This just in, courtesy of Colleen Mondor of Bookslut: “Honestly, this book has to be one of the better ones I’ve come across for readers who are trepidatious about reading sci fi. It’s reminiscent of Ray Bradbury’s ‘R is for Rocket’ in that the story is grounded in thoughts and feelings that anyone could understand, just set in the future. It’s a perfect choice for the teenager eager to get out of their reading rut; kudos to Ms. Willis for finding a story that will get them interested early.”

Late this week we expect copies of the signed second printing of Joe Hill’s masterful first novel, Heart Shaped Box, in our offices. Just as with the first printing, the seconds are printed in two colors throughout, with the wonderful cover and interior art by Vincent Chong. We’ll begin shipping as soon as copies are in hand. While we’re at it, we should mention the related short story (don’t read it before the novel), “Jude Confronts Global Warming,” you can find over at Subterranean Online.

We’ve just seen and approved the final design files and artwork for Ted Chiang’s remarkable tale, The Merchant and the Alchemist’s Gate, which is garnering unprecedented kudos from the likes of

Booklist: (”Could fantasy be more intelligently exquisite and, ultimately and surprisingly, morally sound than this?”);

Publishers Weekly: (”Half lyrical Arabian Nights legend and half old school cautionary SF tale, this skillfully written story and its theme of insurmountable fate may comfort as many readers as it makes uncomfortable.”);

Scalpel Magazine: (”This novella charmed me down to my strings, a science fictional tale clothed in the silks and linen and scarves of the fantastic, and I do hope another five years will not have passed before seeing another major work from this phenomenal writer.”)

Please head over to the book’s page for a full description, and samples of the two-color illustrations that grace Merchant.

We seem to have hit a major crisis with our publication of Ray Bradbury’s seminal collection, I Sing the Body Electric. As it turns out, production problems will result in our having only 200 numbered copies signed by the estimable Mr. B, instead of the 250 we had contracted for.

We’ve had to pull the numbered edition from our site, and notify some dealers that their allotments will be cut. We will be selling the 50 unsigned copies at a reduced price, but don’t plan to offer them on the site until after we’ve shipped all existing orders we can, and have a firm handle on just whose orders we can and cannot fill. Rest assured, everyone who bought a copy through Subterranean Press will be receiving their copy. Those who ordered the lettered edition have nothing to worry about, as we expect the full complement of that version.

Contratulations to David Marusek, whose first collection, Getting to Know You, has just been named a finalist for the prestigious Quills award.

We’re down to our last 25-30 copies of the limited edition — the trade edition sold out pretty much on publication — so get your order in if you want to see what the fuss is all about. Previous winnners and nominees in the sf/fantasy category for the Quills include such luminaries as Stephen King, George R.R. Martin, and Diana Gabaldon.