seem like a small selection. I like the uncompromising design on the spine, it somehow seems apt for Larkin.

Killing Floor
I don't like the illustrations for this one, nor am I excited by the binding. It's the novel that started the Jack Reacher phenomenon. I'm pleased with my purchase, but not sure that I'll continue with the series if they publish subsequent volumes.

The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
Quite a slim volume. I really like the design of this.

And one from the back catalogue:

Three Men in a Boat
Not a fan of the glossy white paper at all. Yuck.

>401 fiascoborelli:
FS have issued many Orwell titles including:

Animal Farm
1984
A 5 book set of:
Homage to Catalonia
Vulgar but not Funny
Down and out in Paris & London
My Country Left or Right
The Road to Wigan Pier
Another 5 Book set of
1984
A Clergyman's Daughter
Keep the Apidistra Flying
Coming Up for Air
Burma Days

>402 N11284:

A Life in Letters.

Homage to Catalonia has been released in a few different bindings and has been a Folio staple for years. They release it or pay homage if you will, every 10-15 years it seems, starting in 1970.

>398 DMulvee: We could try it as an experiment via other sites (disadvantage is that several answers could be entered by one user, it's not linked to a specific account on LT). As a trial, I've set up this poll:

What Folio Society Summer Collection book has excited you the most?

Other answers are hidden until you have voted, and some statistics are visible after answering. The answer options are randomized and if you change your mind, you can vote again to override your previous vote.

If you want to try this as a group, feel free to answer! Results can be shared after an x number of days/weeks.

>404 Fierylunar:
How about an option of "None"

>405 N11284:

That would have been my question. I've bought five, all pretty much routine but I was excited by none.

>405 N11284: >406 folio_books:
If we end up doing this for each new collection, adding an option "none" is definetely possible. This is just a trial as far as I'm concerned. For this site, once answers have been given, the poll cannot be altered (therefore, other sites might be preferable over this one).

Another possibility I considered is using a ranking (i.e.: set your top three). Any thoughts on what might be preferable or other thoughts on this? Alternatively, the suggestion from >396 Willoyd: is also always a possibility if we want to do the legwork ourselves.

>404 Fierylunar: That’s impressive! I’m not sure of the benefits of a top 3, this is similar to just asking people to tick whichever books they ordered. I think that sometimes a book is a must have and you place an order for this, but then throw in a bunch of other titles when placing the order.

>407 Fierylunar: Another possibility I considered is using a ranking (i.e.: set your top three).

Oh, I could pick a top three in ranking order, no problem.

>407 Fierylunar: Alternatively, the suggestion from >396 Willoyd: Willoyd: is also always a possibility if we want to do the legwork ourselves.

That would work as well. I'll go with the flow.

>408 DMulvee: I’m not sure of the benefits of a top 3, this is similar to just asking people to tick whichever books they ordered.

Not if you've ordered more than three. The ranking is the key here. It reduces the temptation to vote strategically as outlined in >398 DMulvee:.

>408 DMulvee: I think that sometimes a book is a must have and you place an order for this.

Which is the same as asking which book excited you the most. In my case and >405 N11284: the answer is "none".

>409 folio_books: I think that sometimes a book is a must have and you place an order for this.

That might be the most interesting question actually: "what book(s) from the X collection do you consider a must-have?" You can allow for more than one answer. This avoids the choice between two books and still offers the possibility of 'none'. I for one had to choose between three books for the question as it stands and would have no issue clicking all three as must have.

>410 Fierylunar: maybe that is the question, which of the new releases do you consider a must-have. More than one could be selected, but you don’t have to tick it even if you ordered it.
Looking at these results every time a new release happens be interesting

>235 EclecticIndulgence: I agree that the Folio fine press edition of De Profundis is a better alternative especially as it is illustrated.

>237 folio_books: Indeed, it took 18 months of searching to find mine and I'm not blessed with your patience :-)

Plus it was a Mardersteig production - the only such Folio?

>413 NYCFaddict: Several of the Folio fine press series were produced at the Stamperia Valdonega, if you're interested I can go through them to check.

>413 NYCFaddict:, >414 xrayman:

The two last sets of four, in 1990 and 1991, were all printed at the Stamperia Valdonega.

I do think it's a little funny that we get endless complaints about FS refusing to publish The Classics and then when they run a nice little copy of De Profundis the consensus is that we should instead look for a second-hand copy of an older edition.

>416 gmacaree:
I think if you get an opportunity to see the quality and the workmanship of the earlier edition you will understand the comments.

>416 gmacaree:

To be fair, it's not what those that desire classics mean, I'm sure that a novel that isn't a rehash would have been more warmly welcome. A philosophical letter such as this is fine to me, except I'm overly critical and vain to read it more than once.

Thanks for the info!

>416 gmacaree:
It's yet another rehash. OK that's not unwelcome given that the last edition was back in 1991, so it's not like 'yet another' Austen or Dickens, but, if anything, it underlines they're apparent unwillingness to do new material. There's also quite a lot of classics they've not done since a heck of a lot further back than 1991.

>417 N11284: ...De Profundis

You're right but I think this splits us all into two camps: those who already knew of this book and/or have a high appreciation of it, and those who were essentially unaware of it or were aware but not compelled to seek it out.

I fall into the latter group - the name sounded vaguely familiar but I hadn't ever sought it out. Seeking out the older version, nicer as it may be, isn't a priority because I have so many other books to tackle and now this version is easy enough to obtain. Thus, the present release would certainly suffice for me in terms of being of higher quality than average and should completely satisfy the group's standing request for obscure classics. I will likely grab a copy when it eventually goes on sale.

I share in gmacaree's amusement over the irony but also sympathize with those who already have the previous Folio version or some other nice version of this work.

I would have been interested in De Profundis, which I knew about and don't find obscure, if only it was a nicer edition. I certainly wouldn't call it 'striking'.

Just received my order, expedited to the US for those curious on timing of shipments.

Five Little Pigs
Eagle Against the Sun
Killing Floor (I don't mind mindless thriller reading at times)
Also added 1776

Add me to the MB1 - Homage to Catalonia list for secret books.

Happy overall with shipment and books as usual

I reported the abuse of flagging on post >387 LolaWalser:.

From the Terms Of Service, my emphasis:

Please do not flag posts as "abuse" simply because you disagree with what is said, or if someone criticizes your favorite book, author, or idea—that's not abuse, it's a difference of opinion. We welcome differences of opinion!

LibraryThing staff do not review all flags. Severe abuse should be reported to LibraryThing staff.
One violation of the Terms of Service will not be considered to justify another one.

Reasonable people can disagree about what constitutes abuse, but flagging is not a weapon. Clear misuse of the flagging feature—either to flag or counter-flag—is itself a manipulation of the system and a violation of the Terms.

Reminder: flagging is not anonymous to the staff. Abuse of the flagging system such as this will add up to getting you admonished and can, with repeated abuse, lead to suspension.

I really wonder about tories, trump supporters, people who use the term "SJW" etc, who collect fine binding books on here. Eventually so many of these threads devolve into mud-slinging once someone outs themselves as a fascist lapdog by calling someone "triggered" or whatever.

These people may love fine binding books but I don't think it's possible to truly love literature and sympathize with donald trump- it's at least a mark that nothing has sunk in. Reading teaches empathy.

Finally sucked it up and ordered with this ridiculous $82 shipping charge.

Jack Reacher (Hilarious they would do this but I love it)
Working (hope they do the terkel WW2 one next)
Collected Larkin (my fav)
Goudge (heard this is good)

hope I get orwell as a mystery book but there's plenty of other ones I would prefer (a bradbury for starters)

>421 treereader:
Thus, the present release would certainly suffice for me in terms of being of higher quality than average and should completely satisfy the group's standing request for obscure classics.
I think I dealt with most of this in >420 Willoyd: where I explained why it it could be regarded as simply underlining the issue rather than helping solve it (although a book rehashed for the first time since 1991 probably comes in as neutral!). However, I don't think I've heard anybody express a desire for more 'obscure' classics. I suppose it's what you regard as 'obscure.'

>426 Willoyd: Actually that is what I want! Fantastic books that I am unaware of. I know it sounds counter-intuitive but FS could publish works by the early Nobel prize winners that wouldn’t be under copyright and probably aren’t available in English in hardback

>426 Willoyd:

My apologies about the obscure qualifier. I may have misappropriated it from another thread. Obscurity, obviously, is relative quantity. De Profundis can't be that obscure to this group since Folio has published it before. I think I get what you are saying, though. You would have rather had something of similar classical standing but that hasn't yet been published by Folio.

>425 bookofcalm: "I don't think it's possible to truly love literature and sympathize with donald trump- it's at least a mark that nothing has sunk in. Reading teaches empathy."

Writes a person who obviously has no empathy for a 73 year old guy that has been bullied by almost an entire world for over four years.

>429 inchiostrodiseppia:
Joining FSD just to add flames to an already inappropriate discussion is in itself inappropriate.
Please everyone, return to discussing books, not politics.

Well, I for one look forward to the Folio edition of The Art Of The Deal.

>428 treereader:
Oh, no need to apologise (but thank you for doing so!), I was being my usual pedantic self (I prefer to call it trying to be precise!). >427 DMulvee: has a point too, one I find myself agreeing with, so maybe we should introduce 'obscure' to it! But you're right, I'm primarily after more classics they haven't done before. I don't want them to cut out the more canonical stuff - not least for newer customers (I almost said members there!) - just don't do it instead.

There are also a whole load of classics that they have done maybe once before, but not for a long time, and I'd certainly be up for some of these. De Profundis is, I suppose, one, although there are plenty pre-1990 I'd have gone for first. It's just a pity they seem to have gone backwards with it, and it is a somewhat unimaginative choice, Wilde not exactly neglected by FS over the years!

There are a few droplets creeping through though: for instance, I really like the FS Woolf A Room of One's Own, only done previously in a collection of essays, and Steinbeck seems to be back on the agenda (even if East of Eden is currently too expensive for me), so hopefully things will look up at some stage - there's a ton of fantastic material out there to explore.

Thackeray seems a huge gap, A modest set of Barry Lyndon, Pendennis, The Virginians with a new edition of Vanity Fair (perhaps with Thackeray's own illustrations, which are marvellous) would tick all those boxes.

>430 wcarter: I have been reading threads in this group for years and never actually felt any need to join, but I had to do so to be able to write.

I did not want to add any flames, it is just that I am so very tired of all the media everywhere writing about the U.S. president that I almost have stopped reading and watching the news.

My impression was that this group was about Folio books and nothing else, and got so tired when I read what the person whose book obviosly has failed to make him calm wrote. I didn't expect to read about President Trump here.

Empathy for the chosen?

>434 inchiostrodiseppia:

Personally I don't mind what peripheral discussions go on here: responses to the world at large are at least implicit in the books we care about and how we care about them, and will sometimes leak out into direct statement, unless we restrict ourselves to questions of typography, printing and binding. Come to think of it, even those have their political aspects. I'll admit, though, that by speaking of arguably the most powerful guy in the world, and someone who, among the powerful guys the world has seen, seems among other things to be singular in his outspokenness, as a victim of bullying, you had me thinking that we were being visited either by a troll or by the man himself.

Empathy by my reckoning does need to be selective. What we see of another's feelings can't always be understood, and sometimes even if they do seem to be understood it's hardly defensible to join in.

>433 red_guy: That is an excellent choice

>424 LolaWalser: I agree with you (edit: specifically about flagging non-abusive posts), and I enjoy a lot of your contributions to this forum, keep it up...

>429 inchiostrodiseppia: I have empathy for Trump, but not because of his being bullied but because if his thin skin (I won’t provoke by diagnosing him with various disorders); politicians are free game and need thick skins, especially if they dish it out like Trump does.
Personally I welcome literature lovers from all over the political spectrum - surely literature promotes the understanding the complexities of why people act the way they do, whether they be a politician or just supporting the other side (how could they!). Plus it gives me something in common with others who would otherwise remain across the divide...

I have read and enjoyed jack reacher books, they are entertaining, like a good summer blockbuster movie

I will also be buying the Lee Child book. The Tom Cruise film did the books no justice. Again they are well written and fun to read

I've reached the end of my patience skipping through OT political posts. This forum is supposed to be about FS. I will come back in a few months to see if topics are still being hijacked.

>424 LolaWalser: >437 stopsurfing: Same!

>426 Willoyd:

De Profundis was also printed by the Folio Society in volume three of the 3-volume Oscar Wilde set published in 1993. However, the 1991 'Stamperia Valdònega' edition is still the most desirable in my opinion.

>440 NYCFaddict: a fair point, and I apologize for continuing OT with politics.

Okay, on topic: most desirable for me are the Structure of Scientific Revolutions, for the insight I might get, and the Larkin, simply because he’s great. I’m glad the Folio Society have finally published him. Have they ever done Auden? I would certainly be interested in a selection of his poems: a medium-sized book rather than a big one...

Thinking about things if the FS made a statement that they intended to produce all of Christie’s novels then I would buy Five Little Pigs. I just don’t contemplate the FS Christie as I doubt they will produce more than 10 or 15 of them

>443 stopsurfing: Have they ever done Auden?

Collected Shorter Poems, 2006.

>440 NYCFaddict: I am sorely tempted to do the same at this point.

>444 DMulvee: I'm not sure I would really want a Folio collection of all 70-odd Christie novels. I enjoy the Society's current approach; a selection of Christie's 'greatest hits" released at a rate of one or two a year. There are some additional titles that I hope Folio release over the coming years, such as Peril at End House, A Murder is Announced, Hercule Poirot's Christmas, and Curtain. They've already published 10 novels in the current series, plus a short stories volume, and they seem to sell well.

>440 NYCFaddict: >446 Sorion: I simply block members whose posts I no longer wish to see (including 3 members in this thread). That way I can continue to surf these boards and enjoy conversations and insights pertaining to books.

>443 stopsurfing: “most desirable for me are the Structure of Scientific Revolutions”

For me too. I’m finally getting rid of my 20+ year old paperback ;)

What was this thread about again? 😁

On "de profundis" - probably pick this up in the sale at some point. The inner conversion of a soul. Would be nice if they published Benson's "papers of a pariah" as a complimentary volume.

Eagle Against the Sun, Five Little Pigs, and De Profundis are on my list to buy but none rise to the top. I'll also look more closely at the prior Folio Press edition of De Profundis but is it really a Folio without a slipcase?

>442 boldface:
Thanks for that. So rather more well-worn than I thought! (I'm not a Wilde fan, so haven't really kept track of his work, except to note that there's plenty of it in the FS lists).

>443 stopsurfing: >449 Dr.Fiddy:
Yes, agree, the Kuhn is easily the most interesting here. Will almost certainly land up getting hold of a copy at some stage.

>445 folio_books: thank you! And now to track it down...

>453 stopsurfing:

There seems to be no shortage on Abe, mostly priced quite reasonably.

Haha, of all Summer Releases threads on this group, 2020 definitely tops the lot in terms of craziness.

Anyway, I'm still wondering if Something Wicked This Way Comes has a counter for the number of copies in stock. I asked, but my comment got lost above. Also, will there be a Summer Sale for sure? Has anybody heard a thing about it?

>455 Kainzow: There has been a summer sale for as long as I followed Folio (13 years) and probably long before that. As for Something Wicked..: you have as much information as we do. There is currently no counter on its page. It is quite a recent release, I wouldn't expect it to sell out soon.

Edit: it's part of last years spring release (Feb '19). Selling out within 1.5 years is quite uncommon for a normal FS edition. Just don't expect it to be on sale next summer. And as always, PSA: If you really want a book, just buy it (/enable).

>455 Kainzow: that's the book I'm considering as part of my summer collection order, but need to know if its selling fast or will still be available for buying during the summer sale?
the other book I'm looking at is Snow Leopard, but I can't see that sticking around until mid/late June

>455 Kainzow: You can find it on https://www.foliosociety.com/row/miscellaneous/last-chance-to-buy
There are no counters for it yet

I allowed my Summer order out of quarantine today, finishing off the process with a UV bath in the garden. The mystery book was Homage to Catalonia, which isn't surprising since the order was placed on the day of release. Clash of Kings and Hornblower are exactly as anticipated. Mr Rabbit is a super piece of book production. I'd thought it was expensive for a thin volume, but absolutely not. The materials and execution (by LEGO) are top notch; the Modigliani paper is beautiful and tactile and it seems that Joe had a hand in the design. The content is whimsical and positive and uplifting and will be visited often in these troubled times by this young at heart devotee.

>456 Fierylunar:
>457 stumc:
>458 SinsenKrysset:

Thanks! In the end I ordered the book, even if it's the third book in a month that I'm buying individually (had I ordered everything together, I'd have saved 39 pounds). Anyway, I guess that's the price you pay when you wait too long before buying a book.

If anybody, like me, can't see the book appearing on the last chance to buy page, Andrew from the Folio Society confirmed there are about 80 copies left. He believes they'll be sold out by the time the Summer Sale starts (thus confirming there will be a sale in the process).

>460 Kainzow:

By the way, just in case you weren't aware, you can always check stock of books regardless of counters appearing or not. Simply add whatever quantity to your basket and you'll receive a message if the amount added is more than what's available. Go up and down from there. I can't remember who it was that originally mentioned this method but in retrospect it seems so obvious. Still, I've found it very useful to keep track of titles I'm interested in and whether a purchase should go up in priority or down.

>461 adriano77:

Folio are aware of this glitch and have put a fix in place which only allows 10 copies of a title in your basket, but, Folio being Folio, they didn’t put the fix in for every title. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, and, if one of these unofficial stock counts is posted here at FSDs then Folio fix it quick. Best to keep it to yourself.

>462 bookfair_e:

That's odd. Why would it be considered a glitch? Unless their policy is now a ten-book limit on all titles... I've never had it not work, by the way. Tried it on dozens and dozens.

>463 adriano77: Why would it be considered a glitch?

It reveals confidential business information about print runs, what's selling and what isn't. Take a look at the Marvel Golden Age, when I looked two weeks ago there were 5,500+ copies remaining; I'd say that it isn't selling well, or there's been a second printing. I think it's not selling. I'll bet Folio fix that now.

>464 bookfair_e:

Ah, difference in glitches (irregular behaviour) and design oversight though. I get your point though.

Not surprised about the Marvel.

>464 bookfair_e: The Marvel books seem overpriced when compared to the earlier Taschen combined edition 75 Years of Marvel Comics that came out in 2014.

>466 kdweber: The Marvel books seem overpriced...

I agree. The Marvel books are over-priced, and for me, they do not fit well in the Folio family, not even in the recently extended Folio family. They are much more a Taschen production.

Well, my order was rescheduled from today to Tuesday by DHL. Absolute last time I bother paying for express with FS. Total waste of money for an eight day delivery time when that's what standard shipping used to provide and I only convinced myself to place the order because express was meant to be unaffected. Bitter.

>467 bookfair_e:

Brand dilution.

>468 adriano77:
It's currently all relative. "That's what standard delivery used to provide". Yes, but that was then and this is now. Most of our post is taking longer than previously. Pretty much all our 'express' delivery is taking longer, but it's still quicker than standard. As for 2nd class letters.....!

Folio sent an email today containing a link to the Last Chance to Buy page. Books on the page have a stock lower than 100 remaining according to the email. Surprisingly, Something Wicked This Way Comes has disappeared from that page, even though indications are that it should be in there.

>471 Fierylunar:
Something Wicked That Way Went ;-)

Y’all are lucky to still have mail. Major providers are now classifying my country as « postal services interrupted » since all commercial flights have stopped landing on my island. Borders closed.

>473 Niurn: Whoa!

>473 Niurn:

Ouch!

I'm unhappy enough with amazon US first blocking my country, then raising the shipping fee to 300% of its former cost. But this is really bad.

>473 Niurn:
Same for my island. I'm not sure what's gonna happen...
I wonder if the books will come. I don't mind waiting.

Off-topic really but as it's part of my order I figured I might try asking here rather than opening a new thread.

I received a copy of I Am Legend today and its slipcase is absurdly tight. This resulted in colour loss across the entire surface of the front and back cover in small patches.

Does anyone have this? Is your slipcase fine? Any colour loss at all?

-edit. To make this more relevant, my copy of Eagle Against the Sun also suffers from a bit of rubbing/colour loss. The slipcase doesn't seem tight at all but nevertheless little bits of black are missing. This book is described as being bound in cloth with a front cloth board but it's of the buckram type. Extremely plasticky. Similar to From Dawn to Decadence.

-further edit. Looking at the interior of the Eagle Against the Sun slipcase shows it's dramatically stained with colour, laughably so. It's almost as if they put the book in while it was still wet or some such.

>477 adriano77: My 'legend' slipcase is almost a perfect fit (snags a very small bit on the lower corner). No color loss. My copy was delivered a year ago.

>477 adriano77: My I Am Legend slipcase fits fine. I had the same issue with The Singing Sands, which I bought secondhand. Had I bought direct from FE I would have asked for a replacement.

>478 thisGuy33:

>479 RRCBS:

Thanks both for letting me know, much appreciated. I sent an email to CS with photos and now I'm hoping they'll replace it. Funnily enough, the only book in my order that arrived without any fault is the free Homage to Catalonia (massive upgrade, IMO, on the 1998 edition I already own).

I have been trying to place an order. Online when I click to choose my free gift (just one option, the mystery book) I get an error message, and then a note saying the item is out of stock. I've tried them by phone and just get a busy signal. So frustrated and really wonder why I persist in trying to give them my business, which they do not seem to want.

ETA: My order is for Something Wicked, Snow Leopard and Aztecs. I don't think the first two will last long enough to make it to the sale, and I didn't want to miss them. I've sent an email to CS regarding the mystery book, so we'll see what they say.

>481 wdripp: I'm also trying to place an order for these two books, plus a couple of others, and am having huge problems with the website:

- Neither the mystery book nor the £20 discount offer are showing up for me and there seems to be no way of triggering them. I don't even get a 'choose your free gift' option. I've tried emptying my shopping cart and logging out/in a few times but same result.
- When I click on 'shop the summer collection' on the homepage, I get a message saying 'we can't find products matching the selection'.
- When you move a book from your wishlist to the shopping cart, then later remove it from the shopping cart, it's deleted from the wishlist too. Books should only be removed from the wishlist after purchase.
- Mr Rabbit's Symphony of Nature is neither searchable, nor available under the summer collection (for the reason above), nor found under 'illustrated by Charles van Sandwyk'. Eventually I found it under the 'Children's' tab.
- Why are the Author/Illustrated by/Introduced by lists ordered by first name and not surname? That doesn't make much sense.

I suppose I'll have to call them, but the website is frustrating and wastes one's time. Please sort it out Folio. It's the primary means through which customers see and buy your wares.
End rant.

> 482 I just posted on mystery books that I had same problem and sent them a message via twitter and it was fixed very quick. Can confirm a mystery book was added to order.

>483 woollymasters: Thanks. It does seem to be working again now.

ETA: the Summer collection homepage link and the Mr Rabbit search are also now fixed.

>237 folio_books: FYI: if anyone is looking for the fine press edition of De Profundis after recent discussion in this thread, a copy was just listed on Abebooks in the UK for GBP 70. Not a steal, but as mentioned, this is one of the harder of the folio Fine Press Editions to find at a fair price. Same seller also lists Woman in White and Barrack Room Ballads from the same series.

https://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=30640270710&searchurl=pn...

Described as new unread. I have not dealt with this bookseller before.

>485 teppi2:

Interesting. Woman in White is another of the harder-to-find Folio Fine Press titles, as you'll know.

>486 folio_books: Indeed. Also, it was priced lower than De Profundis (I think it was 50 GBP), and as expected it is already sold now.

I received my order and it looks like it is in perfect condition. I did use the DHL express delivery,which arrive in just a few days time. The delivery guy didn't make us sign for it as my husband was right there to get it at the door. Unfortunately, the guy wasn't wearing a mask and neither was my husband. Bad on them. One slip is all it takes...

On a happier note, I received:

Mr. Rabbit's Symphony of Nature (2 copies....adore this book!)
Rumi (been on my wishlist and wow....so beautifully done!)
Mayflower (also been on my wishlist)

Mystery book:

Reach for the Sky, by Paul Brickhill. I will read it at some point and if I don't like it I will pass it on. I do wish it were The Great Escape instead though!!

So, while I was disappointed with the titles of the summer release, it gave me a golden opportunity to get some previous titles I've been eyeing.

Could anyone who owns a copy of Five Little Pigs comment on whether they noticed any unpleasant odor from the book? Also if the binding felt strange?

I just received a copy along with my sale order, and my copy has a weird, plasticky feel (almost tacky) to the binding and a very strong, unpleasant odor.

I pulled a couple of earlier titles from the Christie series, and the binding definitely feels different (in a good way) although stylistically they look the same. I'm wondering if I got a bad copy or if this is a result of the new title having been bound by a different company.

>489 wdripp: wdrippL I ordered this title as well but haven't received it yet. I will reply here once it arrives. I'm in the States so it could be a bit.

>489 wdripp: I received mine a few weeks ago. Smells fine and feels normal

>491 RRCBS: Thanks for the info. Do you have any of the earlier Christie titles, and if you do does the binding feel the same as those?

>490 eatanygoodbooks: Thanks. I just ordered mine last week, but the expedited shipping to the US gave me today's delivery.

I have sent an email to FS about the issue, but in my experience the folks in CS aren't actually able to check to see if it's a batch problem or what.

ETA: FS responded promptly and is sending a replacement, so hopefully that one will be without defects

Summer New Releases Catalogue finally reached me in Australia today.
Pity help anyone who orders from it by mail, as the free book offer and high value purchase discount have already ended, and by the time the letter gets back to the UK, some of the books will probably be sold out.
Intercontinental mail during the Covid crisis is terrible, yet we rely on it more and more.

I received my summer catalogue in Aus over 3 weeks ago. Strange different states getting such different delivery times.

>492 wdripp: I have all of them and the binding on mind feels the same

>495 RRCBS: Thanks. FS said they hadn't heard ot anyone having a similar issue, and I"m hoping the replacement will be fine.

Just received my Summer 2020 catalog in New York. At least it beat the Fall offering.

The introduction to Killing Floor is available on Crimereads, should you be interested. It is by Malcolm Gladwell and quite entertaining.
https://crimereads.com/jack-reacher-and-the-grand-unified-theory-of-thrillers/

I recently read Killing Floor from the library and, for me, it was a competent thriller, but nothing more.

>415 affle: The two last sets of four, in 1990 and 1991, were all printed at the Stamperia Valdonega.

Just to add...
- Perfect and Imperfect Enjoyments, 1992 LE ( reviewed here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/311172 )
- Sonnets from the Portuguese, 1962 ( pictured here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/101293#2818878 )
- Troilus & Criseyde, 1990 ( if only the paper sides! Mentioned here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/147265#3869157 )