Posts Tagged ‘Armadillocon’

Library Additions: Numerous Signed Ed Bryant Firsts

Tuesday, January 28th, 2025

A private seller on an Ed Bryant group on Facebook offered up a bundle of signed Ed Bryant firsts, and I was able to buy them for a pretty modest sum. Ed was a regular Armadillocon and Worldcon attendee, so I knew him and had some stuff signed by him, but the seller had items I’d never seen before. It’s an interesting mix.

  • Bryant, Edward. The Cutter. Pulphouse, 1991. First edition paperback chapbook edition, a Fine- copy with small spots of rubbing to rear along spine, inscribed by Bryant: “Edward Bryant/6 -20-03/For Jane,/I love the movies/don’t you?/x o X/Ed.” Issue #8 of their Short Story Paperbacks series. Supplements a copy in my complete run of Short Story Paperbacks.

  • Bryant, Edward. The Dreamer. Wormhole Books, 2003. First edition greeting card chapbook, #June of 500 copies signed by Bryant and other Wormhole Books staffers (Dawn Dunn, Chris Dunn, Joanna Erbach and Thomas Mark), a Fine copy in plain white envelope, presumably as issued. Wormhole Books seems to have been in business from 2001-2004 and produced a handful of chapbooks (most with small hardback runs) by Bryant, Connie Willis, etc. This seems to have been sent out as an Independence Day greeting to customers. Though probably categorized as ephemera, this appears to be an original Bryant story printed nowhere else. Does anyone know how many of these holiday card stories Wormhole published?

  • Bryant, Edward. Knock. No publisher listed, just “copyright (C) 2004 by Edward Bryant.” Presumed first edition thus, an 8 1/2″ x 11″ broadsheet, #28 of 50 signed copies, a Very Good+ copy with several wrinkles. No idea what this was done for, maybe a convention. Reprints a very short story originally published in Horrors! 365 Scary Stories, which I also have a story in.

  • Bryant, Edward. Particle Theory. Pocket/Timescape, 1981. First edition paperback original, a Very Good+ copy with spine creasing and former owner’s name stamped on inside front cover, inscribed by Bryant: “For Jane,/Yes, I know you’re not the/sort of person who makes requests/like this…but what the/heck—maybe these are fictions you can repeat/in the morning./Enjoy!/Edward Bryant/ 6/23/82.” Supplements a fine (but unsigned) copy.

  • Bryant, Edward. A Sad Last Love at the Diner of the Damned. Wormhole Books, 2001. First edition chapbook original (simultaneous with the much smaller hardback run), one of 750 copies on which “43” has been crossed out and replaced with “proof,” a Fine copy, signed by Bryant. I heard Ed read this at Armadillocon. Originally appeared in Skipp & Spector’s The Book of the Dead. Chalker/Owings (2002), page 1214 (which erroneously notes this as the original publication). Supplements a copy of the hardback edition.

  • Bryant, Edward. The Thermals of August. Pulphouse, 1992. First edition hardback, one of 100 signed, numbered hardbacks, a Fine- copy with some extremely minor nicks (greatly exaggerated in the scan), sans dust jacket, as issued. Hugo and Nebula finalists. Supplements a copy of the short story paperback version.

  • Bryant, Edward. While She Was Out. Wormhole Books, 2001. First edition chapbook original (simultaneous with the much smaller hardback run), #154 of 750 copies, signed by Bryant. Thriller story that was the basis of a 2008 film of the same name. Chalker/Owings (2002), page 1214.
  • Bryant, Edward. Wyoming Sun. Jelm Mountain Press, 1980. First edition trade paperback (simultaneous with a much smaller hardback run), a Fine- copy with slight wear at points, inscribed by Bryant: “Edward Bryant/6-20-30/For Jane,/Hey, Love Min. Sit/down. Have some tea/This is home,/Enjoy,/Ed.” Short story collection from a regional small press. Supplements a copy of the hardback. I also have an inscribed copy of this available through Lame Excuse Books.

  • Bryant, Edward and Harlan Ellison. Phoenix Without Ashes. Fawcett, 1975. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine copy with one spine crease, bookstore stamp inside front cover, and a touch of edgewear, signed by Bryant. Richmond, Fingerprints on the Sky page 108. Supplements a fine (but unsigned) copy. Now I need a copy signed by both Ed and Ellison…
  • Wilson, Robin Scott, editor. Clarion II. Signet, 1972. First edition paperback original, a very Good copy with spine creasing and a few other touches of wear. Anthology of stories by attendees of the Clarion Writer’s Workshop. Ed Bryant has a story in here, but this book is not signed.
  • All of the above was bought for $50.

    Ed was an important science fiction short story writer in the 1970s and 80s, and an important horror short story writer in the 1980s and 90s, though after that he was mostly known as a reviewer and critic. All along the way he was widely loved by the field.

    I will have additional signed Ed Bryant firsts in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog.

    I have a pretty complete Ed Bryant collection, but again, I wasn’t even aware that a couple of things here existed at all. I wonder what else might be lurking out there…

    Library Additions: 5 Tachyon TPO Firsts, 3 Signed

    Friday, August 24th, 2018

    More Armadillocon purchases, all picked up at the usual dealer discount:

  • 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 Jacob Weisman, editor. The New Voices of Fantasy. Tachyon, 2017. First edition trade paperback original, Fine. Anthology. Signed by Beagle and Weisman.
  • Walton, Jo. Starlings. Tachyon, 2018. First edition trade paperback original, Fine. Short story collection.
  • 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.
  • Note that most of these will be available in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog.

    Library Additions: Books Bought at Armadillocon

    Monday, September 4th, 2017

    The giant library post crowded out my updating a few purchases, starting with these books, all of which I picked up at Armadillocon:

  • Dozois, Gardner. The Year’s Best Science Fiction: Thirty-Fourth Annual Collection. St. Martin’s, 2017. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket.
  • Brown, Christoper (formerly Chris Nakashima-Brown). Tropic of Kansas. Harper Voyager, 2017. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy, with a long inscription to me by the author. (I’m also thanked in the acknowledgements.) His first novel, preceded by a co-edited anthology and a chapbook.
  • Lansdale, Joe R. Honky Tonk Samurai. Mullholland Books/Little Brown, 2016. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Lansdale. Hap & Leonard novel.
  • Lansdale, Joe R. Miracles Ain’t What They Used To Be. PM Press, 2015. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy, signed by Lansdale. Collection of non-fiction essays, many autobiographical.
  • Le Guin, Ursula K. The Real and the Unreal: Seclected Stories of Ursula K. Le Guin Volume 1: Where on Earth. Small Beer Press, 2012. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Already had Volume 2.
  • Library Addition: Neal Barrett, Jr.’s Judge Dread

    Friday, October 21st, 2016

    Another signed Neal Barrett, Jr. book for my collection.

    Barrett, Neal, Jr. Judge Dread. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with slight touches of edgewear. Signed by Barrett. Based on the Sylvester Stallone movie. Bought for $5 at Armadillocon

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    Library Additions: Three Joe R. Lansdale Firsts

    Thursday, October 20th, 2016

    Here are three Joe R. Lansdale first editions I picked up, the first two at Armadillocon:

  • Lansdale, Joe R. Hap and Leonard. Tachyon, 2016. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy, inscribed to me by Joe.
  • Lansdale, Joe R. and John L. Lansdale. Hell’s Bounty. Subterranean Press, 2016. First edition hardback, a PC copy of 1,000 signed numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Got this from Joe in trade.
  • Lansdale, Joe R. and Kasey Lansdale. The Case of the Bleeding Wall. First edition hardback, #363 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Bought as part of a $99 package deal with some other books I’ll be cataloging or selling later.
  • Photos From the 2014 Armadillocon

    Wednesday, September 3rd, 2014

    We interrupt this cavalcade of books, Slowdive covers and tanks to offer up some pics from the 2014 Armadillocon, which occurred a little more than a week before I flew off to London.


    Howard Waldrop. Actually a pretty good picture of him.


    Claude Lalumiere


    The elusive Robert Taylor. Like most pictures of him taken in the wild, it’s a bit blurry…


    Ian McDonald. I would say he’s signing one of the way too many of my own books I had him sign, but since I own the Simon & Schuster UK (true first) edition of River of Gods, not the Pyr first American edition, obviously it’s someone else’s book…


    Arch-villain Denman Glober caught outside her secret underground lair.


    Ted Chiang.


    One of these men had a role in Once Upon A Time in China VI.


    Martha Wells.


    Mark Finn, describing his wrestling match with the gorilla.


    Patrice Sarath.


    Ian McDonald and Ted Chiang at the bar.

    Armadillocon 2011 Pictures Redux

    Friday, November 16th, 2012

    Poking around some old posts, I noticed that some pictures from more than a year ago weren’t showing up. Turns out it’s because Facebook likes to completely change the name for pictures every now and then.

    My process for putting up con pictures is:

    1. Take pictures.
    2. Upload to Mac.
    3. Do a quick edit in iPhoto.
    4. Bulk upload to Facebook.
    5. Copy URLs for JPEG’s from Facebook and reference them from the blog post.

    This method is quick, easy, and hosts pics on Facebook’s dime. The downside is the Facebook rejiggering, and having to go back every now and then and redo the links.

    Anyway, I’ve gone in and changed all the URLs for my Armadillocon 2011 pictures:

  • Friday
  • Saturday
  • Sunday
  • I’m sure there are some other blog posts with pics that need updating, and I’ll get to those in My Copious Free Time.

    Pictures from the 2012 Armadillocon

    Monday, August 13th, 2012

    Continuing my acclaimed series “Lawrence’s Continuing Efforts To Justify The Purchase of a Digital Camera,” here are pictures from the 2012 Armadillocon:


    The lovely and talented Urania Fung, who joined us for lunch with…


    …her sister, the lovely and talented Cynthia Fung.


    Fung & Fung, together at last. “Soon to be a new hit series on the CW!”


    Master of Toast A. Lee Martinez showing off his spiffy Cthulhu vs. Godzilla T-shirt.


    Andrew Wimsatt, already looking like his brain has fled.


    Jayme Lynn Blaschke standing over Andrew, with the interior of the Austin Renaissance looming in the background like a Lovecraftian tomb (assuming the tomb had balconies and accent lighting).


    Michael Sumbera, Scott Bobo and Ed Scarborough, hanging out in the bar.


    Mark Finn. “Penis goes where???”


    Picture from Family Feud, where the pros kicked the fan butt. “How could the topic be ‘Vampire Novels’ and not one of us thought of Dracula?”


    it wouldn’t be an Armadillocon photo gallery without the requisite Stina Leicht Pantone Hair Color Reference Shot.


    Now with Slightly Smugger Expression.


    Editor guest of honor Liz Gorinsky, who appears to have part of Fry’s non-paraodoxing time travel algorithm tattooed onto her bicep.


    Jayme Lynn Blascke, Troyce Wilson and Martha Wells. Maybe it was just this spot that made people look tired.


    Con Chair Sara Felix taking a break from the madness with noted lush Scott Bobo.


    With folded plate…


    …and without.


    John W. Campbell Award nominee Stina Leicht with Zillion time best Artist Hugo nominee John Picacio.


    I had Stina lean in close so I could see exactly where her hair color matched his shirt.


    “Sure, I’ll chair Armadillocon! How hard could it be?”


    John “Two-Time Hugo Nominee” DeNardo


    Ladies and Gentlemen, the worst picture ever of Joe R. Lansdale!


    This time, his brain is fried.


    Michael Sumbera and Rich Simental.


    Mark Finn and Night Shade Press head honcho Jeremy Lassen, who needs to hire a better shipping department.


    Matthew Bey with two people whose names I should remember.


    Gabrielle Faust, looking remarkably calm and poised considering the horrific, unspeakable doom that was about to befall her. Best not to talk about it…


    Denman Glober, who finds me endlessly entertaining.


    Rob Landley, once and future chairman of Linucon.


    Bradley Denton, who had a wee bit of a tough 2011.


    Doug Potter, showing off a T-shirt with a drawing by Doug Potter, from a book illustrated by Doug Potter.


    And another Armadillocon slouches to an end…

    Armadillocon 2011 Photos for Sunday, August 28

    Saturday, September 17th, 2011

    Just a handful, as I left my camera recharging for the con itself, so all of these are from the dead dog party.


    Lou Anders’ wife makes him presentable.


    Willie Siros, Scott Bobo and Emma Bull get their Shiner on.


    Emma Bull fiddles with a confounding electronic device.


    Willie listens to Bobo tell the punchline. “And that’s when I gave him back the duck.”


    Another Armadillocon survived.

    Armadillocon 2011 Photos for Saturday, August 27

    Wednesday, September 14th, 2011


    A chipper-at-all-hours Kasey Lansdale, having no pity on us poor souls discomforted by having to get up at the crack of noon.


    if we’re going to show Kasey, I suppose we should show her father, Joe R. Lansdale. I think he’s written a book or two.


    Neal Barrett, Jr. “You working on anything right now, Neal?” “I’m a writer, I’m always working on something. That’s what writers do.”


    Howard Waldrop, relieved that we only have to review Cowboys & Aliens once.


    Rob Landley, the man who helped found both Penguincon and Linucon. And yet, somehow, he still walks among the living.


    Paolo Bacigalupi, wondering just where that alligator might have gotten to.


    Brad Denton, who foolishly exposed his skin to direct sunlight for almost 15 full seconds.


    Martha Wells, reclining in the position usually reserved for her palanquin.


    Elizabeth Moon’s expression shortly after hearing that she wouldn’t have spend three days being condescended and lectured to by dour, joyless feminists.


    Jayme Lynn Blaschke, who’ had to cut back on his previously extravagant vest budget.


    Kurt Baty towers over Lego creations. Deep in the night, he sneaks into his unfinished mansion to loom over them and shout “I’m the God! I’m the God!


    With his portable manual typewriter, Lou Antonelli may be taking his emulation of role-model Howard Waldrop a little too far…


    Just one of the many, many martinis Scott Bobo drank that weekend, not all of which had Ed Scarborough looking on.


    Scott, Ed and Dwight wait for dinner.


    Dwight, Rich and Milton.


    Little Chuckie, Emma Bull and Stina Leicht just before the Elizabeth Moon and Wiscon panel, more about which at a later date. No one was killed during the panel, which counts as a rousing success.


    Ben Yalow and Emma Bull.


    Matthew Bay, with beer and wearing a utility kilt, key clues for the police to piece together the horrific orbital belt sanding disaster that befell him moments later.

    There used to be a picture here. Now there’s not.


    Lovely con newbie Jamie Hott and here +5 Camera of Smiting.


    Paolo attempts to re-enact the cover shoot from Peter Gabriel I.


    The second of my blackmail photos of Mark Finn, this time cavorting with shameless married hussy Emma Bull.


    The unsuspecting Will Shetterly sits next to his wife, none the wiser to the lascivious gyrations performed shortly before.


    Oh yeah, baby! Finn and Dave Cake demonstrate that Fezes are TOTALLY coming back! It’s only a matter of time!


    Brad offers Paolo the traditional SFWA Salute of Respect.


    “I just ate what?”


    Here serial cavorter Finns plys his oleaginous charm on the unsuspecting Jessica Reisman.


    “Tonight the monkey dies!”


    Kasey Lansdale reacts with calm, cool aplomb to Brad Denton missing a deadline.


    This is what happens when you attempt to photograph the Tetragrammaton.

    And finally (two base notes) in a world…where dinner can take three hours…one man…will drink…a martini!

    Scott Bobo Drinks a Martini