The Most Obscure Films We’ve Watched at the Saturday Movie Conspiracy

June 6th, 2024

Here are some of the most obscure films we’ve watched at the Saturday Movie Conspiracy since we started keeping The List. These are arranged in roughly chronological order of release, with Amazon links for those who want to track them down.

  1. Trick Baby: Blaxplotation film starring Kiel Martin and Mel Stewart as a pair of con men in 1970s Philadelphia. Based on an Iceberg Slim novel. Really good film that’s worth tracking down. (Note: It’s a Kino Lorber Blu-Ray, and they have periodic sales.)
  2. Cockfighter: Solid low-budget film starring Warren Oates as the titular character. Based on the Charles Wilford novel.
  3. Killdozer: Mediocre science fiction TV movie about a bulldozer possessed by a malevolent alien entity based on the much-superior Theodore Sturgeon short story of the same name. Not to be confused with the documentary Tread, which we still haven’t seen yet.
  4. Golden Needles: A pretty decent Joe Don Baker action mystery set in the U.S. and Hong Kong about a stolen golden statue with acupuncture needles that, if used in the proper sequence, give a man tremendous sexual power. Yeah, they’d never remake that today…
  5. The Barbary Coast: The TV movie pilot for a William Shatner series featuring him as a master of disguise working as the governor’s agent to clean up rough, corrupt 1870s San Francisco with a casino owner partner. Both the movie and the show are a hoot, and both available in the DVD set, now sadly out of print and pricey.
  6. Taoism Drunkard: Absolutely insane Hong Kong action film. Come for the titular drunkard riding in a giant shoe, stay for the giant penis-eating kung fu ball.
  7. The Siege of Firebase Gloria: Sort of an 80s remake of the base siege segment of The Green Berets, but not as good. Interestingly, the tactics in both those films, as well as those seen at the beginning of The Lost Command (the fall of Dien Bien Phu) are all broadly similar. A Kino Lorber Blu-Ray that slipped out of print while I wasn’t looking.
  8. Elves: Grade-Z, thrill-free horror movie starring Dan Haggerty fighting Nazi elves. Actually, there’s only one “elf” in evidence, and it’s so pathetic it makes the Hobgoblins in that MST3K staple look good by comparison. Only available in a long out-of-print VHS, so the link goes to a YouTube rip.
  9. Upstream Color: Intelligent Shane Carruth science fiction film focused on two people victimized by the same scammer using an organism that has linked them and other victims into a sort of meta-organism. Well worth watching, and his some great sound design.
  10. Chasing the Dragon: Sold Hong Kong crime drama loosely based on the real life triad boss and drug lord Crippled Ho, and partially set in Kowloon Walled City.
  11. The VelociPastor: Complete schlock that knows its schlock about a priest who turns into a velociraptor to fight bad guys. And ninjas. Look for the “[Insert VFX here]” scene…
  12. Girls of the Sun: Interesting but not great film about a Kurdish Pershmerga unit of former female captives fighting the Islamic State done on what appears to be a European TV movie budget. About 40% of the film is about the lead character’s captivity and escape, which is probably a bit much. Also has a French photojournalist that provides a coda of commentary about The Meaning of It All. Not available from Amazon for some reason, but available through through Kino Lorber (again, worth waiting for one of their sales.)

I’m excluding anything from the Criterion Collection (Haxan, Daisies), anything with a major Hollywood star, and any MST3K/Rifftrax/etc. films.

Feel free to share obscure films down in the comments.

Library Additions: Two Signed Books

June 4th, 2024

One signed by the author, another by the editor.

  • Morrow, James. Shambling Toward Hiroshima. Tachyon, 2009. First edition trade paperback original, second printing, a Fine copy, inscribed by Morrow: “To Josh,/Gorgantis Forever!/best wishes, James Morrow.” Novel of a psyop project in 1945 to make a kaiju movie to convince the Japanese to surrender. Not sure why I didn’t pick up a copy of this from Tachyon when first announced. Bought for $5.99 from Half Price Books.

  • Poe, Edgar Allen (Thomas Monteleone, editor). A Little Gold Book of Grotesqueries. Borderlands Press, 2024. First edition hardback, #463 of 500 numbered copies signed by Monteleone, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Bought from the publisher at the usual discount.

    I will have copies of this in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog (probably November).

  • Library Additions: Three Signed Firsts

    May 30th, 2024

    This was an odd auction lot that I won for the opening bid. It’s three signed firsts, only two of which are signed by the author, and are a diverse bunch that seldom have the same collectors buying them.

  • Bush, George H. W. All the Best: My Life in Letters and Other Writings. Lisa Drew/Scribner, 1999. First edition hardback, a Fine-/Fine- copy with just a tiny bit of bend at head and heel, signed by Bush on a bookplate on the half title page. (Note: All copies come with a printed signature on that page, but this is an actual signed bookplate below that.) Autobiography of the 41st President of the United States of America. I have two books signed by Bush43, but this is the first one I’ve picked up signed by Bush41.

  • Conklin, Groff. Big Book of Science Fiction. Crown Publishers, 1950. First edition hardback ($3.00 price on dust jacket, as per ISFDB), a Very Good+ copy with bumping at head and heel, spine slightly concave, wrinkles at head and blunting of points, in a Very Good dust jacket with creasing, rubbing and small tears at head and heel, long crease at top front, slight fading to spine, 1/4″ closed tear to top front flap, wear at points, and slight edgewear, with previous purchase slip laid in, and former owner name on front free endpaper. The owner was Charles Richter, whose name I didn’t recognize in the auction listing. I thought it might have been the author of one of the stories in the anthology, and didn’t assign any value when calculating a lot price for the Bush and Dunsany volumes, as I don’t typically collect reprint anthologies. Turns out it’s seismologist and physicist Charles Richter, as in “Richter Scale.” A card with his signature evidently sold for $202 in 2010. Conklin edited numerous science fiction reprint anthologies, and his signature is evidently quite uncommon. Bleiler, Science Fiction: The Early Years page 151 (included for three science fiction stories difficult to find elsewhere). Reginald, Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature: A Checklist 03270.

  • Dunsany, Lord (Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany). The Chronicles of Rodiguez. G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1922. First edition hardback (Currey state A), #148 of 500 copies, signed by Dunsany below his Preface and illustrator Syndney Sime below his frontispiece illustration, a Very Good copy with various rubs and touches of wear, abrasion wear to spine label, blunting of points, and several small foxing spots to pages throughout, lacking the dust jacket. An elaborate production, with paper vellum pages and marbled endpapers. Currey, page 168. Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy page 74. I lacked both Dunsany and Sime signatures in my collection before acquiring this.

  • All bought off an Invaluable auction for the opening bid of $190 ($243 after buyer’s premium).

    Lame Excuse Books Catalog for May 2024

    May 29th, 2024

    Greetings, and welcome to the latest Lame Excuse Books catalog! Lots of cool things this time around, including some classic Arthur C. Clarke firsts, more Lansdale firsts (always!), three of the most desirable out-of-print Borderlands Little Books (plus some new ones), some Lovecraft and Howard items, several Thomas M. Disch firsts, a key Henry Kuttner, some relatively cheap Hugo and Nebula winning firsts, a Heinlein ARC, and a number of markdowns on various firsts (including Harlan Ellison and Ray Garton), plus a lot of audiobook markdowns.

    And since Howard Waldrop died earlier this year, I’m listing all my signed Waldrop, so you can pick it up while it’s still available. My tribute to Howard is here.

    As usual, I typically only have 1-2 copies of even the newest books, so if you want something you should act fast!

    This is the main URL for the Lame Excuse Books webpage.

    Here’s my giant Books Wanted list.

    So if you have any of those available at attractive prices, or want to trade them for credit against book purchases, let me know.

    I’m still doing a Lame Excuse Books Twitter feed.

    My books are also now listed on Biblio

    But buying directly from me guarantees you the best price.

    Payment, Contact & Shipping Information

    Email me at lawrenceperson@gmail.com. I can hold books for ten days on email or phone requests (please leave a message on my voicemail for the latter: (512) 569-9036). U.S. shipping is $6.00 for the first book, and $1.00 a book thereafter.

    Foreign shipping is at cost (please inquire; for most overseas locations, Priority International starts at $47.05 now). However, Biblio has instituted an overseas consolidated shipper whose rates are between domestic and foreign USPS rates. I’ve had overseas customers
    successfully receive books, so that’s a definite possibility if the books aren’t too heavy and you live in the UK or Australia.

    Books may be returned in the same condition sent for any reason within 10 days of purchase for a full refund. Please make checks payable to Lawrence Person. I can also take PayPal payment to this email address at http://www.paypal.com.

    Please mail checks to:

    Lawrence Person
    Lame Excuse Books
    P.O. Box 27231
    Austin, Texas 78755

    Finally, if you want me to take you off this mailing list, please let me know. I hate spam just as much as the next person.

    Now the books!

    Hardbacks

    LP2514. Armstrong, Kelley. Driven. Subterranean Press, 2016. First edition hardback, one of 1000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, with full-color endpapers and several full color plates, new and unread. Werewolf novel. Half off cover price. $15.

    LP2383B. Armstrong, Kelley. Forsaken. Subterranean Press, 2015. First edition hardback, #528 of 1000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Otherworld book about werewolves. Cover price: $48. For you? $24.

    LP2383. Armstrong, Kelley. Forsaken. Subterranean Press, 2015. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Trade edition. How about 75% off cover price? $10.

    LP3020. Asimov, Isaac. The Foundation Trilogy (Foundation, Foundation and Empire, and Second Foundation). Folio Society, 2012. First edition hardbacks thus, an attractive three volume prestige edition, all Fine copies in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued, in a Fine, decorated slipcase with a Fine Folio Society brochure laid in. One of the Folio Society’s more attractive and desirable offerings. Reduced price. $325.

    LP3407. Atkins, Peter. The Wishmaster (AKA Wishmaster and Other Stories). Pumpkin Books, 1999. First edition hardback, one of 750 copies, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with just a touch of edgewear to points and just a trace of haze rubbing to black rear cover, signed by Atkins. Short story collection plus the screenplay for the Wes Craven film Wishmaster (Atkins was also the screenwriter of several Hellraiser and Wishmaster sequels). Chalker/Owings (2002), pages 739-740. Introduction by Ramsey Campbell. Pumpkin Books was a very active press for two years, and this disappeared in a puff of smoke. Note: Cover and spine titles are just The Wishmaster, while the title page reads Wishmaster and Other Stories. Reduced price. $49.

    LP2585. (Ballard, J.G.) McGrath, Rick, editor. The JG Ballard Book. The Terminal Press, 2013. First edition, first printing hardback (stated, though actually a POD book), a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Oversized hardback (about the size and thickness of a high school yearbook) chock full of various Ballard tidbits, including an interview with David Pringle, additions to the Goddard bibliography, pictures of Ballard’s house, maps to the Shanghai of his youth, with many pages in color, etc. Once I found out about this and the below three volumes, I picked up copies for my list, but I only have one of each. $35.

    LP2586. (Ballard, J.G.) McGrath, Rick, editor. Deep Ends The JG Ballard Anthology 2014. The Terminal Press, 2014. First edition, first printing hardback (stated, though actually a POD book), a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Oversized hardback (about the size and thickness of a high school yearbook) chock full of various Ballard tidbits, including a previously unpublished Ballard work (“Crystal of the Sea”), a David Pringle interview with one of Ballard’s daughters, and a remembrance of another, plus sundry critical essays and (ahem) “Why I Want To Fuck Rupert Murdoch.” Many pages in color. Only have one. $35.

    LP2587. (Ballard, J.G.) McGrath, Rick, editor. Deep Ends The JG Ballard Anthology 2015. The Terminal Press, 2015. First edition, first printing hardback (stated, though actually a POD book), a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Oversized hardback (about the size and thickness of an even thicker high school yearbook) full of even more Ballard tidbits, including the first part of David Pringle’s extensive Moorcock/Ballard chronology (indeed, hearing about that is what first made me track these volumes down), plus lots of critical essays, including one on Ballard, Dick and Baudrillard. Many pages in color. Only have one. $35.

    LP2588. (Ballard, J.G.) McGrath, Rick, editor. Deep Ends The JG Ballard Anthology 2016. The Terminal Press, 2016. First edition, first printing hardback (stated, though actually a POD book), a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Oversized hardback (about the size and thickness of an even thicker high school yearbook) full of even more Ballard tidbits, including the second part of David Pringle’s extensive Moorcock/Ballard chronology, an English bookseller’s notes on selling Ballard, an interview conducted by Paul Di Filippo, etc. Many pages in color. Only have one. $35.

    LP2589. SPECIAL BALLARD BUNDLE: Buy all four of the above (The JG Ballard Book and the three Deep Ends) for $120. And as far as I can tell, my prices are actually better than anywhere else online…

    LP3359. Blaylock, James P. Pennies From Heaven. PS Publishing, 2022. First edition hardback, one of 200 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket with repricing sticker over UPC, as issued. New novel. The signed edition is the only hardback edition, and the PS edition is the only edition thus far. 200 is a pretty small run for a Blaylock hardback, and I appear to have the only copies listed online. $49.

    LP3356. Beaumont, Charles. The Carnival and Other Stories. Subterranean Press, 2022. First edition hardback, one of 1,250 numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Short story collection. $40.

    LP3025. Block, Lawrence. A Writer Prepares. Short Scary Tales (SST) Publications, 2021. First edition hardback, one of 400 signed, numbered hardbacks, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, still in publisher’s tissue paper wrapping. An autobiography of the early writing life of this influential and prolific mystery writer. “By the time I was 25, I had a wife and two daughters and a house in a suburb. I had published over fifty books.” The mind boggles, and I feel like a slacker. Only have one. $44.

    LP3499. Blumlein, Michael. Long: The Collected Novellas of Michael Blumlein. Subterranean Press, 2024. First edition hardback, one of 750 numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. WITH Blumlein, Michael. Short: The Collected Short Fiction of Michael Blumlein. Subterranean Press, 2024. First edition hardback, one of 750 numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Pretty much the complete short fiction by this critically acclaimed author. Only have one set. $90.

    LP3026. Boyett, Stephen R. The Architect of Sleep. Centipede Press, 2021. First hardback edition, one of 400 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, still in shrinkwrap. Really interesting novel about a man transported to an alternate earth where Raccoons evolved as the planet’s sentient life form. Originally published as an Ace paperback original back in 1986, never reprinted, and became something of a cult classic. I’ve sold a lot of PBO copies of this and Ariel over the years (and indeed, see the paperbacks). Recommended. This signed edition is already sold out from the publisher. I’m hoping this new edition prods Boyett into revising and finishing the still-unpublished sequel, The Geography of Dreams. LAST COPY! $195.

    LP3500. Bradbury, Ray. A Chapbook for Burnt-Out Priests, Rabbis and Ministers. Cemetery Dance, 2001. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with just a trace of wear at points. Mixture of fiction and non-fiction, poetry, essays, etc., on religious and transcendental themes. $20.

    LP3244. Bradbury, Ray. Phoenix 451. Gauntlet Press, 2022. First edition hardback, one of 350 unsigned copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Huge 833-page collection. “We are proud to be publishing five versions of Fahrenheit-451 he wrote beginning in 1955.” Plus a whole lot more, including color plates, play texts, ancillary material, etc. You get a huge amount of book for your money. Mine seems to be the cheapest copy on the Internet by quite a lot. $75.

    LP3501. Bradbury, Ray. They Have Not Seen The Stars: The Collected Poetry of Ray Bradbury. Stealth Press, 2002. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Bradbury. I always thought Bradbury was a solid light-weight, rhyming, sentimental poet, three things the poetry establishment has absolutely no sympathy for. $95.

    LP3502. Brennan, Joseph Payne. Nine Horrors and a dream. Arkham House, 1958. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with a bump at head in a Near Fine, Mylar-protected dust jacket with slight loss at head and heel and wear at points, and slight browning to white rear cover; a really nice copy, but not perfect. Horror short story collection, and good one, with “Slime” and “Canavan’s Back Yard” being particularly good. Jones & Newman, Horror 100 Best Books 56. Derleth, Thirty Years of Arkham House 53 (which notes 1,336 copies printed). Joshi, Sixty Years of Arkham House 53 (“some of the best American weird writing in the generation after Lovecraft”).Jaffery, Horrors and Unpleasantries 53. Nielsen, Arkham House Books A Collector’s Guide 56 (“A key title.”). $145.

    LP3503. Brennan, Joseph Payne. Stories of Darkness and Dread. Arkham House, 1973. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with a few pinhead spots where the Hilliston Black Novelex binding has gone from shiny to dull, in a Fine, Mylar-protected dust jacket. His third Arkham House book and second volume of stories, including one, “Killer Cat,” that came out decades before Stephen King’s “The Cat from Hell.” Joshi, Sixty Years of Arkham House 123. Jaffrey, Horrors and Unpleasantries 126. Nielsen, Arkham House Books: A Collector’s Guide 129. $30.

    LP3504. Clarke, Arthur C. Clarke, Arthur C. Childhood’s End. Ballantine Books, 1953. First edition hardback, an Ex-Library copy with all the usual flaws, including pocket at rear, dust jacket taped to covers, a spine crease, dust soiling to page block edges and slight wear to bottom boards, in an attached dust jacket with spine fade and a 1″ x 1″ plus sign (“+”) done in liquid paper partially covering the “k” and “e” in “Clarke, in an old-style “black edge) dust jacket protector, with other touches of dust soiling and wear. Far from pristine, but the dust jacket itself seems to be intact save for a small part where the protector has worn away at heel join, where about 1/16” chip has abraded away. Call it a Good+/Very Good Ex-Lib copy. Clarke’s most important novel, and one of the keystone science fiction novels of the 20th century. Currey (State A), page 113. Locke, Science Fiction First Editions, page 23 and pages 84-85, where he argues that the hardcover (Currey A) state was probably printed before the simultaneous paperback edition. Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy page 52. Pringle, Science Fiction: The 100 Best Novels 9. Barron, Anatomy of Wonder 4 3-44. Magill, Survey of Science Fiction Literature, pages 337-341. Hartwell, Age of Wonders, pages 82-83. Pringle, The Utlimate Guide to Science Fiction page 58 (“****…Clarke’s best novel.”) A very imperfect but complete true first of an important and difficult book. $995.

    LP3505. Clarke, Arthur C. A Fall of Moondust. Harcourt, Brace & World, 1961. First edition hardback (“First Edition” stated, as per Currey), an Ex-Library copy with all the usual flaws, including stamps and stickers to endpapers, pocket to rear free endpaper, in a library binding, in a dust jacket formerly glued to flaps (in a dust jacket protector, so you could use it for another copy), otherwise Good+ with sticker to spine, sticker to rear cover (on the dj protector), a 1/4″ triangular chip to front heel join, similar with slightless loss and tear to rear heel join, much shallower wear to head and points, call it a Good+/Good+ ex-library copy. Arguably the last of Clarke’s “early” novels. Hugo nominee. Space-filler or reading copy. $20.

    LP3506. Disch, Thomas M. (illustrated by Karen Lee Schmidt). The Brave Little Toaster. Doubleday, 1986. First edition hardback, a Fine copy (with the characteristic gutter discoloration from blue to yellow seen in all copies, evidently a chemical reaction to the glue used) in decorated boards, in a Fine-, Mylar-protected dust jacket with a thin line of wear at heel. Basis of the 1987 animated film, and among the hardest to find of Disch’s firsts. $250.

    LP3507. Disch, Thomas M., Blöödhag, and Tim Kirk. Mecca Mettle. Payseur & Schmidt, 2005. First edition hardback, #160 of 300 copies signed by Disch, a Fine copy in a Fine, Mylar-protected dust jacket, with Blood Hag CD present at rear, and Payseur & Schmidt note and bookmark laid in. Like all Payseur & Schmidt’s projects, this is as much an art assemblage as a book, with stories from Disch (using the fake band member names from Blöödhag as pseudonyms for most of them), art from Kirk, and music from Seattle death metal band Blöödhag. A mint copy of a pretty unusual Disch book. $49.

    LP3508. Disch, Thomas M. The Silver Pillow: A Tale of Witchcraft. Mark V. Ziesing, 1987. First edition hardback, #19 of 250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine- Mylar-protected dust jacket with a thin 3/8″ long scratch along rear spine join at head. Original horror novelette. Chalker/Owings, page 490. $15.

    LP3033. Ellison, Harlan. Can and Can’tankerous. Subterranean Press/Edgeworks Abbey, 2015. First edition hardback, a PC copy of 374 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine- slipcase where a few spots seem ever-so-slightly bumped; I’m probably being excessively picky. Previously uncollected stories. This limited edition adds four pieces (“Who Wilts the Lettuce?” (original 1957 typescript), “Blonde Cargo” (original 1958 typescript), “Weariness” (original 2005 typescript) and “Sensible City” (2009 revised version)) not in the trade edition. Long out of print from the publisher. $275.

    LP2123. Ellison, Harlan. The Deadly Streets. Subterranean Press, 2013. First hardback edition, one of 750 copies of the trade edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Early Ellison collection now available in hardback. No other copies on Bookfinder, and $15 off cover price. $30.

    LP3509. Farmer, Philip Jose. The World of Tiers Volume One. Nelson Doubleday/SFBC, no date (but 1981). First edition hardback thus, an omnibus edition of The Maker of Universes and The Gates of Creation, first printing with code L44 on page 311, a Fine- copy with slight bumping at head and heel, in a Near Fine dust jacket with short lines, intermittent lines of abrasion rubbing on front (3″), rear (1″), and spine (1/2″ trace), and a closed 1/2″ tear and associated crease ro rear cover, otherwise nice and complete, signed by Farmer. Great adventure SF and an acknowledged influence on Roger Zelazny’s Amber series. Highly Recommended. Not seeing any other signed copies online right now. $49.

    LP3510. Fforde, Jasper. Thursday Next: First Among Sequels. Viking Penguin, 2007. First U.S. hardback edition, a Fine-/Fine- copy with a slight bump at head, inscribed by Fforde: “Marla,/Jasper.” Fifth book in the Thursday Next series. $15.

    LP3511. Flint, Eric, editor (Gene Wolfe, Gregory Benford, Mike Resnick, Lawrence Person, etc.) The Best of Jim Baen’s Universe 2006. Baen Books, 2007. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, with CD-ROM present in pocket at rear. Compilation of the best stories from the first year of the online magazine. My story, “Bob’s Yeti Problem,” appears here. Inscribed upon request. $15.

    LP3513. Gaiman, Neil. The Graveyard Book. HarperCollins, 2008. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with just a few traces of edgewear and haze rubbing, otherwise pristine. Hugo and Newbery Award winner. $15.

    LP3514. Gaiman, Neil. A Little Gold Book of Ghastly Stuff. Borderlands Press, 2011. First edition hardback, #54 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Mixture of fiction, non-fiction, essays, speeches, poetry, etc. Cool cover illustration by Gahan Wilson. Probably the hardest of the Little Book series to find. $495

    LP3268. Garton, Ray. Biofire. Cemetery Dance, 1998. First edition hardback, #149 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine- copy with slight bend at heel in a Fine dust jacket. $40.

    LP3426. Garton, Ray. The Disappeared and Other Stories. Camelot Books, 2010. First edition hardback, #108 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with just a bare trace of haze rubbing to back cover, otherwise apparently new and unread. Short story collection. Out of print for quite a while. Garton died April 21 at age 61. $55.

    LP3269. Garton, Ray. ‘Nids and other Stories. Spiderweb Press, 2006. First edition hardback, #36 of 300 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Giant spiders! Get your giant spider fiction here! $75.

    LP1400. Garton, Ray. Night Life. Subterranean Press, 2005. First edition hardback, one of 400 signed and numbered copies bound in leather, in a Fine, Mylar protected dust jacket, new and unread. Garton’s sequel to Live Girls, sold out pre-publication within mere hours of Subterranean announcing the book. $45.

    LP3044. Hand, Elizabeth (edited by Bill Sheehan). The Best of Elizabeth Hand. Subterranean Press, 2021. First edition hardback, one of 1000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Now out of print from the publisher. $40.

    LP3515. Hendrix, Grady. The Final Girls Support Group. Berkeley, 2021. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Stoker Award nominee. $25.

    LP2756. Hill, Joe and Gabriel Rodriguez. Locke & Key 4: Keys to the Kingdom. Subterranean/IDW, 2019. First limited edition hardback, one of 250 signed/numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine slipcase, new and unread. The latest collected signed/limited volume of the acclaimed dark fantasy/horror graphic novel series. The IDW edition came out many years back, but as with the other Subterranean volumes, this includes additional material, including the full comic scripts. $245.

    LP3278. Hirschberg, Glen. The Book of Bunk: A Fairy Tale of the Federal Writers’ Project. Earthling Books, 2010. First edition hardback, #64 of 400 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Now out of print from the publisher. $65.

    LP3279. Hirschberg, Glen. Motherless Child. Earthling Books, 2012. First edition hardback, #186 of 400 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Now out of print from the publisher. $65.

    LP3516. Howard, Robert E. (Edited by P. Gardner Goldsmith) A Little Bronze Book of Weird Tales. Borderlands Press, 2024. First edition hardback, one of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Already out of print. $65.

    LP3280. Howard, Robert E. The Ultimate Triumph: The Heroic Fantasy of Robert E. Howard. Wandering Star, 1999. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Part of their illustrated Howard series, and this volume is chock-full of black and white Frank Frazetta art. I think this is the trade edition, but any version seems increasingly hard to find these days. $125.

    LP3517. Jacobs, Harvey. The Egg of the Glak and Other Stories. Harper & Row, 1969. First edition hardback, a Near Fine- copy with slight softening at head and heel and a 1 1/4″ stamped “R” in a square on the front free endpaper, in a Very Good+ dust jacket with a 1″ semi-closed tear at top right cover/fold join, 1/4″ closed tear and 1/16″ abrasion chip at head, plus touches of wear at heel and points. His first short story collection and book. $15.

    LP3518. Keene, Brian. A Little Silver Book of Streetwise Stories. Borderlands Press, 2008. First edition hardback, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Short story collection, long out of print. $95.

    LP2843. Kelly, James Patrick. King of the Dogs, Queen of the Cats. Subterranean Press, 2020. First edition hardback, one of 1000 signed numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Novella about a circus of uplifted cats and dogs. Reduced price. $35.

    LP3369. King, Stephen. The Long Walk. Centipede Press, 2023. First edition thus and first separate hardback edition (a previous Turtleback library hardback binding appears to be just a rebind of the Signet trade paperback edition), one of 1,400 trade copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, still in shrinkwrap. Near future SF dystopia, my favorite of the Bachman books, and one of my favorite of King’s books, period. Instantly out of print from the publisher. Not only is mine the cheapest copy on Bookfinder, it’s the cheapest copy by a LOT. I’ll probably raise the price after I mail out this catalog. $349 net.

    LP3519. Kuttner, Henry (as Lewis Padgett). Robots Have No Tails. Gnome Press, 1952. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with one pinhead sized bump about 1/4″ up rear heel join, another small bump along top front edge, bumping at points, two small penned prices on front free endpaper, and very slight bumping at head and heel, in a Very Good+ dust jacket that has a very light 3″ x 2″ light reddish stain to rear bottom panel along with dampstaining from fold (1″) to edge (1/4″) of inner flap, plus slight dust staining to white rear panel, otherwise a very nice, complete, vibrant and unfaded example of the dust jacket. Collection of Kuttner’s Gallagher stories, in which a man gets blind drunk and invents robots, only to be unable to recall what they do once he sobers up. Great, hilarious stories from one of the cleverest writers of the golden age, and highly recommended. Though often attributed to both Kuttner and C.L. Moore, Moore herself noted that these were all written by Kuttner solo in a later reprint of the book. Currey, page 293. Chalker Owings, page 199 (“totally insane stories”). Kemp, The Anthem Series page 209 (“Highly recommended.”) In just the last year copies of these seem to have gotten a lot less common. $150.

    LP2194. Lansdale, Joe R. Bad Chili. Mojo Press, 1997. First edition hardback, a PC edition of the 500 copy edition signed by Lansdale and artist John Picacio (one of his first professional works, I think), a Fine copy in a Fine Mylar-protected dust jacket, new and unread. True first edition of the fourth Hap and Leonard novel, preceding the Mysterious Press edition by about three months. Offered at less than cover price. $35.

    LP2844. Lansdale, Joe R. Hap and Leonard: Blood and Lemonade. Short Scary Tales (SST) Press, 2020. First hardback edition and first signed limited edition (preceded by the Tachyon trade paperback), one of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Like Blood in the Gears, I just got a reorder of this, and like that one, the cost has gone up due to increased shipping costs. Reduced price. $65.

    LP3145. Lansdale, Joe R. Hap and Leonard: Of Mice and Minestrone. Short Scary Tales (SST) Publications, 2021. First hardback edition and first limited edition (the Tachyon trade paperback, which I also have, precedes), one of 400 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Linked Hap and Leonard short stories. Reduced price. $55.

    LP3520. Lansdale, Joe R. A Little Green Book of Monster Stories. Borderlands Book, 2003. First edition hardback, #55 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Short story collection, long out of print, perhaps the hardest Lansdale collection to find, and one of the rarest of the Borderlands Little Books. On the rare occasions I’ve had these to sell, they get snapped up almost instantly. $395.

    LP3292. Lansdale, Joe R. Moon Lake. Short Scary Tales Publications (SST), 2022. First limited edition hardback, one of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket with tissue paper seal laid in. $54.

    LP3146. Lansdale, Joe R. Radiant Apples. Subterranean Press, 2021. First edition hardback, one of 1,500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy. From the continuing adventures of Deadwood Dick, the protagonist of Black Hat Jack and Paradise Sky. My copy seems to be the cheapest copy online by twenty bucks. $40.

    LP3521. Lansdale, Joe R. The Senior Girls Bayonet Drill Team. Subterranean, 2023 (stated; received early 2024). First edition hardback, one of 1250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. The latest Lansdale short story collection. $50.

    LP2940. Lansdale, Joe R. and Sam Glanzman (illustrator). Red Range. It’s Alive Press, 2017. First edition thus, a hardback edition collecting the individual comics (and this is the “Kickstarter Edition”), a Fine copy in decorated black boards, sans dust jacket, as issued, signed by Lansdale. Weird western comic featuring the Klan, the Hollow Earth, and Dinosaurs. Introduction by Rick Klaw and afterword by Stephen R. Bissette. Also see Red Range: Fireworld on the trade paperbacks page. $29.

    LP3376. Lansdale, Joe R. and Kasey Lansdale. Dark Kin. Thunderstorm Books, 2023. First edition hardback, one of 250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Collaborative short story collection, one novella original to this collection, each with introductions by one or both offers. Only edition, and 250 is an awfully small run for a Lansdale book. Now sold out from the publisher, but I still have it at cover price. $125.

    LP2939. Lansdale, Joe R. and Keith Lansdale. Big Lizard. Short Scary Tales (SST) Publications, 2020. First edition hardback, one of 1,500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. A botched supernatural ceremony gives the protagonist “the power to transform into a big lizard who can run fast, has incredible strength, and a large tail.” Looks like fun. Full color illustrated endpapers and signature page. $49.

    LP3522. Lansdale, Joe & Karen, editors (David Morrell, David J. Schow, etc.). Dark at Heart. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with trace of wear at points, with signature plate signed by Lansdale laid in. Stories of dark suspense. $20.

    LP3523. (Lansdale, Joe R.) Christopher Golden and Brian Keene, editors. Joe R Lansdale’s The Drive-In: Multiplex. Thunderstorm Books, 2024. First hardback edition, one of 350 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Preceded by the Pandi Press trade paperback original. Original anthology set in Lansdale’s Drive-In universe, including stories by Joe & Kasey Lansdale, Josh Malerman, David J. Schow, Nancy Collins, Gary Braunbeck, Owen King, etc. Already out of print from the publisher, but still cover price. $125.

    LP3150. (Lansdale, Joe R.) Fred Isajanko. The World Lansdalean: The Authorized Joe R. Lansdale Bibliography. Short Scary Tales (SST) Publications, 2021. First edition hardback, one of 1000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine slipcase. Bibliography of Lansdale’s work, that also includes bonus Lansdale fiction in the back. If you read or collect Lansdale, you need it. Reduced price. $55.

    LP3432. Lee, Edward. The Minotauress. Necro Publications, 2007. First edition hardback, #173 of 400 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Includes the title novel, plus “The Horn Cranker.” Reduced price. $75.

    LP3380. Ligotti, Thomas. Pictures of Apocalypse. Chiroptera Press, 2023. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, still in shrinkwrap. Also includes a special 24 page Pictures of Apocalypse: Interviews and Sketches chapbook, including new interviews with the author and artist, “Concept to finish” art documentation, outtakes, a thank you card, and a bookmark. A verse cycle. A fairly elaborate small press production for this stylish horror writer whose work regularly sells out. This first edition hardback is now sold out from the publisher, but I still have copies, so let’s put it at $10 off cover price! $60.

    LP3524. Lovecraft, H. P. (S.T. Joshi, editor) A Little Silver Book of Supernatural Stories. Borderlands Press, 2024. First edition hardback, one of 500 copies signed by Joshi, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Sampler of Lovecraft stories, including “Dagon,” “Nyarlathotep,” and “The Call of Cthulhu.” $32.50.

    LP2706. (Lovecraft, H.P.) S. T. Joshi. Black Wings V. PS Publishing, 2016. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. The fifth in this popular series of “New Tales of Lovecraftian Horror.” Trade edition. Only have one. $28.

    LP3525. (Lovecraft, H.P.) Pedersen, Nate, editor. The Dagon Collection: An Auction Catalogue of Items Recovered in the Federal Raid on Innsmouth, Mass. PS Publishing, 2024. First edition hardback in decorated boards, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Anthology in the form of a mock auction catalog of Cthulhu Mythos related items from the Esoteric Order of Dagon, with contributions from F. Paul Wilson, Ramsey Campbell, etc. $49.

    LP3526. (Lovecraft, H.P., Robert E. Howard, Clark Ashton Smith) Jones, Stephen. The Weird Tales Boys. First edition hardback, one of 100 signed (by Jones, introduction author Ramsey Campbell, artist Lee Edwards, and facsimile signatures for Lovecraft, Howard and Smith), numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine slipcase. A triple biography of H.P. Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard and Clark Ashton Smith as the most important writers for Weird Tales. No other hardback, and now sold out from the publisher. $95.

    LP3434. MacLeod, Ian R. Ragged Maps. Subterranean Press, 2023. First edition hardback, one of 1,000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and publisher’s plastic bag. Short story collection from this Campbell and World Fantasy Award-winning writer. $5 off cover price. $40.

    LP3435. Malerman, Josh. Daphne. Short Scary Tales (SST) Publications, 2023. First limited edition hardback, one of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, with tissue paper closure sticker laid in. His limited editions tend to sell pretty well, and this is the cheapest copy online. $60.

    LP3213. Martin, George R. R. and Tuttle, Lisa. Windhaven. Subterranean Press, 2019. First limited edition hardback, #416 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Handsome limited edition (with full color endpapers and several full-color illustration pages by Lauren Saint-Onge) of this science fiction novel set on a light gravity world where people can fly using artificial wings. Out of print from the publisher. Reduced price. $145.

    LP3299. McCammon, Robert. Speaks the Nightbird. River City Publishing, 2002. First edition hardback (as per McCammon’s website: “The first edition can be identified by the lack of a ‘First Edition” ‘statement on the copyright page. If there is a second printing of the trade hardcover, it will be identified as a ‘Second printing’ on the copyright page”), a Fine copy in a Mylar-protected dust jacket. Massive, 726 page novel, and the first Matthew Corbett novel. Reduced price. $75.

    LP3527. McCrumb, Sharyn. Zombies of the Gene Pool. Simon & Schuster, 1992. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with a remainder mark in a Fine, Mylar-protected dust jacket. Sequel to Bimbos of the Death Sun. Would be mint save for the remainder mark. $5.

    LP3528. McDevitt, Jack. McDevitt, Jack. Doorway to the Stars. Subterranean Press, 2024. First edition hardback, one of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Novella about a stargate set in the same universe as Thunderbird. $40.

    LP3381. McDevitt, Jack. Return To Glory. Subterranean Press, 2022. First edition hardback, one of 1,000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Now out of print from the publisher. I seem to be the only one on the Internet that has copies. $65.

    LP2533. Mieville, China. This Census-Taker. Subterranean Press, 2016. First limited edition hardback thus (the Del Rey trade edition precedes), #443 of 750 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Now sold out from the publisher, and I only have one. Reduced price. $55.

    LP3529. Mieville, China. The City & The City. Del Rey, 2009. First U.S. edition hardback (the UK McMillan edition slightly precedes), a Fine-/Fine copy with bumping at head and slight bumping at heel. His Hugo, World Fantasy and Clarke Award winning novel of two European city states that exist superimposed one atop the other, whose respective residents have been trained since birth to avoid noticing residents of the “other” city. Basis of a UK miniseries. Recommended. $65.

    LP2778. Moorcock, Michael. King of the City. Morrow, 2000. Second printing of the first American hardback, a Near Fine copy with one spot of spotting on foreedge, and slight bumping at head and heel in a Fine- dust jacket with slight wrinkling at head. Signed by Moorcock. Novel set in contemporary London, a sequel to Mother London. $10.

    LP1886. Morris, Mark, editor (Joe R. Lansdale, Lucius Shepard, Alastair Reynolds, etc.). Cinema Futura. PS Publishing, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Companion volume to Cinema Macabre, with the likes of Joe R. Lansdale, Alastair Reynolds, Mike Resnick, etc. providing commentary on important SF movies from Metropolis to Avatar. If you’re a serious movie buff you probably want a copy, and I only have one. Reduced price. $38.

    LP2952. Pinborough, Sarah. A Little Magenta Book of Malevolence. Borderlands Press, 2020. First edition hardback, one of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Six stories plus “Blog Posts.” Now out of print from the publisher. Reduced price. $35.

    LP3531. Powers, Tim. Earthquake Weather. Legend, 1997. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight bumping at head and heel in a Fine, Mylar-protected dust jacket. Berlyne A10a. Third book in the Fisher King trilogy. $25.

    LP3532. Powers, Tim. My Brother’s Keeper. Charnel House, 2023 (stated, actually 2024). First edition hardback, one of 200 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. The usual elaborate Charnel House production, with full-color illustrated endpapers. The Baen trade edition precedes. $300.

    LP2082. Powers, Tim. Salvage and Demolition. Subterranean Press, 2013. First edition hardback, one of 350 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Powers novella about a rare book dealer and time travel. Now sold out from the publisher, but I’m offering it at $10 off cover price. Reduced price. $45.

    LP3443. Saki (H.H. Munro) (edited by Stuart David Schiff). A Little Red Book of Wit & Shudders. Borderlands Press, 2023. First edition hardback, one of 500 copies signed by Schiff, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Short story collection by this acclaimed turn-of-the-20th century writer. Now out of print from the publisher. Supernatural detective stories. Reduced price. $35.

    LP3217. Shepard, Lucius (edited by Bill Sheehan). The Best of Lucius Shepard Volume 2 with Youthful Folly and Other Lost Stories. Subterranean Press, 2021 (seen 2022). First edition hardbacks, one of 200 numbered sets, Fine copies in Fine dust jackets, new and unread. Best of 2 is a huge, 800+ page collection (and the trade edition of that precedes), while Youthful Folly “contains an additional 400 pages of previously uncollected fiction,” only available with the limited edition. I appear to be the only person on the Internet who still has copies. $225.

    LP3533. Silverberg, Robert, editor (Robert A. Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, Ray Bradbury, Roger Zelazny, etc.) The Science Fiction Hall of Fame Volume One. First edition hardback, a Near Fine- copy with previous ownership sticker on inside cover and bumping at head, heel and points, in a Very Good+ dust jacket with 1/2″ semi-open tears to rear spine panel joins at top and bottom, 1/16″ chips at top and bottom front spine join, bumping at head, heel and 1/16″ loss at points, slight dust soiling to white rear panel. The best of pre-Nebula Award science fiction, as voted by the members of the SFWA, and chock full of one classic after another: “Flowers for Algernon,” “Nightfall,” “Microcosmic God,” “A Martian Odyssey,” “The Roads Must Roll,” “The Little Black Bag,” “Arena,” Mars is Heaven,” etc. etc. etc. The one science fiction anthology to have if you’re only having one. Highly recommended. Hell, some people are already asking over a hundred bucks for the Tor reprint edition of this! $50.

    LP3056. Smith, Michael Marshall. The Best of Michael Marshall Smith. Subterranean Press, 2021. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Another big Subterranean career retrospective. Trade edition. Now sold out from the publisher. Reduced price. $45.

    LP3448. Sterling, Bruce. Islands in the Net. Arbor House, 1988. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight bend at heel in a Fine Mylar-protected dust jacket, signed by Sterling. Arguably the novel where Sterling transitioned from Cyberpunk to Postcyberpunk. Hugo Award nominee. $35.

    LP3449. Sterling, Bruce, editor (William Gibson, Greg Bear, Pat Cadigan, etc.) Mirrorshades: The Cyberpunk Anthology. Arbor House, 1986. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine Mylar-protected dust jacket, signed by Bruce Sterling. Arguably the most important anthology of the 1980s. While you weren’t looking, copies of this have gotten scarce and pricy. $350.

    LP3058. Straub, Peter. The Complete Short Fiction of Peter Straub Volume One with The Complete Short Fiction of Peter Straub Volume Two. Borderlands Press, 2021. First edition hardbacks, one of 350 signed, numbered sets, Fine copies in Fine dust jackets. Already out of print from the publisher. Again, I seem to be the only person on the Internet who has these. $235.

    LP1855. Straub, Peter. The Juniper Tree and Other Blue Rose Stories. Subterranean Press, 2010. First edition hardback, one of 250 numbered leatherbound copies signed by Straub, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Collection of novellas set in the same world as Koko, Mystery, and The Throat, along with and interview conducted by Bill Sheehan. This edition is sold out from the publisher. $65.

    LP2142. Sturgeon, Theodore. The Collected Stories of Theodore Sturgeon Volume VII: A Saucer of Loneliness. North Atlantic Books, 2000. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a trace of haze rubbing to rear cover and slight “flare” at dj top, otherwise apparently new and unread. I don’t need to tell you why you want all of these, do I? $35.

    LP3061. Turtledove, Harry. The Best of Harry Turtledove. Subterranean Press, 2021. First edition hardback, one of 1,000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. The usual big Subterranean retrospective collection. Now sold out from the publisher. $45.

    LP3454. Vance, Jack. Coup de Grace and Other Stories. Vance Integral Edition, 2001. First edition hardback, a Fine quarter-leather bound copy, sans dust jacket, as issued, matching the appearance of the “Reader’s Edition” of the Vance Integral Edition. Short story collection done as a “preview” edition to generate interest in the VIE project. Chalker & Owings (2002), page 946. A very hard-to-find volume that took me years to find for my own collection. But I’ll drop the price a bit anyway. $450.

    LP3464. Waldrop, Howard (George R. R. Martin and Bradley Denton, editors). H’ard Starts. Subterranean Press, 2023. First edition hardback, one of 750 numbered copies signed by Waldrop, Martin and Denton. Collection of early, rare Waldrop stories from a wide variety sources, including a 25 copy self-published story from 1966! (I have a copy and provided George with the text.) Now out of print from the publisher. You need one. Howard was a friend, and he died in January 2024. $55.

    LP2213. Waldrop, Howard. Horse of a Different Color. Small Beer Press, 2013. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with slight wear along fold edges, otherwise new and unread. Signed by Waldrop. This was out of stock, but I found some more and dropped by Howard’s place and got him to sign some. Recommended. Some of these (like “Ninoslandos”) are pretty swell, and all have Howard’s usual fascinating afterwards. $29.

    LP1607. Waldrop, Howard. Other Worlds, Better Lives. Old Earth Books, 2008. First edition hardback, one of only 300 hardback copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread, signed by Waldrop. A companion volume to Things Will Never Be The Same, this one features some of Howard’s longer stories. You need it. I had sold out of all my copies, but bought this one back from a customer selling off part of his collection. No other copies online, signed or unsigned. Highly recommended. $125.

    LPHW11. Waldrop, Howard. Things Will Never Be The Same. Old Earth Books, 2007. First edition hardback (preceded by an 80 copy run of a trade paperback uncorrected proof edition with numerous errors sold at the 2006 World Fantasy Convention), one of only 300 hardback copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, this copy specially signed by Waldrop. Something of a best of Waldrop collection. Highly recommended. 300 is a pretty small hardback run. $95.

    LP3534. Walton, Jo. Among Others. Tor, 2011. First edition hardback, a Near Fine- copy with several large, light stains to front cover and bumping at head and heel, in a Near Fine- dust jacket with a crease all the way down the spine, plus bumping at head and heel. Hugo and Nebula Award winner. $65.

    LP3535. Williamson, Jack. The Collected Stories of Jack Williamson Volume 8: At the Human Limit. Haffner Press, 2011. First edition hardback, one of only 500 copies of the trade edition, a Fine- copy with slight bumping at head and heel, in a Near Fine+ dust jacket with two 3/4″ long, non-breaking parallel indentations at head, and bumping at head and heel; not horrible, but you can see it. The last of the eight volumes, the first four of which had 1,00 copy print runs, so assembling complete sets can be hard. $49.

    Trade Paperbacks (including chapbooks, audio books, etc.)

    LP3160. Asimov, Isaac (read by Dan Lazar). Foundation and Empire. Books on Tape, 1979. First? edition audiobook, eight cassette tapes in a plastic library case the size of a hardback book, a Near Fine copy with some surface wear to the transparent plastic wrapper, some transfer from the printer inserts to the inside of that same wrapper (you could probably clean that off with some time and effort), and what appears to be small library ID stickers (“T-787”) on each cassette. I get the impression these were done for libraries and the blind before the audio book market took off. I’m not seeing this particular edition available anywhere online. $10.

    LP3536. Crowley, John. Seventy-Nine Dreams. Ninpin Press, 2024. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. A dream journal. 5″ tall by 5″ wide. WITH The Sixties: A Forged Diary. Ninpin Press, 2024. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. A reconstruction of Crowley’s life in New York City in the 60s. “After taking a job with a photography studio, he soon crosses paths with the likes of Andy Warhol and Richard Avedon, Claudia Cardinale and Raquel Welch.” 8″ tall by 6″ wide.WITH Two Chapters in a Family Chronicle. Ninpin Press, 2024. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Two stories, “Percy and Lulu Go to Vermont” and “Poker Night at the Elks Club 1938” that “link three generations of John Crowley’s family.” 7″ tall by 5″ wide. WITH Crowley, John. Two Talks On Writing. Ninpin Press, 2024. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy, with signature plate by Crowley laid in (only one per set). Two speeches, “Practicing the Arts of Peace and “The Uses of Allegory.” 6″ tall by 4″ wide. WITH Crowley signature plate. The four books, which are all different sizes, were offered as a set on Kickstarter and can be laid out together to form a single image. Complete sets with the signature plate might be hard for Crowley fans who missed the Kickstarter to find going forward. For the set: $95.

    Davidson, Avram. Dragons in the Trees: A Visit to British Honduras (Belize). Or All The Seas With Oysters Publishing, 2023 (i.e. 2024). First edition trade paperback original (this is a Print-on-Demand book fulfilled through Amazon), a Fine copy. Non-fiction. “This unique travel journal, born from Davidson’s travels between December 1965 and January 1966, showcases his unparalleled imagination and erudite commentary. Known primarily for his fantastical fiction, Davidson proves to be a masterful travel writer, capturing the essence of his experiences with vivid prose and introspective reflections.” Note: Despite the “First edition paperback published 2023” line on the copyright page, the people at the Avram Davidson Universe confirmed that this POD edition is indeed the true first, and it can be ordered here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0D1SW1FVV?ie=UTF8&tag=lawpershompag-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1682188989

    LP2804. Dick, Philip K. The Eye of the Sybil and Other Classic Stories. Citadel Press, 2002 (stated). Trade paperback reprint, a Fine copy. Short story collection. Reprint of Volume 5 of The Collected Stories of Philip K. Dick. $4.

    LP2805. Dick, Philip K. The Minority Report and Other Classic Stories. Citadel Press, 2002 (stated). Trade paperback reprint, a Fine copy. Short story collection. Reprint of Volume 4 of The Collected Stories of Philip K. Dick. $4.

    LP2806. Dick, Philip K. The Philip K. Dick Reader. Citidel Press, 1997 (stated). Trade paperback reprint, a Fine copy. Short story collection. Lots of good stories in here: “The Golden Man,” “Second Variety,” etc. Recommended, at least if you don’t have the Collected Stories. $4.

    LP2807. Dick, Philip K. Paycheck and Other Classic Stories. Citadel Press, 1990 (stated). Trade paperback reprint, a Fine copy. Short story collection. Reprint of Volume 1 of The Collected Stories of Philip K. Dick. Dick wrote something like a short story every two weeks for a year, many very interesting. Recommended. $4.

    LP2808. Dick, Philip K. Second Variety and Other Classic Stories. Citadel Press, 2002 (stated). Trade paperback reprint, a Fine- copy with a touch of wear. Short story collection. Reprint of Volume 3 of The Collected Stories of Philip K. Dick. Lots of great stories: “Second Variety,” “The Father Thing,” “War Veteran,” etc. Recommended. $4.

    LP3165. Gaiman, Neil (read by Lenny Henry). Anansi Boys. Harper Audio, 2005. First audiobook edition, 8 CDs, in a Near Fine light cardboard case with slight creasing to three sides, trace of wear at points, and slight price sticker remnant over UPC code. At a Gaiman signing for Anansi Boys, and he said Lenny Henry (best known over here for Chef!, and a longtime Gaiman friend and comics fan) did a much better job reading (especially for the Caribbean voices) than he could have done. $10.

    LP3166. Gaiman, Neil (read by Gary Bakewell). Neverwhere. HighBridge Company, 1997. First U.S. edition audiobook, two cassettes in plastic cases inside a light cardboard retail sleeve, Near Fine+ with thin line across UPC code and light wear at corners. “2 hours on two audiocassettes,” so it’s obviously abridged. Read by actor Gary Bakewell, who played Richard Mayhew in the BBC miniseries. There is evidently a three-hour BBC version in the UK that includes music by Brian Eno and additional commentary by Lenny Henry, who suggested an idea to Gaiman that originally became the script and novel. Not seeing a copy of this edition anywhere online. $7.

    LP3537. Heinlein, Robert A. For Us, The Living. Scribner, 2004. Advanced Uncorrected Reader’s Proof of the hardback first edition, trade paperback format, a Near Fine+ copy with slight bumping to points and a thin, pixelated line on the inside front cover about 1/2″ from the outer edge, possibly a printing process byproduct, otherwise a nice copy with an unbroken spine. ARC of this early but posthumously published Heinlein novel. Not seeing any copies online, and I don’t remember seeing ARCs back when it was published. $49.

    LP3538. Hendrix, Grady. Paperbacks From Hell. Quirk Books, 2017. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine- copy with a couple of tiny nicks to spine and a trace of edgewear at head, heel and points, but the spine is unbroken, the raised red foil lettering is bright and unknicked, and the self-wrapper flaps are perfectly crisp; a very nice copy. Engaging, chatty non-fiction book on the horror paperbacks of the 70s and 80s, arranged by topic (When Animals Attack, Creepy Kids, etc.). Though not a bibliography per se, many of the titles covered seem to have gotten a lot more collectable after the book came out. Reprints are common, but nice firsts considerably less so. $35.

    LPCP1. (Robert E. Howard) Lansdale, Joe R., and Scott A. Cupp, editors (Howard Waldrop, Bradley Denton, Lawrence Person, Michael Moorcock, etc.). Cross Plains Universe: Texans Celebrate Robert E. Howard. MonkeyBrain Books/Fandom Association of Central Texas, 2006. First edition trade paperback original, Fine, new and unread. Signed by editor Scott Cupp and contributors Howard Waldrop, Christopher Brown, Lawrence Person, Mark Finn and Jayme Lynn Blashke, with a signature plate signed by Lansdale laid in. Inscribed upon request. $15.

    LP3539. (Joyce, James) Scripsi November 1982 No. 1/Vol. 2, James Joyce (1882-1982). First edition literary journal, trade paperback format, a Near Fine copy with spine wrinkling (looks like from the gluing process) in a Very Good slightly grubby dust jacket with the same spine wrinkling and about 1/8″ loss at head. Literary journal out of Melbourne University in Australia focused on the life and work of James Joyce on the centenary of his birth. Not the usual thing I carry, but it was one of the few interesting things I saw at a 50¢ a pound booksale, and Joyce scholars are a dedicated lot. $25.

    LP3169. Peake, Mervyn (read by Edmund Dehn). Gormenghast. ISIS Audio, 2009. First edition audiobook, 21 CDs in a heavy plastic library-style binding, a Fine- copy with just a trace of staining to top of front plastic wrapper. Audiobook version of the second volume in the Gormenghast trilogy. From a UK company which I assume has probably changed their name since. I was only able to locate one copy in the UK at a hefty £149! For you: $20.

    LP3170. Peake, Mervyn (read by Simon Vance). Titus Groan. Blackstone Audio, 2000. First edition audiobook, fifteen CDs in a Near Fine+ lightweight cardboard retail case with small crease at bottom front join and two even smaller creases on left front join, plus slight wear at tips. Audiobook version of the first volume in the Gormenghast trilogy. $15.

    LP3171. Powers, Tim (read by Bronson Pinochet). Last Call. Blackstone Audio, Inc., 2010. First audiobook edition, sixteen CDs in a lightweight cardboard retail case that is intact but unfortunately has gotten smushed and slightly creased on all four sides, though the front and back look nice, so Near Fine-, with three Fine cardboard CD holders inside. A professional production that originally retailed for $34.95. Audiobook of Powers celebrated “playing poker with tarot cards” novel. Not in Berlyne. $10.

    LP3541. Swanwick, Michael. Nevermore: an Interview with the Raven. Dragonstairs Press, 2024. First edition chapbook original, one of 40 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy. What the title says. LAST COPY! $49.

    LP3542. Swanwick, Michael. Winter Songs. Dragonstairs Press, 2022 (not offered for sale until 2023). First edition chapbook original, one of 115 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy. LAST COPY! $25.

    LP3175. Zelazny, Roger. Blood of Amber. Sunset Productions, 1993. First audiobook edition, two audiobook cassettes in Fine- plastic packaging with traces of wear, slightly blunted tips, and partial label erasure on title and author of cassette side four. Kovacs I.2.i. $5.

    LP3176. Zelazny, Roger. The Courts of Chaos. Americana Audiobooks, 2003. First CD edition (reissue of a cassette release), three audiobook CDs in a Near Fine+ plastic snapcase with two stickers (and the ghost of a third) to rear cover that could probably be removed without too much effort, and touches of wear at point. Abridged audiobook of the fifth Amber novel, read by Zelazny. Kovacs I.8.h.i. $5.

    LP3176. Zelazny, Roger. The Hand of Oberon. Americana Audiobooks, 2003. First CD edition (reissue of a cassette release), three audiobook CDs in a Fine- plastic snapcase with slight wrinkling at top front and trace of wear at heel corners. Abridged audiobook of the fourth Amber novel, read by Zelazny. Kovacs I.23.l.i. $5.

    LP3177. Zelazny, Roger. Knight of Shadows. Sunset Productions, 1996. First edition, two audiobook cassettes in Fine- plastic packaging with slight waviness to rear cover insert. Abridged audiobook adaptation of this Amber novel (“with Music and Sound Effects”), 180 minutes long, read by Zelazny himself. Kovacs, I.27.a. $5.

    LP3178. Zelazny, Roger. 9 Princes in Amber. Americana Audiobooks, 2003. First CD edition (reissue of a cassette release), three audiobook CDs in a Fine- plastic snapcase. Abridged audiobook of the first Amber novel, read by Zelazny. Kovacs I.34.l.i. $5.

    LP3179. Zelazny, Roger. Sign of Chaos. Sunset Productions, 1994. First audiobook edition, two audiobook cassettes in Fine- plastic packaging with slight touches of wear and age darkening to inner white surfaces. Abridged audiobook adaptation of this Amber novel (“with Music and Sound Effects”), 180 minutes long, read by Zelazny himself. Kovacs, I.38.h. $5.

    LP3180. Zelazny, Roger. Sign of Chaos. Americana Audiobooks, 2004. First CD edition (reissue of a cassette release), three audiobook CDs in a Fine- plastic snapcase. Abridged audiobook of the eighth Amber novel, read by Zelazny. Kovacs I.38.h.i. $5.

    LP3181. Zelazny, Roger (read by Victor Bevine). This Immortal. Brilliance Audio/Audible Inc., 2010. Reprint of a 2008 release of 6 CDs, in a Fine white plastic library binding. Unabridged audiobook version of Zelazny’s Hugo-winning novel, apparently produced for the library market (at a hefty list price of $79.97). Though earlier versions of this are listed in the Kovacs bibliography, this one is not, possibly because it came out the same year the bibliography was published. $10.

    LP3182. Zelazny, Roger. Trumps of Doom. Americana Audiobooks, 2003. First CD edition (reissue of a cassette release), three audiobook CDs in a Fine plastic snapcase. Abridged audiobook of the sixth Amber novel, read by Zelazny. Kovacs I.43.i.i. $5.

    Mass Market Paperbacks

    LP3543. Bujold, Lois McMaster. Falling Free. Baen Books, 1988. First edition mass market paperback original, a Very Good- copy spine creasing, 3/4″ chip to rear bottom corner (not affecting text or UPC), shallow loss to right edge of front cover, foxing to inside covers, and slight page yellowing. Nebula Award winner for Best Novel. Not a great copy, but a true first of a Nebula winner. $5.

    LP3544. Bova, Ben. The Science Fiction Hall of Fame Volume II B. Avon, 1974. First Avon paperback printing, preceded by the hardback first, a Very Good+ copy with moderate spine creasing and slight spine fading, and a trace of wear at points. The second of two reprint anthologies featuring the very best science fiction novellas, including some great stories like Jack Vance’s “The Moon Moth,” Clifford Simak’s “The Big Front Yard,” Algis Budry’s “Rogue Moon,” Isaac Asimov’s “The Martian Way,” etc. Well worth reading if you haven’t read these already. $5.

    LP3545. Delany, Samuel R. Babel-17. Ace, 1966. First edition paperback original (F-388 and 40¢, as per Currey), a Near Fine copy with moderate edgewear at head, slight edgewear at heel, and a 1/2″ thin white abrasion line to front cover near spine, otherwise a nice, square, attractive copy without spine creasing. Nebula Award winner and Hugo nominee. Currey, page 139. $20.

    LP1826. Hinz, Christopher. The Paratwa. Tor, 1995. First paperback edition, a VG+ copy with one spine crease and foxing to inner covers. Concluding volume to The Paratwa Trilogy, an excellent action/adventure SF series about pairs of genetically engineered, telepathically-linked assassins, and the hardest volume to find. Highly recommended. Reduced price. $5.

    LP3497. Hughart, Barry. Bridge of Birds. Del Rey, 1985. Paperback reprint, a Fine copy. One of the great fantasy novels of the 20th century, very funny, and a book that just keeps selling and selling for me (when I’m not giving them away to friends). World Fantasy Award winner. Highly recommended. $7.

    LP3498. Hughart, Barry. The Story of the Stone. Bantam Spectra, 1989. First mass market paperback edition (reprinted from the hardback), Near Fine copy with a line at heel, two shallow chips to back edges, and foxing to inside covers, but no spine creasing. The second Master Li and Number Ten Ox novel. Highly recommended. $10.

    LP3546. Jeter, K.W. Star Wars: Bounty Hunter Wars Book 3: Hard Merchandise. Bantam Spectra, 1999. First edition paperback original, a very Good+ copy with spine creasing, slight edgewear, and foxing to insider covers, otherwise square. Firsts of this have become hard to find, I assume due to the success of The Manadlorian TV show. $20.

    LP3547. Moore, Ward with Robert Bradford. Caduceus Wild. Pinnacle Books, 1978. First edition paperback original, a Very Good- copy with spine crease and wear, edgewear, rubbing to black back cover, and a trace of foxing to inside covers. “The medical establishment has taken over the civilized world. Owell’s Big Brother is a doctor, and there’s a prescription for everyone.” Sounds eerily prescient for our post-2020 world… $5.

    LP2472. Waldrop, Howard. Strange Monsters of the Recent Past. Ace, 1991. First edition paperback original (PBO) thus (reprinting the entire contents of the limited edition hardback collection All About Strange Monsters of the Recent Past and adding the novella A Dozen Tough Jobs), a Near Fine copy with one spine crease and a trace of wear at points. Signed by Waldrop. Recommended. $14.

    Library Addition: Signed First of Jack Vance’s Coup de Grace

    May 14th, 2024

    I already had a copy, but this one popped as both signed and listed at a bargain price, so I jumped on it.

    Vance, Jack. Coup de Grace and Other Stories. Vance Integral Edition, 2001. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with a dozen pinpricks to light spotting to top page block and a tiny trace of wear at head, heel and points, sans dust jacket, as issued, matching the appearance of the “Reader’s Edition” of the Vance Integral Edition, signed by Vance (characteristic of Vance’s late, overlapping signature after he went blind). Short story collection done as a “preview” edition to generate interest in the VIE project. Offered at $75. Chalker & Owings (2002), page 946. Chalker & Owings list a print run of 1,000 copies, which seems too high given the relative scarcity of the title, though several were evidently distributed at the Frankfurt Book Fair. Bought from Half Price Books on the Internet for $50.

    Since I already have a copy for sale, I’m inclined to keep both this and the slightly better, unsigned copy. So I now have a 48 volume VIE set: the 44 volume initial set being #62 of 200 with Volume 44 signed by Vance, plus two copies of Coup de Grace and Other Stories, one signed, plus Strange She Hasn’t Written/Death of a Solitary Chess Player/The Man Who Walks Behind (AKA 14 bis) and The Languages of Pao and The Dragon Masters with signed VIE project bookplates laid in, and the latter in the proof dust jacket I obtained from the Vance estate.

    Whey yes, I am feeling unreasonably smug about it. Thanks for asking.

    Shoegazer Sunday: Slowdive’s “The Slab” Live

    May 12th, 2024

    In honor of tonight’s Slowdive concert in Austin, here’s a live version of “The Slab” from earlier in their tour:

    Library Addition: Avram Davidson’s Dragons in the Trees

    May 8th, 2024

    Another Avram Davidson Universe purchase:

    Davidson, Avram. Dragons in the Trees: A Visit to British Honduras (Belize). Or All The Seas With Oysters Publishing, 2023 (i.e. 2024). First edition trade paperback original (this is a Print-on-Demand book fulfilled through Amazon; I ordered it the same day it was announced on the Avram Davidson Universe newsletter on April 23, and the printing code at the back states “Made in the USA/Coppell, TX/23 April 2024”), a Fine copy. Non-fiction. “This unique travel journal, born from Davidson’s travels between December 1965 and January 1966, showcases his unparalleled imagination and erudite commentary. Known primarily for his fantastical fiction, Davidson proves to be a masterful travel writer, capturing the essence of his experiences with vivid prose and introspective reflections.” Note: Despite the “First edition paperback published 2023” line on the copyright page, the people at the Avram Davidson Universe confirmed that this POD edition is indeed the true first.

    The book is available through Amazon at the above link, and if you haven’t picked them up already, you may also want to get Davidson’s AD 100: Volume I and AD 100: Volume II as well.

    Library Addition: Signed First of R.A. Lafferty’s Slippery

    May 7th, 2024

    The theme this week seems to be “firsts I already had, but signed.”

    Lafferty, R. A. Slippery and other stories. Chris Drumm, 1985. First edition chapbook original, #115 of 176 signed, numbered copies, a Near Fine copy with a quarter-sized sticker remnant at spinefold near the heel that has discolored the paper. (You know those colored circular stickers you can buy at grocery stores to price things for garage sales? Don’t use those for books.) Supplements an unsigned copy. If I had been collecting Lafferty in the 80s (hell, into the 90s), all the Drumm signed Laffertys could be bought for $5 a pop. Woulda coulda shoulda. This was bought off eBay for $40.

    Library Addition: Signed First of Chad Oliver’s Shadows In The Sun

    May 6th, 2024

    I already have a nice hardback first of this, but when this signed copy showed up on a saved want at a bargain price, I snapped it up.

    Oliver, Chad. Shadows in the Sun. Ballantine Books, 1954. First edition hardback (in a previously unrecorded binding state of dark red cloth lettered in brown), a Near Fine+ copy with slight bump at head, wear along top boards, and trace of wear at points, and a trace of foxing to gutters, in a Very Good- dust jacket with a 1/4″ deep x 1/2″ long chip, plus two smaller chips at top of front panel and associated long creases, shallow loss at head, spine faded, and numerous small spots to dust jacket, most notable on white portions, inscribed by Oliver: “11 January 1955/For Morris -/With the hopes that/this will give you as/much pleasure as/knowing you has/given me./Chad.” Quite a flawed dust jacket, but a previous unrecorded binding state, and copies of the hardback signed or inscribed by Oliver seem genuinely rare. Currey Supplements that better unsigned hardback first and an inscribed UK hardback. Hall, The Work of Chad Oliver A2. Currey (1979), page 397. Currey (2002), page 322. Bought for $47.99 plus shipping.

    Library Addition: First of Arthur C. Clarke’s Childhood’s End

    April 29th, 2024

    I picked up a keystone science fiction first, replacing a lesser copy, at a bargain price at auction. Which is a good thing, as just about every part of the of the post-auction process was unusually and deeply irritating.

    Clarke, Arthur C. Childhood’s End. Ballantine Books, 1953. First edition hardback, a Very Good+ copy with a spine crease and a bit of lean, trace of wear at head, heel and points, touch of dust soiling to outer edge of bottom page block, and a trace of foxing to inside covers, in a Very Good, Mylar-protected dust jacket with moderate spine fading, abrasion to the bottom 1/4″ of front panel (probably from an old style dust jacket protector) plus a few edgewear touches elsewhere, faint creasing along front spine join, two 1/4″ closed tears (and associated crease) at top near spine join, a couple of smaller closed tears, slight wear at points, and slight dust soiling to white rear panel; all in all, a nice copy of a book frequently found in much worse condition. Replaces an Ex-Library first I’ll be listing in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog (currently in progress), from which I have extracted an aftermarket bundle of a signed Clarke bookplate, Clarke’s business card, and a picture of Clarke to lay into this copy. Clarke’s most important novel, and one of the keystone science fiction novels of the 20th century. Currey (State A), page 113. Locke, Science Fiction First Editions, page 23 and pages 84-85, where he argues that the hardcover (Currey A) state was probably printed before the simultaneous paperback edition. Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy page 52. Pringle, Science Fiction: The 100 Best Novels 9. Barron, Anatomy of Wonder 4 3-44. Magill, Survey of Science Fiction Literature, pages 337-341. Hartwell, Age of Wonders, pages 82-83. Pringle, The Utlimate Guide to Science Fiction page 58 (“****…Clarke’s best novel.”) Bought for a hammer price of $300 (the opening bid), which, after buyer premium and shipping, was just under $450.

    This was a lowball bid I unexpectedly won, possibly because there were few other SF titles in this auction. It’s a good thing I won it so cheap, since I experienced considerable difficulty paying for it. After a delay for auction platform Invaluable to accept my resale certificate to drop taxes from the invoice, the credit card payment was unexpectedly declined. Checking with my credit union, it seems Invaluable’s system was trying to run my card with the old expiration date despite having the new one on file. There then followed several frustrating days dealing with technical support of them continuing to try to run the card with the wrong expiration date, despite having thought the problem was fixed. Finally, they had me completely delete and re-add my card information (which I should have thought to try earlier), only for the system to throw an error when trying to save the updated information! It continued to do this even after trying both Firefox and Chrome (including trying incognito/private mode), and discovering that on Chrome, it keeps you logged into the system even after having logged out! (Obviously their system isn’t properly managing its caching.) I was finally able to get it to take the credit card information after using Safari, after which I was able to pay for my purchase.

    One final frustration was the auction house I bought from having no in-house shipping. A UPS store they specified picked up the book (for a stiff price) and shipped it to me. Upon its arrival, I discovered they used no padding for the book! But I am happy to finally have a better copy of this classic, arguably one of the ten most important science fiction novels of the 20th century.