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National Fantasy Fan, v. 5, issue 6, September 1946
Page 11
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REPORT OF THE BOOK PUBLISHING COMMITTEE The NFFF Book Publishing Committee was formed to investigate the possibilities of our organization publishing cloth-bound books of interest to fantasy hobbyists. The facts have been gathered, and all that remains is to select material for publication. First, our purpose. We do not propose to compete with Arkham House or any other professional or semi-professional publishers of fantasy books. We plan to publish material other publishers will not use, not because it lacks quality, but because it does not fit their editorial policies or would not appeal to a wide enough audience. We will aim chiefly at the limited number of active fantasy fans, with particular attention given to members of the NFFF. Our editions will be much smaller than professional publishers can handle, and will be published on a strictly amateur, non-profit basis. In order to obtain small editions at reasonable prices, we have decided to utilize a special method of printing by which typewriter-style print is reproduced by embossed metal plates. This process provides a sharp, clear, easily legible page, and aside from its unconventionality should be entirely satisfactory. The books would have title and contents pages printed by the usual method, would be bound in cloth, and could have illustrated dust-jackets as well as interior illustrations. The price? Well, a cloth-bound volume of 50,000 words (short novel-length) with illustrated dust-jacket, in an edition of 500 copies, would cost about $1.50 per book. Longer books would cost correspondingly more -- e.g., a 100,000 word book would cost slightly less than twice as much per copy. These books would be choice collectors'-items, and would provide a handsome and lasting format for worthwhile fantasy material. If a workable method can be evolved, NFFF members would, of course, be allowed a special discount. What material would be used? We contemplate anthologies of the best fiction, articles, poetry, and perhaps artwork, from the fantasy fan-magazines. Also any new material of value. In addition, we are investigating the possibility of obtaining professional material -- tho this may involve an extra cost-factor. SUGGESTIONS for material will be gratefully received. Who would do the work? The undersigned would like to handle most aspects of production and distribution, but we'd like the membership to provide volunteers to handle the immense job of making a typescript of the book for the printers. This task would probably have to be split up among several persons. Individuals or clubs who can and will do this typing are urged to send in their names, giving some indication of the number of pages they will undertake to type in a given period. This project cannot succeed without the help of such volunteers. How about financing? The NFFF treasury would pay for advertisements, postage, and other incidentals. Also, it might make up 11
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REPORT OF THE BOOK PUBLISHING COMMITTEE The NFFF Book Publishing Committee was formed to investigate the possibilities of our organization publishing cloth-bound books of interest to fantasy hobbyists. The facts have been gathered, and all that remains is to select material for publication. First, our purpose. We do not propose to compete with Arkham House or any other professional or semi-professional publishers of fantasy books. We plan to publish material other publishers will not use, not because it lacks quality, but because it does not fit their editorial policies or would not appeal to a wide enough audience. We will aim chiefly at the limited number of active fantasy fans, with particular attention given to members of the NFFF. Our editions will be much smaller than professional publishers can handle, and will be published on a strictly amateur, non-profit basis. In order to obtain small editions at reasonable prices, we have decided to utilize a special method of printing by which typewriter-style print is reproduced by embossed metal plates. This process provides a sharp, clear, easily legible page, and aside from its unconventionality should be entirely satisfactory. The books would have title and contents pages printed by the usual method, would be bound in cloth, and could have illustrated dust-jackets as well as interior illustrations. The price? Well, a cloth-bound volume of 50,000 words (short novel-length) with illustrated dust-jacket, in an edition of 500 copies, would cost about $1.50 per book. Longer books would cost correspondingly more -- e.g., a 100,000 word book would cost slightly less than twice as much per copy. These books would be choice collectors'-items, and would provide a handsome and lasting format for worthwhile fantasy material. If a workable method can be evolved, NFFF members would, of course, be allowed a special discount. What material would be used? We contemplate anthologies of the best fiction, articles, poetry, and perhaps artwork, from the fantasy fan-magazines. Also any new material of value. In addition, we are investigating the possibility of obtaining professional material -- tho this may involve an extra cost-factor. SUGGESTIONS for material will be gratefully received. Who would do the work? The undersigned would like to handle most aspects of production and distribution, but we'd like the membership to provide volunteers to handle the immense job of making a typescript of the book for the printers. This task would probably have to be split up among several persons. Individuals or clubs who can and will do this typing are urged to send in their names, giving some indication of the number of pages they will undertake to type in a given period. This project cannot succeed without the help of such volunteers. How about financing? The NFFF treasury would pay for advertisements, postage, and other incidentals. Also, it might make up 11
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