Little, Big 25th Anniversary Edition

Has anyone here pre-ordered this book?

https://littlebig25.com/

Peter Milton's art is sublime, and Little, Big is of course a classic, but this edition has been in the works since 2006. At this point we're nearer the book's 50th anniversary than the 25th, and Harold Bloom will never get the chance to settle down with it.

While $100 isn't that high of a buy in cost for the trade edition, taking 14 years to deliver on a product sort of rubs me the wrong way. I can only imagine how frustrating it would be to spend hundreds of dollars on a numbered edition or nearly a thousand on the lettered and still be waiting all this time.

>1 SolerSystem: hasn't been delivered? I would imagine at this point it will never be delivered.

>2 astropi: nope, but their most recent update was late April:

https://littlebig25.com/PR-200422.shtml

Of course, the pandemic has slowed production even further...

If it ever is realised, I'll happily spend $120 for the Trade edition -- no sense in ordering in advance, since it's been so long after the original deadline and the limited editions are all sold out.

I am quite curious about the "new" piece by Crowley, for the limited editions. Given how long it's been, any idea whether that was released somehow already?

I've been waiting for this book for over 10 years. It's my favorite novel (hence my handle!), and I'll wait another 10 if I have to. But it's felt increasingly absurd reading these semi-annual updates that say the book is coming out this year for so many years. I can't help but wonder if there's still enough money from pre-orders to bring it in...?

I believe the last I heard the publisher had handed everything off to another project team member to finish it.

Several years ago, Folio Society had this novel as an option in one of their LE surveys, and I was so excited to imagine what that would look like. Hopefully they'll do some version of it someday.

Feb 2021 note on the website suggesting publication (at long last) this summer. I'm ready - ordered it when first announced, longer ago than I care to think about. !??

Website Copyright © 2004-2014 by Ron Drummond

Yeah, that didn't inspire much confidence to be honest. Still, it would be lovely if a nice, signed, limited edition was made available. Easton Press, Folio, Centipede Pres...

I'm holding my breath...

His most recent update is impenetrable and frankly kind of unhinged-seeming too.

"Our dearest hope is that each copy of this edition might indeed become a “magical artefact” for its readers, “magical” not in the fantasy novel sense, nor in the supernatural sense, but in the engine-of-inspiration sense: where the novel tells one story, a story that deepens and broadens and grows more vivid with each reading, the selection and sequence of 334 works of art tells another story, however elusive / allusive, and the juxtaposition of art and novel tells a third story, like an impassioned conversation between well met new friends who at first blush may feel they’ve known one another nearly forever, a potency that renews itself on each subsequent meeting, the transformative / transformable fuel and changeful result the very consciousness of the reader herself, his wonder and yearning, her memory and dreams, their parted and conjoined specificity and indeterminacy."

Calm down, sir! We just want to know when the book is coming out.

I can't see any excuse for a decade-plus delay. They should have years ago transferred this to another publisher. If I were Crowley, I'd be incensed.

It appears the original editor/producer took on more than he could handle and then developed serious health problems. Maybe his successor will do better...

What an amazing story! Sounds likes there's the material for a novel in there somewhere, involving delays, bust-ups, pandemics and descents into madness. The mind boggles as to what could cause an 11 year delay to a project described as being on the 'home stretch' in October 2010, i.e. rights acquired, author on-board, art basically finished etc. It absolutely boggles.

I'd be pretty miffed if I'd handed over $900 for a lettered edition. That said, it does sound like a fantastically ambitious project (over 300 illustrations!) and I would be happy to pick up a trade copy should it ever see the light of day. Though it's hard to believe that the money remains to finish this so I doubt it will. Even if they still have some of the money originally collected, inflation will have removed quite a chunk.

What really boggled my mind was when I read that the book is using Milton's pre-existing art. So it's not like they were waiting around for Milton to finish all those illustrations.

I want to get excited about this, but it doesn't seem it's the first time they've announced an imminent release. I'd love to be proven wrong though...

the August 16 (2021) update sounds genuinely promising. I live in hope

>14 bookstopshere:
That does indeed sound promising...

>14 bookstopshere: For what it’s worth, when I last looked at the order page after their last update, it said that the book was not expected until after the new year, where now it says November at the earliest.

It’s probably not really indicative of anything, but I’m hopeful, too.

Never read the book, but just read the synopsis. It all makes sense. The book they will never make is surely far more epic and mind-expanding to read than the mundane book they might have made had they condescended to disappoint their subscribers.

Also -- no refunds!

The 25th anniversary edition is now the 40th anniversary edition, per the website.

>18 SolerSystem:

LOL.

This is the private press equivalent of "moving the goalposts".

>18 SolerSystem:
Your message took me to the website. I don't know if you saw the new note today, but we have some more backstory to the delay and the financial help Neil Gaiman (if I'm assuming correctly) provided. It does say the book is in pre-press!

"All is on track for the book to commence printing in late October / early November and be ready for shipping in December / January. "

>21 bookstopshere: It sounds like this is finally happening! I went ahead and placed an order via their website after the September 15th update, and I received an order confirmation via e-mail today with the language you quoted. Fingers crossed!

Anyone here read the story? Is it any good?

I imagine that more or less everyone on this thread has read it. It came out in 1981. Tastes vary of course but I'd nominate it as one of the greatest fantasy novels of the 20th century. Top 20 anyway...

>24 Crypto-Willobie:

Agreed it's a "top 20" novel. I read it for the first time just a few years ago.

Was about to order the trade edition (the only edition left I guess), but noticed that shipping would be $65... I find it hard to justify paying $65 in shipping for a $90 book, so it looks like I'll have to pass.

>26 filox: I take it you are not in the US - it's a massive book and I doubt it can even ship abroad for 65.00

>26 filox:

It's worth getting a second-hand trade paperback just to read it though...
Roughly $5 on ABE, or 9euros on Amazon UK.

How long ago did the numbered state sell out?

>29 ChampagneSVP: many years ago

There's an article today on Tor for the 40th anniversary of Little, Big: https://www.tor.com/2021/11/03/john-crowleys-little-big-a-fantasy-masterpiece-tu...

John Crowley is happily still with us, so perhaps another publisher will take the reigns and produce a beautiful signed edition of Little, Big... just imagine if it was done by Lyra's Books :)

The latest word...


Addenda, 5 October 2021:

Over half a decade ago I announced that the price of the Trade edition would go up once we were in press or upon publication. We are now long overdue for implementing that increase, on the basis of sheer economics alone. (Our markup over manufacturing cost is and will continue to be far lower, proportionally, than the markups on the vast majority of books from large New York publishers.) The increase in price from $95 to $125 goes into effect immediately.

The number of orders and enquiries we’re receiving has increased considerably in recent weeks. For the next two months, it’s essential that we devote the lion’s share of our attentions to the minutiae of prepress and print production work on the new Edition. We ask for your patience and understanding during this time.

Our current best-case estimate is that finished books will be in existence sometime during December-January. This means it is unlikely we will be able to deliver books by Christmas..

I'm guessing the price increase does not apply to those of us who have already paid the $95 up front, years ago. But if it does, I'd pay it.

Kind of amazing people still have faith in these guys, but hope it works out!

At least the files for the trade edition were sent to the printer yesterday, so chances are that this book will actually appear after all. Source: Drummond's Facebook page.

Another update from Drummond's Facebook page on the 22nd:

'Printing of the long-awaited 25th Anniversary Edition of Little, Big commenced this morning. I am at the printer now, and bear happy witness to this. The quality of the printing in general and the art reproductions in particular are all I could have hoped for. We are in good hands.'

I don't have a dog in this fight but I'm glad to see it's finally happening, I know a lot of folks have been waiting (mostly) patiently for this book.

It's alive! It's alive!

I'm looking forward to it...

Samuel Delany posted a couple photos of the book at the printers.

Big update yesterday: https://littlebig25.com/PR-220504.shtml.

Wow, anyone who ordered recently (myself included) is going to have a long time to wait! Feel for him regarding costs, and will be making a donation.

>42 JacobHolt: Thanks!

>43 RRCBS: Aye. I'm tempted to give this an order, but will likely wait until a few folks here have gotten their copies and can render opinions. Then I can decide if I want to join the queue.

Yikes – I feel for the team behind this project. Costs have indeed gone up since they started taking subscriptions, especially around shipping. If they charged shipping upfront, then they're going to get killed on it. The book is six pounds, which in 2010 cost ~$20 for U.S. to U.K. and today is $84.74.

Does anybody know whether they charged shipping upfront to subscribers? How much did they charge?

>46 grifgon: I ordered mine last September and paid $35 USD for shipping from US to Canada.

I can't even recall if I ordered mine before 2014 or later!

ha - I found my 2006 order receipt!

>49 bookstopshere: curious- did you have to pay in 2006 or was it a reservation to be paid later?

>50 SDB2012: I paid them back then. I did order another copy in 2021

>51 bookstopshere: Paid in full, 16 years in advance! Wow. Not to be grim, but I wonder how many people who paid for this have passed on and their book will arrive to someone who has no idea what it is or no appreciation for it.

This is fascinating. What was the price in 2006? As >46 grifgon: mentioned above, there's been a bit of inflation since then. Even with the recent losses, the S&P is more than triple what it started at in 2006. Congratulations to all who've waited patiently.

>52 SDB2012: I don't think the price increased at all until quite recently. I'm looking forward to that Harold Bloom intro

For those keeping an eye on this book’s progress, just saw the below on Neil Gaiman’s Twitter:

“The astonishing edition of "Little, Big: or, the Fairies' Parliament" is indeed at the printers, waiting to be bound, and Ron Drummond is in hospital having had a stroke. His Fundraiser (started by Chip Delany) is at https://www.gofundme.com/f/physical-therapy-in-the-aftermath-of-a-stroke?utm_cam...

Link to his tweet: https://twitter.com/neilhimself/status/1537275717200666624?s=21&t=dcV0402P4Q...

What sad news about Ron Drummond’s stroke. Thanks for sharing the GoFundMe. I hope they achieve their PT funding goal.

Update on website:

https://littlebig25.com/PR-220705.shtml

Very sad to see him struggle and that the costs have exploded so much.

re Update

"John D. Berry flew from Seattle to Philadelphia yesterday..."
...and boy were his arms tired!

"We’re still asking for donations of a further $50 to $100 to help defray increased production and shipping costs..."
I must have missed this. I've been sympathetic to their struggles all along but this smacks of mismanagement.

==========================

ETA
I kicked in $50 anyways...

>57 Crypto-Willobie:

Yeah...there's nothing "outlandish" about inflation. Anyone who was paying even casual attention could see that's inflation has been going on for decades...Price increases in the print industry especially have been reported ad nauseam. I'm a little shocked people are still supporting this project. Must be a hell of a book.

>58 MobyRichard: it is

I met Ron in 2018 and got some preprinted sheets, and yes, it's one hell of a book. And John D. Berry is a dedicated and extremely qualified professional.

I haven't preordered the book, though. I feel conflicted about doing so considering all the problems with getting it done.

>52 SDB2012: Tell me at least the book will have a section solely dedicated to all the drama it took to get the book finally delivered to it's customers. This is like the Tom Hanks movie with the volleyball.

Has anyone seen any new updates? I usually check the website but it’s been down for a few days.

>62 RRCBS: The website is back up, with a new update this week: https://littlebig25.com/PR-220922.shtml. Sounds promising.

New update on the site, trade editions are in the casing stage: https://littlebig25.com/PR-221005.shtml

Now that the dollar is record-strong against most European currencies, I grabbed the opportunity last week and preordered the book at last. ;)

It's alive! (Sort of. Or almost, at least.)

https://www.facebook.com/john.d.berry.1/posts/pfbid0d9LAZgUgBRhqFr12SKUU8zpueh9P...

I hope a Facebook account isn't needed to access the public post.

I’d really love to know what took this many years, but I’m glad for all of the supporters that it’s becoming real!

Neil Gaiman unboxes his advance copy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNNkRVDcIG4

>68 anglemark: While I am not a fan of his work, I highly respect what he has done for publishing.

I was told by the shipping company a couple of days that my copy is on its way!

>70 anglemark: That's great news! If you don't mind my asking, did you order through the old website, or from Deep Vellum?

From Deep Vellum.

The Eagle has landed.

>73 anglemark: how is it?

>74 jakehmurray: Gorgeous. If you are on Facebook (or perhaps even if you aren't), you can see a couple of pictures here:

https://www.facebook.com/anglemark/posts/pfbid021LxtpXtQLBfXtRKBkA1WtYGF1DNDm49x...

Has the numbered been shipped already? Looking for a signed copy on Ebay, but nada.

>73 anglemark: I'm jealous! I ordered from the website in September 2021 but haven't heard anything from them yet.

>76 Undergroundman: Per their recent updates, there was a delay with slipcases, so only the standard editions are shipping any time soon. I'll definitely be looking to pick up a numbered edition, as well--I'm excited to read the unpublished 20-page story.

Aha! Shipping notice and tracking info received today - ordered in 2006

>78 bookstopshere: That's legendary!

Got my shipping notice this morning. Can't wait!

Oh, my: I've been enabled once again.

My trade edition (1 of 2800) came yestiddy afternoon!

Mine was delivered today! It's a trade edition (1 of 2800) and it's huge. I ordered it 10 (!!!) years ago from the old website and honestly figured that I'd lost my money.

Late last year I actually got an email from them and then a postcard in the mail wishing me happy holidays.

Wild!

I have just ordered one for myself today. Can't wait!

Mine arrived yesterday. Much larger than I was imagining! But a pleasure to hold and read nonetheless.

Since this is a (minor) revision and includes essays, think ye it should be catalogued separately from previous editions?

>87 Crypto-Willobie: Ah, good one. Probably, I guess. I hadn't thought of that. Not because of the revisions, but the added essays (which I hadn't noticed) make it a separate work, I think.

>87 Crypto-Willobie: For LT purposes, I think it's the same work. The new content is (1) illustrations, (2) revisions, and (3) an afterword. I don't think it's generally LT practice to treat any of those things as grounds for creating a separate work--we would want someone looking at the work page for Little, Big to see this anniversary edition alongside all previous editions.

Trying to order, but it says pre-order... is that normal? Thought trades were shipping out?

>90 Undergroundman: Using the link on the very first post, I can use the shopify link and “buy it now”.
I hope that helps.
Paul

>91 paulm16: I see a red pre-order button. The only thing that seems available now is the poster.

The pre-order button seems to add the book to your cart. "Buy now" takes you to the payment page. The note says available books are being sent out to the people who have pre-ordered the book first (I guess since 2005 when I ordered mine), so it sounds like new orders are going to the end of the queue.

ETA: I did get mine last month.

Thanks guys.

Received my trade edition. Happy to have it, but it’s big and heavy and the text block looked like it was sagging as soon as I shelved it. Also the signatures on one end are noticeably not attached to the strip headband strip. Still, happy to have it.

It's beautiful, but humungulous. Will it be the copy I use for my upcoming re-read? Maybe the heft and presentation will enhance the experience!

>96 grahzny: I'm reading it at the moment. I alternate between my old paperback on the commute and the luxury edition in the reading chair at home. Yes, the new, big book definitely enhances the experience.