Far below the streets of Retropolis, down a shaft and through a hatch, it's possible to find the Clockwork Book. Surprisingly few people do. Chances are, there's a reason for that.

But those who do visit the Book in its lair have a splendid opportunity. The Book collects stories: all kinds of stories. If something's been done, or imagined, or planned, or cancelled... well, the Book probably knows all about it. The Book will offer that knowledge to you. All you need to do, the Book will explain, is to trade a story of your own for the one you're after. Harmless, right?

Well, sometimes. And sometimes not. Because what you have to remember is that the Book will repeat your story to anyone who asks for it. No exceptions. No returns. And this is where things can get complicated, in an oddly topical way.

It's always a good idea to read the Terms of Service.

"The Lair of the Clockwork Book" is an illustrated, serialized story that will update at Thrilling Tales of the Downright Unusual each Monday and Thursday until it's over. That should be sometime in April of 2012.

This version of the illustration is based on the one at the web site, and in the book, but has been re-rendered and overpainted in a much higher resolution even than the book's version: 300 pixels to the inch, at 18 by 24 inches.

These prints are made to order by deviantPrints, using an archival quality photographic process on Fujifilm Crystal Archive paper. They're rated to last over 100 years without fading - though no prints should be left where they'll be baked by direct sunlight. The color fidelity, clarity and paper weight of these prints is far superior to the poster-quality reproductions I also sell here. They're pretty much the bee's knees.

You can order a print in either glossy or matte finish. This is mainly a matter of personal taste, but I do think that the glossy prints give you a sharper representation of the original digital image.

When you add one of these archival prints to your prints shopping cart it will pop up in a new window. You can keep browsing through these pages and add new items as you go. The shopping cart window will update as you add more items. When you're ready to check out, do so in the cart window and you'll be taken through the ordering process.

These archival quality prints are supplied by a different vendor than my other merchandise, and use a separate shopping cart. You cannot place a single order for both archival prints and, for example, coffee mugs.

Archival prints will ship separately from other items.