April 19th, 2022
Two recent “Little” books from Borderlands Press, one with a hilarious typo right on the cover.
Chambers, Robert W. (Lisa Morton, editor). A Little Yellow Book of Carcosa and Kings. Borderlands Press, 2022. First edition hardback, #462 of 500 copies signed by Morton, a Fine copy, sans dust, as issued. Four linked horror tales, all reprinted from The King in Yellow, all set in a then-future United States. Now sold out from the publisher. I have one copy of this still available through Lame Excuse Books.
“Chambers, Robert W.” (i.e., Arthur Machen)(Bentley Little, editor). A Little Brown Book of Unnatural Narratives. Borderlands Press, 2022. First edition hardback, #462 of 500 copies signed by Little, a Fine copy, sans dust, as issued. Three stories (“The Inmost Light,” “The Shining Pyramid” and “The Novel of the White Powder”) all reprinted from previous Machen collections. Hilariously, Borderlands accidentally kept the author embossing for Chambers from the above volume on the cover design when they printed this Machen collection, which is probably the funniest mistake since “Karl Edward Wanger” on the first state dust jacket of Gods in Darkness. With inserted slip apologizing for the typo laid in. I’ll have a few copies of this available in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog.
Tags: Arthur Machen, Books, Borderlands Press, Horror, Robert W. Chambers, Science Fiction, small press publishers
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April 14th, 2022
The Sheckley was bought directly from the publisher, while the two Watts titles were bought from a collector culling his collection.
Sheckley, Robert. Masters of Science Fiction: Robert Sheckley. Centipede Press, 2022. First edition hardback, #350 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, still in publisher’s shrinkwrap. “Signed by Jim & Ruth Keegan, with facsimile signatures by Robert Sheckley, Christopher Priest, and John Pelan.” The signed edition is sold out from the publisher, but I’ll have a few copies in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog.
Watts, Peter. Blindsight. Centipede Press, 2020. First limited edition hardback, #177 of 300 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Watts Hugo-Award nominated novel about a mission sent to examine an alien probe in the Kupier Belt. Well-written and super depressing, Blindsight argues that self-aware, sentient life is an evolutionary dead-end. (There’s an interview Joe Rogan did with Neill Blomkamp about the resurrected vampires that are part of the book, but they’re not even the most interesting or fundamental part of the novel.) Supplements a copy of the Tor true first edition.
With:
Watts, Peter. Echopraxia. Centipede Press, 2020. First limited edition hardback, #177 of 300 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Sequel to Blindsight that I haven’t read yet. Sets of these went out of print shortly after their announcement, and seems to be pretty close to Unobtanium on the secondary market. Bought for $400 for the pair from a private collector.
Tags: Books, Centipede Press, Limited Editions, Peter Watts, Robert Sheckley, Science Fiction, signatures, signed, small press publishers
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April 11th, 2022
I’m not dead, just the next best thing to it: Doing my taxes.
Here’s a book I tried to pick up cheaper than what was going on eBay, didn’t manage that and ended up having to pay a bit more.
Hill, Joe. Strange Weather. William Morrow, 2017. First edition hardback, “Barnes & Noble Black Friday Signed Edition” as per the ISBN and copyright page (the first signed edition listed), one of an undetermined number with a signature page bound in (very similar to the one in Full Throttle), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Collection of four novellas. Bought for $40.05 from a fellow Biblio dealer.
Tags: Books, Horror, Joe Hill
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March 24th, 2022
Another signed Harlan Ellison 1st, this one an Ace Double PBO:
Ellison, Harlan. The Man With Nine Lives/A Touch of Infinity. Ace Books, 1960. First edition paperback original (35¢ on cover, as per Currey), a Near Fine- copy with wear at head and heel and the usual age-darkening to pages, signed twice by Ellison at each of the two title pages. The Man With Nine Lives is a novella and A Touch of Infinity is a short story collection. Quite an attractive copy, nice and square with quite bright covers, and better than usually found. Richmond, Fingerprints on the Sky, page 107-108. Currey, page 178. Bought off eBay for $44.95.
Tags: Ace Double, Books, Fantasy, Harlan Ellison, PBO, Science Fiction
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March 21st, 2022
I’m closing in on a complete Clark Ashton Smith collection in hardback. Here’s one of the pricier Smith Arkham Houses:
Smith, Clark Ashton. The Dark Chateau. Arkham House, 1951. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with slight crimping and a touch of wear at head, small embossed name at bottom of half-title page, moderate foxing to rear gutters, slight foxing to front gutters, and a thumbnail edge-like indention to the top of the first few pages, in a Near Fine- dust jacket with slight loss at points and age-darkening to white lettering on spine. Only 563 copies printed, one of the smaller Arkham House runs. Joshi, Schultz & Connors, Clark Ashton Smith: A Comprehensive Bibliography, I.13.a. Sidney-Fryer, Emperor of Dreams, page 27. Joshi, Sixty Years of Arkham House, 44. Derleth, Thirty Years of Arkham House, 44. Jaffrey, Horrors and Unpleasantries, 42. Nielsen, Arkham House Books, 46 (also ranked as the eighth scarcest Arkham House volume, and the ninth priciest). Bought from PBA Auctions for $406.25 plus shipping.
The only Smith Arkhams I now lack are:
Genius Loci and Other Tales
Spells and Philtres
The Abominations of Yondo
Tags: Arkham House, Books, Clark Ashton Smith, Horror, poetry, small press publishers
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March 15th, 2022
I don’t think I have any other Richard Matheson lettered editions, but I picked this one up at a very attractive price.
Matheson, Richard, and Richard Christian Matheson. Pride. Gauntlet Press, 2002. First edition hardback, letter R of 52 lettered copies, a Fine- copy with a slight outlines of the enclosed CD of the authors reading the story on the rear cover, and a Fine traycase with a manuscript page inserted on the inside lid, sans dust jacket, as issued. A somewhat elaborate production. Features iterative drafts of this collaborative father-and-son short story. Bought from a fellow Biblio dealer for $65.
Tags: Books, Gauntlet Press, Horror, Limited Editions, Richard Christian Matheson, Richard Matheson
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March 14th, 2022
Several PS Publishing titles that arrived in January, one via a dealer order and the others via a discounted sale.
Coldiron, Katherine. Midnight Movie Monographs: Plan 9 From Outer Space. PS Publishing/Electric Dreamhouse, 2021. First edition hardback, #209 of 300 copies with a signed faux movie ticket laid in (along with a “Watch Bad Movies/Make Good Art” sticker), a Fine copy in decorated boards and a Fine dust jacket. A book-length study of Ed Wood’s infamous magnum opus of the same name, widely hailed (or derided) as the worst movie ever made, as featured in the Tim Burton film Ed Wood. Bought from the publisher at the usual discount. I have copies of this available though Lame Excuse Books.
Di Filippo, Paul. Aeota. PS Publishing, 2019. First edition hardback, trade edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Supplements a signed, limited edition. Bought for £5. I have one copy of this available though Lame Excuse Books.
Dowling, Terry. The Complete Rynosseros (Volumes I, II and III). PS Publishing, 2020. First edition hardback, a PC copy of 300 signed, numbered sets, all Fine copies in decorated boards and Fine dust jackets and a Fine slipcase. All Dowling’s Tom Rynosseros stories. An attractive production with Nick Stathopoulos art. Volume III features Dowling discussing the origins and developments of every story. Volume I even has an introduction by Jack Vance! Bought for £60 for the set, a considerable discount from the £150 offering price.
Ford, Jeffrey. The Best of Jeffrey Ford. PS Publishing, 2020. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. 550+ page volume. Bought for £5. I have one copy of this available though Lame Excuse Books.
Sholly, Pete Von. The PS Book of Fantastic Fictioneers: A History of the Incredible (Volume One Ackerman to Jackson and Volume Two: James To Wood.). PS Publishing, 2019. First edition hardbacks, Fine copies in Fine (One) and Near Fine (Volume Two, due to a 1″ slit along the spine edge) dust jackets. Profusely illustrated non-fiction book set covering creators of the fantastic, from Edgar Allen Poe to Ray Bradbury to Jim Henson to Joel Hodgson. Bought for £20 for the set.
Tags: Bad Movies, Books, Ed Wood, Fantasy, Horror, Jack Vance, Movies, Paul Di Filippo, Plan 9 From Outer Space, PS Publishing, Science Fiction, Terry Dowling
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March 9th, 2022
Just over two months since the new year started, and already I have six Joe R. Lansdale items added, include a lettered edition and a DVD.
(Howard, Robert E.) Joe R. Lansdale, Nathan Fox and Dave Stewart. Pigeons From Hell. Dark Horse, 2009. First edition graphic novel trade paperback original, a Fine copy, signed by Lansdale. Based on the Robert E. Howard novella. Bought for $10 from a private collector.
Lansdale, Joe R. Radiant Apples. Subterranean Press, 2021. First edition hardback, #347 of 1,500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Deadwood Dick novella. Bought from the publisher at the usual discount. I have copies of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
Lansdale, Joe R. Zeppelins West. Subterranean Press, 2001. First edition hardback, #222 of 350 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine slipcase. This edition includes extra sketches at the back. Bought from a UK book dealer for £54.
Lansdale, Joe R., and Timothy Truman. On the Far Side With Dead Folks. Avatar, 2004. First edition graphic novel trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Adapted from Lansdale’s “On the Far Side Of The Cadillac Desert With Dead Folks.” Bought for $10 from a private collector.
Lansdale, Joe R., editor. Retro Pulp Tales. Subterranean Press, 2006. First edition hardback, Letter J of 26 lettered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine slipcase, signed by all the contributors (Bill Crider, Kim Newman, etc.) to this pulp fiction anthology as well as Lansdale. Bought from a private collector for $250 plus shipping.
The “hairline crack” at the bottom is a scanner artifact.
(Lansdale, Joe R.) Bubba Ho-Tep: Hail To The King Edition. DVD, 2007. First edition thus, a Limited Edition with the case wrapped in a miniature Elvis Presley jacket, a Near Fine+ copy, still sealed, with some peel from the black plastic at the top of the case that can probably be fixed once I open it up to watch or get Joe to sign. DVD of the movie starring Bruce Campbell and Ossie Davis, based on the Lansdale story, with a script by Lansdale and director Don Coscarelli. Bought off eBay for $15.
Tags: Books, graphic novel, Horror, Joe R. Lansdale, Limited Editions
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March 2nd, 2022
Here’s the big roundup of every book I added to my library in 2021. Most (but not all) of these have appeared in previous library addition posts. Lots of Joe R. Lansdale, lettered editions, Lansdale lettered editions, Zelazny paperbacks, signed Harlan Ellison, Michael Moorcock rarities and Michael Swanwick chapbooks.
I count 193 titles added.
Anderson, Poul. Flandry of Terra. Chilton, 1965. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with bumping at head and bumping and slight rubbing at heel, in a Fine- dust jacket with slight wrinkling at head and heel and a touch of rubbing, signed by Anderson. Currey, page 10. Anatomy of Wonder 4, 3-7. Bought off eBay for $22.50.
Anderson, Poul. Masters of Science Fiction, Volume 9: Poul Anderson: “The Star Beast” And Other Tales. Armchair Fiction, 2014. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Short story collection. “The Long Return” and “World of the Mad” haven’t been reprinted since their original magazine appearances.
Anderson, Poul with Lester Del Rey and Frederik Pohl. A Twelvemonth and a Day b/w Preferred Risk. Armchair Fiction, 2016. First edition trade paperback original for the Anderson, a Fine copy. Supplements a signed hardback first of Preferred Risk.
Asimov, Isaac. The Best of Isaac Asimov. Doubleday, 1974. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight bumping at head and heel and a slight bit of lean, in a Very Good, price-clipped dust jacket with a 1/4″ closed chip at head, shallow edgewear at head, and slight dust staining to white rear cover. Just what the title says, and it includes “Nightfall” and “The Last Question.” Bought in an online auction for $4.88 plus shipping.
Asimov, Isaac. I, Robot. Gnome Press (i.e., First Edition Library), 1950 (1978 copyright date, but actually printed sometime in the 1980s). Facsimile reprint of the Gnome Press first edition, first edition hardback thus, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine slipcase, which includes the front and back just jacket cover art pasted on, with FEL cardstock information brochure laid in. An attractive production, and undoubtedly done on better paper stock than the Gnome Press original. Aiming for the same prestige reprint market as Easton Press, and indeed they were either part of or acquired by Easton. Obtained as part of a bulk library purchase.
(Asimov, Isaac) Carl Freedman. Conversations With Isaac Asimov. University Press of Mississippi, 2005. First edition hardback, a Fine copy with with ISBN sticker to rear cover, sans dust jacket, presumably as issued. (The Google Books image also lacks a dust jacket.) Collection of interviews with Asimov. There was a simultaneous trade paperback edition, and the hardback state seems uncommon. Bought at auction for $1.22 and shipping.
(Asimov, Isaac) James Gunn. Isaac Asimov: The Foundations of Science Fiction. Oxford University Press, 1982. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Probably the main critical study of Asimov’s work. Bought at auction for $1.22 and shipping.
Ballard, J. G. Crash. Jonathan Cape, 1973. First edition hardback, an Ex-Library copy with all the usual flaws, including stamps to pages and page block edges, in a dust jacket that, while intact, has been glued to the book, with a long, thin library sticker across the front, spine, back and rear flap, and a large square library affixed to rear, plus some glue wrinkling; call it a Good/Good Ex-Lib copy. Goodard and Pringle, J. G. Ballard: The First Twenty Years 101. Currey, page 23. Bought off an Australian bookseller for $68 plus shipping.
Ballard, J. G. Millennium People. Flamingo, 2003. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with slight wrinkling at head and heel, signed by Ballard on a Waterston’s bookstore bookplate on the title page. Bought off eBay for $45.
(Ballard, J. G.) McGrath, Rick. Deep Ends: A Ballardian Anthology 2018. Terminal Press, 2018. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Collection of essays on Ballard, including David Pringle’s continuing, invaluable “Ballard/Moorcock Chronology,” of which Moorcock himself says “I frequently trust his memory over my own.” Bought from Amazon.
Barker, Clive. Chiliad: A Meditation. Subterranean Press, 2014. First edition hardback, a PC copy of 26 lettered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine slipcase. Collects two novelettes. Bought for $250 (the original offering price) from a Subterranean sale.
Barker, Clive. Infernal Parade. Subterranean Press, 2017. First edition hardback, a PC copy of 52 signed, lettered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine traycase. Bought for $250 (the original offering price). Supplements a signed limited edition bought during one of their 50% off sales.
Barker, Clive. Tonight, Again. Subterranean Press, 2015. First edition hardback, a PC copy of 26 lettered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine slipcase. Bought for $250 (the original offering price) from a Subterranean sale. Supplements a trade edition.
Bear, Greg. Mariposa. Easton Press, 2009. First edition thus, #412 of 900 signed copies, a Fine copy in embossed leather boards, with certificate of authenticity (also signed by Bear), an unused personalization plate, and an insert card “a note about MARIPOSA and the author GREG BEAR” laid in, sans dust jacket, as issued. Sequel to Quantico (see below). Bought as part of a bulk purchase.
Bear, Greg. Quantico. Easton Press, 2005. First edition thus, #339 of 900 signed copies, a Fine copy in embossed leather boards, with certificate of authenticity (also signed by Bear), an unused personalization plate, and an insert card “a note about QUANTICO and the author GREG BEAR” laid in, sans dust jacket, as issued.
Bear, Greg. Vitals. Easton Press, 2002. First edition thus, #341 of 1,150 signed copies, a Fine copy in embossed leather boards, with certificate of authenticity (also signed by Bear), an unused personalization plate, an insert card “a note about VITALS and the author GREG BEAR” and a foldout brochure for the Signed First Editions of Science Fiction line laid in, sans dust jacket, as issued. Supplements a hardback first and a proof copy.
Bierce, Ambrose. A Little Blue Book of Civil War Horror Stories. Borderlands Press, 2021. First edition hardback, #462 of 500 numbered copies signed by introduction author Lawrence C. Connolly, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Bierce famously disappeared in Mexico after riding with Pancho Villa. Since he was born in 1842, I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that he won’t be signing any more books. Bought from the publisher at the usual discount. I have copies of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
Bishop, Michael. Joel-Brock the Brave and the Valorous Smalls. Kudzu Planet Productions/Fairwood Press, 2016. First edition hardback, #187 of 300 signed, numbered hardback copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Young Adult novel.
Bishop, Michael. The Sacerdotal Owl and Three Other Long Tales. Kudzu Planet Productions/Fairwood Press, 2016. First edition hardback, #69 of 250 signed, numbered hardback copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket.
Bloch, Robert. Psycho House. Tor, 1990. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, inscribed by Bloch: “Best wishes to Dick Wilson.” Bought for $20 at a Houston-area Half Price Books.
Bloch, Robert and Andre Norton. The Jekyll Legacy. Tor, 1990. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Bloch on the title page and by Norton on a signature plate on the dedication page. Bought off eBay for $24.95.
Boyett, Stephen R. The Architect of Sleep. Centipede Press, 2021. First hardback edition, #355 of 400 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, still in shrinkwrap. Really interesting novel about a man transported to an alternate earth where raccoons evolved as the planet’s sentient life form. Originally published as an Ace paperback original back in 1986 and became something of a cult classic, and I’ve sold a lot of PBO copies of this and Ariel over the years (and indeed, if you just want to read it, I have copies available). Recommended. This signed edition is already sold out from the publisher. I’m hoping this new edition prods Boyett into revising and finishing the still-unpublished sequel, The Geography of Dreams.
Bradbury, Ray. Ahmed and the Oblivion Machines Avon, 1998. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Bradbury. You know all the classic books Bradbury wrote over the years? This is reportedly not one of them. Bought for £18 from a notable UK book dealer.
Bradbury, Ray. The Dragon Who Ate His Tail. Gauntlet Publications (they’re generally known as Gauntlet Press, but it says Gauntlet Publications on the copyright page), 2007. First edition hardback, a PC copy of 26 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy with pasted frontispiece in a Fine slipcase, sans dust jacket, as issued. Miscellany of short stories, a radio play, a fascimile typescript, Bradbury doodle art, etc. Bought from an Austin book dealer for $120.
Bradbury, Ray. The Ray Bradbury Chronicles Volume 3. Byron Preiss/NBM, 1992. First edition hardback a graphic novel, #417 of 1000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a tiny, faint scratch across top rear outer corner. Bought for £27 from a notable UK book dealer. I now lack only volumes 1 and 5.
Bradbury, Ray. The Wish. Hill House, 2006. First edition hardback, #102 of 250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in matching numbered paper envelope, sans dust jacket, as issued. Won off eBay for $95.
(Bradbury, Ray) Nolan, William F. The Ray Bradbury Companion. Gale Research, 1975. First edition hardback (no statement of printing as per Currey), a Fine copy in a sound, Very Good slipcase from which numerous small (tackhead sized and smaller) pieces of the affixed wrap-around paper label have chipped away, plus a few other touches of dust and wear, sans dust jacket, as issued, signed by Bradbury on page 37. Critical companion on Bradbury’s work. Currey, page 59. Tymn, Schlobin, Currey, 221. Bought off eBay for $59.
Brin, David. The Best of David Brin. Subterranean Press, 2021. First edition hardback, #289 of 1,000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Lots of good stories in here, including “Dr. Pak’s Preschool” and “Thor Meets Captain American.” (Though I can’t believe they left out “A Stage of Memory.”) Bought from the publisher at the usual discount. I have copies of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
Bryant, Tim, editor (with Joe R. Lansdale). Mule Tales. The Runaway Mule, 2012. First edition trade paperback original (a POD book), a Fine copy, new and unread. Anthology to benefit a now-defunct shop in Lansdale’s home town of Nacogdoches. Joe R. Lansdale contributes six pieces. Bought from Amazon.
Buckell, Tobias S. Shoggoths in Traffic and Other Stories. Fairwood Press, 2021. First edition trade paperback edition, a Fine copy, new and unread. Short story collection. I have copies of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
Bull, Emma, and Will Shetterly. Double Feature. NESFA Press, 1994. First edition hardback, #24 of 175 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and Fine slipcase. Short story collection by this pair of married Minnesota writers. Bought off eBay for $20.50.
Cahill, James, editor. Lamps on the Brow. James Cahill Publishing, 1998. First edition hardback, #70 of 274 numbered copies signed by all the contributors, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, in a Fine slipcase, as issued. Low print-run anthology of original stories (all save the last one by A. E. van Vogt), featuring Gene Wolfe, Mike Resnick, Andre Norton, Bruce Bethke, etc., plus an introduction by Ben Bova. I also have Ten Tales, a similar Cahill anthology. Cahill was active in the 1990s, publishing books by Joe R. Lansdale, Tim Powers, etc. I also think he did some mystery limited editions. Bought off eBay for $58, slightly more than half the original publication price of $100.
Campbell, John W. and Aladra Septama. When the Atoms Failed b/w The Dragons of Space. Armchair Fiction, 2016. First edition trade paperback originals, a Fine copy. Contains “When the Atoms Failed” (one print reprint) and “The Metal Horde” (no print reprints) from Campbell, and the Septama had never been reprinted previously (though, according to Bleiler’s Science Fiction: The Gernsback Years, it’s really bad…).
Card, Orson Scott. Alvin Journeyman. Tor, 1995. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, inscribed by Card: “For Rocco,/A fellow voyager/Orson Scott Card.” Fourth Alvin Maker book. Bought for $5 off eBay.
Card, Orson Scott. Heartfire. Tor, 1998. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Card. Fifth Alvin Maker book. Bought for $5 off eBay.
Card, Orson Scott. Prentice Alvin. Tor, 1995. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, inscribed by Card: “to Rocco—,/Out of the fire, into the light/Orson Scott Card/ 5 Oct 96.” Third Alvin Maker book. Bought for $5 off eBay.
Carriger, Gail (pen name for Tofa Borregaard). Fan Service. Subterranean Press, 2019. First edition hardback, a PC copy of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. “Collected Supernatural Society Books.”
Case, Jim (pseudonym for Chet Cunningham and Joe R. Lansdale). Cody’s Army. Warner Books, 1986. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine- copy with a crease across the bottom corner and thin black lines at head, but otherwise tight and square. Military adventure novel. “The four man anti-terrorist guerilla unit.” Joe says he wrote one chapter in this. Stephen Mertz sold the series and had various writers work on different volumes, and confirmed Cunningham wrote this one except for one chapter from Lansdale. Bought off Amazon for $5, where the seller called it a “Fine” copy.
Chabon, Michael. Moonglow. Harper Collins, 2016. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a trace of wear at head and heel and slight wrinkling at head, signed by Chabon, with a one page insert from Parnassus Books for “Dear First Edition Members” laid in. Supplements a slipcased signed limited edition done for Powell’s Books. Bought in a Houston-area Half Price Books for $9.99.
Chambers, Robert W. (S. T. Joshi, editor). The Harbor-Master: Best Weird Stories of Robert W. Chambers. Hippocampus Press, 2021. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Includes some supernatural stories not in The King in Yellow.
Child, Lee. A Little Gold Book of Unconsidered Trifles. Borderlands Press, 2021. First edition hardback, #498 of 600 signed and numbered copies, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Mixture of fiction and non-fiction by the best-selling author of the Jack Reacher series, some original to this volume, including a piece from Esquire. Bought from the publisher at the usual discount. I have a copy of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
“Conrad, Joseph” (Adam Newell). At the Door of Darkness. Sangrail Press, 2020. First edition chapbook original, #66 of 100 numbered copies, a Fine copy in white envelope and numbered brown cardboard mailer, as issued. Somewhat elaborate production, with tipped-in linocut frontispiece and tissue guard and duplicated pages from the “original” manuscript for Heart of Darkness featuring a deleted scene. A very sly literary endeavor. I have a copy of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
Davidson, Avram. And Don’t Forget The One Red Rose. Dryed Press, 1986. First edition chapbook original, one of 185 copies in wraps, a Fine copy. Won off eBay for $13 plus shipping. Now I need to track down one of the 15 hardbacks…
Dirda, Michael. On Conan Doyle. Princeton University Press, 2012. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, with publisher’s information card laid in. Critical book on Arthur Conan Doyle, covering both Sherlock Holmes and his other works. Bought at a dealer discount.
Derleth, August. 100 Books by August Derleth. Arkham House, 1962. First edition hardback, one of only 200 hardback copies, a Near Fine- copy with wear at head, heel and points (and a few traces elsewhere) on the decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Inscribed by Derleth: “Best wishes,/August Derleth.” Bibliography. Simultaneous with a much larger paperback run. Joshi, Sixty Years of Arkham House, 65. Jaffery, Horrors and Unpleasantries, 67. Nielsen, Arkham House Books: A Collector’s Guide, 69. Derleth, Thirty Years of Arkham House, 65. Currey, page 155. Tymn Schlobin Currey, A Research Guide to Science Fiction Studies, 247. Chalker Owings, The Science-Fantasy Publishers, page 32 (which notes this was actually published in 1963). Bought off Biblio for $360.
Derleth, August as Stephen Grendon. Mr. George and Other Odd Persons. Arkham House, 1963. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with possibly a tiny amount of spine fading, right at the edge of perceptability, an extremely bright and attractive copy. Stories written by August Derleth under his open pseudonym, most of which appeared in either Weird Tales or The Arkham Sampler. 100 Books by August Derleth, page 93 (“Awaiting Publication”). Joshi, Sixty Years of Arkham House, 70. Thirty Years of Arkham House, 70. Jaffery, Horrors and Unpleasantries, 72. Nielsen, Arkham House Books, 74. Currey, page 148. Chalker/Owings, Science Fantasy Publishers, page 32. Bleiler, The Guide to Supernatural Fiction, 524. Bought off eBay for $48.
Dick, Philip K. The Cosmic Puppets with Dr. Futurity with Vulcan’s Hammer. First editions thus for The Cosmic Puppets and Vulcan’s Hammer, first hardback edition for Dr. Futurity, each #92 of 300 signed, numbered copies, individual volumes signed by Michael Swanwick, Peter Strain, and Chris Moore, each Fine copies in Fine dust jackets and a Fine slipcase, still in shrinkwrap. (The lines you see over the top and bottom of Vulcan’s Hammer are the shrinkwrap join lines.) The Cosmic Puppets was done as a Severn House hardback, and Vulcan’s Hammer as a Gregg Press hardback, and I have both of those, but I thought it behooved me to pick up the first hardback of Dr. Futurity, even though I had to pay cover price for the set. And indeed, it was pretty much out-of-print immediately upon publication.
Egan, Greg. Dichronauts. Night Shade Books, 2017. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Bought at Half Price Books for $8.99.
Ellison, Harlan (edited by Jason Davis). Blood’s A Rover. Subterranean Press/Edgeworks Abbey, 2015. First edition hardback, a PC copy of 26 signed, numbered copies (the only signed edition), a Fine copy in patterned boards and a Fine traycase, sans dust jacket (though the art used for the trade edition dust jacket forms the fold-out frontispiece) as issued. (Most Subterranean books ship with a plastic bag around the book, while lettered editions have the bag around the traycase; this is the first case I’ve seen where they did both.) Collects all Ellison’s Vic and Blood stories. Dedicated to Michael Moorcock and A Boy and His Dog director L. Q. Jones. Long out of print. Bought for $500 (the original offering price) from a Subterranean sale.
Ellison, Harlan. The Deadly Streets with Gentlemen Junkie. Edgeworks Abbey/Subterranean Press, 2013. First hardback editions of each, #216 of 250 signed, numbered sets, Fine copies in Fine dust jackets and a Fine slipcase. Two early Ellison collections, originally PBOs, appearing here for the first time in hardback. Richmond, Fingerprints in the Sky, pages 46 and 51. Supplements trade copies of each. Part of a bulk collection purchase.
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, signed by Ellison.
Ellison, Harlan. Edgeworks 2: Spider Kiss/Stalking the Nightmare. White Wolf, 1996. First edition hardback thus, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Ellison.
Ellison, Harlan. The Glass Teat & The Other Glass Teat. Charnel House, 2011. First hardback edition, #182 of 250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issue, with a CD of Harlan reading “Welcome to the Gulag,” the introduction written for this edition laid in. All Ellison’s TV essays and reviews written for The Los Angeles Free Press. Not having a copy of the original binding, I can’t tell you how this 10th Anniversary edition binding differs from the original. Bought from the publisher at a discount.
Ellison, Harlan. Jokes Without Punchlines. White Wolf, 1995. First edition perfect-bound chapbook original, a Fine copy, signed by Ellison on the rear cover. A promotional item for the 1995 American Booksellers Association Show in Chicago, released on June 3, 1995, to promote White Wolf’s Edgeworks line of Ellison hardback reprints. They were supposed to reprint all of Ellison’s books in a uniform edition, but only put out four volumes before they pissed off Ellison so badly that he refused to work with them any more. (Sound familiar?) The introduction in which he talks about how much he hates Chicago has apparently never been reprinted. Fingerprints on the Sky, XIII, page 121. Bought off eBay for $40.
Ellison, Harlan. Li’l Harlan and his sidekick Carl the Comet in Danger Land. Edgeworks Abbey/Subterranean Press, 2013. First edition hardback chapbook, #WW of 52 signed, lettered copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Stories of Harlan paling around with Carl Sagan. I avoided buying this when it came out because it sorta looked super-cringy, but since I’m collecting everything else, and the hardback is rare, I added it to the stack. Richmond, Fingerprints in the Sky, page 121. Part of a bulk collection purchase.
Ellison, Harlan. Rockabilly. Gold Medal Books, 1961. First edition paperback original, a Very Good copy with considerable wrinkling and creasing along the spine, plus slight edgewear, signed by Ellison. Fingerprints on the Sky, page 108. Currey, page 178. Bought off eBay for $65.
Ellison, Harlan, and Ken Steacy. Night and the Enemy. Graphetti Designs, 1987. First edition hardback graphic novel, #743 of 1,500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine- copy with slight bumping of bottom points in a Fine- translucent printed Mylar dust jacket with a few tiny indentations. Set in Ellison’s Earth-Kyba War universe. Bought off eBay for $30.
Farmer, Philip Jose. Greatheart Silver and Other Pulp Heroes. Meteor House, 2019. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by editor Michael Croteau and introduction author Garyn G. Roberts. Collection of pulp hero tales. Bought off eBay for $24.
Fitz Gerald, Caitlin. The Children’s Illustrated Clausewitz: Volume One. Helios House Press, 2021. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, in slipcase. Just what it says: An illustrated, children’s version of the lessons imparted in Carl von Clausewitz’s 19th strategy classic On War. In this book, the role of Clauswitz is played by a hare. Extras from the Kickstarter include a portfolio of four full page cardstock illustrations in printed envelope (“A Year in Hare Clausewitz’s Classroom”), a set of temporary tattoos, and an Ex-Libris sticker. Bought for backing the Kickstarter for £38, including slipcase and shipping. Technically this qualifies as a talking animal fantasy, but what it vaguely reminds me of is a series of pamphlets starting with The Fight at Dame Europa’s School, which cast late 19th century European geopolitical conflight as an inter-school fight, with each student representing a different country. Bought off a Kickstarter.
“Fitzgerald, F. Scott” (Adam Newell). Gods of Darkness. Sangrail Press, 2021. First edition chapbook original, #150 of 250 numbered copies, a Fine copy in numbered brown cardboard mailer, as issued. Another elaborate production, with tipped-in frontispiece illustration. “F. Scott Fitzgerald’s forgotten tale of a Lovecraftian witch cult, not in any edition of his collected works.” I have copies of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
Fletcher, David, editor. Tiger! The Tiger Tank: A British View. The Tank Museum, 2021. First revised edition hardback, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. A considerably revised edition of a book first published in 1986, featuring extensive British intelligence documentation and analysis gathered on captured Tiger 131 (still, I think, the only fully running, intact, surviving Tiger 1 from World War II, and the Tiger seen in Fury). The paperback version of this book is available through the Tank Museum, but this hardback was done as a Kickstarter-like deal through them, and my name can be found on page 255. Bought for £32.94, including transatlantic shipping.
Foster, Alan Dean. The Director Should’ve Shot You: Memoirs of the Film Trade. Centipede Press, 2021. First hardback edition, #430 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, still in shrinkwrap. I haven’t read any Foster novels since one of the early Pip and Flinx books way back in my misspent youth, but this one interests me. As the king of media tie-in novels, from Star Wars to Alien to Krull, Foster has worked on a lot of big hits (and misses), and in this book he dishes on all the behind-the-scenes drama he witnessed in in his career. This signed edition is already sold out from the publisher. Bought from the publisher at the usual discount. I have one copy of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
Fowler, Karen Joy. What I Didn’t See and Other Stories. Small Beer Press, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a tiny bit of wrinkling at top rear, signed by by Fowler. Short story collection. Part of a bulk collection purchase.
Fraser, George MacDonald. Flashman and the Tiger. Harper Collins, 1999. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Collection of three Flashman novellas. I’d always heard the Flashman books were great, but haven’t actually read any. Bought for $7.99.
Gaiman, Neil (with Leslie S. Klinger). The Annotated American Gods. Morrow, 2019. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Annotated version of Gaiman’s Hugo, Nebula and World Fantasy Award-winning novel, made into the acclaimed TV series of the same name. This edition follows the text of the 10th Anniversary edition, but the annotations note where it differs from the first edition (among other things). Bought for $24.99 from a Houston-area Half Price Books. I have one copy of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
Gaiman, Neil. The Ocean at the End of the Lane. William Morrow, 2013. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Gaiman. Part of a bulk collection purchase.
Gaiman, Neil. Smoke & Mirrors. Subterranean Press, 2014. First edition hardback thus, a PC copy of 500 numbered copies signed by Gaiman and illustrator Dave McKean. Preceded by both the Dreamhaven Angels and Visitations in 1993 and the Avon Smoke and Mirrors from 1998 (both of which I have). Includes new art by McKean. Sold out quickly the year of publication. Bought for $250 (the offering price).
Gaiman, Neil and J. H. Williams III. The Sandman Overtures Absolute Edition. DC Comics, 2018. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine slipcase, sans dust jacket, as issued. Given to me as a birthday gift.
(Gibson, William) Westfahl, Gary. William Gibson. University of Illinois Press, 2013. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Critical companion to Gibson’s work. Bought at Half Price Books for $12.49.
Gordon, David. Sergeant Santa: A Joe the Bouncer Tail. Mysterious Bookshop, 2021. First edition chapbook original, a Fine copy. Mystery chapbook. A freebie thrown in with an order from them. Not previously listed here.
Greenberg, Martin. The Robot and the Man. Gnome Press, 1953. First edition hardback, a Very Good+ copy with top of spine very slight concave, edges of head and heel slightly soft, and a 2″ crack starting to bottom front inner hinge, in a Very Good dust jacket with shallow chipping at head and heel, some edgewear along front bottom and at top near fold, slight, faint spotting along rear fold edge, and a crease running down the entire front cover right next to the flap fold, as though the book were folded not quite on center and corrected much later, plus a few other touches of wear. Still, the white portions of the jacket are reasonably bright and the pages lack the horrific browning that plagues later Gnome titles. Reprint anthology of robot stories, including some from Henry Kuttner and C. L. Moore (not a Gallagher story), Lester del Rey (two stories), A. E. van Vogt, John D. MacDonald, and Bernard Wolfe. Chalker/Owings, page 200. Kemp, The Anthem Series, 225-26. Part of a bulk collection purchase.
Hand, Elizabeth (edited by Bill Sheehan). The Best of Elizabeth Hand. Subterranean Press, 2021. First edition hardback, #225 of 1000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. I have copies of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
Heinlein, Robert A. JOB: A Comedy of Justice. Del Rey, 1984. First edition hardback, #109 of 750 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Near Fine slipcase with a quarter-sized water spot and a faint scratch, sans dust jacket, as issued. Not my favorite Heinlein, but quite readable by the standards of late-period Heinlein. Bought off eBay for $300.
Hill, Joe (with Jason Ciaramella and Vic Malhotra). Thumbprint. IDW, 2013. First edition, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued, signed by Hill. Based on the Hill novella.
Hodgson, William Hope (Sam Moskowitz, editor). Out of the Storm. Donald M. Grant, 1975. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Uncollected fantasies, with Stephen Fabian illustrations. Bought off a fellow Biblio dealer for $20 after discount.
Howard, Robert E. Almuric. Donald M. Grant, 1975. First hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Currey, page 248. Locke, Spectrum of Fantasy, page 117. I put off picking up these Donald M. Grant Howard firsts for quite a while since they seemed readily available, but that no longer seems to be the case. Bought off a fellow Biblio dealer for $18.
Howard, Robert E. The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard. Subterranean Press, 2010. First limited edition hardback (the Del Rey trade edition precedes), a PC copy of 50 signed, numbered (so says the limitation page, though this is the Lettered edition) leatherbound copies, signed by artist Greg Staples, a Fine copy in a Fine traycase, sans dust jacket, as issued. A lavish production. Supplements a copy of the ordinary numbered edition. Bought for $200, a hefty 50% off the original offering price of $400.
Howard, Robert E. Two Against Tyre. Dennis McHaney, 1975. First edition chapbook original, one of 1,500 copies (Currey state B), a Fine- copy with slight wear to black border at top front and slight dust staining along spine. Currey, page 252. Bought off a fellow Biblio dealer for $8.10.
(Howard, Robert E.) Charles Hoffman and Marc Cerasini. Robert E. Howard: A Closer Look. Hippocampus Press, 2020. First edition trade paperback original thus, a Fine copy. Critical companion on Howard’s work greatly expanded and revised from a 1987 Starmont Reader’s Guide edition. I have one copy of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
King, Stephen, and Richard Chizmar. Gwendy’s Button Box. Cemetery Dance, 2017. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Chizmar. “A brand new Castle Rock novella.” Bought at a Half Price Books in Houston for $30.
(King, Stephen) Blue, Tyson. The Unseen King. Starmont House, 1989. First edition hardback, #24 of 100 copies with a signed, numbered sheet done for The Overlook Connection laid in, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Critical companion of Stephen King works that had never (up to this publication) been republished. I’m sort of half-assedly collecting all these Starmont House/Borgo Press SF/F/H critical hardbacks when I find them cheap. Won off eBay for $15.50.
(King, Stephen, and Peter Straub) Chizmar, Richard, and Johnathon Schaech. A Little Silver Book: A Screenplay Borderland Press, 2021. First edition hardback, #498 of 1,000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. A screenplay based on Stephen King and Peter Straub’s Black House. Bought from the publisher at the usual discount.
(King, Stephen) Terrell, Carroll F. Stephen King: Man and Artist. Northern Lights, 1990. First edition hardback, #158 of 400 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine- slipcase with two pinprick nicks to the top rear. Critical companion. Won off eBay for $30.51.
Koontz, Dean. Devoted. Short Scary Tales (SST) Publications, 2021. First limited edition hardback, #217 of 500 copies signed by Koontz, introduction author Joe R. Lansdale, and artist Dirk Berger, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and Fine decorated slipcase. A boy and his Golden Retriever vs. evil. What’s not to like? A hefty 574 page volume. Bought from the publisher at the usual discount. I have a copy of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
Lafferty, R. A. The Collected Short Fiction Volume Six: The Man Who Never Was. Centipede Press, 2021. First edition hardback, #40 of 300 numbered copies signed by Neil Gaiman, John Pelan, and Jacob McMurray, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Presumably the last volume edited by John Pelan, who died April 12. Bought from the publisher at the usual discount.
Lafferty, R. A. The Early Lafferty II. United Mythologies Press, 1990. First edition chapbook original, #57 of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Near Fine copy with some phantom creasing on the top left front cover. Bought for $49.99 off eBay. The signed copy of this chapbook original sold for $7, and the unsigned for $4, and both editions are now scarce and pricey.
(Lafferty, R. A.) Cheek, Kevin, editor. Feast of Laughter Volume 5. Kistic Press, 2020. First edition trade paperback original (POD publication), a Fine copy. Ongoing anthology series of Lafferty interest, including fiction, essays, etc. Includes three Lafferty works (“The Hands of the Potter: An Idyll” (which seems to be fiction, and not in the ISFDB), “Astérix et Cléopâtra” (a review of the French comic) and “Riddle Writers of the Ithmus,” a short essay. Plus contributions from Michael Swanwick, Howard Waldrop, etc. Bought from Amazon at full price, since they do fulfillment (and hence the link on the title).
Lansdale, Joe R. Apache Witch. Independent Legions/The Last Bookstore, 2021. First edition hardback, #33 of 180 numbered copies, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Poetry collection (Lansdale’s first). Bought directly from the publisher. Now out of print. I have copies of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
Lansdale, Joe R. Blood Dance. Subterranean Press, 2000. First edition hardback, letter R of 18 signed, lettered copies, a Fine copy in a beautiful full-cloth binding and a Fine traycase with an additional Mark A. Nelson illustration mounted on the inside front cover, sans dust jacket, as issued. The Lost Lansdale Volume Three. Bought for $250 off a private collector.
Note: The bottom right of the illustration looks strange due to reflections off the protective plastic covering over the illustration.
Lansdale, Joe R. The Bottoms. Subterranean Press, 2000. First edition hardback, letter R of 26 signed, lettered copies, a Fine leatherbound copy in a Fine dust jacket and Fine traycase with full color illustration mounted inside front lid. The Subterranean edition was the true first edition, preceding the Mysterious Press edition by several months. Edgar Award winner for Best Novel. Bought for $300 from a private collector, which is just twice list price for the regular numbered edition.
Lansdale, Joe R. Coco Butternut. Subterranean Press, 2017. First edition hardback, trade edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Hap and Leonard novella. Somehow I ended up picking up two limited editions of this, so I never picked up a trade edition until now. Bought from Camelot Books for $17.50.
Lansdale, Joe R. Cold in July with Savage Season. Mark V. Ziesing, 1989/1990. First hardback edition and first edition hardbacks, Fine- (Cold in July)/Near Fine+ (Savage Season) with faint spotting at head, heel and on pageblock, in Fine dust wrappers, and a Fine- slipcase with a touch of wear, each inscribed to late Texas writer Carrier Richerson. While these are the trade hardbacks, one thing Ziesing did for this and the Waldrop set was offer the trade editions in overrun slipcases (something to check for if you’re buying a set). Supplements a PC limited set I got for helping transcribe Cold in July for Ziesing. Isajenko, World Lansdelean A011b and A013a. Bought at Armadillocon for $32.
Lansdale, Joe R. The Drive-In. Centipede Press, 2015. First edition hardback thus, a signed, illustrated omnibus of The Drive-In, The Drive-In 2, and The Drive-In: The Bus Tour, one of 300 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, still in shrink wrap. I passed on picking this up when it first came out because I already had the PBO firsts of the first two, the hardback firsts of all three (two from Kinnell, the third from Subterranean), and The Complete Drive-In omnibus of all three from Underland Press. But this disappeared pretty quickly, and I decided to pick it up because I’m crazy Lansdale completist. Bought off a fellow dealer for $120.
Lansdale, Joe R. Fishing for Dinosaurs. Subterranean Press, 2020. First edition hardback, #367 of 2500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Bought from the publisher at the usual discount. Really nice endpapers. I have copies of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
Lansdale, Joe R. Hap and Leonard: Of Mice and Minestrone. Short Scary Tales (SST) Publications, 2021. First hardback edition and first limited edition (the Tachyon trade paperback, which I also have, precedes), #101 of 400 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Linked Hap and Leonard short stories. I have copies of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
Lansdale, Joe R. The Hungry Snow. Death’s Head Press, 2021. First edition trade paperback original (a side-sewn chapbook), #40 of 500 numbered copies, a Fine copy, new and unread, with Death’s Head Press bookmark and card laid in. A Reverend Jedidiah Mercer story. Illustrated by Tim Truman. Bought from the publisher at a very thin discount. I have copies of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
Lansdale, Joe R. The Long Ones. Necro Publications, 1999. First edition hardback, letter R of 26 signed, leatherbound lettered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine traycase, sans dust jacket, as issued. In addition to the leather binding and traycase, this edition features an inserted (not attached) printed ribbon with title and author, a color frontispiece illustration, and several inserted black and white illustrations not in the ordinary numbered edition. Bought from a private collector for $300.
Lansdale, Joe R. The Nightrunners. Dark Harvest, 1987. First edition hardback, letter X of 26 signed, lettered copies, a Fine copy in white leather and a wooden slipcase (AKA “slipcrate”), sans dust jacket, as issued. (Note: The wooden slipcase has three small notches at the back, but given the uniform staining, they were there when the book left the publisher.) Lansdale’s landmark splatterpunk novel, featuring two very bad boys and The God of the Razor. Chalker/Owings, page 120 (Jack was not a fan of the novel). Bought off a fellow Biblio dealer for $315.
Lansdale, Joe R. On The Far Side of the Cadillac Desert With Dead Folks. Roadkill Press, 1991. First separate edition chapbook, #488 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy. Originally appeared in the 1989 Skipp & Spector anthology The Book of the Dead. Bought from a private collector for $25.
Lansdale, Joe R. The Orbit #1. Subterranean Press, no date (but 1999). First edition chapbook original, a Fine copy. “The Official Joe R. Lansdale Newsletter.” First of two put out. With:
Lansdale, Joe R. The Orbit #2. Subterranean Press, no date (but 1999). First edition chapbook original, a Fine copy. Second and last issue. Bought for $15 for the pair off a private collector.
Lansdale, Joe R. The Sky Done Ripped. Subterranean Press, 2019. First edition hardback, #324 of 350 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine slipcase. Third book in the Ned the Seal trilogy. This edition features a collection of sketches at the back not in the trade edition. Supplements a signed copy of the trade edition. Bought for $47.50.
Lansdale, Joe R. (originally writing as Ray Slater). Texas Night Riders. Subterranean Press, 1997. First edition hardback thus and first U.S. hardback edition (preceded by the PBO and the Chivers large print hardback), copy P of 26 signed and lettered copies, a Fine copy bound in quarter-leather, in a Fine- patterned slipcase with slight rubbing to corners, sans dust jacket, as issued. This was early in Subterranean’s history, and they were still using the 4 x 3 acrostic spine logo. Bought for $220.
Lansdale, Joe R. The Thicket. Mullholland Books/Little Brown, 2013. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Bought for $5 as part of the Lansdale documentary fundraiser.
Lansdale, Joe. R. Tight Little Stitches In A Dead Man’s Back. Pulphouse, 1992. First edition hardback chapbook, #70 of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Short story hardback issue #28. Story originally appeared in John Maclay’s Nukes anthology in 1986. This is the first separate edition. Bought from a private collector for $75 (which is considerably more than I paid for The Steel Valentine).
Lansdale, Joe R. Waltz of Shadows. Subterranean Press, 1999. First edition hardback, letter R of 52 signed, lettered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine- traycase with a few small, shallow, random indentations. The Lost Lansdale Volume One. Chalker/Owings (2002), page 855. Unnoted by Chalker/Owings (or my proof copy of The World Lansdalian), this edition is bound in a very attractive, deep purple cloth rather than the light blue of the trade edition. Bought for $190 ($5 less than cover).
Lansdale, Joe R., Howard Waldrop and Neal Barrett, Jr. The Gonzo Tapes. Scorpio Inc., no date (Howard says he recorded his October 7, 1992; since they were first sold at Armadillocon, and that year’s Armadillocon started just two days later, I’m guessing it was released at the 1993 Armadillocon). First edition cassette tape package, containing three cassettes with two stories each being read by authors Joe R. Lansdale (“Steppin’ Out, Summer 1968” and “By Bizarre Hands”), Howard Waldrop (“French Scenes” and “The Passing of the Western”) and Neal Barrett, Jr. (“Winter on the Belle Forche” and “Class of ’61”), along with a single trifold sheet attached to the inside of the front case lid with adhesive to the back, a Fine copy. Bought from that same private collector for $10.
Lansdale, Joe R. (edited by Bill Sheehan and William Schafer). Joe R. Lansdale’s Lords of the Razor. Subterranean Press, 2006. First edition hardback, a PC copy of 26 lettered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and what would be a Fine leather traycase, save: A.) The leather stitching is somewhat uneven around the perimeter of the book, and B.) When I went to open this, the glued-on leather tab for the book fell off. I’m guessing these production problems were why Subterranean abandoned this design for lettered editions. Anthology featuring Lansdale’s God of the Razor from The Nightrunners. Formerly co-editor (and Subterranean Press founder and owner) William Schafer’s copy. Supplements a signed, numbered copy. Bought from Camelot Books for $346.50.
Lansdale, Joe R., editor. The Horror Hall of Fame: The Stoker Winners. Cemetery Dance, 2021. First edition hardback, #WW of 52 signed (by Lansdale), lettered, traycased copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine traycase. Anthology of Stoker Award winning stories from Robert Bloch, George R. R. Martin, Harlan Ellison, etc. Isajenko, World Lasdalean, D13aiii. Supplements trade and limited edition copies. Bought off eBay for $125 plus shipping.
(Lansdale, Joe R.) Isajenko, Fred. The World Lansdalean: The Authorized Joe R. Lansdale Bibliography. Short, Scary Tales (SST) Publications, 2021. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format, of the hardback first edition. Sent to me for spot-checking, and I sent them back a list of some things that were missing, etc.
(Lansdale, Joe R.) Fred Isajanko. The World Lansdalean: The Authorized Joe R. Lansdale Bibliography. Short Scary Tales (SST) Publications, 2021. First edition hardback, #101 of 1000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine slipcase. Bibliography of Lansdale’s work, that also includes bonus Lansdale fiction in the back. I have not checked to verify that all of my edit suggestions on the ARC made it into the final edition.
Leiber, Fritz. The Demons of the Upper Air. Roy A. Squires, 1969. First edition chapbook original, 143 of 275 copies number in Arabic numerals, a Fine copy in Fine wrappers, additionally inscribed “To/Chris/from/Fritz,” in a Fine original printed envelope, and even the original stiff cardboard mailer from Squires! Poetry. Squires always did beautiful work. Chalker/Owings, page 588. Bought off eBay for $50.
Ligotti, Thomas. Death Poems. Bad Moon Books, 2013. First edition hardback thus, #50 of 300 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. There was an earlier edition of this from Dutro Press, but this edition is expanded with additional material. Bought off eBay for $75.
Lovecraft, H.P. (S. T. Joshi and David E. Schultz, editors). Letters to Alfred Galpin and Others. Hippocampus Press, 2020. First edition trade paperback original thus, a Fine copy. “A new edition, augmented here with over 200 new pages of material.” Primarily letters Lovecraft wrote to his amateur press association correspondents.
Lovecraft, H.P. (S. T. Joshi and David E. Schultz, editors). Letters to E. Hoffman Price and Richard F. Searight. Hippocampus Press, 2020. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Hoffman was an acclaimed Weird Tales writer in his own right, and also friends with Robert E. Howard (who is a frequent topic in these letters). Searlight also had pieces appear in Weird Tales.
Lovecraft, H.P. (S. T. Joshi and David E. Schultz, editors). Letters to Family and Family Friends Volume 1 with Letters to Family and Family Friends Volume 2. Hippocampus Press, 2020. First edition trade paperback originals, both Fine copies. Over 1,000 pages of letters, with page numbers across both volumes, plus a Glossary, an Index, etc.
Lovecraft, H.P. (S. T. Joshi and David E. Schultz, editors). Letters to Rheinhart Kleiner and Others. Hippocampus Press, 2020. First edition trade paperback original thus, a Fine copy. “A new edition, augmented here with nearly 250 new pages of material.” Letters Lovecraft wrote to one of his oldest friends, having known Kleiner since 1915. Other correspondence includes letters to other amateur journalists and members of the New York City-based Kalem Club.
(Lovecraft, H.P.) Sammons, Brian M and Glynn Owen Barrass, editors. Summer of Lovecraft: Cosmic Horrors in the 1960s. Dark Regions Press, 2021. Trade paperback reprint (a POD edition), a Fine copy. Bought for $9.
Magill, Frank, editor. Critical Survey of Mystery and Detective Fiction Authors. Salem Press, 1988. First edition hardbacks, a four volume set, reasonably clean Ex-Library copies, with slight signs of sticker removal from spine and a few bits of interior writing or marker crossout, but no pocket removal, sans dust jackets, as issued. Four volumes covering just about every important mystery writer up to that time (no Joe R. Lansdale, though, as this was right before the first Hap & Leonard novel). Bought for (I think) $20 from Scott Cupp at Armadillocon.
Martin, George R. R. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Subterranean Press, 2016. First signed limited edition hardback, a Fine PC copy of 52 leatherbound lettered copies signed by Martin and illustrator Gary Gianni, in a Fine traycase, sans dust jacket, as issued. An elaborate production, with full color fold-out frontispiece artwork and inserted card-stock separator, and a high quality embossed leather binding. Long out of print from the publisher. (In fact, I’m not even sure they ever offered the lettered edition in their email newsletter.) Bought for $600, a substantial discount from the original $750 offering price.
Matheson, Richard. Shadow on the Sun. M. Evans & Company, 1994. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket (after a jacket swap), signed by Matheson. Weird western. Bought from a fellow Biblio dealer for $28.
McDevitt, Jack. Cauldron. Easton Press, 2007. First edition (ISFDB shows it out three months before the Ace trade edition), #677 of 900 signed copies, a Fine copy in embossed leather boards, with certificate of authenticity (also signed by McDevitt), an unused personalization plate, and an insert card “a note about CAULDRON and the author JACK McDEVITT” laid in, sans dust jacket, as issued. Obtained as part of a bulk library purchase.
McDevitt, Jack. The Devil’s Eye. Easton Press, 2008. First edition thus, #824 of 900 signed copies, a Fine copy in embossed leather boards, with certificate of authenticity (also signed by McDevitt), an unused personalization plate, and an insert card “a note about THE DEVIL’S EYE and the author JACK McDEVITT” laid in, sans dust jacket, as issued. Obtained as part of a bulk library purchase.
McDevitt, Jack. Odyssey. Easton Press, 2006. First edition (ISFDB shows it out two months before the Ace trade edition), #881 of 900 signed copies, a Fine copy in embossed leather boards, with certificate of authenticity (also signed by McDevitt), an unused personalization plate, and an insert card “a note about ODYSSEY and the author JACK McDEVITT” laid in, sans dust jacket, as issued. Obtained as part of a bulk library purchase.
McDevitt, Jack. Omega. Easton Press, 2003. First edition (ISFDB shows it out three months before the Ace trade edition), #885 of 900 signed copies, a Fine copy in embossed leather boards, with certificate of authenticity (also signed by McDevitt), an unused personalization plate, and an insert card “a note about OMEGA and the author JACK McDEVITT” laid in, sans dust jacket, as issued. Obtained as part of a bulk library purchase.
McDevitt, Jack. Polaris. Easton Press, 2004. First edition (ISFDB shows it out five months before the Ace trade edition), #526 of 900 signed copies, a Fine copy in embossed leather boards, with certificate of authenticity (also signed by McDevitt), an unused personalization plate, a thin color-printed paper bookmark for the novel with McDevitt’s name, SFWA URL (no longer valid) and white out in the middle upon which “Cryptic, Inc.” (which I think used to be Jack’s business entity) typed or stamped on top, and an insert card “a note about POLARIS and the author JACK McDEVITT” laid in, sans dust jacket, as issued. Obtained as part of a bulk library purchase.
McDevitt, Jack. Seeker. Easton Press, 2005. First edition thus, #666 of 900 signed copies, a Fine copy in embossed leather boards, with certificate of authenticity (also signed by McDevitt), an unused personalization plate, and an insert card “a note about SEEKER and the author JACK McDEVITT” laid in, sans dust jacket, as issued. Nebula winner for Best Novel. Obtained as part of a bulk library purchase.
McDevitt, Jack. Time Travelers Never Die. Easton Press, 2009. First edition thus, #90 of 900 signed copies, a Fine copy in embossed leather boards, with certificate of authenticity (also signed by McDevitt), an unused personalization plate, and an insert card “a note about TIME TRAVELERS NEVER DIE and the author JACK McDEVITT” laid in, sans dust jacket, as issued. Obtained as part of a bulk library purchase.
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.
Moon, Elizabeth. Marque and Reprisal. Easton Press, 2004. First edition thus, #408 of 900 signed copies, a Fine copy in embossed leather boards, with certificate of authenticity (also signed by Moon), an unused personalization plate, and an insert card “a note about MARQUE AND REPRISAL and the author ELIZABETH MOON” laid in, sans dust jacket, as issued. Obtained as part of a bulk library purchase.
Moon, Elizabeth. The Speed of Dark. Easton Press, 2003. First edition thus, #809 of 1,000 signed copies, a Fine copy in embossed leather boards, with certificate of authenticity (also signed by Moon), an unused personalization plate, and an insert card “a note about THE SPEED OF DARK and the author ELIZABETH MOON” laid in, sans dust jacket, as issued. Interesting near future novel told from the viewpoint of a high-functioning autistic programmer. Nebula winner for Best Novel. Supplements a copy of the trade hardcover first inscribed to me (ISFDB says that the UK Orbit paperback edition is the true first). Obtained as part of a bulk library purchase.
Moorcock, Michael (edited by John Davey). Into The Media Web: Selected short non-fiction, 1956-2006. Savoy Books, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight bumping at head and heel in a Near Fine dust jacket with slight grubbiness, slight creasing at top front cover and a 1/8″ closed tear at top front fold, and slight bumping at heel. Inscribed by Moorcock to fellow writer (and New World contributor) John Baxter: “To John,/Some embarrassments/some bullshit and maybe/a little bit/of truth./All very/best, as/ever yours/Mike,” plus a signature dated “18th July ’10.” 300,000+ word, 717 page collection of non-fiction, including essays, reviews, etc. covering books, film, music, etc. (Here’s a post on the book’s design.) Reportedly had a hardback print run of less than 100 copies, though I haven’t nailed down exactly how many. Bought for £140 plus shipping.
After I picked this up, Mike mentioned that he thought Baxter’s Ballard book was “lazy, shallow, salacious and sensational.”
(Moorcock, Michael) Cawthorn, James. The Stormbringer Sessions. Jayde Designs/Savoy Books, 2021. First edition hardback, an oversized graphic novel format. #30 of 100 numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine slipcase, with a sheet replicating the cover art laid in. A graphic novel reprinting Cawthorn’s rough sketch’s for Michael Moorcock’s Elric: The Book of Stormbringer, a much more complete and elaborate graphic novel adaptation of the concluding Elric book than the version published by Savoy Books in 1976. At £100 plus transatlantic shipping, it’s a pricey item, but with such a small limitation (with only an additional 100 trade copies) for a Moorcock item, I thought it was better to snap it up when I could (and indeed, all copies are now sold out).
The scan chops off the very bottom of the cover, because that was all that would fit on my scanner.
The slipcase is embossed with a red foil version of Moorcock’s eight-arrowed chaos symbol:
Moore, Alan. Jerusalem. Knockabout Books, 2016. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with slight edgewear and slight haze-rubbing. Massive, 1174-page novel whose premise is that Northhampton is the actual center of the world. Looks interesting, but Lord know when I’ll ever find time to read it. Actually, I should probably read Voice of the Fire first. Bought for (I think) $16 from Scott Cupp at Armadillocon.
Moore, Ward. Breathe the Air Again. Harper & Brothers, 1942. First edition hardback (stated), a Near Fine copy with dust staining at top and bottom page blocks and slight bend at head and heel in a Near Fine, price-clipped dust jacket with price stamp of “2.95” next to clip, slight grubbiness (most noticeable to back rear cover), plus shallow closed tears at head and heel; despite that, it’s a bright, vibrant example of a dust jacket for which I can find no other scan on the Internet. Interestingly, this copy has a different binding, and even appears to be a different trim size, than my other copy. I now believe my earlier copy is not only a library rebind, but one for which the page blocks were trimmed as part of the rebinding process. Reportedly a Picaresque mainstream novel of labor organizing. Bought off an Internet dealer for $265.50.
Current copy on the left, older copy on the right
Nolan, William F. Writing as Life. Dark Regions Press, 2021. First edition hardback, #34 of 200 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, still in shrinkwrap. Mixture of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and autobiography. Bought for $37.50.
Palwick, Susan. All World Are Real. Fairwood Press, 2019. First edition trade paperback edition, a Fine copy, new and unread. Short story collection.
Powers, Tim. Artificial Light. Charnel House, 2021. First edition hardback, #67 of 100 signed, numbered hardback copies in Japanese Red Snow Dust silk (the same material used for Charnel Houses’ edition of Powers’ Collected Stories), a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. A beautiful Charnel House production. Bought from the publisher at the usual discount. There’s also a lettered state and a wraps state (not seen).
Powers, Tim. Last Call. Charnel House, 1992. First edition hardback (“by a whisker” says Chalker/Owings), #141 of 350 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine- decorated slipcase with some rubbing to bottom and at points. His celebrated “playing poker with Tarot cards” book, and the first (and best) in a loose trilogy. Berlyne, A8b.1. Chalker/Owings (2002), page 211. Bought from a noted SF book dealer for $325. I think I now have all the Charnel House Powers limiteds (at least in numbered state).
Reynolds, Alastair. Belladonna Nights and Other Stories. Subterranean Press, 2021. First edition hardback, #171 of 1500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Available through Lame Excuse Books.
Reynolds, Alastair. Revenger. Gollancz, 2016. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with slight crimping at head. Bought at a Houston-area Half Price Books for $12.49.
Rusch, Kristine Kathryn, editor. Pulphouse Winter 1990: Issue Six. Pulphouse Publishing, 1990. First edition hardback, #196 of 250 numbered copies signed by all the contributors, a Fine- copy with a tiny crease at head, sans dust jacket, in a Fine slipcase, as issued. Back in the dim mists of the late 1980s, I thought the black trade edition of Pulphouse: The Hardback Magazine, with it’s faux leather, embossed covers and deckled edges, was fairly attractive. Many of the Author’s Choice Monthly volumes were also worthwhile. Then Pulphouse wildly overproduced a huge variety of material nobody wanted, almost single-handedly depressing the market for small press books in the early 1990s. This volume has work (and signatures) from Avram Davidson, George Alec Effinger, Bradley Denton, Charles De Lint, Susan Palwick, etc. “Shrunk,” the Effinger story, is actually one George brought to the second Turkey City Writer’s Workshop I ever threw, which he said he had just missed selling to Playboy. According to him, Alice Turner had said “Well, I looked at it, and looked at it, and I finally decided it just wasn’t right for us.” Said George: “Do you realize what she said? ‘You just missed $5000 by that much.’ Tell me what’s wrong with it! I’ll walk to New York on my knees and fix it!” I already have all 12 issues of the trade edition of the hardback magazine run, and pick up the signed editions when I find them cheap, and I now have four. Chalker/Owings (2002), page 715. Bought off eBay for $25, more than half off the original offering price of $60.
Rushdie, Salman. The Satanic Verses. Viking, 1989. Fourth printing of the first American edition, a Fine- copy with slight bend at head and heel in a Fine- dust jacket with slight curl at head, signed by Rushdie, with sales slip from a bookseller stating it was a signed copy laid. The book that earned Rushdie a fatwa from the Ayatollah Khomeini. Supplements a first printing of the first American edition (the Viking UK edition precedes). Bought at a Houston-area Half Price Books for $7.99.
Shaver, Richard S. The Shaver Mystery Book Eight. Armchair Fiction, 2020. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Supplements volumes 1-7.
Shea, Michael. Mr. Cannyharme: A Novel of Lovecraftian Terror. Hippocampus Press, 2021. First edition hardback, one of only 500 hardback copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Previously unpublished Shea novel of Lovecraftian horror set in post-hippie San Francisco. Bought from the publisher at the usual discount. I will have copies of this available in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog.
Shirley, John. A Sorcerer of Atlantis with A Prince in the Kingdom of Ghosts. Hippocampus Press, 2021. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Shirley doing weird adventure pulp! The first story features two adventurers in Atlantis battling bizarre monsters accompanied by a Princess of Mu. The second features a murdered Korean American who finds himself a prince in the afterlife. Looks like great fun.
Silverberg, Robert. Masters of Science Fiction Volume 13: Robert Silverberg The Ace Years, Part Three. Armchair Fiction, 2018. First edition trade paperback originals, a Fine copy. Reprints three more Ace PBOs: Invaders From Earth, Collision Course and The Silent Invaders, plus a new forward, a book cover gallery, and “The Songs of Summer.”
Silverberg, Robert. The Secret Sharer. Underwood Miller, 1988. First edition hardback, #230 of 250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Near Fine slipcase with some red spotting to rear. Part of a bulk collection purchase.
Silverberg, Robert, and Randall Garrett, and Laurence Manning. The Beast With 7 Tails b/w The Wreck of the Asteroid. Armchair Fiction, 2021. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. The Silverberg/Garrett “The Beast With 7 Tails” has never been reprinted since it’s appearance in Amazing Stories in 1956, and The Wreck of the Asteroid has not been reprinted since being serialized in Wonder Stories in 1932-3. Bleiler’s Science Fiction: The Gernsback Years says that the Manning is “A competent adventure story with reasonable development.”
Simmons, Dan. Lovedeath. Subterranean Press, 2013. First limited edition a PC copy of 250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Mylar-protected dust jacket. Formerly Subterranean Press founder William Shafer’s copy. Supplements a copy of the Warner Books first edition inscribed to me. Bought from Camelot Books for $52.50.
Skelton, Red. The Great Lazarus. Skelton Publications, 1986. First edition hardback (stated), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Skelton. Michael Swanwick says it may qualify as magic realism. Bought off eBay for $24.50.
Smith, Clark Ashton, and August Derleth. Eccentric, Impractical Devils: The Letters of August Derleth and Clark Ashton Smith. (David E. Schultz and S.T. Joshi, editors). Hippocampus Press, 2020. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Derleth, of course, published many of Smith’s collections at Arkham House, and both men where appearing in the pages of Weird Tales in the 1920s, but they didn’t correspond until Lovecraft introduced them to each other in 1930.
(Smith, Clark Ashton) S.T. Joshi, David E. Schultz and Scott Conners. Clark Ashton Smith: A Comprehensive Bibliography. Hippocampus Press, 2020. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Much-needed comprehensive bibliography for Smith’s works, especially since Donald Sidney-Fryer’s Emperor of Dreams is not only out of date, but so poorly organized as to be nearly useless.
Smith, Michael Marshall. The Best of Michael Marshall Smith. Subterranean Press, 2021. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Trade edition.
Stephenson, Neal. Atmosphæra Incognita. Subterranean Press, 2019. First edition hardback, a PC copy of 26 Lettered copies, a Fine copy in embossed boards and a Fine traycase, sans dust jacket, as issued. Novella about building a giant tower. Bought for $500 (the original offering price).
Spiner, Brent with Jeanne Darst. Fan Fiction: A Mem-Noir Inspired By True Events. St. Martin’s Press, 2021. First edition hardback, a Fine copy, signed by Spiner. Mystery by Spiner, starring Spiner, revolving around a box he received during the filming of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Bought for $22.39 from The Mysterious Bookshop.
Stephenson, Neal. Atmosphæra Incognita. Subterranean Press, 2019. First edition hardback, a PC copy of 400 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Bought for $100.
Lettered edition on left, numbered edition on right
Sturgeon, Theodore. The Dreaming Jewels. Greenberg, 1950. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with slight flatness to top of spine, a few touches of wear to boards, slight foxing to inside covers, FFE and RFE, and trace of light spotting at top page block, in a Very Good+ dust jacket with shallow chipping at head and heel, moderate light staining spots to white rear panel, and some 1/4″ closed tears at top and bottom fold joins and various other traces of surface wear, with Greenberg response postcard laid in. Currey, page 471. His first novel. Park of a bulk collection purchase.
Sturgeon, Theodore. Without Sorcery. Prime Press, 1948. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with slight bumping at head, heel and points and a tickmark and circled “A+” next to “Maturity” on the title page, in a Very Good+ dust jacket with edgewear and crinkling at head, heel and points, rubbing along edges one thin streak of discoloration to spine (not affecting any text), slight haze rubbing to front cover, and age darkening and dust staining to white rear cover, signed by Sturgeon. Sturgeon’s first short story collection (and first “real” book). Diskin, Theodore Sturgeon: A Primary and Secondary Bibliography, A54. Currey, page 473 (state B, trade issue). Chalker/Owings, page 352. Kemp, The Anthem Series, page 129. Bleiler, Checklist (1978), page 189 (not in the 1948 edition). Locke, Anatomy of Wonder, page 208. Barron, Anatomy of Wonder 4, 3-173. Bought for $50 off eBay.
Swanwick, Michael. The Book of Blarney. Dragonstairs Press, 2021. First edition chapbook original, #44 of 50 signed, numbered copies, this one in a patterned darker green wraps (call it state A, no precedence), a Fine copy. “Four whimsical, cynical vignettes on the theme of Ireland’s religious and literary history. 5 ½ by 4 ¼ inches. Wrapper of Nepalese lokta paper, in two different states. Decorated with an applied harp label and green ribbon. Numbered and signed by the author. Issued in an edition of 50, 11 of which were distributed to participants of Michael Swanwick’s virtual kaffeklatch at 2021 Boskone.”
Swanwick, Michael. The Book of Blarney. Dragonstairs Press, 2021. First edition chapbook original, #48 of 50 signed, numbered copies, this one in solid emerald green wraps (call it state B, no precedence), a Fine copy (though with a wrinkle present in the wraps paper). Both editions sold out the same day they were offered for sale.
Swanwick, Michael. Five Rings. Dragonstairs Press, 2021. First edition chapbook original, #5 of 32 copies, a Fine copy. Five vignettes on the Olympics, “Gold,” “Silver,” “Bronze,” “Last Place” and “Also There.” Sold out within minutes of being made available for sale. I have copies of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
Swanwick, Michael. Rainbow Clause. Dragonstairs Press, 2020. First edition chapbook original, #72 of 120 copies, a Fine copy with multicolored snowflakes appliqued to the front cover. Collection of extremely short stories about various Santas (“Red Santa,” “Orange Santa,” “White Santa,” “Blue Santa,” “Black Santa,” “Yellow Santa,” “Purple Santa” and “Green Santa”). I have copies of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
Swanwick, Michael and Greer Gilman. The Lonely and the Rum: A Conversation. Dragonstairs Press, 2021. First edition chapbook original, #50 of 125 copies, a Fine copy with hand-made, uneven (I think intentionally) covers. Transcription of a conversation between Gilman and Swanwick on fantasy. Obtained directly from the publisher at the usual discount. I have copies of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
Tarantino, Quentin. Once Upon A Time in Hollywood. Harper, 2021. First hardback edition and first edition thus, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Originally published as a PBO, this hardback edition includes not only Tarantino’s novelization of his own film, but also a script for an episode of Bounty Law, reproductions of fake movie posters and TV Guide covers featuring Rick Dalton, and even the Mad Magazine parody “Lousy Law.” Bought from The Mysterious Bookshop at a dealer discount. (Right now Amazon appears to be offering this at half cover price (though the usual Amazon caveats apply, and there’s no guarantee you’ll get a first printing).)
Turtledove, Harry. The Best of Harry Turtledove. Subterranean Press, 2021. First edition hardback, #268 of 1,000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. I have copies of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
Vance, Jack. Cugel’s Saga. Underwood Miller, 1983. First limited edition hardback, a presentation copy of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine- copy with slight crimping at head, in a Near Fine+ dust jacket with some age darkening to the spine and touches of wear at head, heel and points, in a Fine- slipcase with a few traces of wear. Sequel to Eyes of the Overworld. Hewett A71b, which notes the slipcase was actually issued later than the book itself. Cunningham 19b, which notes that there were 50 PC copies. Bought off eBay for $202.50, which is about half of what normal copies usually go for, much less a presentation copy with the slipcase.
Vance, Jack. Mazirian the Magician: Tales of the Dying Earth, Book 1. Spatterlight Press, 2021. First separate hardback edition and first thus, a Fine- copy in decorated boards with wear at head and slight bump at heel, otherwise new and unread, sans dust jacket, as issued. First separate edition under this title, a corrected reprint of The Dying Earth originally published as the first volume of the Vance Integral Edition, with a new introduction by Michael Moorcock. Bought for $57.36 from Amazon, the only venue for order fulfillment, which makes me think trying to obtain a perfect copy would be an exercise in futility. Supplements a VIE copy, the Underwood-Miller hardback first of The Dying Earth, and a paperback reprint of The Dying Earth Vance signed for me at the 1985 NASFIC in Austin. (Still need the Hillman PBO.)
Vance, Jack. Vandals of the Void. The John C. Winston Company, 1953. First edition hardback, a Very Good copy with some soiling/grubbiness to the boards, a touch of dust staining to page block edges, in a Very Good dust jacket with one 1/4″ chip at top rear corner, a 1/32″ chip along bottom rear edge, a closed 1/4″ triangular tear at top front, fading to red portion of spine, plus edgewear at points and slight rubbing, but overall a very attractive copy of the dust jacket. I bought this off eBay for $41.00 to marry the dust jacket to my signed but jacketless copy. Hewett, A3. Cunningham, 81a.
Vance, Jack. Wild Thyme, Green Magic. Subterranean Press, 2009. First edition hardback, a PC copy of 26 signed lettered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine traycase. The only edition of this book issued signed by Vance. Formerly Subterranean Press founder William Schafer’s copy. Bought from Camelot Books for $525.
(Vance, Jack) Robert Offutt Jr., editor. The Many Worlds of Jack Vance & The Horns of Elfland. Robert Offutt Jr., 1978. First edition illustrated fanzine, a Near Fine copy with a crease near the top at the spine. Features the Vance’s “The Secret,” the first chapter of an illustrated adaptation of The Eyes of the Overworld, etc. Second (and last) volume of an illustrated, semiprozine quality publication dedicated to Vance’s work (though the cover illustration, “Boromir’s Fall,” is obviously from The Lord of the Rings). Chock-full of illustrations from Rod Whigham, who later did a great deal of comic book work. Hewett, M31b, who notes there were 1,000 copies of this printed. Bought off eBay for $25.
Wager, Walter. My Side By King Kong. Collier Books, 1976. First trade paperback edition (there was a hardback the same year that may have preceded), a Fine- copy with edgewear. Another book for my Kaiju library. A Christmas gift from Dwight, and not listed in any previous post.
Wagner, Karl Edward. A Little Ochre Book of Occult Stories. Borderlands Press, 2016. First edition hardback, #165 of 500 numbered copies signed by editor Stephen Jones. Short story collection. Bought for $30 off eBay.
Weir, Andy. The Martian. Crown Publishers. 2014. First edition hardback (preceded by a self-published ebook), a Near Fine copy with small, light spots of staining to heel and slight bend at head, in a Near Fine dust jacket with a 1/2″ closed tear at bottom front, slight crease along top front edge, slight edgewear and wear at points. Celebrated novel of an astronaut stranded on Mars made into the Matt Damon movie of the same name. Bought at Half Price Books for $9.99.
Wellman, Manly Wade. Rebel Boast. Henry Holt and Company, 1956. First edition hardback, a Very Good+ copy from which the FFE has been excised and a cracked front hinge, otherwise nice, in a Very Good+ dust jacket with a few 3/4″ closed tears along the top edge that have been mended (fairly skillfully) with blindside tape, signed by Wellman. Non-fiction about a group of Confederate soldiers that fought the entirety of the Civil War. “First at Bethel — Last at Appomattox.” Bought for $15 off eBay.
Williamson, Jack. The Stonehenge Gate. Easton Press, 2005. First edition hardcover (ISFDB says this came out in March of 2005, while the serialized version was finishing up in Analog, while the Tor edition didn’t come out until August) #120 of 900 signed copies, a Fine copy in embossed leather boards, with certificate of authenticity (also signed by Williamson), an unused personalization plate, and an insert card “a note about THE STONEHENGE GATE and the author JACK WILLIAMSON” laid in, sans dust jacket, as issued. I note that it is fairly unusual for Tor to allow Easton Press to do an edition of one of their books, and I’ve seen writers complain that Tor contracts forbade them from doing an Easton Press edition (or other signed/limited special editions), as they wanted their own books to be the true firsts. Williamson’s editor there was David Hartwell, a long-time fan of his work, and I can believe that such was his stature that an exception was made. Part of a bulk collection purchase.
Wolfe, Gene. Home Fires. Tor, 2011. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with black remainder dot to top page block and slight bumping at head in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Wolfe. Supplements an unsigned first and a copy of the PS Publishing signed, limited edition. Bought for $30 off eBay.
Wong, David (pseudonym of Jason Pargin). This Book Is Full of Spiders. St. Martin’s Press, 2012. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight bumping at head and heel and a Fine- dust jacket with slight wrinkling at heel, touches of edgewear and a couple of small stray abrasions. Sequel to John Dies At The End. Part of a bulk collection purchase.
Wong, David (pseudonym of Jason Pargin). What The Hell Did I Just Read. St. Martin’s Press, 2017. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Another book in the series. Part of a bulk collection purchase.
Zelazny, Roger. Bridge of Ashes. Signet, 1976. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Fine- copy with a slight bit of edgewear, and a trace of dust soiling to very bottom of back cover, signed by Zelazny. Levack, 2a. Kovacs, I3a. Currey, page 571. This and the following Zelazny paperbacks were all books from that final Bob Pylant Zelazny purchase in 2019
Zelazny, Roger. Creatures of Light and Darkness. Avon, 1970. First paperback edition, a Near Fine+ copy with one spine crease and touches of edgewear, signed by Zelazny. Levack, 8c. Kovacs, I9d.
Zelazny, Roger. Dilvish, the Damned. Del Rey, 1981. First edition paperback original, a Fine- with a 1/16th closed tear at bottom front and slight edgewear at points, signed by Zelazny. Levack, 11a. Kovacs, I15b.
Zelazny, Roger. Four for Tomorrow. Ace, 1967. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Near Fine- copy with slight spine crease and wear, plus foxing to inside covers and slight age-darkening, inscribed by Zelazny: “For Willie/Best,/Roger Zelazny.” Levack, 17a. Kovacs, V11a. Currey, page 571.
Zelazny, Roger. Isle of the Dead. Ace, 1969. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Fine- copy with slight wear at head and heel, trace of foxing to inside covers, and slight age darkening to pages, signed by Zelazny. A really pristine copy. Levack, 21a. Kovacs, I25a. Currey, page 571.
Zelazny, Roger. Jack of Shadows. Signet, 1972. First paperback edition, a Near Fine copy with former owner’s name and “Parson’s Farewell” written and crossed out on blurb page, signed by Zelazny. Levack, 22c. Kovacs, I26c.
Zelazny, Roger. My Name is Legion Ballantine Books, 1976. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Fine- copy with a slight bit of edgewear, signed by Zelazny. Levack, 27a. Kovacs, I32a. Currey, page 572.
Zelazny, Roger and Fred Saberhagen. The Black Throne. Baen, 1990. First edition paperback original “uncorrected page proof,” a Fine- copy with a few tiny black dots on bottom pageblock edge, otherwise new and unread. Kovacs, 1a. The proof, unlike the PBO, has a printed white spine and blank white rear cover. Mass market form factor proofs are not unknown in science fiction, but they are unusual.
Tags: Books, Centipede Press, Charnel House, Clive Barker, Fantasy, Harlan Ellison, Horror, Isaac Asimov, J. G. Ballard, Jack Vance, Joe R. Lansdale, Michael Moorcock, Michael Swanwick, Mystery, Neil Gaiman, Ray Bradbury, Robert Silverberg, Science Fiction, Subterranean Press
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February 27th, 2022
The final three Easton Press library additions from that big purchase.
Stross, Charles. Glasshouse. Easton Press, 2006. First edition thus, #469 of 900 signed copies, a Fine copy in embossed leather boards, with certificate of authenticity (also signed by Stross), an unused personalization plate, and an insert card “a note about GLASSHOUSE and the author CHARLIE STROSS” laid in, sans dust jacket, as issued. Supplements a copy of the trade first edition (ISFDB the books came out the same month; usually when that happens, the author gets the Easton Press books FedExed to them a few days before the laydown date of the trade edition, but most subscribers get their copies just after the trade is released.)
Stross, Charles. Halting State. Easton Press, 2007. First edition (ISFDB says it came out a month before the trade), #35 of 900 signed copies, a Fine copy in embossed leather boards, with certificate of authenticity (also signed by Stross), an unused personalization plate, and an insert card “a note about HALTING STATE and the author CHARLIE STROSS” laid in, sans dust jacket, as issued. Supplements a copy of the trade first edition.
Williamson, Jack. The Stonehenge Gate. Easton Press, 2005. First edition hardcover (ISFDB says this came out in March of 2005, while the serialized version was finishing up in Analog, while the Tor edition didn’t come out until August) #120 of 900 signed copies, a Fine copy in embossed leather boards, with certificate of authenticity (also signed by Williamson), an unused personalization plate, and an insert card “a note about THE STONEHENGE GATE and the author JACK WILLIAMSON” laid in, sans dust jacket, as issued. I note that it is fairly unusual for Tor to allow Easton Press to do an edition of one of their books, and I’ve seen writers complain that Tor contracts forbade them from Easton Press (or other signed/limited special editions), as they wanted their own books to be the true firsts. Williamson’s editor there was David Hartwell, a long-time fan of his work, and I can believe that such was his stature that an exception was made.
Tags: Books, Charles Stross, Easton Press, Jack Williamson, Limited Editions, Science Fiction
Posted in Books, Science Fiction | No Comments »
