PS Publishing - Stephen King Anniversary Editions

[Theli]

It would be killer to get the storyboards and the extra short story, but damn man, no way I can afford PS lettered editions. As for the cover art... not sure what I think. I need to see a better quality picture.

I will most likely grab the regular edition though.

[bugen]

Theli I'm with you here, I could never afford a lettered of Skeleton Crew. Unfortunately this is the one book where I might have to push against the reality of the situation anyway.

This was the book that I brought home from the library as a boy, after reading Eyes of the Dragon, and my dad forbid me to read it or anything else by King on religious grounds. I can look back and see it as a milestone event, perhaps the first, of a seriously deteriorating relationship with my parents that would result in major life choices like running away from home, getting into drugs, other stuff I won't mention, and it would be well over a decade before the relationship started to repair. Without this book, my life might look much different today.

Not that I want to celebrate the event, and I actually liked Night Shift significantly more, but this book had a massive impact on my life and I wouldn't even read it until 25 years later. If there's a case for stretching against what can be done, this might qualify. It hurts to think about.

[WeDealInLead]

I'll buy the book but that artwork is pretty unfortunate. It's not as bad as that The Shining South Park cover, but it's one of my least favourite King covers for sure.

[burial]

who can forward this newsletter to me? Please

Done

Thank you Brian
well... this artwork is not for me...

And i have a question.
in the newsletter and in the description on the ps pub page there is a description of what will be included in lettered edition.
for example it states that Revelations of Becka Paulson will be included but as i uderstand, that description is only for the lettered. So... basic edition will be without that story and other stuff mentioned there?

[TCCBodhi]

I'd have to agree that the artwork presented isn't what I would hope for on Skeleton Crew. I'm just a numbered collector so I don't have a high investment, but I would certainly not be pleased if I was in the Lettered line. It still remains to be seen as a whole, but THIS particular edition won't be something I pull out when I'm showing off my collection.

I don't yet have them in my hand since I JUST ordered them in the last weeks, but I think that Carrie, Christine, Thinner and Pet Sematary all could be.

[frik]

I believe I'm the only one here who really likes the Skeleton Crew artwork ?
It's my favorite by far of the PS King series. Well, maybe Thinner is my #1. It's a toss-up.

sk

[Theli]

Theli I'm with you here, I could never afford a lettered of Skeleton Crew. Unfortunately this is the one book where I might have to push against the reality of the situation anyway.

This was the book that I brought home from the library as a boy, after reading Eyes of the Dragon, and my dad forbid me to read it or anything else by King on religious grounds. I can look back and see it as a milestone event, perhaps the first, of a seriously deteriorating relationship with my parents that would result in major life choices like running away from home, getting into drugs, other stuff I won't mention, and it would be well over a decade before the relationship started to repair. Without this book, my life might look much different today.

Not that I want to celebrate the event, and I actually liked Night Shift significantly more, but this book had a massive impact on my life and I wouldn't even read it until 25 years later. If there's a case for stretching against what can be done, this might qualify. It hurts to think about.

Wow. Sounds like a landmark book in your life. A must add for sure, good luck getting the lettered edition if you decide to go that route. Luckily for me my parents generally didn't care what I read or watched, just thought I was idiot for watching some of the crazy stuff I view.

who can forward this newsletter to me? Please

Done

Thank you Brian
well... this artwork is not for me...

And i have a question.
in the newsletter and in the description on the ps pub page there is a description of what will be included in lettered edition.
for example it states that Revelations of Becka Paulson will be included but as i uderstand, that description is only for the lettered. So... basic edition will be without that story and other stuff mentioned there?

Pretty disappointing but that seems to be the case.

[pete at pspublishing]

Hi Folks

Yes, it's me . . . back to face the music. Sorry for the prolonged absence: busybusybusy with LOTS of work but also we're going through a bit of a family 'situation' that's burning up all spare (hah!) time and energy.

Okay, humour me, anyone who asked a question to which they didn't get an answer, and post the question here or send it to me at editor@pspublishing.co.uk and I'll do my best to sort it out.

I guess the first order of the day is the cover to SKELETON CREW. The reaction has been pretty damning--not 100% negative but very close to it--so I think we all of us here at PS need to re-think. I'll speak with Mike, who heads up our design team, and consider using the piece as one of the endpapers (or dropping it entirely) . . . which would mean our using one of the other pieces as a replacement cover.

I'm sure Pete (Von Sholly) will be disappointed at the reaction but, like me, he's a big boy and perfectly able to deal with the situation in a professional manner. That's the beauty of this forum: it enables all of us here at PS to get right down to brass tacks with the customer. Believe me, nothing will happen until I'm reasonably happy that most folks are cool about whatever we decide.

Until then, keep me posted with comments and questions. Looking forward to hearing from you all.

Best wishes

Pete

[herbertwest]

May I ask why will Becka available in the lettered edition?

I've read in Justin's bibliography that it was also in the Screampress limited edition, but is there a reason? Was the story planned for the collection and then cut?
Why reintegrating it?

[TCCBodhi]

Hi Pete,

Good job to you to adjust to an unfavorable opinion. You know we all want something that we can pull off our shelves and show off, and I think you can get there. Skeleton Crew is the tne that I've REALLY been getting excited for.

I think the main criticism was how crowded it was, which is understandable for a short stories collection. I'm not a designer, but simplicity of design seems to be the way that most design orders are completed. So find another iconic story and focus in on it's scary thing....something from the Jaunt perhaps? Or Spike The Milkman since he recurs.

The cover could be a really cool end paper like you said, it it just a little busy for the wraparound cover of unrelated story elements.

[zelig]

Thanks Pete. It's great that you are always open to some constructive criticism, and take it as intended. Then willing to potentially make some changes. It's very refreshing and certainly appreciated. At least that's my opinion. As to the cover, the old "less is more" approach usually works out well in the end. Thanks again.

[TCCBodhi]

Thanks Pete. It's great that you are always open to some constructive criticism, and take it as intended. Then willing to potentially make some changes. It's very refreshing and certainly appreciated. At least that's my opinion. As to the cover, the old "less is more" approach usually works out well in the end. Thanks again.

Zelig said it perfectly.

[frik]

So find another iconic story and focus in on it's scary thing....something from the Jaunt perhaps? Or Spike The Milkman since he recurs

Although I'm quite happy with what I've seen so far, a The Mist related cover would be awesome. Speaking of iconic stories.

This is what you showed us in your last newsletter:



sk

[jhanic]

So find another iconic story and focus in on it's scary thing....something from the Jaunt perhaps? Or Spike The Milkman since he recurs

Although I'm quite happy with what I've seen so far, a The Mist related cover would be awesome. Speaking of iconic stories.

This is what you showed us in your last newsletter:



sk

I love this!

John

[uturn83]

very cool they'd contemplate changes based on feedback. (not a fan of the art either)

[Jimimck]

Wow, very cool to see another publisher take on some feedback from the team here (I'm assuming perhaps there was also some direct feedback from customers who receive the newsletter?)

I have to agree with the statements above about the cover art not really doing it for me. A little too cluttered methinks.

[mattgreenbean]

Actually, if there was a change to the cover, I would suggest that the cover has nothing to do with any of the stories. You put a "The Mist" themed cover and then all of a sudden it's The Mist and not Skeleton Crew.

[jhanic]

Actually, if there was a change to the cover, I would suggest that the cover has nothing to do with any of the stories. You put a "The Mist" themed cover and then all of a sudden it's The Mist and not Skeleton Crew.

Matt, don't forget that the original US publication of Skeleton Crew showed only The Monkey.

John

[stroppygoblin]

In fact most variations on the cover seem to be either The Monkey or a skeleton.

[herbertwest]

May I ask why will Becka available in the lettered edition?

I've read in Justin's bibliography that it was also in the Screampress limited edition, but is there a reason? Was the story planned for the collection and then cut?
Why reintegrating it?

Sorry to repeat myself, but I am really wondering this

[jsmcmullen92]

Just out of curiosity what is everyone's thoughts on Skeleton crew and thinner? I am trying to decide it I should buy them or not. I already passed on Carrie since I got the CD one but Thinner is nice as there is no other Limited of it yet, but what about skeleton Crew? I do not own a Scream Press one YET but I plan to soon. With that having a king signature and the new one not is it worth it?

[RC65]

Just out of curiosity what is everyone's thoughts on Skeleton crew and thinner? I am trying to decide it I should buy them or not. I already passed on Carrie since I got the CD one but Thinner is nice as there is no other Limited of it yet, but what about skeleton Crew? I do not own a Scream Press one YET but I plan to soon. With that having a king signature and the new one not is it worth it?

Depends if you want multiple editions of the same book in your collection...if you're already planning a purchase of the Scream Press edition and don't want multiples, then I'd hold off. If you have the budget for both and want multiples, then you should. I already own the UK 1st HC of SKELETON CREW, and that's probably going to be good enough for me. On the other hand, my 1st HC copy of THINNER went AWOL somewhere along the line, so I'm on the lookout for a deal on the PS edition...'course, even if I still had my 1st U.S. HC of THINNER, I'd likely still upgrade since the PS edition is so much nicer...but since I like the dj on the UK 1st of SKELETON CREW (and the UK edition is "exotic" enough for this moderate U.S. collector) I'm satisfied w/ that one. I'm not as ardent a King collector as many around here, though -- many of whom would need every edition available -- so your mileage may vary widely.

[RC65]

Hi Pete,

The cover could be a really cool end paper like you said,

My two cents: Agreed.

For what it's worth (and I'm just now aware of the planned change), this change in dj art may very well change my mind r.e. my above post where I remark I don't plan to pick up the PS edition of SKELETON CREW. To be frank, the dj art was a large part of that decision...since it is a volume that I love, this planned change has me potentially rethinking my stance, depending, of course, on what the new dj art turns out to be.

[mattgreenbean]

Just out of curiosity what is everyone's thoughts on Skeleton crew and thinner? I am trying to decide it I should buy them or not. I already passed on Carrie since I got the CD one but Thinner is nice as there is no other Limited of it yet, but what about skeleton Crew? I do not own a Scream Press one YET but I plan to soon. With that having a king signature and the new one not is it worth it?

The words are the same in both editions. If you're buying as an investment, I'm sure it's not going to sky rocket. If you're actually going to crack open the book and read it, then it looks to me like it's going to be a really entertaining edition.

Good point about the monkey on the cover John and Stroppy.

[zelig]

Another comment on the cover, and this is just my opinion of course, but when it comes to fonts, I find it's better to not add any major embellishments to the font. For example, adding a drop shadow, glow, bevel or embossing, etc. And of course, the choice of font. I've always been of the opinion that the font style used on a cover has such as important part to play in the overall design. A poorly chosen font, with various 'effects' applied can really hurt the look.