Archive for the ‘pics’ Category

Worldcon 2011 Photos for Saturday, August 20

Sunday, August 21st, 2011

I have solved my camera battery problem. It seems my MacBook does not have enough juice to recharge the camera, even when plugged in. So it’s a good thing I brought the wall to USB charger adapter for it. Packing Heavy for the win!


Since I had gotten the lovely Gail Carriger in red before, you know I had to get her in green. “I’m a one-woman Christmas!”


Steve Jackson, God-Emperor of Steve Jackson Games, my old Nova Express proofreader, one of the people that helped me move endless boxes of books into my house, and an all-around cromulant guy.


Harry Turtledove. “So Harry, how many books did you write this year?” “Just part of one.” “Just one? You? That’s unpossible! Did all your daughters graduate from college?” “Yes.”


His Majesty’s Subject Cory Doctorow, throwing up sum mad n3rdc0rz gangster signs, yo.


Adam-Troy Castro. In retrospect, it was probably a bad idea to snap his pic during that proctology exam.


John W. Campbell Award winning author Lev Grossman.


Joan D. Vinge. With the light behind her, this actually came out much better than expected.


John Picacio, who was robbed AGAIN!


Guest of Honor Tim Powers, who was not only Steampunk before Steampunk was cool, but was Steampunk before it was even Steampunk.


Michael Swanwick and Gordon Van Gelder.


Lois McMaster Bujold.


Yvonne Daily, an old friend back from the halcyon days of the Austin BBS community, where we all hung 300 baud modems from our belt, because that was the style at the time.


Phil Brogden, ditto. This isn’t perspective, his hand really is eight time larger than a normal human’s.


Phil & Yvonne going for the full Irish experience.

Worldcon 2011 Photos for Friday, August 19

Saturday, August 20th, 2011

I would have had more, but my battery died early.


A CapClave image for Howard Waldrop.


Ditto. Just your standard chain-mail-clad dodo riding a Dachshund.


Gordon Van Gelder.


Larry Niven.


Nancy Kress, Jack Skillingstead, unknown.


Greg Bear and Jean Johnson.

Tags:, , , , , , , , ,
Posted in pics, Science Fiction, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Worldcon 2011 Photos for Thursday, August 18 (part 2)

Friday, August 19th, 2011

Another batch of the literati glitterati:


Your Humble Narrator. I was going for the “I want you to chop off all their heads and bring them to me on a pike” look. I think I succeeded.


Scott Cupp, similarly enthroned.


The extremely lovely and exquisitely dressed Gail Carriger.


Best Editor Hugo Nominee Jonathan Strahan.


Asimov’s editor Sheila Williams, who was also corralled in the same Best Editor Petting Zoo as Strahan.


John Douglas. “No Mr. Bond, I expect you to die.”


Kurt Baty, one of the few men in the world to own more books than me.


Scott Bobo, in his natural bar habitat.


Sara Felix and Fred Duarte.


John Hertz, who has sent me about 300,000 issues of Vanamode over the years.


Gary K. Wolfe.


John Moore: The Headshot.


Art Widner. It’s a little known fact that Lady Gaga stole this look from Art for her “Paparazzi” video.


Sean McMullin.


Sandy Cupp


Mary Robinette Kowal and fellow Farker Carrie Vaughen.

It’s late, so forgive me if I’m low on pith…

Worldcon 2011 Photos for Thursday, August 18

Thursday, August 18th, 2011

Another batch:


Zoo City author Lauren Beukes.


Guest of Honor Tim Powers and Robert Silverberg, discussing the difference between writing a novel every two years and writing a novel every two weeks. James Patrick Kelly lurks menacingly in the background.


Steve Gould, explaining to me how he had not only moved back to New Mexico, but had actually moved back into the same house after two years in Texas.


Michael Swanwick, back from his stint in the home for the criminally insane. (Wait, are you sure he said “medical problems”? I’m pretty sure I heard “mental”…)


TAFF winner John Coxon.


Willie Sirois, counting the money he has just extracted from my pocket. Again.

Worldcon 2011 Photos for Wednesday, August 17

Thursday, August 18th, 2011

After a few technical difficulties, I think I have this sussed out…


Scott Edelman, Cory Doctorow, John Scalzi, Ian MacDonald


Alastair “Ten Book Contract” Reynolds


Lou Anders


Ellen Datlow and Susan Casper, counting up the money from the marks


Gardner Dozois and Joe Haldeman


The one only Pat Cadigan, shortly after she drank Andre the Giant under the table.


Joe Haldeman and Robert Silverberg, getting together to see if either of them could actually remember the 60s.


Martha Wells


David Hartwell looms large in science fiction.


Copy-editing Goddess Deanna Hoak


John Scalzi, displaying the horrific befuddlement and inevitable mental degeneration that comes with being SFWA President.


Right before I snapped this picture, Ian McDonald said he always photographs horribly, then went out of his way to demonstrate the accuracy of the statement.

My apologies if I’ve misspelled anyone’s name, but I haven’t had breakfast yet. More later…

Apollocon 2011 Pictures

Monday, July 4th, 2011

My computer was in the shop, so I haven’t had a chance to do the usual photo roundup until now.


Stina Leicht.

The public has cried out “Stina! We just can’t get enough photos of her! Could you possibly put up a bunch more?” The blue hair fetish crowd has spoken, and who am I to deny the public what it wants? Vox populi, vox dei.

(If you’re wondering whether the phrase “Blue Hair Fetish” bring up a lot of Google hits, I can tell you: Yes. Yes it does. And you shouldn’t test this theory at work. (See also: Rule 34.))


Julia Mandala, Linda Donahue, and Bill Crider.


Martha Wells and Troyce Wilson, just back from their awesome private tour of NASA. They even showed them the video feed of the top secret moonbase and the dead alien in the third subbasement freezer…


Three of the four redheads of the apocalypse: Julia Mandala, Rhonda Eudaly, and Linda Donahue.


Gabrielle Faust.


Patrice Sarath.


Stina Leicht: The Seconding.


Stina and SF Signal head honcho John DeNardo, whose mouth and eyes are wired in such a way that when one opens, the other must close.


Jayme Lynn Blaschke, who suffers from no such limitations.


Martha Wells, wearing a black outfit against the black backdrop the concom thoughtfully provided.


Editor Guest of Honor Ann VanderMeer, of the Florida Science Fiction VanderMeers.


Texas in 2013 Worldcon bid chair Bill Parker with international confidence man Fred Duarte.


Jonathan Miles, pledging to eat only the brand of butter-substitute promoted by William Shatner.


Stina: The Return of the Attack of the Revenge of the Quickening


Gabrielle Faust, who wisely opted for the decorative white corset and brass goggles against the black background.


Lou Antonelli, Bill Crider and Jayme Lynn Blaschke.


Artist Guest of Honor Rocky Kelley.


Bill Parker in the militantly festooned Texas in 2013 suite.


A closeup of Bill Crider from an earlier picture. Cropping! The hallmark of quality photographs!

All Hail Our Aggie Cyborg Softball Overlords!

Thursday, May 26th, 2011

I root for the Texas Longhorns over interstate rival Texas A&M, but man, you can’t help but be inspired by this story about Aggie softball slugger Meagan May’s recovery from a near-fatal car accident to play again in less than a year. Especially given this awesome Borg-queen photo of her:

Yugoslavian Communist Monuments from the Future

Wednesday, May 25th, 2011

Dwight sent me this link to Yugoslavian communist monuments. Almost all of them look to be taken from a book by Belgian photographer Jan Kempenaers called Spomenik (“Monument”).

While some are awful crap, others have this cool science fictional “decaying monuments from some long-vanished race of Intergalactic Overlords” feel to them. This one looks like it’s the control bunker for the Doomsday Beam:

Of course, don’t forget that Tito, being a Communist, killed plenty of his own countrymen, though several orders of magnitude less than his fellow communists in other countries.

Library Additions: January 16—May 24, 2011

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011

Time for another roundup on my serious mental illness the latest acquisitions for my professional science fiction library since the last time I listed them. All these are first edition hardbacks in Fine condition, with Fine dust jackets, unless otherwise listed.

Books that I have available for sale through Lame Excuse Books are marked LEB (though a few of those titles won’t appear on the stock page until after I send out my next book catalog).

I’ve included scans of a few of the more uncommon titles.

  • Bacagalupi, Paolo. The Alchemist. Subterranean Press, 2011. LEB
  • Banks, Ian M. The Spheres. Novacon, 2010. Chapbook, Fine, with Novacon 40 program book.

  • Bear, Elizabeth. The White City (with Twilight chapbook). Subterranean Press, 2011, one of 200 signed, numbered copies, with chapbook, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket.
  • Blaylock, James P. The Affair of the Chalk Cliffs. Subterranean Press, 2011. One of 1,500 signed copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. LEB
  • Brackett, Leigh. Lorelei of the Red Mist: Planetary Romances. Haffner Press, 2007.
  • Brackett, Leigh. Martian Quest: The Early Brackett. Haffner Press, 2002.
  • Buckell, Tobias S. The Executioness. Subterranean Press, 2011. First edition hardback, one of 300 signed and numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. LEB
  • Cady, Jack. Rules of ’48. Night Shade Books, 2008. Trade paperback original.
  • Dick, Philip K. Clans of the Alphane Moon. Gregg Press, 1979. Fine, sans dust jacket, as issued. Replaced an Ex-Library copy.
  • Dick, Philip K. The Complete Stories of Philip K. Dick Volume 1: The King of the Elves. Subterranean Press, 2011. LEB
  • Eshbach, Lloyd Arthur. Over My Shoulder: Reflections on a Science Fiction Era. Oswald Train, 1983. Non-fiction.
  • Grant, Donald M. Talbot Mundy: Messenger of Destiny. Donald M. Grant, 1983. Non-fiction.
  • Heinlein, Robert A. Assignment in Eternity. Fantasy Press, 1953. See here for full details.
  • Howard, Robert E. The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard Subterranean Press, 2011. One of 750 copied signed and numbered by the artist, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, in slipcase. LEB
  • King, Stephen. Little Sisters of Eluria. Donald M. Grant, 2009. First edition hardback, one of 4000 artist’s copies signed by Michael Whelan, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and slipcase.
  • Kuttner, Henry. Terror in the House: The Early Kuttner, Volume One. Haffner Press, 2010. LEB
  • Kuttner, Henry, and C. L. Moore. Detour to Otherness. Haffner Press, 2010.
  • Lake, Jay. The Baby Killers PS Publishing, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. LEB
  • Lansdale, Joe R. Christmas with the Dead PS Publishing, 2010. First edition hardback, one of 300 copies signed and numbered by Lansdale, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. LEB
  • Lansdale, Joe R. Christmas with the Dead PS Publishing, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Trade edition. Signed by Lansdale. LEB
  • Lansdale, Joe R. Devil Red. Knopf, 2011. Inscribed, with promotional postcard laid in.
  • Lansdale, Joe R. Dread Island. IDW, 2010. First edition hardback, one of 500 copies with signed square bound in, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket.
  • Lansdale, Joe R. Hyenas. Subterranean Press, 2011. One of 400 signed, numbered copies. LEB
  • Lansdale, Joe R. Hyenas. Subterranean Press, 2011. Trade edition. Signed by Lansdale.
  • Lansdale, Joe R. The Magic Wagon. Chivers Press, 1988. First British Edition. Fine in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Signed by Lansdale.
  • Leicht, Stina. Of Blood and Honey. Night Shade Books, 2011. First edition trade paperback original, Fine. Inscribed by the author. LEB
  • Moorcock, Michael. The Vanishing Tower. Archival Press, 1981. A Fine copy, sans dust jacket, in slipcase, as issued.
  • Moore, Ward. Cloud by Day. Heinemann, 1956. First edition hardback, a near Fine copy with non-authorial gift inscription, in a Near Fine dust jacket with faint spots of foxing to inner flaps and a bit of edgewear and crinkling at head.

  • Morris, Mark, editor. Cinema Futura. PS Publishing, 2010. Non-fiction.
  • Powers, Richard. The Gold Bug Variations. William Morrow, 1991.
  • Robinson, Kim Stanley. The Best of Kim Stanley Robinson. Night Shade Books, 2010. LEB
  • Rucker, Rudy. Jim and the Flims. Night Shade Books, 2011.
  • Shea, Michael. The Autopsy and Other Tales. Centipede Press, 2009. One of 500 copies signed by Shea, Fine, sans dj, as issued.
  • Sheckley, Robert E. Immortality Delivered. Avalon Books, 1958. A Fine copy in a Near Fine dust jacket with moderate spine-fading.

  • Stephenson, Neal. Zodiac: The Eco Thriller. Subterranean Press, 2011. First hardback edition, one of 500 copies signed by Stephenson, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread, in slipcase. LEB
  • Straub, Peter. Sides. Cemetery Dance, 2007. Signed by Straub. Non-fiction.
  • Swanwick, Micheal. Dancing With Bears. Night Shade Books, 2011. LEB
  • Totten, Michael. The Road to Fatima Gate. Encounter Books, 2011. Signed by the author. Non-fiction.
  • Vance, Jack. Dangerous Ways. Subterranean Press, 2011. Omnibus edition.
  • Vance, Jack. Trullion: Alastor 2262 with Marune:Alastor 993 with Wyst: Alastor 1716. Underwood/Miller, 1984. First hardback editions, Fine copies in Fine dust jackets, in slipcase (though these are the unsigned editions, the slipcase appear to be the one they issued for the signed edition).
  • Williamson, Jack. The Collected Stories of Jack Williamson Volume 4: Spider island. Haffner Press, 2002.
  • Williamson, Jack. The Collected Stories of Jack Williamson Volume 7: With Folded Hands and Searching Mind. Haffner Press, 2010.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Blood of Amber. Underwood-Miller, 1986. First edition hardback, one of 500 signed/numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, in a Fine slipcase.
  • Digital Camera Bleg

    Monday, May 23rd, 2011

    So I have a Kodak Easyshare V803 camera that’s given up the ghost; the telescoping lens no longer retracts.

    I like the quality of the photos it took; it was what I used to take convention photos (such as those here, here and here). I also like the Kodak interface, and need a camera that I can just slide into my pocket. However, I fear the pop-in/pop-out lens mechanism is one that is likely to fail over time.

    Does anyone have any recommendation for a slim profile digital camera, at least eight megapixals, that’s not too expensive? (I think I paid around $100 for the Easyshare.)