The House on the Borderlands & Others by William Hope Hodgson
Edited and Introduced by S.T. Joshi
Illustrated by Dave McKean
Weird.
The House on the Borderland & Others by William Hope Hodgson is the first volume of Weird., a series of fine press weird fiction volumes curated, edited and introduced by S.T. Joshi. Drawing from S.T.’s extensive and distinguished career, these collections feature the very best work from the most celebrated and influential voices in the genre.
Future volumes will showcase collections dedicated to authors Ambrose Bierce, Arthur Machen, Algernon Blackwood, Lord Dunsany, Clark Ashton Smith, and Ramsey Campbell, among others. Additionally, the series will include thematic anthologies that compile works from multiple authors. Please see this page for details on how rights work for Weird.
William Hope Hodgson (1877–1918), an eminent figure in early 20th-century weird fiction, is celebrated for his pioneering contributions to the subgenre of cosmic horror. A former sailor, Hodgson used his nautical experiences to craft stories imbued with a unique blend of maritime adventure and otherworldly terror. His best works, collected in this volume, are among the pinnacles of weird writing of his era.
Carefully curated by S.T. Joshi, this collection features Hodgson’s groundbreaking novel, The House on the Borderland. Set in a remote manor in Ireland beset by supernatural forces and inexplicable time shifts, it stands as a cornerstone of cosmic horror and showcases Hodgson’s mastery at blurring the lines between fantasy, horror, and science fiction.
Also included are The Voice in the Night, The Mystery of the Derelict, The Whistling Room, and The Thing in the Weeds. These stories, whether set on the high seas or in haunted rooms, showcase Hodgson’s skill at weaving the spectral into chilling, unforgettable narratives. Included as an Appendix is On the Bridge, a poignant prose-poem about the sinking of the Titanic.
This collection serves as a fitting tribute to Hodgson’s imaginative prowess and his lasting impact on speculative fiction, taking the reader on a journey through the spectral landscapes and eerie seascapes he crafted—an experience that transcends the ordinary confines of genre and reality.
Jump to:
Edition Information ❦ Emblematic Artwork ❦ Collector’s Edition ❦ Deluxe Edition ❦ Lettered Edition ❦ Artwork ❦ Typography ❦ Printing ❦
Edition Information
[Note: Standard Editions have now become Collector’s Editions.]
Our edition of The House on the Borderland & Others by William Hope Hodgson is limited to 451 copies and is published in three states: Collector’s Edition, Deluxe Edition, and Lettered Edition, along with five sets of unbound sheets.
All copies include 29 full-colour paintings and 12 pen-and-ink illustrations by Dave McKean, specially commissioned for this edition, along with a new introduction by S.T. Joshi. They are printed by Hand and Eye Letterpress and have a trim size of 170mm by 240mm (6.7in by 9.5in) with 296 pages. I’ve set the text in LTC Kennerly and Dave provided the lettering for the title on the title page.
All copies are signed by Dave McKean and S.T. Joshi.
As with every CTP book, you can expect:
- All colour artwork reproduced in full colour across all editions.
- A limited edition that will never be reprinted.
- A custom, handmade slipcase (Collector’s and Deluxe Editions) or solander (Lettered Edition) made of thick, sturdy boards with the insides lined in suedel for maximum protection, at no additional cost.
Emblematic Artwork
In addition to the interior artwork, each volume in the series will be accompanied by a piece of artwork inspired by the allegorical emblem artwork of the Renaissance, as seen in George Wither’s A Collection of Emblemes, Ancient and Moderne.
These emblems typically comprised a motto, intricate artwork, and explanatory text, often featuring mythological creatures, biblical scenes, natural elements, and allegorical figures, each meticulously chosen to visually represent the layered meanings within the emblem.
The rich symbolism, allegories, and atmospheric mood of emblematic artwork is the perfect complement to our collection of weird fiction.
Dave’s detailed illustration draws upon this style, capturing key scenes and themes from each story in the volume. His artwork adds depth and enriches the narrative experience, echoing the complex interplay of visuals and text characteristic of traditional emblems.
Sveta Dorosheva will be providing the emblematic artwork for future volumes, in a similar composition and style, ensuring a cohesive look across the collection.
Collector’s Edition
Limited to only 225 unnumbered copies, the Collector’s Edition of The House on the Borderland & Others is fully bound in dark green Toile du Marais book cloth with Dave’s emblematic artwork inset onto the front board. The title and name of the series are foil-stamped in gold on the spine.
The bindings for all Collector’s Editions in the series will be similarly bound—full cloth in varying colours, emblematic artwork inset, and similar spine treatment—for a uniform appearance across the collection.
Note: Because of the extensive colour artwork, all colour illustrations for the Collector’s and Deluxe Editions are printed using four-colour lithography, with the text and pen-and-ink artwork subsequently printed letterpress. The use of a single paper type simplified production, so we’ve decided to upgrade the Collector’s Edition paper to match the paper used for the Deluxe Edition—GF Smith Max Absolute White 150gsm—a paper and weight we would normally reserve for Deluxe Editions only. This provides a luxurious reading experience and the best colour reproduction of Dave’s artwork.
Each copy is enclosed by a custom slipcase handmade by Ludlow Bookbinders, wrapped in dark green Toile du Marais book cloth with a suedel-lined interior.
There are no rights associated with the Collector’s Edition.
US$275. Shipping is expected in Q4 2024.
Deluxe Edition
The Deluxe Edition is limited to only 200 numbered copies hand bound by Ludlow Bookbinders in half pigskin suede with boards covered in custom marbled paper from Freya Scott at Paperwilds.
The marbled paper pattern is inspired by this passage from The House on the Borderland:
Thus, I saw so extraordinary a sight that, for a while, I could scarcely believe I was not still wrapped in the visionary tumult of my own thoughts. Out of the reigning green, had grown a boundless river of softly shimmering globes—each one enfolded in a wondrous fleece of pure cloud. They reached, both above and below me, to an unknown distance; and, not only hid the shining of the Green Sun; but supplied, in place thereof, a tender glow of light, that suffused itself around me, like unto nothing I have ever seen, before or since. In a little, I noticed that there was about these spheres, a sort of transparency, almost as though they were formed of clouded crystal, within which burned a radiance—gentle and subdued.
The title of the series is foil stamped on black pigskin leather which is affixed to the spine, and the title of the book is foil stamped in gold.
All Deluxe Editions in the series will be half bound in various materials with a similar spine treatment for a uniform appearance across the collection.
The edition is letterpress-printed on thick GF Smith Max Absolute White 150gsm (100lb) paper, allowing for the faithful reproduction of Dave’s haunting artwork. The endpapers are Hahnemuhle Bugra and the top edge is gilded.
The book is housed in a custom slipcase handmade by Ludlow Bookbinders. It is wrapped in Napura Kazar paper, giving it a unique look reminiscent of the knotty surface of luxurious bouclé fabric. The top and bottom are capped in pigskin suede and the inside is lined in suedel.
All copies of the Deluxe Edition offer rights to Weird. Volume 2 when it is published. Only copies #1-150 offer rights to the next book—Foundation.
US$585. Shipping is expected in Q4 2024.
Lettered
Six years ago my wife and I enjoyed a road trip around Ireland, visiting many popular tourist spots and some others well off the beaten path. While the entire trip was memorable, one part comes to mind every time I read The House on the Borderland—an afternoon and night we spent at an eccentric 500 year old Irish manor. Nestled within sixty acres of land in Ireland’s Ancient East, it is an area rich in folklore and mysticism.
While the manor itself has a long, and no doubt interesting history, the grounds also harbour the mysterious ruins of a structure about which little is remembered. Hidden under the shelter of trees a few minutes walk from the manor, stands this forlorn-looking structure:
Not only could the building resemble the decaying remnants of the eponymous house, but it also evokes a similar sense of dread and mystery, and its distinctive stone-set arched doorway serves as an inspiration for the Lettered Edition.
Limited to 26 copies hand bound by Ludlow Bookbinders, the Lettered Edition is Bradel bound in goatskin leather and real stone veneer with a similar “arched doorway” cut out of the front board, revealing the custom marbled endpapers within.
The front and back boards are cut from a single piece of stone to ensure the patterns in shades of yellows, browns and reds are perfectly matched. These patterns will vary from book to book, giving each Lettered book a unique look.
The title of the series is foil stamped on black pigskin leather which is affixed to the spine, and the title of the book is foil stamped in gold. The top edge is gilded.
Paper for the Lettered Edition is upgraded to mould made Madrid Litho 160gsm (120lb) paper, and in order to faithfully reproduce Dave’s artwork, each of the 29 full colour plates is carefully tipped in by hand on Condat Digital Silk 170gsm.
Each copy includes a full page original piece of artwork from Dave McKean bound into the book, one of which is shown above.
The book is housed in a solander wrapped in Toile du Marais cloth with the trays covered in black Dubletta fabric. The spine features a pigskin leather label foil-stamped in gold and the inside is lined with suedel and a strip of the marbled paper used as endpapers for the book.
While the Lettered Editions of the series will feature unique designs, the solander boxes will be similarly designed for a consistent look on the shelf throughout the collection.
Each copy is signed by Dave McKean, the illustrator; Phil Abel and Robert Hetherington, the printers; and Phil Parkins, Production Director at Ludlow Bookbinders.
All copies of the Lettered Edition offer rights to both Weird. Volume 2 and the next book—Foundation.
US$1,895. Shipping is expected in Q4 2024.
Artwork
With twenty-nine full colour pieces and twelve pen-and-ink illustrations printed letterpress, Dave McKean has truly redefined what an illustrated book can be, creating an edition that is as unsettling as it is captivating.
The first and last chapters of The House on the Borderland utilize pen-and-ink illustrations to set up and conclude the narrative within the narrative. The twenty-five chapters between the first and last are each accompanied by a full colour plate as Dave perfectly captures the boundless cosmic dread and nightmarish realms of Hodgson’s imagination in his distinctive style. Nine of these plates are below:
Each of the additional four stories also include a full colour piece in a more subdued, and perhaps even more haunting, colour palette.
Typography
Weird. is set in LTC Kennerly, designed by prolific and highly-regarded type designer Frederic Goudy. The typeface was designed for, and first used, in The Door in the Wall And Other Stories by H.G. Wells, a collection of weird fiction. With its eminently readable characters, subtly quirky design, and elegant swash capitals in the italics, LTC Kennerly adds a distinct character that elevates the haunting narratives, enhancing the reading experience without overwhelming the text.
Printing
We are proud to be collaborating once more with Phil Abel and the team at Hand and Eye Letterpress, who previously printed our edition of Flowers for Algernon. Hand and Eye has a distinguished history of not only letterpress-printing their own editions, but collaborating with Folio Society, No Reply Press, Lyra’s Books, and, of course, with Marcelo Anciano on their very own Areté Editions.