Ex Occidente Press

[MadsPLP]

Another small press has started, releasing books which may be of interest to members of this forum.

Ex Occidente Press

They have released books by Mark Valentine (editor of the journal Wormwood, and the author of two volumes about the decadent occuly detective The Connoiseur (and by some named the true heir of Machen)), Ray Russell (from my favourite publisher, Tartarus Press) - forthcoming is also a volume of new stories by Reggie Oliver, as well as a new collection by the brilliant Quentin S. Crisp, John Gale, Steve Duffy, and Joel Lane! Here is a list of other forthcoming titles:

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The Light of the World and Other Stories by Peter Bell The Rakes of the Old Courtyard by Matheiu Caragiale Dangerous Invitations by William Charlton The Burning Calendar of Jerusalem Unicornus by Father Mihail Avramescu The Old Knowledge by Rosalie Parker The Lighted Burrow - Sanatorium Journal by Max Blecher Disagreeable Tales by Léon Bloy Sacred Flowers: The Odd Tales of Nigromontanus by Ernst Jünger Faces of Ice by Joel Lane Tenebrous Tales by Christopher Barker The Sonnet of Fire and Other Stories by Marcel Brion The Incendiary Traveler by Gellu Naum The Black Cupboard and Other Tales by Claude Seignolle

About the press:

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About Ex Occidente Press Ex Occidente Press is an independent publishing house from that doubtful place that was once called "la Porte de l'Orient" by travellers, seers and esoterists, generals and freemasons, poets and spies, prostitutes and rakes, salon artists and theologians, but which is known nowadays under the name of Bucharest. Ex Occidente Press specialises in rara et nova fiction of the supernatural, the odd and the weird, the strange and the decadent, the fantastic and the obscure, the very holy and the luxuriously heretical. Ex Occidente Press places equal emphasis on introducing both new works from contemporary writers and works from an earlier age of European literature that has been neglected in the English-speaking world. For questions, orders and general information, please write to exoccidente@gmail.com

All in all, I think the prospects of Ex Occidente Press looks very promising indeed.

[yellowish haze]

Thank you for sharing this, MadsPLP. I have heard about Ex Occidente Press some time ago when titles by Mark Valentine were announced (I think their site looked different back then), but I don't remember seeing the list of forthcoming books. Sounds fantastic. I'm especially looking forward to collections by Reggie Oliver and Joel Lane.

[The New Nonsense]

This is terrific news. I'd heard news of Ex Occidente Press a month or two ago with the announcement of Ray Russell's book . However, I could not find any further information about the publisher. I'm glad you were able to dig up some more info. Currently there are only a few publishers who print Decadent works, such as Tartarus Press and Dedalus Books. Having another added to their ranks should help tremendously. Besides printing the works of new authors, I look forward to see which older and long out of print titles they plan to make available.

I'm curious to see the quality of their books. If they're anything like Tartarus Press' books, I'll be very happy indeed.

[MadsPLP]

Quote Originally Posted by yellowish haze

Thank you for sharing this, MadsPLP. I have heard about Ex Occidente Press some time ago when titles by Mark Valentine were announced (I think their site looked different back then), but I don't remember seeing the list of forthcoming books. Sounds fantastic. I'm especially looking forward to collections by Reggie Oliver and Joel Lane.

I believe their website is brand new. At first, I don't think they had one. No wonder there wasn't time with that list of forthcoming titles [insert smiley which drops its jaw here].

The earlier version didn't have the list of forthcoming titles, as you correctly mention.

I wrote the publisher some time ago, and he seems to be a true gentleman. I have ordered both the collection by Ray Russell and Reggie Oliver, and will make a post about the quality of the books when they have arrived. Judging from the descriptions on the website, they seem to be something near Tartarus'. I'm looking forward to a new collection by Joel Lane too - The Lost District (esp. the title story!) was a magnificent collection, and I owe thanks to whomever it was at ligotti.net who wrote about it (Bleak&Icy perhaps?), and to VivaJune for letting me borrow his copy.

I agree with The New Nonsense that there are very few (far too few!) publishers who publish decadent literature. With Dedalus sadly being threatened (Don't Let Dedalus Die) one more publisher of decadent literature is very welcome indeed.

I don't know too many of the european names on the list of forthcoming titles, but I'm looking forward to learning more about them. The titles alone seem very intriguing.

[Beclabbered]

I purchased and received their first publication, The Rite of Trebizond and Other Tales by Valentine and Howard. It's a nicely made little book, but may not be quite as spectacular as Tartarus Press books. It has a pictorial front cover but no dust jacket. It is not signed, as many limited, small press books are. The trade off is that the cost of the book (the cost of worldwide shipping included) was significantly less than the $50 to $65 that other presses ask.
Although I have a strong aesthetic sense regarding books, ultimately I buy books for the sake of their content, to read and enjoy, and it looks like Ex Occidente will be printing-affordably!-many quality authors.
The Reggie Oliver collection they plan on doing sounds promising, containing many stories, as well as some of his previously published essays (which I haven't yet read). I can't wait.

[yellowish haze]

Looks like in March Ex Occidente will be publishing a collection of stories by Jean Ray, THE HORRIFYING PRESENCE AND OTHER TALES!!!

Ex Occidente Press - The Horrifying Presence

[The New Nonsense]

This is fantastic news. I love Jean Ray. I noticed there is zero duplication of stories from the Jean Ray collection MY OWN PRIVATE SPECTRES published by Midnight House in 1999. Thanks Slawek!

[MadsPLP]

Quote Originally Posted by The New Nonsense

This is fantastic news. I love Jean Ray. I noticed there is zero duplication of stories from the Jean Ray collection MY OWN PRIVATE SPECTRES published by Midnight House in 1999. Thanks Slawek!

I've been told that one of their aims is to publish a lot of works which have never been translated into English before.

I will try and keep this thread updated with news from Ex Occidente as they come. It seems to rapidly become of one the most interesting small presses around.

There is also a new novella by Ray B. Russell coming up.

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BLOODY BAUDELAIRE by R. B. Russell Introduction: To be announced Cover art: To be finalised Publication Date: early April 2009 ISBN: 9-51903406429-5 Sewn hardcover, limited to 400 copies, 75pp with decorative end papers and a full-color frontispiece. When young Lucian Miller visits the house of a friend it is everything he had long fantasized about; decay and grandeur, lofty rooms, dark red shadows and dust. The evening, however, is a disaster, and Lucian finds himself apparently alone with the sophisticated but troubled Miranda Honeyman. They shut all of the doors in an attempt to keep their problems out, but it soon becomes apparent that someone else may have access to the house. On the threshold of adulthood, in a heightening atmosphere of sexual uncertainty and violence, Lucian tries to make sense of what is happening around him. Bloody Baudelaire handles its themes deftly, with a rare insight into human character in extremis. An absolutely stunning new novella from an upcoming master of the fantastic! Bloody Baudelaire is a sewn hardcover book of 75 pages with decorative end papers and a full-color frontispiece. Edition limited to 400 copies. The first 50 copies are signed by the author. $30 inc. p&p to Europe and USA, $35 to the rest of the world.

I have his debut collection coming in the mail, and may write some comments on it, when it has been received and read.
I never knew he writes himself.

[nomis]

Ray's a great writer; you're going to love his book.

Ex Occidente has a great lineup of authors coming; what's on the website now is just the start of what can officially be announced.

[Viva June]

Mammon, why hast thou forsaken me?