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Clarion Sci-Fi Auction
trickofperspective writes "To defray the cost of this year's session, following budget cuts at host school Michigan State University, the famed Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers' Workshop is holding an online auction of items donated by past alums. Bidding opens January 28th on items such as a signed limited edition of Neil Gaiman's American Gods, a signed, homeade galley of Cory Doctorow's upcoming Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town, and more."
Um, you realize these items being sold were donated for the specific purpose of BEING sold in the auction, right?
I think it's pretty clear that most of the authors donated these items specifically for the auction... Cory Docotorow even links to it on boingboing.
Its been out a while now, since April of last year. Hill House Publishers have an arrangement with Neil (and other authors like Stephenson) to release limited edition "collector" versions of their works. These are the "books as heirloom" type printings, very high quality, archival grade, hand sewn bindings, you name it, deal. The version of American Gods they have sells for $200 and comes with the reader for free (if you request it). I've thought about doing this, as I love his work. Apparently, they'll eventually reprint most or all of his stories in heirloom editions (restoring text that the was cut by Neil or the editors for space reason) and you can get the same numbered one for the entire set. Would be cool, however I'm still stuck on the paying an order of magnitude more for a book than when I originally bought it...
This is really old news. Michigan State pulled funding in 2003. So obviously this "news" item is really a "timely" plug to help fundingraising.
We have recently been informed that Clarion's funding from Michigan State University has been discontinued after the current 2003 workshop.
Read about their funding woes here It may be worth supporting Clarion, but don't pass this off as breaking news.
"You'll get nothing, and you'll like it!"