Pocket Stars

From the author of the modern classic Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl comes a sly and sultry, subversively funny, and unabashedly queer anthology centered on the zodiac.

Mary Oliver strives to save a harried, hissing, and half-drowned muskrat from the banks of a river. A centaur beats his chest and strokes his beard by the bonfire, waxing lyrical about the place where human and horse converge. In a world scalded by the boiling oceans, two outcasts plot to outsmart their executioners.

In Pocket Stars, beloved novelist Andrea Lawlor wrangles a dazzling dossier of writers to consider the cosmos. Some are poets, others prose stylists, others cartoonists. Some are skeptics, others true believers. All have come to contemplate how the stars might guide our steps or lead us astray.

With never-before published works by Kaveh Akbar, Ching-In Chen, Kazim Ali, Carmen Maria Machado, Edmund White, Eileen Myles, Margot Douaihy, Andrea Abi-Karam, and many more, Pocket Stars is equal parts sincere and sacrilegious, as much for the cynic as it is for the astrology-obsessed.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs