Virgin Paperback of "My Work is Not Yet Done" on the Horizon?

An Amazon search yields an entry for a forthcoming paperback reprint of Thomas Ligotti's My Work is Not Yet Done. Apparently, the new edition will be released in February, 2009. If confirmed, this signals a small, but widening republication of Ligotti's work in new, affordable softcovers. Virgin Books, the publisher, recently put out a new edition of Teatro Grottesco as well. Selecting My Work is Not Yet Done is somewhat surprising, but not entirely unexpected. This 2002 set of longer stories was one of Thomas Ligotti's most experimental departures from his usual style of dreamy, surreal, and existential terrors.

My Work is Not Yet Done instead focuses on corporate horror--a surprisingly realistic setting and theme for Ligotti. When this work originally arrived, a number of longtime Ligotti fans expressed dissatisfaction with their author's shift in fiction. Others loved it. Commercially, reprinting this more accessible horror collection may spur interest in Ligotti for new readers. It's otherwise a welcome addition to the growing list of cheaper and far more available Ligotti texts. While old Ligottians will cherish their first and second editions even more, others will finally be able to enjoy this writer without resorting to outrageous book searches and prices.

-Grim Blogger