Illustration by  Damien Correll

The Reverence Library Volume One is a rather lovely mix of short stories and illustration published by Edinburgh's independent press Sing Statistics

The idea, say founders Jez Burrows and Lizzy Stewart, is to create "a series of abridged pocket encyclopaedias 'inspired by fact and reworked by fiction'. Essentially, reference books with lies in."

Short stories from a variety of writers around three themes are mixed with illustration. In Volume One, the stories are on Galleons, (scientist) Nikola Tesla and the Trans-Siberian Railway.

In the Galleons section, for example, Joshua Allen's story about a cursed ship, The Spire of Ice, is illustrated by Portland-based Always With Honor

This graphic short story is by Luke Pearson

Meg Hunt illustrates a story by Matthew Allard in the Tesla section

And in the Trans-Siberain Railway section, John Moe has written a hilarious reimagining of a journey by Tsar Nicholas II on his own luxurious train: "It's all built around being really comfy for ME! Nick the Deuce!" Illustrated by Gavin Potenza

Also featured are William Goldsmith

and Josh Parpan

Plus Lizzy Stewart herself

and Richard Sanderson.

The Reverence Library Volume One costs just £10 and is available here. Worth every penny I'd say.

CR in Print

Don't miss out - there's nothing like CR in print. Our August Summer Reading issue contains our pick of some of our favourite writing on advertising, illustration and graphic design as well as a profile of Marion Deuchars plus pieces on the Vorticists, Total Design, LA Noire and much more.

If you would like to buy this issue and are based in the UK, you can search for your nearest stockist here. Based outside the UK? Simply call +44(0)207 292 3703 to find your nearest stockist. Better yet, subscribe to CR for a year here and save yourself almost 30% on the printed magazine and get Monograph.