Greetings readers,
My name is Draxtor and I am the new editor-in-chief of corona\samizdat.
Most of you guys know that founder Rick Harsch passed away in August after a long and painful stay at a local hospital in Izola, Slovenia.
I was in communication with his friend (and director of Rick’s superb movie, yet to be finished) Sasa and offered to put the existing stock of books back online so that readers have again access plus the family (Rick’s wife and kids) could be helped, at least a bit.
Back in late August I whipped up a website from a Squarespace template in 30 minutes, tested the store and within an hour I had orders worth a few hundred Euros.
There was a need and since we had no access to Rick’s digital files or passwords to websites/accounts etc my crazy plan to start anew (which included hauling hundreds of books from Izola to Munich, Germany) was accepted.
So here we are: the webstore is live, we (and by that I mean I - the one who answers emails, packs, ships, yells at DHL staff, etc) ship worldwide, we have more coming as soon as I can haul another van-load full of books from down there to up here.
Lots is planned for the future: irregular interviews for our brand new YouTube channel with writers but also readers (what makes you nutjobs tick that you demand PHYSICAL books rather than binging Netflix or playing videogames like the rest of the world’s population?).
Rick’s film is undergoing script surgery and it will be glorious and it will be finished next year, with him in it, becoming (hopefully, among other things, like a GOOD entertaining DEEP movie) a kind of homage to Commandante Harsch’s ethos/philosophy.
And I shall not tell you (know) what I think that is! I want you to tell me what YOU think it could be, perhaps you distilled it from his writing?
We might have new titles coming but I shall NOT promise it: right now the focus is to make old titles available, books that people love and/or just discover and in the process get some $$$ to the family of the founder.
Stay tuned, be patient (I will only ship Tuesday as long as DHL is open, and if I don’t get to your order it will be a week later I get to it, sorry = I am overemployed and underpaid!)
Shoutout to my criminal in partnership, Sasa Munjiza: he is helping a lot locally in Slovenia, and has been with the Harsch family through an extremely difficult time, but he is also helping me count inventory and pack and he is getting stuff from the printer in Ljubljana and storing it (the new Gaza book, to be announced next month!). Big big thank you Sasa!
Now go henceforth and browse the store, order, wait for shipping (while you read other titles) and do not hesitate to contact me with concerns, ideas, a wishlist perhaps, praise for Rick, our authors, suggestions for blurbs (if you read a book and liked it I will put your words into the description right away!).
If you are a small publisher or own and operate a small store focused on indie lit = contact me and let’s talk!
Again, disclaimer: I am not sure if I can continue this beyond moving the existing stock because - like I said - too many projects, too little time but if I do I will do it with the utmost passion available.
All hail Commandante Harsch. Rick lives!
Over and out,
Draxtor
Above 👆 impressions from the 2026 Prague Micro Festival (which was absolutely incredible!) = big thx to Louis and David for making me so welcome as the total n00b that I am ….