Last year, the Manchester-based fine press Curious King published special editions of The Fifth Season, the first novel in N. K. Jemisin’s Hugo Award-winning “Broken Earth” trilogy.
Today, Tuesday, September 30 at 3:00 pm Eastern, Curious King’s three editions of The Obelisk Gate, the second book in the trilogy, will go live on their website at the three links below.
This release is considered a pre-order and Curious King plans to ship copies next summer (2026). All copies purchased during this period will come with Series Rights to the third and final book in the “Broken Earth” trilogy, The Stone Sky.
Standard Edition
Standard Edition link: https://curious-king-books.myshopify.com/products/the-obelisk-gate-standard-edition
Limited to 500 copies, the Standard Edition (£235 at preorder) is letterpress-printed, features wraparound dustjacket art (pictured below) by John Anthony di Giovanni, and is signed by both the author and the artist.
“Quarter-bound with a hand-marbled blue design by Freya Scott of Paperwilds, it beautifully complements the previous book and encapsulates the Sapphire,” says Curious King. “The boards are covered in colourplan cream book paper and has two colour foil stamping of the obelisk on the front.”
Deluxe Edition
Deluxe Edition link: https://curious-king-books.myshopify.com/products/the-obelisk-gate-deluxe-edition
Limited to 200 copies, the Deluxe Edition (£575 at preorder) is letterpress-printed, gilded on all three sides, and signed by both author and artist.
“The boards are handbound in a rich cream goat leather and blind stamped on the front and back,” says Curious King. “The spine is rounded; foil stamped in gold and blue and has a Lapis Lazuli stone point affixed.”
Lettered Edition
Lettered Edition link: https://curious-king-books.myshopify.com/products/the-obelisk-gate-lettered-edition
Limited to 26 copies, the Lettered Edition (£1600 at preorder) is letterpress-printed “on a mouldmade Magnani Pescia 130gsm” and signed by both author and artist. This edition comes inside a handmade wooden box with an embedded blue stone and laser etching.
“The book inside is handbound by Ludlow Bookbinders in finest black Harmatan leather and has a blue obelisk stone embedded in the cover,” says Curious King. “Inside the book there are marbled endpapers and a further 9 tipped in colour plates.”
Alderbrink 