Posts Tagged ‘China Mieville’

Library Addition: Lettered Edition of China Mieville’s The Last Days of New Paris

Monday, March 15th, 2021

More from the Subterranean PC sale:

Mieville, China. The Last Days of New Paris. Subterranean Press, 2017. First limited edition hardback (the Del Rey trade edition precedes), a PC copy of 26 lettered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine traycase. Supplements a copy of the numbered edition. Long out of print. Bought for the original offering price of $250.

Library Addition: Lettered State of China Mieville’s Railsea

Thursday, March 22nd, 2018

Another book I picked up at the Subterranean Press PC copy sale:

Mieville, China. Railsea. Subterranean Press, 2012. First limited edition hardback (the Del Rey hardback is the true first), PC copy of 26 signed lettered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine traycase (even by the standards of lettered editions, this is a very nice leather traycase with suede baffle surfaces on the inside of the front and back). Bought for $150.

Library Additions: July 1—December 31, 2017

Monday, February 12th, 2018

Usually I try to do these updates shortly after the period covered, but I’ve been busy. Here’s the comprehensive roundup of all the books I’ve added to my professional library between July 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017. Some of these I’ve blogged about before, but not all of them. All books are Fine/Fine first edition hardbacks, unless otherwise marked.

  • Aldiss, Brain W. Billion Year Spree. Wiedenfield & Nicolson, 1978. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a touch of edgewear at bottom front. Non-fiction history of science fiction. Signed by Aldiss. Bought from Cold Tonnage Books for £12 plus shipping.
  • Asimov, Isaac. Little Lost Robot. The Syndics of the Cambridge University Press, 1977. First edition chapbook original thus, a Fine- copy with the barest traces of wear at points. “This edition first published 1977” on copyright page at rear of book, as per Currey (1979), page 18. Bought off Biblio for $42 plus shipping.

  • Barker, Clive. Infernal Parade. Subterranean Press, 2017. First edition hardback, #275 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Bought for $30 after discount.
  • Beagle, Peter S. In Calabria. Tachyon, 2017. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Beagle.
  • Bester, Alfred. The Deceivers. Severn House, 1984. First hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Fine, plastic-protected dust jacket. $5.
  • Beukes, Lauren. Slipping. Tachyon, 2016. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Short story collection.
  • Bradbury, Ray. Christmas Wishes 1986. Self-published, 1986. First edition 8 1/2 x 11″ broadsheet, folded once (as mailed), otherwise Fine- with slight wrinkling. inscribed by Bradbury: “Hans N!/Ray Bradbury”. A one page poem, like all Bradbury’s Christmas broadsheets. This one says “From Maggie & Ray Bradbury,” but I’m not sure it was actually co-written by his wife. Bought off eBay for about $35.

    Bradbury Christmas 1986

  • Bradbury, Ray. The R.B., G.K.C., and G.B.S. Forever Orient Express. Joshua Odell Editions, 1994. First edition chapbook original, consisting of a long, skinny (17 1/2″ x 5 1/2″) outer cardstock binding with the four pages of the poem laid in (not stapled or otherwise attached), a Fine- copy with a pinhole through the top of the chapbook and one tiny white scratch to rear, otherwise mint. Reportedly done in an edition of 300 copies. Signed by Bradbury. Poem, longish by Bradbury standards, about Bradbury riding a train with G. K. Chesterton and George Bernard Shaw in the afterlife. The rear cover says that this is an excerpt from the forthcoming Journey to Far Metaphor: Further Essays on Creative Writing, Literature and the Arts, a book that Joshua Odell Editions evidently cancelled. This work would later show up in Bradbury’s collection The Cat’s Pajamas. Bought off eBay for $37.79.

    IMG_1919

  • 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.
  • Caro, Robert. The Years of Lyndon Johnson: The Path To Power. Knopf, 1982. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with a bit of wear in a Very Good+, price-clipped dust jacket and non-authorial inscription on FFE. Non-fiction. First volume of Caro’s massive, still in-progress biography of President Lyndon Johnson, the third volume of which (Master of the Senate) won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography. I already had a first edition of the second volume, Means of Ascent.
  • Carr, Charles. Colonists of Space. Ward Lock, 1954. Presumed first edition hardback (states “First published..1954,” but the ISFDB lists two states of that HB, with differing prices, but this dust jacket, while intact, has no price whatsoever; if I had to guess, I would say this is a first edition with a variant dust jacket for the library trade), a Near Fine- copy with slight bumping at head and heel in a Near Fine- dust jacket with very shallow chipping at head, slight dust soiling to white rear, and wear at points, in plastic dust jacket protector. Bought for $5.

    Colonists of Space

  • Crowther, Pete and Nick Gevers. Postscripts 18: This Is The Summer of Love. PS Publishing, 2009. First edition hardback, Letter D of 26 signed, lettered copies, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued.
  • Crowther, Pete and Nick Gevers. Postscripts 19: Enemy of the Good. PS Publishing, 2009. First edition hardback, Letter D of 26 signed, lettered copies, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued.
  • Del Rey, Lester, editor. Best Science Fiction Stories of the Year: Third Annual Collection. Dutton, 1974. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight crimping at head and heel in a Near Fine dust jacket with significant sun-fading to red portion of the spine. Currey, page 145. Gardner Dozois would later take over this series as editor for volumes six through ten, before beginning his own Year’s Best Science Fiction series in 1984. Bought for $6.

    Del Rey Best 3

  • 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.
  • Elliot, H. Chandler. Reprieve from Paradise. Gnome Press, 1955. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with a bit of crimping at the head and heel and a touch of spotting along inner join margin on front free endpaper, in a Near Fine dust jacket with usual age darkening and slight spotting on lower half of front spine join, in the first binding state (green boards lettered in maroon). Chalker/Owings (1991), page 202. Kemp, page 242. Bought for $9.99.
  • Ellison, Harlan. Brain Movies: The Original Teleplays of Harlan Ellison Volume One. Edgeworks Abbey, 2011. First edition trade paperback original (no hardback state), the “Babylonian Limited Edition,” a Fine copy signed by both Ellison and introduction author J. Michael Straczynski. In addition to many of Ellison’s most celebrated teleplays (“Soldier,” “Demon With a Glass Hand,” etc.), it also includes “Memos From Purgatory” featuring numerous holographic corrections in Ellison’s hand. Not in ISFDB. Edgeworks Abbey is Ellison’s own press and he’s issued a whole lot of trade paperback books through it of previously unpublished or uncollected material. (The Brain Movies series alone is now up to six volumes.) Bought for $29.99 (the opening bid) off eBay.

    Brain Movies

  • Ellison, Harlan (art by Larry Todd). Harlan Ellison’s Chocolate Alphabet. Last Gasp Eco Funnies, 1978. First edition comic book original, a Fine copy (or “Mint” in comic parlance) save slight age darkening to pages, signed by Ellison. Graphic novel version of a short story that appeared a few years earlier in F&SF. Bought off eBay for $18.96.

    Chocolate Alphabet

  • Ellison, Harlan. Dreams With Sharp Teeth. Quality Paperback book Club, 1991. First edition paperback original, a Very Good+ copy with spine slightly concave, light crease across entire front cover, wear at points, and wrinkling to first few pages. Signed by Ellison. Omnibus edition of the collections I Have No Mouth & I Must Scream, Deathbird Stories and Shatterday, minus duplicated stories between the volumes plus an original introduction by Ellison and slightly revised texts and story introductions. Bought off eBay for $12.50. Below the condition I usually collect, but there were no other signed copies online at all…
  • Farmer, Philip Jose. The Classic Philip Jose Farmer: 1964—1973. Crown, 1984. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Farmer. Companion piece to The Classic Philip Jose Farmer: 1954—1962. Bought for $17.99.
  • Farmer, Philip Jose. Red Orc’s Rage. Tor, 1991. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with slight spine fading. Signed by Farmer. Bought off eBay for $14.99.

    IMG_1393

  • Farmer, Philip Jose. The World of Tiers Volume One. Nelson Doubleday (SFBC), no date (but 1981). First edition hardback thus, an omnibus edition of Maker of Universes and The Gates of Creation, a true first edition thus as indicated by the L44 gutter code on page 311, as per the ISFDB, a Fine copy in a Near Fine dust jacket with a bit of rubbing. Signed by Farmer. Bought for $9.99.
  • Farmer, Philip Jose. The World of Tiers Volume Two. Nelson Doubleday, Inc. (SFBC), no date (but 1981). First edition hardback thus (first printing has gutter code “L44” on page 531, as per the ISFDB), an omnibus edition of A Private Cosmos, Behind the Walls of Terra and The Lavalit World, a Fine copy in a Near Fine+ dust jacket with edgewear at head and heel and a few small rubs. Signed by Farmer. Bought off eBay for $15.99.

    IMG_1394

  • Furze, Colin. This Book Isn’t Safe! Penguin Razorbill, 2017. First edition hardback (the U.S. and UK editions seemed to be simultaneous), a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Non-fiction book by the very popular YouTuber/crazy inventor, somewhat geared toward a Young Adult audience, on how to craft various projects and inventions. Click here for some of the Colin Furze videos I’ve posted here.
  • Handey, Jack. The Stench of Honolulu. Grand Central Publishing, 2013. Novel by the author of Deep Thoughts (and yes, he’s a real guy).
  • Harrison, Harry. Backdrop of Stars. Dennis Dobson, 1968. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with age darkening to pages in a Very Good+ dust jacket with rubbing (heaviest along spine join) and moderate dust soiling. Bought for $5.99.
  • Howard, Robert E. Three-Bladed Doom. Ace Books, 1979. First Ace edition paperback original (preceded by a Zebra paperback edition), a Very Good+ copy with wear at points, black signature squiggle on inside front cover, store stamp on teaser page, and general wear. El Borak stories.
  • Hughes, Matt[hew]. Fools Errant. Maxwell Macmillan Canada, 1994. First hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Hughes. Bought from an online seller for $35.

    Hughes Fools Errant

  • Knight, Damon. The Best of Damon Knight. Pocket Books, 1976. First paperback edition (the SFBC edition precedes), a Fine- copy with age darkening to page and foxing to inside covers.
  • Lansdale, Joe R. Bubba and the Cosmic Blood-Suckers. Subterranean Pres, 2017. First edition hardback, #580 of 1500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Prequel (of a sort) to Bubba Ho-Tep. Elvis, Nixon, Colonel Parker, and cosmic horrors.
  • Lansdale, Joe R. Coco Butternut. Subterranean Press, 2017. First edition hardback, #274 of 400 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Hap and Leonard novella. Bought for $22.50 after discount.
  • Lansdale, Joe R. Hap and Leonard: Blood and Lemonade. Tachyon, 2017. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy.
  • 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. Hoodoo Harry. Mysterious Bookshop, 2016. First edition hardback (small trim size), letter T of 26 lettered copies (along with an additional 100 hardback numbered copies, not seen), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. “Bibliomysteries 33.” 72 page Hap & Leonard novella. Bought directly from the publisher for $100, since they were already out of the numbered edition.

  • Lansdale, Joe R. Hoodoo Harry. Mysterious Bookshop, 2016. First edition trade paperback original, a Near Fine+ copy with bend to bottom outer tip (due to the way Mysterious Bookshop packaged things), otherwise new and unread. Presumably simultaneous with the hardback issue.
  • 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.
  • Leckie, Ann. Ancillary Justice. Orbit, 2013. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine, new and unready copy. Hugo and Nebula Award winner. Bought for $7.99 at Half Price Books. Supplements the later Gale/Thorndike Press large print hardback edition and the Subterranean Press signed/limited edition.
  • Lee, Tanith. The Silver Metal Lover. DAW, 1982. First paperback edition (the SFBC edition precedes), a Fine- copy.
  • 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.
  • Lethem, Jonathan. The Fortress of Solitude. Doubleday, 2003. Bought at Half Price Books for $5.99.
  • Lippman, Laura. Snowflake Time: A Christmas Story. Mysterious Bookshop, 2017. Center-stapled chapbook. Back cover reads “A holiday gift with the compliments of The Mysterious Bookshop.”
  • Mieville, China. Railsea. Del Rey, 2012.
  • Lovecraft, H.P. (edited by David E. Schultz and S. T. Joshi). Letters to C.L. Moore and Others. Hippocampus Press, 2017. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy, new and unread. Non-fiction.
  • Lovecraft, H.P. (edited by S. T. Joshi). H. P. Lovecraft’s Collected Fiction: A Variorum Edition: Volume 4: Revisions and Collaborations. Hippocampus Press, 2017. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy, new and unread. Companion to the three volume hardback Variorum edition volumes (but no hardback edition for this one, alas).
  • Lovecraft, H.P. and Clark Ashton Smith (edited by David E. Schultz and S. T. Joshi). Dawnward Spire, Lonely Hill: The Letters of H. P. Lovecraft and Clark Ashton Smith. Hippocampus Press, 2017. First edition hardback, one of 500 copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Huge 800 page non-fiction volume of Lovecraft/Clark letters.
  • Moorcock, Michael. London’s Bone and Other Stories. Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2016. Trade paperback reprint, a Fine unread copy.
  • Morrow, James. The Asylum of Dr. Caligari. Tachyon, 2017. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Short novel that uses the silent German Expressionist film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.
  • Norton, Andre. Ordeal in Otherwhere. World Publishing, 1964. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with patterning on spine in a Near Fine+ dust jacket with edgewear at head and heel and some blind-side transfer from spine (but no sun fading to spine), in plastic dust jacket protector. Currey, page 391. Bought for $5.

    Ordeal Otherwhere

  • Pohl, Frederik and Lester Del Rey (as Edson McCann). Preferred Risk. Simon and Schuster, 1955. First edition hardback, a Near Fine- copy with page block spotting at heel, in a Near Fine dust jacket with traces of wear at points and moderate soiling to white rear panel. Inscribed by Pohl: “To Rick—/With all good/wishes—/”Edson”/or/Fred Pohl.” Currey (1979), page 404. Bought for $8, down from $10 with a 20% off coupon. This is a case of knowing more than the bookseller, since I knew this was a Pohl/Del Rey pseudonym and what Pohl’s signature looks like. As for the book itself, evidently Galaxy magazine and Simon and Schuster ran a contest for an SF novel, didn’t like any of the submissions, and got Pohl and Del Rey to write this under a pseudonym for the contest.

    Preferred Risk

    IMG_1405

  • Powers, Tim. Medusa’s Web. Subterranean Press, 2016. First edition hardback, #226 of 474 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine slipcase, new and unread. Bought for $62.50 after discount.
  • Pratt, Fletcher. Double in Space. Doubleday, 1951. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Near Fine dust jacket with moderate spine fading. Bought for $8.

    Double in Space

  • Haijun, Yao and Mike Resnick, editors. World’s Science Fiction Story Collection II (ISBN 978-7-5364-8711-6). Sichuan Science and Technology Publishing House, 2017. Trade paperback original, a Fine copy, still in shrinkwrap. Chinese language anthology that prints a translation of my story “Crucifixion Variations.”

  • (Shea, Michael). Shea, Linda, and S. T. Joshi. And Death Shall Have No Dominion: A Tribute to Michael Shea. Hippocampus Press, 2017. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy, new and unread. A miscellany related to Shea, including short stories, novel segments, verse, unpublished work, and several tributes to him by other writers.
  • Simmons, Dan. The Children of the Night. Lord John Press, 1992. First limited edition hardback, #221 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine slipcase, sans dust jacket, as issued. Bought for $35 from a fellow collector who was downsizing.
  • Simmons, Dan. The Hollow Man. Lord John Press, 1992. First limited edition hardback, #324 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine slipcase, sans dust jacket, as issued, with errata slip laid in. Bought for $35 from a fellow collector who was downsizing.
  • Lord John Simmons

  • Straub, Peter. The Process (is a Process All Its Own). Subterranean Press, 2017. First edition hardback, #650 of 750 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Novella. Bought for $20 after discount.
  • Swanwick, Michael. Midwinter Fables. Dragonstairs Press, 2016. First edition chapbook original, #22 of 110 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, new and unread. Four short recastings of classic fables (“The Boy Who Cried Wolf,” “The Fox and the Crow,” “The Ant and the Grasshopper,” “The North Wind and the Sun”) and a frame story (“Midwinter Fables”).

    Midwinter Fables

  • Swanwick, Michael. Touchstones. Dragonstairs Press, 2017. First edition chapbook original, #9 of 50 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, new and unread. Three one page stories: “Lovers and Lunatics,” “Bradbury Jar 2.0” and “A Jarful of Keys,” as well as an Afterword. Related to Swanwick’s trip to China in 2017.

    Swanwick Touchstones

  • Vachess, Andrew, Geoff Darrow, Michael Black and Gary Gianni. The Shaolin Cowboy Adventure Magazine No. 1. Dark Horse, 2012. First edition trade paperback original, a Near Fine+ copy with a small scrape at heel and just a trace of wear. Signed by Vachess, Darrow and Black. Pulp fiction homage that looks like fun. Bought for $7.99.

    Shaolin Cowboy

    IMG_1408

  • Vance, Jack. Cadwell II: Ecce and Old Earth. Underwood/Miller, 1991. First edition hardback, #107 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket in a Fine- slipcase with one 1/8″ square spot of soiling to spine rear. Hewett, A84. Bought from a fellow Jack Vance collector who was downsizing for $75.
  • Van Vogt, A. E. The Battle of Forever. Author’s Co-Op, 1978. First edition hardback, #57 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Near Fine dust jacket with rubbing at head and along rear edges. Bought for $8.

    Battle of Forever

  • Van Vogt, A. E. The Beast. Doubleday Science Fiction, 1963. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with the barest traces of wear at head and heel. Signed by van Vogt: “Sincerely/A.E. and Lydia van Vogt.” Replaces an unsigned copy. Bought for $8.

    van Vogt Beast

  • Van Vogt, A. E. The War Against the Rull. Simon & Schuster, 1959. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Near Fine dust jacket with soiling along join line of white rear cover and touches of wear elsewhere. Inscribed by the author: “With the compliments/of the author/A. E. van Vogt.” Bought for $8.

    War Against the Rull

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  • Wallace, F. L. Address: Centauri. Gnome Press, 1955. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with the usual age-darkening to the paper, in a Very Good dust jacket with shallow chipping at head and heel, rubbing along spine and fading to spine, and other touches of wear, in the first state binding (gray boards lettered in black). Chalker/Owings, page 202. Kemp, page 236. Bought for $8.
  • Wilhelm, Kate. The Infinity Box. Harper Science Fiction, 1975. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket, with just a trace of surface wear (exaggerated in the scan); this reflective metallic dust jacket is usually found much, much more badly scratched up. Currey, page 538. Bought for $5.99.

    Infinity Box

  • Library Additions: January 1—June 30, 2017

    Thursday, July 6th, 2017

    Here it is, the big roll-up post of all the books I added to my library in the first half of this year. My purchases actually slowed down some over the last six months.

  • Aldiss, Brain W. Excommunication. Post Card Partnership, 1975. First edition postcard, a Fine copy. Bought for £2.50 after discount.
  • Atwood, Margaret. The Year of the Flood. Bloomsbury (UK), 2009. First edition hardback, # 653 of 1,000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in decorated boards with silver gilt edges, in a Fine slipcase, sans dust jacket, as issued. Bought for $7.50 at Half Price Books, marked down from $15 with a 50% off coupon. According to the ISFDB, this limited edition is a true first (simultaneous with the trade hardback and trade paperback states), and was originally issued at £75, so I got it for less than 1/10th cover price…

    Atwood Flood

  • Banks, Iain M. Cleaning Up. Birmingham Science Fiction Group, 1987. First edition chapbook, a Fine- copy with one small phantom indentation to top rear and a touch of soiling. Issued for Novacon 17. Bought online for £24.99 plus shipping.

    Cleaning Up

  • Beukes, Lauren. Zoo City. Angry Robot, 2010. First hardback edition and first UK edition, one of 100 signed copies (the only hardback edition), a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a very slight wrinkle at rear heel join, otherwise new and unread. Preceded by the Jacana Media (South Africa) paperback edition. Bought off eBay for $99 (the opening bid).

    Zoo City

    IMG_1117

    IMG_1122

  • Bix, Cynthia Overbeck, editor. Sunset Home Repair Handbook. Sunset Publishing, 1994. Trade paperback reprint, a Very Good+ copy with book slightly concave and touches of wear. Picked out of a box of free books out on a curb.
  • Crowther, Peter and Nick Gevers. Postscripts 30/31: Memoryville Blues. PS Publishing, 2013. First edition hardback, #173 of 200 copies signed by all the contributors, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine slipcase, new and unread. Bought off eBay for $15, which works out to less than a dollar a signature…
  • Cruz, Ted. A Time for Truth. Broadside Books, 2015. Signed by the author.
  • Drake, David. Codex. Sidecar Preservation Society, 2003. First edition chapbook original, #83 of 175 numbered copies, a Fine copy. According to Chalker & Owings Supplement 12, there were 25 copies bound in hardback (not seen). Bought for £2.50 after discount.

    Drake Codex

  • Ellison, Harlan. Alone Against Tomorrow. Macmillan, 1971. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Inscribed by Ellison: “For Don—/Harlan Ellison”. Currey (1979), page 177. Slusser (see below) 19. Bought off eBay for $35.
  • Ellison, Harlan (edited by Andrew Porter). The Book of Ellison. Algol Press, 1975. First edition hardback, one of only 200 hardbacks, a Near Fine copy with bumping at head and heel, sans dust jacket, as issued. Inscribed by Ellison: “For Malcolm, Friend, from/Harlan Ellison.” Collection of essays. Bought from a UK dealer for £33.
  • Ellison, Harlan. Edgeworks 1: Over the Edge/An Edge in My Voice. White Wolf, 1996. First edition hardback thus (and first hardback edition of Over the Edge, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket.
  • Ellison, Harlan. Edgeworks 3: Harlan Ellison’s Hornbook/Harlan Ellison’s Movie. White Wolf, 1997. First edition hardback thus, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Supplements the two-volume Mirage Press set of these same titles.
  • Ellison, Harlan. Edgeworks 4: Love Ain’t Nothing But Sex Misspelled/The Beast That Shouted Love at the Heart of the World. White Wolf, 1998. First edition hardback thus, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket.
  • (Ellison, Harlan) Segaloff, Nat. A Lit Fuse: The Provacative Life of Harlan Ellison. NESFA Press, 2017. First edition hardback, #238 of 500 copies signed by Segaloff, a Fine copy in decorated boards, in a Fine slipcase, sans dust jacket, as issued. Authorized biography. The pic below is from the front of the slipcase.

    A Lit Fuse

  • (Ellison, Harlan). Slusser, George Edgar. Harlan Ellison: Unrepentant Harlequin. Borgo Press, 1977. First edition chapbook original (“First Edition———April 1977”), a Fine copy. Signed and dated (“4/18/95”) by Ellison. Critical work on Ellison. “The Milford Series Popular Writers of Today: Volume Six.” Bought of eBay for $13.05.

    Unrepntent Harlequin

  • (Ellison, Harlan) Slusser, George Edgar. Harlan Ellison: Unrepentant Harlequin. Borgo Press, 1977. First edition chapbook, a Near Fine- copy with rubbing and a sticker pull to front cover. Inscribed by Ellison, with a drawing, in two colors: (In blue ink) “For Daniel Traeger The “Mom” (in rust-colored ink) That’s supposed to/say “The Man” — But/I messed up. Sorry/Harlan Ellison/”The Inept.” Currey (1979), page 180. Another copy, bought for $1.98 at Half Price Books after I bought the one above.

    Slusser Ellison Sig

  • Eggers, Dave, editor. McSweeney’s 15. McSweeney’s, 2004. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued, still in shrinkwarp, with Icelandic tabloid included. Bought for $2 from Half Price Books.
  • Fabian, Stephen. Crystal of a Hundred Dreams: A Portfolio by Stephen E. Fabian. Underwood/Miller, 1979. First edition oversized softbound art portfolio, one of 550 sets produced, a Fine copy, still in shrinkwrap. Illustrations from the U/M Jack Vance books The Eyes of the Overworld, The Seventeen Virgins and The Bagful of Dreams. Chalker/Owings (1991), page 431 (where they note it’s “Uncommon,” most sets having been broken up and framed). Bought for $55 from a fellow Jack Vance collector.

    IMG_1215

  • Farmer, Philip Jose. The Classic Philip Jose Farmer: 1954—1962. Crown, 1984. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Farmer. Volume 4 in the Crown SF Classics series. Bought for $21.50 off eBay.

    Classic Farmer Sig

  • Foster, Alan Dean (writing as George Lucas). Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker. Ballantine Books, 1976. First edition paperback original (as indicated both by the “First Printing 1976” statement on the copyright page, and by the original Ralph McQuarrie artwork on the cover, which was dropped from all subsequent reprints), a Very Good copy with cover creasing, bottom front corner crease, and general wear.

    Star Wars PB

  • Freas, Frank Kelly. The Art of Science Fiction. Donning, 1977. First edition hardback, #234 of 1,000 copies with a signature plate signed by Freas pasted inside the front cover, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Bought for $50 off eBay.

    Art Freas

  • Hill, Joe. A Little Silver Book of Sharp Shiny Slivers. Borderlands Press, 2017. First edition hardback, #439 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Part of the Borderlands Little Book series.

    Joe Hill Silver

  • Jacobi, Carl. The Smoke of the Snake. Fedogan & Breamer, 1994. Bought for $7.99 at Half Price Books.
  • Lafferty, R.A. The Man With the Speckled Eyes: The Collected Short Fiction Volume Four. Centipede Press, 2017. #40 of 300 signed, numbered copies, matching the number I have for the other volumes.
  • Lee, Tanith. Mortal Suns. Overlook Press, 2001. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with slight bend at head and heel and a touch of wear. Signed and date by Lee “2004/London.” Bought for £7.50.
  • Lee, Tanith. Wolf Wing. Dutton, 2003. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a very slight bump at head and a few faint, non-breaking scratches to rear cover. Signed and dated 2008 by Lee. Bought for £7.50.
  • Le Guin, Ursula. To Siva the Unmaker. Science Fiction Poetry Association, 1980. First edition postcard, a near Fine copy with a faint dime-sized stain. Signed by Le Guin. Bought for $15 off eBay.

    Le Guin Postcard

  • Mieville, China. The Last Days of New Paris. Subterranean Press, 2017. First limited edition hardback (the Del Rey trade edition precedes), #322 of 500 signed, numbered copies.
  • Nevins, Jess. The Encyclopedia of Fantastic Pulp heroes. Lulu Press, 2017. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Non-fiction reference work covering fantastic pulp heroes from 1902—1945. Bought for $22.49 the first week of publication.

    Fantastic Pulp Heroes

  • Partridge, Norman. Spyder. Subterranean Press, 1995. First edition chapbook original, a PC copy of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy. Bought for £2.50 after discount.

    Partridge Spyder

  • Powers, Tim. Poems. Charnel House, 2016 (actually 2017). First edition hardback, #54 of 200 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued.

    Powers Poems

  • Rajaniemi, Hannu. The Quantum Thief. Gollancz, 2010. First edition hardback, an Ex-Library copy with pocket and stamps, in a Fine-, protected dust jacket with a bit of curl at head. Presents well. Bought off eBay for £19.99 plus shipping.

    Quantum Thief

  • Tem, Steve Rasnic. Fairytales. Roadkill Press, 1990. First edition chapbook original, #352 of 400 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy. Bought for £2.50 after discount.

    Tem Fairytales

  • Spencer, William Browning. The Unorthodox Dr. Draper. Subterranean Press, 2017. #169 of 750 signed, numbered copies. I’ll have copies for sale in the forthcoming Lame Excuse Books catalog.
  • Tessier, Thomas. Lulu and one other. Subterranean Press, 1999. First edition chapbook original, a PC copy of 250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy. Bought for £2.50 after discount.

    Tessier Lulu

  • Lame Excuse Books December 2016 Catalog

    Thursday, December 15th, 2016

    Welcome once again to another installment of “Lawrence Just Posts The Latest Lame Excuse Books Catalog as a Giant Text File.” If there’s anything here you want to buy, drop me a line at Lawrence Person (lawrenceperson@gmail.com).


    Greetings, and welcome to the Lame Excuse Books catalog for December 2016!

    I’m going to be honest with you: This is a pretty weird catalog. It’s got the usual small press firsts from Subterranean Press, Tachyon, Dragonstairs Press, etc., but it’s also got some William F. Buckley spy thrillers (one signed), some werewolf books (both from some auction lots), and random beat-up reading copies, as well as a big bunch of markdowns to existing stock (including a whole lot of Subterranean Press books). Plus new books by Joe R. Lansdale, James P. Blaylock, Bruce Sterling, Michael Swanwick, Greg Egan, Robert Silverberg, a new Charnel House Harlan Ellison limited, etc.

    The picks of the list:

    * James P. Blaylock’s The Further Adventures of Langdon St. Ives
    * Joe R. and John L. Lansdale’s Hell’s Bounty and Zombie Gold
    * Alastair Reynold’s Beyond the Aquila Rift
    * Bruce Sterling’s Pirate Utopia

    The URL for the main Lame Excuse Books webpage is:

    https://www.lawrenceperson.com/lame.html

    My blog, where I do a lot of book geeking (including new additions to my own collection) is:

    https://www.lawrenceperson.com

    I’m still doing a Lame Excuse Books Twitter feed:

    https://twitter.com/LameExcuseBooks

    Also note that TomFolio books is shutting down, and I haven’t picked a new book listing service yet.

    Payment, Contact & Shipping Information

    Email me at lawrenceperson@gmail.com. I can hold books ten days on email or phone requests (please leave a message on my voice mail for the latter: (512) 569-9036). U.S. shipping is $5.00 for the first book, and $1.00 a book thereafter. Foreign shipping is at cost (please inquire; for most locations, First Class International starts at $22.50 now). Books may be returned in the same condition sent for any reason within 10 days of purchase for a full refund. Please make checks payable to Lawrence Person. I can also take PayPal payment to this email address at http://www.paypal.com, and I can take MC and Visa directly through my merchant account.

    Please mail checks to:

    Lawrence Person
    Lame Excuse Books
    P.O. Box 27231
    Austin, Texas 78755

    Finally, if you want me to take you off this mailing list, please let
    me know. I hate spam just as much as the next person.

    Now the books!

    Hardbacks

    LP2382. Abraham, Daniel. Balfour and Meriweather in The Incident of the Harrowmoor Dogs. Subterranean Press, 2013. First edition hardback, #124 of 250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Steampunky-looking mystery novella. List price is $45. For you? $20.

    LP2170. (Anderson, Poul) Gardner Dozois and Greg Bear, editors. (Larry Niven, Greg Benford, Tad Williams, etc.) Multiverse: Exploring Poul Anderson’s Worlds. Subterranean Press, 2014. First edition hardback, one of 250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and Fine slipcase, new and unread. Poul Anderson tribute anthology, including stories using his characters and settings. $70.

    LP2171. (Anderson, Poul) Gardner Dozois and Greg Bear, editors. (Larry Niven, Greg Benford, Tad Williams, etc.) Multiverse: Exploring Poul Anderson’s Worlds. Subterranean Press, 2014. First edition hardback, one of 1,500 trade copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Poul Anderson tribute anthology, including stories using his characters and settings. $30.

    LP2514. Armstrong, Kelley. Driven. Subterranean Press, 2016. First edition hardback, one of 1000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, with fill-color endpapers and several full color plates, new and unread. Her latest werewolf novel. Half off cover price. $20.

    LP2383. Armstrong, Kelley. Forsaken. Subterranean Press, 2015. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Otherworld. Werewolves. How about 75% off cover price? $10.

    LP2063. Baker, Kage. Black Projects, White Knights. Golden Gryphon, 2002. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Short stories about The Company. $12.

    LP1621. Baker, Kage. The Empress of Mars. Subterranean Press, 2009. First edition hardback, one of 500 copies signed by Baker, a Fine copy in a Fine dj, new and unread. A full length novel, and not to be confused with the earlier novella from Night Shade. Out of print from the publisher. $45.

    LP1115. Baker, Kage. Mother Aegypt and Other Stories. Night Shade Books, 2004. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dj, new and unread. includes an original, never before published novella. LAST COPY! $15.

    LP2064. Banks, Iain M. Against a Dark Background. Orbit, 1993. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with slight haze rubbing (which means the glossy black areas seem to have a bit of haze on them if you move them back and forth under a strong light), otherwise new and unread. Banks first “pure” non-Culture SF novel. Banks was a phenomenally talented writer who died way too young. $125.

    LP2065. Banks, Iain M. Consider Phlebas. Macmillan, 1987. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with a tiny bit of bend at edge of head and heel, in a Fine, Mylar-protected dust jacket. Read once, by me. The first Culture novel, and Banks’ first “pure” SF novel. Recommended. I’m not seeing a single unsigned first of the Macmillan Consider Phlebas anywhere online. $300.

    LP2066. Banks, Iain M. Excession. Orbit, 1996. First edition hardback, a Fine copy (though with the characteristic slight page darkening of Orbit books of this era) in a Fine dust jacket. Inscribed by Banks: “To Narayan/-best wishes/Iain M. Banks”. Recommended. A Culture novel. For some reason I can’t find a single signed Excession on Bookfinder. $175.

    LP1622. Banks, Iain M. Matter. Orbit (UK), 2008. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy in a Near FIne dust jacket with bumping at head and heel and associated wrinkles. Culture novel. $12.

    LP2173. Banks, Iain. The Quarry. Little Brown (UK), 2013. Fourth printing of the hardback first edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Banks’ last novel, alas. $8.

    LP1939. Bear, Elizabeth. ad eternum. Subterranean Press, 2012. First edition hardback, one of 250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Part of her New Amsterdam series. Also included in this edition is the 9,000 word chapbook Underground. $35.

    LP2118. Bear, Elizabeth. The White City. Subterranean Press, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Magic alternate history thing. $20.

    LP2386. Benford, Gregory. The Best of Gregory Benford. Subterranean Press, 2015. First edition hardback, #123 of 250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Another huge career retrospective collection. $55.

    LP2387. Benford, Gregory. The Best of Gregory Benford. Subterranean Press, 2015. First edition hardback, trade edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Another huge career retrospective collection. $35.

    LP2515. Blaylock, James P. The Adventures of Langdon St. Ives. Subterranean Press, 2016. First edition hardback, one of 200 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Omnibus edition of four Lagdon St. Ives steampunk novellas. “The Here-and-Thereians” plus a short coda (“Earthbound Things”) are original to this volume, so you need this even if you have the previous Subterranean Press Langdon St. Ives volumes. List price: $60. For you: $55.

    LP2516. Blaylock, James P. The Adventures of Langdon St. Ives. Subterranean Press, 2016. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Omnibus edition of four Lagdon St. Ives steampunk novellas. “The Here-and-Thereians” plus a short coda (“Earthbound Things”) are original to this volume, so you need this even if you have the previous Subterranean Press Langdon St. Ives volumes. Trade edition. PICK OF THE LIST. List price: $40. For you: $35.

    LP2013. Blaylock, James P. Zeuglodon. Subterranean Press, 2012. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Set in the same universe as The Digging Leviathan and takes place in the hollow earth. Trade edition is sold out from the publisher. LAST COPY. $35.

    LP2517. Bloch, Robert. Flowers from the Moon. Arkham House, 1998. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with very slight fold to the very top 1/16″ of the front inner flap, otherwise pristine. Collection of early Bloch stories, including the title werewolf story and four Cthulhu Mythos stories. $25.

    LP1625. Bloch, Robert (Gahan Wilson). Skeleton in the Closet, and Other Stories (The Reader’s Bloch Volume 2). Subterranean Press, 2008. First edition hardback, one of only 750 copies, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dj, as issued, new and unread. More uncollected Bloch. Illustrated by Gahan Wilson. $30.

    LP1626. Bradbury. Ray. Marionettes, Inc. Subterranean Press, 2009. First edition hardback, one of 2000 copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. A collection of Bradbury’s robot stories, including two previously unpublished works. Now sold out from the publisher. Only have one. $30.

    LP1519. Bradbury, Ray. Moby Dick: A Screenplay. Subterranean Press, 2008. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dj, new and unread, still in publisher’s shrinkwrap. The basis of the John Huston movie. No out of print from the publisher, and I only have one. $30.

    LP2068. Bradbury, Ray. Nemo! Subterranean Press, 2013. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Previously unpublished Ray Bradbury screenplay set in Winsor McCay’s Little Nemo in Slumberland comic strip. Now sold out from the publisher, but I still have it at less than cover price. $30.

    LP2518. Buckley, William F., Jr. Brothers No More. Doubleday, 1995. First edition hardback, a Very Good copy with slight dampstaining to last few pages at heel lifting some of the binding dye to the page edges, in a near Fine dust jacket with slight surface wear and slight crease to inner top flap. Thriller that starts in World War II. Earlier this year, I won a Buckley lot at auction quite cheaply, about half of which were signed. The non-signed books in the lot I’m blowing out cheap as reading copies. $3.

    LP2519. Buckley, William F., Jr. Elvis in the Morning. Harcourt, 2001. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy in a Near Fine dust jacket with a touch of surface wear/soiling (especially along spine join) and slight edge curl. Novel of Elvis in the 50s and 60s. Certainly when I think of Elvis, Buckley is the first novelist that comes to mind. (Actually this did get better reviews than, say, Tender…) $ 3.

    LP2520. Buckley, William F., Jr. High Jinx. Doubleday, 1986. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with a few pinpricks of dust staining at head in a Very Good+ dust jacket, with shallow chipping at head, heel and along the top edge of the front. A Blackford Oakes spy thriller. $3.

    LP2521. Buckley, William F., Jr. Marco Polo, if You Can. Doubleday, 1982. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with very slight dust staining at head, in a Near Fine- price-clipped dust jacket with 1/8″ chipping at head and a tiny bit at heel and points. Inscribed by Buckley: “1/14/82 /For Roger Bink/Warm regards/Wm F. Buckley Jr.” $10.

    LP2522. Buckley, William F., Jr. Spytime: The Undoing of James Jesus Angleton. Harcourt, 2000. First edition hardback, a Very Good with spy concave, in a Near Fine dust jacket. Novel based on Angleton’s real0life hunt for a communist mole in the CIA. $3.

    LP2523. Buckley, William F., Jr. A Very Private Plot . First edition hardback, a Very Good- copy with dampstaining at heel and associated black dye trasnfer from boards, in a Very Good- dust jacket with dampstain warping to front and rear. A Blackford Oakes spy thriller. $3.

    LP477. Chizmar, Richard, editor (Jack Ketchum, John Shirley, David B. Silva). Night Visions 10. Subterranean Press, 2001. First Edition hardback, Fine in a Fine dj, new. All new stories by Jack Ketchum, John Shirley, and David B. Silva done in a uniform format with the Dark Harvest Night Visions series. $12.

    LP755. Crowley, John. Daemonomania. Bantam, 2000. First edition hardback, Fine in Fine dj, new and unread. The third book in the Aegypt sequence. Back in stock. $10.

    LP1683. Crowley, John. Endless Things. Small Beer Press, 2007. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Concluding novel of the Aegypt series. CHEAP! $10.

    LP1777. De Lint, Charles. Eyes Like Leaves. Subterranean Press, 2009. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread, signed by De Lint. This last copy has hung around a while, so let’s sell it cheap. $20.

    LP2524. Donaldson, D. J. Blood on the Bayou. St. Martin’s Press, 1991. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacet with a bit of haze rubbing to the rear cover. Werewolf mystery novel set in New Orleans (“An Andy Broussard/Kit Franklin Mystery”). $20.

    LP1686. Egan, Greg. Crystal Nights and Other Stories. Subterranean Press, 2009. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Short story collection. Now sold out from the publisher. $32.

    LP2525. Egan, Greg. The Four Thousand, The Eight Hundred. Subterranean Press, 2016. First edition hardback, one of 1,000 copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Hard science fiction novella set on the asteroids of Vesta and Ceres. Only have one. $37.

    LP1527. Egan, Greg. Incandescence. Gollancz, 2008. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dj with a tiny bit of crimping at head, new and unread. Far future SF novel. Precedes the Night Shade edition. Gollancz seems to have cut back drastically on their hardback print runs; this came out May 15, and was already OP in hardback on June 1, and I had to scramble around to find some in the UK. $30.

    LP1836. Egan, Greg. Zendegi. Night Shade Press, 2010. First U.S. edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Novel set in a post-theocracy Iran and a popular virtual reality game. $10.

    LP2542. Ellison, Harlan. Coffin Nails. Charnel House, 2016. First edition oversized hardback, a Fine copy, one of 200 signed, numbered copies, sans dust jacket, as issued. The usual lavish Charnel House production, an attractive brown patterned (“crackle paper”) binding, with embossed silver nails spelling out “HE” on the front cover, and a giant silver nail on the cover. Features 25 uncollected Ellison stories from across his career. Sure to be a lust object for all your bibliophile friends. Only have one. $5 off cover price. $295.

    LP2123. Ellison, Harlan. The Deadly Streets. Subterranean Press, 2013. First hardback edition, one of 750 copies of the trade edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Early Ellison collection now available in hardback. Cover price: $45. Your price: $30.

    LP2306. Gaiman, Neil and Michael Reaves. Interworld and The Silver Dream. Subterranean Press, 2014. First limited hardback edition, each #344 of 500 signed copies, both Fine copies in Fine dust jackets, new and unread. Two young collaborative young adult novels involving parallel worlds. Offered at $20 off cover price, and I only have one set. $100.

    LP1400. Garton, Ray. Night Life. Subterranean Press, 2005. First edition hardback, one of 400 signed and numbered copies bound in leather, in a Fine, Mylar protected dust jacket, new and unread. Garton’s sequel to Live Girls, sold out pre-publication within mere hours of Subterranean announcing the book. $45.

    LP2525. Haining, Peter. The Dracula Centenary Book. Souvenir Press, 1987. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with just a tiny bit of crimping at points. Illustrated non-fiction book about various Dracula facts, real, fictional and on screen. $10.

    LP2526. Hughes, Winifred. The Maniac in the Cellar: Sensation Novels of the 1860s. Princeton University Press, 1980. Presumed first edition hardback (no additional printing stated), a Fine copy in a near Fine-, price-clipped dust jacket with spots of rubbing to matte black rear cover. Non-fiction on Victorian sensation novels of the 1860s. $5.

    LP1640. King, Stephen. Stephen King Goes to the Movies. Subterranean Press, 2009. First edition hardback, one of 2000 copies (and the only hardback edition), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Includes five stories by King that were made into movies (“1408,” “The Mangler,” “Low Men in Yellow Coats” (made into Hearts in Atlantis), “Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption,” “The Mist” and “Children of the Corn,” each with new introductions by King about how the moves were made and what he thought of them. Illustrations by Vincent Chong. With two color printing and heavier than usual paper, this is a lavish production beyond even the usual high Subterranean Press standards. I haven’t read all the stories in here, but the ones I have are among King’s best. Recommended. $26 off cover price! $49.

    LP2527. Kuznia, Yanni, editor (Jacqueline Carey, Kevin Hearne, Laura Bickle, Aliette De Bodard). A Fantasy Medley 3. Subterranean Press, 2015. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Trade edition of this short fantasy anthology, now sold out from from the publisher, but I’m still offering it at 50% off cover price. $10.

    LP1846. Lake, Jay. The Sky That Wraps. Subterranean Press, 2010. First edition hardback, one of 1,000 signed copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Short story collection by the author of the Hugo-nominated Mainspring, and a swell guy to boot. $5 off cover price. $29.

    LP1959. Lansdale, Joe R. Act of Love. Subterranean Press, 2012. First edition hardback thus, with a new novelette, “A Bone Dead Sadness,” and interview with Lansdale not included in any previous edition, one of 200 signed, numbered slipcased copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and slipcase, new and unread. Only have one. $100 List. For you, $90.

    LP1848. Lansdale, Joe R. By Bizarre Hands Rides Again. Morning Star Press, 2010. Expanded edition with new stories and story notes, one of 300 copies signed by Lansdale, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. The original was a great short story collection, and thus new edition has everything in the original and more. Highly recommended. $65.

    LP2482. Lansdale, Joe R. (Pete Von Sholly, illustrator). Christmas Monkeys. PS Publishing, 2015. First edition hardback, one of 300 copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and decorated boards, with bookmark signed by the author and artist laid in (as issued). Illustrated children’s book (for certain values of “children”). LAST COPY! $34.

    LP18840. Lansdale, Joe R. Christmas With the Dead. PS Publishing, 2010. First edition hardback, one of 300 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Now out of print from the publisher. $34.

    LP2195. Lansdale, Joe R. Devil Red. Knopf, 2011. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Signed by Lansdale. Hap and Leonard novel. Recommended. $12.

    LP2484. Lansdale, Joe R. Fender Lizards. Subterranean Press, 2015. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Even though this is the trade edition, I got Joe to sign it at Armadillocon, and it’s sold out from the publisher, but still cover price. $40.

    LP2528. Lansdale, Joe R. and John L. Lansdale. Hell’s Bounty. Subterranean Press, 2016. First edition hardback, one of 1,000 copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Weird western about demons, bounty hunters and the end of the world. Sold out from the publisher, and only have one of this true first edition. However, see the next item… $65.

    LP2529. Lansdale, Joe R. and John L. Lansdale. Hell’s Bounty with Zombie Gold. Short, Scary Tales (SST) Publications, 2016. First edition hardback thus for Hell’s Bounty, true first edition for Zombie Gold, one of 200 signed, numbered sets with matching numbers, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Hell’s Bounty is by and signed by both Lansdales, while Zombie Gold is by John L. Lansdale solo. Two weird westerns, heavy on the action and bloodshed. For the set: $95. (One dealer has this set at $140.)

    LP2530. Lansdale, John L. Zombie Gold. Short, Scary Tales (SST) Publications, 2016. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Trade edition of this weird western. $30.

    LP1850. Leiber, Fritz. Strange Wonders. Subterranean Press, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Collection various work, some previously unpublished or uncollected. 25% off cover price. $30.

    LP2531. Levy, Edward. The Beast Within. Arbor House, 1981. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with a bit of curl and head and heel and a trace of dust soiling to back cover, in a near Fine dust jacket with haze rubbing along spine join. “A modern day Jekyll and Hyde in the clothes of a werewolf…a lupine incubus.” $5. Given when this was published, there’s a good chance David Hartwell edited it. $5.

    LP2532. Lupoff, Richard. Lisa Kane. Bobbs-Merrill, 1976. First edition hardback, a Fine- with a few dust marks to front board, in a Near Fine- dust jacket with crinkling at head and heel, slight curl at top front edge, slight creases to inner flaps, and slight darkening to top of rear cover. Werewolf novel. $5.

    LP2533. Mieville, China. This Census-Taker. Subterranean Press, 2016. First limited edition hardback thus (the Del Rey trade edition precedes), #443 of 750 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Now sold out from the publisher, and I only have one. $60.

    LP1853. Niven, Larry. The Best of Larry Niven. Subterranean Press, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Another huge Subterranean career retrospective collection. LAST COPY. $35.

    LP2534. Novik, Naomi. Blood of Tyrants. Del Rey, 2013. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. The eight Temeraire book about the Napoleonic War with dragons. $10.

    LP1968. Powers, Tim. The Bible Repairman and Other Stories. Subterranean Press, 2012. First hardback edition, one of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. $10 off cover price. $65.

    LP2082. Powers, Tim. Salvage and Demolition. Subterranean Press, 2013. First edition hardback, one of 350 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Powers latest novella, about a rare book dealer. Now sold out from the publisher, but I’m offering it at $5 off cover price. $60.

    LP2083. Powers, Tim. Salvage and Demolition. Subterranean Press, 2013. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. This trade edition is also sold out from the publisher, and also offered at $5 cover price. $22.

    LP2207. Prachett, Terry. Raising Steam. Doubleday, 2014. First American edition, hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread, with review materials laid in. Discworld goes Steampunk. $10.

    LP1642. Resnick, Mike. Kilimanjaro: A Fable of Utopia. Subterranean Press, 2008. First edition hardback, one of 1000 signed copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Companion volume to his Kirinyaga stories, in which the Maasai try to create their own Utopia. Only have one. $28.

    LP2535. Reynolds, Alastair. Beyond the Aquila Rift. Subterranean Press, 2016. First edition hardback, trade state, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Another huge career retrospective collection, and at 781 pages, I think it’s the largest yet. $42.

    LP2399. Reynolds, Alastair. Slow Bullets. WSFA, 2015. First hardback (and first signed) edition, one of 1000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Produced for CapClave, where Reynolds was Guest of Honor. $35.

    LP1742. Scalzi, John. God Engines. Subterranean Press, 2009 (actually not shipped until 2010). First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Trade edition. $15.

    LP1976. Shepard, Lucius. The Dragon Griaule. Subterranean Press, 2012. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. All Shepard’s Dragon Griaule stories in one volume. $35.

    LP1977. Silverberg, Robert. The Collected Stories of Robert Silverberg Volume Six: Multiples 1983-1987. Subterranean Press, 2012. First edition hardback, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. The earlier volumes are gone baby gone… $30.

    LP2136. Silverberg, Robert. The Collected Stories of Robert Silverberg Volume Eight: Hot Times in Magma City: 1990-95. Subterranean Press, 2013. First edition hardback, a Fine copy, new and unread, sans dust jacket, as issued. The latest and greatest volume by the legendary Grandmaster. I sold a lot of the collected Silverberg volumes at Worldcon, and this trade edition is now sold out from the publisher. $30.

    LP2536. Silverberg, Robert. Early Days: More Tales from the Pulp Era. Subterranean Press, 2016. First edition hardback, #168 of 1000 signed, numbered copies. Collection of early Silverberg stories. Only have one, $5 off cover price. $35.

    LP2137. Silverberg, Robert. The Last Song of Orpheus. Subterranean Press, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Original 30,000 word novella. $10 off cover price. $25.

    LP2209. Simmons, Dan. Muse of Fire. Subterranean Press, 2008. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Original science fiction novella. Out of print from the publisher. $30.

    LP1288. Smith, Clark Ashton (edited by Scott Connors and Ron Hilger). Star Changes: The Science Fiction of Clark Ashton Smith. Darkside Press, 2005. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dj, new and unread, still in publisher’s shrinkwrap. $32.

    LP1887. Stephenson, Neal. Zodiac: The Eco Thriller. Subterranean Press, 2011. First hardback edition, one of 500 copies signed by Stephenson, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread, in slipcase. First hardback of Stephenson’s second novel, and the usual quality Subterranean Press production. Now sold out from the publisher, but still $25 off the publisher’s price. $120.

    LP1480. Sterling, Bruce. Islands in the Net. Arbor House, 1988. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with very slight bumping at heel and the ownership stamp of Louis Mackey on FFE, in a Near Fine, price-clipped (but otherwise pristine and Mylar-protected) dj. Signed by Sterling (who has also written “Copyright 1988” and “2007”). Mackey was a well-known professor at the University of Texas and something of a minor celebrity, having played a role in the film Richard Linklater film Slacker (he’s the professor complaining that he missed Charles Whitman’s shooting spree). Since Bruce attended UT, it would have been nice if this had been some sort of association copy, but no, Bruce said he had never heard of him when I had him sign this. So whether the Mackey signature is a plus or a minus depends on the eye of the beholder. $35.

    LP2537. Sterling, Bruce (Warren Ellis, Christopher Brown, Rick Klaw). Pirate Utopia. Tachyon, 2016. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Novella in which the Italian Futurists set up their own state after World War I. Includes H.P. Lovecraft and Houdini as characters. Includes an Introduction by Warren Ellis, and interview with Sterling by Rick Klaw, and an afterword by Christopher Brown. $18.

    LP1856. Straub, Peter. The Juniper Tree and Other Blue Rose Stories. Subterranean Press, 2010. First edition hardback, one of 1,500 trade copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Collection of novellas set in the same world as Koko, Mystery, and The Throat, along with an interview conducted by Bill Sheehan. $22.

    LP1425. Stross, Charles. Missile Gap. Subterranean Press, 2007. First edition hardback, one of 1000 signed, numbered copies, Fine in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. A very alternate Cold War novella. This first printing is now out of print from the publisher. $27.

    LP1981. Stross, Charles. Palimpsest. Subterranean Press, 2012. First edition hardback, one of 1,000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. His Hugo-winning, far-future novella. $30.

    LP197. Tepper, Sheri. Gibbon’s Decline and Fall. Bantam, 1996. First edition hardback, Fine in a Fine dj, new in dj. Get this off my shelf. $1.

    LP2538. Tolkien, J. R. R. The Lord of The Rings (The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King). Houghton Mifflin, 1965. Fifth Printing of this edition (the Second U.S. hardback edition, with all the all the appendices at the back of The Return of the King, and fold out maps of Middle Earth (The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers) and Mordor (The Return of the King) present, a Very Good- set, well read, all three spines slightly dull, spine on The Fellowship of the Ring slightly concave, map in The Fellowship of the Ring with one small tear near attachment point reinforced with tape, lacking the dust jackets, in a Very Good- slipcase with significant rubbing at heel, slight wear/abrasion at points and to attached slipcase frontispiece, with about 1/4″ loss to top right corner, affecting very edge of end line of elvish script. A well-worn set that was formerly my father’s. He read these to me and my sister in our youth, and then we read the hell out of them in our teen years. Still, the front cover embossing for all three books (depicting the eye of Sauron, the one ring, and the Tengwar/Black Speech inscription on the ring) is still quite bright and attractive on all three volumes. My father died in January of 2016, and my mother gave these to me as part of downsizing from a house to an apartment. Since I already own a copy of this edition with the dust jackets, I’m offering this up here. Highly recommended as the most important work of fantasy of all time. Sets of this edition in dust jacket tend to go for about $150, so let’s offer this up at 1/5th that. $30.

    LP2539. Tolkien, J. R. R. The Lord of The Rings (The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King). Houghton Mifflin/SFBC, 1986 (the ISFDB IDs the 10259 code on the back of The Fellowship of the Ring as belonging to the SFBC edition that year). Book club reprint hardback, Near Fine copies with slight spotting at head, in Near Fine- (The Fellowship of the Ring)/Very Good+ (The Two Towers, The Return of the King) dust jackets with slight spine fading wear at head, heel and points, a 1/2″ tear at head of The Two Towers, and three 1/4″ closed tears and two small black marks on rear cover of The Return of the King. Just sturdy reading copies of the definitive epic fantasy trilogy of the 20th century. Another thing downsized from my mother’s move. $5.

    LP2041. Vance, Jack. Desperate Days: Selected Mysteries Volume 2. Subterranean Press, 2012. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Thick omnibus edition of three Vance mystery novels (The Fox Valley Murders, The Pleasant Grove Murders, The Dark Ocean), and a companion to Subterranean’s earlier Dangerous Ways volume. Sort of surprised I have two left, as the Vance stuff usually disappears pretty quick. $40.

    LP2540. Varley, John. Demon. Putnam, 1984. First edition hardback, an ex-library copy with all the usual flaw; call it a Very Good- Ex-Lib copy with pages yellowing (as usual), spine concave, wear along bottom boards, plus all the usual stamps, pocket, etc., in a Very Good+ dust jacket with sticker to spine, and spots of wear where Mylar dj protector has been worn through. Third book in the titan trilogy. Space-filler first of a book that reportedly had a smaller print run than the first two volumes. $5.

    LP2144. Varley, John. Good-bye, Robinson Crusoe and Other Stories. Subterranean Press, 2013. First edition hardback, one of 1,000 copies signed numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. $15 off cover. $30.

    LP2541. Varma, Devendra P. The Gothic Flame: Being a History of the Gothic Novel in England: Its Origins Efflorescence, Disintegration and Residuary Influence. The Scarecrow Press, 1987. First edition thus, being the reprint of a work first published in 1957, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Non-fiction work on the development of the Gothic novel. Includes bibliography at back. $20.

    LP2542. Windsor, Patricia. The Blooding. Scholastic Press, 1996. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Werewolf novel. I see precisely one copy listed online, and it’s not as nice as this one. $25.

    LP1988. Willis, Connie. All About Emily. Subterranean Press, 2011. First edition hardback, one of 400 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Sold out from the publisher. Only have one. $40.

    LP1447. Willis, Connie. D. A. Subterranean Press, 2007. First edition hardback, one of only 400 signed/numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dj, new and unread. Sold out from the publisher. Only have one. $34.

    LP2405. Zafon, Carlos Ruiz. The Prisoner of Heaven. Subterranean Press, 2014. First limited edition hardback, #339 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. This edition is sold out from the publisher, and I’m not seeing any copies of it listed online. $125.

    Trade Paperbacks

    LP2543. Chabon, Michael. The Yiddish Policeman’s Union. Harper Perennial, 2008. First trade paperback edition, preceded by the hardback, a Near Fine+ copy with 1/8″ white abrasion at heel. Inscribed by Chabon: “For Delois/Happy Mother’s Day/Michael Chabon.” Read once. Hugo and Nebula Winner for Best Novel. Another book from my mother’s household downsizing. $7.

    LP2124. Gunn, James. The Unpublished Gunn Part 2. Chris Drumm Books, 1996. First edition chapbook original, a Fine copy. $5.

    LP2544. McCammon, Robert. Blue World. Subterranean Press, 2015. Trade paperback reprint, a Fine, unread copy. Short story collection. $5.

    LP2545. Lansdale, Joe R. Hap and Leonard. Tachyon. 2016. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Signed by Lansdale. All the Hap and Leonard short fiction, including three novella’s (Veil’s Visit (with Andrew Vachss), Hyenas, and Dead Aim) previously published as stand-alone novellas. Only have one. $16.

    LP2507. Swanwick, Michael. 5 Seasons. Dragonstairs Press, 2016. First edition chapbook original, one of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy. Five one page stories about the seasons. All these Dragonstairs press chapbooks tend to disappear pretty quickly, so here’s a chance to pick it up while it’s still cover price. $6.

    LP2508. Swanwick, Michael. Seasons Greetings. Dragonstairs Press, 2015. First edition chapbook original, one of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy. The 2015 Swanwick Christmas chapbook, now out of print from the publisher. $10.

    LP2547. Swanwick, Michael. Solstice Spirits. Dragonstairs Press, 2015. First edition chapbook original, one of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy new and unread. Four brief seasonal tales. Though dated 2015, I was only able to order this recently, and it’s already sold out from the press. $15.

    Mass Market Paperbacks

    LP2548. Effinger, George Alec. Planet of the Apes 2: Escape to Tomorrow. Award Books, 1975. First edition paperback original, a Very Good+ copy with creasing and a tackhead-sized abrasion to upper right corner and a stamped “2” at head, two small wrinkles along spine, and general wear. Based on the short-lived CBS TV show, one of four Effinger did. $5.

    LP2549. Farmer, Philip Jose. Tarzan: The Dark Heart of Time. Del Rey, 1999. First edition paperback original, a near Fine copy with slight spine creasing and a touch of edgewear. A surprisingly uncommon PBO, given the author and subject matter. $35.

    LP2550. Kuttner, Henry. Lancer, 1973. Paperback reprint, a Poor copy with the page blocks failing out, held together with two rubber bands, but otherwise intact. All Kuttner’s Gallagher stories, in which an inventor creates robots while blind stinking drunk, and then can’t remember what he made them for. Only reason I’m bothering to sell it is that these are GREAT, HILARIOUS stories and this hasn’t been reprinted nearly often enough. Reading copy only. Highly recommended. $3.

    LP2541. Leiber, Fritz. The Wanderer. Ballantine Books, 1964. First edition paperback original, a Very Good copy with creasing and wear along spine, a long crease along top front corner, and general wear. Hugo Winner for best novel.

    Since Sherri Tepper died recently, I thought I’d list which books of hers I have, all marked down a bit:

    LP1586. Tepper, Sherri S. The Flight of Mavin Manyshaped. Ace, 1985. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with just a trace of wear at top outer corner, otherwise new and unread. A really beautiful copy. $20.

    LP2291. Tepper, Sheri S. The Bones. Tor, 1987. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Very Good+ copy with one spine crease, top front corner crease, and touches of edgewear. Believe it or not, there was once a time when science fiction and fantasy novelists looked at switching to horror as a good career move… $4.

    LP2292. Tepper, Sheri S. King’s Blood Four. Ace, 1983. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Very Good+ copy with one spine crease, 1 1/2″ thin crease along bottom front spine join, edgewear, and small abrasion to top rear cover. First book in the True Game series. $4.

    LP1675. Tepper, Sheri S. Jinian Footseer. Tor, 1985. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Very Good+ copy with crease along spine join, partial crease and wrinkle on spine, small crease to lower back corner, and touches of general wear. True Game novel. $4.

    LP1869. Tepper, Sheri S. Marianne, the Magus and the Manticore. Ace, 1985. Third printing, a VG copy with spine creasing, spine line, number stamp at head, and general wear. The Marianne titles are probably the least common of all Tepper’s books. $8.

    LP1618. Tepper, Sheri S. The Revenants. Ace, 1984. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Very Good+ copy with spine-creasing and edgewear, but otherwise square. Standalone fantasy novel involving a Sphinx’s riddles. $4.

    LP1586. Tepper, Sherri S. The Search of Mavin Manyshaped. Ace, 1985. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Fine- copy with just a trace of edgewear, otherwise new and unread. A really beautiful copy. Third book in the Mavin trilogy. $35.

    LP2293. Tepper, Sherri S. The Song of Mavin Manyshaped. Ace, 1985. Second printing, a Near Fine copy lines at head and heel, a small name on blurb page, and a few touches of edgewear. The first Mavin book. $4.

    LP2294. Tepper, Sheri S. Wizard’s Eleven. Ace, 1984. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Near Fine copy with small date stamp at heel, edgewear, and one tiny wrinkle near base of spine, otherwise tight and square. Third book in the True Game series. Man, Tepper must have been a writing machine in the mid-1980s… $4.

    Library Additions: 10 Subterranean Press Books

    Thursday, November 3rd, 2016

    I picked the following up at various Subterranean Press sales (some were 50% off, others discounted even more than that as part of a “grab bag” deal). A few of these will be available in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog, which I’m about to start work on.

  • Blaylock, James P. The Further Adventures of Langdon St. Ives. Subterranean Press, 2016. First edition hardback, #104 of 200 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Omnibus edition of Lagdon St. Ives novellas. “The Here-and-Thereians” plus a short coda (“Earthbound Things”) are original to this volume.
  • Blaylock, James P. The Further Adventures of Langdon St. Ives. Subterranean Press, 2016. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Trade edition.
  • Chu, Wesley. The Days of TAO. Subterranean Press, 2016. First edition hardback, #268 of 1,000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket.
  • Egan. Greg. The Four Thousand, The Eight Hundred. Subterranean Press, 2016. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket.
  • McCammon, Robert. The Last Train to Perdition. Subterranean Press, 2016. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Trade edition.
  • McCammon, Robert. Stinger. Subterranean Press, 2015. Signed limited edition hardback, #467 of 1,000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Supplements a copy of the Kinnell first hardback.
  • Mieville, China. This Census-Taker. Subterranean Press, 2016. First limited edition hardback (the Del Rey trade edition precedes), #442 of 750 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket.
  • Powers, Tim. Down and Out in Purgatory. Subterranean Press, 2016. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Trade edition.
  • Shepard, Lucius. Five Autobiographies and a Fiction. Subterranean Press, 2013. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Trade edition.
  • Silverberg, Robert. Early Days: More Tales from the Pulp Era. Subterranean Press, 2016. First edition hardback, #169 of 1,000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket.
  • Library Additions: Chapbooks By Swanwick, Mieville, Lovecraft

    Thursday, October 9th, 2014

    A variety of interesting chapbooks came in, including two books about H. P. Lovecraft’s family and a few Swanwick chapbooks I hadn’t been able to pick up before:

  • (Lovecraft, H.P.) Faig, Kenneth W. The Parents of Howard Philip Lovecraft. Necronomicon Press, 1990. First edition chapbook original, a Fine copy, signed on the inside front cover by Faig. Non-fiction.
  • (Lovecraft, H.P.) Squires, Richard D. Stern fathers ‘neath the mould: The Lovecraft Family in Rochester. Necronomicon Press, 1995. First edition chapbook original, a Fine copy. Non-fiction. This and the above bought for $28.29 off eBay.
  • Mieville, China. The Apology Chapbook. China Mieville/World Fantasy Convention, 2013. First edition chapbook original, a Fine copy, new and unread. Issued in lieu of Mieville being able to make his scheduled Guest of Honor appearance at the 2013 World fantasy Convention in Brighton.
  • Purdom, Tom. Reentry and other thoughts on Science Fiction. Dragonstair Press, 2014. First edition chapbook, a Fine- copy with slight crease to left edge. Non-fiction essays on science fiction.

    Purdom

  • Swanwick, Michael. American Cigarettes. Dragonstairs Press, 2011. First edition chapbook, a slender 8 pages (including self wrappers), #85 of 100 signed, numbered copies, Fine, with advert for Dancing With Bears laid in.
  • Swanwick, Michael. The Nature of Mirrors. Dragonstairs Press, 2011. First edition chapbook, a slender 12 pages (including self wrappers and two blanks), #67 of 100 signed, numbered copies, Fine.
  • Swanwick, Michael. Song of the Lorelei. Dragonstair Press, 2011. First edition chapbook, a slender 8 pages (including self wrappers), #88 of 100 signed, numbered copies, Fine.

    Swanwick Chapbooks 100814

  • Library Additions: June 14—December 31, 2013

    Monday, January 6th, 2014

    It’s been another landmark year for adding books to my library of science fiction first editions. This post documents everything I bought after my big Zelazny acquisition on June 13, including some books that have been covered in posts since, and many that haven’t. (What I bought earlier in the year before the big Zelazny purchase can be found here.) All are first edition hardbacks, Fine copies in Fine dust jackets, unless otherwise noted.

  • Adams, Douglas. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Harmony Books, 1979. First U.S. edition.
  • (Adams, Douglas) Gaiman, Neil. Don’t Panic: Douglas Adams & The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Titan Books, 2003. First hardback edition and first edition thus (revised and updated), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Non-fiction reference work.
  • Aldiss, Brian. Moreau’s Other Island. Jonathan Cape, 1980. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Aldiss on the front free endpaper.
  • Aldiss, Brian. This World and Nearer Ones: Essays Exploring the Familiar. Weidenfield and Nicolson, 1979. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket.
  • (Aldiss, Brian) Aldiss, Margaret. Item Eighty-Three: Brian W. Aldiss: A Bibliography: 1954—1972. SF Horizons, (1973). Chapbook, Fine. Non-fiction.
  • Asimov, Isaac. Nemesis. Doubleday, 1989. First edition hardback, number 485 out of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine slipcase, sans dust jacket, as issued. This was a serendipitous find. I wasn’t looking for it (since I’m not generally a big fan of Asimov’s later work), but merely entered “signed limited edition” in Amazon’s books section just to see what I would find and this came up at $80. Given that it was originally issued at $125, and given that copies on Bookfinder start at $150, I thought it was a good price. Asimov isn’t actually a hard signature (especially compared to verified Philip K. Dick or Robert A. Heinlein signatures), but he has become fairly pricey one for his first editions.

  • Asimov, Isaac, edited by Stanley Asimov. Yours, Isaac Asimov. Doubleday, 1995. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with one tiny black remainder mark I missed, otherwise apparently new and unread, in a Fine dust jacket. Non-fiction collection of Asimov’s letters.
  • Ballard, J. G. Myths of the Near Future. Jonathan Cape, 1982.
  • Ballard, J. G. The Disaster Area. Jonathan Cape, 1967. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Near Fine dust jacket with edgewear and a few tiny spots of rubbing to dust jacket rear. Replaces a copy with a far more worn dust jacket. Bought for $100 at Half Price Books during a coupon sale.

    Disaster Area

  • Ballard, J. G. The Drought. Jonathan Cape, 1965. First hardback edition and first complete edition, a Near Fine+ copy, with spine of book itself slightly discolored and small sticker for London bookseller Foyles on inside cover, in a Fine dust jacket. Currey, page 22. Goddard and Pringle, J. G. Ballard: The First Twenty Years, item 59. Bought for $212.50, marked down from $425.

  • Ballingrud, Nathan, and Eileen Gunn. North American Monster Stories. Small Beer Press, 2013. Paperback chapbook original, Fine.
  • Banks, Iain. The Quarry. Little Brown, 2013.
  • Bear, Elizabeth. Book of Iron. Subterranean Press, 2013. Number 65 of 250 signed, numbered copies.
  • Bear, Elizabeth. Book of Iron. Subterranean Press, 2013. Trade edition.
  • Bear, Greg. Early Harvest. NESFA Press, 1988. First edition hardback, #173 of 250 signed, numbered copies (800 print run total), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and slipcase. Supplements a signed trade copy. Bought off the Internet for $37.50.
  • Beaumont, Charles. The Intruder. Centipede Press, 2013. First edition thus, one of 200 copies signed by editor Roger Anker, William F. Nolan, and J.K. Potter. Basis of the Roger Corman film starring William Shatner.
  • Beaumont, Charles and John Tormerlin. Run From the Hunter. Centipede Press, 2013. First edition thus and first edition under authors’ actual names, one of 200 copies signed by John Tomerlin and J.K. Potter.
  • Beyer, William Gray. Minions of the Moon. Gnome Press, 1950. First edition hardback, a Very Good+ copy with small spotting to front and rear boards and wear at top and bottom boards, in a Near Fine+ dust jacket with wear along spine and front panel join and slight edgewear elsewhere; a really nice example of the Edd Cartier dust jacket. The eighth Gnome Press book. Chalker/Ownings (1991), page 198. Kemp, The Anthem Series, page 197. Trying to collect the entire Gnome Press line…

    Minions Moon

  • Blaylock, James P. with Kim Stanley Robinson. Two Views of a Cave Painting b/w Escape From Kathmandu. Axolotl Press, 1986. First edition hardback, #43 of 300 signed, numbered hardback copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket.
  • Bleiler, Richard. Supernatural Fiction Writers. Charles Scribner’s Sons/Thomson/Gale, 2003. First edition hardbacks of the Second Edition (stated inside, not on the cover), a two volume set, Fine- copies with slight dust soiling at heel in decorated boards with slight haze rubbing, sans dust jacket, as issued. Non-fiction reference work. Bought for $40, including dealer discount, which I though was a pretty good price, since non-Ex-Library copies list in the multiple hundreds. Note that the first edition was edited by the late E. F. Bleiler, while this second edition is edited by his son (who I’ve sold many a book to over the years…)
  • (Blish, James) Stableford, Brian M. A Clash of Symbols: The Triumph of James Blish. Borgo Press, 1979. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket (somewhat uncommon for Borgo, who usually went for plasticized decorated boards for their hardbacks), #17 of 62 signed/numbered copies signed by Stableford. Bought for $28. Non-fiction critical work, part of the Milford series, which I pick up in hardback when I chance across them for authors I’m interested in.
  • Brackett, Leigh. The Sword of Rhiannon. Boardman, 1955. First hardback edition (“First published in Great Britain, 1955″, as per Currey), a Fine- copy with slight bend at head and heel and foxing to interior gutters, in a Very Good dust jacket with 1/4” of wear rubbing/chipping (dust jacket is present, but image has been worn away) at head, a similar, smaller amount of wear at heel, a shallow chip with associated wear at top rear, and crease along front cover spine join running the entire length of the jacket, and wear along extremities; despite all that, the rest of the jacket is quite bright and attractive. Currey, page 53. Cawthorn & Moorocock, Fantasy: The Hundred Best Books 75. A fairly uncommon book these days.

  • Bradbury, Ray. Collected Short Stories. Petersen Publishing Company (The Great Author Series), 2002. Presumed first edition hardback (no additional printings listed), a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, presumably as issued.

  • Bradbury, Ray. The Dragon. Footsteps Press, 1988. First edition chapbook, #72 of 300 signed, numbered copies, Fine. Has affixed wrappers with a transparent blue Mylar window (there were evidently also red and yellow window variants).

  • Bradbury, Ray. Driving Blind Avon Books, 1997. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Inscribed by Bradbury: “Marilyn! /Onward!/Ray Bradbury/Oct. 18, ’97”. Bought for $20 off eBay.
  • Bradbury, Ray. The Homecoming. Collins Design, 2006. First edition hardback in decorated boards, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Bradbury. Illustrated by Dave McKean. Short story done as a short illustrated book. Bought for $30.51 off eBay.

  • Bradbury, Ray. The Veldt. The Perfection Form Company, 1982. (Possible) First edition chapbook original, a Fine copy in stapled wraps, inscribed by Bradbury on the cover. Reading comprehension questions at the back.

  • Bradbury, Ray. With Cat for Comforter. Gibbs Smith Publisher, 1997. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Bradbury. Illustrated by Louise Reinoehl Max. Short poem turned into an illustrated children’s book. Replaces an unsigned copy in my library. Bought for $16.66 off eBay.

  • Bradley, Marion Zimmer. The Sword of Aldonis. Gregg Press, 1977. First hardback edition, Fine- with a trace of wear at tips, sans dust jacket, as issued. Darkover novel. Currey (1978), page 61.
  • Bradley, Marion Zimmer. The Heritage of Hastur. Gregg Press, 1977. First hardback edition, Fine- with a trace of wear at tips, sans dust jacket, as issued. Darkover novel. Currey (1978), page 62. Bought more as part of my long-term goal of collecting all the Gregg Press first editions…
  • Bramah, Earnest. The Moon of Much Gladness. Cassell & Company, 1932. First edition hardback (Berro A17), a Fine- copy with slight bends at head and heel in a VG+ dust jacket with a 1/8″ chip at rear head join, slight cracking at top edge of front cover, and dust soiling to rear, otherwise a fairly bright and attractive copy of a book seldom offered in dust jacket. Bought for $300 off the Internet from a major SF book dealer. (What appear to be tiny spots of white rubbing to the black dj are in fact scanner artifacts.)

    Moon Much Gladness

  • Brundage, Margaret (edited by Stephen D. Korshak and J. David Spurlock). The Alluring Art of Margaret Brundage, Queen of Pulp Pin-Up Art. Vanguard Productions/Shasta Phoenix, 2013. First edition hardback, slipcased limited edition with 16 additional pages of art, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Brundage was the woman who did all those great “damsel in distress” covers for Weird Tales in the 1930s, and it’s great to finally have a book of her art.

    P1000125

  • Brunner, John. The Man Who Was Secrett and Other Stories. Ramble House/Dancing Tuatara Press, 2013. First edition POD hardback, Fine/Fine.
  • Budrys, Algis. Cerberus. Pulphouse, 1989. First edition hardback, #53 of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Part of the “Pulphouse Convention Series.” Fourth book Pulphouse did, and the first one that wasn’t an issue of their namesake hardback magazine.
  • Campbell, Ramsey. Scared Stiff: Tales of Sex and Death. Scream Press, 1987. First edition hardback, #130 of 250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued, in a Fine slipcase. Bought for $20. I’m sort of collecting a complete Scream Press collection, but it’s fairly low on my list of priorities…
  • Carriger, Gail (pen name of Tofa Borregaard). Heartless. Orbit, 2011. Paperback original, a Fine- copy. Parasol Protectorate #4.
  • Chabon, Michael. Fountain City: A Novel Wrecked. McSweeney’s, 2010. First edition paperback original, a small, slightly oblong format, roughly 5 1/4″ high, by 6 1/4″ long, a Fine- copy in Fine- fold over wrappers (which fold out into a sort of map picture), with a tiny, 1/16″ cut to top font cover. The opening chapters of a novel Chabon abandoned. Bought for $22.50, down from $45.

  • Clarke, Arthur C. Imperial Earth. Gollancz, 1975.
  • Clement, Hal (writing name of Harry C. Stubbs). Fossil. DAW, 1993. First edition paperback original, Fine- with a tiny bit of edgewear.
  • Clement, Hal. Small Changes. Doubleday, 1969. First edition hardback, a Near Fine+ copy with blindstamp on title page and crimping at head and heel, in a Near Fine- dust jacket with dust soiling to white background and a small closed tear and associated wrinkle to top front flap. Signed “”Hal Clement” (Harry C. Stubbs)”. Not overly common these days. Bought for $28.
  • Dick, Philip K. The Collected Stories of Philip K. Dick Volume 4: Minority Report. Subterranean Press, 2013. First thus.
  • Dick, Philip K. A Handful of Darkness. Rich & Cowan, 1955. First edition hardback, Currey binding A (blue boards lettered in silver) in a first state dust jacket (no mention of World of Chance), an Ex-Library copy with most of the usual flaws, including protected dust jacket flaps taped to boards (and inner cardboard sleeve additionally taped) and stamp for Eeeling Science Fiction Postal Library on inner cover; dust jacket is completely intact, the only flaws being “D11/2” written in white on bottom spine just above publisher, and slight dust staining to white rear cover; call it a VG/NF Ex-Lib copy. Levack, 21a. Currey (1978), page 157. Dick’s first short story collection and first hardback book. (Hairline crack on left is a scanner artifact.)

  • (Dick, Philip K.) Peake, Anthony. A Life of Philip K. Dick: The Man Who Remembered the Future. Arcturus, 2013. Non-fiction.
  • Di Filippo, Paul. Time’s Black Lagoon. DH Press, 2006. Paperback original, a Fine, unread copy. Sequel to the movie The Creature From the Black Lagoon.
  • Dozois, Gardner and George R. R. Martin, editors. Songs of Love & Death. Gallery Books, 2010.
  • Egan, Greg. The Eternal Flame (Orthogonal Book 2). Night Shade Books, 2012.
  • Ellison, Harlan. All the Lies That Are My Life. Underwood/Miller, 1980. First edition hardback, one of 400 unsigned trade hardcover copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Chalker/Owings, page 432.
  • Ellison, Harlan. Harlan Ellison is Watching. Underwood/Miller, 1989. First edition hardback, #46 of 600 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and slipcase. Chalker/Owings, page 440.
  • Ellison, Harlan. Stalking the Nightmare. Phantasia Press, 1982. First edition hardback, #240 of 700 signed hardback copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and slipcase. Supplements a copy of the trade edition. Chalker/Owings, page 340.
  • Farmer, Philip Jose. Lord Tyger. Doubleday, 1970. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight crimping at head and heel and trace of foxing along gutters, in a Fine- dust jacket with slight darkening to spine and a few traces of dust soiling. Signed by Farmer. Farmer’s SF take on Tarzan. Currey (1979), page 153. Bought for $60.

    Lord Tyger

  • Gaiman, Neil. Fortunately the Milk…. HarperCollins (UK), 2013. First edition hardback (the UK and U.S. edition were evidently simultaneous), slipcased limited edition (“with exclusive bookmark”) sold by UK bookstore chain Foyle’s signed by Gaiman and illustrator Chris Riddle, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued, still in shrinkwrap. I think this state came out about a month after the trade edition. Young adult novella. Bought for £19.99 plus shipping off eBay.

    Gaiman Milk

  • Gaiman, Neil, with David McKean. Mythological Creatures. The Royal Mail, 2009. First edition folded broadside, legal-paper sized printed cardstock, two-sided, with six stamps in attached Mylar pouches, Fine. Collectable stamp folder with six mini-stories by Gaiman, one for each mythological creature on the stamps, with Dave McKean art. An odd item I only recently became aware of, and one that may frustrate Gaiman completists a few years hence…

    Mythical Creatures

  • Gibson, William. Zero History. Putnum, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Gibson. Bought for $12 (marked down from $20) at a Half Price Books during a coupon sale.
  • Haldeman, Joe. A Separate War and Other Stories. Ace, 2006.
  • Harrison, Harry. Skyfall. Faber & Faber, 1976. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed and dated (“82”) by Harrison. Bought for $20.
  • Heinlein, Robert A. The Number of the Beast. New English Library, 1980. First hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Reportedly Heinlein’s worst novel, but if you’re collecting the whole set…

    Heinlein Number Beast

  • Heinlein, Robert A. The Puppet Masters. Doubleday, 1951. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight foxing to endpapers and tiny touches of wear at heel in a in a Near Fine- dust jacket with extremely shallow surface chipping at head and slight fading of purple coloring on spine. A very nice copy of one of Heinlein’s most important early novels. Currey (1978), page 233. Pringle, SF 100 4.

    Puppet Masters

  • (Heinlein, Robert A.) Patterson, William H. Robert A. Heinlein in Dialogue With His Century Volume 1: Learning Curve: 1907-1948. Tor, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Non-fiction biography.
  • Hill, Joe. Locke & Key 3: Crown of Shadows. Subterranean Press, 2013. #31 of 250 signed, numbered copies, in slipcase. Graphic novel.
  • Howard, Robert E. Cormac MacArt Baen, 1995. First edition paperback original, Fine- with a tiny bit of edgewear, foxing inside covers, and a phantom crease along rear cover. Mostly reprints Howard stories from Tigers of the Sea, but adds a new Cormac MacArt story by David Drake.
  • Howard, Robert E. Kull Baen, 1995. First edition paperback original thus (“First Complete Edition”), a Fine copy.
  • Howard, Robert E. Kull: Exile of Atlantis. Subterranean Press, 2013. Hardback first edition thus, #305 of 1,500 copies signed by artist Justin Sweet, a Fine copy in a Fine dustjacket and slipcase.
  • Howard, Robert E. The Sower of Thunder. Donald M. Grant, 1975. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by illustrator Roy G. Krenkel. Currey (1978), page 252.
  • Howard, Robert E. (edited by Robert M. Price). Nameless Cults: The Cthulhu Mythos Fiction of Robert E. Howard. Chaosium, 2001. Trade paperback original, Fine. Includes four Howard story fragments finished by others.
  • Hubin, Allen J. Crime Fiction, 1749-1980: A Comprehensive Bibliography with 1981-1985 Supplement to Crime Fiction, 1749-1980: A Comprehensive Bibliography. Garland, 1984/1988. First edition hardbacks, Near Fine copies with dust staining at head and traces of wear at points and heel, sans dust jacket, as issued. Bought from Half Price Books for $5 for the set (marked down from an original price of $60). I’m a sucker for comprehensive bibliographies…
  • (Jeter, K. W. and Ferret, as Dr. Adder and Mink Mole). Alligator Alley. Morrigan Books, 1989. First edition hardback, copy #104 of 210 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and slipcase, as well as a cassette tape of material related to the novel. Does not include the T-shirt that was sold with some of the slipcased copies. Supplements my trade edition. Jeter told me he actually had very little to do with the novel…
  • Jones, Sergent Morgan, and Damien Lewis. The Embassy House. Threshold Editions, 2013. Non-fiction on Benghazi embassy attack. Withdrawn by the publisher under political pressure.
  • Jones, Stephen, Editor. Weird Shadows Over Innsmouth. Fedogan & Breamer, 2005. Cthulhu Mythos anthology.
  • Jones, Stephen, Editor. Weirder Shadows Over Innsmouth. Fedogan & Breamer, 2013. Cthulhu Mythos anthology.
  • Klaw, Rick, editor. Rayguns Over Texas. Fandom Association of Central Texas, 2013. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy, new and unread, signed by 13 of the contributors. Anthology of SF stories from Texas writers published for the 2013 Worldcon in San Antonio. I have a story in here, “Novel Properties of Certain Complex Alkaloids,” that’s like a Greg Egan story by way of H. P. Lovecraft and Timothy Leary. Introduction by Bruce Sterling. This copy signed by myself, editor Rick Klaw, cover artist Rocky Kelly, Don Webb, Chris Brown, Matthew Bay, Stina Leicht, Nicky Drayden, Rhonda Eudaly, Derek Austin Johnson, Marshall Maresca, Sanford Allen, and Josh Roundtree. I also have an additional copy inscribed to me by several of the contributors in my contributor copy library.
  • (Koontz, Dean R.) Kotker, Joan G. Dean Koontz: A Critical Companion. Greenwood Press, 1996 (stated; probably more recent). Reprint hardback, Fine, sans dust jacket, as issued. Non-fiction.
  • Lake, Jay. Dogs in the Moonlight. Prime Books, 2004. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a bit of wear at the tips. Signed by Lake. Missed this when it came out, mainly because Prime was still part of Wildside. Bought for $24 off the Internet.
  • Lake, Jay. Endurance. Tor, 2011. Signed by Lake. Bought for 20% off cover at the San Antonio Worldcon.
  • Lansdale, Joe R. Bleeding Shadows. Subterranean, 2013. Short story collection.
  • Lansdale, Kasey, editor. Impossible Monsters. Subterranean Press, 2013.
  • Leiber, Fritz. The Moon is Green and Other Tales. Armchair Fiction, 2013. First edition trade paperback original (POD), a Fine copy, new and unread.
  • (Leiber, Fritz) Morgan, Chris. Fritz Leiber: a bibliography, 1934—1979. Morgenstern, 1979. Chapbook original, one of 1000 copies, a Near Fine+ copy with spots of age darkening to cover.
  • Leinster, Murray and Charles L. Fontenay. Planet of Dread b/w Twice Upon a Time. Armchair Fiction, 2010. First edition trade paperback original (POD), a Fine copy, new and unread. Honestly, I just picked this up for the cool, retro giant spider cover.

  • Lem, Stainslaw. A Perfect Vacuum. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1979. First English language edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with small closed tear at bottom front and a few touches of wear. Reviews of imaginary books. Replaces an Ex-Library copy in my library.
  • Lethem, Jonathan. Chronic City. Doubleday, 2009.
  • Littell, Jonathan. The Kindly Ones. Harper, 2009. First U.S. edition of a book original published in French as Les Bienveillantes, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a few touches of wear at edges. In 1989 Littell published a 3rd-generation cyberpunk PBO called Bad Voltage, then slipped from public view until he published Les Bienveillantes, a novel about the Holocaust, in France in 2006 (he’s a dual U.S. French citizen), which won the prestigious Prix Goncourt literary award.
  • (Lovecraft, H.P.) Lockhart, Ross E., editor. The Book of Cthulhu II. Night Shade Press, 2012. Trade paperback original. Anthology.
  • Martin, George R. R. and John J. Miller. Wild Cards Volume VII: Dead Man’s Hand. Bantam Spectra, 19990. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with a trace of edgewear.
  • (Martin, George R. R.) Samuelson, Todd, Editor. Deeper Than Swords: Celebrating the Work of George R. R. Martin. Texas A&M University Cushing memorial Library and Archives, 2013. Oversized trade paperback, a Fine copy. Illustrated critical companion to Martin’s work, published as part of an event at the library with Martin on March 22, 2013.
  • Matheson, Richard. The Memoirs of Wild Bill Hickock. Jove, 1996. Paperback original, VG with creasing.
  • Matheson, Richard. The Shrinking Man. Gregg Press, 1979. First Gregg Press edition, Fine, sans dust jacket, as issued.
  • Mieville, China. London’s Overthrow. The Westbourne Press, 2012. First edition trade paperback original, Fine, new and unread. Non-fiction. Appears to be a political rant with pictures.
  • McDevitt, Jack. Echo. Ace, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a tiny bit of wrinkling at top edge.
  • Moorcock, Michael. Sailor on the Seas of Fate. Quartet Books, 1976. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with a chip out of the corner of the front free endpaper, in a Fine dust jacket. Currey, page 372.
  • Moore, C.L. Judgment Night. Gnome Press, 1952. First edition hardback, a Near Fine+ copy with slight crimping at head and heel, mild foxing to inner gutters, and a few tiny spots of wear to bottom boards, in a Near Fine+ dust jacket with 1/4″ closed tear at heel, slight wrinkling at rear head, and a touch of edgewear. A truly superb, bright example of the dust jacket. Collection of five longer stories. Currey (1978), Page 377. Chalker/Owings (1991), page 199. Anatomy of Wonder 4, 3-130. Another notable book from the golden age of the genre small press. Bought for $65 off eBay.

    Judgment Night

  • Picacio, John. John Picacio 2014 Calendar. Lone Boy, 2013. First edition, Fine, signed by the artist, with Kickstarter specials, including six oversized loteria cards, a sketcbook, and a signed pencil.

    P1000119

  • Pohl, Frederik, with Jack Williamson. The Saga of Cuckoo. Nelson Doubleday (SFBC), 1983. First edition thus and first hardback (a book club omnibus edition of Farthest Star and A World Around a Star, both previously published only in paperback), code “N34” on page 433 (as per ISFDB), a Fine- copy with a tiny bit of crimping at head and heel, in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by both Pohl and Williamson. Bought for $22.50 off eBay.
  • Powers, Tim/James P. Blaylock. The Way Down the Hill/The Pink of Fading Neon. Axoltl Press, 1986. First Edition hardback, #178 of 300 hardback copies by both authors and introducers Ed Bryant and Charles De Lint, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Bought for $30 plus shipping from Heritage Auctions. One of those books I wasn’t sure whether I owned or not, since I had the other Axolotl Press Powers and Blaylock books…
  • Rainey, Stephen Mark. Song of Cthulhu. Chaosium, 2001. Trade paperback original, Fine. Anthology.
  • Reynolds, Alastair. Dr. Who: Harvest of Time. BBC Books, 2013. Signed by Reynolds at the 2013 San Antonio Worldcon.
  • Roberts, Adam (as A. R. R. R. Roberts). The Soddit, or Let’s Cash In Again. Gollancz, 2003. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Roberts. Parody of The Hobbit.
  • Robinson, Kim Stanley. 2312. Orbit, 2012. First UK edition (I think the U.S. precedes by two days), a Fine- copy with slight wrinkling to top of dust jacket.
  • Schweitzer, Darrell. Cthulhu’s Reign. DAW, 2010. paperback original, Fine. Anthology.
  • Sennholz, Mary. On Freedom and Free Enterprise. Von Nostrand, 1956. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with slight dust-staining to head and crimping at head and heel in a very Good+ dust jacket with 1/4″ tears at head and heel. Collection of free market essays, published in honor of the 50th anniversary of Ludvig von Mises’ receiving his doctorate. Bought for $5 at Half Price Books.
  • Shaver, Richard S. The Shaver Mystery, Book One. Armchair Fiction, 2011. First edition trade paperback original, Fine, new.
  • Shaver, Richard S. The Shaver Mystery, Book Two. Armchair Fiction, 2011. First edition trade paperback original, Fine, new.
  • Shaver, Richard S. The Shaver Mystery, Book Three. Armchair Fiction, 2012. First edition trade paperback original, Fine, new.
  • Shaver, Richard S. The Shaver Mystery, Book Four. Armchair Fiction, 2013. First edition trade paperback original, Fine, new. The four volumes collect stories and ancillary material from the “Shaver Mystery,” Shaver’s weird, strangely compelling conspiracy theory/alternate reality in which a hateful race of “deros” (“detrimental robots”) lived inside he earth, beaming mind-control rays at surface dwellers (and occasionally kidnapping them for torture, food, or sport). Shaver’s elaborate, unhinged vision brought a vast legion of cranks out of the shadows and onto the subscriber ranks of Amazing, whose editor Ray Palmer started publishing Shaver’s stories in the 1940s, which was to have a considerable impact on SF fandom. I doubt much of this has seen print since it’s original appearance in Amazing, or in Palmer’s subsequent The Hidden World. If you’re a connoisseur of crank literature, Shaver is up there with the whackiest.
  • Shea, Michael. Assault on Sunrise. Tor, 2013. Sequel to The Extra.
  • Shea, Michael. The Incomplete Nifft. Baen, 2000. First edition paperback original thus, an omnibus edition of Nifft the Lean and The Mines of Behemoth, a NF copy, with a crease on the bottom back cover.
  • Silverberg, Robert. Capricorn Games. Random House, 1976. Signed by Silverberg. Currey (1979), page 436.
  • Silverberg, Robert. The Collected Stories of Robert Silverberg Volume 8: Hot Times in Magma City: 1990-1995. Subterranean Press, 2013. Fine, sands dust jacket, as issued.
  • (Simak, Clifford D.) Becker, Muriel R. Clifford D. Simak: a primary and secondary bibliography. G. K. Hall, 1980. First edition hardback, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Non-fiction. I do wish the books were separated from the short fiction listings…
  • Smith, Clark Ashton. Lost Worlds. Arkham House, 1944. First edition hardback, a Near Fine+ copy with slight crimping at head and heel, bump to top front corner, usual age darkening to pages, and a trace of foxing to gutters, in a Near Fine dust jacket with age darkening to light-colored portion of spine, short closed tear and associated 1/2″ wrinkle crease at head, a tiny bit of rubbing at heel, and age darkening around edges and crease folds. Smith’s second prose collection and the seventh Arkham House book published. Currey (1978), page 453. Locke, Spectrum of Fantasy One, page 200. Bleiler, Guide to Supernatural Fiction, 1485. Tymn, 4-202. Joshi, Sixty Years of Arkham House 7. Derleth, 30 Years of Arkham House, 7. Jaffery (1982), 7. Nielsen, 7. Bought for $172 off the Internet.

    CAS Lost Worlds

  • Smith, Edward E., Ph.D. Skylark Three. Fantasy Press, 1948. First edition hardback, one of 500 subscriber copies with a signature page inscribed by Smith bound in: “To Hugh F. Henry—/Three in a row — Hot dog!/And thanks a million for/the compliment./Edward E. Smith, Ph.D.” (Doc Smith had marvelously clear handwriting), a Fine- copy with a tiny bit of crimping at head and heel and faint foxing to gutters, in a Near Fine dust jacket with slight rubbing to top 1/2″ of front, slight edgewear at head, and slight dust soiling to rear cover. E. E. “Doc” Smith is someone I only pick up as a target of opportunity, but I couldn’t pass up a chance to pick up a very attractive example of one of the Fantasy Press subscriber copies for one of their most popular writers for approximately $150 after sale discount.

  • Smith, George O. The Brain Machine. Garland Press, 1975. First hardback edition, Fine, sans dust jacket, as issued. Originally a paperback original under the title The Fourth “R”. Currey (1979), page 458. Garland, like Gregg Press, usually did interesting hardback reprints.
  • Smith, George O. Hellflower. Abelard Press, 1953. First hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Near Fine+ dust jacket with slight spine fade to red portions and tiny traces of wear, otherwise a complete, bright and attractive dust jacket. Currey (1979), page 458.

    Hellflower

  • Stephenson, Neal. Some Remarks. Atlantic Books, 2012. First UK edition. Non-fiction.
  • Sturgeon, Theodore. A Touch of Sturgeon. Simon & Schuster (UK), 1987. Fine-/Fine- with sight crimping at head.
  • Swainston, Steph. The Modern World. Inscribed by the author: “S. Swainston/12.05.07/’All things from eternity are of like forms/And come round in a circle.’ — Marcus Aurelius”. With photograph of the author laid in. Bought for $24. I should really get around to reading The Year of Our War some day…
  • Swanwick, Michael. Moon Dogs. NESFA Press, 2000. First edition hardback, one of 175 signed slipcased copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Supplements an inscribed trade copy.
  • Swanwick, Michael. Tumbling. Dragonstairs Press, 2013. First edition micro-chapbook original, 3″ x 2 3/4″ inches, #10 of 50 signed, numbered copies, Fine, new and unread.

  • Taine, John. The Time Stream. Buffalo Book Company, 1946. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with foxing to inside covers and a few faint pinpoint spots on boards, in a VG- dust jacket with uneven loss to top edge, mostly 1/16″ but occasionally as much as 1/4″. According to Chalker/Owings (1991), page 78, only 500 copies were ever bound, and half of those were lost in a rainstorm. Currey (1979), page 29. Bleiler Checklist, 1978, page 191. Locke, Spectrum of Fantasy One, page 211. 333, page 63. An important early SF specialty book.

    Taine Time Stream

  • Tucker, Wilson. Ice and Iron. Doubleday, 1974. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with edgewear at head and heel, with review slip laid in. Inscribed by Tucker: “For Dave, at Nashville,/Wilson Bob Tucker/May 19, 1979”. Tucker was famous both as a writer and as a noted fan. Bought for $20.
  • Turner, Gary, and Marty Halpern. The Silver Griffith. Golden Gryphon, 2003. First edition hardback, #34 of 100 numbered copies signed by all the contributors, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, in slipcase.
  • Utley, Steven. Silurian Tales — Volume 1: The 400-Million-Year-Itch. Ticonderoga, 2012.
  • Utley, Steven. Silurian Tales — Volume 2: Invisible Kingdoms. Ticonderoga, 2012.
  • Vance, Jack. Araminta Station. Underwood Miller, 1987. First edition hardback, #443 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and Fine slipcase. First book of the Caldwell Chronicles. Precedes both the NEL and Tor editions by six months. Hewett, A79. Chalker/Owings (1991), pages 437-438. Bought for $120.

    Araminta Station

  • Vance, Jack (as John Holbrook Vance). The Deadly Isles. Bobbs-Merrill, 1969. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with a tiny bit of crimping at head and heel in a Fine- dust jacket with a few bare traces of dust soiling and a tiny bit of rubbing at extremities. Overall a beautiful copy of this Vance mystery. Currey, p. 497. Hewett, A33.

    Vance, Jack. Gold and Iron. Underwood/Miller, 1982. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a slight wrinkle at rear heel. Previously published in paperback as Slaves of the Klau. Hewett, A9e.

    Vance Gold Iron

  • Vance, Jack. Lyonesse: Suldrun’s Garden. Underwood/Miller, 1983. First hardback edition, #78 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. (Note: Unlike the signed, numbered edition of Lyonesse: The Green Pearl, this was not issued in a slipcase.) Hewett, A70b. Chalker/Owings (1991), page 436. Supplements my copy of the unsigned library edition in decorated boards issued without a dust jacket. Bought for $100.

    Suldrun's Garden

  • Vinge, Joan D. World’s End. Bluejay Books, 1984. First edition hardback, #127 of 750 signed numbered copies in slipcase, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. This copy has been additionally inscribed by Vinge: “To Marcia Adams/-with all my best wishes-!/Joan D. Vinge/2005.” There was a PBS cooking show host and cook book author by that name who died in 2011; not sure if that’s who it’s inscribed to or not. I do wonder how many of these slipcased hardcovers Bluejay Books did. I have their slipcased edition of K. W. Jeter’s Dr. Adder, and I know they did a few others, but there does not appear to be a list online. I’ll write Jim Frenkel and ask…
  • Waldrop, Howard. The Horse of a Different Color. Small Beer Press, 2013. Inscribed to me to by the author.
  • Webb, Don. The War With The Belatrin/A Velvet of Vamphyres. Wildside, 2012. Trade paperback original, a Fine copy, inscribed by Webb.
  • Webb, Don & Gary Lovisi. Do the Weird Crime, Do The Weird Time/Gargoyle Nights. Wildside, 2012. Trade paperback original, a Fine copy, inscribed by Webb.
  • Weinbaum, Stanley G. Dawn of Flame. Ruppert Printing Service (for The Milwaukee Fictioneers), 1936. One of only 245 copies of the Currey B state (with the Lawrence A. Keating introduction), a Near Fine+ copy with very faint spine creasing and slight gray staining to bottom page block (or possibly where the red page block staining has worn away), sans dust jacket, as issued. Currey, page 510. Chalker/Owings, page 279. Bleiler, Checklist (1978), page 204. Locke, Spectrum of Fantasy (I), page 224. Bought at the San Antonio Worldcon for $1,200 (negotiated down from $1,500) from Erle Melvin Korshak. And if I’m remembering correctly, it was on consignment from Sam Moskowitz’s widow through Robert Weinberg to Korshak.

  • Wellman, Manly Wade. The Ghost Battalion. Ives Washburn, 1958. First edition hardback, most likely a repaired Ex-Library copy, Very Good with tape ghosts on boards, front free endpaper excised and another attached in it’s place, slight wear at heel, dust soiling at head, and slight crimping at head and heel, in a Near Fine dust jacket with edgewear and about 1/16″ inch of color loss at heel, and possible spine fading (hard to tell, since it’s a different color than the front and back covers). Second book in the Iron Scouts Civil War YA trilogy. Bought for $18 off eBay.

    Ghost Batallion

  • Wellman, Manly Wade. What Dreams May Come. Doubleday, 1983. First Edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, with signature plate signed by Wellman attached to front free endpaper. Features supernatural detective John Thundstone. Replaces an Ex-Library copy in my collection. Bought for $20 from a major SF book dealer.

    Wellman What Dreams

  • Wellman, Manly Wade. Worse Things Waiting. Carcosa, 1973. First edition hardback, Trade Edition issue, a Fine- copy with a couple of pinpricks of wear, in a Fine dust jacket. Inscribed to fellow horror writer Dennis Etchison: “Better Things Waiting/for/Dennis Etchison/Manly Wade Wellman/Dec 7, 1979”. Being a Wellman collector, I could hardly pass up an associational copy of this, his best and most important collection, inscribed to another top horror writer. (This is the second Wellman-inscribed association copy I own along with Third String Center inscribed to Wellman’s own brother, western writer Paul I. Wellman.) Currey (1979), page 515. Chalker/Owings (1991), page 87. Bleiler, Guide to Supernatural Fiction, 1672. Jones/Newman, Horror 100, 70. Bought for $100.

    Worse Things Waiting

    Worse Things Inscription

  • Wells, H. G. (edited by Robert Philmus and David y. Hughes). Early Writings in Science and Science Fiction by H. G. Wells. University of California Press, 1975. Presumed first edition hardback (no additional printings listed), a Fine- copy with slight crimping at head and heel and trace of foxing to inside front covers, in a VG- dust jacket with a 1/2″ square chip missing from bottom front cover and a 3/8″ chunk tapering to a point over 3″ missing at top rear. Not in Currey. Reginald, 1975-1991, 36697. Dictionary of Literary Biography: Volume 178: British Fantasy and Science-Fiction Writers Before World War I, page 242. Not a great dust jacket, but it was only $8, and copies online are somewhat pricey…
  • Wilson, Gahan. Everybody’s Favorite Duck. Mysterious Press, 1988.
  • Wolfe, Gene. Home Fires. Tor, 2010. Already read it in ARC.
  • Wolfe, Gene. A Wolfe Family Album. United Mythologies Press, 1991. First edition chapbook original, a Fine copy. Signed by Gene Wolfe. Chapbook of mostly Wolfe family photos, evidently issued with the hardback edition of Letters Home (which I’ve owned for some time, but which didn’t come with the chapbooks when I bought it).

    Wolfe Family Album

  • Wolfe, Gene (Mooney, J. E. and Bill Fawcett, editors. Shadows of the New Sun: Stories in Honor of Gene Wolfe. Tor, 2013. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. A tribute anthology.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Home is the Hangman. SFBC, 1996. First separate hardback edition. Kovacs, VI-7-a.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Knight of Shadows. Ultramarine Press, 1989. First limited hardback edition, #20 of 40 signed, numbered copies, bound in quarter leather, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Kovacs, 27-d-i. Chalker/Owings (1991), page 612. Proof that being a collector drives you slightly insane. (“Slightly?” asks the peanut gallery.) Ultramarine Press would take the sheets of the trade edition, then add a signed limitation page and leather binding. Honestly, I’m less than impressed with both their business model and most of the books produced, and I’m not too wild about post-first edition limiteds, but this edition seems nicer than many, 40 is a pretty low limitation for a Zelazny limited, and since I have such an extensive Zelazny collection, I decided to pony up for it. Bought for $240.

    Zelazny Knight

  • Zelazny, Roger, and Thomas T. Thomas. Flare. Baen, 1992. First edition paperback original, Fine.
  • (Zelazny, Roger) Kovacs, Christopher, compiler. The Ides of Octember: A Pictorial Bibliography of Roger Zelazny. NESFA Press/Camelot Books, 2011. First hardback edition, letter M of 21 lettered copies with a Zelazny signature sheet (taken from unused Ultramarine press Zelazny books), a Fine copy in three-quarters bound leather, in a Fine patterned traycase with the pictorial cover from the trade paperback edition, sans dust jacket, as issued. An elaborate aftermarket edition of this Zelazny incorporating unbound NESFA sheets obtained by the compiler. I paid $191 for it, considerably less than the $500 list price it was offered at.

    Octember HD

  • (Zelazny, Roger) Yoke, Karl. Roger Zelazny/Andre Norton: Proponents of Individualism State library of Ohio, 1979. First edition chapbook original, Near Fine+ with some age toning. Non-fiction.