PROSPECTUS: Parable of the Sower

PA R A BL E OF T H E S OW E R o c tav i a e . bu t l e r

parab le o f the s owe r

Click above to view our video. to order copies of this edition and for information on other titles in our collection, please contact the press: mail@thornwillow.com (845) 569-8883 www.thornwillow.com

PARAB LE O F T HE S O WE R

Octavia E. Butler prospectus

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prospectus Thornwillow is publishing the first ever fine press edition of Octavia E. Butler’s visionary masterpiece, Parable of the Sower. Letterpress printed and hand-bound, the Thornwillow edition is available in a range of versions, from classic paper, cloth, and leather bindings, to an array of unique artists’ books incorporating unconventional materials such as limp vellum, burl wood, wool, Baltic amber, lapis lazuli and gold. Featuring historic U.S. Geological Survey maps, which trace the heroes’ journey across the ravaged California landscape, as well as indices of record-breaking wildfires and events from our own times, the Thornwillow edition ties past, present, and future together to create a book which will honor Butler’s extraordinary legacy and preserve this important story for the (dystopian) future. www.thornwillow.com

Parable of the Sower

I

n the 1940s, George Orwell imagined 1984.

In the 1950s, Ray Bradbury imagined 1999. In 1993, Octavia Butler imagined the 2020s.

Her future is now.

For the first time in a fine press limited edition, Thornwillow Press is proud to present: Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler It is the year 2023. Climate change and growing inequality have decimated the country, all but erasing the American middle class. Parable of the Sower centers on Lauren Oya Olamina, a young woman forced to flee her home on the outskirts of Los Angeles. Traveling north, she dreams of a redemption for humankind: Earthseed— a new religion, a new community, and a destiny to take root among the stars. With a small band of companions, she makes her way up the West Coast, skirting wildfires and roving gangs of marauders and pyromaniacs. It is a dark story, and a grim warning of what might come— but one equally steeped in hope, as well as fear.

Parable of the Sower

“In fact,” said Octavia Butler, “the very act of trying to look ahead to discern possibilities and offer warnings is in itself an act of hope.”

Hailed as the “Mother of Afrofuturism” Butler changed the landscape of science fiction. At a time when there were few Black writers in science fiction, and virtually no Black women, she dared to imagine worlds as vibrant and diverse as the one in which we live, unflinchingly depicting the evil as well as the good, the oppressive as well as the liberating. In writing of Black heroes and Black futures, she managed also to capture that which is universal, creating stories to speak to everyone and guide us all as we shape our destiny.

The Thornwillow edition of Parable of the Sower is available in a variety of meticulously crafted bindings, from letterpress paper wrappers to exquisite full-leather. Each volume is printed letterpress and is illustrated with a series of historic, real-world maps which trace the heroes’ journey across the ravaged California countryside.

the edition This is the first ever fine press edition of Octavia E. Butler’s visionary masterpiece, Parable of the Sower. Letterpress printed on archival papers and hand-bound, we are presenting our edition in several versions from classic paper, cloth, and leather bindings, to an array of unique artists’ books which explore ancient and unconventional binding techniques that push the boundaries of fine bookmaking. These hyper-limited editions feature rare and unusual materials, including limp vellum, burl wood, wool, and gold, as well as genuine Baltic amber, opals, carnelians, onyx, and lapis lazuli. Three are presented in wooden boxes, handcrafted in cedar and black walnut by exceptional craftsmen from our own Makers Village.

Letterpress Paper Wrapper Edition

PA P ER W RA P P ER Edition limited to 100 more than backed $95 Our paper wrapper bindings are made with incredible care. Like the cloth and leather bindings, they have sewn signatures, enabling them to open easily for a beautiful reading experience. The letterpress printed wrapper is folded over a letterpress cover that secures the signatures. The text is printed letterpress on vellum finish archival stock. Each copy is numbered and signed.

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Bound in Half Cloth and Letterpress Boards

HA L F - CLOTH Edition limited to 100 more than backed $195 The Half-Cloth Edition features a cloth spine and corners, letterpress printed boards and endpapers, and a letterpress spine label. The text is printed letterpress on vellum finish archival stock. Each copy is signed and numbered.

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A L L LEATHER BO UN D ED ITI ONS A R E P R ESEN TED IN A N ELEGANT C L A M SHEL L O R W O O D EN B OX .

As established collectors of our leather bound editions know, Thornwillow's signature black clamshell boxes are an elegant way to preserve and protect your books and to unite the collection on a shelf. For this campaign, we have added two new variations, just as elegant and meticulously crafted, but made to complement this unique project.

All of the Half Leather and Full Leather editions include clamshell or wooden boxes for safekeeping.

Clamshell boxes will be hand wrapped in either black or buckram binder's cloth (depending on the binding style), lined in suede, and have leather title labels tooled in genuine gold on the spine. Each of the EL DORADO, WORLD ON FIRE, and EARTHSEED volumes will be presented in wooden boxes, handcrafted in either cedar or black walnut by exceptional craftsmen from our own Makers Village.

Bound in Half Leather and "Scorched Wood" Paste Paper Boards, Presented in a Clamshell Box

HA L F -LEATHER Edition limited to 25 more than backed $595 The HALF-LEATHER edition is bound in black Moroccan leather and scorched wood grain patterned paste paper boards, with letterpress printed endpapers. The top edge of the book is gilt and each copy has hand-sewn headbands. It is presented in a suede lined clamshell box with a gold tooled leather spine label. The text is printed letterpress on felt finish archival stock. Each copy is signed and numbered.

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'God is Change' Half Leather Deluxe, Presented in a Clamshell Box

D E LUXE HA L F -LEATHER G O D IS C HA N GE ED ITIO N Limited to 36 Copies $795 The GOD IS CHANGE DELUXE HALFLEATHER edition is bound in yellow Moroccan goatskin leather and psychedelic letterpress boards—inspired by the ‘Pyro’-addicted “painted faces” who terrorize the California landscape in Parable of the Sower. The top edge of the book is gilt and each copy has hand-sewn headbands. It is presented in a suede lined clamshell box with a gold tooled leather spine label. The text is printed letterpress on felt finish archival stock. Each copy is signed and numbered.

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'Destiny' Edition bound in Full Purple Moroccan Leather, Presented in a Clamshell Box

F UL L -LE ATHER D ESTIN Y ED ITI ON Limited to 24 Copies $895 “The Destiny of Earthseed is to take root among the stars.� The full-leather DESTINY edition is bound in full purple Moroccan leather and features hand-marbled end papers. The top edge is gilt and the book has hand-sewn headbands. It is presented in a suede lined clamshell box with a gold tooled leather spine label. The text is letterpress printed on felt finish archival stock. Each copy is numbered and signed. The edition is limited to 24 copies.

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'Scorched Earth' Edition bound in Full Black Calf, Presented in a Clamshell Box

F U L L -LEATHER A N TIQ UE C ALF S C O RCHED EA RTH ED ITION Limited to 18 Copies $995 The SCORCHED EARTH edition is bound in black mottled calfskin with 'burnt wood grain' paste paper endsheets. The top edge is gilt and the book has hand-sewn headbands. It is presented in a suede lined clamshell box with a gold tooled leather spine label. The text is letterpress printed on felt finish archival stock. Each copy is numbered and signed.

The edition is limited to 18 copies.

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'Book of the Living' Edition bound in Limp Vellum, Presented in a Clamshell Box

V EL LUM BO O K O F T H E L IVIN G ED ITIO N Limited to 18 Copies $1,350 The BOOK OF THE LIVING edition is bound in full limp vellum, a historic binding style popular in the 16th Century and revived by many of the great bookmakers of the early 1900's. It is a flexible binding made of genuine vellum and it is tied at the fore edge by grosgrain ribbons that lace through the cover. The top edge is gilt and the book has handsewn headbands. The text is letterpress printed on gypsum felt finish archival papers. Each copy is numbered and signed. The edition is limited to 18 copies.

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'The Grove' Edition bound in Leather and Burl Ash Boards, Presented in a Clamshell Box

T H E G RO VE ED ITIO N IN HALF LEAT H ER A N D A SH W O O D BOARD S Limited to 12 Copies $2,000 The GROVE edition is bound in half leather and ash burl wood boards. The top edge is gilt and the book has hand-sewn headbands. It is presented in a suede lined clamshell box with a gold tooled leather spine label. The text is letterpress printed on gypsum felt finish archival papers. Each copy is numbered and signed. The edition is limited to 12 copies.

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'Hearthstone' Edition bound in Full Calf set with Baltic Amber, Presented in a Clamshell Box

F UL L -LEATHER H E A RTHSTO N E ED ITIO N Limited to 7 Copies $3,000 The Full-Leather HEARTHSTONE edition is bound in full mottled calfskin with genuine Baltic amber inlaid on the cover, and features handmade paste paper endsheets. The top edge is gilt and the book has hand-sewn headbands. It is presented in a suede lined clamshell box with a gold tooled leather spine label. The text is letterpress printed on gypsum felt finish archival papers. Each copy is numbered and signed. The edition is limited to 7 copies.

Baltic Amber is 35-40 million years old and each piece is unique and distinct. It is said to help balance the emotions, clear the mind and release negative energy.

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The 'El Dorado' Edition is bound in Full Moroccan Leather. The whole cover is gilt in genuine gold. Presented in a Suede Lined Black Walnut Box

F U LL -LEATHER F UL LY G ILT E L D O RA D O ED ITION Limited to 3 Copies $4,000 The EL DORADO edition is bound in full scarlet Moroccan leather with hand marbled endpapers.

The entire cover is gilt in genuine gold leaf. The top edge is also gilt and the book has hand-sewn headbands. It is presented in an elegant suede lined black walnut presentation box, handcrafted right here in the Thornwillow Makers Village. The text is printed letterpress on all-cotton fiber stock. Each copy is numbered and signed. Limited to 3 copies.

The entire cover of the 'El Dorado' Edition is fully gilt in genuine 23 carat gold.

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'World on Fire' Edition bound in Full Orange Moroccan Leather set with genuine Opals, Citrines, Onyx, Carnelians, and Lapis Lazuli.

Presented in a Suede Lined Black Walnut Box

F UL L -LEATHER W O R LD O N F IRE ED ITIO N Limited to 3 Copies $4,500 The Full-Leather WORLD ON FIRE edition is bound in full orange Moroccan goatskin with handmarbled endpapers. The cover is hand tooled and set with an array of gemstones, including opals, citrines, onyx, carnelians, and lapis lazuli for a psychedelic look inspired by the novel’s dread designer drug “pyro”. The top edge is gilt and the book has hand-sewn headbands. It is presented in a suede lined black walnut presentation box, handcrafted right here in the Thornwillow Makers Village. The text is letterpress printed on all-cotton fiber stock.

Each copy is numbered and signed. Limited to 3 copies.

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Each 'Earthseed' volume is bound in a soft leather and one of a kind crocheted wool cover. Presented in a suede lined Cedar Box

W O O L A N D LEATHER EA RTH S E E D One of a Kind Artist's Binding $5,000 Each EARTHSEED volume features a one-ofa-kind crocheted wool and leather cover by artist Irena Martens. The top edge is gilt and the book has hand-sewn headbands and bark patterned end sheets. It is presented in an expertly crafted cedar presentation box, handmade right here in the Thornwillow Makers Village. The text is letterpress printed on all-cotton fiber stock. As each copy is completely unique, each will be numbered 1/1 and signed by the publisher and artist.

Each hand crocheted cover is a one of a kind work of art.

Irena Martens is a celebrated sculptor who has always had a passion for fiber arts. Her work has been exhibited across three continents, by the Smithsonian and the Museum of Contemporary Crafts among many others. Friends of Thornwillow may

also know her as Luke's mom. Her eighteenth century New England farmhouse (called "Thornwillow") was the birthplace of our press. Born during WWII in Hamburg, Germany, some of her earliest memories are of a world ravaged by hate and war— and conversely, of what it took to stitch that world back together.

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