If you’re looking for a terribly dangerous and really stupid way to cook a Thanksgiving Turkey, have you considered encasing it in molten glass?
If so, Alton Brown has you covered.
The worst thing about this, apart from the real possibility of horrifying maiming and potential death, is the fact that the skin is the best part of the turkey and breaking the glass to get at the turkey will probably take the skin off with the glass…
Another signed Ray Bradbury Christmas broadside, this one signed to a fellow writer.
Bradbury, Ray. A Christmas Wish 1991. Self published, 1991. First edition broadside, only Very Good with staining to left side, but inscribed to fellow writer F. Paul Wilson. Bought off eBay for $20.50.
Here are two Kickstarter books I backed on 2023 that just came in.
Monson, Joe, editor. The Horror at Pooh Corner. Hemelein Publications, 2024. First edition hardback, #82 of 100 numbered hardbacks signed by the editor and with a bookplate signed by the contributors laid in, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, with no less than three bookmarks laid in. Horror stories in Winnie-the-Pooh’s Hundred Acre Wood, following the lapse of the copyright in 2022.
(Wolfe, Gene). Cano, Ramon Perales, editor. The Book of Fuligin. Strangers Publishing, no date (2024). First edition hardback graphic novel, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Slightly oversize (10 1/2″ high) graphic novel anthology of stories set in Gene Wolfe’s Book of the New Sun milieu.
I will have a small number copies of The Book of Fuligin in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog, currently in progress.
Four of these were bought from a dealer having a 40% off sale, and the fifth (the Rucker) was part of that estate purchase, which I didn’t realize was signed until I went to catalog it for sale because none of the other books in that purchase were.
Baxter, Stephen and Alastair Reynolds. The Medusa Chronicles. Gollancz, 2016. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by both authors. based on Arthur C. Clarke’s “A Meeting With Medusa.” I collect Reynolds and I used to collect Baxter, but he simply put out too many books for me to read in too short a time period that were too long. I’ve got better signatures for each of these guys obtained at various Worldcons. The signatures here look like they were whipped out at a store signing session for all the remaining copies after patrons had gotten all their stuff signed and right before they headed off to the pub. Bought for $15 marked down from $25.
Bisson, Terry. In The Upper Room and other likely stories. Tor, 2000. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight bumping at heel in a Fine- dust jacket with traces of haze rubbing, inscribed by Bisson to fellow SF writer Neal Barrett, Jr.: “for Neal/with gratitude for/your attention/+envy for you accomplish/ments./your fellow/word-slinger/Terry B./NY 2K.” Since I lacked this Bisson and knew Neal, I was happy to scoop this up for $15 (marked down from $25), which is less than cover price. A neat association copy at a bargain price.
Rucker, Rudy. The Secret of Life. Bluejay, 1985. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with just a trace of age darkening to white edges, inscribed by Rucker: “& for Larry/Rudy Rucker/3/99.” Supplements an unsigned copy.
Straub, Peter. The Buffalo Hunter. Cemetery Dance, 2012. First edition hardback, one of 450 signed copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Novella. Bought for $18 (original price was $50).
Williamson, J. N., editor, and Gary A. Braunbeck. Masques V. Gauntlet Publications, 2006. First edition hardback, #392 of 500 copies signed by Braunbeck and almost all the contributors (including Clive Barker, William F. Nolan, Ray Garton, Richard Christian Matheson, etc. I already owned Masques I-IV, but somehow never picked this one up. Interestingly, it says Braunbeck is the co-editor on the flap and title page, but not the front cover, spine or limitation page, probably because Williamson died in 2005 and presumably Braunbeck finished up. Mostly original horror anthology, with a few reprints scattered in. Originally published at $55. Bought for $36.
Echodrone is a shoegaze band, but “The Point of Singularity” off their new album The Curvature of Sound is more of a soaring, Apollo-era Brian Eno-esque ambient piece.
I finally got in a long-delayed order from Hippocampus Press.
Lovecraft, H.P. (S.T. Joshi, editor) Collected Fiction: A Variorum Edition Volume 4 (Revisions and Collaborations). Hippocampus Press, 2024. First hardback edition (the 2017 trade paperback precedes), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, still in shrinkwrap. I don’t know why Hippocampus originally put out the fourth book as a TPO after putting out the first three as hardbacks, but this finally rectifies the error to properly complete the set. Supplements the TPO, which now moves to my trade paperback section.
(Lovecraft, H.P.) Joshi, S.T. and David E. Schultz. Lovecraft’s Library: A Catalogue: Fifth Edition, Revised and Enlarged. Hippocampus Press, 2024. Trade paperback original thus of this newly revised and enlarged edition, a Fine copy. Non fiction book detailing Lovecraft’s own personal library. “This fifth revised edition provides comprehensive information on 1129 books owned by Lovecraft…In this new 2024 edition, fourty-four new titles have been added to the list of books owned by Lovecraft, and additional information has been supplied on all titles listed.”
Gray lines in purple at top are a scanner artifact.
Shea, Michael. Momma Durtt. Hippocampus Press, 2024. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Previously unpublished Cthulhu Mythos novel.
Bear, Greg. Sisters. Pulphouse, 1992. First edition hardback, #48 of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. #26 in the Short Story Hardback series. Chalker/Owings (2003), page 272. Bought off eBay for $16.
When this first came out, I thought it was an odd item at a bit too high a price point and too large a limitation (though I think it sold out anyway). But since then, I’ve collected just about every other signed Ellison edition, and this one finally showed up at an attractive price.
Ellison, Harlan (Rick Berry, illustrator). “Repent, Harlequin!” Said The Ticktockman. Underwood Books, 1997. First edition hardback, #851 of 1,000 numbered copies signed by the author and illustrator, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine slipcase. Oversized (13 1/4″ high) illustrated version of Ellison’s classic story. Richmond, Fingerprints on the Sky, page 116. Chalker/Owings (2002), page 894. Bought for $32 off eBay (original list price was $45).
Note: The book is about an inch too long for the scanner, so the bottom is chopped off.
This popped up on an Arkham House group, and I knew that I had to pick up a copy. Not because I collect Arkham House ephemera, but because I collect Arkham House reference books. I think this one is the fifth I own.
Herron, Don, and John D. Haefele. Arkham House Ephemera: The Classic Years 1937 —1973: A Pictorial History & Guide For Collectors. Cimmerian Press, 2024. First edition trade paperback original (a POD books, with “version 1.1 (November 2024)” on the copyright page and “Made in the USA/Coppell, TX/08 November 2024” on last (barcode) page), a Fine copy. Just what the title says, a pictorial history of Arkham House ephemera (catalogs, review slips, etc.) issued from the press’s founding up through 1973. The book is actually useful even if you don’t collect ephemera, as the full catalogs show when books went out of print and how much they were going for, etc.
This was published at $40. I put it in my basket where it sat for a bit until I had enough other items to make it worth an order, whereupon I found it had dropped in price to $29.33! If you want a copy, click on the Amazon link above, by which time the price will no doubt have fluctuated up or down due to their mysterious algorithm…
An eBayer auctioned off a number of signed Vance and Matheson PBOs. I bid on several, but this is the only one I won.
Vance, Jack. The Palace of Love. Berkley Medallion, 1967. First edition paperback original (60¢ price and October, 1967 on copyright page, as per Currey), a Near Fine+ copy with 1/4″ closed tear at top front spine join and slight edgewear, signed by Vance (typical late overlapping Vance signature). Third book in the Demon Princes series. Hewett, A31. Cunningham, 62.a, Currey, page 499. Bought off eBay for $18.
