Archive for December, 2016

Library Addition: Taylor Caldwell’s Dialogues With the Devil

Thursday, December 29th, 2016

Back when you could make decent money on eBay for various offbeat but desirable paperbacks, you used to be able to get decent money for paperback reprints of the following:

Caldwell, Taylor. Dialogues With the Devil. Doubleday, 1967. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a slight bit of edgewear. Book in which Lucifer makes his case. Bought off eBay for $28 plus shipping.

caldwell-devil

Taylor Caldwell was a mid-20th century bestseller, but she isn’t read much anymore. She also wrote The Devil’s Advocate, set in a future communist dystopia, which also sounds like the sort of thing I should pick up.

Shoegazer Sunday: Stellarscope’s “Silent Night”

Sunday, December 25th, 2016

Keeping with last week’s Christmas Shoegaze theme, here’s Stellarscope’s “Silent Night,” half the Christmas classic, and half that Husker Du cover of “Eight Miles High.”

Yes Inducted Into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Wednesday, December 21st, 2016

So the latest list of Rock and Hall of Fame inductees has been announced, and in addition to recognizing the edgy hard-rock shredding of Joan Baez, they inducted Pearl Jam, Journey, ELO and personal favorite Yes, which I listened to a lot of in high school and college (along with Genesis, Jethro Tull, King Crimson, etc.).

In celebration, here’s “Starship Trooper” accompanied by a montage of eye candy, including some of the Roger Dean variety.

Fireworks Market Explosion in Tultepec Mexico

Tuesday, December 20th, 2016

A giant fireworks explosion ripped through a market in Tultepec on the outskirts of Mexico City.

It blew up real good:

A reminder to be careful come New Year’s Eve…

Update: Seeing reports of 26 dead.

Shoegazer Sunday: Crocodiles & Dum Dum Girls “Merry Xmas, Baby (Please Don’t Die)”

Sunday, December 18th, 2016

For a little seasonal cheer, enjoy Crocodiles & Dum Dum Girls “Merry Xmas, Baby (Please Don’t Die)”.

Lame Excuse Books December 2016 Catalog

Thursday, December 15th, 2016

Welcome once again to another installment of “Lawrence Just Posts The Latest Lame Excuse Books Catalog as a Giant Text File.” If there’s anything here you want to buy, drop me a line at Lawrence Person (lawrenceperson@gmail.com).


Greetings, and welcome to the Lame Excuse Books catalog for December 2016!

I’m going to be honest with you: This is a pretty weird catalog. It’s got the usual small press firsts from Subterranean Press, Tachyon, Dragonstairs Press, etc., but it’s also got some William F. Buckley spy thrillers (one signed), some werewolf books (both from some auction lots), and random beat-up reading copies, as well as a big bunch of markdowns to existing stock (including a whole lot of Subterranean Press books). Plus new books by Joe R. Lansdale, James P. Blaylock, Bruce Sterling, Michael Swanwick, Greg Egan, Robert Silverberg, a new Charnel House Harlan Ellison limited, etc.

The picks of the list:

* James P. Blaylock’s The Further Adventures of Langdon St. Ives
* Joe R. and John L. Lansdale’s Hell’s Bounty and Zombie Gold
* Alastair Reynold’s Beyond the Aquila Rift
* Bruce Sterling’s Pirate Utopia

The URL for the main Lame Excuse Books webpage is:

https://www.lawrenceperson.com/lame.html

My blog, where I do a lot of book geeking (including new additions to my own collection) is:

https://www.lawrenceperson.com

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

https://twitter.com/LameExcuseBooks

Also note that TomFolio books is shutting down, and I haven’t picked a new book listing service yet.

Payment, Contact & Shipping Information

Email me at lawrenceperson@gmail.com. I can hold books ten days on email or phone requests (please leave a message on my voice mail for the latter: (512) 569-9036). U.S. shipping is $5.00 for the first book, and $1.00 a book thereafter. Foreign shipping is at cost (please inquire; for most locations, First Class International starts at $22.50 now). 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, and I can take MC and Visa directly through my merchant account.

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

LP2382. Abraham, Daniel. Balfour and Meriweather in The Incident of the Harrowmoor Dogs. Subterranean Press, 2013. First edition hardback, #124 of 250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Steampunky-looking mystery novella. List price is $45. For you? $20.

LP2170. (Anderson, Poul) Gardner Dozois and Greg Bear, editors. (Larry Niven, Greg Benford, Tad Williams, etc.) Multiverse: Exploring Poul Anderson’s Worlds. Subterranean Press, 2014. First edition hardback, one of 250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and Fine slipcase, new and unread. Poul Anderson tribute anthology, including stories using his characters and settings. $70.

LP2171. (Anderson, Poul) Gardner Dozois and Greg Bear, editors. (Larry Niven, Greg Benford, Tad Williams, etc.) Multiverse: Exploring Poul Anderson’s Worlds. Subterranean Press, 2014. First edition hardback, one of 1,500 trade copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Poul Anderson tribute anthology, including stories using his characters and settings. $30.

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 fill-color endpapers and several full color plates, new and unread. Her latest werewolf novel. Half off cover price. $20.

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

LP2063. Baker, Kage. Black Projects, White Knights. Golden Gryphon, 2002. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Short stories about The Company. $12.

LP1621. Baker, Kage. The Empress of Mars. Subterranean Press, 2009. First edition hardback, one of 500 copies signed by Baker, a Fine copy in a Fine dj, new and unread. A full length novel, and not to be confused with the earlier novella from Night Shade. Out of print from the publisher. $45.

LP1115. Baker, Kage. Mother Aegypt and Other Stories. Night Shade Books, 2004. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dj, new and unread. includes an original, never before published novella. LAST COPY! $15.

LP2064. Banks, Iain M. Against a Dark Background. Orbit, 1993. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with slight haze rubbing (which means the glossy black areas seem to have a bit of haze on them if you move them back and forth under a strong light), otherwise new and unread. Banks first “pure” non-Culture SF novel. Banks was a phenomenally talented writer who died way too young. $125.

LP2065. Banks, Iain M. Consider Phlebas. Macmillan, 1987. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with a tiny bit of bend at edge of head and heel, in a Fine, Mylar-protected dust jacket. Read once, by me. The first Culture novel, and Banks’ first “pure” SF novel. Recommended. I’m not seeing a single unsigned first of the Macmillan Consider Phlebas anywhere online. $300.

LP2066. Banks, Iain M. Excession. Orbit, 1996. First edition hardback, a Fine copy (though with the characteristic slight page darkening of Orbit books of this era) in a Fine dust jacket. Inscribed by Banks: “To Narayan/-best wishes/Iain M. Banks”. Recommended. A Culture novel. For some reason I can’t find a single signed Excession on Bookfinder. $175.

LP1622. Banks, Iain M. Matter. Orbit (UK), 2008. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy in a Near FIne dust jacket with bumping at head and heel and associated wrinkles. Culture novel. $12.

LP2173. Banks, Iain. The Quarry. Little Brown (UK), 2013. Fourth printing of the hardback first edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Banks’ last novel, alas. $8.

LP1939. Bear, Elizabeth. ad eternum. Subterranean Press, 2012. First edition hardback, one of 250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Part of her New Amsterdam series. Also included in this edition is the 9,000 word chapbook Underground. $35.

LP2118. Bear, Elizabeth. The White City. Subterranean Press, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Magic alternate history thing. $20.

LP2386. Benford, Gregory. The Best of Gregory Benford. Subterranean Press, 2015. First edition hardback, #123 of 250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Another huge career retrospective collection. $55.

LP2387. Benford, Gregory. The Best of Gregory Benford. Subterranean Press, 2015. First edition hardback, trade edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Another huge career retrospective collection. $35.

LP2515. Blaylock, James P. The Adventures of Langdon St. Ives. Subterranean Press, 2016. First edition hardback, one of 200 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Omnibus edition of four Lagdon St. Ives steampunk novellas. “The Here-and-Thereians” plus a short coda (“Earthbound Things”) are original to this volume, so you need this even if you have the previous Subterranean Press Langdon St. Ives volumes. List price: $60. For you: $55.

LP2516. Blaylock, James P. The Adventures of Langdon St. Ives. Subterranean Press, 2016. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Omnibus edition of four Lagdon St. Ives steampunk novellas. “The Here-and-Thereians” plus a short coda (“Earthbound Things”) are original to this volume, so you need this even if you have the previous Subterranean Press Langdon St. Ives volumes. Trade edition. PICK OF THE LIST. List price: $40. For you: $35.

LP2013. Blaylock, James P. Zeuglodon. Subterranean Press, 2012. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Set in the same universe as The Digging Leviathan and takes place in the hollow earth. Trade edition is sold out from the publisher. LAST COPY. $35.

LP2517. Bloch, Robert. Flowers from the Moon. Arkham House, 1998. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with very slight fold to the very top 1/16″ of the front inner flap, otherwise pristine. Collection of early Bloch stories, including the title werewolf story and four Cthulhu Mythos stories. $25.

LP1625. Bloch, Robert (Gahan Wilson). Skeleton in the Closet, and Other Stories (The Reader’s Bloch Volume 2). Subterranean Press, 2008. First edition hardback, one of only 750 copies, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dj, as issued, new and unread. More uncollected Bloch. Illustrated by Gahan Wilson. $30.

LP1626. Bradbury. Ray. Marionettes, Inc. Subterranean Press, 2009. First edition hardback, one of 2000 copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. A collection of Bradbury’s robot stories, including two previously unpublished works. Now sold out from the publisher. Only have one. $30.

LP1519. Bradbury, Ray. Moby Dick: A Screenplay. Subterranean Press, 2008. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dj, new and unread, still in publisher’s shrinkwrap. The basis of the John Huston movie. No out of print from the publisher, and I only have one. $30.

LP2068. Bradbury, Ray. Nemo! Subterranean Press, 2013. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Previously unpublished Ray Bradbury screenplay set in Winsor McCay’s Little Nemo in Slumberland comic strip. Now sold out from the publisher, but I still have it at less than cover price. $30.

LP2518. Buckley, William F., Jr. Brothers No More. Doubleday, 1995. First edition hardback, a Very Good copy with slight dampstaining to last few pages at heel lifting some of the binding dye to the page edges, in a near Fine dust jacket with slight surface wear and slight crease to inner top flap. Thriller that starts in World War II. Earlier this year, I won a Buckley lot at auction quite cheaply, about half of which were signed. The non-signed books in the lot I’m blowing out cheap as reading copies. $3.

LP2519. Buckley, William F., Jr. Elvis in the Morning. Harcourt, 2001. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy in a Near Fine dust jacket with a touch of surface wear/soiling (especially along spine join) and slight edge curl. Novel of Elvis in the 50s and 60s. Certainly when I think of Elvis, Buckley is the first novelist that comes to mind. (Actually this did get better reviews than, say, Tender…) $ 3.

LP2520. Buckley, William F., Jr. High Jinx. Doubleday, 1986. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with a few pinpricks of dust staining at head in a Very Good+ dust jacket, with shallow chipping at head, heel and along the top edge of the front. A Blackford Oakes spy thriller. $3.

LP2521. Buckley, William F., Jr. Marco Polo, if You Can. Doubleday, 1982. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with very slight dust staining at head, in a Near Fine- price-clipped dust jacket with 1/8″ chipping at head and a tiny bit at heel and points. Inscribed by Buckley: “1/14/82 /For Roger Bink/Warm regards/Wm F. Buckley Jr.” $10.

LP2522. Buckley, William F., Jr. Spytime: The Undoing of James Jesus Angleton. Harcourt, 2000. First edition hardback, a Very Good with spy concave, in a Near Fine dust jacket. Novel based on Angleton’s real0life hunt for a communist mole in the CIA. $3.

LP2523. Buckley, William F., Jr. A Very Private Plot . First edition hardback, a Very Good- copy with dampstaining at heel and associated black dye trasnfer from boards, in a Very Good- dust jacket with dampstain warping to front and rear. A Blackford Oakes spy thriller. $3.

LP477. Chizmar, Richard, editor (Jack Ketchum, John Shirley, David B. Silva). Night Visions 10. Subterranean Press, 2001. First Edition hardback, Fine in a Fine dj, new. All new stories by Jack Ketchum, John Shirley, and David B. Silva done in a uniform format with the Dark Harvest Night Visions series. $12.

LP755. Crowley, John. Daemonomania. Bantam, 2000. First edition hardback, Fine in Fine dj, new and unread. The third book in the Aegypt sequence. Back in stock. $10.

LP1683. Crowley, John. Endless Things. Small Beer Press, 2007. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Concluding novel of the Aegypt series. CHEAP! $10.

LP1777. De Lint, Charles. Eyes Like Leaves. Subterranean Press, 2009. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread, signed by De Lint. This last copy has hung around a while, so let’s sell it cheap. $20.

LP2524. Donaldson, D. J. Blood on the Bayou. St. Martin’s Press, 1991. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacet with a bit of haze rubbing to the rear cover. Werewolf mystery novel set in New Orleans (“An Andy Broussard/Kit Franklin Mystery”). $20.

LP1686. Egan, Greg. Crystal Nights and Other Stories. Subterranean Press, 2009. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Short story collection. Now sold out from the publisher. $32.

LP2525. Egan, Greg. The Four Thousand, The Eight Hundred. Subterranean Press, 2016. First edition hardback, one of 1,000 copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Hard science fiction novella set on the asteroids of Vesta and Ceres. Only have one. $37.

LP1527. Egan, Greg. Incandescence. Gollancz, 2008. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dj with a tiny bit of crimping at head, new and unread. Far future SF novel. Precedes the Night Shade edition. Gollancz seems to have cut back drastically on their hardback print runs; this came out May 15, and was already OP in hardback on June 1, and I had to scramble around to find some in the UK. $30.

LP1836. Egan, Greg. Zendegi. Night Shade Press, 2010. First U.S. edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Novel set in a post-theocracy Iran and a popular virtual reality game. $10.

LP2542. Ellison, Harlan. Coffin Nails. Charnel House, 2016. First edition oversized hardback, a Fine copy, one of 200 signed, numbered copies, sans dust jacket, as issued. The usual lavish Charnel House production, an attractive brown patterned (“crackle paper”) binding, with embossed silver nails spelling out “HE” on the front cover, and a giant silver nail on the cover. Features 25 uncollected Ellison stories from across his career. Sure to be a lust object for all your bibliophile friends. Only have one. $5 off cover price. $295.

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. Cover price: $45. Your price: $30.

LP2306. Gaiman, Neil and Michael Reaves. Interworld and The Silver Dream. Subterranean Press, 2014. First limited hardback edition, each #344 of 500 signed copies, both Fine copies in Fine dust jackets, new and unread. Two young collaborative young adult novels involving parallel worlds. Offered at $20 off cover price, and I only have one set. $100.

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.

LP2525. Haining, Peter. The Dracula Centenary Book. Souvenir Press, 1987. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with just a tiny bit of crimping at points. Illustrated non-fiction book about various Dracula facts, real, fictional and on screen. $10.

LP2526. Hughes, Winifred. The Maniac in the Cellar: Sensation Novels of the 1860s. Princeton University Press, 1980. Presumed first edition hardback (no additional printing stated), a Fine copy in a near Fine-, price-clipped dust jacket with spots of rubbing to matte black rear cover. Non-fiction on Victorian sensation novels of the 1860s. $5.

LP1640. King, Stephen. Stephen King Goes to the Movies. Subterranean Press, 2009. First edition hardback, one of 2000 copies (and the only hardback edition), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Includes five stories by King that were made into movies (“1408,” “The Mangler,” “Low Men in Yellow Coats” (made into Hearts in Atlantis), “Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption,” “The Mist” and “Children of the Corn,” each with new introductions by King about how the moves were made and what he thought of them. Illustrations by Vincent Chong. With two color printing and heavier than usual paper, this is a lavish production beyond even the usual high Subterranean Press standards. I haven’t read all the stories in here, but the ones I have are among King’s best. Recommended. $26 off cover price! $49.

LP2527. Kuznia, Yanni, editor (Jacqueline Carey, Kevin Hearne, Laura Bickle, Aliette De Bodard). A Fantasy Medley 3. Subterranean Press, 2015. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Trade edition of this short fantasy anthology, now sold out from from the publisher, but I’m still offering it at 50% off cover price. $10.

LP1846. Lake, Jay. The Sky That Wraps. Subterranean Press, 2010. First edition hardback, one of 1,000 signed copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Short story collection by the author of the Hugo-nominated Mainspring, and a swell guy to boot. $5 off cover price. $29.

LP1959. Lansdale, Joe R. Act of Love. Subterranean Press, 2012. First edition hardback thus, with a new novelette, “A Bone Dead Sadness,” and interview with Lansdale not included in any previous edition, one of 200 signed, numbered slipcased copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and slipcase, new and unread. Only have one. $100 List. For you, $90.

LP1848. Lansdale, Joe R. By Bizarre Hands Rides Again. Morning Star Press, 2010. Expanded edition with new stories and story notes, one of 300 copies signed by Lansdale, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. The original was a great short story collection, and thus new edition has everything in the original and more. Highly recommended. $65.

LP2482. Lansdale, Joe R. (Pete Von Sholly, illustrator). Christmas Monkeys. PS Publishing, 2015. First edition hardback, one of 300 copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and decorated boards, with bookmark signed by the author and artist laid in (as issued). Illustrated children’s book (for certain values of “children”). LAST COPY! $34.

LP18840. Lansdale, Joe R. Christmas With the Dead. PS Publishing, 2010. First edition hardback, one of 300 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Now out of print from the publisher. $34.

LP2195. Lansdale, Joe R. Devil Red. Knopf, 2011. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Signed by Lansdale. Hap and Leonard novel. Recommended. $12.

LP2484. Lansdale, Joe R. Fender Lizards. Subterranean Press, 2015. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Even though this is the trade edition, I got Joe to sign it at Armadillocon, and it’s sold out from the publisher, but still cover price. $40.

LP2528. Lansdale, Joe R. and John L. Lansdale. Hell’s Bounty. Subterranean Press, 2016. First edition hardback, one of 1,000 copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Weird western about demons, bounty hunters and the end of the world. Sold out from the publisher, and only have one of this true first edition. However, see the next item… $65.

LP2529. Lansdale, Joe R. and John L. Lansdale. Hell’s Bounty with Zombie Gold. Short, Scary Tales (SST) Publications, 2016. First edition hardback thus for Hell’s Bounty, true first edition for Zombie Gold, one of 200 signed, numbered sets with matching numbers, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Hell’s Bounty is by and signed by both Lansdales, while Zombie Gold is by John L. Lansdale solo. Two weird westerns, heavy on the action and bloodshed. For the set: $95. (One dealer has this set at $140.)

LP2530. Lansdale, John L. Zombie Gold. Short, Scary Tales (SST) Publications, 2016. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Trade edition of this weird western. $30.

LP1850. Leiber, Fritz. Strange Wonders. Subterranean Press, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Collection various work, some previously unpublished or uncollected. 25% off cover price. $30.

LP2531. Levy, Edward. The Beast Within. Arbor House, 1981. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with a bit of curl and head and heel and a trace of dust soiling to back cover, in a near Fine dust jacket with haze rubbing along spine join. “A modern day Jekyll and Hyde in the clothes of a werewolf…a lupine incubus.” $5. Given when this was published, there’s a good chance David Hartwell edited it. $5.

LP2532. Lupoff, Richard. Lisa Kane. Bobbs-Merrill, 1976. First edition hardback, a Fine- with a few dust marks to front board, in a Near Fine- dust jacket with crinkling at head and heel, slight curl at top front edge, slight creases to inner flaps, and slight darkening to top of rear cover. Werewolf novel. $5.

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. $60.

LP1853. Niven, Larry. The Best of Larry Niven. Subterranean Press, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Another huge Subterranean career retrospective collection. LAST COPY. $35.

LP2534. Novik, Naomi. Blood of Tyrants. Del Rey, 2013. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. The eight Temeraire book about the Napoleonic War with dragons. $10.

LP1968. Powers, Tim. The Bible Repairman and Other Stories. Subterranean Press, 2012. First hardback edition, one of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. $10 off cover price. $65.

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 latest novella, about a rare book dealer. Now sold out from the publisher, but I’m offering it at $5 off cover price. $60.

LP2083. Powers, Tim. Salvage and Demolition. Subterranean Press, 2013. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. This trade edition is also sold out from the publisher, and also offered at $5 cover price. $22.

LP2207. Prachett, Terry. Raising Steam. Doubleday, 2014. First American edition, hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread, with review materials laid in. Discworld goes Steampunk. $10.

LP1642. Resnick, Mike. Kilimanjaro: A Fable of Utopia. Subterranean Press, 2008. First edition hardback, one of 1000 signed copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Companion volume to his Kirinyaga stories, in which the Maasai try to create their own Utopia. Only have one. $28.

LP2535. Reynolds, Alastair. Beyond the Aquila Rift. Subterranean Press, 2016. First edition hardback, trade state, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Another huge career retrospective collection, and at 781 pages, I think it’s the largest yet. $42.

LP2399. Reynolds, Alastair. Slow Bullets. WSFA, 2015. First hardback (and first signed) edition, one of 1000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Produced for CapClave, where Reynolds was Guest of Honor. $35.

LP1742. Scalzi, John. God Engines. Subterranean Press, 2009 (actually not shipped until 2010). First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Trade edition. $15.

LP1976. Shepard, Lucius. The Dragon Griaule. Subterranean Press, 2012. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. All Shepard’s Dragon Griaule stories in one volume. $35.

LP1977. Silverberg, Robert. The Collected Stories of Robert Silverberg Volume Six: Multiples 1983-1987. Subterranean Press, 2012. First edition hardback, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. The earlier volumes are gone baby gone… $30.

LP2136. Silverberg, Robert. The Collected Stories of Robert Silverberg Volume Eight: Hot Times in Magma City: 1990-95. Subterranean Press, 2013. First edition hardback, a Fine copy, new and unread, sans dust jacket, as issued. The latest and greatest volume by the legendary Grandmaster. I sold a lot of the collected Silverberg volumes at Worldcon, and this trade edition is now sold out from the publisher. $30.

LP2536. Silverberg, Robert. Early Days: More Tales from the Pulp Era. Subterranean Press, 2016. First edition hardback, #168 of 1000 signed, numbered copies. Collection of early Silverberg stories. Only have one, $5 off cover price. $35.

LP2137. Silverberg, Robert. The Last Song of Orpheus. Subterranean Press, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Original 30,000 word novella. $10 off cover price. $25.

LP2209. Simmons, Dan. Muse of Fire. Subterranean Press, 2008. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Original science fiction novella. Out of print from the publisher. $30.

LP1288. Smith, Clark Ashton (edited by Scott Connors and Ron Hilger). Star Changes: The Science Fiction of Clark Ashton Smith. Darkside Press, 2005. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dj, new and unread, still in publisher’s shrinkwrap. $32.

LP1887. 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. First hardback of Stephenson’s second novel, and the usual quality Subterranean Press production. Now sold out from the publisher, but still $25 off the publisher’s price. $120.

LP1480. Sterling, Bruce. Islands in the Net. Arbor House, 1988. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with very slight bumping at heel and the ownership stamp of Louis Mackey on FFE, in a Near Fine, price-clipped (but otherwise pristine and Mylar-protected) dj. Signed by Sterling (who has also written “Copyright 1988” and “2007”). Mackey was a well-known professor at the University of Texas and something of a minor celebrity, having played a role in the film Richard Linklater film Slacker (he’s the professor complaining that he missed Charles Whitman’s shooting spree). Since Bruce attended UT, it would have been nice if this had been some sort of association copy, but no, Bruce said he had never heard of him when I had him sign this. So whether the Mackey signature is a plus or a minus depends on the eye of the beholder. $35.

LP2537. Sterling, Bruce (Warren Ellis, Christopher Brown, Rick Klaw). Pirate Utopia. Tachyon, 2016. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Novella in which the Italian Futurists set up their own state after World War I. Includes H.P. Lovecraft and Houdini as characters. Includes an Introduction by Warren Ellis, and interview with Sterling by Rick Klaw, and an afterword by Christopher Brown. $18.

LP1856. Straub, Peter. The Juniper Tree and Other Blue Rose Stories. Subterranean Press, 2010. First edition hardback, one of 1,500 trade copies, 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 an interview conducted by Bill Sheehan. $22.

LP1425. Stross, Charles. Missile Gap. Subterranean Press, 2007. First edition hardback, one of 1000 signed, numbered copies, Fine in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. A very alternate Cold War novella. This first printing is now out of print from the publisher. $27.

LP1981. Stross, Charles. Palimpsest. Subterranean Press, 2012. First edition hardback, one of 1,000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. His Hugo-winning, far-future novella. $30.

LP197. Tepper, Sheri. Gibbon’s Decline and Fall. Bantam, 1996. First edition hardback, Fine in a Fine dj, new in dj. Get this off my shelf. $1.

LP2538. Tolkien, J. R. R. The Lord of The Rings (The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King). Houghton Mifflin, 1965. Fifth Printing of this edition (the Second U.S. hardback edition, with all the all the appendices at the back of The Return of the King, and fold out maps of Middle Earth (The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers) and Mordor (The Return of the King) present, a Very Good- set, well read, all three spines slightly dull, spine on The Fellowship of the Ring slightly concave, map in The Fellowship of the Ring with one small tear near attachment point reinforced with tape, lacking the dust jackets, in a Very Good- slipcase with significant rubbing at heel, slight wear/abrasion at points and to attached slipcase frontispiece, with about 1/4″ loss to top right corner, affecting very edge of end line of elvish script. A well-worn set that was formerly my father’s. He read these to me and my sister in our youth, and then we read the hell out of them in our teen years. Still, the front cover embossing for all three books (depicting the eye of Sauron, the one ring, and the Tengwar/Black Speech inscription on the ring) is still quite bright and attractive on all three volumes. My father died in January of 2016, and my mother gave these to me as part of downsizing from a house to an apartment. Since I already own a copy of this edition with the dust jackets, I’m offering this up here. Highly recommended as the most important work of fantasy of all time. Sets of this edition in dust jacket tend to go for about $150, so let’s offer this up at 1/5th that. $30.

LP2539. Tolkien, J. R. R. The Lord of The Rings (The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King). Houghton Mifflin/SFBC, 1986 (the ISFDB IDs the 10259 code on the back of The Fellowship of the Ring as belonging to the SFBC edition that year). Book club reprint hardback, Near Fine copies with slight spotting at head, in Near Fine- (The Fellowship of the Ring)/Very Good+ (The Two Towers, The Return of the King) dust jackets with slight spine fading wear at head, heel and points, a 1/2″ tear at head of The Two Towers, and three 1/4″ closed tears and two small black marks on rear cover of The Return of the King. Just sturdy reading copies of the definitive epic fantasy trilogy of the 20th century. Another thing downsized from my mother’s move. $5.

LP2041. Vance, Jack. Desperate Days: Selected Mysteries Volume 2. Subterranean Press, 2012. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Thick omnibus edition of three Vance mystery novels (The Fox Valley Murders, The Pleasant Grove Murders, The Dark Ocean), and a companion to Subterranean’s earlier Dangerous Ways volume. Sort of surprised I have two left, as the Vance stuff usually disappears pretty quick. $40.

LP2540. Varley, John. Demon. Putnam, 1984. First edition hardback, an ex-library copy with all the usual flaw; call it a Very Good- Ex-Lib copy with pages yellowing (as usual), spine concave, wear along bottom boards, plus all the usual stamps, pocket, etc., in a Very Good+ dust jacket with sticker to spine, and spots of wear where Mylar dj protector has been worn through. Third book in the titan trilogy. Space-filler first of a book that reportedly had a smaller print run than the first two volumes. $5.

LP2144. Varley, John. Good-bye, Robinson Crusoe and Other Stories. Subterranean Press, 2013. First edition hardback, one of 1,000 copies signed numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. $15 off cover. $30.

LP2541. Varma, Devendra P. The Gothic Flame: Being a History of the Gothic Novel in England: Its Origins Efflorescence, Disintegration and Residuary Influence. The Scarecrow Press, 1987. First edition thus, being the reprint of a work first published in 1957, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Non-fiction work on the development of the Gothic novel. Includes bibliography at back. $20.

LP2542. Windsor, Patricia. The Blooding. Scholastic Press, 1996. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Werewolf novel. I see precisely one copy listed online, and it’s not as nice as this one. $25.

LP1988. Willis, Connie. All About Emily. Subterranean Press, 2011. First edition hardback, one of 400 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Sold out from the publisher. Only have one. $40.

LP1447. Willis, Connie. D. A. Subterranean Press, 2007. First edition hardback, one of only 400 signed/numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dj, new and unread. Sold out from the publisher. Only have one. $34.

LP2405. Zafon, Carlos Ruiz. The Prisoner of Heaven. Subterranean Press, 2014. First limited edition hardback, #339 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. This edition is sold out from the publisher, and I’m not seeing any copies of it listed online. $125.

Trade Paperbacks

LP2543. Chabon, Michael. The Yiddish Policeman’s Union. Harper Perennial, 2008. First trade paperback edition, preceded by the hardback, a Near Fine+ copy with 1/8″ white abrasion at heel. Inscribed by Chabon: “For Delois/Happy Mother’s Day/Michael Chabon.” Read once. Hugo and Nebula Winner for Best Novel. Another book from my mother’s household downsizing. $7.

LP2124. Gunn, James. The Unpublished Gunn Part 2. Chris Drumm Books, 1996. First edition chapbook original, a Fine copy. $5.

LP2544. McCammon, Robert. Blue World. Subterranean Press, 2015. Trade paperback reprint, a Fine, unread copy. Short story collection. $5.

LP2545. Lansdale, Joe R. Hap and Leonard. Tachyon. 2016. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Signed by Lansdale. All the Hap and Leonard short fiction, including three novella’s (Veil’s Visit (with Andrew Vachss), Hyenas, and Dead Aim) previously published as stand-alone novellas. Only have one. $16.

LP2507. Swanwick, Michael. 5 Seasons. Dragonstairs Press, 2016. First edition chapbook original, one of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy. Five one page stories about the seasons. All these Dragonstairs press chapbooks tend to disappear pretty quickly, so here’s a chance to pick it up while it’s still cover price. $6.

LP2508. Swanwick, Michael. Seasons Greetings. Dragonstairs Press, 2015. First edition chapbook original, one of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy. The 2015 Swanwick Christmas chapbook, now out of print from the publisher. $10.

LP2547. Swanwick, Michael. Solstice Spirits. Dragonstairs Press, 2015. First edition chapbook original, one of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy new and unread. Four brief seasonal tales. Though dated 2015, I was only able to order this recently, and it’s already sold out from the press. $15.

Mass Market Paperbacks

LP2548. Effinger, George Alec. Planet of the Apes 2: Escape to Tomorrow. Award Books, 1975. First edition paperback original, a Very Good+ copy with creasing and a tackhead-sized abrasion to upper right corner and a stamped “2” at head, two small wrinkles along spine, and general wear. Based on the short-lived CBS TV show, one of four Effinger did. $5.

LP2549. Farmer, Philip Jose. Tarzan: The Dark Heart of Time. Del Rey, 1999. First edition paperback original, a near Fine copy with slight spine creasing and a touch of edgewear. A surprisingly uncommon PBO, given the author and subject matter. $35.

LP2550. Kuttner, Henry. Lancer, 1973. Paperback reprint, a Poor copy with the page blocks failing out, held together with two rubber bands, but otherwise intact. All Kuttner’s Gallagher stories, in which an inventor creates robots while blind stinking drunk, and then can’t remember what he made them for. Only reason I’m bothering to sell it is that these are GREAT, HILARIOUS stories and this hasn’t been reprinted nearly often enough. Reading copy only. Highly recommended. $3.

LP2541. Leiber, Fritz. The Wanderer. Ballantine Books, 1964. First edition paperback original, a Very Good copy with creasing and wear along spine, a long crease along top front corner, and general wear. Hugo Winner for best novel.

Since Sherri Tepper died recently, I thought I’d list which books of hers I have, all marked down a bit:

LP1586. Tepper, Sherri S. The Flight of Mavin Manyshaped. Ace, 1985. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with just a trace of wear at top outer corner, otherwise new and unread. A really beautiful copy. $20.

LP2291. Tepper, Sheri S. The Bones. Tor, 1987. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Very Good+ copy with one spine crease, top front corner crease, and touches of edgewear. Believe it or not, there was once a time when science fiction and fantasy novelists looked at switching to horror as a good career move… $4.

LP2292. Tepper, Sheri S. King’s Blood Four. Ace, 1983. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Very Good+ copy with one spine crease, 1 1/2″ thin crease along bottom front spine join, edgewear, and small abrasion to top rear cover. First book in the True Game series. $4.

LP1675. Tepper, Sheri S. Jinian Footseer. Tor, 1985. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Very Good+ copy with crease along spine join, partial crease and wrinkle on spine, small crease to lower back corner, and touches of general wear. True Game novel. $4.

LP1869. Tepper, Sheri S. Marianne, the Magus and the Manticore. Ace, 1985. Third printing, a VG copy with spine creasing, spine line, number stamp at head, and general wear. The Marianne titles are probably the least common of all Tepper’s books. $8.

LP1618. Tepper, Sheri S. The Revenants. Ace, 1984. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Very Good+ copy with spine-creasing and edgewear, but otherwise square. Standalone fantasy novel involving a Sphinx’s riddles. $4.

LP1586. Tepper, Sherri S. The Search of Mavin Manyshaped. Ace, 1985. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Fine- copy with just a trace of edgewear, otherwise new and unread. A really beautiful copy. Third book in the Mavin trilogy. $35.

LP2293. Tepper, Sherri S. The Song of Mavin Manyshaped. Ace, 1985. Second printing, a Near Fine copy lines at head and heel, a small name on blurb page, and a few touches of edgewear. The first Mavin book. $4.

LP2294. Tepper, Sheri S. Wizard’s Eleven. Ace, 1984. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Near Fine copy with small date stamp at heel, edgewear, and one tiny wrinkle near base of spine, otherwise tight and square. Third book in the True Game series. Man, Tepper must have been a writing machine in the mid-1980s… $4.

Shoegazer Sunday: Tears Run Rings’ “Belly Up”

Sunday, December 11th, 2016

Tears Run Rings have a new album, In Surges, out this month, and “Belly Up” is off of it.

Greg Lake, RIP

Thursday, December 8th, 2016

Musician Greg Lake, of Emerson, Lake and Palmer and King Crimson fame, has died.

In my youth I drove my parent’s old 8-track equipped Dodge Monaco, with The Best of Emerson Lake and Palmer one of the few 8-track albums I possessed and thus in very heavy rotation. (Among the annoyances: All but 10 seconds of “Tiger in a Spotlight” was on one track, and then a KERTHUNK for the very end.) I never saw one of their elaborate live shows, but I did had tickets for the Austin leg of the Emerson Lake and Powell tour before it was cancelled.

Here’s the obligatory Emerson, Lake and Palmer track:

Alas, there does not seem to be a full version of the original “In the Court of the Crimson King” on YouTube, or that would be here as well…

Library Addition: Harlan Ellison’s Coffin Nails

Thursday, December 8th, 2016

Here’s another beautiful Charnel House limited edition:

Ellison, Harlan. Coffin Nails. Charnel House, 2016. First edition oversized hardback, a Fine copy, #73 of 200 signed, numbered copies, sans dust jacket, as issued. The usual lavish Charnel House production, an attractive brown patterned (“crackle paper”) binding, with embossed silver nails spelling out “HE” on the front cover, and a giant silver nail on the spine. Features 25 uncollected Ellison stories from across his career.

coffin-nails

This came in just before I sent out the latest Lame Excuse Book catalog went out. I still have one copy for sale if you want one SOLD.

Library Addition: Signed Peter Straub Sides

Wednesday, December 7th, 2016

This was my only notable book find in Houston over the Thanksgiving weekend:

Straub, Peter. Sides. Cemetery Dance, 2007. First edition hardback, #89 of 300 numbered copies signed by Straub, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and slipcase. Non-fiction pieces. This was published at $50, but Half Price Books had it at half the price of the trade edition at $12.49, then took an additional 20% off, so I got it for 1/5th cover price. Supplements a copy of the trade edition, also signed by Straub.