Dark Carnival [Hardcover]

Ray Bradbury (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1996

Over 50 years out of print the October release of DARK CARNIVAL by RAY BRADBURY will be the literary event of the year for Bradbury fans. After many years Ray Bradbury has agreed to allow this classic to be published in a LIMITED edition, with bonus material, edited by his long-time bibliographer Donn Albright. With the space allowed here we can't provide details of ALL the bonus material, but for complete details check out the Gauntlet Press website. The cover art is a Bradbury oil painting from Albright’s personal collection, painted by Bradbury around the time of the original publication of DARK CARNIVAL. We will be reproducing the book as it originally appeared AND then add a host of bonus material, from Albright’s personal archives. We will be including five additional short stories for this definitive edition of the DARK CARNIVAL. These are stories that did not appear in the original, with most all but impossible to get a hol! d of. All were originally published in Weird Tales and were at one time considered for publication in the original version of DARK CARNIVAL. Four stories will appear in the book itself: “The Watchers” Bradbury’s first anthology sale in Rue Morgue which he sold at the age of 25. There is also “The Poems” “Bang, You’re Dead” and “The Seashells.” Other bonus material include Bradbury’s original proposal for DARK CARNIVAL, a detailed proposal for a ballet with handwritten notes Bradbury made to himself, the original U.S. and U.K. versions of the cover, story notes in Bradbury’s own words from a taped session with Donn Albright and far more. Only 700 numbered copies of this classic will be sold. After we’re sold out Bradbury’s representatives say the book goes back in the vault (NO further editions, no paperback). Since the book will not be out until November (but will in all probability be sold out) it's wise to order a copy now. With so few available their value will skyrocket, just like the original.

Note: This book will not be signed by the author, as previously noted. -- Gauntlet Press, 10/23/2001.

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Once to be titled The Child's Garden of Terrors, Bradbury's first story collection rolls back into town, spinning stardust and cobwebs in its wondrous wake. Originally published by Arkham House in 1947, this deluxe reissue features historical notes by John Eller, an introduction and individual story notes by the master himself and a glowing afterword by Clive Barker. Obsessed with death, old age and a longing to retain the eternal child in all of us, Bradbury once described himself as the "quasi god-son of Edgar Allan Poe," though Poe lacked the gift of humor that has helped shape Bradbury's seductive shadows. "You are only eight years old, you know little of death, fear, or dread," writes Bradbury in "The Night" as he powerfully encapsulates in a neat eight pages a child's first discovery of the unknown. Other standouts include the penultimate scary carnival story, "The Jar"; the Elliot family tales, "Uncle Einar," "The Homecoming" and "The Traveler"; "The Small Assassin," a sinister story far more frightening than Rosemary's Baby; the stunning "Jack-in-the-Box," one of the best parental abuse stories ever written; the harrowing "The Next in Line"; and "Reunion," which uses the simple metaphor of a washing machine in its probing depiction of the grieving process. Magazine covers precede each story with the exception of "The Lost Stories," four pieces rescued from pulp oblivion, while reproductions of manuscript errata illuminate the gestation process of the legendary first edition. Well worth the price of admission and certain to be on discerning Christmas lists. (Dec.)published a collection of poems and essays, A Chapbook for Burnt-Out Priests, Rabbis, and Ministers (Forecasts, Mar. 19), and a novel, From the Dust Returned (Forecasts, Aug. 27).

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

From the Publisher

There's no way to describe this unique undertaking. Story notes explain the genesis of each story. Each story will be preceded by the Weird Tales (or other magazine cover) in which the story first appeared. Clive Barker wrote an afterword. All of these was made possible by editor Donn Albright whose archives are a treasure trove. He provided all of the bonus material and convinced Bradbury to allow us to use that material. A unique look at this author's first collection, as well as the book itself which is near impossibly to find (and cannot be found at an affordable price). See our website for a complete Table of Contents.

Note: This book will not be signed by the author, as previously noted. -- Gauntlet Press, 10/23/2001. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Buccaneer Books (October 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156849257X
• ISBN-13: 978-1568492575
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,513,719 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Book Great but WAY Overpriced, May 2, 2003

By 

Stephen B. Whitehead "classicalsteve" (Lafayette, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dark Carnival (Hardcover)

Stories receive 5 Stars. Book Value Regarding Asking Price Receives No stars! I ordered this new limited edition book of Dark Carnival. While the stories are some of the best ever from one of our greatest living writers, this book is a complete RIPOFF! When I ordered this book for a whopping $...I thought this book was supposed to be signed by Bradbury and Clive Barker and come with a slipcase and a CD. I found neither signature in the book (no signature page) and no slipcase or CD. Only a printed facsimile of a letter to Bradbury's parents from 1947. I later found out that I would have to shell out another $...for a slipcase and the CD. Pricing an unsigned book with no slipcase at $... on a book that should be priced as a trade edition for about $...-$... is outrageous. Although I love the stories, Gauntlet is overpricing this book, especially when they are misleading as to what customers are actually getting for this money. Of the handful of signed limiteds I own, many have much higher production value for a lot less money. I would hope that more writers would take caution when allowing their books to be published here, and they should know what customers are getting for these signed limiteds. This prohibitively priced book that lacks a lower priced trade edition means that only 700 people will be able to own the book. What about the 1000's of other Bradbury fans?

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly impressive!, November 30, 2001

By 

"lenore13levy" (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dark Carnival (Hardcover)

As a Ray Bradbury fan, this is so far the best addition to my collection yet. Beautiful cover, so much bonus material... In relation to the concern the other reviewer had, you can order it straight from the publisher for the same price and it is autographed (by Clive Barker too).

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful Book, May 17, 2002

By 

Richard Imbro (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dark Carnival (Hardcover)

After waiting most of a lifetime to find a copy of Dark Carnival, I was afraid to read it (and diminish its "value") when I did. Now I will sell it. Because this new edition represents a beautiful IDEA for a book, beautifully executed, with beautiful results. Just a beautiful book. This is not a blast from the past -- this is the future of bookmaking!