Volumes 1 and 2 of The Fantastical Art of Jim Pitts now available in softcover

The softcover versions of the limited, signed hardback edition of The Fantastical Art of Jim Pitts are now both available to order online, £15.99 each. Volume 2 contains a small number of recent full colour and black & white illustrations not included in the hardback.

Amazon UK - volume 1
Amazon UK - volume 2


Amazon USA - volume 1
Amazon USA - volume 2

The Fantastical Art of Jim Pitts reviewed by Trevor Kennedy of Phantasmagoria Magazine

THE FANTASTICAL ART OF JIM PITTS.
Review by Trevor Kennedy for Phantasmagoria Magazine.
The Fantastical Art of Jim Pitts is a bumper hardback dedicated to the life works so far of the man of the title, one of the great fantasy artists of our time. On top of that, it also serves as a history of sorts of the much esteemed British Fantasy Society (and related publications) and the early days of these guys at the forefront of the movement, highlighting their good times, and quite often difficulties, over the last almost half a century. Jim Pitts and his exquisitely detailed artworks are our guides through this fascinating and hugely important period for the UK fantasy/horror scene. And I loved every single page of it!
Jim’s life, from his working class Northern English beginnings and folk band days with ‘The Jim Pitts Folk Quartet’ to the present day, is chronicled over 212 pages alongside a bonanza of his macabre works and written contributions from BFS stalwarts such as David A. Riley, David A. Sutton, Ramsey Campbell, Stephen Jones, Brian Lumley, Adrian Cole, Peter Coleborn and more, fascinating real life stories concerning what really must have been a golden era for these pioneers, especially in the 1970s and ‘80s. Reading about the difficulties they faced back then just made me realise how lucky wannabe publishers/writers like myself get it these days. My first job when I left school was with a printing firm, so I know only too well how expensive lithographic printing was, and probably still is.
On the subject of Jim’s artwork itself, firstly I must state that I am no art expert, especially from a technical viewpoint. But for me, as a layman, I found his numerous pieces included on the pages to be brilliantly atmospheric, haunting and Lovecraftian. I particularly enjoyed his representations of certain M.R. James’ stories, some of his Cthulhu mythos-based creations, his cracking portrait of Vincent Price in Witchfinder General, along with a classic Universal monster or two. On a personal level, Jim’s artwork also brought with it warm feelings of nostalgia for my own childhood when I would have read some of the various publications referenced, including Fantasy Tales and the B.F.S. Bulletins, mailed to me in the 1980s by my then pen-pal cousin Dave Carson, another fantasy artist also mentioned in the book and associate of Jim and the aforementioned contributors. For me to now be just a small part of this scene is the greatest of personal honours.
This is a very special book for many reasons, so if you have even a passing interest in fantasy artwork (especially that of Jim Pitts obviously) or the recent history of the UK weird fiction scene, then you really need to grab a copy for yourself as soon as humanly possible!
A limited number of 250 signed copies of The Fantastical Art of Jim Pitts have been published by Parallel Universe Publications. If you are interested in acquiring a copy you can contact them through the following:
Parallel Universe Publications
David A. Riley; Linden Riley
Head Office: 130 Union Road, Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, BB5 3DR, UK.
Email: paralleluniversepublications@gmx.co.uk or davidariley@gmx.co.uk
A future issue of Phantasmagoria Magazine (number 10, late May 2019) will feature interviews with Jim Pitts, David A. Riley and David A. Sutton.

The Fantastical Art of Jim Pitts - revised (and reduced) shipping costs

Following our reduction in the price of The Fantastical Art of Jim Pitts from £35.00 to £30.00 per copy, we have also revised our shipping costs and added surface mail as an option to the rest of the world for those who would be happy to wait up to 45 days for delivery.

Our charges now, including shipping costs, are:
£33.90 for UK orders
£39.75 for European orders
£44.75 for airmail postage to the rest of the world
£39.80 for surface mail postage to the rest of the world (which can take up to 45 days)

The Fantastical Art of Jim Pitts

UK £33.90 GBP Europe £39.75 GBP Rest of the World - airmail £44.75 GBP Rest of the World - surface mail (45 days) £39.80 GBP

The Fantastical Art of Jim Pitts - signed editions by Ramsey Campbell, Stephen Jones, Peter Coleborn, Jon M. Harvey, David A. Riley, Jim Pitts

There are a limited number of editions signed by most of the contributors to the book at Fantasycon left: Ramsey Campbell, Stephen Jones, Peter Coleborn, Jon M. Harvey, David A. Riley, and of course Jim himself. If you would like one, you'll need to order one soon before these run out.

Lancashire Telegraph article about The Fantastical Art of Jim Pitts

The Lancashire Telegraph published a half-page story about The Fantastical Art of Jim Pitts in today's edition.

The Lancashire Telegraph published a half-page story about The Fantastical Art of Jim Pitts in today's edition.

Original of photo used by The Lancashire Telegraph taken by Tim Bradley

David A. Riley & Jim Pitts - unused photo by Tim Bradley

With Jim Pitts at our stand at Fantasycon in Peterborough

Another picture of Jim Pitts and me at Fantasycon in Peterborough at the end of September.

My Miskatonic University t-shirt was a gift from Ezeiyoke Chukwunonso - saved only for special occasions!

Some photos of our group signing of The Fantastical Art of Jim Pitts at Fantasycon

Some photos of our group signing of The Fantastical Art of Jim Pitts at Fantasycon by most of the contributors: Ramsey Campbell, Stephen Jones-Editor, Jon M. Harvey, Peter Coleborn, Jim Pitts and David A. Riley.

From left to right: Jon M. Harbey, Peter Coleborn, David A. Riley, Jim Pitts

From left to right: Jon M. Harvey, Peter Coleborn, David A. Riley

From left to right: David A. Riley, Jim Pitts, Ramsey Campbell, Stephen Jones

From left to right: Ramsey Campbell, Stephen Jones

Parallel Universe Publications to be at Sledge-Lit 3 in Derby on 25th November

For the first time Parallel Universe Publications has booked a stand at Sledge-Lit 3 in Derby for the 25th November.  First confirmed Guest of Honour is Alison Littlewood.

All our books will be available, including The Fantastical Art of Jim Pitts.

Manning our stand will be Jim Pitts and me.

Jim Pitts and his two British Fantasy Awards

Not many people win a British Fantasy Award, given out each year at Fantasycon. Fewer still win twice. Jim Pitts is one of those few, winning the award for Best Artist in 1992 and 1993.

Although these were designed by fellow artist, Dave Carson, the original British Fantasy Award was a statuette designed by Jim.

It wasn't only in the world of fantasy that Jim artistic merit was recognised. Years earlier he won the Ken McIntyre Award at the annual British Science Fiction Convention (Eastercon) held in Chester in 1972.

Pre-Order Offer on The Fantastical Art of Jim Pitts

The Fantastical Art of Jim Pitts - pre-order price: £35.00 plus postage and packing. All pre-orders will include 4 high-quality, personally signed A4 black and white prints of Jim Pitts' artwork, which will be unavailable elsewhere. Pre-orders are any made up to and including the 1st September, 2017, when the book will be published.

Copies can either be pre-ordered using the PayPal button or by cheque, payable to Riley Books, 130 Union Road, Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, BB5 3DR, UK. 

The book is limited to 250 numbered copies, every one of which will be signed by Jim Pitts.

After FantasyCon the price will rise to £40 plus postage and packing.

Dedicated Facebook Page for The Fantastical Art of Jim Pitts

We now have a dedicated page on Facebook for The Fantastical Art of Jim Pitts, where uptodate information about this great book will be regularly posted.

Please take a look at it. Better still "like" it too. 

Proof copies received for The Fantastical Art of Jim Pitts

The proof copies of The Fantastical Art of Jim Pitts have arrived. Even though I knew the size of the book beforehand I was still surprised to see just how big the book is in reality! Here are a few photos of it.

 

The Fantastical Art of Jim Pitts - update

After a few final tweaks, The Fantastical Art of Jim Pitts is now at the proofing stage. Within the next week we expect to have a proof copy of this book in our hands, prior to publication. At 214 pages, 8.5 x 11 inches in size, this hardcover book contains hundreds of black and white and full-colour illustrations covering all the years since 1972 when Jim's art first appeared in fanzines like Shadow and Balthus right up to the present day, with illustrations for Brian Lumley's Earth, Air, Fire & Water, Four Tales of Elemental Mythos Horror! published by Fedogan & Bremer. 

As well as illustrations, the book also contains articles by Brian Lumley, Ramsey Campbell, David A. Sutton, Peter Coleborn, Jon M. Harvey, Nick Caffrey, Stephen Jones and David A. Riley. 

Published as a limited, numbered edition of 250, each copy will be signed by Jim Pitts. 

Although the book will be launched at Fantasycon in Peterborough on October 1st, we will be posting details of how you can order this book before then. Any pre-orders will entitle the purchaser to four high-quality, personally signed prints by Jim Pitts.  The price of the book for pre-orders and at Fantasycon will be £35, rising to £40 afterwards.

The Fantastical Art of Jim Pitts

Great progress has been made with The Fantastical Art of Jim Pitts: Rolling Back the Years..., the most ambitious project yet undertaken by Parallel Universe Publications. The book will be approximately 220 pages in length and contain hundreds of black and white and colour illustrations, going back to the very earliest days of Jim's career as a fantasy artist in the 1970s  when he became a mainstay for such legendary fanazines as Shadow, Balthus and the British Fantasy Society's Dark Horizons, right up to today, with books such as Brian Lumley's lavish hard cover from Fedogan & Bremer, Earth, Air, Fire & Water, Spectre Press publications like Cthulhu, The Hyborian Gazette and books from Alchemy Press, Shadow Publishing and PUP.
Above is a rough copy of the cover, though that is still very much a work in progress.
The book is scheduled to be published in August/September as a numbered and signed limited edition hard cover, eight and a half inches by eleven. Details of how to pre-order this book (and the offers being made for any who take up this opportunity) will be given shortly. Copies of the book will also be available at FantasyCon, where Jim will be on hand to personally inscribe any books bought. As this is a signed limited edition copies will only be available though the Parallel Universe website or at FantasyCon.
The book includes articles by Brian Lumley, Ramsey Campbell, Stephen Jones, David A. Sutton, Adrian Cole, Peter Coleborn, Jon M. Harvey, David A. Riley, and Nick Caffrey.