Posts Tagged ‘Books’
Saturday, February 6th, 2021
Here are a couple of books I always planned to pick up and have Larry and Jerry sign for me, but life had other plans.
Niven, Larry & Jerry Pournelle. The Burning City. Pocket Books, 2000. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by both authors. Set in Niven’s The Magic Goes Away universe. Bought off an Internet book dealer for $9.75.
Niven, Larry & Jerry Pournelle. Burning Tower. Pocket Books, 2005. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by both authors, with certificate of authenticity laid in. Bought off eBay for $25.83.
Tags:Books, Fantasy, Jerry Pournelle, Larry Niven, signatures
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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2021
All of these are Half Price Books finds (mostly in Houston) unless otherwise noted, including a fair amount of signed work and non-fiction.
Adams, Douglas. Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency. Simon & Schuster, 1987. First edition hardback (simultaneous with the UK Heinemann edition), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Bought for $9.99.
Barksdale, Dante, with Grace Kearney. Growing Up Barksdale: A True Baltimore Story. No publisher listed, printed 2020. Trade paperback POD reprint, a Fine copy. Autobiography by a former Baltimore gang member who’s family’s story provided some of the grist for David Simon’s The Wire. A Christmas gift from Dwight.
(Ellison, Harlan) Ellen Weil and Gary K. Wolfe. Harlan Ellison: The Edge of Forever. Ohio State University Press, 2002. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine- copy with bottom outer edges slightly bumped. Bought for $12.49.
Gaiman, Neil. The View from the Cheap Seats. William Morrow, 2016. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Gaiman. Collection of non-fiction (essays, interview, etc.).
King, Stephen. Lisey’s Story. Scribner, 2006. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Bought at Goodwill for $3.99. I generally don’t pick up King’s new trade editions because I know they will show up used cheap. And I generally can’t afford the signed limited editions unless they’re coming out from a publisher I’m already a regular customer of and can pick them up at a (usually slight) discount pre-publication. But $3.99 for a perfect copy falls into “good enough” territory.
McCarthy, Cormac. All the Pretty Horses. Knopf, 1992. First edition hardback, an Ex-Library copy with all the usual flaws, otherwise Very Good. A true first of his first Pulitzer winner and first book of the Border trilogy. Bought for $6.99.
Stephenson, Neal. Seveneves. HarperCollins, 2015. First edition hardback, special signed edition with gold “Signed First Edition” sticker on the cover and “THIS SIGNED EDITION OF/seveneves/by/Neal Stephenson/[signature]/HAS BEEN SPECIALLY BOUND/BY THE PUBLISHER” signature page bound in before the half-title page, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Bought for $9.99.
Sterling, Bruce. Schismatrix Plus. Ace, 1996. First edition trade paperback original, Near Fine- with slight spine crease, slight sun fading to spine, and edgewear, signed by Sterling. Contains the novel plus the Shaper/Mechanist stories from Crystal Express. I never bothered to pick this up when it came out because I already had first editions of both, but picking up variant titles is classic late-phase book collecting behavior. Bought for $7.49.
(Tolkien, J. R. R.) Day, David. An Encyclopedia of Tolkien: The History and Mythology That inspired Tolkien’s World. Canterbury Classics, 2019. First edition hardback, a Fine copy bound in embossed leather, sans dust jacket, as issued. Tolkien reference work by an author who has done a lot of other Tolkien reference works. A very attractive book, with gilded edges and full-color illustrated endpapers, from a publisher that mostly seems to do leatherbound prestige reprints. Bought for $12.49.
Tags:Books, Bruce Sterling, Cormac McCarthy, Douglas Adams, Fantasy, Gary K. Wolfe, Harlan Ellison, J. R. R. Tolkien, Neal Stephenson, Neil Gaiman, Science Fiction, Stephen King, The Wire, TV
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Tuesday, February 2nd, 2021
This is one of those things I just didn’t think of picking up earlier:
Rice, Jeff (Richard Matheson). The Night Strangler. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with slight glue wrinkling near top of spine and slight spine fading, otherwise new and unread, signed by Richard Matheson. Novel by Jeff Rice based on Matheson’s screenplay for The Night Strangler, the sequel to The Night Stalker and the second TV movie starring Darren McGavin as reporter Carl Kolchak. Bought off eBay for $42. Copies that are both nice and signed by Matheson are uncommon.
Tags:Books, Carl Kolchak, Horror, Jeff Rice, Richard Matheson, TV
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Monday, February 1st, 2021
Four paperback first editions bought from a fundraiser sale for the Joe R. Lansdale documentary All Hail The Popcorn King, each for $2:
Bryant, Edward, and Harlan Ellison. Phoenix Without Ashes. Fawcett, 1975. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine+ copy with one faint spine crease and a few touches of edgewear, otherwise apparently new and unread. Currey, page 76 and 178. Richmond, Fingerprints on the Sky, page 108. Supplements a slightly less attractive copy. Now I can file one copy under Bryant and one under Ellison…
Delaney, Samuel R. Babel-17. Ace, 1966. First edition paperback original (no statement of printing and ¢40 price on cover, as per Currey), a Near Fine copy with rubbing along front spine join, slight edgewear, and slight age darkening to pages. Nebula Award winner for best novel. Currey, page 139.
Delaney, Samuel R. City of a Thousand Suns. Ace, 1965. First edition paperback original (no statement of printing and ¢40 price on cover, as per Currey), a Near Fine+ copy with considerable foxing to inside covers, age darkening to pages, and trace of dust soiling to white covers. Currey, page 139.
Vance, Jack. The Dragon Masters/ b/w The Five Gold Bands. Ace Double, 1962. First edition paperback original, a very Good- copy with wrinkling to covers, spine creasing, edgewear and usual age-darkening to pages. Hewett, A11. Cunningham, 26a. Currey, page 498. Supplements a first hardback edition.
Tags:Books, Ed Bryant, Jack Vance, Samuel R. Delany, Science Fiction
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Sunday, January 24th, 2021
Still cataloging the books I bought last year, including this batch of Lansdale firsts, four of which are signed.
Lansdale, Joe R. Bleeding Shadows. Subterranean Press, 2013. First edition hardback, #78 of 250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and Fine slipcase, with publisher’s bookmark laid in. Supplements a trade edition (which has a different dust jacket). Bought from an online dealer for $75.
Lansdale, Joe R. The Boar. Night Shade Books, 2009. First edition hardback thus, #7 of 150 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Bought from an Internet book dealer for $30. Supplements the Subterranean Press first edition. Originally announced as a Mark V. Ziesing book under the title Git Back, Satan!.
Lansdale, Joe R., editor. Son of Retro Pulp Tales. Subterranean Press, 2009. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Joe and Keith Lansdale. Trade edition. I actually picked up a copy of the limited edition, only to realize that not only did I already have one, but for some reason I hadn’t added the trade edition to my library, even though I already had it in Lame Excuse Books stock. Bought from the publisher at the usual discount way back when.
Lansdale, Joe R. Wet Juju. Short Scary Tales (SST) Publications, 2020. First edition hardback, #101 of 550 signed, numbered hardbacks, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, with SST tissue paper closure sticker laid in. Bought from the publisher at the usual discount, and out of print upon publication. Massive collection. I will have copies available in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog, but prepare for it to be pricey.
Perez, Malia A., editor (Joe R. Lansdale). Speculative Poets of Texas. The House of the Fighting Chupacabra Press, 2015. First edition trade paperback original (“First printing” stated), a Fine copy, new and unread. Includes poems from Peter Holland, Joe R. Lansdale, Juan Manuel Perez, Waide Aaron Riddle, and Rie Sheridan Rose. Bought from Amazon.
Tags:Books, Horror, Joe R. Lansdale, poetry, Short Scary Tales (SST) Publications, small press publishers, Subterranean Press
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Monday, January 11th, 2021
Still more books from the Bob Pylant purchase:
Blaylock, James P. The Magic Spectacles. Morrigan Publications, 1991. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, with a full page inscription to SF writer Scott Cupp and his wife Sandy: “For Scott & Sandi,/This loony children’s book, starring/my sons at what now seems to/me to be an impossibly young/age. Here’s to Italian food &/trips to California. Cheers,/Jim.” Replaces an unsigned copy.
Davidson, Avram, editor. The Best From Fantasy and Science Fiction Fourteenth Series. Doubleday, 1965. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Near Fine- dust jacket with a 1/16″ chip at head, slight edgewear a heel, and some darkening/dust soiling to white rear cover. Currey, page 131.
Effinger, George Alec. The Exile Kiss. Doubleday Foundation, 1991. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with a wrinkle at heel in a Fine- dist jacket with just a trace of darkening to the very tops of the white flaps. Inscribed by Effinger: “To Ed —/With supreme best wishes/(Which I haven’t bestowed even/on Willie or Fred) —/At Armadillocon 13 —/George.” I strongly suspect this book was inscribed to Ed Graham, who was the chair of Armadillocon 12. (His wife, Casey Hamilton, chaired Armadillocon 13, and together they chaired Armadillocon 16.) Willie Siros and Fred Duarte were other Armadillocon chairs. Replaces an unsigned trade first in my library, and supplements a copy of the signed/limited state.
Ellison, Harlan. Partners in Wonder. Walker, 1971. First edition hardback, a Near Fine+ copy with a light, dime-sized black smudge along rear spine-join, in a Near Fine- dust jacket with two quarter-sized light charcoal colored stains on the spine panel, and slight edgewear at head and heel. Inscribed by Ellison: “For Mila,/Merry Christmas/1977/Harlan Ellison.” Collection of collaborative stories. Supplements a nicer copy signed by Robert Silverberg (but not Ellison). Fingerprints on the Sky, page 56. Currey, page 178.
Moorcock, Michael. Legends From The End of Time. Harper & Row, 1976. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with bumping at head and heel in a Near Fine+ dust jacket with slight wear at head and heel, slight age darkening to white rear panel, and slight dust soiling to same. Inscribed by Moorcock: “To Bob,/With all good wishes/from Michael M.” Tanelorn Archives, page 24, a. Precedes the W. H. Allen edition (which I also have).
Morrow, James. The Continent of Lies. Holt, Reinhardt and Winston, 1984. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, inscribed by Morrow: “For Scott/This book of/dreams & desires…/best wishes,/James Morrow.” Pretty sure this is another former Scott Cupp copy. Edited to add: Scott has now confirmed that it was his.
Tags:Avram Davidson, Bob Pylant, Books, George Alec Effinger, Harlan Ellison, James Morrow, James P. Blaylock, Michael Moorcock, Morrigan Publications, Scott Cupp, signatures
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Tuesday, December 29th, 2020
Although this story previously appeared in Young Author’s Club, this is the first separate edition.
Dick, Philip K. The Slave Race. Sangrail Press, 2020. First edition chapbook, #69 of 250 copies, a Fine copy, with additional linocut of the cardstock frontispiece illustration affixed inside the first page and note from publisher laid in. First separate publication of a 15-year old Dick’s first SF short story that appeared in the Berkeley Daily Gazette Young Author’s Club column on May 8th, 1944. Bought directly from the publisher at a dealer discount.
I have copies of this chapbook available for sale through Lame Excuse Books.
Tags:Books, chapbooks, Philip K. Dick, Science Fiction, small press publishers
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Monday, December 28th, 2020
All bought directly from Dragonstairs Press:
Swanwick, Michael. Blue as the Moon. Dragonstairs Press, 2020. First edition chapbook original, #2 of 69 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy. Seven horror vignettes (“White as a Sheet,” “Yellow as Corn,” “Green as the Sea,” “Red as the Revolution,” “Purple as Prose,” “Orange as an Orange,” and “Black as Sin”), plus an introduction (“Blue as the Moon”). Offered at moonrise (5:54 PM EDT) on October 30, 2020 to celebrate the blue moon, and sold out that night.
Swanwick, Michael. Reindeer Season. Dragonstairs Press, 2019. First edition chapbook original, #20 of 120 signed, numbered copies. “It includes ten very brief musings on the magical nature of reindeer and their relationship with Claus-tse. Issued in an edition of 120, Reindeer Season is 4 1/4” x 5 1/2”, hand-stitched, numbered, and signed by the author. Most copies have been given to friends, family, and colleagues, but 37 are offered for sale.” There are two states of the chapbook: a.) A cream colored wrapper (as this copy), and b.) a mottled beige cover. All copies for sale sold out the day they were offered.
Swanwick, Michael. Reindeer Season. Dragonstairs Press, 2019. First edition chapbook original, #101 of 120 signed, numbered copies. There are two states of the chapbook: a.) A cream colored wrapper, and b.) A mottled beige cover (as this copy). All copies for sale sold out the day they were offered.
I have copies of Blue as the Moon available for sale through Lame Excuse Books, and will have copies of Reindeer Season available in the next catalog.
Tags:Books, chapbooks, Dragonstairs Press, Fantasy, Horror, Michael Swanwick, small press publishers
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Tuesday, December 22nd, 2020
Three Half Price Books purchases:
Finn, Mark. Gods New and Used. Clockwork Storybook, 2001. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy, signed by Finn, with a “Signed by Author at Book People” sticker on it. Collection of linked stories. Bought at Half Price Books for $10.
(Heinlein, Robert A.) Patterson, William H., Jr. Robert A. Heinlein In Dialogue With His Century — Volume 2: The Man Who Learned Better | 1948—1988. The second half of Patterson’s mammoth biography. Bought at Half Price Books for $17.49.
Moorcock, Michael. The White Wolf’s Son. Warner Aspect, 2005. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Elric/von Beck novel. Bought at Half Price Books for $7.98.
Tags:biography, Books, Clockwork Storybook, Fantasy, Half Price Books, Mark Finn, Michael Moorcock, reference works, Robert A. Heinlein, Science Fiction, small press publishers
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Wednesday, December 16th, 2020
Another signed first from a giant of the Golden Age:
Sturgeon, Theodore. Sturgeon Is Alive And Well…. Putnam, 1971. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with a tiny bit of bend at head and heel in a Near Fine dust jacket with slight edgewear at head and heel, a bit of dust soiling to white rear panel, and slight age darkening to top of white rear panel and edges of white flaps. Signed by Sturgeon. Short story collection, one I greatly enjoyed reading in my youth. I particularly remember “It Was Nothing—Really!,” about man who figures out that perforations make things stronger, and eventually invents invisible wall of impenetrable nothingness, and “Suicide,” about a man who jumps off a cliff to kill himself, and awakens still alive, hurt, down the cliff, and struggles to climb back up. Bought off eBay for $39.99. Currey, page 472.
Tags:Books, Science Fiction, signatures, Theodore Sturgeon
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