This Is Pleasure . . . and This Is Pain

From a visionary explorer of the mutable, sometimes treacherous edge of gender relations comes an electrifying update to her #metoo story This Is Pleasure, in which the voices of the women accusers expand and proliferate, as do the consequences for the man they accuse; this special “flipbook” edition includes the two narratives back to back.

“A tale for our time, if ever there was one.” —Katy Thompsett, Refinery29

“Gaitskill writes with visceral power. . . . She commands her readers’ attention as few fiction writers can.”—The New York Times Book Review

The effervescent, well-dressed Quin, a British book editor who was a fixture on the New York arts scene, lost his job after being accused of repeated transgressions toward women in his orbit. To Quin’s old friend Margot, his fall from grace is a nuanced tragicomedy, one that, in Gaitskill’s telling, reveals all the players involved as hurtful and hurting, sympathetic and maddening. Now Quin, with his marriage on the rocks and no prospects, launches himself on an uncertain trajectory that takes him back to London where he grew up and finally to the American West, where he hopes to widen his horizons. And widen them he does, but not as he expected.

Gaitskill’s belief in our ability to see the shades of gray in people, even when we don’t admire them, is a gesture of humanity from one of our greatest contemporary writers.

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