The Everyman’s Guide to the Tower of Babel: An Anthology is an upcoming edition in Short Stops, a series from Conversation Tree Press dedicated to bringing exceptional shorter works of fiction to life through beautifully bound letterpress-printed, limited editions. We’re breaking with tradition and announcing this title early.

Artwork
Julien Delval

Title Calligraphy & Decorations
Svetlana Molodchenko

“Some members of the editorial board wished to emulate the architecture of the grand object of our study, breaking this anthology into sections dedicated to the explication of each ringdom in ascending order, beginning with the Basement. The scheme was abandoned after the board was unable to agree upon the total number of ringdoms and whether ancillary structures, such as the Windsock, the Misanthropolis, and the Old Vein would be included—decisions that are not without political implication. Our cherished impartiality and lack of bias prevent us from expressing opinions that might offend our patrons. We would all do well to remember that one person’s injustice is another’s compromise.”

We’re breaking with our Short Stops tradition of announcing titles only when they’re ready to ship—and with good reason. This edition marks an important milestone for Conversation Tree Press: our first piece of original fiction commissioned directly from one of our favourite contemporary fantasy authors.

Josiah Bancroft, acclaimed author of The Books of Babel quartet, returns to the extraordinary Tower. In those novels, schoolmaster Thomas Senlin and his new bride Marya set out on their honeymoon to the Tower of Babel, lured by the wonders described in a curious travel guide Senlin had long studied: The Everyman’s Guide to the Tower of Babel. That book sets their course, shaping the journey—and the misadventures—that follow.

Now, Bancroft brings that enigmatic guide itself to life. The Everyman’s Guide to the Tower of Babel: An Anthology collects selections from the twelve volumes said to comprise the original Guide. Playful, layered, and richly imaginative, the work deepens the mythology of the Tower, offering insights, anecdotes, and glimpses of its many marvels and dangers.

The edition will feature new illustrations by celebrated artist Julien Delval.

Edition Information and Availability

The Everyman’s Guide to the Tower of Babel: An Anthology will be published as a limited edition of 500 unnumbered copies, letterpress printed and bound in quarter cloth and hand-marbled paper.

In keeping with the Short Stops tradition, the edition will be made available only once it is finished and in our workshop, ready to ship without delay. We expect it to be ready next year, and as with all our editions, it will not be reprinted.

Ebook

We also hold exclusive rights to the ebook edition of The Everyman’s Guide to the Tower of Babel: An Anthology. It will be released some time after the print edition, with further updates on our ebook plans to come in a future newsletter.

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Artwork by Julien Delval

One of Julien Delval’s paintings from our edition of Guy Gavriel Kay’s Tigana.

Julien Delval is a French painter and illustrator known for his dreamlike atmosphere and intricate detail. Drawing on classical painting, myth, and fantasy, his work often depicts vast landscapes and monumental architecture. He created the artwork for Conversation Tree Press’s edition of Guy Gavriel Kay’s Tigana and is also contributing to one of the volumes in our Chronicles of Elric series. We are delighted to collaborate with him again on The Everyman’s Guide to the Tower of Babel: An Anthology, where his vision will bring the grandeur and mystery of the Tower to life.

Title Calligraphy & Decorations

We’re delighted to collaborate once again with Svetlana Molodchenko, who created the hand-drawn calligraphy and decorative elements for the title page of The Everyman’s Guide to the Tower of Babel: An Anthology. Svetlana’s artistry can also be seen in our Roman Numeral Edition of Joe Hill’s Faun, Ramsey Campbell’s Cold Print & Others, along with our upcoming editions of The Chronicles of Elric by Michael Moorcock and The King of Elfland’s Daughter by Lord Dunsany.

Josiah Bancroft

Josiah Bancroft is the author of five novels, a collection of short fiction, and numerous poems. His books have been translated into eight languages. Before settling down to write fantasy full-time, he was a college instructor, rock musician, and aspiring comic book artist. When he’s not writing, he enjoys strumming a variety of stringed instruments, drawing with a growing cache of imperfect pens, and cooking without a recipe. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife, Sharon, their daughter, Maddie, and their two rabbits, Mabel and Chaplin.