As usual, we’ve got some amazing books on our Autumn 2017 ‘Essentials’ list, so get ready for some real treats this season. These are the titles we think you really should not be missing out on. Some have just been published, and are already available. (So, right now, they are sat on our warehouse shelves, just waiting to be matched up with you!)

Others are forthcoming and will be ready for you to get hold of over the next few months…..And we know that we can’t wait to read them, and we hope it’s the same for you! So without any further ado, here’s just a few (some of the hottest?) of our hot picks:

First up has to be our very own HOME’s ‘Subkultura‘. Highly topical, we’ve seen the final drafts of this title, and it looks a brilliant and fascinating insight into Russian youth culture and resistance, spanning the last 100 years or so, and ordered chronologically. The author, Artemy Troitsky, is a renowned cultural figure in Russia, and he has given equal weighting to all those people who have helped Russia become what it is today: From writers to artists to philosophers to skinheads! (So think along the lines of Pushkin to Pussy Riot and all in between….!) This title is very well illustrated throughout and should be considered a ‘must read’. We reckon it is destined to become a classic on our list. Due October 2017.

‘Samson Young: Songs for Disaster Relief (A Mixtape)‘ is the next of our top picks, this time from new-to-us (and everyone else, for that matter) Hong Kong-based publisher, M+. Remember all those charity singles that came out, particularly in the 1980s? (…Don’t tell us that you’re not old enough!….) After hearing a time-jarring Bob Geldof remake in 2014, the artist was much inspired and decided to creatively misread the song titles, and thus produce multi media works in response. Published alongside his exhibition at Venice Biennale (ending November 2017), where Young is currently representing Hong Kong, this book is particularly exciting for us as M+ will be a very shiny, newly opened Hong Kong arts venue in 2019. Out now.

In October (6 Oct 2017 – 7 Jan 2018) The Barbican Curve is exhibiting a new exhibition by John Akomfrah, and we’ll be getting the book they’ve published alongside – ‘John Akomfrah: Purple‘. He’s a filmmaker, British and definitely our (art) man of the moment, it seems! Hot on the heels of his very successful Vertigo Sea that he showed at Venice Biennale in 2015, this follow up 6-channel video installation charts what climate change is doing to our planet, its people and the ecological environment as a whole. Get this book because his work is hugely thought-provoking, it’s highly topical and his last title on our list (still available) was hugely popular and much admired: ‘John Akomfrah’ (Lisson Gallery). Due October.

Into the idea of a paradox universe? Like de-constructed narratives? Then this next one is for you! It is an adult fairy tale from our French publisher friends, Dis Voir. Entitled, ‘Theory of Multidreams: A Cosmic-Dream Investigation by H.P. Lovecraft‘ it’s the third in their ‘Illustrated Adult Fairy Tales series’, this time written by poet Jean-Philippe Cazier. A piece of fiction, entwining both fantasy and astrophysics, the premise for this one is basically: Who said dreams aren’t reality? The other two titles is this series (The Adventures of Percival, and The Man Who Refused to Die) are really interesting reads too, so take a look at those, if this one whets your appetite. Out now.

And that’s not all….But we think that’s probably more than enough for you to be getting your ‘mental chops’ around for the moment. Look out for more of our featured ‘hot picks for this autumn’ in the coming weeks! Keep an eye on our news section, and keep signed up to our email newsletter, to be kept well-informed.

Photocredit: John Akomfrah Still frame from Purple, 2017 Six-screen film installation Courtesy of the artist, Smoking Dogs Films and Lisson Gallery.