Services

In order to facilitate the work of book production, the Guild will set up a database with the software templates (FrameMaker MIF, InDesign) and typeset data files of those works which have been newly published in the original by S. Weiser, NY or 93 Publishing. Data files for earlier publications are not always extant in final, formatted form, but most of Crowley's writings exist in FrameMaker format.

The use of such templates may alleviate the pain of, e.g., creating anew the Qabalistic tables as used in Liber 777, Book 4 and other works as you can translate right into templates. Likewise, existing indices and references can easily be included. The most professional and most commonly used software in book production are Adobe's FrameMaker and InDesign which, amongst other advantages over semi-professional software, also allow for setting up an unlimited number of master page layouts and especially extensive and complicated cross-referencing. The use of these programs for book production is highly encouraged, but of course not mandatory.

In order to supersede the many unauthorised and often faulty and defective pirate productions, the O.T.O. wants to produce new translations of high quality standards wherever this is possible. This intention not only applies to linguistic and stylistic aspects of the translations proper but also to the layout and the manufacturing of the books themselves. Of course we are aware that we have to take into account that the latter aspect may pose serious financial problems or even be impossible in some countries.

We also encourage you to inquire which of the works by Aleister Crowley are available in their original manuscript form from the O.T.O. International HQ Archives. The O.T.O. tries to purchase missing original manuscripts as the financial situation allows for it, or have them at least photocopied. The publications from the 1970's are especially faulty, as they had been censored or revised by their earlier editors. Sometimes the reason for this was ignorance, at other times the editors had moral or religious reservations and did not dare to print the words of the Beast as they were originally delivered. You may learn about one outstanding example of this by studying the Editor's Introduction to Book 4. In other cases, Crowley had revised his own manuscripts several times during his life-time, and some publications are based on rather early versions. As you can read in the Magical Link, there are several book projects ongoing in order to revise and replace these early editions. In general, it is our intention to restore the texts to their original condition wherever this is possible and also to publish those manuscripts which Crowley himself considered to be final versions. Wherever possible, O.T.O. prefers to produce translations from its newly-edited English editions.

Finally we maintain a steadily growing archive of hard copy and data copies of translations. All translators are requested to send in a copy of their work for this purpose.