Update #1
We are really excited about the project "The Conspirators" and with the excellent repercussions of it. Thus, we announce a novelty: each book will come with an invention of Rhys Hughes (which appeared in "Mombasa Madrigal", published by us a few weeks ago), the "narrative bookmark”. As the name implies, it is a bookmark that becomes itself the means of expressing a specific, brief history. Below, you can find a brief glimpse of that creation.
"That joyous recognition, which seems to obey the tradition of classical tragedy, should be the crown of this story, leaving happiness assured (or at least more than possible) for the three persons of the tale—the true mother, the apocryphal and obliging son, and the conspirator repaid for the providential apotheosis of his industry. But Fate (for such is the name that we give the infinite and unceasing operation of thousands of intertwined causes) would not have it."
(From A Universal History of Iniquity, by Jorge Luis Borges)
(From A Universal History of Iniquity, by Jorge Luis Borges)
Raphus Press proudly presents The Conspirators (A Borgean Tribute to Jorge Luis Borges), a collection of short stories in honor of Borges. Here we have complex reconstructions and ferocious reconfigurations of the usual mazes, daggers, and conspirators of that Argentine author.
Jorge Luis Borges (1899-1986) was an author who not only represented the best of Argentine (and Latin American) fiction in the twentieth century, but followed the fate of some of his inspirers and became, perhaps against his will, a national hero of his country, occupying a mythical zone. Curiously, this mythical status extrapolated the borders of Argentina and the name "Borges" became universally associated with fantastic literature, labyrinths, mirrors, erudition, books.
But Becoming a myth has its drawbacks: the loss of depth when it comes to details. Borges, a man of conservative thinking (in political terms), appreciated the revolutionary Louis-Auguste Blanqui, the grandfather of Leninism. Indeed, in his fictions and poetry, there are innumerable heretics, counterfeiters, villainous, conspirators, indicating a very complex notion of reality outside the conventional axes of conservative morality. Reactivate such paradoxes - this is the quest of our collection!
For this purpose, we have an extraordinary myriad of authors whose unbridled imagination can conjure up infinite new labyrinths, to the liking of Borges: Mark Valentine and John Howard, Thomas Philips, Jonathan Wood, Rhys Hughes, Justin Isis, Stephan Friedman and some few surprises. Some of them in their first collaboration with the Raphus Press, also embarking on the search for a kind of imaginary author, who is perhaps the savage, Argentine God, who imagined the hallucinatory reality that surrounds us as a perpetual maze.
As a gift, an A4 poster (due to the sending expenses, larger formats printing would be discuss via email) designed by Fábio Laoviahn, inspired by "El Aleph", the famous short story by Jorge Luis Borges. A view of the first draft follows below.
The Conspirators (A Borgean Tribute to Jorge Luis Borges), the book (4.7 x 8.8 in.), 130 pages, designed by Raphus Press Immanent Headquarters, printed in the Forma Certa, with a faux dust jacket (or mini-poster). A collection with stories inspired by Jorge Luis Borges and his visions. Collaborations by Mark Valentine and John Howard, Thomas Philips, Jonathan Wood, Rhys Hughes, Justin Isis, Stephan Friedman and another few authors whose participation has not yet been confirmed. An A4 poster will be dispensed with every copy. As usual, this edition will be very scarce: only 50 numbered copies, plus some (very few) private copies. The price includes: the book for US$ 22.50 + mail expenses for every corner in the world (including package and sending), US$ 12.50. To purchase a copy, click on the link below or visit our Catalogue.
Jorge Luis Borges (1899-1986) was an author who not only represented the best of Argentine (and Latin American) fiction in the twentieth century, but followed the fate of some of his inspirers and became, perhaps against his will, a national hero of his country, occupying a mythical zone. Curiously, this mythical status extrapolated the borders of Argentina and the name "Borges" became universally associated with fantastic literature, labyrinths, mirrors, erudition, books.
But Becoming a myth has its drawbacks: the loss of depth when it comes to details. Borges, a man of conservative thinking (in political terms), appreciated the revolutionary Louis-Auguste Blanqui, the grandfather of Leninism. Indeed, in his fictions and poetry, there are innumerable heretics, counterfeiters, villainous, conspirators, indicating a very complex notion of reality outside the conventional axes of conservative morality. Reactivate such paradoxes - this is the quest of our collection!
For this purpose, we have an extraordinary myriad of authors whose unbridled imagination can conjure up infinite new labyrinths, to the liking of Borges: Mark Valentine and John Howard, Thomas Philips, Jonathan Wood, Rhys Hughes, Justin Isis, Stephan Friedman and some few surprises. Some of them in their first collaboration with the Raphus Press, also embarking on the search for a kind of imaginary author, who is perhaps the savage, Argentine God, who imagined the hallucinatory reality that surrounds us as a perpetual maze.
As a gift, an A4 poster (due to the sending expenses, larger formats printing would be discuss via email) designed by Fábio Laoviahn, inspired by "El Aleph", the famous short story by Jorge Luis Borges. A view of the first draft follows below.
The Conspirators (A Borgean Tribute to Jorge Luis Borges), the book (4.7 x 8.8 in.), 130 pages, designed by Raphus Press Immanent Headquarters, printed in the Forma Certa, with a faux dust jacket (or mini-poster). A collection with stories inspired by Jorge Luis Borges and his visions. Collaborations by Mark Valentine and John Howard, Thomas Philips, Jonathan Wood, Rhys Hughes, Justin Isis, Stephan Friedman and another few authors whose participation has not yet been confirmed. An A4 poster will be dispensed with every copy. As usual, this edition will be very scarce: only 50 numbered copies, plus some (very few) private copies. The price includes: the book for US$ 22.50 + mail expenses for every corner in the world (including package and sending), US$ 12.50. To purchase a copy, click on the link below or visit our Catalogue.
Draft of the poster by Fabio Laoviahn.
The opinion of our readers
Golden Age of Clairvoyance
"Well I have received the books today and I had certain high expectations and I must say such high expectations were well exceeded. The selectivity of the authors as I may have mentioned before (both individually and in combination) and translations are impeccable. The book design is exquisite and enhances the holistic reading experience (by way of comparison, on first seeing the books I had the same sense of elation when I had received my first Sylph Edition Cahiers a few years ago)."
(Andrew Condous)
(Andrew Condous)
"The books look really nice - I'm especially liking the full-color images inside. Very good design."
(Damian Murphy)
(Damian Murphy)
"The chapbooks are beautiful. Well done! Equally engaging for the eye and mind."
(Rachel Kinbar)
(Rachel Kinbar)
"The initial print-run of all three is, of course, low, so any interested readers should make a quick decision; because I do hope Raphus continue on their path of intriguing little translations of the recovered uncanny and esoteric."
(Mark Andresen at Pan Review)
(Mark Andresen at Pan Review)
The great weird and fantastic connoisseur, Des Lewis, made an insightful review of Black Mirror, the second chapbook in the series, available in this link.
Spiritual Meaning of the Massacres
"Many thanks for sending me a copy of The Mendicant. It really looks rather good – a bit like one of the books you read about in short stories that start off ‘Beware if you read these words... too late!"
(Stephen Cashmore)
(Stephen Cashmore)
"It's a marvelous production, and it's great that you have resurrected the remarkable title piece. I also enjoyed the pamphlet (...). Long may Raphus Press reign!"
(Chris Mikul)
(Chris Mikul)
"I am absolutely delighted with them [The Mendicant of the Books and The Sacred Abysmal Perspective]! They are both true examples of true and original creative philosophical ingenuity, originality and also design. They are fantastickal chapbooks and it is an equal delight to have been able to contribute and to assist in other ways. Although I saw the proofed editions when you e-mailed them to me, now that they are in my hands, they veritably glow and crackle and weep with their malign embers.
I shall take myself off on a sacred journey this weekend, like the early priests going to Tibet, and will immerse myself in the deep folds and ravines these chapbooks open up."
(Jonathan Wood)
I shall take myself off on a sacred journey this weekend, like the early priests going to Tibet, and will immerse myself in the deep folds and ravines these chapbooks open up."
(Jonathan Wood)