Every book deserves to be special
Every book deserves to be special
“Yet across the gulf of space, minds that are to our minds as ours are to those of the beasts that perish, intellects vast and cool and unsympathetic, regarded this earth with envious eyes, and slowly and surely drew their plans against us.”
— H. G. Wells (1898), The War of the Worlds
Book 1 of our Science Fiction Collection
Expected Publication 2023
The War of the Worlds was initially serialised in 1897 by Pearson’s Magazine in the UK and by Cosmopolitan magazine in the US, and first published as a hardback in 1898. Telling the story of a Martian invasion of Earth through the experiences of the unnamed narrator, The War of the Worlds is one of the earliest stories depicting a conflict between humankind and an extraterrestrial lifeform.
The novel has proved to be popular, never having been out of print. It has been extremely influential, inspiring films, radio dramas, a record album, comic book adaptations and TV shows as well as sequels or parallel stories by other authors.
About Our Editions
We are presenting The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells in four editions: Limited, Numbered, Lettered and Singularis.
All the editions measure 243mm x 168mm (9.5″ x 6.5″) and feature new artwork by Eren Topçu and a new forward by Professor Simon James. All the editions are typeset in Hightower, with Caberney for display.
All the editions are strictly limited, and we will never reprint them.
Limited Edition
£80.00
The Limited Edition is limited to 1000 copies (and four undistributed copies) and is the only edition to feature a plate sunk cover illustration. Included are 11 colour illustrations by Eren Topçu with a new foreword by Professor Simon J. James. The end papers are printed with Eren’s early concept art.
It is printed offset on Munken Pure Smooth Cream paper by Henry Ling, and is hand-bound by the Fine Book Bindery in quarter bound red Dubletta Cotton cloth, and grey Tiziano mould made paper, including headbands and ribbon. The illustrations are printed offset on Munken Polar Smooth paper by Henry Ling. The end papers are printed on Colorplan Natural paper by Henry Ling. The edition comes in a matching red clothbound slipcase.
The Limited Edition is printed and bound in England.
£350.00
The Numbered Edition is limited to 350 copies (and four undistributed copies) and is hand signed by Eren Topçu, the artist, on a specially designed signature page. The edition includes 21 colour illustrations by Eren , end papers printed with Eren’s early concept art, a new foreword by Professor Simon J. James, and additional supporting material:
This edition is printed letterpress on Mohawk Superfine paper by Hand & Eye, London, and is hand-bound by the Fine Book Bindery in quarter red leather and red Dubletta Cotton cloth, with headbands and ribbon. The illustrations are printed on Munken Polar Smooth paper by Henry Ling. The end papers are printed on Colorplan Natural paper by Henry Ling. The edition comes in a matching red clothbound slipcase.
Purchase of a Numbered Edition confers rights to all future publications with the same number within our Science Fiction collection. For more information visit our frequently asked questions.
The Numbered Edition is printed and bound in England.
£750.00
The Lettered Edition is limited to 52 copies (and four undistributed copies) and is hand signed by Eren Topçu , the artist, on a specially designed signature page. This edition includes 21 colour illustrations by Eren and is accompanied by a portfolio of 15 fine art prints, consisting of:
The portfolio illustrations are giclée printed on Platinum Matt White paper by The Ink Pot. The end papers feature Erin’s early concept art. This edition includes a new foreword by Professor Simon J. James, and additional supporting material:
This edition is printed letterpress on Mohawk Superfine paper by Hand & Eye, London, and is hand-bound by the Fine Book Bindery in full red leather with headbands and ribbon. The illustrations are printed offset on Munken Polar Smooth paper by Henry Ling. The end papers are printed on Colorplan Natural paper by Henry Ling. The edition comes in a solander box containing both the book and portfolio.
Purchase of a Lettered Edition confers rights to all future publications with the same letter within our Science Fiction collection. For more information visit our frequently asked questions.
The Lettered Edition is printed and bound in England.
£2,500.00
The Singularis Edition is limited to 15 copies (and four undistributed copies) and is hand-signed by Eren Topçu, the artist, on a specially designed signature page. Each book contains an additional illustration unique to the individual book.
This edition features 22 colour illustrations and is accompanied by a portfolio of 16 fine art prints:
The end papers feature early concept art. The Singularis edition includes a foreword by Professor Simon J. James and additional supporting material:
This edition is printed letterpress on Mohawk Superfine paper by Hand & Eye, London, and is hand-bound by Temple Bookbinders of Oxford, in full red leather with a gold leaf Martian design on the cover. The illustrations are printed offset on Munken Polar Smooth paper by Henry Ling. The end papers are printed with early concept art on Colorplan Natural paper by Henry Ling. The portfolio illustrations are giclée printed on Platinum Matt White paper by The Ink Pot. The edition comes in a solander box containing both the book and portfolio.
Purchase of a Singularis Edition confers the rights to all future Singularis publications with the same Roman numeral within our Science Fiction collection. For more information visit our frequently asked questions.
The Singularis Edition is printed and bound in England.
Disclaimer: images are conceptual or works in progress and may not match those in the final product.
Eren Topçu is an Istanbul-based illustrator and studied animation at Anatolian University’s Fine Arts Faculty.
Eren worked as lead animator, production assistant, art director and creative director for more
than 15 years in the production field, primarily within digital advertising. She has also worked as a newspaper columnist, university lecturer and yoga instructor.
Switching from full-time to freelance work enabled her to produce two animated shorts: ‘O’ which was selected and screened in the 10th Istanbul Biennials’ parallel event, and ‘Today’ for !f Istanbul in 2016.
Eren has illustrated for selected narratives of Turkish literature for Italian-Turkish e-magazine Kaleydoscope on culture and arts. Illustrating books came later, including: The Remembering Olive Tree, a children’s book by İsmail Keskin, Why Whales Cry And Otters Lie, a fable book by Chris Jones, and Dönüştüm, a poetry book by Yasemin Güneş Dikmen.
Eren illustrates with both digital and traditional media. Her work is mostly realistic and detail oriented, yet not easily summarised by a certain style. She believes every project is unique and likes to follow the inspiration that comes with the project.
In addition to her illustration and animation career, she is a member of an Istanbul-based women’s art collective and works as a freelance lecturer. She likes to spend her spare time reflecting on her dreams, drinking tea while gazing at the Bosporus, or sitting with her companion, Theo the cat.
Simon J. James is Professor of Victorian Literature in the Department of English Studies at Durham University. He is the author of Maps of Utopia: H. G. Wells and the End of Culture (Oxford University Press) and of research on George Gissing, Charles Dickens, and Victorian bestsellers. He has edited The Wellsian, the scholarly journal of the H. G. Wells Society, and five Wells novels for Penguin and Oxford World’s Classics.