Posts Tagged ‘Joe R. Lansdale’
Monday, June 8th, 2020
FACT honcho Robert Taylor was giving away books as part of downsizing before a move, so I picked up several books both for my own library and the next Lame Excuse Books catalog (now in progress). All but one of the books below are from Robert:
Beaumont, Charles. The Magic Man and Other Science-Fantasy Stories. Fawcett Gold Medal, 1965. First edition paperback original, a Very Good- copy with crease across bottom front corner, spine creasing and abrasions, age darkening to pages and general wear. Reginald, Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature Volume 1, page 40.
Beaumont, Charles. Shadow Play. Panther, 1964. First UK edition and first edition under this title, a Very Good- copy with chipper bottom front corner, spine creasing, age darkening to pages and general wear. Originally published in the U.S. in hardback as The Hunger and Other Stories. Reginald, Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature Volume 1, page 40. Some overlap between these two.
Bethke, Bruce. Headcrash. Warner Books, 1995. Advanced reading copy of the paperback original first edition, also mass market paperback size, a Fine copy, signed by the author. Bethke was doing some pioneering cyberpunk work (indeed, his story “Cyberpunk” probably coined the word in 1980, but wasn’t published until 1983), but most of it didn’t get published until after the 1980s. This is his first stand-alone non-tie-in novel. Philip K. Dick award winner. Obtained directly from the author. I’ll have another copy available in the next Lame Excuse books catalog.
Disch, Thomas M. Echo Round His Bones. Berkley Medallion, 1967. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine+ copy with slight edgewear, touches of wear elsewhere, and usual slight foxing and slight age-darkening of pages. Currey (1979), page 164.
Disch, Thomas M. The Genocides. Berkley, 1965. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with just a trace of edgewear and the usual foxing and age darkening to pages. Supplements the UK first hardback edition. Currey (1979), page 164. His first novel.
Disch, Thomas M. White Fang Goes Dingo. Arrow Books, 1970 (interestingly, Currey (both 1979 and 2002) says 1971). First edition paperback original under this title (an expanded version of 102 H-Bombs), a Fine- copy with slight edgewear and slight age-darkening to edges of pages. Currey (1979), page 165.
Lansdale, Joe R. Act of Love. Zebra Books, 1981. First edition paperback original, a Very Good copy with 1/4″ chip at top front cover near spine, slight spine creasing and slight general wear. Inscribed by Lansdale: “For Robert,/Hope you like it). Joe Lansdale.” (Robert said he had another copy of this title). His first novel. Supplements at least four other editions (including the Kinnell hardback first), but I lacked the PBO until now. Person, “Joe Lansdale: Notes Toward A Bibliography,” Nova Express Volume 3, Number 4, page 26, I.1. Hankow, A Checklist of Joe Lansdale, A1.
Malzberg, Barry. The Many Worlds of Barry Malzberg. First edition paperback original (no statement of printing on copyright page and $1.25 price, as per Currey), a Fine- copy, with a trace of edgewear and one pinhead-sized black mark near bottom edge of back cover. Short story collection.
Miller, Jr. Walter M. The Best of Walter M. Miller, Jr. Pocket Books, 1980. First edition paperback original, a near Fine copy with faint spine creasing and touches of wear. Short story collection, all from the 1950s.
Pumelia, Joe, and Bill Wallace (as M. M. Moamrath). The Cruse of the Kritix. “Deathnell Publications, 1932″ (actually Kenneth Donnell, 1976). First edition chapbook original, a Fine copy in a Very Good+ dust jacket with semi-closed 1/4” tear at top front with associated wrinkle, faint spotting along spine, and a few very small tears elsewhere. Lovecraftian parody.
Proctor, Geo W. Fire at the Center. Fawcett Gold Medal, 1981. First edition paperback original, a near Fine- copy with 1/32″ deep x 1/4″ wide loss at head of top front cover, slight edgewear, rim of foxing to interior covers, and slight age darkening to pages. Novel dedicated to the early Turkey City Writer’s workshop attendees.
Scholz, Carter. Cuts. Chris Drumm, 1995. First edition chapbook original, a Fine- copy with slight age darkening to edges. Short story collection.
Simak, Clifford D. and Jeff Sutton. So Bright the Vision b/w The Man Who Saw Tomorrow. Ace Double, 1968. First edition (no statement of printing and price of 60¢, as per Currey), a Very Good+ copy with small chips at corners of Sutton side, spine creasing, name or word on Sutton blurb page. Plus usual foxing. Currey (1979), page 447.
Tags:Books, Bruce Bethke, Carter Scholz, Charles Beaumont, FACT, Horror, Joe R. Lansdale, Jr., M.M. Moamrath, PBO, Robert Taylor, Science Fiction, Thomas M. Disch, Turkey City, Walter M. Miller
Posted in Books, Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction | No Comments »
Monday, April 6th, 2020
It looks like we have another massive book piracy site, https://full-english-books.net.
Here’s the WhoIs information:
Domain Name: FULL-ENGLISH-BOOKS.NET
Registry Domain ID: 2298584626_DOMAIN_NET-VRSN
Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.namesilo.com
Registrar URL: http://www.namesilo.com
Updated Date: 2019-06-10T04:26:19Z
Creation Date: 2018-08-17T17:40:19Z
Registry Expiry Date: 2021-08-17T17:40:19Z
Registrar: NameSilo, LLC
Registrar IANA ID: 1479
Registrar Abuse Contact Email: abuse@namesilo.com
Registrar Abuse Contact Phone: +1.4805240066
Domain Status: clientTransferProhibited https://icann.org/epp#clientTransferProhibited
Name Server: ARNOLD.NS.CLOUDFLARE.COM
Name Server: ZITA.NS.CLOUDFLARE.COM
DNSSEC: unsigned
Among the writers they appear to have ripped off are:
Neil Gaiman
William Gibson
Joe Haldeman
Elizabeth Hand
Stephen Jones
Stephen King
Joe R. Lansdale
George R. R. Martin
J. K. Rowling
Charles Stross
Bruce Sterling
Lisa Tuttle
Among many, many others.
I’m no longer a member of SFWA, but those who are may want to pass this on to the legal committee…
Tags:Books, Bruce Sterling, Charles Stross, crime, Elizabeth Hand, Fantasy, George R. R. Martin, Horror, Joe Haldeman, Joe R. Lansdale, Lisa Tuttle, Neil Gaiman, piracy, Science Fiction, Stephen King, William Gibson
Posted in Books, crime, Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction | 1 Comment »
Friday, March 27th, 2020
Now I can finally start catalog 2020 library additions! One of these is a recent book straight from Subterranean, while the other is an early Lettered state.
Lansdale, Joe R. The Boar. Subterranean Press, 1998. First edition hardback, a PC copy of 26 signed, numbered, quarter leather-bound copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued, with a PC copy of the 1/750 signed/limited (regular) edition, a Fine copy with a Fine dust jacket, with an advanced uncorrected proof, a Fine- copy with a touch of wear at head and heel, signed by Lansdale, all together in a Fine slipcase. Chalker/Owings (2002), page 853, which states textual differences between the lettered and numbered editions (though pagination seems identical), and fails to note the included proof. Bought off eBay for $125.
Lansdale, Joe R. The Sky Done Ripped. Subterranean Press, 2019. First edition hardback, one of 2000 signed copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. New (and final) Ned the Seal adventure. I will have copies of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
Tags:Books, Fantasy, Horror, Joe R. Lansdale, Limited Editions, Science Fiction, Subterranean Press
Posted in Books, Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction | No Comments »
Friday, March 20th, 2020
Another one from late last year:
Lansdale, Joe R. Blood in the Gears. Short, Scary Tales Publications, 2019. First edition hardback, #101 of 550 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Second in a four volume collection of all Lansdale’s short fiction, this one leaning toward dark suspense stories such as “Drive-In Date,” “The Steel Valentine,” “Incident On And off A Mountain Road,” etc. Bought from the publisher at a dealer discount. I still have copies available through Lame Excuse Books.
Tags:Books, Horror, Joe R. Lansdale, Mystery, Short Scary Tales (SST) Publications, small press publishers
Posted in Books, Horror | No Comments »
Friday, October 11th, 2019
Two books, one a small press signed/limited edition that I’ll have in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog, the other anthology I just missed picking up when it came out:
Lansdale, Joe R. The Big Book of Hap and Leonard. Short, Scary Tales Publications, 2019. First edition hardback, #101 of 400 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Collection of Hap and Leonard stories. Includes everything in the Tachyon Hap and Leonard trade paperback, plus several additional pieces. I’ve also laid the three SST stickers affixed to the tissue paper wrapping the book ships with, because that’s just the sort of hairball I am.
Lansdale, Joe R., editor. Crucified Dreams: Tales of Urban Horror. Tachyon Press, 2011. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Reprint anthology. Some good stories in here.
Tags:Books, Hap & Leonard, Horror, Joe R. Lansdale, Mystery, Short Scary Tales (SST) Publications, small press publishers
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Saturday, August 17th, 2019
All three of these were bought from Joe R. His Ownself’s table at this year’s Armadillocon.
Lansdale, Joe R. The Elephant of Surprise. Mulholland Books, 2019. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread, inscribed to me by the author. Hap and Leonard novel.
Lansdale, Joe R. and Kasey Lansdale. Terror Is Our Business: Dana Roberts’ Casebook of Horrors. Cutting Block Books, 2018. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy, inscribed to me by Joe Lansdale.
(Lansdale, Joe R.) Jabcuga, Joshua, Todd Galusha, and Horacia Domingues. Joe R. Lansdale’s Bubba Ho-Tep and the Cosmic Blood-Suckers. IDW, 2019. Trade paperback original, a Fine copy, inscribed to me by Lansdale. Graphic novel adaptation of Lansdale’s Bubba and the Comic Blood-Suckers.
Tags:Books, First Edition, Hap & Leonard, Horror, Joe R. Lansdale, Mystery
Posted in Books, Horror | No Comments »
Wednesday, July 24th, 2019
Here it is, the giant roundup of all books I bought during the first half of the year. Some, but not all, of these have been covered here before.
Allston, Aaron. Galatea in 2-D Baen, 1993. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with slight wear at points, inscribed by the author: “To Scott,/Many thanks!/Aaron Allston/ 11/5/93.” Replaces an unsigned copy. Bought from Half Price Books for $2.24.
Asher, Neal. Prador Moon. Night Shade Books, 2006. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Bought for $2 from a friend culling his library.
Avallone, Michael. Mannix. Popular Library, 1968. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine- copy with tiny chip out of top front corner, three small closed tears along rear outer cover edges, age darkening at top and along spine, and other touches of wear. Tie-in novel based on the first season of the TV detective show Mannix. Given to me as a gift.
Bloch, Robert. Screams. Underwood -Miller, 1989. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, with a $39.95 overprint pricing sticker on flap (as issued). Signed by Bloch. Omnibus edition of The Will To Kill, Firebug, and The Star Stalker, being the first hardback editions of each. Replaces an unsigned copy. Chalker/Owings (1991), page 440. Bought off eBay for $25.
Bradbury, Ray. Bullet Trick. Gauntlet Press, 2009. First edition hardback, one of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread, still in publisher’s shrinkwrap. Collection of teleplays and short fiction. List price of $85. Bought off eBay for $46.
Bradbury, Ray. Christmas Greetings 1982. Self-published, 1982. First edition broadsheet, a Near Fine copy with wrinkling on the right side (probably do to inadequate stiffing in an envelope shipped from France) and a former paperclip impression at top left. Inscribed by Bradbury. Bought for $30 plus shipping.
Bradbury, Ray, et. al. Ray Bradbury Chronicles Volume 6. Nantier Beall Minoustchine/Byron Preiss, no date (but 1994). First edition hardback, #828 of 1000 signed, numbered copies signed by Bradbury and the illustrators, a Fine- copy with a bit of spine lean (only noticeable because the book is so thin), in a Fine dust jacket. Bought for $26.10 plus shipping off eBay. Original published price was $45.
(Bradbury, Ray) Robin Anne Reid. Ray Bradbury: A Critical Companion. Greenwood Press, 2000. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Signed by Bradbury. Non-fiction reference book. Bought from an Internet book dealer for $35.
Bush, George W. Decision Points. Crown Publishers, 2010. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with a faint red stain at heel, in a Fine- dust jacket with just bit of wrinkling at top and bottom edges. Signed by Bush. Autobiography of his time as President. Bought at a Half Price Books in Houston for $7.99, picked out of several unsigned copies (obviously they failed to check it for signatures when it came in; having known Bush signed in Houston, I took care to check every copy).
Bush, George W. 41: A Portrait of My Father. Crown Publishers, 2014. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a tiny bit of wrinkling at head and heel. Signed by George W. Bush. Political biography of George H. W. Bush. Bought for $7.99 at a Half Price Books in Austin.
Campbell, John W. Frozen Hell. Wildside Press, 2019. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Longer version of Campbell’s “Who Goes There?” recently rediscovered. Introduction by Silverberg. Bought off Kickstarter for $25.
Caro, Robert A. Working. Knopf, 2019. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread, signed by Caro. Book of essays from this multiple Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and biographer. Tells stories from Caro’s research about the lengths to which he went to get the story right, such as finding out how Brown & Root made LBJ, and how Caro actually sat down to interview Ladybird Johnson about her husband’s longtime lover. Bought at Caro’s signing at Bookpeople for cover price.
Carroll, Jonathan. The Crow’s Dinner. Subterranean Press, 2017. First edition hardback, #220 of 1,000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Collection of essays. Bought on sale at 50% off cover price.
Dalgaard, Niels. Damphammeren: En steampunk-anologi. Science Fiction Cirklen, 2018. First edition trade paperback original (with self-wrapper flats), a Fine copy, new and unread. Danish-language steampunk anthology Paul di Filippo sent to me.
Davidson, Avram. The Redward Edward Papers. Doubleday, 1978. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight bend at head and heel in a Near Fine dust jacket with very faint spotting, fading the red lettering on spine, slight age darkening to the white cover, and a few tiny specks of dust soiling. Inscribed to fellow science fiction and fantasy writer Randall Garrett on the front free endpaper: “June 25/78 Pacific Grove/Califo./For an old, good and helpful/friend,/Randall Garrett/with the Compliments/of the Author,/Avram Davidson.” Additionally signed by Davidson on the title page. Bought from Half Price Books for $45.
Delany, Samuel R. Letters From Amherst. Wesleyan University Press, 2019. First edition hardback, a Fine new copy, sans dust jacket with ISBN price sticker, as issued. Subtitled “Five Narrative Letters.” Bought for $16.96 pre-publication off Amazon, considerably off the list price of $45.
(Dick, Philip K.) Mckee, Gabriel. Pink Beams of Light from the God in the Gutter: The Science-Fictional religion of Philip K. Dick. University Press of America, 2004. First edition trade paperback original, #68 of 100 copies signed and dated by the author on the date of publication (1-6-04). Bought from an online book dealer for $35.
Di Filippo, Paul. Aeota. PS Publishing, 2019. First edition hardback, #76 of only 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in decorated boards and a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. “On the trail of a missing con man, our private eye hero uncovers a vast conspiracy that stretches from the dawn of time to the Omega Point—and find himself central to the whole enigmatic game.”
(Gaughan, Jack) Ortiz, Luis. Outermost: The Art + Life of Jack Gaughan. Nonstop Press, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued, new and unread. Book on the renowned SF/F artist, including hundreds of examples of his art, in color throughout. Bought at a significant discount from the publisher.
Hand, Elizabeth. Icaus Descending. Bantam Spectra, 1993. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with a trace of wear at points and foxing to inside covers.
Harrison, Harry. The Stainless Steel Rat for President. Bantam Books, 1982. First mass market edition and first paperback edition (preceded by the SFBC edition, for which I also have a signed copy), a Near Fine copy with a bit of edgewear, most notable at head join, where there is also a very short (1/4″) crease. Signed by Harrison. The fifth Stainless Steel Rat book (at least by publication order).
Hawke, Simon. Much Ado About Murder. Tor Forge, 2002. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Shakespeare mystery. Bought for $2 from a friend culling his library.
Hawke, Simon. Timewars 1: The Ivanhoe Gambit. Ace, 1986. Paperback reprint, a Fine- copy with a tiny bit of edgewear. Inscribed by Hawke. “To Lori,/Best/Simon Hawke.”
Hawke, Simon (as Nicholas Yermakov). Jehad. Signet, 1984. First edition paperback original, a Very Good copy with spine creasing, edgewear, slight darkening to outer portion of white back cover, and slight foxing to inside covers. Inscribed by Hawke: “To Lori,/Best/(signature).” I think it may be signed as Yermakov; if so, it’s very similar in style to his Hawke signature. Hawke used to write under his birth name of Nicholas Yermakov, but legally changed his name to Simon Hawke in 1984. Third book in the Boomarang trilogy, about an alien race that possesses a form of linear immortality and human missions to the planet to “capture” it, and one with a number of notable cyberpunk elements.
Hawke, Simon. The Wizard of Camelot. Warner Books, 1995. First edition paperback original, a Fine copy. Inscribed by Hawke. “To Lori,/Best/Simon Hawke.”
Hawke, Simon. The Wizard of Santa Fe. Warner Books, 1991. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with an invisible spine crease. Inscribed by Hawke. “To Lori,/Best/Simon Hawke.”
Kosinski, Jerzy. Passing By: Selected Essays 1960-1991. Random House, 1992. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Left out on a neighborhood freebie table.
Lafferty, R. A. The Man Who Walked Through the Cracks: The Collected Short Fiction Volume Five. Centipede Press, 2019. First edition hardback, #40 of 300 signed, numbered copies, new and unread, still in publisher’s polybag. I have matching numbers of all five books in the series.
Lake, Jay. Death of a Starship. Monkeybrain Books, 2009. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy, new and unread. Bought for $4.99.
Lansdale, Joe R. Bubba and the Cosmic Blood-Suckers. Subterranean Press, 2917. First edition hardback, letter G of 26 signed, lettered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and Fine traycase. Prequel to Bubba Ho-tep. The traycase is a vaguely coppery color and feels vaguely suede-like. Supplements a signed trade edition. Bought off eBay for $185, $65 less than the original $250 publication price. I wouldn’t mind picking up all the Lansdale traycase editions, since I already have four of those, and have virtually everything else of Joe’s…
Lansdale, Joe R. The Steel Valentine. Pulphouse, 1991. First edition hardback, #36 of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in imitation leather boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Pulphouse Short Story Hardback #7, reprinted from By Bizarre Hands. I avoided the short story hardback line when it first came out, as I had a hard time thinking of them as real books rather than gimmicks, and didn’t expect them to hold their value. Now, after I’ve collected everything else by the author, I’ve been picking them up, and my original judgment about their collectability (or lack thereof) was largely accurate. I picked this and the following up for $29, which is all of $7 over the combined price of both when published…
Lansdale, Joe R. The Steel Valentine. Pulphouse, 1991. First edition trade paperback original (simultaneous with the hardback), a Fine copy, signed by Lansdale.
Lansdale, Joe R. and Karen, editors. Dark at Heart. Dark Harvest, 1992. First edition hardback, #120 of 400 copies signed by all the contributors, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with just a couple of touches of edgewear at top front (and a $45 price sticker on inside front flap, as per Chalker/Owings), in a Fine slipcase. Anthology of “dark suspense.” Includes some signatures I didn’t have in my collection heretofore. Chalker/Owings (2002), page 1049. Nova Express Lansdale Bibliography, 1A.2. Hankow, A Checklist of Joe R. Lansdale, AA4a. Bought for $17.26 plus shipping off eBay, less than half the publication price of $45.
Lee, Tanith. Dancing Through the Fire. Fantastic Books, 2015. First edition (stated, though it looks like a POD book) hardback, an Ex-Library copy with most of the usual flaws (stickers, stamps, dust jacket taped to boards, etc., but otherwise apparently new and unread. Don’t usually pick up such current books as Ex-Lib copies, but I’d never seen a copy of this before, there are no other firsts listed online, and this was very cheap (I think $3).
Ligotti, Thomas. A Little White Book of Screams and Whispers. Borderlands Press, 2019. First edition hardback, a #501 of 600 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. A “compilation of Interviews with Ligotti that have never been collected or reprinted.” Out of print before publication.
Locke, George. Voyages in Space. Ferret Fantasy, 2015. First edition trade paperback original (simultaneous with a very small hardback run of only 28 copies), one of 500 copies, a Near Fine copy with slight wear along spine and what appears to be a spot of dampstaining at heel. Inscribed to Australian-born, Paris-resident science fiction, film and travel writer (and fellow book collector) John Baxter: “For John Baxter/With all good wishes and the/hope that you’ll run into one of the Olde/Aussie Interplanetaries when you next meet/the banana-benders!/George Locke”. (I also own Baxter’s The Inner Man: the life of J. G. Ballard.) Subtitled “A Bibliography of Interplanetary Fiction, 1801-1914.” Tymn Schlobin Currey, A Research Guide to Science Fiction Studies, 47. Barron, Anatomy of Wonder 4 7-7 (though only in passing, since the main entry is for Currey). Reginald, Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature 1975—1991, 28470. Bought from a UK bookdealer for £40 plus shipping.
Martin, George R. R., editor. Wild Cards: Black Trump. Baen, 1995. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with trace of edgewear and spine just slightly concave. All the Baen Wild Cards volumes are hard to find these days. Bought for $2.69.
Matheson, Richard. The Memoirs of Wild Bill Hickok. Jove, 1996. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine copy with previous owner’s small (Mylar?) ownership label and “January 1996” on the second blurb page, plus slight edgewear. Western novel. Replaces a reprint copy. Bought for $2.48.
Mayhar, Ardath. Carrots and Miggle. Atheneum, 1986. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Inscribed by Mayhar: “For Marj/with love/Ardath Mayhar/May, 1986.” Would you believe it’s a young adult novel about two girls on a farm in east Texas? Not a lot of those in my library. Bought for $6.49.
Mayhar, Ardath. Golden Dream: A Fuzzy Odyssey. Ace, 1982. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine- copy with rubbing to raised golden foil letters on front cover and just a trace of wear at heel, otherwise new and apparently unread. Inscribed by Mayhar: “For Marj/May all your dreams/be golden./Ardath —/Oct. 14, 1982.” Sequel to H. Beam Piper’s “Little Fuzzy” stories. Bought for $5.99.
Moorcock, Michael. Modem Times 2.0. PM Press, 2011. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Mixture of fiction (a Jerry Cornelius novella “Modem Times 2.0” previous published in different form as “Modem Times”), plus two essays and a bibliography. Bought for $4.99.
Moorcock, Michael, with James Cawthorn, as Desmond Reid. Caribbean Crisis. Sexton Blake Library 501/Fleetway Publications, 1962. First edition (“First Printing” stated) trade paperback original (digest format), a Very Good+ copy with small stains to front and rear cover from rusting staple bleed-through (a common flaw for this title), with very slight wrinkling along spine, slight wear at points, a touch of soiling to white cover and the usual age-darkening to the pages. 62 double-column pages, plus a two page “mailbag” at rear. Not sure if this counts as a book serial or a magazine, but it features an English detective who first made his debut in 1893. Currey, page 368. Tanelorn Archives, page 12. An online Sexton Blake bibliography says that W. Howard Baker also did some revisions on this. Bought online for $8.25.
Moorcock, Michael, and Mervyn Peake. The Sunday Books. Duckworth/Overlook, 2011. First English language edition (originally published in France), a Fine copy in decorated cloth, sans dust jacket, as issued. Book of children’s story art by Peake, based on tales he told his children but never wrote down, with story text by Moorcock (a friend of Peake’s and a notable champion of his work). Bought for $7.99.
Moore, C.L. The Scarlet Dream. Donald M. Grant, 1981. First edition hardback, one of 220 copies signed by Moore and illustrator Alicia Austin, a Fine- copy with a few pinhead spots of light staining at head, in a Fine- dust jacket with just a trace of wear at head and points, and very slight edge wrinkling at rear flap top, in a Near Fine slipcase with two tackhead sized abrasions to bottom. All the Northwest Smith science fiction adventure stories, including one (“Song in a Minor Key”) not in Northwest of Earth or Shambleau. Chalker/Owings, page 221. Bought for $60 from an internet dealer.
Moore, Ward. Breathe the Air Again. Harper & Brothers, 1942. First edition hardback (stated), an Ex-Lbrary copy with all the usual flaws, including spine sticker, stamps, pocket, internal stamps and stickers, etc., with touches of wear, some mild page-block soiling, points blunted, etc., lacking the dust jacket. Really only a reading/placeholder copy, but this seems to be a genuinely rare book; the only other copy I’ve seen pop up in all that time was about the same condition, but offered at over 10 times the cost. Reportedly a mainstream novel of labor organizing. Bought from a multilister for $18.63.
Nicolle, Ethan. Bears Want To Kill You. Bearmageddon, 2019. First edition hardback, #192 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and Fine slipcase, with four stickers in a paper band laid in. Illustrated humor. Backed on Kickstarter (my name appears as a backer on page 234) for $35 plus shipping.
Niven, Larry. Neutron Star. Ballantine Books, 1968. First edition paperback original, a Very Good copy with spine creasing and slight lean, edgewear, and slight black marker staining over prices on front cover and spine (most, but not all, came off with Bestine, leaving a tiny bit of shadowing around the price). Currey, page 386. Bought for $1.99.
Powers, Tim. Alternate Routes. Charnel House, 2018 (though not received until 2019). First edition hardback, #54 of 150 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, in boards embossed with a large capital “L” gold stamped onto the cover, in polybag, with a sheet of instructions to leave it in the poly bag (due to possible rubbing off of the gold foil) laid in, sans dust jacket, as issued. Already out of print from the publisher, with at least one companion volume forthcoming.
Powers, Tim. The Drawing of the Dark. Del Rey, 1979. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine- copy with bookstore stamp on blurb page, wear along spine edges, and an invisible crease. Inscribed by Powers: “for/Richard—/Hoping you like/dark beer./Cheers,/Tim Powers/ 10/8/87.” Berlyne, A3a/1. Supplements the Hypatia hardback. For some reason I never picked this up when I was picking up all the other Powers PBOs. Bought from Half Price Books for $3.
Powers, Tim. More Walls Broken. Subterranean Press, 2019. First edition hardback, #378 (or possibly 318) of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Novella. Bought on sale at 50% off cover price.
Powers, Tim. More Walls Broken. Subterranean Press, 2019. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Trade edition. Bought on sale at 50% off cover price.
Reynolds, Alastair. On the Steel Breeze. Gollancz, 2013. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a tiny bit of wear at points. Actually, this is a Reynolds that I missed when it first came out and had difficulty locating an affordable copy of, so I was quite surprised to be able to pick this up in just shy of perfect shape for a mere $5.99 at Half price Books.
Rosiak, Luke. Obstruction of Justice: How the Deep State Risked National Security to Protect the Democrats. Regnery Publishing, 2019. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. The story of how the Awan spy ring hacked the computers of congressional Democrats, and the ensuing coverup. Bought from Amazon for $19.24.
Rothfuss, Patrick. The Name of the Wind. DAW, 2007. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with the barest trace bend at points and a trace of haze-rubbing. Bought at Half Price Books for $14.99. Popular fantasy that seems to go in the $300-400 range these days.
Rusch, Kristine Kathryn, editor. Pulphouse: The Hardback Magazine Issue Three: Fantasy. Pulphouse, 1989. First edition hardback, #170 of 250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine slipcase, sans dust jacket, as issued. Signed by contributors Avram Davidson, Harlan Ellison, Jack Williamson, Charles De Lint, Michael Bishop, Don Webb, etc. Bought off eBay for $22.99.
Rusch, Kristine Kathryn, editor. Pulphouse: The Hardback Magazine Issue Five: Horror. Pulphouse, 1989. First edition hardback, #36 of 250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine slipcase, sans dust jacket, as issued. Signed by contributors George Alec Effinger, Ed Bryant, Elizabeth Hand, etc. Bought off eBay for $19.99.
Schow, David J. The Big Crush. Subterranean Press, 2019. First edition hardback, #733 (or possibly 133) of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Novel. Bought on sale at 50% off cover price.
Schow, David J. DJStories. Subterranean Press, 2018. First edition hardback, #927 of 1000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Oddly enough, this is one of the books I wanted to pick up in the Camelot sale late last year, but it was too recent to earn the discount. Bought off eBay for $17.95, plus shipping. (List price was $40.)
Shiner, Lewis. Outside the Gates of Eden. Subterranean, 2019. First edition hardback, #327 of 1,000 signed, numbered hardback copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Sweeping novel of rock music and the 1960s. Lew’s been working on this one a long time. To quote the publisher: “I consider Lewis Shiner’s Outside the Gates of Eden to be the best original novel SubPress will have published in our nearly twenty-five years of existence. At 880 pages, it’s also the longest. This is a book too important to miss.”
Silverberg, Robert. In The Beginning: Tales From The Pulp Era. Subterranean Press, 2006. First edition hardback, probably an Ex-Library copy: the dust jacket flaps have been glued to the inside covers, something has been crossed out at the top of the front free endpaper, and just below that is what appear to be very faint traces of pocket removal, very easy to miss against the thick patterned endpapers used, maybe a Near Fine/Near Fine Ex-Lib copy, #173 of 1,000 signed numbered copies. Again, normally I wouldn’t bother with an Ex-Lib for so recent a book, but I missed this when it first came out and all the copies online list for more than $100. Bought for $17.99.
Swanwick, Michael. Cigar Box Faust. Dragonstairs Press, 2019. First separate edition and first edition thus, preceded by the 2003 Tachyon chapbook Cigar Box Faust and Other Miniatures, one of only 40 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in special cigar box. Here’s the description from the Dragonstairs Press site:
Now you can produce your own performance of Cigar Box Faust. Dragonstairs Press is offering everything you need to mount your own production! The theater (a cigar box), the cast (a cigar in the title role and a cigar cutter as Mephistopheles, the sun, moon, and stars– well, cutouts and glitter), an mp3 file of Swanwick reading the text, and a chapbook of the script (a limited edition, signed by Michael Swanwick and numbered)!
Stross, Charlie. The Trade of Queens. Tor, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Sixth book in The Merchant Princes series. Bought for $5 from Recycled Reads.
Swanwick, Michael. Dragonskin. Dragonstairs Press, 2019. First edition chapbook original, letter J of 10 copies bound in python skin, a Fine copy, new and unread. Essays on writers who have written works on dragons: “The Scale-Hunter’s Wayward Son,” “The Mother of Earthsea,” “A Daughter of Pern,” “The Iron Dragon’s Father,” and “Afterword.”
Swanwick, Michael. Dragonskin. Dragonstairs Press, 2019. First edition chapbook original, #39 of 50 numbered copies, a Fine copy. (Note: the numbered edition I have states that the lettered edition is in boa constrictor skin rather than python, and it has a more sand-colored look rather than dark green.)
Vance, Jack. To Live Forever. Charles F. Miller, 1995. First limited edition, #116 of 500 signed, numbered hardbacks, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and Fine slipcase. Cunningham, 79c. Chalker/Owings (2002), page 533. Supplements a signed copy of the Ballantine Books hardback first edition. Bought off eBay for $46.57 (original publication price was $60).
(Vance, Jack) Tim Underwood and Chuck Miller, editors. Jack Vance. Taplinger, 1980. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Vance. Book of critical essays. Hewett, M74. Replaces an unsigned copy. Bought from a friend for $35.
(Jack Vance) David Russell. Tschai: An illustrated Portfolio. First edition portfolio, #18 of 100 numbered copies signed by both artist Russell and Jack Vance, a Fine copy. Four black and white art prints. Bought off eBay for $35 plus shipping.
Wellman, Manly Wade. Clash on the Catawba. Ives Washburn, 1962. First edition hardback (no statement of printing, as per Currey), a Fine- copy, with a little bend at head and heel, in a Near Fine dust jacket with extremely shallow loss at head and heel and wear at points, plus bottom front flap corner (non-priced corner) clipped, which I’ve seen on several other Washburn titles, otherwise bright and unfaded. Third in a four-volume Revolutionary War YA series, preceded by Rifles at Ramsour’s Mill and Battle for King’s Mountain, and followed by The South Fork Rangers, all of which I have. Currey, page 512. Bought off the Internet for $20 plus shipping.
Wellman, Manly Wade. Harper’s Ferry Prize of War. MacNally of Charlotte, 1960. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight wear at heel and head in a Near Fine dust jacket with slight spine fading, a tiny bit of loss at tips, and a touch of edgewear at head and heel. Inscribed by Wellman to his brother and fellow author Paul I. Wellman on the pictorial front free endpaper: “author time to Paul/the old War Chief of the/Tribe/Centia Campa/from/Manly”. Civil War history book. Bought off eBay for $20.
Wellman, Manly Wade. The Kingdom of Madison: A Southern Mountain Fastness and Its People. The University of North Carolina Press, 1973. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with a trace of dust soiling at head and heel in a Near Fine, corner-clipped dust jacket that will get traded out for the unclipped dust jacket on my unsigned copy. Inscribed by Wellman: “for/Bill Washburn/and/Linda Ocker/Manly Wade Wellman/April 26, 1973.” Non-fiction. Bought for $20 plus shipping off eBay.
Wellman, Manly Wade. Not At These Hands. Putnam’s, 1962. First edition hardback, a Very Good+ copy with slight bumping at head and heel, slight wear to spine, and a faint dime-sized stain to page edges, in a Very Good- dust jacket with several small tears which I’ll be trading out with the better dust jacket on my unsigned copy. Inscribed by Wellman: “with best wishes/to/Richard Steele/(read it sometime)/Manly Wade Wellman.” Currey (1979), page 514. Mystery novel. Bought for $34.99 off eBay.
Wells, H. G. The Time Machine with The War of The Worlds. Limited Editions Club, 1964. First edition thus, #1327 of 1500 numbered sets signed by illustrator Joseph Mugnaini in each book, each Fine copies, sans dust jackets (as issued), in a Very Good+ slipcase with abrasions along the top and other touches of wear. Mugnaini is probably most famous to SF readers for his illustrations of Ray Bradbury books, especially the first edition of The Halloween Tree. This is a handsome set that usually lists for 2-3 times what I paid, and it’s possible I’ll never own nice copies of the true first editions of either. Bought off eBay for $50 for the set.
Willis, Connie, and Cynthia Felice. Light Raid. Ace, 1989. First edition hardback, a Very Good+ copy with rubbing along gilt of spine and bumping at head and heel, in a Fine dust jacket. Inscribed by both the authors: “To Meschke,/The elegeantly/written half is by me./Connie/Willis” “To Meschke/The fun stuff is all/by me! Cynthia Felice.” Karen Meschke was con chair of the 1997 San Antonio Worldcon, where Willis won the Hugo for Best Short Story. Bought from Half Price Books for $13.50.
Wilson, Gahan. Everybody’s Favorite Duck. Mysterious Press, 1988. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Inscribed by Wilson: “To/David-/Gahan/Wilson/and/the/duck” with an arrow pointing to a drawing of a duck. Looks like a literary mystery/adventure pastiche of multiple authors, much in the manner of Roger Zelazny’s A Night in the Lonesome October (or vice versa, as this precedes the Zelazny by five years), which, interestingly enough, was also illustrated by Gahan Wilson. Bought off the Internet for $17.
Wolfe, Gene. Innocents Abroad. Tor, 2004. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Wolfe. Bought off eBay for $14.99 plus shipping.
Wolfe, Gene. Weird Tales #290 (Sixty-Fifth Anniversary Issue): Special Gene Wolfe Issue. Terminus Publishing, 1988. First edition hardback-bound state of the magazine, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Inscribed by Wolfe and editors Darrell Schweitzer, John Betancourt, and George H. Scithers to “Bruce.” Presentation state, lacking the limitation page but including the extra George Barr illustration not in the regular magazine edition, which is where Wolfe signed. Includes six Wolfe stories (one original), an interview and a profile. There were evidently 100 copies of the hardbound limited edition done at a list price of $50, but I’m not sure how many of these presentation state were done. Bought off eBay for $27.95.
Tags:Books, Charles Stross, David J. Schow, Gene Wolfe, Jack Vance, Joe R. Lansdale, Liz Hand, Manly Wade Wellman, Michael Moorcock, Michael Swanwick, Neal Asher, Ray Bradbury, Simon Hawke, Subterranean Press, Tim Powers
Posted in Books, Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 17th, 2019
Another addition to the Lansdale collection:
Lansdale, Joe R. and Karen, editors. Dark at Heart. Dark Harvest, 1992. First edition hardback, #120 of 400 copies signed by all the contributors, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with just a couple of touches of edgewear at top front (and a $45 price sticker on inside front flap, as per Chalker/Owings), in a Fine slipcase. Anthology of “dark suspense.” Includes some signatures I didn’t have in my collection heretofore, like Ardath Mayhar’s. Chalker/Owings (2002), page 1049. Nova Express Lansdale Bibliography, 1A.2. Hankow, A Checklist of Joe R. Lansdale, AA4a. Bought for $17.26 plus shipping off eBay, less than half the publication price of $45.
Chalker/Owings noted that the move into mystery is what killed off Dark Harvest, though I suspect they did OK on this (Lansdale’s a strong seller).
Tags:Books, Dark Harvest, Horror, Joe R. Lansdale, Mystery, small press publishers
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Friday, February 15th, 2019
Three more Lansdale first editions:
Lansdale, Joe R. Bubba and the Cosmic Blood-Suckers. Subterranean Press, 2017. First edition hardback, letter G of 26 signed, lettered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and Fine traycase. Prequel to Bubba Ho-tep. The traycase is a vaguely coppery color and feels vaguely suede-like. Supplements a signed trade edition. Bought off eBay for $185, $65 less than the original $250 publication price. I wouldn’t mind picking up all the Lansdale traycase editions, since I already have four of those, and have virtually everything else of Joe’s…
Lansdale, Joe R. The Steel Valentine. Pulphouse, 1991. First edition hardback, #36 of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in imitation leather boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Pulphouse Short Story Hardback #7, reprinted from By Bizarre Hands. I avoided the short story hardback line when it first came out, as I had a hard time thinking of them as real books rather than gimmicks, and didn’t expect them to hold their value. Now, after I’ve collected everything else by the author, I’ve been picking them up, and my original judgment about their collectability (or lack thereof) was largely accurate. I picked this and the following up for $29, which is all of $7 over the combined price of both when published…
Lansdale, Joe R. The Steel Valentine. Pulphouse, 1991. First edition trade paperback original (simultaneous with the hardback), a Fine copy, signed by Lansdale.
Tags:Horror, Joe R. Lansdale, Limited Editions, Pulphouse, Subterranean Press
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Tuesday, January 15th, 2019
Once again it’s time for a half-year book purchase roundup! This post covers all the books I bought between July 1 and December 31, 2018. Most, but not all of these, were covered by individual library addition posts.
Adams, Scott. Fugitive From the Cubicle Police: A Dilbert Book. Andrews & McMeel, 1996. First edition? (no additional printings listed) trade paperback original, a Fine- copy with touches of edgewear. Cartoon collection. Bought for $2.50.
(Aldiss, Brian)(Frank Hatherly, editor, with Margaret Aldiss and Malcom Edwards). A is for Brian: A 65th Birthday Present. Avernus, 1990. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine- copy with very slight wear at points. Signed by Aldiss. A festschrift put together by Aldiss’ friends, with tributes by J.G. Ballard, Michael Moorcock, Robert Silverberg, etc. Bought for £18 after discount. I also have festschrifts for John Clute (Polder) and Moorcock (Moorcock@60).
Allston, Aaron. Sidhe Devil. Baen, 2001. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with foxing to inside covers. Inscribed to fellow Austin SF writer Don Webb: “Don: Hope you like it!/On the other hand, you’ve paid/for it anyway, so what the hell…)/Aaron Allston/ 4/27/01.” Bought from Don for $5. Replaces a signed but uninscribed copy.
Beagle, Peter S. The Last Unicorn: The Lost Journey. Tachyon, 2018. First edition hardback, #14 of 250 numbered copies signed by Beagle and illustrator Stephanie Law, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. The first, unpublished version of The Last Unicorn.
Beagle, Peter S. The Overneath. Tachyon, 2017. First edition trade paperback original, Fine. Signed by Beagle. Short story collection.
Beagle, Peter S. Summerlong. Tachyon, 2016. First edition trade paperback original, Fine. Signed by Beagle. Novel.
Beagle, Peter S. and Patricia A. McKillip. The Karkadann Triangle. Tachyon, 2018. First edition chapbook original, a Fine copy, signed by Beagle. Two unicorn stories, one by each author.
Beagle, Peter S. and Jacob Weisman, editor. The New Voices of Fantasy. Tachyon, 2017. First edition trade paperback original, Fine. Anthology. Signed by Beagle and Weisman.
Beatts, Anne and John Head. Saturday Night Live: Host, Francisco Franco. Avon, 1977. First edition trade paperback original, a Near Fine+ copy with wear at point. Sort of a mock scrapbook with pictures, scripts, jokes, etc. from the first few seasons of Saturday Night Live (you know, back when it was funny). The price sticker on the cover is actually part of the design. Bought for $2.50.
Bester, Alfred. Tiger! Tiger!. Sidgwick and Jackson, no date (but 1956). First edition hardback (no statement of printing on copyright page, as per Currey), a Near Fine- copy with bookstore stickers (Foyle’s) inside front cover (under flap), slight bumping at head and heel, darkening to page edges, and a tiny bit of spine lean, in a Very Good- dust jacket with three significant chips at top front, longest two 1″ long by 1/8″ high and 3/4″ high by 1/4″ long near flap join, with shallower chipping at head, heel and points, slight age darkening to white rear cover, and a 1 1/2″ closed tear at top front cover near spine join. These would be significant enough flaws that I would have avoided buying this copy except that it was only $40! That’s somewhere between 1/5th and 1/10th what it’s worth. The true first edition, first printing of Bester’s masterwork, later published in the U.S. as The Stars My Destination, and a science fiction keystone I’ve lacked for a long, long time. I will probably purchase facsimile dust jackets to wrap around to better display both this and the Heinlein below better. Currey (1979), page 33. Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy, page 33. Locke, Science Fiction First Editions, pages 18-19. Wendell, Alfred Bester, pages 28-36. Barron, Anatomy of Wonder 4, 3-19. Magill, Survey of Science Fiction Literature, pages 2168—2172. Day, Supplemental Checklist of Fantastic Literature, page 8. Aldiss, Billion Year Spree, page 247.
Blaylock, James P. River’s Edge. Subterranean Press, 2018. First edition hardback, #487 of 1000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread, in publisher’s bag. New Langdon St. Ives steampunk adventure.
Blish, James. A Case of Conscience. Faber and Faber Limited, 1959. First hardback edition (“First published mcmlix” on copyright page, as per Currey), a Very Good copy with spine lean and dust soiling along top, in a Very Good dust jacket with a 1″ closed tear along top front and moderate dust soiling to white rear cover, and slight rubbing and wear at points. All in all, better condition than I expected from a description of “Good”. Hugo winner for Best Novel. The first volume in the After Such Knowledge thematic trilogy. Currey (1979), page 40. Pringle, SF 100 26. Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy, page 36. Locke, Science Fiction First Editions, pages 19-20. Barron, Anatomy of Wonder 4, 3-21 (referencing the Ballantine PBO). Magill, Survey of Science Fiction Literature, pages 303-307. Bought for £60.63 from an online UK book dealer know more for quantity than quality, which is why it was a risk, but just slightly better copies list for over a grand. Supplements a copy of the Walker first U.S. hardback edition.
Bradbury, Ray. Dogs Think Every Day is Christmas. Gibbs/Smith, 1997. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, inscribed by Bradbury: “Marion! Chuck!/Enjoy! Love!/Ray Bradbury/Valentine’s /Day/1999!” Small trim size hardback containing the illustrated title poem and an introduction. I suspect this and the companion volume, With Cat For Comforter, were issued for the pet store trade. Replaces an unsigned copy. Bought off eBay for $36.
Bradbury, Ray. The Martian Chronicles. Doubleday, 1950. First edition hardback (stated, as per Currey (1979), page 56), a Very Good+ copy with faint crease and fading to spine, non-authorial ownership plate on inside front cover, foxing on inside covers, FFE and RFE, slight bumping at head and heel and very slight wear at points, in a Very Good corner-clipped dust jacket with 1/2″ chip at heel join, 1/4″ shallow chipping to head, 1/8″ shallow chipping at heel and points, and age-darkening to spine. With a Ray Bradbury signature plate laid in. Weist, Bradbury: An Illustrated Life, pages 50-52. Pringle, SF 100 3. Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy (1), page 39. Barron, Anatomy of Wonder 4, 3-32. Magill, Survey of Science Fiction Literature, Volume 3, pages 1348-1352. A great book and a vitally important science fiction keystone. Bought for $334.56.
Bradbury, Ray. They Have Not Seen The Stars. Stealth Press, 2002. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Bradbury. Bradbury’s collected poetry. Bought off eBay for $40. Stealth Press was an interesting publishing experiment that probably lost it’s backers a ton of money…
Bradbury, Ray. We’ll Always Have Paris. Morrow, 2009. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Inscribed by Bradbury: “Russ,/Ray Bradbury.” Short story collection. Tiny story: At the most recent Half Price Books coupon sale, they had several signed early Bradbury firsts from the late Fred Duarte estate for sale, but the condition was too poor for me to buy any of them. Then they had a signed copy of this, which was unpriced. “How much for this one?” “Let me check.” Comes back a minute later. “$150.” “Pass.” Then I went online and found this copy for $25, including shipping…
Bradbury, Ray (with Dave Gibbons, James Sherman, Daniel Torres, Raph Reese, Mark Charello, and Bernard Krigstein). The Ray Bradbury Chronicles Volume 2. Byron Preiss/NBM, 1992. First edition hardback graphic novel,#250 of 1200 signed, numbered copies, a Near Fine copy with trace of dampstaining to bottom boards (but not pages) in a Near Fine dust jacket with slight waviness at bottom and slight blindside dye transfer from boards, along with a few other traces of wear. Signed by Bradbury, Gibbons, Reese and Charello. Tempted to send it back, but the terse listing only said VG, so, eh, caveat emptor. Bought for $37 off eBay.
(Bradbury, Ray) Kipen, David, Campbell Iriving and Erika Koss. Reader’s Guide: Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451. National Endowment for the Arts, 2006. Presumed first edition chapbook (no additional printings stated), a Fine- copy with a couple of specks of edgewear. Inscribed by Bradbury on the cover: “Carol!/Love!/Ray/B.” With a photograph of Bradbury signing books laid in. Non-fiction critical companion. Bought off eBay for $29.99.
Cadigan, Pat. Mindplayers. Bantam, 1987. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with foxing to inside covers. Inscribed: “For/Rosemary / & / Don /With stray/ideas &/peculiar behavior/Best,/Pat Cadigan /Armadillocon/1987.” Bought from Don Webb for $5.
Campbell, Bruce. If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B-Movie Actor. St. Martin’s Press, 2001. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Inscribed by Campbell: “Hey Audio Adam/Stay Groovy!/Bruce Campbell.” Autobiography of the Evil Dead star. Bought for $9 from Half Price Books, discounted from $18.
Cargill, C. Robert. Dreams and Shadows. Gollancz, 2013. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Inscribed: “It was a pleasure/sharing a table/with you./Robert Cargill.” Cragill is an Austin science fiction writer most famous for having written the screenplay for Doctor Strange. Bought from Don Webb for $5.
Chabon, Michael. Moonglow. Harper, 2016. First edition hardback, one of an unstated number of signed limited copies sold by Powell’s Books, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket in a special slipcase, with a non-fiction Moonglow chapbook containing “The Box,” “The Facts,” and “The Interview” (Near Fine, with slight creasing) laid in. #63 in the Powells’ “Indiespensible” series, special signed editions sent out to book club members with various extras. Bought for $25.
Chabon, Michael. The Yiddish Policeman’s Union. HarperCollins, 2007. First edition hardback, one of 1,000 copies signed by Chabon in a wooden slipcase, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and slipcase, still in publisher’s shrinkwrap (I think it’s the publisher’s, which is why I haven’t removed it). Winner of the Hugo and Nebula Awards for Best Novel. Supplements a trade copy of the novel inscribed to me by Chabon right after he won the Nebula for it. Original list price was $150. Bought off eBay for $50.
Cooper, James. In Conversation: A Writer’s Perspective: Volume One: Horror. British Fantasy Society, 2009. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Interviews with various horror writers, including Joe R. Lansdale, Graham Joyce, Ray Garton, etc. Bought for £9 after discount.
Crais, Robert. The Wanted. Putnam, 2017. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Crais. I was looking through the discounted section of a Half Price Books, saw that this was a nice copy, thought to myself “I wonder if it’s signed,” picked it up, and it was. Hence George Locke’s dictum: “Don’t look for books, look at books.” Mystery novel. Bought for $3.00.
Crowther, Pete and Nick Gevers. Postscripts 30/31: Memoryville Blues. PS Publishing, 2013. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in decorated boards in a Fine dust jacket. Trade edition. Supplements a signed, limited, traycased edition.
Gevers, Nick. Postscripts 32/33: Far Voyager. PS Publishing, 2014. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in decorated boards in a Fine dust jacket. Trade edition.
Gevers, Nick, editor. Postscripts 34/35: Breakout. PS Publishing, 2015. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Volume in the long-running anthology series. Includes two posthumous Steven Utley collaborations (among other works). Bought for £12 after discount.
Gevers, Nick. Postscripts 36/37: The Dragons of the Night. PS Publishing, 2016. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in decorated boards in a Fine dust jacket. Trade edition. All three Postscripts bought for £12.99, plus shipping.
Datlow, Ellen, editor. Lovecraft’s Monsters. Tachyon Press, 2014. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Signed by Datlow. Mostly reprints, with a couple of originals. Bought for £6 after discount.
De Camp, L. Sprague and Catherine Crook. Spirits Stars And Spells: The Perils and Profits of Magic. Canaveral Press, 1966. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Near Fine, price-clipped (but otherwise mint) dust jacket; Chalker/Owings says Owlswick obtained extra stock and printed a dust jacket “overprinted in red,” which matches this one. Signed by both authors. Non-fiction. Laughlin/Levack, de Camp: An L. Sprague de Camp Bibliography, 82a. Chalker/Owings (1991), page 84. Bought for £12 plus shipping.
Delany, Samuel R. The Motion of Light in Water: Sex and Science Fiction Writing in the East Village: 1957-1965. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with just a trace of foxing to inside front covers in a Fine- dust jacket with just a touch of wear. Inscribed by Delany: “To/Don + Rosemary/in remembrance/of a wonderful/evening at/the County Line/from/Samuel R. Delany/Austin/Feb. 1988” The County Line is a local BBQ chain, and Delany came down for Sercon 2 that month. Nonfiction autobiography. Hugo Award Winner for Best Nonfiction. Supplements an unsigned copy (which I forget to bring when I had Delany sign all my hardback fiction firsts at Readercon in 2009). Bought for $20 from Don Webb.
Derleth, August. The Chronicles of Solar Pons. Mycroft & Moran, 1973. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a thin line of wear at the very bottom of the heel. Collection of Derleth’s Sherlockian Solar Pons stories from Arkham House’s sister imprint. Joshi, Sixty Years of Arkham House, M&M15, page 183. Jaffrey, Horrors and Unpleasantries, 128. Nielsen, Arkham House Books: A Collector’s Guide, M15, page 154. Bought for £9 after discount.
Di Filippo, Paul. Harp, Pipe and Sympathy (with Walking the Great Road). Prime Books, 2004. First edition hardback (though Prime is a division of Wildside, so usual PD caveats apply), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Di Filippo, with Walking the Great Road chapbook laid in. I’ve heard that only 100 copies were signed with the chapbook laid in, but that limitation isn’t stated anywhere. Replaces an unsigned copy without the chapbook. Bought off an Internet book dealer for $10.
Dozois, Gardner, editor. The Year’s Best Science Fiction: Thirty Fifth Annual Collection. St. Martin’s, 2018. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. The last Dozois annual, alas. Obtained for trade credit.
Farmer, Philip Jose. The Purple Book. Tor, 1982. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine- copy that, while tight and square, shows numerous small spots of rubbing across the front and rear cover as well as slight age-darkening to pages. Inscribed to fellow SF/F author Robert Adams of Horseclans fame: “To Bob Adams/From/Philip Jose/Farmer.” Thematic collection, containing “The Oögenesis of Bird City,” “Riders of the Purple Wage,” “Spiders of the Purple Mage,” “The Making of Revelation, Part I”, and “The Long Wet Purple Dream of Rip van Winkle.” Bought for $10 off eBay.
Duncan, Andy and Ellen Klages. Wakulla Springs. Tor, 2015. First edition hardback (evidently a reprint of an electronic version), a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, presumably as issued. Weird trim factor, being a small format hardback sightly smaller than a paperback. Bought for $4.99.
(Ellison, Harlan) Richmond, Tim, compiler and editor. Fingerprints on the Sky: The Authorized Harlan Ellison Bibliography. Edgeworks Abbey/Subterranean Press, 2017. First edition hardback, #238 of 500 numbered copies signed by Ellison and Richmond, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Massive oversized hardback, roughly 12 1/2″ high by 11″ wide. Lacks an index. Bought for $30, marked down from $75.
(Farmer, Philip Jose) Croteau, Michael. The Best of Farmerphile: The Magazine of Philip Jose Farmer. Meteor House, 2017. First edition hardback, one of 175 hardcovers signed by five of the contributors, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Contains a mixture of Farmer’s fiction, non-fiction, and essays about Farmer and his works by others. Bought for $20, marked down from $50.
Fawstin, Bosch. My Mohammed Cartoons Vol. 1. Oink Comics, 2018. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy, signed by Fawstin on the cover. Mohammed cartoons by the winner of the Draw Mohammed Contest in Garland. Evidently I got one of the last copies.
(Francis, Bruce (uncredited), compiler/editor, with Ray Bradbury, Robert Bloch, Elvira, Rowena, and William F. Nolan.) The Undead (AKA The Book Sail 16th Anniversary Catalogue). McLaughlin Press, 1984. First edition hardback, #326 of 550 copies of the Deluxe (and only hardback) edition, a Near Fine copy with fading to spine, in a Near Fine slipcase, from which the cloth is starting to peel away at the bottom (which I intended to repair), sans dust jacket, as issued. An extremely elaborate affair for a book catalog, including a lenticular image of horror hostess Elvira (who has signed a signature page in the book) embedded in the cover, a Rowena full-page, full-color illustration, “Sorceress,” opposite her signature, which looks like something of a self-portrait, a signed Forward from Ray Bradbury, a signed story (“The Undead”) from Robert Bloch, and a signed William F. Nolan chapbook (“The Dandelion Chronicles”) inserted into a special pocket at the back of the book. In addition to all that, there’s also an extensive book and manuscript catalog which makes up the bulk of the book, including a ridiculous amount of Lovecraft material, including amateur press publications, original manuscripts, letters, postcards, etc. It also includes Sonia Haft Greene Lovecraft’s passport, which I’ve seen at listed for sale/auction least twice since (from L. W. Currey and later listed by Heritage Auctions). Also includes many non-book rarities, including the first appearance of Siegel and Shuster’s Superman character in a fanzine (where he was a bald villain), an original stop-motion armature of King Kong, and Judy Garland’s contract for The Wizard of Oz. Bought for $75 off eBay.
Goodfellow, Cody. Radiant Dawn. Perilous Publishers, 2000. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Inscribed: “For Don Webb/who dares/mess with/Texas?/Cody Goodfellow.” Bought from Don Webb for $5.
Golden, Christopher, editor (Clive Barker, Joe R. Lansdale, Charles L. Grant, John Ferris, etc). Cut! Horror Writers on Horror Film. Borderlands Press, 1992. First hardback edition and first edition thus, #318 of 500 signed, numbered copies signed by most of the contributors (doesn’t look like Anne Rice signed it), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and Fine slipcase. Bought for $20 marked down from $50 (list price was $65).
Greenberg, Martin, editor. Coming Attractions. Gnome Press, 1957. First edition hardback, a Near Fine- copy with two 1/4″ tears at head, dusty top and bottom page blocks and the usual age-darkening to pages for Gnome Press books of this era, in a Very Good dust jacket with shallow 1/8″ deep by 1″ wide chip at top rear cover, tears and shallow chipping at head, slight loss at top points, and slight spine fading (on the plus side, the white portions of the dust jacket are much brighter and free of dust staining than usually found). Anthology of speculative non-fiction about the future. Chalker/Owings (1991), page 203. Kemp, Gnome Press #64, page 258. Bought for $9.98 off eBay.
Haldeman, Joe. Forever Peace. To Stop War.. Temporary Culture, 2008. Second edition chapbook original, A very good copy with some creasing and wear. Two page poem with illustrations by Judith Clute. The first edition was a 25 copy hardback at a list price of $1,000 (not seen). Free.
Haldeman, Joe. Vietnam and Other Alien Worlds. NESFA Press, 1993. First edition hardback, #18 of 175 signed and numbered (and 8 lettered) copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and slipcase. Supplements a trade copy. Bought for $25 from Half Price Books, discounted from $50.
Hendrix, Grady. Paperbacks From Hell: The Twisted History of ’70s and ’80s Horror Fiction. Quirk Books, 2017. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Oversized illustrated trade paperback popular history of horror paperbacks of the 1970s and 80s, broken up by theme. Lacks key bibliographic information about the books covered, alas. Bought for £10.80 after discount.
Heinlein, Robert A. The Past Through Tomorrow. Putnam, 1967. Second printing, a Very Good copy with one BB-sized indention in the spine with a small hole in the middle, with slight bumping at head and heel, in a Poor dust jacket (and it’s not even the right dust jacket, having coming from a book club edition) with the front, back and spine split into three panels (now taped back together), with further chips, tears, separation between the pieces, etc. Inscribed by Heinlein: “To Karol, Best Wishes/Robert A. Heinlein.” For some reason, this is one of the hardest of his books to find signed by Heinlein. Bought for $200. This is only the second signed Heinlein in my collection, after a signed book club edition of Time for the Stars I bought from David Hartwell for $40.
Hill, Joe. The Fireman. Signed, limited edition hardback, #472 of 900 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in decorated boards in a Fine dust jacket and Fine slipcase, with tissue paper laid in at signature page. An attractive edition, though it was preceded by no less than three U.S. signed/limited editions, specific to different bookstore chains. The scan is the front of the decorated slipcase. Bought for £19, marked down from £70.
Howard, Robert E. Trails in Darkness. Baen, 1996. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with slight edgewear to top front cover and slight foxing to inside covers. Volume VII in the Robert E. Howard library.
Howard, Robert E. Beyond the Borders. Baen, 1996. First edition paperback original, a Fine copy. Volume VI in the Robert E. Howard library.
Hunter, Stephen. I, Sniper. Simon & Schuster, 2009. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine Mylar-protected dust jacket, with bookstore event slip laid in. Signed and dated (“Jan 17, 2010”) by Hunter. Bought at auction for $6.15 plus shipping.
Keene, Brian and Nick Mamatas. The Damned Highway: Fear and Loathing in Arkham. Dark Horse Books, 2011. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. A “Hunter S. Thompson does the Cthulhu Mythos” pastiche novel. Nice mock-Steadman Ian Miller cover. Bought from Half Price Books for $4.99.
King, Stephen, with John Mellencamp and T. Bone Burnett. Ghost Brothers of Darkland County. Concord Music Group, 2013. Trade paperback original in slipcase, the size and shape of an old multi-record LP boxed set, with two CDs of music and a DVD in pockets at the back. Libretto for a “Southern Gothic supernatural musical thriller.” The cast they’ve assembled to sing this thing is amazing: Elvis Costello, Neko Case, Kris Kristofferson, Roseanne Cash, Sheryl Crowe, etc. Bought for $19.99 marked down from $49.99.
Koontz, Dean R. The Darkest Evening of the Year. Charnel House, 2007. First limited edition hardback, #26 of 350 signed, numbered hardbacks, a Fine copy in a Fine slipcase, sans dust jacket, as issued. Bought for $75.
Koontz, Dean R. (as K. W. Dwyer). Dragonfly. Random House, 1975. First edition hardback (“First Edition” and numberline starting with “2”, as per Random house practice), an Ex-Library copy with most of the usual flaws, including stamps at head and page block side, tape ghosts inside covers, spine lean, ink writing and some edge-staining on FFE; call it a Very Good- Ex-Lib copy, in a Fine- dust jacket with a bit of wrinkling at head and heel. Kotker, Dean R. Koontz: A Critical Companion, page 175. Bought at Half Price Books for $2.
Koontz, Dean R. Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein. Charnel House, 2005. First edition hardback, #209 of 750 numbered copies, a Fine- copy (the Japanese Silver Wave silk the book is bound in appears darker on the spine than the rest of the book; that may be sun fading, or just air exposure the rest of the slipcased book did not get) in a Fine slipcase. A original script for a TV pilot that the network evidently so butchered that Koontz had his name taken off the production. Bought for $75.
Kurtz, Scott. PVP: The Dork Ages. Image Comics, 2004. First edition thus (“First Printing” stated), a compilation of the first six issues of the PvP comic books, which were themselves a spinoff of the web comic. Bought from Half Price Books for $2.
Kuttner, Henry (& C. L. Moore). Clash By Night. Hamlyn, 1980. First edition paperback original, a Very Good copy with a a long crease across the front cover. Short story collection. Kuttner’s name alone appears on the cover, but the title page also has C.L. Moore’s name, and all the stories are collaborations between the two.
Lafferty, R.A. It’s Down the Slippery Cellar Stairs. Chris Drumm, 1984. First edition chapbook original, #76 of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy. Drumm Booklet No. 14. Non-fiction collection. Bought off eBay for $23.95. Obviously I should have bought all these signed Lafferty chapbooks from Drumm back when they were $5 each, but I wasn’t collecting him then…
Lansdale, Joe. R. By Bizarre Hand. Mark V. Ziesing, 1989. First edition hardback, #347 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine slipcase. Supplements a trade copy. Bought from Half Price Books for $30 after the 50% off coupon.
Lansdale, Joe R. Coco Butternut. Subterranean Press, 2017. First edition hardback, 244 of 400 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Hap and Leonard novella. Supplements a trade copy. Bought for $18, marked down from $45.
Lansdale, Joe R, editor. Cosmic Interruptions. Short Scary Tales (SST) Publications, 2018. First edition hardback, #105 of 550 signed, numbered hardbacks, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. New short story collection from this UK publisher, weighing in at a hefty 528 pages. Also have copies for sale through Lame Excuse Books.
Lansdale, Joe R. Driving to Geronimo’s Grave and Other Stories. First edition hardback, #571 of 1500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread, in publisher’s bag.
Lansdale, Joe R. A Fist Full of Stories (And Articles). Cemetery Dance, 1996. First edition hardback, 420 of 500 signed, limited copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine slipcase. Supplements a trade copy and a traycased lettered copy. Bought for $26, marked down from $65.
Lansdale, Joe R. Honky Tonk Samurai. Gauntlet Press, 2017. First limited edition hardback, #60 of 500 signed, numbered copies. Supplements the Mulholland Books trade edition (which precedes). Bought for $24, marked down from $60.
Lansdale, Joe R. Jackrabbit Smile. Mullholland Books/Little Brown, 2018. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Inscribed to me by Lansdale. Hap and Leonard novel.
Lansdale, Joe R. Jonah Hex: Shadows West. DC Comics, 2013. First edition trade paperback graphic novel thus, compiled from previous individual comic books, a Fine copy, inscribed to me by Lansdale.
Lansdale, Joe R. Rusty Puppy. Mullholland Books/Little Brown, 2017. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Lansdale. Hap and Leonard novel.
Lansdale, Joe R, editor. The Horror Hall of Fame. Cemetery Dance, 2011. First edition hardback, one of 550 signed (by Lansdale) copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Bought for $26, marked down from $65.
Lansdale, Joe R., editor. The Horror Hall of Fame. Cemetery Dance, 2011. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Trade edition. Bought for $14, marked down from $35.
Lansdale, Joe R, editor. Retro Pulp Tales. Subterranean Press, 2006. First edition hardback, 129 of 250 numbered copies signed by all the contributors, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine slipcase. Supplements a trade edition copy. Bought for $26, marked down from $65.
Leiber, Fritz. The Pale Brown Thing. Swan River Press, 2016. First edition hardback, one of only 350 hardback copies, a Fine copy in decorated boards and a Fine dust jacket, with a postcard reprinting the cover of F&SF the story originally appeared in laid in. In addition to the story, there are extensive notes about how Leiber expanded the story into his novel Our Lady of Darkness. Bought for £16.80 after discount. There were plenty of scans of the dust jacket on the Internet, but none of the book itself, so the scan below shows the cover of the book itself (which, oddly enough, has no printing on the spine).
Lovecraft, H.P. and Willis Conover. Lovecraft at Last. Carrollton-Clark, 1975. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Oversized volume that reprints the correspondence between Lovecraft and the then-teen-aged Conover, some in two-color facsimile. Joshi, H. P. Lovecraft: An Annotated Bibliography, I-A-62. Chalker/Owings (1991), page 91, who note that Conover lost tens of thousands of dollars on the project. Bought for £24 after discount.
(Lovecraft, H.P.) S.T. Joshi. H.P. Lovecraft: A Comprehensive Bibliography. University of Tampa Press, 2009. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. An update of Joshi’s 1981 Lovecraft bibliography. Weighs in at a hefty 681 pages. 200 Books by S. T. Joshi, I33a.
(Lovecraft, H.P.) S.T. Joshi. An Index to the Selected Letters of H. P. Lovecraft. Necronomicon Press, 1980. First edition chapbook original, a Fine copy. Reference work. Joshi, H. P. Lovecraft: An Annotated Bibliography, Supplement C-III, page 412. Bought for £12 after discount.
(Lovecraft, H.P.) Joshi, S.T., editor. Black Wings IV: New Tales of Lovecraftian Horror. PS Publishing, 2015. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in decorated boards and a Fine dust jacket. Bought for £9.33 as part of a bundle.
(Lovecraft, H.P.) Joshi, S.T., editor. Black Wings V: New Tales of Lovecraftian Horror. PS Publishing, 2016. First edition hardback, #94 of 300 copies, a Fine copy in decorated boards and a Fine dust jacket, in a Near Fine slipcase with 1 1/4″ x 2″ abraded spot at back cover bottom, with tissue paper laid in at signature page. Bought for $12.99, marked down from £50.
(Lovecraft, H.P.) Joshi, S.T., editor. Black Wings VI: New Tales of Lovecraftian Horror. PS Publishing, 2015. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in decorated boards and a Fine dust jacket. Bought for £9.33 as part of a bundle.
MacAvoy, R. A. Trio for Lute. Nelson Doubleday (SFBC), 1984. First hardback and first omnibus edition thus (with code P08 on page 631, as per ISFDB), a Very Good copy with some dampistaining transfer to blind side of dust jacket, in a Very Good- dust jacket with same, as well as multiple small tears at head, slight wear at head and heel, and abrasions along rear flap fold. Signed by MacAvoy: “For Fred/Bertie/MacAvoy.” Almost certainly another book from Fred Duarte’s library. Omnibus edition of Damiano, Damiano’s Lute and Raphael. Bought for $2.
MacCargo, J.T. Mannix # 1: The Faces of Murder. Belmont Tower, 1975. First edition paperback original, a very Good copy with spine creasing and fading and general wear. TV novelization. Bought for me by Dwight as a Christmas present because we’ve been working our way through Season 2 of the Mannix TV show.
MacLeod, Ian R. Hector Douglas Makes a Sale. PS Publishing, 2011. First edition chapbook original, a Fine copy. Signed by MacLeod. Freebie given away at the 2011 Eastercon to promote MacLeod’s forthcoming collection Wake Up and Dream. Bought for £3 after discount.
MacLeod, Ian R. Red Snow. PS Publishing, 2017. First edition hardback, #86 of 100 signed, numbered copies a Fine copy in decorated boards in a Fine dust jacket and Fine slipcase, with tissue paper laid in at signature page. Bought for £12.99, marked down from £50.
Matheson, Richard. Generations. Gauntlet Press, 2012. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Autobiographical novel. Bought for $9.98, marked down from $24.95.
Matheson, Richard. Matheson Uncollected Volume I. Gauntlet Press, 2008. First edition hardback, #105 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Bought for $30 marked down from $75.
Matheson, Richard. Matheson Uncollected Volume II. Gauntlet Press, 2010. First edition hardback, #129 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Bought for $30 marked down from $75.
Matheson, Richard. Other Kingdoms: Original Draft. Gauntlet Press, 2011. First edition hardback, #75 of 300 signed, numbered copies (though Matheson, ailing at the time, only initialed copies), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Bought for $20 marked down from $50.
Matheson, Richard. Through Channels. Footsteps Press, 1990. First edition chapbook original, #53 of 550 copies, a Fine copy, signed by Matheson, with gray full-page illustration laid in.
Matheson, Richard Christian. The Ritual of Illusion. PS Publishing, 2013. First edition hardback, #205 of 250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in decorated boards and a Fine dust jacket. Bought for $19.80 marked down from $49.50.
McDevitt, Jack. A Voice in the Night. Subterranean, 2018. First edition hardback, one of 1,000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Purchased at the usual dealer discount from the publisher. Copies will be available through Lame Excuse Books.
Moorcock, Michael. A Cornelius Calendar. Phoenix House, 1993. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Jerry Cornelius omnibus that includes four novels (The Adventures of Una Persson and Catherine Cornelius in the Twentieth Century, The Entropy Tango, Gold Diggers of 1977 (AKA The Great Rock’n’Roll Swindle), and The Alchemist’s Question (AKA The Opium General)). First hardback edition of Gold Diggers of 1977/The Great Rock’n’Roll Swindle, originally published in tabloid newspaper format (which I also have). Bought for £12 after discount.
Moorcock, Michael. Jerusalem Commands. Jonathan Cape, 1992. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Colonel Pyat novel. Bought for £9 after discount.
Moorcock, Michael. Moorcock’s Book of Martyrs. Quartet Books, 1976. First edition paperback a original, a Fine copy save for slight page yellowing (endemic to many UK books of this era). Short story collection. No hardback edition. Currey (1979), page 371. Tanelorn Archives, page 25. Bought for £6 after discount.
Moorcock, Michael. My Experiences in the Third World War. Savoy Books, 1980. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy save the slight page yellowing. Signed by Moorcock. Short story collection. Bought for £9 after discount.
Moorcock, Michael. Pegging the President. PS Publishing, 2018. First edition hardback, #71 of 100 signed, numbered copies (reportedly; production difficulties meant I got short shipped this for Lame Excuse Books, so there may be less than 100 copies existent), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread, with tissue paper protector for signature page laid in. A new Jerry Cornelius novella.
Moore, C.L. The Best of C. L. Moore. Nelson Doubleday, 1975. First Edition hardback (as per Currey, with printing code 42 R in the gutter of page 307), a Near Fine- copy with a line and the letter A in blue ink at head, and slight wear at head and heel, in a Very Good dust jacket with a 3″ split along rear flap, with slight loss along it and front flap, as well as general wear. Signed by C.L. Moore. I collect C. L. Moore, but it didn’t occur to me to looked for signed copies of this title until this showed up. Bought off eBay for $16.
Morrell, David. Black Evening. Cemetery Dance, 1999. First edition hardback, one of 1500 copies signed by Morrell, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Short story collection. Bought for $16, marked down from $40.
Morrell, David. Stars in My Eyes: My Love Affair With Books, Movies and Music. Gauntlet Press, 2016. First edition hardback, #29 of 300 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Essays on Morell’s favorite books, movies and music, including essays on Richard Matheson, Dan Simmons and William Tenn, in addition to Geoffrey Household’s Rogue Male, the inspiration for First Blood. Bought for $20, marked down from $50.
Morrell, David. Rambo: First Blood II. Borderlands Press/Gauntlet Press, 2016. First hardback edition, first signed/limited edition, and first edition thus, with material not in the Jove paperback novelization, #27 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. (The original First Blood is a very good action movie, but it’s a great novel.) Bought for $24, marked down from $60.
Morrow, James. The Madonna and the Starship. Tachyon, 2014. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy, signed by Morrow. Bought for $4.99.
Powers, Tim. The Collected Stories of Tim Powers. Charnel House, 2018. First edition hardback (or first thus; see below), #58 of 124 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Even though this was sold out shortly after it was announced, I will have copies for sale in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog.
(Pournelle, Jerry) Acres, Mark. Combat Command in the World of Jerry E. Pournelle’s Janissaries: Lord of Lances. Ace, 1988. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with some edgewear. These Combat Command novels were strategic “pick your own path” adventures. Sort of an oddball concept. I also have the one for did for Zelazny’s Amber. Bought for $1.
Reynolds, Alastair. Pushing Ice. Gollancz, 2005. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. One of the few Reynolds novels I didn’t manage to snag when it first came out. Bought for £24 after discount.
Russell, Eric Frank. Dark Tides. Dobson, 1962. First edition hardback, a Very Good+ copy with two Australian ownership stamps (one for “McGill’s Agency Book Department;” possibly a literary agent’s copy) along with the number “2456” written in ink on the FFE and the same number written in ink on the half-title page, in a Near Fine- price-clipped dust jacket with wear at head, heel and points. Short story collection. Currey (1979), page 423. Bought for £30 after discount.
Ruz, Bruce. Hollywood vs. The Aliens: The Motion Picture Industry’s Participation in UFO Disinformation. Frog Limited, 1997. First edition trade paperback original, a Near Fine- with a crease across back top cover. Conspiracy theory movie history. Bought from Don Webb for $5. Don: “Well worth reading for the shock around page 120 when you realize that he’s serious.”
Sammon, Paul M., editor. Splatterpunks: Extreme Horror. St. Martin’s Press, 1990. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with slight edgewear at head, heel and points. Signed by contributors Joe R. Lansdale, Ed Bryant, Nancy Collins and Chas. Balun. I had a copy of this (and I’m cited as an expert in here), but I didn’t get Ed Bryant to sign my copy, so this was a nice find. Bought for $12.49.
(Shaver, Richard) Toronto, Richard. War Over Lemuria: Richard Shaver, Ray Palmer and the Strangest Chapter of 1940s Science Fiction. McFarland, 2013. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine- copy that looks like it’s been read once. With review slip laid in. Book on the Shaver Mystery by someone who knew Shaver and published the Shaverton fanzine. Bought from Don Webb for $5.
Shaw, Bob. The Best of the Bushel (complete BoSh-vol 1). Paranoid/Inca Press, 1978. First edition chapbook original, a Fine- copy with a slight bit of sunning along the spine. Inscribed by Shaw: “For Ted, /with best wishes/Bob Shaw.” Collection of fan work by this British SF author. Not in Currey.
Shaw, Bob. The Eastercon Speeches (Complete BoSh-vol 2). Paranoid/Inca Press, 1979. First edition chapbook original, a Fine copy. Inscribed by Shaw: “Best wishes/Bob Shaw.” Collection of fan work by this British SF author, and companion volume to the above. Not in Currey. The pair bought off eBay for $9.
Shiner, Lewis. Heroes and Villains. Subterranean Press, 2017. First edition hardback, #547 of 750 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket protected by Mylar. Bought of eBay for $10.80 plus shipping.
Shiras, William. Children of the Atom. Gnome Press, 1953. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight dust soiling to top page block, in a Near Fine- dust jacket with, alas, small ink “x”s next to 13 titles on the back cover, as well as slight dust staining to white rear cover and wear along points and edges; save those flaws, an extremely nice, bright example of the dust jacket. Chalker/Owings (1991), page 200. Kemp, Gnome Press #28, page 215. Locke, A Spectrum of fantasy [One], page 197. Bought off eBay for $44.99.
Silverberg, Robert. The Emperor and the Maula. First edition hardback, #239 of 250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread, in publisher’s bag. Far future Scheherazade novella, never published in complete form before.
Silverberg, Robert. Time and Time Again. Three Rooms Press, 2018. Advanced Reading Copy of the trade paperback original first edition, a Fine copy, new and unread. All Silverberg’s time travel stories in one place. Bought for $9.99 off eBay.
Smith, Clark Ashton. Ebony and Crystal: Poems in Verse and Prose. Auburn Journal, 1922. First edition hardback, #522 of 525 signed, numbered copies, a Very Good copy with pronounced foxing to inside front and rear covers, cracked inner hinge and cloth pulled away from binding staples to rear (which, looking from the construction, I’m guessing is an endemic flaw for this book), slight bend at head and heel and slight wear at points, sans dust jacket, as issued. Currey, page 453. Not in Bleiler’s Guide to Supernatural Horror. Bleiler Checklist (1978), page 181. Sidney-Fryer, Emperor of Dreams, page 128-128.
Smith, Clark Ashton. In the Realms of Mystery and Wonder: Collected Prose Poems and Artwork of Clark Ashton Smith. Centipede Press, 2017. First edition hardback, #36 of 300 signed (by editor Scott Conners) and numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine slipcase. This actually sold out before I could pick it up, but I ended up buying this copy off eBay for $110.06, which is less than half the $225 offering price.
Smith, Clark Ashton. Odes and Sonnets. The Book Club of San Francisco, 1918. First edition hardback, #70 of 300 copies, a Very Good copy with long, thin abrasion along outer front edge, pinhead black spot to spine, word “Clark” worn away from spine label, and two faint dime-sized splash marks to rear cover, sans dust jacket, as issued. Thin, oversized volume printed in three colors (red, green and black) on uncut sheets (so half the poems are rather difficult to read). Not in Currey. Not in Bleiler’s Guide to Supernatural Horror. Not in Bleiler’s Checklist (1978). Sidney-Fryer, Emperor of Dreams, page 127.
Smith, Clark Ashton. The Star-Treader and Other Poems. A.M. Robertson, 1912. First edition hardback original, a Near Fine+ copy with top front point bumped, a few traces of grubbiness to rear boards, and an Ex-Libris sticker inside front cover under flap, in a Very Good+ dusty jacket with slight loss at head and top points, a few pots of grubbiness here and there, a crease to inside front flap at bottom, a thin line of abrasion at heel; quite a nice copy for a book more than 100 years old. Not in Currey. Not in Bleiler’s Guide to Supernatural Horror. Bleiler Checklist (1978), page 181. Sidney-Fryer, Emperor of Dreams, page 128.
Smith, Clark Ashton (David E. Schultz and Scott Conners, editors). Selected Letters of Clark Ashton Smith. Arkham House, 2003. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Conners. Bought for $30 off eBay.
(Smith, Cordwainer) MacNair, Harley Farnsworth. The Real Conflict Between China and Japan. University of Chicago Press, 1938. First edition hardback, a Very Good copy with spine and page blocks slightly grubby, lacking a dust jacket (possibly as issued). Formerly Paul M. A. Linebarger’s copy, with his signature, “Duke” and “1938” written at the top of the front free endpaper. Linebarger is most famous for writing science fiction under the pen name Cordwainer Smith (as well as Carmichael Smith and Felix C. Forrest). He was also a renowned Sinologist whose father was one of the chief advisors for Chinese nationalist leader Sun Yat-Sen (I also own a copy of Linebarger’s non-fiction work The Political Doctrine of Sun Yat-Sen, as well as his book Psychological Warfare, which was used for many years as a text at West Point). Books signed by him are uncommon. Bought off eBay for $45.
Spencer, Robert. The History of Jihad: From Muhammad to ISIS. Bombardier Books, 2018. Presumed first edition hardback (no additional printings listed), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket.
Spinrad, Norman. The Iron Dream. Avon, 1972. First edition paperback original, a Very Good+ copy with spine creasing, slight foxing, and general wear. Currey (1979), page 463. Bought from Don Webb for $3.
Steiger, Brad. The Werewolf Book. Visible Ink Press, 1999. First edition trade paperback original, a near Fine copy with wear along edges, a tiny crese to bottom front corner, and a few bits of writing inside. Non-fiction book on werewolves and other shapechangers in folklore and media. Bought from Don Webb for $5.
Straub, Peter. 5 Stories. Borderlands Press, 2007. First edition hardback, #328 of 350 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Bought for $24, marked down from $60.
Swanwick, Michael. The Third Frankenstein. Dragonstairs Press, 2018. First edition chapbook original, #60 of 100 signed copies, a Fine copy. Essay written to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Mary Shelly’s novel.
Swanwick, Michael. small wonders. Dragonstairs Press, 2018. First edition chapbook original, #5 of 120 copies, a Fine copy. Three short-shorts. Though you can’t tell from the scans, this is a much smaller trim size than the above.
Tatulli, Mark. Lio: Happiness is a Squishy Cephalopod. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy, inscribed: “To Meshke[sic]/(drawing of Lio’s head)/MT/Mark Tatulli.” Comic strip collection. Bought for $5.00 from Half Price Books.
Vance, Jack. Coup de Grace and Other Stories. Vance Integral Edition, 2001. First edition hardback, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued, matching the appearance of the “Reader’s Edition” of the Vance Integral Edition. Short story collection done as a “preview” edition to generate interest in the VIE project. Offered at $75. Chalker & Owings (2002), page 946. Chalker & Owings list a print run of 1,000 copies, which seems to high given the relative scarcity of the title, though several were evidently distributed at the Frankfurt Book Fair. Bought off eBay for $102.50.
Vance, Jack. Gold and Iron. Underwood-Miller, 1982. First edition hardback, one of 200 copies signed by Vance, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Originally published in paperback original as Slaves of the Klau. Supplements the trade edition. Hewett, A9e. Won off eBay for $81.
Vance, Jack. Maske: Thaery. Berkley, 1976. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Very Good+ dust jacket with shallow chipping at head and a few other nicks. Signed by Jack Vance. Hewett, A52. Won off eBay for $40.96.
Vance, Jack. Showboat World (or, to use the title embossed into the front boards of the book itself, The Magnificent Showboats of the Lower Vissel River, Lune XXIII South, Big Planet). Underwood-Miller, 1983. First hardback edition, a Presentation Copy of 200 signed, numbered copies, a Fine- copy with slight bumping at points in a Fine- dust jacket with a few small spots of slight browning discoloration. Hewett, A47h, who notes there were 28 Presentation Copies. Cunningham, Jack Vance: Critical Appreciations and a Bibliography, 71c, who notes that there were 20 Presentation Copies. Supplements a copy of the trade edition. Bought off eBay for $76.
Vance, Jack. Strange She Hasn’t Written/Death of a Solitary Chess Player/The Man Who Walks Behind (AKA 14 bis). Vance Integral Edition, 2006. First edition hardback, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued, matching the appearance of the “Reader’s Edition” of the Vance Integral Edition. The original titles for three mystery novels originally published under the Ellery Queen pseudonym as (respectively) The Four Johns, A Room to Die In and The Madman Theory, with textual corrections based on evidence of Vance’s original manuscripts uncovered as part of the VIE text correction process. Evidently one of 400 copies printed. ISFDB gives an offering price of $63, [Edited to add: Though this issue of Cosmopolis says they were available to subscribers like myself for $45]. Bought off eBay for $122.50. [Edited to add: This source says that there were only 100 copies of this volume printed, which accords much more with how rarely I’ve seen it offered…]
Wakfield, H.R. Strayers From Sheol. Arkham House, 1961. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with just a trace of dust soiling to the white cover (exaggerated in the scan). Joshi, Sixty Years of Arkham House, 60. Jaffrey, Horrors and Unpleasantries, 60. Nielsen, Arkham House Books: A Collector’s Guide, 63. Bleiler, Supernatural Horror in Literature, 1647. Chalker/Owings (1991), page 30. Bought for £30 after discount.
Walton, Jo. Starlings. Tachyon, 2018. First edition trade paperback original, Fine. Short story collection.
Watson, Ian. The Uncollected Ian Watson. PS Publishing, 2014. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in decorated boards and a Fine dust jacket. Bought for £5, marked down from £25.
Watts, Peter. The Freeze-Frame Revolution. Tachyon, 2018. First edition trade paperback original, Fine. New novel. “How do you stage a mutiny when you’re only awake one day in a million? How do you engage an enemy that never sleeps, that sees through your eyes and hears through your ears and relentlessly, honestly, only wants what best for you?” Looks interesting.
Wellman, Manly Wade and Wade. Sherlock Holmes’s War of the Worlds. Warner Books, 1975. First edition paperack original, a Near Fine copy with age darkening to white spine and rear cover and Rosemary Webb’s ownership inscription on blurb page. Replaces a less attractive copy. Currey (1979), page 514. Bought from Don Webb for $5.
Williams, Liz, and Trevor Jones. Diary of a Witchcraft Shop. NewCon Press, 2011. First edition hardback, #49 of 50 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. I already owned the second volume, of which there were 100 hardbacks. Bought for $12 marked down from $30.
Williamson, Chet. Dreamthrop. Dark Harvest, 1989. First edition hardback, Letter G of 26 signed, lettered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine wooden slipcase. Horror novel. Chalker/Owings (1991), page 121. Chalker/Owings (2002), page 1045. Bought off eBay for $49.
Wilson, Richard (John Pelan, editor). Masters of Science Fiction: Richard Wilson. Centipede Press, 2018. First edition hardback, #350 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread, still in shrinkwrap. A hefty 700 page short story collection from the Nebula-winning author of “Mother Goddess of the World.” Bought from the publisher at the usual dealer discount, and I’ll have a copy available in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog.
Finally, two non-books worth noting: I won a promotional photo for the movie IT signed by Stephen King at auction for $25 (which I tucked inside my copy of Knowing darkness: Artists Inspired by Stephen King, and a Dean R. Koontz letter to some UN official for $5.90, which I tucked inside the Land of Enchantment edition of Twilight Eyes.
Tags:Dean R. Koontz, H. P. Lovecraft, Ian MacLeod, Jack Vance, Joe R. Lansdale, Michael Chabon, Peter S. Beagle, Philip Jose Farmer, Richard Matheson, Robert E. Howard, S. T. Joshi, Stephen King
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