Introduction

We are delighted to unveil our exclusive, members-only club, inspired by one of the central characters from the first book set to be published in 2025. The name Saint Sebastian was chosen with intention, as his image, shaped by centuries of literature and art, resonates deeply with the core values of our publishing house.

Saint Sebastian, a Roman officer and commander of the Emperor’s personal guard, is celebrated for his unwavering convictions and profound compassion. Through the centuries, he has come to symbolize masculine beauty, resilience, and inner strength. He is venerated as the protector of the strong — athletes, soldiers, and police officers — as well as the vulnerable, such as children and marginalized communities. His figure has inspired countless individuals, from everyday citizens to artists and political leaders. Sebastian’s patronage is also linked to protection during pandemics — a universally acknowledged fact, from Brazil to Japan. In literature, pandemics often represent metaphorical forces of destruction and chaos. Within this context, Sebastian’s role as a protector against plague takes on renewed significance, symbolizing unity and humanity in the face of common threats.

However, for us, Saint Sebastian is more than a man devoted to authority or an abstract ideal. He embodies the spirit of an independent thinker, resolute in his pursuit of truth and his place in the world.

Membership Benefits

• Early access to announcements of forthcoming titles from our publishing house.

• Invitations to exclusive events — club members receive complimentary tickets to two events per year, each themed around a specific historical era or literary movement. A 50% discount applies to a second ticket for an accompanying guest.

• Access to a members-only forum, designed for networking with others who share your interests, to discuss topics of mutual importance, and to organize cultural and professional collaborations, including museum tours, theater outings, art exhibitions, and literary or artistic retreats.

• A quarterly newsletter offering cultural event recommendations across Europe.

• A unique creative opportunity to "influence the plot": members will have the chance to read select early chapters of forthcoming publications before their official release. You may pose questions to the author, which could be addressed in the final version. Additionally, you can suggest ideas for plot development, which we will forward to the author. If your ideas are incorporated, you will be credited in the acknowledgments.

• Two consultations per year to help curate your personal library.

• A symbolic birthday gift from the publishing house, beginning in 2025.

Our Philosophy

At the heart of our journey lies a commitment to exploring profound connections and timeless inspirations.

A new club — a new game. We believe that every encounter, every moment, and every detail should reflect a fresh perspective and a unique approach. In our club, we are crafting not just a space, but a new playing field, where each event, each idea, and every participant becomes part of a shared experience, setting a new tone and style.

Let’s Play?

Did you know that the most responsible way to live is to live playfully? And the most irresponsible one is to go through life with a grim, unhappy, and overly serious expression.

Being playful means being as open and responsive to life as possible. When someone becomes too serious, it often indicates that they are completely absorbed in themselves and their problems. For such a person, the world and life around them no longer exist. They become trapped by their inner processes—ideas, opinions, and concepts of right and wrong. This narrow focus makes them ignore the greater reality, chaining them to their own self-made limitations. That's when playfulness is lost.

However, when you are in harmony with life, creation, or the Creator, playfulness will naturally flow through you.

Play? Seriously?

When someone mentions the word "play" in the presence of an adult, the first association that comes to mind is something from childhood—innocent, joyful, but entirely unserious. Yet, after a few seconds of reflection, we sober up and recall that as children, we took our games very seriously. We were real pirates, musketeers, or bandits, and we cried when someone dared to say we didn’t look the part. A moment later, we also realize that the word "play" describes even serious concepts like "political games."

Is there a better word to describe the magical transformation of modern-day Cinderellas who, sitting down at a poker table with a dollar, can stand up as princesses if they win? It becomes clear that the word "play" no longer belongs solely to our carefree past and has taken on far more weight.

The consciousness of "just a game" doesn’t mean that the game itself cannot be taken with utmost seriousness, with passion so intense that the label "just" fades away. The boundary between play and seriousness is always in flux. Underestimating play borders on overestimating seriousness. Play can transform into seriousness, and seriousness into play. Play can rise to the heights of beauty and the sacred, leaving seriousness far behind. 

We’ll leave aside, for now, the opinions of certain scholars and philosophers who suggest that even rituals and sacred ceremonies over the centuries contain elements of play. But for now, let’s firmly state: GAME is indeed something serious.

Signs of Game

The first and most essential sign of play is freedom. Play itself is freedom.

Linked to this is the second feature: play is not "ordinary" or "real" life. It provides an escape from everyday life, leading us into a temporary realm of thought and action with its own goals. Play distinguishes itself from routine by its location and duration.

The third key characteristic of play is its self-contained nature. It unfolds within defined boundaries of space and time. Its flow, meaning, and purpose are enclosed within itself. Play begins, and at a certain point, it ends. During the play, there’s a back-and-forth, an unfolding story—beginning, climax, and conclusion. This temporary limitation is connected to one of play’s most intriguing traits: its ability to transform into a cultural form. Once played, a game remains in memory as a creative or cultural value, passed on to others, to be repeated anytime, whether immediately or after a long pause. This repeatability is essential to play—it applies to the game as a whole and to its inner structure. Most advanced forms of play contain elements of repetition, refrain, and sequence.

Why Should You Join This New Game?

For a responsible adult, play might seem like something optional, an indulgence. It’s not part of "real life"; it interrupts the process of fulfilling our needs and desires. Play stands outside of that world, operating as a self-contained act that serves no other purpose than the enjoyment it provides. It’s a break from daily life, a time-out, a moment of relief. Play is reserved for "free time."

But there’s a twist—play also introduces a marvelous element of recurring novelty. It becomes part of life, an accompaniment, a complement that we eventually cannot do without. It enriches life, fills it, and becomes indispensable. It’s needed not only by individuals as a biological function but by society, due to its cultural, social, and spiritual significance. In short, play becomes an essential cultural function, satisfying the ideals of personal expression and social interaction.

As it integrates into culture, the notions of duty, obligation, and responsibility, initially secondary, become intertwined with it. This connection between play and culture is our focus.
Play may not always be tied to truth or goodness, but it certainly belongs to the realm of the aesthetic. It often connects with beauty, especially in its more developed forms. The beauty of human movement reaches its highest expression in play. Rhythm, harmony, and grace—the noblest elements of the aesthetic—are deeply rooted in the nature of play.
In earlier times, when humanity first understood the world, it saw the rhythms of nature, the cycle of months and seasons, and the movement of celestial bodies. Eventually, humanity began to perform this order of life through sacred games. Play became a way to sustain the universal order. Many things emerged from these ritualistic games, as humanity, through cult-like play, discovered order within society itself.

Join us now and discover an extraordinary world of new knowledge, creativity, and genuine emotions! «Du siehst, mein Sohn, zum Raum wird hier die Zeit”.

Is It Just an Intellectual Game?

No, it’s nothing like the detached, abstract "Glass Bead Game"! We live in the real world and see in it both happiness and a chance for self-realization.

Why a Club?

Of course, not every game of ping-pong or hand of poker leads to the creation of a club. But we want to cultivate a unique feeling among the participants—that they are collectively part of something special, united in an important cause, setting themselves apart from the rest and breaking away from common norms. This sense of exclusivity will extend far beyond the length of each individual game.

A club suits the game like a hat suits the head.

Why Join Now?

What’s the most crucial part of any game? The rules, of course! They define how the players behave, when the game starts, and when it’s time to return to the everyday world. They also determine whether someone is worthy of continuing or if they’re a "spoilsport" who breaks the magic of the game world and should be cast out.

Join Saint Sébastien Club now and be one of the first! Take advantage of this unique opportunity—help shape the rules that will guide not just you, but many others. After all, game communities tend to preserve their bond even after the game has ended.

Just 500 EUR per year, until December 31, 2025 only. 

Our membership system later will be based on recommendations and endorsements, not only membership fee