Honestly, we’re not so sure ourselves…
If you found this site, you likely know some odd people and have some interests that may be underrepresented or wholly uncharted in the world of book-like objects. We want to help you find those objects created by others and work together making new ones to share.
The team at Uncanny Object (It’s just a few of us, for now) like action, movement, doing stuff, and so this site was launched as soon as we could get a couple items up to offer. We’ve got more on the way, but being people of action, it’s all chaos and process so we can’t say exactly what’s next. You can assume the rest of 2026 will involve 2 more books of verse by Alainn Charles (One longer poems, another haiku) in addition to some fun merch. Everything we release will continue to roll out in download form followed by print, so you can check it out before committing to a physical relationship.
A brief note on our ebooks. We’re not really the type to pay for them. We like physical objects to hold in our hands and scribble on with ballpoint pens. Print books are what we’re excited about and are the focus of Uncanny Object. That said, we like ebooks as study tools and convenient micro-escapes from reality. They’re super helpful for finding that quote you love but forgot, and they’re a great way to disengage from life when a book isn’t handy but you’ve got a phone in your pocket. Most importantly for us, they’re exceedingly easy to share with far flung friends.
All of the authors we’re working with are of similar opinions, and so we’re offering all of our releases for free on the site for the first few weeks post launch and then on the archive. If you happen to want to spend $3 on an ebook to help us cover costs for this venture, that’s cool and very much appreciated, but please don’t feel obligated. We want everyone to enjoy reading our books, regardless of your current funds situation.
Going into 2027 we need your help. The calendar is just beginning to take shape, and we would love nothing more than to chat about your project. If you’re picking up what we’re laying down, you’re likely a good fit. To be clear, we’re open to most types of writing that can be compiled into “book” form. So, not a zine, but a coherent compilation, not an essay, but a collection of essays would fit the bill. As we’re learning about production, we expect anyone with very specific visual/layout/materials demands to be willing to help sort that stuff out. We want to focus on content and getting it out into the world for others to share.
One last note, if submitting a manuscript or idea for collaboration, keep in mind we prioritize creativity and interesting perspectives. We started this project to experiment with the written word. This means that political/social commentary, genre fiction, miscellaneous essays/zines, etc will be considered, but only if there’s an element of artistry and surprise to them. There’s lots of avenues for projects of that sort, and we support them. Our purpose here is a bit different.
Thanks for reading all of that, and hope to talk soon!