I know money is more often than not a determining factor in what we can afford to purchase through the small press. I am certainly not rich by any stretch of the imagination, but I have somehow found the money to continue purchasing all of the Bottle of Smoke releases to date, especially the signed deluxe versions (for collectability sake but equally so for the hand book binding work and extras that come with those) . I think what Bill Roberts has accomplished to date overall with his press in such a short time frame is just amazing. This 9 in Nine set has raised the bar all that much more for everyone in the small press in my humble opinion. Today, I just received the full set of the soft bound versions of the 9 in Nine series. My clamshell set should be here any day. But if the soft bounds are anything to go on, I am sure the deluxe set will put me in a state of pure excitement to say the least.
All that RJK46 says is true about this series. Bill has really outdone himself. All of these titles are miniature gems. Everything about them from their content, letter pressed covers to the hand binding, which is exceptional. I like this line best from RJK46 which pretty much sums up how I see Bottle of Smoke Press as a whole, "well crafted and beautiful hand made books of literary significance" We are witnessing history here folks. Don't let these titles slip by. For what you get for your money, all the titles are bargains !
I can see through the forum that most of you buy new titles by the authors you are most familiar with (which makes sense), one or two titles at a time here and there. What I would like to add here is, yes, buy your favourites (you don't need to buy everything like I do) but please try a new author here and there. At $5 a book, it aint gonna break the bank. Bill has a great eye for talent. I would have never discovered Soheyl Dahi's work, which I am quite taken with... David Barker has written some fine stuff... all of the BosPress authors and artists have something quite unique to offer. I knew Carol Es for years as an artist and then bought her poetry book from BosPress. She is a f*cking very good poet too. You discover these talents, these gems that may have passed you by. Dahi's "Her" book still resonates with me today. It packs an emotional punch which blew me away the first time I read it. I believe there are still some soft bounds left. If you haven't bought that one, take my advice and get it before they sell completely out. Buy any of the new 9 in Nine titles. They are all good, all unique. Support the small press, buy an author today which you haven't read previously. Lash out, try something new. Any of the authors published by BosPress, is a fairly safe bet. Thanks Bill, for publishing this latest very fine set indeed.
Would love to hear more from others that have received any of the 9 in Nine series.