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Summer Eternal Anthology Volume One
Win a free print copy of this book!
3 days and 17:20:27
5 copies available
U.S. and Canada only
Built by firestarters, for firestarters.
Summer Eternal's critically acclaimed Anthology delivers 500 lushly illustrated pages of essays, interviews and development diaries from the radical frontier of worker-owned game development, featuring extraordinary contributions from science fiction visionary Ted Chiang, economists Yanis Varoufakis and Prof. Richard Wolff, and BioWare legends Mark Darrah and David Gaider.
Founded by the BAFTA and Game Award winning developers behind Disco Elysium, Summer Eternal's mission is to establish a game development studio co-owned by workers, freelancers, and even players themselves. In their pursuit of this fever dream, Summer Eternal interviews experts on the labour and politics of games, including trade union organisers from the UVW-CWA and worker-owned initiatives such as Aftermath and Peregrine Coast Press. The first 250 pages of the Anthology are dedicated to the trials, tribulations and triumphs of these radical experiments by artists and developers facing the corporate machinery of AI-enamoured capitalism.
The latter 250 pages bring an immersive multimedia reveal of the world of Summer Eternal's major creative project, the incendiary RPG Red Rooster. Paired with a unique 10" vinyl record featuring original tracks by Corvad and Nemeček, the book weaves through a Danielewski-and-Vandermeer-esque ergodic meta-narrative with articles, letters and concealed messages through which the reader may begin to piece together Red Rooster's cerebral mysteries.
Summer Eternal's critically acclaimed Anthology delivers 500 lushly illustrated pages of essays, interviews and development diaries from the radical frontier of worker-owned game development, featuring extraordinary contributions from science fiction visionary Ted Chiang, economists Yanis Varoufakis and Prof. Richard Wolff, and BioWare legends Mark Darrah and David Gaider.
Founded by the BAFTA and Game Award winning developers behind Disco Elysium, Summer Eternal's mission is to establish a game development studio co-owned by workers, freelancers, and even players themselves. In their pursuit of this fever dream, Summer Eternal interviews experts on the labour and politics of games, including trade union organisers from the UVW-CWA and worker-owned initiatives such as Aftermath and Peregrine Coast Press. The first 250 pages of the Anthology are dedicated to the trials, tribulations and triumphs of these radical experiments by artists and developers facing the corporate machinery of AI-enamoured capitalism.
The latter 250 pages bring an immersive multimedia reveal of the world of Summer Eternal's major creative project, the incendiary RPG Red Rooster. Paired with a unique 10" vinyl record featuring original tracks by Corvad and Nemeček, the book weaves through a Danielewski-and-Vandermeer-esque ergodic meta-narrative with articles, letters and concealed messages through which the reader may begin to piece together Red Rooster's cerebral mysteries.
- GenresNonfictionAnthologies
500 pages, Hardcover
Published October 14, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 20, 2026
Summer Eternal Anthology Volume One is a work of art about a work of art still being born.
Essays, interviews, fragments of a collective consciousness. The studio and its democratic structure; their upcoming game, Red Rooster, and its story, design, music, and more. The machinery of a dream laid bare. Even the book reflects this, with its exposed spine, its construction laid open for all to see. Here is how we build a game. Here is how we build a studio. Here is how we build a world. So gloriously, deliriously meta.
But this is more than a book about making things. It is a document of belief. A record of a dream that has yet to surrender to reality. Perhaps a fever dream. Perhaps a small, unreasonable fire in a world filled with souls who have forgotten how to burn.
On October 14, it arrived in flames across the world. Not merely to tell us about their vision, but to invite us into it.
The dream was theirs. Now, in some small way, it is ours too.
Essays, interviews, fragments of a collective consciousness. The studio and its democratic structure; their upcoming game, Red Rooster, and its story, design, music, and more. The machinery of a dream laid bare. Even the book reflects this, with its exposed spine, its construction laid open for all to see. Here is how we build a game. Here is how we build a studio. Here is how we build a world. So gloriously, deliriously meta.
But this is more than a book about making things. It is a document of belief. A record of a dream that has yet to surrender to reality. Perhaps a fever dream. Perhaps a small, unreasonable fire in a world filled with souls who have forgotten how to burn.
On October 14, it arrived in flames across the world. Not merely to tell us about their vision, but to invite us into it.
The dream was theirs. Now, in some small way, it is ours too.
October 26, 2026
Summer Eternal Anthology Volume One is an ambitious celebration of creative independence, artistic collaboration, and the possibilities of a different future for video game development. What makes this collection especially compelling is that it looks beyond the games themselves to examine the people, ideas, and working conditions that shape the industry.
The discussions around worker ownership and creative freedom give the anthology a thoughtful, sometimes challenging perspective, while the contributions from voices in science fiction, economics, and game development broaden the conversation. It is refreshing to see a project take the artistic and human sides of game creation as seriously as the finished product.
The material devoted to Red Rooster adds another layer of intrigue. Through illustrations, development diaries, music, and hidden narrative elements, the anthology invites readers to explore a fictional world in a more active and unconventional way.
This is more than a traditional gaming companion book. It is a statement of creative ambition and a fascinating look at what can happen when a team builds a project around shared values and a distinctive artistic vision. A compelling choice for readers interested in independent games, experimental storytelling, and the culture behind the medium.
The discussions around worker ownership and creative freedom give the anthology a thoughtful, sometimes challenging perspective, while the contributions from voices in science fiction, economics, and game development broaden the conversation. It is refreshing to see a project take the artistic and human sides of game creation as seriously as the finished product.
The material devoted to Red Rooster adds another layer of intrigue. Through illustrations, development diaries, music, and hidden narrative elements, the anthology invites readers to explore a fictional world in a more active and unconventional way.
This is more than a traditional gaming companion book. It is a statement of creative ambition and a fascinating look at what can happen when a team builds a project around shared values and a distinctive artistic vision. A compelling choice for readers interested in independent games, experimental storytelling, and the culture behind the medium.
October 21, 2026
It's clear the video game industry is burning down, and perhaps you yourself can smell the sulfur. Fortunately, the arson-survivors at Summer Eternal are here to share their experiences with us.
As an uneducated consumer (trying to rectify!), I got much out of the first half of the book. The thought that goes into the infrastructure of a new studio is staggering. Planning for progression, growth, and even the failure of dreams. How does one finance these things anyway? With great difficulty! But maybe with a bit of effort we can change the established business model?
As for the second half of the book - what can be said about something that doesn't yet exist? See you in XX years I suppose... There is a section describing the history of the setting in the format of a scientific journal. Factory workers are rioting due to poor health conditions including disintegrating bone tissue from unprotected chemical exposure. When they are apprehended and publicly hanged, Disgustingly visceral, or as the kids say these days: "Unc has still got it".
The final piece of the Anthology is an entry ticket to the players Non-Profit. This was one of the big draws when I bought this. Things cannot go on the way they are - they must not go on. So I'll buy into this dream - wherever it ends it is bound to be INTERESTING.
As an uneducated consumer (trying to rectify!), I got much out of the first half of the book. The thought that goes into the infrastructure of a new studio is staggering. Planning for progression, growth, and even the failure of dreams. How does one finance these things anyway? With great difficulty! But maybe with a bit of effort we can change the established business model?
As for the second half of the book - what can be said about something that doesn't yet exist? See you in XX years I suppose... There is a section describing the history of the setting in the format of a scientific journal. Factory workers are rioting due to poor health conditions including disintegrating bone tissue from unprotected chemical exposure. When they are apprehended and publicly hanged, Disgustingly visceral, or as the kids say these days: "Unc has still got it".
The final piece of the Anthology is an entry ticket to the players Non-Profit. This was one of the big draws when I bought this. Things cannot go on the way they are - they must not go on. So I'll buy into this dream - wherever it ends it is bound to be INTERESTING.
October 24, 2026
I bought this book on a whim as I’m a huge disco elysium fan, and a lot of the talent that left ZA/UM created a new visionary studio (Summer Eternal) I wanted to support their mission.
I think the release of a development book is a great idea, I read from front to back and the book is structured well. I’m excited for the release of the game and will be a day-one supporter and purchaser.
The team has very niche political views that may not resonate with a lot of people, and some of the political views didn’t resonate with me (I am a former member of CWA and have my own opinions), but the beauty of art is everyone is entitled to their own opinions and it’s obvious that Summer Eternal is on a moral mission to put those views into effect. The interesting views of the world drew me into disco, and I’m sure a similar thing will happen here.
Looking forward to volume two, the release of red rooster, and wish the studio the best in attempting to attract investors, it’s likely to be a long road on that side of the house based on the structure of the studio and associated cooperative, but at least I know I’ll be there along the way!
I think the release of a development book is a great idea, I read from front to back and the book is structured well. I’m excited for the release of the game and will be a day-one supporter and purchaser.
The team has very niche political views that may not resonate with a lot of people, and some of the political views didn’t resonate with me (I am a former member of CWA and have my own opinions), but the beauty of art is everyone is entitled to their own opinions and it’s obvious that Summer Eternal is on a moral mission to put those views into effect. The interesting views of the world drew me into disco, and I’m sure a similar thing will happen here.
Looking forward to volume two, the release of red rooster, and wish the studio the best in attempting to attract investors, it’s likely to be a long road on that side of the house based on the structure of the studio and associated cooperative, but at least I know I’ll be there along the way!
October 27, 2026
Diário sobre a criação de um videojogo talvez impossível de concretizar? Sim. Um manifesto que pretende encontrar formas de realizar a cooperação entre pessoas numa indústria faminta por carne e sedenta de sangue? Também. Mas não é só.
O mais importante é a forma como tudo isto é-nos apresentado, com um entusiasmo infantil tão meloso e genuíno e brincalhão que me põe com lágrimas nos olhos só de pensar nele. É como se uma criança nos levasse pela mão até ao seu quarto cheio de brinquedos e desenhos e maquetes, para vermos com ela todos os jogos e universos imaginários que a sua mente ainda desimpedida de vergonhas e perconceitos foi capaz de realizar. Ler isto foi um paliativo tão tão tão bom para o cinismo automático que me cobriu o espírito em crosta nos últimos anos de melancolia política e tecnológica.
Absolutamente inspirador para qualquer um que veja um percurso artístico no seu horizonte. O mais importante é brincar, e só assim criaremos algo realmente novo.
"This is where I end, and where the material world begins. I have an effect. I'm here, I'm real. Play toys with me lest I vanish forever."
O mais importante é a forma como tudo isto é-nos apresentado, com um entusiasmo infantil tão meloso e genuíno e brincalhão que me põe com lágrimas nos olhos só de pensar nele. É como se uma criança nos levasse pela mão até ao seu quarto cheio de brinquedos e desenhos e maquetes, para vermos com ela todos os jogos e universos imaginários que a sua mente ainda desimpedida de vergonhas e perconceitos foi capaz de realizar. Ler isto foi um paliativo tão tão tão bom para o cinismo automático que me cobriu o espírito em crosta nos últimos anos de melancolia política e tecnológica.
Absolutamente inspirador para qualquer um que veja um percurso artístico no seu horizonte. O mais importante é brincar, e só assim criaremos algo realmente novo.
"This is where I end, and where the material world begins. I have an effect. I'm here, I'm real. Play toys with me lest I vanish forever."
October 14, 2026
whats all the hype about? just a book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews