About the book
Irregularity depicts the tension between order and chaos in the 17th and 18th centuries. Men and women from all walks of life dedicated themselves to questioning, investigating, classifying and ordering the natural world. They promoted scientific thought, skepticism and intellectual rigour in the face of superstition, intolerance and abuses of power.
These brave thinkers dedicated themselves and their lives to the idea that the world followed rules that human endeavour could uncover... but what if they were wrong?
From John Harrison to Ada Lovelace, Isaac Newton to Émilie du Châtelet, these stories showcase the Age of Reason in a very different light.
This anthology was published to coincide with two exhibitions at the National Maritime Museum in 2014: a major exhibition on the story of the quest for longitude at sea and a steampunk show at the Royal Observatory.
The Museum was also our partner for the publication of Irregularity, including providing access to their archives for imagery and inspiration. The illustrations for this anthology are based on art from the Museum's collection, with slight irregularities carefully put into place by artist Gary Northfield.
Contents:
- "Fairchild's Folly" by Tiffani Angus
- "A Game Proposition" by Rose Biggin
- "Footprint" by Archie Black
- "A Woman Out of Time" by Kim Curran
- "The Heart of Aris Kindt" by Richard de Nooy
- "An Experiment in the Formulae of Thought" by Simon Guerrier
- "Irregularity" by Nick Harkaway
- "Circulation" by Roger Luckhurst
- "The Voyage of the Basset" by Claire North
- "The Assassination of Isaac Newton by the Coward Robert Boyle" by Adam Roberts
- "Animalia Paradoxa" by Henrietta Rose-Innes
- "The Last Escapement" by James Smythe
- "The Darkness" by M. Suddain
- "The Spiders of Stockholm" by E. J. Swift
Afterword by Sophie Waring and Richard Dunn, Head of Science and Technology at Royal Museums Greenwich
Illustrations by Gary Northfield and the National Maritime Museum
Cover by Howard Hardiman
Edited by Jared Shurin
The Limited Edition
Irregularity was also available as a limited, hardcover edition. The "Meridian Edition" is a quarter-bound volume in the traditional 17th century duodecimo size, on 120 gsm paper and complete with decorative ribbon, coloured endpapers and head and tail bands.
The Meridian Edition was stocked exclusively by the National Maritime Museum for their "Ships, Clocks and Stars" exhibition in 2014.
Details
Published 24 July 2014
Hardcover (100 copies): (Sold out)
ISBN: 978-0-9928172-2-0
Paperback: (Out of Print)
ISBN: 978-0-9928172-1-3
Kindle: (Out of Print)
ISBN: 978-0-9928172-3-7
Reviews and Extras
"The Spiders of Stockholm" (E.J. Swift) was selected for The Sunday Times EFG Short Story Award longlist.
"A Woman Out of Time" (Kim Curran) was selected for the 2014 Tiptree Award Honors list.
Gary Northfield's artwork for "The Voyage of the Basset" (Claire North) was selected for Spectrum 22.
"Irregularity is incredible, 'a webwork of reference, inspiration, inference and opposition' which investigates the place of the imagination in an era on the very edge of enlightenment" - Tor.com
"One of the best short story anthologies I’ve ever read, executed with an incredible amount of cleverness. It’s one of those rare books that ties together all of the different stories and authors into something that actually make sense as a complete thing. Huge achievement." - Justin Landon, Under the Radar
"I fell in love. (9/10)" - Fantasy Faction
"There is just so much to appreciate and enjoy.... fourteen individual, impeccably formed, visions of literary minds. I’m pleased to confirm that each and every one them, and the tales they have to tell, are most definitely worthy of your time." - The Eloquent Page
"Clever, subversive and just so much fun" - A Fantastical Librarian
"A brilliant anthology" - Staffer's Book Review
"I enjoyed this mix, taking a few real world people and events and twisting them into something new and often quite dark.... the stories feel like they belong together." - SF Crow's Nest
"Every story is a strange individual snowflake and yet they come together under the theme just perfectly. Evocative, sickening, amusing, haunted, and haunting – a joy to read. " - Books and Pieces
Richard de Nooy goes on a #BookWalk through the entire anthology - with quotes and previews of every story on Books LIVE.
James Smythe's "The Last Escapement" on Pornokitsch, including an audio version, narrated by Mahvesh Murad.
Paul Kincaid previews Irregularity on Bull Spec.
One of Kirkus Reviews' "SF/F Anthologies to Keep an Eye On".
Books LIVE features extracts from Richard de Nooy's "The Heart of Aris Kindt" and Henrietta Rose-Innes' "Animalia Paradoxa".
The details of the launch - "Dark and Stormy Late" - at the National Maritime Museum, and took place on 24 July 2014.
"Calling irregular authors!" - the background on the project and an introduction to the 2014 exhibitions from the National Maritime Museum.
Announcement at the Board of Longitude project.
"Longitude Punk'd" - a selection of objects to inspire the upcoming exhibition, selected from the Museum's archives.
The Board of Longitude archive - now available online through Cambridge University Library, the National Maritime Museum and the Board of Longitude project.