WSFA Press will publish hardcover editions of Connie Willis’ Fire Watch and Jeff VanderMeer’s The Three Quests of the Wizard Sarnod to honor two of Capclave 2010’s guests of honor.

Willis’ novelette won the Hugo and Nebula in the early 1980s. VanderMeer’s novel has been expanded from the story that originally appeared in Songs from the Dying Earth, given an additional character, another plot thread, and a slightly different ending.

Both books have been designed by John Coulthart, the British graphic artist.

The full announcement follows the jump.

[Thanks to Michael Walsh for the link.]

This year we are pleased to announce that WSFA Press (the publishing arm of the Washington Science Fiction Association, which hosts Capclave) will be publishing two special 500-copy, limited and signed hardcover editions honoring two of Guests of Honor for Capclave 2010.

The first volume is The Three Quests of the Wizard Sarnod, by Jeff VanderMeer, an alternate version (having been expanded with an additional character, an additional plot thread, and a slightly different ending) of Jeff’s story which originally appeared in the Dozois-Martin edited Songs from the Dying Earth. This volume of The Three Quests of the Wizard Sarnod was designed by John Coulthart, a well-known British graphic artist, illustrator, author and designer. It begins with a foreword by Jeff VanderMeer, is followed by an afterword by Ann VanderMeer, and is signed by Jeff, Anne, and John Coulthart.

The second volume is Fire Watch, Connie Willis’ 1982 Nebula, and 1983 Hugo award winning novelette relating the experiences of a time-travelling historian who goes back to The Blitz in London, to participate in the fire watch at St. Paul’s Cathedral. This volume of Fire Watch was designed by John Coulthart, a well-known British graphic artist, illustrator, author and designer. It begins with a foreword by James Patrick Kelly and is signed by Willis, Kelly, and Coulthart.

Both volumes will be released at this year’s Capclave, and will initially only be available to members of the convention, and with only one copy of each book per member. Additional copies of the books will be available for purchase at the con, and any remaining copies will be made available after the con to the general public through the WSFA Press Store. One of the benefits of picking up your copies at Capclave is the special introductory price of $20.00 for each book.

If you have not already registered for Capclave, now is a perfect time to do so, and to pre-order your copy of this year’s special WSFA Press offerings. Head over to our Registration page and sign up for the con. And while you’re at it, check out the other special WSFA Press offerings available this year. In addition to this year’s specials, you can also purchase a copy of last year’s WSFA Press special offering, Reincarnations, by Harry Turtledove, for $28.00 (including shipping and handling) which will be mailed to you immediately. Lastly, if you’d prefer, you can purchase a bundle of all three books for pick-up at Capclave.

If you have already registered for this year’s Capclave, and would like to pre-order one or both of this year’s offerings, or Reincarnations, or the bundle, simply send an email to the Capclave Webmaster (see link on the Committee page), giving your name (or names if you’re representing more than one member), and asking for your authorization codes. The webmaster will provide the codes to you and give you access to a webpage similar to the registration page which will allow you to make your pre-orders.