The SF Book Club will publish an edition of The Jack Vance Treasury shortly after Subterranean Press publishes the first edition in January. This is wonderful news! The whole point of editing the Treasury was to get as many readers for Vance’s work as possible. I encourage everyone, of course, to grab the Subterranean edition, but if that’s not possible, the Book Club edition is a fine thing in itself. Now, for the project to be completely successful, we only need a mass market edition and a UK edition (hi Gollancz Masterworks people!), and then I’ll rest easy.
Is there any physical difference between the SFBC and Subterranean editions? (I intend to buy it in any event, though)
Yes, there is. The SFBC use a standard booksizing, thinner dustjacket paper, and cheaper paper and binding than SubPress (it’s how they save money). The SubPress edition will be basically much better made with better quality materials. Same text and jacket art, though. One’s a good economy version, the other’s the Rolls Royce version.
Yes, and purchase of one means I get to keep making a living doing this for another year!
I’d add that the SubPress edition is the one that’ll definitely last for thirty years, sit on your shelf and be re-readable. They produce lovely books.
That’s precisely what I needed to know. :)
Thanks, Jonathan.