Scarlet Imprint Release: Devoted
By Giania • Dec 1st, 2008 at 12:19 am • Category: Featured, LiteratureI am the proud owner of three books released by Scarlet Imprint publishing. The first, a first edition copy of The Red Goddess, a limited edition book by Peter Grey discussing the mystery of BABALON, the figure of the Holy Whore. It was a fascinating, poetic, and delightful read, inspiring me to further research.
The second, a first edition copy of Howlings, a collection of essays from fresh voices in different schools of occult thought. The essays are all brilliantly revealing about the authors and their approaches, and it is refreshing to note that the overall impression is of conflicting viewpoints rather than a homogenous or dogmatic approach to the various schools of gnosis.
The third volume in my burgeoning collection of these wonderfully thoughtful and artfully produced volumes has just been announced for purchase: Devoted.
It will be an octavo book of 173 pages. As with previous releases, this will be a limited edition, with this release consisting of 814 hand numbered copies. As with the volumes put forth by Scarlet Imprint before, I’ve no doubt that the description of its saffron cover and night black end papers will not do justice to the volume’s artful craftsmanship.
Like Howlings before it, Devoted speaks in many voices and from many disciplines. However, unlike the more meta focus on Grimoires in Howlings, Devoted is intended to focus on the authors’ actual devotional practices. My hope is it will open the thick curtains which obscure the stage of gnostic practice from prying eyes and give insight into real experiences of occult practitioners.
Some of the contributing authors have worked with Scarlet Imprint on some of the previous releases, but several voices here are new. It is encouraging to see such diversity in voices, and provides hope that the metaphoric labyrinths of various magick and occult disciplines may one day be pulled from the tightly closed fists of the dead practitioners into the light of modern application and appreciation.
I look forward to sharing my impressions of the book itself after it arrives. In the interim, I strongly suggest ordering Devoted if the idea interests you, as these limited edition books do tend to go quickly. I’d also recommend getting a copy of the Summer Solstice edition of The Red Goddess before all 777 are gone, or investigating David Beth’s release through the publisher called Voudon Gnosis. Howlings may eventually be reprinted, and if you wish to get a copy it may be wise to join their mailing list.
A caution though: These books are not produced in limited releases in order to spend their lives in the plastic dungeons of a book collector, but made rare in order to inspire reverence for the material. If the concept of a book as a personal tool or precious gift is beyond you, then I would suggest that this publisher is not for you. However, for those who can appreciate the value of a rarefied literary experience, and for whom the subject matter is of interest, I cannot encourage you strongly enough to make the investment in a book you will enjoy more with each reading.
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OOOOO Devoted is out… damn it, must see if I can afford the edition price!
Well, I paid 61.35(usd) with shipping, so it’s not too-too rough. Although it is admittedly a bit harder to justify the expense if you’re in the habit of buying a lot of presents during this time of year. But nobody ever said that you couldn’t give yourself presents, or if they did say that then they’re clearly missing an important opportunity to treat themselves.