Posts Tagged ‘Books’
Friday, July 10th, 2015
Take a moment to pity the people who ran Hill House Publishers, as they had more good taste than business sense. They were publishing the right authors (they did several Gaiman limiteds), but usually at the wrong print runs and price points to make it a reliably profitable enterprise.
Take this nifty Ray Brabdury production, for instance:
Bradbury, Ray. The Cat’s Pajamas: Stories +5. Hill House Publishers, 2004. First limited edition and first edition thus (containing five stories not in the trade edition), #352 of 1,000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine die-cut cloth slipcase with an extraction ribbon to pull out the book. Contains 5 stories not found in the William Morrow trade edition. Bought for $35 off eBay.
Given that it’s an attractive production by a legendary author, what’s the problem? Well, namely the fact that they did 1,000 copies at $150 a copy. The price point was simply too high for a limitation run that large. Also, the book wasn’t the true first, as the Morrow trade edition precedes. So no wonder Hill House (which is now out of business) had enough copies left over that someone would buy them at clearance and blow them out cheap on eBay…
Tags:Books, Fantasy, First Edition, Hill House Publishers, Limited Editions, Ray Bradbury, Science Fiction, signed
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Monday, July 6th, 2015
Time once again for the roundup of all library additions for the first half of the year. All books listed below are Fine first edition hardbacks in Fine dust jackets unless otherwise noted.
Asimov, Isaac. In Memory Yet Green: The Autobiography of Isaac Asimov, 1920—1954. Doubleday, 1979. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with slight sun darkening to the very tops of inside flaps. Non-fiction. The first volume of Asimov’s massive two volume autobiography (I already had a first edition of the second volume, In Joy Still Felt).
Banks, Iain M. The Algebraist. Orbit, 2004. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Banks. Supplements an unsigned first.
Banks, Iain M. Player of Games. Macmillian (UK), 1988. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Banks. Supplements an unsigned first.
Barrett, Neal. Through Darkest America. Worldwide, 1988. First paperback edition, a Fine- copy with tiny bump to bottom front corner and slight age-darkening to paper, otherwise apparently unread. Inscribed by Barrett, Jr. to fellow Texas science fiction writer Lewis Shiner: “11/29/88//Unca Lew—/Having you here for/a while has made my/day, as ever—/(Signature)”. Lew confirmed that it was indeed inscribed to him, noting he must have sold it and because he was moving again and already had the hardback…
Barker, Clive. Tortured Souls: The Legend of Primordium. Subterranean Press, 2015.
Baxter, Stephen. Raft. Grafton, 1991. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a tiny bit of haze rubbing. Author’s first book. Bought for $50 off an Australian Internet dealer. Replaces an Ex-Library copy.
Bova, Ben, editor. (Roger Zelazny) The Best of Omni Science Fiction. Omni Society, 1980. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight wear in a Very Good dust jacket with shallow chipping at points, rubbing to rear cover, a 1/2″ closed tear, and general wear. Roger Zelazny’s personal contributor’s copy (for the story “Halfjack,” see below), with two signed typed letters from Omni editor Ben Bova laid in.
Blaylock, James p. Doughnuts. Airtight Seels Allied Productions (A.S.A.P.), 1994. First edition hardback, number 11 of 224 signed, numbered hardback copies, a Fine copy (save some waviness to the pages, which I take as a byproduct of the binding process), sans dust jacket with color illustration pasted onto the front board, as issued. In addition to the short story, this volume includes an Introduction by Lewis Shiner, an Appreciation by Lucius Shepard, an Afterward by Tim Powers, illustrations by Phil Parks, and tipped-in color photographs by Vicki Blaylock (and is signed by all of them). An elaborate production, much like all of A.S.A.P.’s hardback chapbooks. Chalker & Owings, Science Fantasy Publishers (2002), 1011. (Also Supplement Two, page 57.) Bought for $60 from a dealer off the Internet.
Bradbury, Ray. The Cat’s Pajamas. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Bradbury. Short story collection. Bought off eBay for $21.50.
Bradbury, Ray. Christmas Greetings 2008. First edition broadsheet, 8 1/2″ x 11″ card-stock, a Fine- copy with extremely light bumping at right tips. Signed by Bradbury. One of the many yearly Christmas greetings Bradbury used to send out to friends. Bought for $25 off eBay.
Bradbury, Ray. A Memory of Murder. Dell, 1984. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with a tiny bit of edgewear, signed by Bradbury, with a review slip laid in. Collection of Bradbury’s early mystery stories. An unusual book, in that you wouldn’t think he would have a mass market paperback original (with no hardback edition) this late in his career. Not particularly common, and even less so signed. Bought off eBay for $25.
Brunner, John. Tomorrow May be Even Worse. NESFA Press, 1978. First edition trade paperback, a Fine- copy with a tiny bit of bumping at points. Signed by Brunner. Small book of verse (one SF topic for every letter, arranged from A to Z), illustrated by fan artist ATom.
Cahill, James, editor. Ten Tales. James Cahill Publishing, 1994. First edition hardback, one of only 26 unnumbered “Author Copies”, a Fine- copy (gilt letters on spine are showing small spots of what might be oxidation) in a Very Good only slipcase with spotting and uneven fading, sans dust jacket, as issued. Original anthology with the Zelazny story “The Salesman’s Tale.” There was also a 250 copy numbered edition. (Chalker and Owings Supplement Three calls for a 26 copy leatherbound edition; this copy is bound in cloth with a cloth slipcase.)
(Cave, Hugh B.) Thomas, Milt. Cave of a Thousand Tales: The Life and Times of Hugh B. Cave. Arkham House, 2004. Non-fiction biography. Bought for $14 off eBay.
Collins, Suzanne. Catching Fire. Scholastic Press, 2009. First edition hardback (number line ending in 1, “First edition, September 2009” stated), a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a tiny bit of crimping at very top edge. Second book in the Hunger Games series.
Derleth, August. Dwellers in Darkness. Arkham House, 1976. Octavo, cloth. irst edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Bought from L. W. Currey for $17.50.
Dick, Philip K. (Frank T. Hollander, editor). Young Author’s Club: The Wartime Adolescent Writings of Philip K. Dick. Frank T. Hollander, 2014. First edition trade paperback original, #58 of 100 copies signed by the editor/publisher, a Fine copy. A 94 page chapbook containing Dick’s published writings from 1942 to 1944 in the Berkeley Daily Gazette newspaper, consisting of fiction and poems, some of which are fantasy. Includes bibliographic information and story notes. Something likely to drive Dick completists crazy.
Donaldson, Stephen R. One page typed signed letter to Roger Zelazny inviting him to a party. Part of a large collection of Roger Zelazny books, manuscripts and correspondence described here.
Doran, Niall, Alastastair Richardson, Joe Shemesh. Kinky Love: Mating of the Tasmanian Cave Spider. Bookend Trust, 2015. First edition hardback, one of an undetermined number of signed copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket in decorated boards, as issued. Non-fiction. (See the companion Neil Gaiman piece further down the page.)
Ellison, Harlan. The Top of the Mountain. Subterranean Press, 2014. Oversized collection of Ellison’s prize-winning stories.
Eisenstein, Phyllis. Born to Exile. Arkham House, 1978. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Bought from L. W. Currey for $12.50.
Farmer, Philip Jose. The Grand Adventure. Berkley Books, 1984. First hardback edition, #264 of 325 signed, numbered hardbacks, a Fine- copy (tiny bit of wear to reflective inlay pattern to the cover), sans dust jacket in a Fine slipcase, as issued. The trade paperback precedes by a month. This limited edition is the only hardback edition. Bought for $39.99 off eBay, which is less than the original issue price of $50.
Farmer, Philip Jose. Riverworld and Other Stories. Berkeley, 1979. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine copy with one spine crease. Precedes the Gregg Press hardback.
Fitzpatrick, E. H. The Coming Conflict of Nations, or the Japanese American War. H.W. Rokker, 1909. First edition hardback, a Very Good copy in black cloth boards stamped in gold, stamping on spine dulled bit still present, a few spots of wear or discoloration, slight bends at head and heel, newspaper review clipping pasted in on inside front cover, resulting in considerable foxing to front free endpaper. Inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper: “Professor John Syphers/with the best wishes/of the author./Ernest Hugh Fitzpatrick/L.R.C.P., Ed./Pontiac, Illinois/March 5, 1910.” There’s also a long inscription by the recipient of the inscription on the other side of the front free endpaper. Bleiler, Checklist (1978), page 73. Bleiler, Science Fiction: The Early Years, page 247. Reginald, page 188. Possibly the first novel to predict a war between the United States and Japan. Bought off eBay for $10.50. Given that Currey has an unsigned copy that looks a bit worse at $350, I think it was a good buy…
Friedman, Kinky. A Case of Lone Star. Beech Tree Books, 1987. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with slight haze rubbing. Inscribed by Friedman: “To Justa—/to one good/American from/another —/Your friend,/Kinky/Aug 13, 1987.” Bought at the 2015 Austin Book Show for (after discounts and show $5 credit) $10.
Gaiman, Neil, and Newman, Kim, compilers. Ghastly Beyond Belief. Aarow Books, 1985. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine- copy with slight spine-creasing and edgewear along spine. Compilation of book and movie blurbs. Almost bought this at the 1988 Worldcon, but passed thinking that as a paperback it would be easier to find later. Little did I know…
Gaiman, Neil, with Niall Doran, Craig Wellington and Jodee Taylah (artist). Sixteen Legs Production Art: A Visit to the Queen of the Dark. Bookend Trust, 2015. First edition hardback, one of an undetermined number (though probably just over 100 copies, given that there are just under 100 names (including my own) listed under Premium Supporters on page 43) of the Limited Deluxe Edition signed by the three authors and the artist, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket in decorated boards, as issued.
Gibson, William. Distrust That Particular Flavor. Non-fiction collection of essays. Bought for half price.
Goldstein, Lisa. Tourists. Simon and Schuster, 1989. Signed by Goldstein. Bought for $10.
Heinlein, Robert A. The Star Beast. Scribner’s, 1954. First edition hardback (with Scribner’s seal and letter A on copyright page, as per Currey), a Fine- copy with slight bend at head and heel, slight dust soiling at head, and a tiny faint green pinprick dot at heel, in a Very Good+ dust jacket with very shallow (1/32″) chipping at head and points, a 1/2″ closed tear at heel, and very slight dust soiling to rear cover. A very nice copy of this well-regarded Heinlein juvenile. Bought for $200 from Lloyd Currey. Currey (1979), page 234.
Hind, Charles Lewis. The Enchanted Stone. Adam and Charles Black (London), 1896. First edition hardback, a Very Good copy with repaired hinges, slight spine fading, bookplate on insider front cover and uneven foxing on front and rear free endpaper. By the Book World Remembered, page 106, which describes it as a “Fantastic tale of a vast Chinese city under London.” Tietler, By the World Forgot, page 53, which notes that this UK first edition has an extra chapter not in the American edition. Bleiler, Checklist (1978), page 100. Reginald, page 253. A very odd sounding Wainscot (to use Clute’s term from The Encyclopedia of Fantasy) indeed. Bought off the Internet for $36 plus shipping from Canada.
Honan, William H. Visions of Infamy: The Untold Story of How Journalist Hector C. Bywater Devised the Plans That lead to Pearl Harbor. St. Martin’s Press, 1991. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Fellow collector Chris Skillings sent this to me after reading about how I picked up E. H. Fitzpatrick’s The Coming Conflict of Nations, or the Japanese American War. Bywater sounds like he was a very interesting guy…
Howard, Robert E. The Dark Man and Others. Arkham House, 1963. First edition hardback, a Near Fine- copy with crimping at head and heel, previous owner’s bookplate on FFE, and a drop of dampstaining that affects the FFE and the first few pages, in a Very Good+ dust jacket with slight creasing at head and heel, slight wear along spine, slight dust staining to white rear cover. The second Arkham collection of Howard’s short stories, all but one from Weird Tales. Won off eBay for $60.
Hughes, Matthew. Of Whimsies & Noubles. PS Publishing, 2014. First edition hardback, #96 of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket.
Joyce, Graham. 25 Years in the Word Mines with Second Shift: More Tales from the Word Mines. PS Publishing, 2015. First edition hardback, #48 of 100 slipcased sets, a Fine copy in decorated boards (for both) and a Fine dust jacket (for 25 Years in a slipcase. Career retrospective for graham Joyce, who unfortunately died of cancer before it was published. Second Shift is signed by Ella Joyce, Owen King, and Kelly Braffet. I have one copy available though Lame Excuse Books, if you’re interested.
Lafferty, R. A. The Man With the Aura: Collected Short Fiction Part 2. Centipede Press, 2015. First edition hardback, #36 (matching the first volume) of 300 copies signed by introduction author Harlan Ellison, series editor John Pelan and designer Jacob McMurray, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, still in shrink wrap.
Lafferty, R.A. Sinbad: The Thirteenth Voyage. Broken Mirrors Press, 1989. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Traded a signed Howard Waldrop book to cover artist Lissanne Lake for it.
(Lafferty, R. A.) Feast of Laughter Issue 1. Kistic Press, 2014. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. First volume in a new (and long overdue) series of non-fiction on Lafferty’s work. Bought from Amazon, because the publisher said it was cheaper that way than buying direct. (Indeed, it’s even available as a free download.) Oddly enough, Lissanne Lake did the cover for this as well…
(Lafferty, R. A.) Feast of Laughter Issue 2. Kistic Press, 2015. Another fine issue…
Lansdale, Joe R. Prisoner 489. Dark Regions Press, 2014 (i.e., 2015). First edition hardback, #278 of 400 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket in decorated boards, as issued.
Leckie, Ann. Ancillary Justice. Gale/Thorndike Press, 2015. First hardback edition (a Large Print edition preceded by the trade paperback original and which, in turn, precedes the Subterranean Press signed/limited edition), a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Hugo and Nebula winner for best novel.
Leckie, Ann. Ancillary Justice. Subterranean Press, 2015. First signed/limited edition, and first non-Large print hardback, #170 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket.
Leiber, Fritz (edited by S. T. Joshi). Adept’s Gambit: The Original Version. Arcane Wisdom Press, 2014. First edition hardback, #322 of 500 numbered copies signed by Joshi, a Fine copy. Bought off eBay for $22.50.
(Lovecraft, H.P.) Joshi, S. T. H. P. Lovecraft: A Life. Necronomicon Press, 1996. First edition, one of only 250 signed hardbacks (the only hardback edition), a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a very tiny wrinkle at head. Widely considered to be the definitive Lovecraft biography until Joshi’s two volume expansion I Am Providence (which I also have) came out in 2010. The hardback of H. P. Lovecraft: A Life peaked around $500, but has since drifted down a bit. I bought this one from the publisher off eBay for $160.
(Lovecraft, H. P.) Shreffler, Philip A. The Lovecraft Companion. Greenwood Press, 1977. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. One of the first broad critical companions to Lovecraft’s work, offering an in-depth summary of Lovecraft’s literary theory, plot summaries of all his stories, an encyclopedia of characters and monsters, and an in-depth look at Cthulhu Mythos monsters. An interesting high-level overview and “first cut” of Lovecraft criticism, from before S. T. Joshi turned it into a cottage industry, and pretty much all the topics covered here have been examined at much greater depth since. Currey (1979), page 332. Joshi, Lovecraft Bibliography, I-C-158. Tymn Schlobin Currey, 294. Bought off the Internet for $42.50. Scan shows surface wear to the dust jacket protector.
(Lovecraft, H.P.) Books at Brown, 1991-1992, Volumes XXXVIII-XXIX. The Friends of the Library of Brown University, 1995. First edition academic journal, trade paperback format, a Near Fine copy with a slightly bent top outer corner. Features numerous essays on H. P. Lovecraft (the Providence native for which the Brown library contains considerable holdings), including work from S. T. Joshi, Peter Canon, Robert Price, etc.
(Lovecraft, H.P.) Pedersen, Nate, editor. The Starry Wisdom Library: A Catalogue of the Greatest Occult Book Auction of All Time. PS Publishing, 2014. Mock catalog of Lovecraftian tomes of forbidden knowledge.
(Lovecraft, H.P.) Schweitzer, Darrell. That Is Not Dead: Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos Through the Centuries. PS Publishing, 2015.
Lumley, Brian. Tales of the Primal Land. Subterranean Press, 2015. #117 of 250 signed, numbered copies.
Lumley, Brian. Tales of the Primal Land. Subterranean Press, 2015. Trade edition.
Martin, George R. R. Portraits of His Children. Dark Harvest, 1987. First edition hardback, #OO of 52 signed, lettered copies bound in white leather, a Fine copy in a Fine wooden “slipcrate” slipcase, sans dust jacket, as issued. Zealzny provides the introduction (“A Sketch of Their Father”) and a signature. I always thought the Dark Harvest slipcrates were attractive productions, and I’m happy to have one in my library. Supplements a trade edition. Chalker/Owings, page 119.
Martin, George R. R., editor. Wild Cards. Bantam Spectra/SFBC, 1987. First hardback edition (book club), preceded by the trade paperback original, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with edgewear at points. Shared world superhero anthology which includes the Zelazny story “The Sleeper.” Man, seems like every single edition of the early Wild Cards books had ugly covers…
Martin, George R. R., editor. Wild Cards. Bantam Spectra, 1987. Uncorrected page proofs (trade paperback format) of the hardback first edition, a Fine copy. Shared world superhero anthology which includes the Zelazny story “The Sleeper.”
McCammon, Robert R. The Border. Subterranean Press, 2015. Signed by McCammon.
Moody, Rick. Garden State. Pushcart Press, 1992. Presumed first edition hardback (no additional printings stated), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Author’s first book. Sent to me by Temporary Culture publisher Henry Wessells. Thanks, Henry!
Moorcock, Michael. The Whispering Swarm. Tor, 2014. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Moorcock. Seems to be both a roman a clef of growing up in London, as well as a world shift fantasy.
Niven, Larry. A Hole In Space. Ballantine Books, 1974. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine copy with touches of general wear. Currey (1979), page 387.
Powers, Tim. Dinner at Deviants Palace. Chatto & Windus, 1986. First trade hardback, first UK hardback, and first non-book club hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Berlyne, Powers: Secret Histories, A5c.1.
Powers, Tim. Nobody’s Home. Subterranean Press, 2014. First edition hardback, #277 of 474 signed numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and printed cloth slipcase. Supplements my copy of the trade edition, which precedes, as this slipcased edition was not shipped until 2015.
Simak, Clifford. City. Gnome Press, 1952. First edition hardback, a Near Fine- copy with slight spine lean and previous owner’s name and date on front free endpaper) in a Near Fine+ dust jacket with a few pinhead sized spots of discoloration on dust jacket flaps and along top flap edges, and extremely slight dust-staining to white rear panel; an exceptionally nice example of the dust jacket. One of Simak’s key works, and one of the more desirable Gnome Press titles. Chalker & Owings (1991), page 199. Currey (1979), page 446. Kemp, The Anthem Series, page 208. Won for $200 from Heritage Auctions.
Sladek, John. Mechasm. First edition paperback original under this title (published earlier in the UK as The Reproductive System) and first U.S. edition, a Very Good copy with a small, faint 1/4″ stamp at heel, edgewear, stamp on blurb page, and faint spine creasing. Inscribed by Sladek: “For Scott,/John Sladek”. Formerly Scott Cupp’s copy. Currey (1979), page 450. Bought for $5 at Half Price Books.
Sloane, William. The Edge of Running Water. Farrar and Reinhart, 1939. First edition hardback, a Very Good+ copy with slight bumping at head and heel, foxing to gutters, darkening of endpapers and slight age darkening to pages, in a Good only dust jacket with a 1/2″ to 1/4″ loss at head, loss at points, long thin crease, 2″ closed tear, dust staining and wrinkling to rear panel, creasing and tear at bottom front edge, and additional shallow chipping at edges and general wear. Bleiler, Guide to Supernatural Fiction, 1482. Bleiler, Checklist of Science Fiction and Supernatural Fiction (1978), page 181. Crawford, Donahue and Grant, 333, page 56. Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy I, page 200. Barron, Horror Literature, 3-181. Bought from Currey for $50.
Smith, Clark Ashton (Johnson, Raymond F. and Ardath Winterowd, editors). Shadows Seen and Unseen. HTH Art Studio, 2007. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket over decorated boards, signed by the editors. Odd miscellanea of poems, facsimile manuscripts, drawings, paintings, and non-fiction about Smith from various sources. An oversized, 94 page hardback.
Smith, Edward E., Ph.D. Second Stage Lensmen. Fantasy Press, 1953. First edition hardback, Currey Binding A (blue cloth lettered in gold), first issue, #368 of 500 numbered copies signed by Smith, a Very Good+ copy with large square of discoloration to inside front cover due to a bookplate (now laid in; see below) and a few instances of light spotting to boards, in a Near Fine- dust jacket with a couple of closed 1/2″ tears, modest edgewear at head, heel and points, and slight soiling to the rear cover, but otherwise a nice intact and very bright example of the dust jacket. Inscribed by Smith (as the subscriber copies frequently were): “To Joseph R. Brady,/Three in a row – Hot Dog! [Tic Tac Tow Game]/With sincere appreciation/Of your continued interest—/Edward E. Smith, Ph.D.” (Though it seems a fulsome personal inscription, it’s quite similar to the one I have in my subscriber copy of Skylark Three to another subscriber.) Currey (1979), page 456. Chalker and Owings (1991), page 161. Kemp, The Anthem Series, page 41. Lucchetti, Doc: First Galactic Roamer, page 60. Won for $121.50 off eBay.
Smith, James Robert and Stephen Mark Rainey, editors. Evermore. Arkham House, 2006. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Edgar Allen Poe tribute anthology. Bought for $14 off eBay.
Stapledon, Olaf. Last and First Men. Methuen, 1930. First edition hardback, first state, as per Currey (2002), with 8-page publisher’s catalog at rear dated 630, a Very Good- copy with FFE excised and slight loss to paper at gutter, foxing to gutter, moderate spotting to outer page block edges, a small circular stamp reading “Dempsters Clenferrie” (possibly an Australian bookstore stamp) on half title page, and a few sports to first few pages, lacking the dust jacket. His acclaimed epic novel describing several million years of future human evolution.
Stapledon, Olaf. Odd John. Methuen, 1935. First edition hardback, first state binding (light blue binding lettered in dark blue) in Currey (2002) A2 issue (catalog at rear dated 835, no priority between issues 1 and 2), a Very Good- copy with lightened spots on spine, slight spine lean, modest wear at heel and points, and spots of foxing to first few pages, lacking the dust jacket. His celebrated novel of a mental superman.
Swanwick, Michael. Hunting the Phoenix. Dragonstairs Press, 2015. First edition hardback (“archival board wrappers covered with hand-dyed rice paper, with a stab binding ornamented with a single aventurine bead”), #6 of 30 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued, new and unread. Sort of an in-progress illustrated sketchbook for a Swanwick novel, more impressionistic colored line art than narrative. If it’s not the strangest Swanwick item yet, it’s tied with the hardback state of Puck Aleshire’s Abecedary. Bought for $30 from the publisher.
Swanwick, Michael. Season’s Greetings. Dragonstairs Press, 2014. First edition chapbook original, #18 of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy. I should be able to pick up copies of this to sell through Lame Excuse Books later in the year.
Thorburn, Wayne. Red State: An Insider’s Story of How the GOP Came to Dominate Texas Politics. University of Texas Press, 2014. Non-fiction.
Updike, John. The Witches of Eastwick. Franklin Press, 1984. First edition hardback, a limited edition signed by Updike (which precedes the trade edition), a Fine copy in decorated leather boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Pringle, Modern Fantasy 100 91. Bought off eBay for $19.99.
(Vance, Jack) Andre-Driussi, Michael. Handbook of Vance Space. Sirius Fiction, 2014. Non-fiction critical companion to the galactic setting shared by most of his science fiction.
Weinbaum, Stanley G. A Martian Odyssey and Others. Fantasy Press, 1949. First edition hardback (trade state), a Near Fine- copy with one small indention to top edge of front board, faint dust staining to top page block, and slight foxing to gutters, in a Very Good dust jacket with about 1/16th inch chipping loss at head, heel and points, a thin 1/4″ nick in the middle of the spine, one closed 1/4″ tear to top rear, and a tiny bit of dust soiling to rear cover. Actually a very presentable copy of a key small press collection of one of the most important pre-Golden Age SF writers, and a book I’ve wanted for quite a while. Currey (1979), page 511. Chalker/Owings (1991), page 159. Kemp, The Anthem Series, page 27. Bought for $34.66 off eBay.
Wells, H. G. Select Conversations With an Uncle (Now Extinct). John Lane, 1895. First edition hardback (sixteen pages of ads inserted at back, as per Currey), a Very Good copy with wear to bottom boards, wear at head and heel, a thin 1″ white line (possibly white out or white paint) across top rear, and slight wear along font boards, otherwise fairly nice, with gilt scratched but otherwise complete at head. Includes Larry McMurtry’s ownership plate, which features the brand from his father’s ranch. Twelve conversations (all fictional) and two short stories. Currey, page 522. H. G. Wells: A Comprehensive Bibliography, 3. Bought at auction for $6, or $20 with buyer’s premium.
Westerfeld, Scott. The Manual of Aeronautics. Simon Pulse, 2012. Illustrated non-fiction guide to Westerfeld’s Steampunk Leviathan universe. Bought for $4.99 at Half Price Books.
Wolfe, Gene. The Land Across. PS Publishing, 2014. First limited edition hardback, #18 of 200 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket.
Wolfe, Gene. Soldier of Sidon. Tor, 2006. Third Latro book.
Zelazny, Roger. “And Only I Escaped To Tell Thee.” Carbon copy of original typed manuscript. This and all the rest of the Zelazny books listed in this post were part of a large collection of Roger Zelazny books, manuscripts and correspondence described here.
Zelazny, Roger. Blood of Amber. Arbor House, 1986. Uncorrected proof (trade paperback format) of the hardback first edition, a Fine- copy with phantom crease the length of rear cover, with review slip (with sticker signed by Zelazny affixed to it) laid in. Kovacs, Ia.
Zelazny, Roger. Bridge of Ashes. Gregg Press, 1979. First hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Zelazny. Supplements an unsigned hardback. Levack, 2e. Kovacs, I3b.
Zelazny, Roger. “The Burning.” One page typewritten poem.
Zelazny, Roger. “A City Divided.” Original typed manuscript with numerous hand-corrections.
Zelazny, Roger. Archive material about various Amber novels from various people, most concerning The Courts of Chaos in one way or another, including a handwritten six page synopsis of The Courts of Chaos by Zelazny, followed by the typed version of the same synopsis, plus letters to (originals) and from (apparently file carbon copies) Zelazny on the subject.
Zelazny, Roger. “The Cyborg Connection.” Original typed manuscript with numerous hand-corrections, with a carbon copy of the second draft. This story would later be published as “Halfjack.”
Zelazny, Roger. Dilvish the Damned. Del Rey, no date (but probably 1981 or 82). Unbound long galleys (the very first proof state of the book production cycle, pages age darkened but otherwise Fine, unbound but gathered into signature sheets. Kovacs, I15a.
Zelazny, Roger. Doorways in the Sand. Harper & Row, 1976. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Zelazny, with an additional signed note laid in “To David, This copy of Doorways in the Sand, being the chronicles of both Fred Cassidy and a Hugo and Nebula finalist.” Atypically, both the note and signature are printed rather than in Zelazny’s elegant cursive handwriting. While I wouldn’t swear it’s Zelazny’s handwriting, it’s not entirely dissimilar to other examples I have of it. Currey, page 570. Levack, 13a. Kovacs, I17b.
Zelazny, Roger. The Dream Master. Rupert Hart Davis, 1968. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a trace of dust staining along very top edge and at heel spine join, with sticker for Henry Morison Inc. (Zelazny’s literary agent) affixed to front free endpaper. Signed by Zelazny. Currey, page 570. Levack, 14b. Kovacs, I18b.
Zelazny, Roger. “Fire and/or Ice.” Original hand-corrected typescript, including one hand-written manuscript page.
Zelazny, Roger. Four for Tomorrow. Garland Press, 1975. First hardback edition under this title (issued in UK hardback as A Rose for Ecclesiastes), a Fine copy in a Fine aftermarket dust jacket Bob photo-produced from the Ace paperback edition that Garland used to print the plates from. With a a title page of the Ace paperback inscribed by Zelazny (“Many a good wish/to you/Roger Zelazny/ 7/6/84”) laid in. Replaces an unsigned ex-library copy. Currey, page 570. Levack, 17f. Kovacs, V11f.
Zelazny, Roger. Frost and Fire. William Morrow and Company, 1989. Uncorrected bound galleys (or so it says; actually a trade paperback format proof), a Fine copy, signed by Zelazny. Kovacs, V12a.
Zelazny, Roger. “Garden of Blood.” Carbon copy typed story manuscript.
Zelazny, Roger. “The George Business.” Carbon copy typed story manuscript, with multiple signed letters from Dragon Tales editor Orson Scott Card accepting the story, apologizing for delayed payment, etc., along with a signed signature plate by Card.
Zelazny, Roger. “Go Starless Into That Night.” Carbon copy of original typed manuscript, with two acceptance letters from editor Jim Baen.
Zelazny, Roger. The Hand of Oberon. Doubleday, 1976. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with one closed 1/4″ tear at bottom rear, with review slip laid in. Inscribed by Zelazny: “With all good wishes,/Roger Zelazny.” Currey, page 570. Levack, 19a. Kovacs, I23a.
Zelazny, Roger. Isle of the Dead. Rapp & Whiting, 1970. First hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a tiny bit of edgewear at extremities. Inscribed by Zelazny: “To Willi/Every kind of good/wish./Best,/ Roger Zelazny/ 3/27/82.” Supplements an unsigned copy. Currey, page 570. Levack, 21b. Kovacs, I25b.
Zelazny, Roger. Original ribbon-copy, hand-corrected first draft manuscript for Knight of Shadows, with two letters of authenticity from Zelazny, and the manuscript signed twice by him (on the first and last pages) in 1989. Although Zelazny was already a celebrated author at the time, he still displayed thrifty habits by typing out his manuscript on the back of whatever 8 1/2″ x 11″ scrap paper he had lying around, be it government forms, convention flyers, flyers for the Santa Fe Opera Company, and pages (presumably photocopies of works sent to Zelazny to critique or review) from other author’s manuscripts, including pages from Tom Deitz’s Fireshaper’s Doom and Jeffrey Carver’s From a Changeling Star.
Zelazny, Roger. Knight of Shadows. William Morrow and Company, 1989. Uncorrected bound galleys (or so it says; actually a trade paperback format proof), a Near Fine+ copy with slight fading to spine and small crease to bottom font corner, signed by Zelazny. Kovacs, I27a.
Zelazny, Roger. The Last Defender of Camelot. Underwood/Miler, 1980. First edition chapbook original, simultaneous with the extremely small hardback run (which I picked up in my previous Zelazny purchase), #265 of 275 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, in issued manila envelope. Levack, 23a. Kovacs, VIIIa. I now have something like eight different items with this title…
Zelazny, Roger. “The Last of the Wild Ones.” Carbon copy of original typed manuscript.
Zelazny, Roger. “LP Me Thee.” One page typewritten poem.
Zelazny, Roger. My Name is Legion. Faber & Faber, 1979. First hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Zelazny. Levack, 27h. Kovacs, I32c.
Zelazny, Roger. A Night on the Lonesome October. Avon Books, 1993. Advanced uncorrected proof of the hardback first edition, a Fine copy. Signed by both Zelazny and cover artist Gahan Wilson. Kovacs, I33a.
Zelazny, Roger. “Richard Lupoff’s Sword of the Demon.” Extremely short review/piece of non-fiction. Appeared in Starlog’s SF Yearbook Volume 1, edited by David Gerrold and compiled by David Truesdale.
Zelazny, Roger. Roadmarks. Del Rey, 1979. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, with review slip laid in. Signed by Zelazny. Levack, 31a. Kovacs, I37z.
Zelazny, Roger. Second draft photocopy of the manuscript for Sign of Chaos, showing the hand-corrections in the first draft, with further corrections by Zelazny in red, along with a four page style guide for spelling the names of the characters, etc. in the book.
Zelazny, Roger. Sign of Chaos. Arbor House, 1987. Proof (trade paperback format) of the hardback first edition, a Fine copy in a Fine proof state dust jacket (no copy or price on back cover, spine or flaps). Signed by Zelazny. Kovacs, I38a.
Zelazny, Roger. The Sign of the Unicorn. Doubleday, 1975. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a trace of dust soiling to white rear cover. Signed by Zelazny. Currey, page 571. Levack, 33a. Kovacs, I39a.
Zelazny, Roger. “Stand Pat, Ruby Stone.” Carbon copy story manuscript.
Zelazny, Roger. Today We Choose Faces. Millington, 1973. First hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Zelazny. Currey, page 571. Levack, 37b. Kovacs, I42a.
Zelazny, Roger. Untitled poem, later published as “To Spin Is Miracle Cat.” One page typewritten poem.
Zelazny, Roger. Trumps of Doom. Arbor House, 1985. Proof (trade paperback format) of the hardback first edition, a Fine copy in a Fine proof dust jacket (no copy or price on back cover, spine or flaps). Signed by Zelazny. Kovacs, I43a.
Zelazny, Roger. Trumps of Doom. Underwood/Miller, 1985. First limited hardback edition, #316 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket in a Very Good+ suede slipcase that has some brown dampstaining discoloration along the spine. Kovacs, I43c.
Zelazny, Roger. Unicorn Variations. Timescape Books, 1983. Advanced uncorrected proof of the hardback first edition, a Fine copy, signed by Zelazny. Kovacs, V21a.
Zelazny, Roger. “A Very Good Year.” Original hand-corrected typescript of the first draft, and a carbon-copy of the second draft.
Zelazny, Roger. Original hand-written first draft for story “Walpurgisnacht” on yellow lined legal paper, 5 pages long.
Zelazny, Roger. “The White Beasts.” Original hand-corrected typescript, plus carbon of corrected story.
Zelazny, Roger. Some 30 pages of correspondence between Zelazny and editor/packager Byron Preiss, most concerning The Illustrated Roger Zelazny, including copies of B&W sketches and a page of original colored pencil art by Gray Morrow for the project.
Zelazny, Roger, and Robert Sheckley. Several pages of correspondence between Zelazny (carbons) and Robert Sheckley (originals) concerning three stories for an anthology, plus a small autographed note to “Bob” from Zelazny.
Various other letters to Zelazny, some with replies.
Zelazny, Roger, editor. Warriors of Blood and Dream. AvoNova, 1995. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine+ copy with number “34” written across inside cover EAC code and foxing to inside covers. Anthology. Kovacs, IX7a.
Zelazny, Roger, editor. Wheel of Fortune. AvoNova, 1995. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine- copy with slight spine creasing and foxing to insider covers. Anthology. Kovacs, IX8a.
(Zelazny, Roger) Neil Randall. Combat Command in the World of Roger Zelazny’s Nine Princes in Amber: The Black Road War. Ace, 1988. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with just a trace of edgewear, otherwise new and unread. Sort of a strategic pick-your-own-path adventure. Kovacs, X8a. I had one of these about a decade ago that I sold on eBay for $25…
(Zelazny, Roger) Stephen, Christopher P. A Checklist of Roger Zelazny. Ultramarine, 1993. revised edition. Non-fiction chapbook, since superseded by the Kovacs bibliography. Kovacs, XXIII3b.
Tags:Ann Leckie, Books, Fantasy, George R. R. Martin, Graham Joyce, Horror, Iain M. Banks, Larry Niven, Neil Gaiman, Philip Jose Farmer, R. A. Lafferty, Ray Bradbury, Roger Zelazny, Science Fiction, Subterranean Press, Tim Powers
Posted in Books, Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction | No Comments »
Friday, July 3rd, 2015
Picked up another signed Doc Smith novel at a pretty good price:
Smith, Edward E., Ph.D. Second Stage Lensmen. Fantasy Press, 1953. First edition hardback, Currey Binding A (blue cloth lettered in gold), first issue, #368 of 500 numbered copies signed by Smith, a Very Good+ copy with large square of discoloration to inside front cover due to a bookplate (now laid in; see below) and a few instances of light spotting to boards, in a Near Fine- dust jacket with a couple of closed 1/2″ tears, modest edgewear at head, heel and points, and slight soiling to the rear cover, but otherwise a nice intact and very bright example of the dust jacket. Inscribed by Smith (as the subscriber copies frequently were): “To Joseph R. Brady,/Three in a row – Hot Dog! [Tic Tac Tow Game]/With sincere appreciation/Of your continued interest—/Edward E. Smith, Ph.D.” (Though it seems a fulsome, personal inscription, it’s quite similar to the one I have in my subscriber copy of Skylark Three to another subscriber.) Currey (1979), page 456. Chalker and Owings (1991), page 161. Kemp, The Anthem Series, page 41. Lucchetti, Doc: First Galactic Roamer, page 60. Won for $121.50 off eBay.
And here’s the bookplate that was once attached and now is loose and laid in, which features Edd Cartier artwork:
I wonder if the Cartier bookplate was offered as a freebie or add-on by Fantasy Press…
Tags:Books, E. E. "Doc" Smith, Fantasy Press, First Edition, Science Fiction, signed
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Thursday, July 2nd, 2015
This and another book I’ll list tomorrow are the last library additions for the first half of the year. I hope to have the giant compiled list of January 1 through June 30 library additions up on Monday.
Sladek, John. Mechasm. First edition paperback original under this title (published earlier in the UK as The Reproductive System) and first U.S. edition, a Very Good copy with a small, faint 1/4″ stamp at heel, edgewear, stamp on blurb page, and faint spine creasing. Inscribed by Sladek: “For Scott,/John Sladek”. Currey (1979), page 450. Bought for $5 at Half Price Books.
Tags:Books, First Edition, John Sladek, Science Fiction, signed
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Monday, June 29th, 2015
I recently bought another $6,000 worth of (mostly) Roger Zelazny manuscripts and first editions from Bob Pylant, and it has taken me a while to catalog all of it. (See a listing of my previous $5,400 purchase from Bob here.) As with my earlier purchase from him, Bob had meticulously placed every page of the manuscripts into a plastic page protectors (save the last few pages of Sign of Chaos (see below), where he ran out), and placed them all into binders, many of which included multiple stories and related archive material, including correspondence between Zelazny (generally carbon copies) and his editors (almost always originals). Below is a brief summary of each that doesn’t quite get down to the level of an actual archival description (there are only so many hours in the day). And since this is such a long post already, I’ve only included scans or pictures of books I thought there weren’t good copies of on the Internet (mostly the proofs).
Bibliography
For bibliographic details and first edition verification, I cite the following reference books:
Currey, L.W. Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors: A Bibliography of First Printings of Their Fiction. G. K. Hall, 1978.
Chalker, Jack & Owings, Mark. The Science Fantasy Publishers: A Critical and Bibliographic History. Mirage Press, 1991 (“Third Edition Revised and Enlarged”).
Kovacs, Christopher S. The Ides of Octember: A Pictorial Bibliography of Roger Zelazny. NESFA Press, 2010. (Note: Kovacs lists proofs, ARCs, etc. when known, so many hardback firsts are designated with the a “b” rather than an “a”.)
Levack, Daniel J. Amber Dreams: A Roger Zelazny Bibliography. Underwood/Miller, 1983.
Original Zelazny Book Manuscripts
Zelazny, Roger. Archive material about various Amber novels from various people, most concerning The Courts of Chaos in one way or another, including a handwritten six page synopsis of The Courts of Chaos by Zelazny, followed by the typed version of the same synopsis, plus letters to (originals) and from (apparently file carbon copies) Zelazny on the subject.
Zelazny, Roger. Dilvish the Damned. Del Rey, no date (but probably 1981 or 82). Unbound long galleys (the very first proof state of the book production cycle), pages age darkened but otherwise Fine, unbound but gathered into signature sheets. Kovacs, I15a.
Zelazny, Roger. Original ribbon-copy, hand-corrected first draft manuscript for Knight of Shadows, with two letters of authenticity from Zelazny, and the manuscript signed twice by him (on the first and last pages) in 1989. Although Zelazny was already a celebrated author at the time, he still displayed thrifty habits by typing out his manuscript on the back of whatever 8 1/2″ x 11″ scrap paper he had lying around, be it government forms, convention flyers, flyers for the Santa Fe Opera Company, and pages (presumably photocopies of works sent to Zelazny to critique or review) from other author’s manuscripts, including pages from Tom Deitz’s Fireshaper’s Doom and Jeffrey Carver’s From a Changeling Star.
Zelazny, Roger. Second draft photocopy of the manuscript for Sign of Chaos, showing the hand-corrections in the first draft, with further corrections by Zelazny in red, along with a four page style guide for spelling the names of the characters, etc. in the book.
Original Zelazny Short Story Manuscripts, etc.
Zelazny, Roger. “And Only I Escaped To Tell Thee.” Carbon copy of original typed manuscript.
Zelazny, Roger. “The Burning.” One page typewritten poem.
Zelazny, Roger. “A City Divided.” Original typed manuscript with numerous hand-corrections.
Zelazny, Roger. “The Cyborg Connection.” Original typed manuscript with numerous hand-corrections, with a carbon copy of the second draft. This story would later be published as “Halfjack.”
Zelazny, Roger. “Fire and/or Ice.” Original hand-corrected typescript, including one hand-written manuscript page.
Zelazny, Roger. “Richard Lupoff’s Sword of the Demon.” Extremely short review/piece of non-fiction. Appeared in Starlog’s SF Yearbook Volume 1, edited by David Gerrold and compiled by David Truesdale.
Zelazny, Roger. “Garden of Blood.” Carbon copy typed story manuscript.
Zelazny, Roger. “The George Business.” Carbon copy typed story manuscript, with multiple signed letters from Dragon Tales editor Orson Scott Card accepting the story, apologizing for delayed payment, etc., along with a signed signature plate by Card.
Zelazny, Roger. “Go Starless Into That Night.” Carbon copy of original typed manuscript, with two acceptance letters from editor Jim Baen.
Zelazny, Roger. “The Last of the Wild Ones.” Carbon copy of original typed manuscript.
Zelazny, Roger. “LP Me Thee.” One page typewritten poem.
Zelazny, Roger. “Stand Pat, Ruby Stone.” Carbon copy story manuscript.
Zelazny, Roger. Untitled poem, later published as “To Spin Is Miracle Cat.” One page typewritten poem.
Zelazny, Roger. “A Very Good Year.” Original hand-corrected typescript of the first draft, and a carbon-copy of the second draft.
Zelazny, Roger. Original hand-written first draft for story “Walpurgisnacht” on yellow lined legal paper, 5 pages long.
Zelazny, Roger. “The White Beasts.” Original hand-corrected typescript, plus carbon of corrected story.
Correspondence Archives
Donaldson, Stephen R. One page typed signed letter to Zelazny inviting him to a party.
Zelazny, Roger. Some 30 pages of correspondence between Zelazny and editor/packager Byron Preiss, most concerning The Illustrated Roger Zelazny, including copies of B&W sketches and a page of original colored pencil art by Gray Morrow for the project.
Zelazny, Roger, and Robert Sheckley. Several pages of correspondence between Zelazny (carbons) and Robert Sheckley (originals) concerning three stories for an anthology, plus a small autographed note to “Bob” from Zelazny.
Various other letters to Zelazny, some with replies.
Roger Zelazny Hardback First Editions
I had all but a couple of these, but all these copies are Fine/Fine and signed by Zelazny.
Zelazny, Roger. Bridge of Ashes. Gregg Press, 1979. First hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Zelazny. Supplements an unsigned hardback. Levack, 2e. Kovacs, I3b.
Zelazny, Roger. Doorways in the Sand. Harper & Row, 1976. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Zelazny, with an additional signed note laid in “To David, This copy of Doorways in the Sand, being the chronicles of both Fred Cassidy and a Hugo and Nebula finalist.” Atypically, both the note and signature are printed rather than in Zelazny’s elegant cursive handwriting. While I wouldn’t swear it’s Zelazny’s handwriting, it’s not entirely dissimilar to other examples I have of it. Currey, page 570. Levack, 13a. Kovacs, I17b.
Zelazny, Roger. The Dream Master. Rupert Hart Davis, 1968. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a trace of dust staining along very top edge and at heel spine join, with sticker for Henry Morison Inc. (Zelazny’s literary agent) affixed to front free endpaper. Signed by Zelazny. Currey, page 570. Levack, 14b. Kovacs, I18b.
Zelazny, Roger. Four for Tomorrow. Garland Press, 1975. First hardback edition under this title (issued in UK hardback as A Rose for Ecclesiastes), a Fine copy in a Fine aftermarket dust jacket Bob photo-produced from the Ace paperback edition that Garland used to print the plates from. With a title page of the Ace paperback inscribed by Zelazny (“Many a good wish/to you/Roger Zelazny/ 7/6/84”) laid in. Replaces an unsigned ex-library copy. Currey, page 570. Levack, 17f. Kovacs, V11f.
Zelazny, Roger. The Hand of Oberon. Doubleday, 1976. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with one closed 1/4″ tear at bottom rear, with review slip laid in. Inscribed by Zelazny: “With all good wishes,/Roger Zelazny.” Currey, page 570. Levack, 19a. Kovacs, I23a.
Zelazny, Roger. Isle of the Dead. Rapp & Whiting, 1970. First hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a tiny bit of edgewear at extremities. Inscribed by Zelazny: “To Willi/Every kind of good/wish./Best,/ Roger Zelazny/ 3/27/82.” Supplements an unsigned copy. Currey, page 570. Levack, 21b. Kovacs, I25b.
Zelazny, Roger. My Name is Legion. Faber & Faber, 1979. First hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Zelazny. Levack, 27h. Kovacs, I32c.
Zelazny, Roger. Roadmarks. Del Rey, 1979. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, with review slip laid in. Signed by Zelazny. Levack, 31a. Kovacs, I37z.
Zelazny, Roger. The Sign of the Unicorn. Doubleday, 1975. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a trace of dust soiling to white rear cover. Signed by Zelazny. Currey, page 571. Levack, 33a. Kovacs, I39a.
Zelazny, Roger. Today We Choose Faces. Millington, 1973. First hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Zelazny. Currey, page 571. Levack, 37b. Kovacs, I42a.
Zelazny, Roger. Trumps of Doom. Underwood/Miller, 1985. First limited hardback edition, #316 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket in a Very Good+ suede slipcase that has some brown dampstaining discoloration along the spine. Kovacs, I43c.
Roger Zelazny Trade Paperback, Proofs, and Chapbooks
Zelazny, Roger. Blood of Amber. Arbor House, 1986. Uncorrected proof (trade paperback format) of the hardback first edition, a Fine- copy with phantom crease the length of rear cover, with review slip (with sticker signed by Zelazny affixed to it) laid in. Kovacs, Ia.
Zelazny, Roger. Frost and Fire. William Morrow and Company, 1989. Uncorrected bound galleys (or so it says; actually a trade paperback format proof), a Fine copy, signed by Zelazny. Kovacs, V12a.
Zelazny, Roger. Knight of Shadows. William Morrow and Company, 1989. Uncorrected bound galleys (or so it says; actually a trade paperback format proof), a Near Fine+ copy with slight fading to spine and small crease to bottom font corner, signed by Zelazny. Kovacs, I27a.
Zelazny, Roger. The Last Defender of Camelot. Underwood/Miller, 1980. First edition chapbook original, simultaneous with the extremely small hardback run (which I picked up in my previous Zelazny purchase from Bob), #265 of 275 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, in issued manila envelope. Levack, 23a. Kovacs, VIIIa. I now have something like eight different items with this title…
Zelazny, Roger. A Night on the Lonesome October. Avon Books, 1993. Advanced uncorrected proof of the hardback first edition, a Fine copy. Signed by both Zelazny and cover artist Gahan Wilson. Kovacs, I33a.
Zelazny, Roger. Sign of Chaos. Arbor House, 1987. Proof (trade paperback format) of the hardback first edition, a Fine copy in a Fine proof state dust jacket (no copy or price on back cover, spine or flaps). Signed by Zelazny. Kovacs, I38a.
Zelazny, Roger. Trumps of Doom. Arbor House, 1985. Proof (trade paperback format) of the hardback first edition, a Fine copy in a Fine proof dust jacket (no copy or price on back cover, spine or flaps). Signed by Zelazny. Kovacs, I43a.
Zelazny, Roger. Unicorn Variations. Timescape Books, 1983. Advanced uncorrected proof of the hardback first edition, a Fine copy, signed by Zelazny. Kovacs, V21a.
(Zelazny, Roger) Stephen, Christopher P. A Checklist of Roger Zelazny. Ultramarine, 1993. revised edition. Non-fiction chapbook, since superseded by the Kovacs bibliography. Kovacs, XXIII3b
Roger Zelazny Paperbacks
Zelazny, Roger, editor. Warriors of Blood and Dream. AvoNova, 1995. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine+ copy with number “34” written across inside cover EAC code and foxing to inside covers. Anthology. Kovacs, IX7a.
Zelazny, Roger, editor. Wheel of Fortune. AvoNova, 1995. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine- copy with slight spine creasing and foxing to insider covers. Anthology. Kovacs, IX8a.
(Zelazny, Roger) Neil Randall. Combat Command in the World of Roger Zelazny’s Nine Princes in Amber: The Black Road War. Ace, 1988. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with just a trace of edgewear, otherwise new and unread. Sort of a strategic pick-your-own-path adventure. Kovacs, X8a. I had one of these about a decade ago that I sold on eBay for $25…
First Editions By Other Authors (Some Related to Zelazny)
And here are books not by or about Zelazny, but some have contributions from Zelazny or some other connection to him.
Banks, Iain M. The Algebraist. Orbit, 2004. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Banks. Supplements an unsigned first.
Banks, Iain M. Player of Games. Macmillian (UK), 1988. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Banks. Supplements an unsigned first.
Bova, Ben, editor. (Roger Zelazny) The Best of Omni Science Fiction. Omni Society, 1980. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight wear in a Very Good dust jacket with shallow chipping at points, rubbing to rear cover, a 1/2″ closed tear, and general wear. Roger Zelazny’s personal contributor’s copy (for the story “Halfjack” (see above)), with two signed typed letters from Omni editor Ben Bova laid in.
Cahill, James, editor. Ten Tales. James Cahill Publishing, 1994. First edition hardback, one of only 26 unnumbered “Author Copies”, a Fine- copy (gilt letters on spine are showing small spots of what might be oxidation) in a Very Good only slipcase with spotting and uneven fading, sans dust jacket, as issued. Original anthology with the Zelazny story “The Salesman’s Tale.” There was also a 250 copy numbered edition. (Chalker and Owings Supplement Three calls for a 26 copy leatherbound edition; this copy is bound in cloth with a cloth slipcase.)
Martin, George R. R. Portraits of His Children. Dark Harvest, 1987. First edition hardback, # OO of 52 signed, lettered copies bound in white leather, a Fine copy in a Fine wooden “slipcrate” slipcase, sans dust jacket, as issued. Zealzny provides the introduction (“A Sketch of Their Father”) and a signature. I always thought the Dark Harvest slipcrates were attractive productions, and I’m happy to have one in my library. Supplements a trade edition. Chalker/Owings, page 119.
Martin, George R. R., editor. Wild Cards. Bantam Spectra/SFBC, 1987. First hardback edition (book club), preceded by the paperback original, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with edgewear at points. Shared world superhero anthology which includes the Zelazny story “The Sleeper.” Man, seems like every single edition of the early Wild Cards books had ugly covers…
Martin, George R. R., editor. Wild Cards. Bantam Spectra, 1987. Uncorrected page proofs (trade paperback format) of the hardback first edition, a Fine copy. Shared world superhero anthology which includes the Zelazny story “The Sleeper.”
Powers, Tim. Dinner at Deviants Palace. Chatto & Windus, 1986. First trade hardback, first UK hardback, and first non-book club hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Berlyne, Powers: Secret Histories, A5c.1.
Roger Zelazny Books I Still Lack
Still have a few stray “fill out” Zelazny titles I haven’t been able to track down yet:
The Doors of His Face, The Lamps of His Mouth (Pulphouse hardback of just that story)
(as editor) The Williamson Effect (Tor, 1996) (It’s not hard to find, I’m just looking for a perfect copy)
Greenberg, Martin H., editor. Lord of the Fantastic: Stories in Honor of Roger Zelazny (Avon Eos, 1998)
Lindskold, Jane. Roger Zelazny. Twayne, 1992.
Sanders, Joseph L. Roger Zelazny: A Primary and Secondary Bibliography (G. K. Hall, 1982)
Yoke, Karl B. Roger Zelazny: Starmont Reader’s Guide (Borgo Press (Library binding hardback), 1979)
Tags:Books, Fantasy, First Edition, George R. R. Martin, Iain M. Banks, manuscripts, Roger Zelazny, Science Fiction, signed, Tim Powers
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Friday, June 26th, 2015
Another neat signed ray Bradbury item I picked up:
Bradbury, Ray. Christmas Greetings 2008. First edition broadsheet, 8 1/2″ x 11″ card-stock, a Fine- copy with extremely light bumping at right tips. Signed by Bradbury. One of the many yearly Christmas greetings Bradbury used to send out to friends. Bought for $25 off eBay.
Now I just need to get a frame for it…
Tags:Books, broadsheet, Fantasy, First Edition, Ray Bradbury, Science Fiction, signed
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Thursday, June 25th, 2015
It’s taking me a while to finish cataloging a big Roger Zelazny purchase (consider that a teaser), so I’m going to do a few single book listings that have come in since to catch up.
Heinlein, Robert A. The Star Beast. Scribner’s, 1954. First edition hardback (with Scribner’s seal and letter A on copyright page, as per Currey), a Fine- copy with slight bend at head and heel, slight dust soiling at head, and a tiny faint green pinprick dot at heel, in a Very Good+ dust jacket with very shallow (1/32″) chipping at head and points, a 1/2″ closed tear at heel, and very slight dust soiling to rear cover. A very nice copy of this well-regarded Heinlein juvenile. Bought for $200 from Lloyd Currey. Currey (1979), page 234.
Tags:Books, First Edition, Robert A. Heinlein, Science Fiction
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Monday, June 1st, 2015
This is a deck-clearing post, since I just made another major purchase of Zelazny manuscripts and first editions that it’s going to take me some time to catalog…
Asimov, Isaac. In Memory Yet Green: The Autobiography of Isaac Asimov, 1920—1954. Doubleday, 1979. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with slight sun darkening to the very tops of inside flaps. Non-fiction. The first volume of Asimov’s massive two volume autobiography (I already had a first edition of the second volume, In Joy Still Felt).
Brunner, John. Tomorrow May be Even Worse. NESFA Press, 1978. First edition trade paperback, a Fine- copy with a tiny bit of bumping at points. Signed by Brunner. Small book of verse (one SF topic for every letter, arranged from A to Z), illustrated by fan artist ATom.
Honan, William H. Visions of Infamy: The Untold Story of How Journalist Hector C. Bywater Devised the Plans That lead to Pearl Harbor. St. Martin’s Press, 1991. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Fellow collector Chris Skillings sent this to me after reading about how I picked up E. H. Fitzpatrick’s The Coming Conflict of Nations, or the Japanese American War. Bywater sounds like he was a very interesting guy…
Tags:Books, First Edition, future war, Isaac Asimov, John Brunner, Science Fiction
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Wednesday, May 27th, 2015
So a while back I got word of Neil Gaiman being involved in a benefit for a project involving (I kid you not) Tasmanian cave spider sex. He’s evidently quite the Tasmaniophile, having spent his honeymoon with Amanda Palmer in Hobart. It sounded like an odd, interesting project, and the sort of thing to drive Gaiman completists crazy if they didn’t presupport, so I went ahead and ponied up for the deluxe package, which was, IIRC, a bit over $100 for both books.
Now, finally both books from the Sixteen Legs project have come in:
Gaiman, Neil, with Niall Doran, Craig Wellington and Jodee Taylah (artist). Sixteen Legs Production Art: A Visit to the Queen of the Dark. Bookend Trust, 2015. First edition hardback, one of an undetermined number (though probably just over 100 copies, given that there are just under 100 names (including my own) listed under Premium Supporters on page 43) of the Limited Deluxe Edition signed by the three authors and the artist, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket in decorated boards, as issued.
Doran, Niall, Alastastair Richardson, Joe Shemesh. Kinky Love: Mating of the Tasmanian Cave Spider. Bookend Trust, 2015. First edition hardback, one of an undetermined number of signed copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket in decorated boards, as issued.
Tags:Books, Fantasy, First Edition, Neil Gaiman, signed, Spiders
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Wednesday, May 13th, 2015
I recently obtained two Michael Swanwick chapbooks, at least one of which is bound to drive Swanwick completists bonkers:
Swanwick, Michael. Hunting the Phoenix. Dragonstairs Press, 2015. First edition hardback (“archival board wrappers covered with hand-dyed rice paper, with a stab binding ornamented with a single aventurine bead”), #6 of 30 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued, new and unread. Sort of an in-progress illustrated sketchbook for a Swanwick novel, more impressionistic colored line art than narrative. If it’s not the strangest Swanwick item yet, it’s tied with the hardback state of Puck Aleshire’s Abecedary. Bought for $30 from the publisher.
Swanwick, Michael. Season’s Greetings. Dragonstairs Press, 2014. First edition chapbook original, #18 of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy. I should be able to pick up copies of this to sell through Lame Excuse Books later in the year.
Tags:Books, chapbooks, Fantasy, Michael Swanwick, Science Fiction
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