Chapter 2 of Quicksilver: The Colophon – A Bibliographic Interlude
⚠️ Spoiler Notice
This page covers the colophon (copyright page) of Quicksilver by Callie Hart. The chapter contains no narrative spoilers—only publishing details such as ISBNs, translation credits, and copyright statements.
Summary
Chapter 2, titled “Colofon,” is the Dutch-language colophon (copyright page) of the edition. It lists the following information:
- ISBNs: 978-90-492-0615-4 (print) and 978-94-023-2568-3 (e-book)
- NUR code: 334 (a Dutch subject classification for fantasy)
- Original title: Quicksilver
- Translators: De Vertaalzusjes and Anne-Marieke Buijs
- Cover design: Callie Hart (the author)
- Cover images: Credits to Shutterstock, Dreamstime, and Envato
- Cover copyright: © 2024 Hachette Book Group, Inc.
- Typesetting: Pier Post
- Rights: © 2024 Callie Hart; Dutch translation © 2024 Meulenhoff Boekerij bv, Amsterdam
- Reserved rights: No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission of the publisher. Text and data mining is expressly forbidden.
- International rights: A similar reserved-rights statement is provided for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.
The page functions as a formal record of the book's production, ownership, and legal status, but it advances no plot, introduces no characters, and develops no themes.
Key Events
There are no narrative events in this chapter. The colophon serves purely as a metadata and legal notice for the Dutch edition of Quicksilver.
Character Development
No characters appear or are referenced on the colophon. The chapter is entirely non-narrative.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Because the colophon is a publisher’s apparatus rather than a story chapter, traditional literary themes do not apply. However, the colophon itself can be seen as a symbol of the book's transition from manuscript to published object, emphasizing:
- Authorship and Ownership: The copyright line makes clear that Callie Hart holds the original rights, while the Dutch publisher controls the translation rights. This highlights the collaborative yet legally bounded nature of commercial publishing.
- Attribution and Credit: The listing of translators, cover designer, and typesetter underscores that a book is a team effort beyond the sole author.
- Access and Restriction: The “all rights reserved” statement and explicit ban on text and data mining reflect modern tensions between copyright protection and technological use of texts.
Why This Chapter Matters
While “Colofon” contains no story, it grounds the physical book in a specific cultural and legal context. For readers, it verifies the edition's origin and the people who made the translation possible. For a study companion, acknowledging the colophon is important because it marks the boundary between the front matter (title page, copyright, table of contents) and the narrative beginning. In this edition, the real story will start after the colophon, in Chapter 3. Recognizing that publishing apparatus is part of the reading experience—especially in a translated work—adds depth to our understanding of how Quicksilver reached a Dutch audience.
Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the purpose of a colophon in a book?
A colophon (or copyright page) provides essential bibliographic information: ISBNs, copyright holder, publication year, translator credits, and legal statutes. It identifies the edition and establishes ownership and rights.
2. Why are the translators’ names listed so prominently?
Translation is a complex literary act. Crediting the translators (De Vertaalzusjes and Anne-Marieke Buijs) recognizes their contribution to making the book accessible in Dutch and aligns with professional publishing standards.
3. What does the “text and data mining” prohibition indicate about contemporary book publishing?
The explicit ban reflects publishers’ efforts to control how their content is used in AI training and large-scale data extraction. It signals a growing legal focus on digital reproduction beyond traditional copying.