Roger Knoebber's "Hysteresis: A Profile of Brion Gysin" (2024)

Providence, Rhode Island: Inkblot Publications and Seattle, Washington: Largernovae Press (book, editor's copy), 2024.
8.5" x 5.5" x 0.75", 220 pages, softcover, IBSN 979-8-9909271-1-7.

Hysteresis: A Profile of Brion Gysin by Roger Knoebber, as published by Inkblot Publications (Providence, Rhode Island) in conjunction with Largernovae Press (Seattle, Washington) in 2024. Foreword by Theo Green, layout by Tim Furman, edited by demi raven [lowercasing intentional], cover design by janet galore [lowercasing intentional], and photographs by Udo Breger (among others). 

This includes the full text of Knoebber's Hysteresis, including multiple recollections of Brion Gysin by his friends and associates (requested by Roger Knoebber) such as William S. Burroughs, Terry Wilson, Felicity Mason, Bernard Heidsieck, Henri Chopin, and others. William S. Burroughs is mentioned in many places within the book, including an extended fictional dialogue between him and Brion Gysin.

This book also includes a short story by Roger Knoebber entitled "Raincoat Jones" and appendices ("Cast of Characters" and "Roger Knoebber Letter and Resumé").

From the rear cover:

"In the late 1950’s in Paris, at the famed Beat Hotel – 9 rue Gît-le-Cœur – writer Roger Knoebber was living amongst a community of creative people, including the core of what became known as the Beat Generation – Burroughs, Corso, Ginsberg, and others. In this bohemian center of exploration Roger became intimate friends with the artist, writer, and mystic Brion Gysin.

From the time that Roger left the Beat Hotel in 1962, through his time raising a family in California, his return to Paris in 1984, and until Gysin’s death in 1986, Roger and Brion maintained a friendship captured in letters. In 1996, ten years after Brion’s death, Roger completed writing Hysteresis: A Portrait of Brion Gysin, a painting-in-words to capture Gysin’s complex personality and history.. Within this text are recollections solicited by Roger from many of Brion’s friends and associates including William S. Burroughs, Terry Wilson, Felicity Mason, Françoise Janicot, Ramuntcho Matta and others.

In 2004, Roger Knoebber also passed away, with the manuscript left unpublished. Finally, nearly thirty years after it was written, Hysteresis is here, summoning up the spirit of Brion for us."

The first printing – as the copy shown – was released in an edition of 300 softcover copies, and 50 hardcover copies in mango-colored cloth (no dust jacket). The 50 hardcover copies are divided into 15 contributor's copies numbered in roman numerals in blue ink, 26 lettered copies lettered in red ink, and 9 black ink stamped "HC" copies – all stamped with Roger Knoebber's signature on the second title page and signed on the colophon page by Inkblot publisher Theo Green, editor demi raven, and by Cosmo Knoebber, son of the author.

Shown is the [softcover] Editor's Copy (the editor being the creator of this website as well), stamped with the signature of Roger Knoebber, signed by Inkblot publisher Theo Green, signed by editor demi raven, and inscribed by Cosmo Knoebber, son of the author. Only copies signed at the book launch on 17 October 2024 are signed and stamped as such. 

I also hold three of the hardcover copies: Contributor Copy number "III", Lettered Copy 'a', and one of the Hors Commerce copies. Contributor Copy number 'I' is held by the Roger Knoebber Archive.

Contents: 

• Hysteresis
• Theo Green: foreword
• Roger Knoebber:  
• foreword
• "Chapter 23" [the text of Hysteresis]
• afterword
• Roger Knoebber: "Raincoat Jones"
• Demi Raven: "Appendix A: Hysteresis – A Cast of Characters"
• Roger Knoebber: letter and resumé [translated from French by demi raven]