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Other Publishers I Haven't Added
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Topic starter
Wondering what everyone's thoughts and/or speculations are about this:
UK publisher Curious King is setting up a new publishing branch, Eldritch King, which is described as a "special edition horror novel subscription." CK has traditionally focused on handbound, letterpress editions of works in the science fiction and fantasy, and are pretty darn pricey. Their limited edition of Dan Simmons's ENDYMION was $665 GBP (or around $890 US). Per their announcement, Eldritch King is supposed to be more affordable, which also means these not probably not going to be at the same production level as the CK titles.
I'm very curious and signed up to the newsletter, but I have questions. Beyond all the usual stuff--what will the subscription model look like? Prices? Quality? and whatnot--I'm wondering if there's going to be a tipping point for cosmic/eldritch/Lovecraftian horror. Weird House, Chiroptera, Centipede, and even PS all publish a significant amount in this subgenre. I'm wondering what is going to differentiate this publishing venture from those.
Anyone have any thoughts?
Posted : October 31, 2026 11:26 pm
I signed up for the newsletter, but have no idea or expectation of what's coming down the pike from them. I haven't done any business with Curious King since their focus has not been on what I'm interested in, which I suppose is why they've launched this second imprint, to get those customers not interested in their CK offerings. If the $900ish price level is what you quote, SM, I won't be a customer for these editions, either, but am curious to see what their business model is. Perhaps they realize that horror customers are not as rabid as fantasy customers and so will moderate their pricing accordingly. Guess we'll see in a few days.
Posted : November 1, 2026 7:09 pm
I signed up for the newsletter, but have no idea or expectation of what's coming down the pike from them. I haven't done any business with Curious King since their focus has not been on what I'm interested in, which I suppose is why they've launched this second imprint, to get those customers not interested in their CK offerings. If the $900ish price level is what you quote, SM, I won't be a customer for these editions, either, but am curious to see what their business model is. Perhaps they realize that horror customers are not as rabid as fantasy customers and so will moderate their pricing accordingly. Guess we'll see in a few days.
I’m in the same boat.
I signed up for the newsletter, but fully expect the price to be beyond my comfort point.
B
Posted : November 2, 2026 1:02 am
I'm very curious and signed up to the newsletter, but I have questions. Beyond all the usual stuff--what will the subscription model look like? Prices? Quality? and whatnot--I'm wondering if there's going to be a tipping point for cosmic/eldritch/Lovecraftian horror. Weird House, Chiroptera, Centipede, and even PS all publish a significant amount in this subgenre. I'm wondering what is going to differentiate this publishing venture from those.
You could also add Nepenthe Press and Conversation Tree to that publisher list, both on the higher end of the price range.
B
Posted : November 2, 2026 1:07 am
Topic starter
I'm very curious and signed up to the newsletter, but I have questions. Beyond all the usual stuff--what will the subscription model look like? Prices? Quality? and whatnot--I'm wondering if there's going to be a tipping point for cosmic/eldritch/Lovecraftian horror. Weird House, Chiroptera, Centipede, and even PS all publish a significant amount in this subgenre. I'm wondering what is going to differentiate this publishing venture from those.
You could also add Nepenthe Press and Conversation Tree to that publisher list, both on the higher end of the price range.
B
I always forget about Conversation Tree for some reason! And, yup, Nepenthe Press as well. There is no dearth of presses dipping into this well, so I'm curious as to what Eldritch King can add. I'm not entirely sure we need yet another "complete works of Lovecraft" set or another edition of The King in Yellow. I say this, but it seems like almost every year we also get a new edition of Dracula and Frankenstein, even though it seems like everyone in the collecting community should already have a previous edition on their shelves by this point...right next to their copy of CD's Pork Pie Hat. 🙂
Posted : November 2, 2026 3:20 pm
@sock_monkey God, I think I have five or six copies of PORK PIE HAT, and no recollection of how I got them all.
Posted : November 2, 2026 5:18 pm
With this morning's mail, their business model became clearer for me -- I didn't realize they were a subscription model. I thought they were more like Black Crow Books. So I guess I'm out...I don't do subscriptions. Subscriptions have never held any lure as I've always bought by individual title interest, not press, but even less so these days when I'm deliberately trying to be extremely selective in the titles I buy. After doing this small press thing for almost forty years, I'm on the short right area of the lifetime collecting bell curve, and subscriptions have no home there.
Posted : November 5, 2026 5:30 pm
Topic starter
@sock_monkey God, I think I have five or six copies of PORK PIE HAT, and no recollection of how I got them all.
Probably due to CD including them in every single grab bag for like three years straight. I had multiple copies myself, but have divested of them over the years. However, I did wind up tracking down a copy of the lettered edition a few years back because Straub is one of my favorite authors and Pork Pie Hat, though saddled with a not-so-great title, is a fantastic novella.
Posted : November 5, 2026 7:04 pm
Topic starter
With this morning's mail, their business model became clearer for me -- I didn't realize they were a subscription model. I thought they were more like Black Crow Books. So I guess I'm out...I don't do subscriptions. Subscriptions have never held any lure as I've always bought by individual title interest, not press, but even less so these days when I'm deliberately trying to be extremely selective in the titles I buy. After doing this small press thing for almost forty years, I'm on the short right area of the lifetime collecting bell curve, and subscriptions have no home there.
I'm not too sure on the subscription model myself. I have followed lines in the past, specifically those from Thunderstorm, but I find it mixed bag. The price point of the tiers listed aren't bad.
Posted : November 5, 2026 7:16 pm
I'm not too sure on the subscription model myself. I have followed lines in the past, specifically those from Thunderstorm, but I find it mixed bag. The price point of the tiers listed aren't bad.
I agree -- except that as a subscription I assume you're obligated to buy every title offered in the tier you select. If one only wants one out of every, say, four books they produce, then the price point for the desired volume becomes four times X, maybe two or three times X if you're lucky enough to unload at a presumed loss the other two or three books you don't want. It just becomes more work than it's worth.
Posted : November 5, 2026 7:45 pm
@sock_monkey God, I think I have five or six copies of PORK PIE HAT, and no recollection of how I got them all.
Sometimes, when you're out of the house, I sneak in and shelve another copy for you to find. They're hidden everywhere in your collection. Good luck! 🙃
Posted : November 6, 2026 3:06 am
I'm not too sure on the subscription model myself. I have followed lines in the past, specifically those from Thunderstorm, but I find it mixed bag. The price point of the tiers listed aren't bad.
I agree -- except that as a subscription I assume you're obligated to buy every title offered in the tier you select. If one only wants one out of every, say, four books they produce, then the price point for the desired volume becomes four times X, maybe two or three times X if you're lucky enough to unload at a presumed loss the other two or three books you don't want. It just becomes more work than it's worth.
I could be mixing up things I read online today, but I think they said you'll be allowed one "skip" per year.
Posted : November 6, 2026 3:07 am