Imagine spending eternity searching for a single book in a library without end.
Steven L. Peck’s A Short Stay in Hell is a haunting, philosophical novella about the nature of eternity, the limits of human understanding, and the quiet terror of an impossible search. When Soren Johansson dies, he discovers that his afterlife is a vast library containing every possible book. Somewhere among its seemingly infinite shelves lies the one volume that holds the key to his escape: the story of his own life.
For this special Hatteras Path publication, the novella features a new foreword by Tyler Jones, a new afterword by Steven L. Peck, and six original color illustrations by Grace Aldrich.
The Standard Edition
The Standard Edition brings together traditional printing techniques, distinctive materials, and original artwork in a carefully designed volume. Bound in Verona Bisque cloth with Rainbow Cotton paper boards, the book features matte brown foil blocking incorporating line art by Grace Aldrich. A full-scale illustration by Aldrich adorns the dust jacket, offering a striking visual introduction to the world of A Short Stay in Hell.
Inside, the text is printed letterpress on Mohawk Superfine Eggshell paper, with typography designed in Warnock Pro and Crimson Pro. Six original color illustrations by Grace Aldrich accompany the text, while the two-color title page pairs black and metallic gold ink. Sunstone Lumina metallic paper endpapers add another subtle material detail to the book’s presentation.
The edition is housed in a coordinating Verona Bisque cloth slipcase, foil blocked in black and gold, and includes a bookmark featuring artwork from the dust jacket.
Limited to 500 copies, the Standard Edition offers readers and collectors an opportunity to experience this extraordinary novella in a finely crafted edition that brings together letterpress printing, original illustration, and thoughtful design.
Each copy is signed by Steven L. Peck, Tyler Jones, and Grace Aldrich.
The estimated delivery will begin in January 2027.
Specifications
The Book
Trim size: 6 × 9 inches
Sewing: Smyth-sewn
Extent: 132 pages, endsheet to endsheet
Endpapers: Sunstone Lumina metallic paper
Printing: Text printed letterpress on Mohawk Superfine Eggshell paper
Typography: Designed in Warnock Pro and Crimson Pro by Gerald Ward
Title page: Two-color printing in black and metallic gold ink
Illustrations: Six internal color illustrations, printed offset
The Binding
Cloth: Verona Bisque
Boards: Rainbow Cotton paper
Tooling: Matte brown foil blocking
Front board: Line art by Grace Aldrich
The Dust Jacket
The Slipcase
Additional Features
Bookmark featuring artwork from the dust jacket
Signed by Steven L. Peck, Tyler Jones, and Grace Aldrich
Limited to 500 copies
Optional Remarques by Grace Aldrich
Collectors may commission a hand-drawn remarque by illustrator Grace Aldrich to accompany their copy of A Short Stay in Hell. Remarques are original drawings created for individual books, offering a unique addition to the edition.
Black-and-white remarques: $100, plus $20 domestic shipping. International shipping is charged at cost.
More elaborate remarques may be available by special request, with scope and pricing arranged directly with Grace.
How to order: Select the remarque option at checkout. There will be no additional charge at checkout; payment will be arranged with Grace at a later date. I will follow up by email to confirm the details and coordinate the process. Books receiving a remarque will be shipped separately to Grace for her to complete the artwork before being sent to their owners.
For international orders, any additional international shipping charge collected at checkout will be refunded, leaving only the domestic shipping rate for delivery to Grace. The cost of shipping the completed book back internationally will be charged separately at cost.
100% of remarque proceeds go directly to Grace Aldrich. Thank you for supporting this exceptional artist.
With Thanks
A special thanks to Therese Doucet of Strange Violins Editions, Monica Meehan at DropCap Agency, and Jason Deters, Katharine Grenville, and the amazing team of binders at Bindtech-Dekker in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for their contributions to this edition.
A Note on Handmade Production
Prototype images are provided to illustrate the design and materials of each edition. Due to the handmade nature of these books and the use of natural materials, slight variations may occur in the finished product. Such variations are an inherent part of the bookmaking process and are not considered defects.
Imagine spending eternity searching for a single book in a library without end.
Steven L. Peck’s A Short Stay in Hell is a haunting, philosophical novella about the nature of eternity, the limits of human understanding, and the quiet terror of an impossible search. When Soren Johansson dies, he discovers that his afterlife is a vast library containing every possible book. Somewhere among its seemingly infinite shelves lies the one volume that holds the key to his escape: the story of his own life.
For this special Hatteras Path publication, the novella features a new foreword by Tyler Jones, a new afterword by Steven L. Peck, and six original color illustrations by Grace Aldrich.
The Standard Edition
The Standard Edition brings together traditional printing techniques, distinctive materials, and original artwork in a carefully designed volume. Bound in Verona Bisque cloth with Rainbow Cotton paper boards, the book features matte brown foil blocking incorporating line art by Grace Aldrich. A full-scale illustration by Aldrich adorns the dust jacket, offering a striking visual introduction to the world of A Short Stay in Hell.
Inside, the text is printed letterpress on Mohawk Superfine Eggshell paper, with typography designed in Warnock Pro and Crimson Pro. Six original color illustrations by Grace Aldrich accompany the text, while the two-color title page pairs black and metallic gold ink. Sunstone Lumina metallic paper endpapers add another subtle material detail to the book’s presentation.
The edition is housed in a coordinating Verona Bisque cloth slipcase, foil blocked in black and gold, and includes a bookmark featuring artwork from the dust jacket.
Limited to 500 copies, the Standard Edition offers readers and collectors an opportunity to experience this extraordinary novella in a finely crafted edition that brings together letterpress printing, original illustration, and thoughtful design.
Each copy is signed by Steven L. Peck, Tyler Jones, and Grace Aldrich.
The estimated delivery will begin in January 2027.
Specifications
The Book
Trim size: 6 × 9 inches
Sewing: Smyth-sewn
Extent: 132 pages, endsheet to endsheet
Endpapers: Sunstone Lumina metallic paper
Printing: Text printed letterpress on Mohawk Superfine Eggshell paper
Typography: Designed in Warnock Pro and Crimson Pro by Gerald Ward
Title page: Two-color printing in black and metallic gold ink
Illustrations: Six internal color illustrations, printed offset
The Binding
Cloth: Verona Bisque
Boards: Rainbow Cotton paper
Tooling: Matte brown foil blocking
Front board: Line art by Grace Aldrich
The Dust Jacket
The Slipcase
Additional Features
Bookmark featuring artwork from the dust jacket
Signed by Steven L. Peck, Tyler Jones, and Grace Aldrich
Limited to 500 copies
Optional Remarques by Grace Aldrich
Collectors may commission a hand-drawn remarque by illustrator Grace Aldrich to accompany their copy of A Short Stay in Hell. Remarques are original drawings created for individual books, offering a unique addition to the edition.
Black-and-white remarques: $100, plus $20 domestic shipping. International shipping is charged at cost.
More elaborate remarques may be available by special request, with scope and pricing arranged directly with Grace.
How to order: Select the remarque option at checkout. There will be no additional charge at checkout; payment will be arranged with Grace at a later date. I will follow up by email to confirm the details and coordinate the process. Books receiving a remarque will be shipped separately to Grace for her to complete the artwork before being sent to their owners.
For international orders, any additional international shipping charge collected at checkout will be refunded, leaving only the domestic shipping rate for delivery to Grace. The cost of shipping the completed book back internationally will be charged separately at cost.
100% of remarque proceeds go directly to Grace Aldrich. Thank you for supporting this exceptional artist.
With Thanks
A special thanks to Therese Doucet of Strange Violins Editions, Monica Meehan at DropCap Agency, and Jason Deters, Katharine Grenville, and the amazing team of binders at Bindtech-Dekker in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for their contributions to this edition.
A Note on Handmade Production
Prototype images are provided to illustrate the design and materials of each edition. Due to the handmade nature of these books and the use of natural materials, slight variations may occur in the finished product. Such variations are an inherent part of the bookmaking process and are not considered defects.
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