I’m not an Isaac Asimov completist because I’m not completely insane. But I have been picking up firsts of the science fiction he did before Foundation’s Edge when I can find them at reasonable prices. This one is an odd little item, a scholastic chapbook of one of his robot stories done in “simplified language” for “upper intermediate” students, so not really Asimov when you get right down to it, but it’s not terribly common.
Asimov, Isaac. Little Lost Robot. The Syndics of the Cambridge University Press, 1977. First edition chapbook original thus, a Fine- copy with the barest traces of wear at points. “This edition first published 1977” on copyright page at rear of book, as per Currey (1979), page 18. Bought off Biblio for $42 plus shipping.
I was thinking about putting up something from Echodrone’s new album, but I stumbled across their cover of “Celebrated Summer” by Husker Du (a band never, ever, ever associated with Shoegaze). This is a case where the cover is much better than the original.
Plus old home movies have a certain fascination to them.
Also, bitrot seems to have have removed two of my favorite Echodrone songs from previous Shoegazer Sunday entries, so here are “Under an Impressive Sky”:
And “Gravity”:
The original version used clips from Memoirs of a Giesha, which is probably why it’s not online anymore…
Ip Man is a movie with first rate fight choreography (courtesy of Sammo Hung) in a third rate plot so trite and hackneyed (and a lead character so one-dimensionally perfect) that the Shaw Brother would have been slightly embarrassed to put it up on screen.
Here’s the justly famous “10-1” fight scene:
Watch the fight scene highlights and skip the rest…
Here’s something I didn’t buy, it showed up on my doorstep as a contributor copy:
Haijun, Yao and Mike Resnick, editors. World’s Science Fiction Story Collection II (ISBN 978-7-5364-8711-6). Sichuan Science and Technology Publishing House, 2017. Trade paperback original, a Fine copy, still in shrinkwrap. Chinese language anthology that prints a translation of my story “Crucifixion Variations.”
I’m pretty sure this is the only time my name has appeared higher on a cover than Robert Silverberg’s…
This is one of those books that almost eluded me, but I snagged what was evidently the last hardback copy:
Lansdale, Joe R. Hoodoo Harry. Mysterious Bookshop, 2016. First edition hardback (small trim size), letter T of 26 lettered copies (along with an additional 100 hardback numbered copies, not seen), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. “Bibliomysteries 33.” 72 page Hap & Leonard novella. Bought directly from the publisher for $100, since they were already out of the numbered edition.
Included with the same purchase:
Lansdale, Joe R. Hoodoo Harry. Mysterious Bookshop, 2016. First edition trade paperback original, a Near Fine+ copy with bend to bottom outer tip (due to the way Mysterious Bookshop packaged things), otherwise new and unread. Presumably simultaneous with the hardback issue. Plus:
Lippman, Laura. Snowflake Time: A Christmas Story. Mysterious Bookshop, 2017. Center-stapled chapbook. Back cover reads “A holiday gift with the compliments of The Mysterious Bookshop.”
Not part of the bundle, but I might as well list it here:
Lansdale, Joe R. Bubba and the Cosmic Blood-Suckers. Subterranean Pres, 2017. First edition hardback, #580 of 1500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Prequel (of a sort) to Bubba Ho-Tep. Elvis, Nixon, Colonel Parker, and cosmic horrors. What’s not to like?
There were most famous for “Zombie” and a few other hits, but my favorite song of theirs has always been the melancholy “Daffodil Lament.” Here’s a live version.
