Posts Tagged ‘reference works’
Wednesday, March 8th, 2023
Here’s a mixed bag of Lansdale firsts, one new Subterranean first, two sets of books that I already had in different states, and two different states of a book of Lansdale interviews that I’m in.
Lansdale, Joe R. Cold in July. Mark V. Ziesing, 1989. First hardback edition, #388 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine- slipcase with a bump at bottom rear. Isajenko, World Lansdalean A011.b. With Lansdale, Joe R. Savage Season. Mark V. Ziesing, 1989. First edition hardback, #388 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, in the same slipcase. Isajenko, World Lansdalean A013.a. Supplements a PC set (received as part of typing Cold in July into a computer from galley proofs) and a signed “mock” limited set. Bought from a private collector for $50.
Lansdale, Joe R. The Drive-In (A B-Movie With Blood and Popcorn, Made in Texas). Bantam Spectra, 1988. First edition paperback original, #57 of 100 aftermarket copies from The Overlook Connection with a special limitation page pasted in, a Fine- copy with pinprick of abrasion to bottom rear tip, in a Mylar-bag, in a Fine embossed aftermarket slipcase. Isajenko, World Lansdalean A010.a. With Lansdale, Joe R. The Drive-In 2 (Not Just One Of Them Sequels). Bantam Spectra, 1989. First edition paperback original, #57 of 100 aftermarket copies from The Overlook Connection with a special limitation page pasted in, a Fine copy, in a Mylar-bag, in the same slipcase. Isajenko, World Lansdalean A012.a. Supplements inscribed copies of the ordinary PBOs, plus inscribed hardback firsts of the Kinnell editions, plus The Complete Drive-In from Centipede Press. These Overlook Press aftermarket paperback limiteds were weird things, which is why I didn’t pick these up until I found a set at the right price. Bought from the same private collector for $35.
Lansdale, Joe R. The Events Concerning. Subterranean Press, 2022. First edition hardback, #371 of 1,250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Short story collection. Bought from the publisher. I’ll have copies of this available in the next 
(Lansdale, Joe R.) Andrew J. Rausch and Mark Slade, editors. Conversations with Joe R. Lansdale. University Press of Mississippi, 2022. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Collection of interviews with Lansdale, including the ones Dwight Brown and I did for Nova Express. Bought from the publisher. I’ll have copies of this available in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog.
(Lansdale, Joe R.) Andrew J. Rausch and Mark Slade, editors. Conversations with Joe R. Lansdale. University Press of Mississippi, 2022. First edition trade paperback original (simultaneous with the much smaller hardback run), a Fine copy. Sent to me as a contributor’s copy.
Tags:Books, Horror, Joe R. Lansdale, Mark V. Ziesing, Mystery, Overlook Press, reference works, Subterranean Press
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Thursday, January 12th, 2023
Two more reference works, one the last hardback addition from the Metroplex trip, the other from a PS Publishing order that came in.
(Burroughs, William S.) Morgan, Ted. Literary Outlaw: The Life and Time of William S. Burroughs. Henry Holt, 1988. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with slight haze rubbing. Reportedly one of the best biographies of Burroughs. Shoaf, Collecting William S. Burroughs in Print: A Checklist, IV.42. Bought for $7.99 at Half Price Books.
Campbell, Ramsey (S. T. Joshi, editor). Certainly: Essays and Reviews, 2002-2017. PS Publishing, 2021. First edition hardback, #168 of 200 signed, numbered copies in slipcase, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Companion volume to Probably, which I also have. Bought from the publisher for £20. I will have one copy for sale in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog (probably May or June).
Tags:biography, Horror, Ramsey Campbell, reference works, S. T. Joshi, William S. Burroughs
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Wednesday, November 30th, 2022
Three Michael Andre-Driussi critical companions to Gene Wolfe works, all bought from Amazon (the only place they’re available; click on the hyperlinks to buy them there).
(Gene Wolfe) Andre-Driussi, Michael. A Chapter Guide for the Long Sun & the Short Sun. Sirius Fiction, 2022. First edition POD hardcover, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Just what it says, a chapter-by-chapter summary of The Book of the Long Sun and The Book of the Long Sun and The Book of the Short Sun, including lists of characters and unusual terms that show up in each chapter.
(Gene Wolfe) Andre-Driussi, Michael. Gene Wolfe’s The Book of the New Sun: A Chapter Guide. Sirius Fiction, 2019 (2022). First edition POD hardcover, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Same as the above, but for The Book of the New Sun.
(Gene Wolfe) Andre-Driussi, Michael. Gene Wolfe: 14 Articles. Sirius Fiction, 2016 (2022). First edition POD trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Various essays on Wolfe’s work.
Counting chapbooks, I now have 14 Andre-Driussi books on Gene Wolfe…
Tags:Books, Gene Wolfe, Michael Andre-Driussi, reference works, Science Fiction, science fiction criticism
Posted in Basketball, Books, Science Fiction | 1 Comment »
Thursday, October 13th, 2022
I read about this on a Michael Moorcock group on Facebook, and went “Why yes, this is relevant to my interests!”
(Moorcock, Michael) Kirkland, James. Urish’s Hoard. Dreaming City Books, 2021. First edition? (no printing indicated, and it may well be a print-on-demand book) trade paperback original, a Fine copy. There was a Kickstarter for this back in early 2021, but after it was funded this was almost immediately available on Amazon, which is where I bought this.
Though the first edition information can be had in more comprehensive forms elsewhere, there is a wealth of information on Elric comic book adaptations, art portfolios, music, games and RPG supplements, and even miniatures! There’s also a discussion of the foul-up behind the Melniboné Mythos section in the AD&D Deities and Demigods. I’d always thought TSR had done it without permission, but Mike had given his permission, not realizing that his agent had already sold RPG rights to Chaosium. Oops…
There’s a ton of information gathered here (illustrated with color scans) you’re not going to find in other reference sources, so if it interests you, you might want to click the Amazon hyperlink on the title. Also, you’ve got to love the retro DAW Books inspired design of the cover.
It does remind me that someone needs to do a comprehensive Moorcock bibliography, as Tanelorn Archive is over 40 years old, and Moorcock is very prolific…
Tags:bibliography, Books, Fantasy, Michael Moorcock, reference works, science fiction bibliography
Posted in Books, Fantasy | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, October 11th, 2022
I have a lot of science fiction reference works and bibliographies, but fewer general bibliographies. The following was something I’d seen Lloyd Currey reference for many older books, and I thought I should pick up a copy, especially since I got it at a bargain price.
Wright, Lyle H. American Fiction 1774 – 1850: A Contribution Toward a Bibliography. The Huntington library, 1969. Second Revised Edition, a Fine- copy with slight bend at head and heel in a Near Fine dust jacket with two 1/4″ closed tears to front, a slight age darkening to spine, and a trace of dust soiling to rear. Wright compiled two more volumes that go up through 1900, which I intend to pick up as targets of opportunity. Bought online for $5; a good deal for the price, but I was miffed that the eBay seller mailed it without any padding whatsoever, just in wrapping paper. This is not acceptable.
Tags:bibliography, Books, Lyle H. Wright, reference works
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Sunday, August 21st, 2022
The final two items from the private seller culling his collection. Both of these were $5 each.
McCutheon, Marc. The Online Price Guide to Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror. McCutheon, 2000. First edition trade paperback original (essentially just side-stapled 8 1/2″ x 11″ sheets), a Fine- copy with slight bend at top front corners. An odd self-published volume claiming to list online prices realized for a wide variety of SF/F/H books, and while the authors hit most of the biggest names, the selection is otherwise somewhat random and haphazard. Has some tidbits for things that are potentially useful, but fails to provide a lot of title-specific first edition point information (like the various dj states of Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot). I can see this being slightly useful for a real newbie the year it was published, but is of extremely dubious utility now. An oddity I bought cheap just because I had never heard of it and there was almost no information about it on the internet.
Wells, Stuart W., III. The Science Fiction Heroic Fantasy Author index. Purple Unicorn books, 1978. First edition trade paperback original (simultaneous with a hardback edition), a Very Good+ copy with 1/2″ tear at bottom of front spine-join, with light soiling along spine. A reference listing of genre books that was (like Marshall B. Tymn’s American Fantasy and Science Fiction: Toward a Bibliography of Works Published in the United States, 1949—1973) born obsolete, already superseded by far more comprehensive reference works published the same year. What was in the water that everyone rushed their SF/F/H bibliographical works into print in the 1978-1980 timeframe? You had Currey’s indispensable Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors: A Bibliography of First Printings of Their Fiction, you had the Firebell update of Bleiler’s Checklist, you Locke’s Spectrum of Fantasy, the first edition of Nichol’s Science Fiction Encyclopedia, the first two volume’s of Tuck’s own SF Encyclopedia, Tymn etc.’s Fantasy Literature, Miller’s Jack Vance bibliography Fantasms and even the Magill’s Survey of Science Fiction set. Extend it just a little into the early 80s and you get Bleiler’s Guide to Supernatural Fiction and the Levack bibliographies. And all this was just before the advent of desktop publishing.
Tags:Books, Fantasy, Purple Unicorn Books, reference works, Science Fiction, science fiction bibliography, Stuart W. Wells III
Posted in Austin, crime, Fantasy, Science Fiction, technology | No Comments »
Friday, July 8th, 2022
Four books picked up from a UK book dealer, three of which are signed copies from important Golden Age small presses.
Campbell, John W. Cloak of Aesir. Shasta Publisher, 1952. First edition hardback, a Near Fine- copy with 2″ x 3/4″ light black staining to back rear cover (appears to be moisture staining from the cover dye), with a tiny bit of transfer to the very bottom outer tips of last few pages as well, with a few slightly light spots to boards, slight bumping at head and heel, and slight foxing along gutters, in a Very Good- dust jacket with light staining down spine, spots of light staining across back cover, shallow edge chipping at head, heel and points, signed by Campbell. Stories written under his Don A. Stuart pen name. Currey, page 97. Locke, Spectrum of Fantasy, page 46. Chalker Ownings, page 398. Kemp, The Anthem Series, page 166. Supplements an unsigned copy. Bought for £36.
de Camp, L. Sprague and P. Schuyler Miller. Genus Homo. Fantasy Press, 1950. First edition hardback, first state (Currey A) binding of green cloth lettered in gold, #172 of 500 numbered copies signed by both authors, further inscribed by Miller “To Sylvester Brown, Jr./in the hope that we’ve guessed/all wrong about tomorrow,” a Near Fine- copy with non-authorial judgement of the book written in a neat hand on the inside front cover (hidden by dj flap), gold spine lettering slightly rubbed and bumping at heel, and trace of foxing to inside covers and end-papers, in a Very Good+ dust jacket with closed tear creases to the bottom 1/4″ to 1/8″ of the front bottom edge, smaller closed tear and creasing at heed, quarter-sized abrasion to front cover affecting G in “Genus,” edgewear at heel, slight dust soiling to white back cover, and a few other touches of rubbing (slightly exaggerated in scan). Sleeper awakes sort of novel about a busload of humans awakening in a far future world ruled by evolved primates (thirteen years before Pierre Boulle’s La Planète des singes). I had several de Camp signatures already, but not one for Miller. Currey, page 133. Chalker Owings, page 160. Kemp, The Anthem Series, page 32. Bought for £45.
(Dick, Philip K.) R.D. Mullin, Istvan Csicsery Rosney, Jr., Arthur B. Evans and veronica Hollinger, editors. On Philip K. Dick: 40 Articleas from Science-Fiction Studies. SF-TH, Inc., 1992. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Collection of critical essays on Dick from a wide variety of authors (Kim Stanley Robinson, Gregg Rickman, Stainislaw Lem, etc.). I was unaware that there was a hardback of this until it showed up in the catalog. Supplements a trade paperback copy. Bought for £112.50.
van Vogt, A. E. The Weapon Makers. Hadley Publishers, 1947. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with wear at head and heel, trace of rubbing to spine, and some dime-sized spots of foxing to inside covers, in a Very Good dust jacket with long wrinkles across back cover, shallow loss at points, spine quite faded, and a few additional touches of wear, inscribed by the author: “To/Fred C. Brown/best wishes,good luck/and cheerio. A. E. van Vogt.” Hadley was one of the earliest SF specialty publishers, and I now have three of their four books (including Campbell’s The Mightiest Machine and L. Ron Hubbard’s Final Blackout, but lacking E.E. “Doc” Smith’s The Skylark of Space, as it was a reprint of the Buffalo Book Company true first edition (which I have)). Currey, page 496. 333, page 65. Locke, Spectrum of Fantasy, page 217. Chalker Owings, page 231. Kemp, The Anthem Series, page 345-346. Bought for £112.50.
Tags:A. E. van Vogt, Books, Fantasy Press, Hadley Publishing, John W. Campbell, L. Sprague de Camp, P. Schuyler Miller, Philip K. Dick, reference works, Science Fiction, science fiction criticism, Shasta Publishers, signatures, small press publishers
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Sunday, June 5th, 2022
Another signed Dragonstairs chapbook:
Swanwick, Michael. The Proceedings of the American Martini Institute: A Report of the American Martini Laboratory: The Once And Future Rye: The Whisky that Was America. Dragonstairs Press, 2022. First edition chapbook original, #20 of 80 signed copies, a Fine copy. A history of rye whisky in America, in the same vein as Swanwick’s The Evolution of the Martini. Ten more of these and he’ll have enough for a book! Bought from the publisher at the usual discount.
Copies of this will be available in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog, currently in progress.
Tags:Books, chapbooks, Dragonstairs Press, Michael Swanwick, reference works, Science Fiction, small press publishers
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Friday, May 20th, 2022
Another addition to the signed Ray Bradbury reference works collection:
(Bradbury, Ray) Sam Weller. Listen to the Echoes: The Ray Bradbury Interviews. Stopsmling Books, 2010. First edition trade paperback original (simultaneous with a small hardback run), a Fine copy, signed by Bradbury. Collection of interviews Weller did with Bradbury, plus a previously unpublished Paris Review interview. Bought for $40 from an online bookseller.
Tags:Books, Fantasy, Horror, Ray Bradbury, reference works, Science Fiction
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Monday, May 9th, 2022
This is another one of those out-of-the-blue “Why, yes, I do want that book” purchases.
Miranker, Cathy and Glen S., curators. Sherlock Holmes in 221 Objects: From the Collection of Glenn S. Miranker. The Grolier Club, 2022. First edition hardback, reportedly one of only 500 copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. A descriptive catalog, with pictures, of items exhibited from Miranker’s Sherlock Holmes collection, including not only rare first editions (including the only know first edition, first printing of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes in dust jacket), but also Doyle letters, original art, movie posters, etc. A fascinating and extensive collection. I ordered this from The Mysterious Bookshop at the usual discount, only to find out they had sold out of their copies, so I ordered another one from another source. However, before that came in, Mysterious Bookshop got more in, so I ended up with an extra copy that will go in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog.
Tags:Arthur Conan Doyle, Books, Mystery, reference works, Sherlock Holmes
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