Cover Reveal: Guided by the Beauty of Their Weapons
I just uploaded the final versions of the ebook files to Amazon and Smashwords, which means that I finally have the official cover to share instead of the low-res version I previously had. So here it is (and you can click on the image for the full 4 MB version of that if you want to). As ever, credit goes to James Taylor, at least for the front of the book. Pre-orders remain open – here it is on Amazon, and here on Smashwords (where it’s available only in epub format because of some idiosyncratic rules on file size; the Amazon .mobi is DRM free, however). Print will be available to order sometime next week, with a slim chance of it being up in time for last minute Christmas orders.
And we’ve got an official book description too:
2015 was a messy and contentious year for science fiction, dominated by the Sad Puppies controversy, in which fascist entryists led by Vox Day, the pen name of Theodore Beale, exploited flaws in the Hugo Award nomination process to dictate the nominees, selecting works that favor his politics in an attempt to, in his view, save western civilization from people who poop wrong.
This anthology of essays written by acclaimed Marxist occultist critic Philip Sandifer during 2015 starts from the Puppies controversy, presenting an alternative vision of science fiction grounded in progressive politics and the ability of the genre to explore strange and unthinkable ideas – one that holds that its primary value is its ability to do new things, as opposed to being in permanent debt to antiquated ideas and styles.
The book includes:
Guided by the Beauty of Their Weapons, an epic takedown of Vox Day.
A transcript of a debate between Sandifer and Day about the relative merits of Iain Banks’s classic novel The Wasp Factory and Puppy nominee One Bright Star to Guide Them.
Essays on Orphan Black, Hannibal, True Detective, Janelle Monáe, Ex Machina, Mr. Robot, and more.
A lengthy essay on V for Vendetta excerpted from the forthcoming first volume of The Last War in Albion.
Recursive Occlusion, a non-fiction novella about Doctor Who and occultism.
An exclusive interview with superstar Doctor Who writer Peter Harness.
Many other weird things.
I’ll post again on the 26th when it officially launches with a more substantial musing on the book, but I think it’s pretty much the best one I’ve written.
December 16, 2015 @ 9:47 am
That is a gorgeous cover. So, this book is about, what, finding an ancient spacecraft in the middle of the jungle? The amazing derring-do it takes to get it up and running? The heroic strength and bravery of a test-pilot to launch it back into space?
December 16, 2015 @ 10:55 am
I do have a headcanon story to go with the painting, and in fact my intention is to eventually expand it to encompass some of that (not in time for the book launch alas – too many things came up at once to allow for it).
For the purposes of the cover though, it’s entirely allegorical.
December 16, 2015 @ 12:08 pm
Awesome.
Would this be one of the ebooks Patreon backers get automatically, out of curiosity?
December 16, 2015 @ 12:12 pm
Yep. All Eruditorum Press books to Patreon backers.
Which is a bit of a foot-shoot in terms of Amazon ranking, but unlike certain fecal obsessives I can name I don’t do things like cherry pick easy Amazon categories to top or release in ebook only to goose my rankings. 🙂
December 16, 2015 @ 1:13 pm
Do you think Vox Day will write a rebuttal book titled ‘Futuristic Literature Isn’t What It Used to Be’?
December 16, 2015 @ 2:08 pm
The burning question would be whether Mr Day submits to the cultural marxist conceit of only having one chapter 5 this time…
December 16, 2015 @ 3:08 pm
Who was it who said “Marxism is teleological so we demand each book only have one chapter 5, dammit.”
One of the Frankfurt school, I think…
December 16, 2015 @ 1:27 pm
Note #1 to self: I need to register to vote in the Hugos this year ASAP.
Note #2: Figure out what category James best fits in, because his covers have been consistently amazing.
December 16, 2015 @ 1:45 pm
I doubt I’d have any chance of winning, but if you’re serious I think the relevant category would be Best Fan Artist. Phil does give me a nominal fee for the covers, but not what is considered a professional sum (and as a fan I’m fine with that, which is why I’m still doing them).
December 16, 2015 @ 2:06 pm
I may not think you have that much chance of winning, either; but I’m absolutely serious about wanting to nominate you because I believe your covers are amazing enough to deserve it.
December 19, 2015 @ 5:04 am
Now I can post once more I shall say I’m honoured that you feel so, and like them so much 🙂