Posts Tagged ‘Neil Gaiman’

Library Addition: Three Signed Firsts

Wednesday, September 15th, 2021

Another one from the bulk purchase:

  • 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.

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Lame Excuse Books August 2021 Catalog

    Monday, August 30th, 2021

    It’s time once again for “I’ve just dumped my latest book catalog out here as a giant text file for a blog post.” Enjoy, and let me know if there’s anything here you’re interested in buying.

    Greetings, and welcome to another Lame Excuse Books catalog! This was supposed to go out in May, but first the ice storm, then the extended tax deadline, pushed everything out. But there’s lots of swell stuff in here, much of which went out of print while I was working on it. There’s lots of new signed Lansdale, out-of-print Subterranean Harlan Ellison limited editions, Charnel House books from Ellison and Tim Powers, instantly out-of-print signed, limited editions from Centipede Press, out-of-print Borderlands Press titles (including The Complete Short Fiction of Peter Straub set), a new Bruce Sterling collection, some Neal Barrett Jr. books, several Michael Swanwick chapbooks, some NewCon Press books, plus a bunch of trade paperbacks from Hippocampus Press and Armchair Fiction. And some mass market Zelazny paperbacks (many signed).

    As usual, I typically only have a 1-2 copies of even the newest books, so if you want something you should act fast!

    The URL for the main Lame Excuse Books webpage is:

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

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

    https://www.lawrenceperson.com

    In fact, I just posted a giant Books Wanted List:

    https://www.lawrenceperson.com/?p=17157

    So if you have any of those available at attractive prices, or want to trade them for credit against book purchases, let me know.

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

    https://twitter.com/LameExcuseBooks

    My books are also now listed at:

    http://www.biblio.com/bookstore/lame-excuse-books-austin?aid=BSCB2577247

    But buying directly from me guarantees you the best price.

    Payment, Contact & Shipping Information

    Email me at lawrenceperson@gmail.com. I can hold books for ten days on email or phone requests (please leave a message on my voicemail for the latter: (512) 569-9036). U.S. shipping is $5.00 for the first book, and $1.00 a book thereafter.

    Foreign shipping is at cost (please inquire; for most locations, Priority International starts at $37.45 now). However, Biblio has instituted an overseas consolidated shipper whose rates are between domestic and foreign USPS rates. I’ve had overseas customers successfully receive books, so that’s a definite possibility if you live in the UK or Australia.

    Books may be returned in the same condition sent for any reason within 10 days of purchase for a full refund. Please make checks payable to Lawrence Person. I can also take PayPal payment to this email address
    at http://www.paypal.com.

    Please mail checks to:

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

    Now the books!

    Hardbacks

    LP3021. Anderson, Poul. The Boat of a Million Years. Tor, 1989. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and Mylar dust jacket protector. Well-regarded book that follows eleven immortals from the distant past into the far future. Hugo and Nebula finalist for Best Novel. $25.

    LP3020. Asimov, Isaac. The Foundation Trilogy (Foundation, Foundation and Empire, and Second Foundation). Folio Society, 2012. First edition hardbacks thus, an attractive three volume prestige edition, all Fine copies in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued, in a Fine, decorated slipcase with a Fine Folio Society brochure laid in. One of the Folio Society’s more attractive and desirable offerings. $350.

    LP3023. Barrett, Neal, Jr. Other Seasons. Subterranean Press, 2012. First edition hardback, #242 of 750 signed, numbered copies, a Fine- copy with one short, thin gray line to page block edges (possibly a stray pencil mark) in a Fine dust jacket. The usual huge, beautiful Subterranean “best of” career retrospective collection, with lots of great stories. Out of print from the publisher. $34.

    LP2739. Barrett, Neal, Jr. Perpetuity Blues and Other Stories. Golden Gryphon Press, 2000. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with a light grayish line across inside front endpaper (looks like a mechanical production issue) and a very few lightly rubbed spots on boards, in a Fine dust jacket in a Mylar protector. Inscribed by Barrett: “for Charlie at/FAMCON 2000!/(signature)”. A Best Of collection of Neal’s short fiction, including such great pieces as “Ginny Sweethips Flying Circus.” Highly recommended. $20.

    LP3024. Barrett, Neal, Jr. Prince of Christler-Coke. Golden Gryphon, 2004. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, with book announcement postcard laid in. Sardonic post-apocalyptic novel. $18.

    LP3025. Block, Lawrence. A Writer Prepares. Short Scary Tales (SST) Publications, 2021. First edition hardback, one of 400 signed, numbered hardbacks, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, still in publisher’s tissue paper wrapping. An autobiography of the early writing life of this influential and prolific mystery writer. “By the time I was 25, I had a wife and two daughters and a house in a suburb. I had published over fifty books.” The mind boggles, and I feel like a slacker. Only have one. $50.

    LP3026. Boyett, Stephen R. The Architect of Sleep. Centipede Press, 2021. First hardback edition, one 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, never reprinted, and became something of a cult classic. I’ve sold a lot of PBO copies of this and Ariel over the years (and indeed, see below). 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. $195.

    LP3027. Brin, David. The Best of David Brin. Subterranean Press, 2021. First edition hardback, one of 1,000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Another Subterranean career retrospective volume. 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.”) $45.

    LP3028. Caro, Robert. The Years of Lyndon Johnson: The Passage of Power. Knopf, 2012. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy in a Fine- dust jacket, with just a trace of crimping at head, the tiniest of bumps at points, and almost negligible edgewear; really, this is about as close to perfect as you’ll find without it being perfect. Fourth, massive 700 page volume in Caro’s multi-award winning biography of Lyndon Baines Johnson, covering 1958-1964, covering being selected as Kennedy’s running mate, the 1960 Presidential election, the Cuba missile crisis, and his taking over as President after Kennedy’s assassination. This won the National Books Critics Circle Award, and other volumes have won the Pulitzer and National book Award, among many others. I know, not SF. but I chanced across it, so I’m giving you first crack at it. $35.

    LP3029. Child, Lee. A Little Gold Book of Unconsidered Trifles. Borderlands Press, 2021. First edition hardback, one 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. Now sold out from the publisher. $38.

    LP3030. Constantine, Storm. Splinters of Truth. NewCon, 2016. First edition hardback, #71 of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Short story collection from the acclaimed fantasy
    writer who died in 2021. $45.

    LP3031. Di Filippo, Paul. Worldshifter. NewCon Press, 2021. First edition hardback, #42 of just 60 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. “A high-octane tale of sweeping scope and imagination packed into a breathless novella.” $49.

    LP3032. Doctorow, Cory. Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom. Tor, 2003. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. First novel by this ubiquitous SF writer and cyberadvocate. $15.

    LP3033. Ellison, Harlan. Can and Can’tankerous. Subterranean Press/Edgeworks Abbey, 2015. First edition hardback, a PC copy of 374 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine- slipcase where a few spots seem ever-so-slightly bumped; I’m probably being excessively picky. Previously uncollected stories. This limited edition adds four pieces (“Who Wilts the Lettuce?” (original 1957 typescript), “Blonde Cargo” (original 1958 typescript), “Weariness” (original 2005 typescript) and “Sensible City” (2009 revised version)) not in the trade edition. Long out of print from the publisher. No copy of either edition online at all right now. $300.

    LP3034. Ellison, Harlan. Can and Can’tankerous. Subterranean Press/Edgeworks Abbey, 2015. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine Mylar-protected dust jacket. Trade edition. Long out of print from the publisher. $150.

    LP3035. Ellison, Harlan. Edgeworks 1 (Over the Edge, An Edge to My Voice). White Wolf, 1996. First edition hardback thus, an omnibus edition of Over the Edge and An Edge to My Voice, a Fine copy in a Fine Mylar-protected dust jacket which someone has taped, not to the boards themselves, but to a paper strip on the other side. $15.

    LP3036. Ellison, Harlan. The Glass Teat & The Other Glass Teat. Charnel House, 2011. First hardback edition, first printing, one of 250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in decorated boards, supposedly a second state “10th Anniversary Edition” binding 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 that. Now substantially more affordable than the originally announced price (which was $600). Only have one. $395.

    LP3037. Ellison, Harlan. The Top of the Volcano: The Award-Winning Stories of Harlan Ellison. Subterranean Press/Edgeworks Abbey, 2014. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine Mylar-protected dust jacket. All Ellison’s award-winning stories in one volume. Michael Whelan cover. Highly recommended. Long out of print from the publisher. $120.

    LP3039. Foster, Alan Dean. The Director Should’ve Shot You: Memoirs of the Film Trade. Centipede Press, 2021. First hardback edition, #429 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 book 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 here 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. Only have one. $95.

    LP3040. Gaiman, Neil. American Gods: The Tenth Anniversary Edition. William Morrow, 2011. First edition thus of this anniversary edition with the “Author’s Preferred Text” (which I think follows the text of the 2004 Hill House limited edition), a Fine copy in a Fine Mylar-protected dust jakcet, signed by Gaiman. Winner of the Hugo, Nebula and Bram Stoker Award for Best Novel. Recommended. It seems that while I wasn’t looking, any signed first edition of this has gotten scarce and pricey. $125.

    LP3041. Gaiman, Neil. The Ocean at the End of the Lane. William Morrow/Harper Collins, 2013. First edition hardback (simultaneous with several UK Headline editions), a Fine copy in a Fine Mylar-protected dust jacket, signed by Gaiman. Novel. British National Book of the Year award winner. $55.

    LP3042. Gibson, William. Distrust That Particular Favor. Putnam, 2012. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket (and NO remainder mark). Collection of essays. $19.

    LP3043. Griffith, Nicola. Hild. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2013. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with slight bumping at points at head. Historical novel about St. Hilda of Whitby, who lived in 7th century England. Nebula nominee for Best Novel that went through multiple printings. $20.

    LP3044. Hand, Elizabeth (edited by Bill Sheehan). The Best of Elizabeth Hand. Subterranean Press, 2021. First edition hardback, one of 1000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Now out of print from the publisher. $49.

    LP3045. King, Owen. A Little Bronze Book of Greebles. Borderlands Press, 2020. First edition hardback, one of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. A mixture of fiction, reviews, introductions, essays (including one on his own father’s Mr. Mercedes), and even bits on baseball and music. Out of print upon publication. $49.

    LP3046. (King, Stephen, and Peter Straub) Chizmar, Richard, and Johnathon Schaech. A Little Silver Book: A Screenplay. Borderland Press, 2021. First edition hardback, one 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. Now out of print from the publisher. $38.

    LP3047. Koontz, Dean. Devoted. Short Scary Tales (SST) Publications, 2021. First limited edition hardback, one 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, attractive 574 page volume. Only have one. $125.

    LP3048. Lansdale, Joe R. Fishing for Dinosaurs and other stories. Subterranean Press, 2020. First edition hardback, one of 2500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Short story collection. Really nice endpapers. $40.

    LP3049. Lansdale, Joe R. Wet Juju. Short Scary Tales (SST) Publications, 2020. First edition hardback, one of 550 signed, numbered hardbacks, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, with SST tissue paper closure sticker laid in. Out of print upon publication. Massive collection, so overseas shipping will be more than usual. The only copy I could find online is $100 more than my price. $125.

    LP3051. Martin, George R. R. A Game of Thrones. Bantam Spectra, 1996. First U.S. hardback edition, a Near Fine+ copy with slight bumping at head and slight flash to the top corner of the rear free endpaper, which has lead to a 1/8″ tear there and associated wrinkling, in a Near Fine dust jacket with a slight, non-breaking crease to the top half of spine (as though the book were read once), slight wrinkling at head, a few touches of edgewear (most noticeable at top rear join), and one pin-head sized spot of of wear to the reflective silver cover at the bottom of edge of the front cover. Not a perfect copy, but still a very nice one. First book in the enormously popular, multi-award winning fantasy series. $350.

    LP3052. McCarthy, Cormac. The Road. Knopf, 2006. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with a slight bit of crimping at head and heel in a Fine- dust jacket with just a trace of surface haze on glossy black cover, most noticeable along spine join. A just short of perfect copy of McCarthy’s Pulitzer Prize winning post-apocalyptic novel, made into the 2009 movie of the same name. $30.

    LP3053. Powers, Tim. Artificial Light. Charnel House, 2021. First edition hardback, one 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. $295.

    LP3054. Powers, Tim. Down and Out in Purgatory. Subterranean Press, 2016. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. $24.

    LP3055. Silverberg, Robert. To The Land Of The Living. Easton Press, 1990. First edition hardback thus, a Fine copy in decorated leather boards, signed by Silverberg, sans dust jacket, as issued. The second Gilgamesh novel. Easton does pretty books. $29.

    LP3056. Smith, Michael Marshall. The Best of Michael Marshall Smith. Subterranean Press, 2021. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Another big Subterranean career retrospective. Trade edition. $45.

    LP3057. Sterling, Bruce. Robot Artists & Black Swans: The Italian Fantascienza Stories. Tachyon, 2021. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. His latest short story collection. Introduction by Neal Stephenson. $25.95.

    LP3058. Straub, Peter. The Complete Short Fiction of Peter Straub Volume One with The Complete Short Fiction of Peter Straub Volume Two. Borderlands Press, 2021. First edition hardbacks, one of 350 signed, numbered copies, Fine copies in Fine dust jackets. Already out of print from the publisher. $245.

    LP3059. Stross, Charles. The Atrocity Archives. Golden Gryphon, 2004. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, with promotional postcard for the book laid in. The first of the Geek/Cthulhu Mythos Laundry Files books. Recommended. $49.

    LP3060. Sturgeon, Theodore. Alien Cargo. Bluejay, 1984. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with bumping at head and heel and slight abrasion of letters on spine with a Good only dust jacket that is complete, but has a 3″ tear down the top front cover outer corner right through the Mylar, plus other touches of wear. Short story collection, including great Sturgeon stories “It,” “Microcosmic God” and “Bright Segment.” Reading copy only. $5.

    LP3061. Turtledove, Harry. The Best of Harry Turtledove. Subterranean Press, 2021. First edition hardback, one of 1,000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. The usual big Subterranean retrospective collection. $45.

    LP3062. Vance, Jack. Night Lamp. Tor, 1996. First edition hardback (Cunningham notes that this trade edition actually precedes the Underwood limited edition), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Vance. A really beautiful signed copy of one of the best of Vance’s later novels. Recommended. I also have a copy of the Underwood limited edition for sale on the website. Cunningham B61a. $95.

    LP801B. Waldrop, Howard (with Bruce Sterling, George R. R. Martin, Leigh Kennedy, Steven Utley, Buddy (Jake) Saunders, and A. A. (Al) Jackson, IV. Custer’s Last Jump and Other Collaborations. Golden Gryphon, 2003. First edition hardback, Fine in a Fine dj. New and unread. Signed by Waldrop and Al Jackson. In addition to the swell title story, there’s an 11th century Japanese detective story written with Bruce Sterling (“The Latter Days of the Law”) original to this volume, “Black as the Pit From Pole to Pole” (Frankenstein’s Monster in the Hollow Earth, with Utley), and tons more neat stuff. Highly Recommended. You need it. Howard was just awarded the World Fantasy Lifetime Achievement Award. $25.

    LP2799. Waldrop, Howard. Night of the Cooters. Ursus/Ziesing, 1990. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with red spine title lettering slightly faded and just the barest bit of wrinkling at head and heel, signed by Waldrop. Great short story collection, including the title story (Slim Pickins vs. Martians), “Fin de Cycle,” and “Do Ya, Do Ya, Wanna Dance.” Highly Recommended. $20.

    LP3064. Wilkins-Freeman, Mary. Collected Ghost Stories. Arkham House, 1974. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket with $8.95 price sticker pasted over price (Arkham did this for some books they had in inventory for a while). Collection of acclaimed ghost stories from this turn-of-the-century new England writer. Joshi, 60 Years of Arkham House, 128. Jaffery, Horrors and Unpleasantries, 132 (“The stories are good!”). Nielsen, Arkham House Books, 134. $20.

    LP3065. Williams, Liz. Comet Weather. NewCon, 2020. First edition hardback, #92 of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. “Practical Magic meets The Witches of Eastwick.” By the author of the Detective Inspector Chan novels, which I rather like. $49.00

    LP3066. Willis, Connie. The Winds of Marble Arch. Subterranean Press, 2007. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with a tiny bit of bend at head and heel and slight bumping at bottom points, in a Fine dust jacket, inscribed by Willis: “To Mark,/May the/winds be/ever at your/back! Connie Willis”. Another huge Subterranean career retrospective collection, with tons of Hugo and Nebula winners, long out of print. $125.

    Trade Paperbacks (including chapbooks)

    Note: Both the Armchair Fiction and Hippocampus Press books are stated first editions (or First Thus), but also essentially print on demand books. I tend to have only one copy each of those titles in stock.

    LP3067. 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. $16.

    LP3068. 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 (POD) for the Anderson, a Fine copy. $12.

    LP3069. Campbell, John W. and Aladra Septama. When the Atoms Failed b/w The Dragons of Space. Armchair Fiction, 2016. First edition trade paperback original (POD), a Fine copy. Contains “When the Atoms Failed” (one print reprint) and “The Metal Horde” (no print reprints) from Campbell, and the Septama has never been reprinted previously. $12.

    LP3070. 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. $20

    LP3071. Gaiman, Neil. Anansi Boys. Harper Perennial, 2007. Trade paperback reprint, a Fine- copy with slight waviness to first few pages, and a slight bit of edgewear, but otherwise unread, signed by Gaiman. Novel set in the same universe as American Gods, but not a direct sequel (and I think a better book), about two sons of an African trickster spider god. $25.

    LP3072. Gaiman, Neil. Fragile Things. Harper Perennial, 2007. Trade paperback reprint, a Near Fine copy with crease running the length of the first ten pages, signed by Gaiman. Short story collection. Not a lot of signed copies of this title online in any state. $25.

    LP3073. (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. $20.

    LP3074. Lansdale, Joe R. The Hungry Snow. Death’s Head Press, 2021. First edition trade paperback original (a side-sewn chapbook), one of 500 numbered copies, a Fine copy, new and unread, with signed Lansdale signature plate laid in. A Reverend Jedidiah Mercer story. Illustrated by Tim Truman. Now sold out from the publisher. Limit one copy per order. First two orders will get a Death’s Head Press card laid in. $25.

    LP3075. 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. $25.

    LP3076. 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. $25.

    LP3077. 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. $60.

    LP3078. 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, 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. $25.

    LP3079. Shaver, Richard S. The Shaver Mystery Books One through Eight. Armchair Fiction, 2011-2020. First edition trade paperback originals, all Fine copies. Collects stories and ancillary material from the “Shaver Mystery,” Shaver’s weird, strangely compelling conspiracy theory/alternate reality in which a hateful race of “deros” (“detrimental robots”) lived inside the earth, beaming mind-control rays at surface dwellers (and occasionally kidnapping them for torture, food, or sport). Shaver’s elaborate, unhinged vision brought a vast legion of cranks out of the shadows and onto the subscriber ranks of Amazing, whose editor Ray Palmer started publishing Shaver’s stories in 1947, which was to have a considerable impact on SF fandom. I doubt much of this has seen print since original appearances in Amazing, or in Palmer’s subsequent The Hidden World. If you’re a connoisseur of crank literature, Shaver is up there with the wackiest. $95 for the set.

    LP3080. 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. $20.

    LP3081. 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.” $12.

    LP3082. 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 were appearing in the pages of Weird Tales in the 1920s, but they didn’t correspond until Lovecraft introduced them to each other in 1930. $30.

    LP3083. (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. $30.

    LP3084. Swanwick, Michael. The Book of Blarney. Dragonstairs Press, 2021. First edition chapbook original, one of 50 signed, numbered copies, this one in solid emerald green wraps (call it state B, no precedence), a Fine copy. Sold out the same day they were offered for sale. $49.

    LP2859. Swanwick, Michael. The Death of Aubrey Darger. Dragonstairs Press, 2020. First edition chapbook thus, one of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy. Excerpted from the 2015 novel Chasing the Phoenix. Just went out of print from the publisher, but still available from me at cover price. $12.

    LP3085. Swanwick, Michael. Five Rings. Dragonstairs Press, 2021. First edition chapbook original, one of 32 signed 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. 32 is a pretty insanely small run. $49.

    LP3086. Swanwick, Michael. Reindeer Season. Dragonstairs Press, 2019. First edition chapbook original, one of 120 signed, numbered copies. “It includes ten very brief musings on the magical nature of reindeer and their relationship with Claus-tse. Issued in an edition of 120, Reindeer Season is 4 1/4” x 5 1/2”, hand-stitched, numbered, and signed by the author. Most copies have been given to friends, family, and colleagues, but 37 are offered for sale.” There are two states of the chapbook: a.) A cream colored wrapper (as this copy), and b.) a mottled beige cover. All copies for sale sold out the day they were offered. $35.

    LP3088. Waldrop, Howard. Going Home Again. Eidolon Publications, 1997. First edition trade paperback original (TPO), a Fine- copy with just a tiny bit of wear at points, otherwise new and unread, signed by Waldrop. This Australian trade paperback original preceded the St. Martin’s hardback. Another bag of Waldropian weirdness, with stories featuring Thomas Wolfe, Charles Dickens, Peter Lorre and Shemp Howard (same story), and masked Mexican wrestlers. $25.

    LP3089. Williams, Liz. A Glass of Shadow. NewCon Press, 2011. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Short story collection by the author of the Detective Inspector Chan novels. $25.

    Mass Market Paperbacks

    LP813. Boyett, Steven R. The Architect of Sleep. Ace, 1986. First edition paperback original (PBO), Near Fine+ with some very slight wear at head and along spine, otherwise seemingly unread. Celebrated novel of a man transported to an alternate Earth where raccoons evolved as the planet’s sapient species. Named by Orson Scott Card as one of the best SF novels of the 1980s. $7.

    LP3090. Clement, Hal. Natives of Space. Ballantine Books, 1965. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Very Good+ copy with slight spine creasing and moderate abrasion along spine, with a little bend to upper outer front corner, otherwise nice and square. Three novellas: “Assumption Unjustified,” “Technical Error” and “Impediment.” Currey, page 468. $5.

    LP3091. Gaiman, Neil. Neverwhere. HarperTorch, 2001 (stated). Paperback reprint, a Fine- copy with a few touches of edgewear, otherwise apparently new and unread, signed by Gaiman. His first novel, also a BBC serial. Recommended. This edition also has an excerpt from Anasi Boys. Not seeing a lot of signed copies for the paperback. $35.

    LP3092. Gaiman, Neil. Smoke and Mirrors. Avon Books, 2005 (stated). Paperback reprint, a Very Good+ copy with 1/4″ tear about 1 1/2″ inches from bottom outer edge, with associated crease, small wrinkle at heel, and slight edgewear, signed by Gaiman. Short story collection, including the superb “Murder Mysteries.” Recommended. This edition also has an excerpt from Anasi Boys. $20.

    LP3093. Garton, Ray. Dark Channel. Bantam, 1992. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Fine- copy with small crease at top front cover edge, foxing to inside covers, and touches of edgewear. New age cult = actual old-fashioned evil cult. $7.

    LP3094. Green, Roland and Jon F. Carr. (H. Beam Piper) Great King’s War. Ace, 1985. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Very Good+ copy with slight spine creasing, slight age darkening and dust soiling to white portions of cover, small crease on bottom front outer cover corner, and some edgewear. Sequel to H. Beam Piper’s Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen, which featured a Pennsylvania state trooper accidentally transported to another timeline who uses his knowledge of gunpowder and modern military tactics to take down an evil theocracy. Copies of this have gotten harder to find. $15.

    LP3095. Kurtz, Katherine. Deryni Rising. Ballantine, 1970. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Very Good+ copy with slight bumping and associated abrasion at head and heel, slight edgewear, and usual age darkening to pages, otherwise nice and square. The true first edition of the first book in the long-running Deryni fantasy series. $5.

    LP3096. Leinster, Murray. Land of the Giants. Pyramid, 1968. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Near Fine+ copy with a small abrasion to rear bottom corner tip, a touch of edgewear, slight foxing to inside covers, and slight glue bunching to pages, otherwise a tight, square, apparently unread copy. Based on the Irwin Allen TV show. $5.

    LP3097. Mac Rauch, Earl. Buckaroo Banzai. Pocket Books, 1984. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine- copy with a crease across the top front corner, slight spine creasing, and edgewear. Novelization of the cult film, and somewhat hard to find. $20.

    LP3098. Martin, Jack. Halloween II. Zebra Books, 1981. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Very Good+ copy with moderate spine creasing, two small hairline scratches at top of front cover, slight wear at head and heel, and general edgewear. Decent copy of this scarce novelization of the second movie in the Halloween series. $75.

    LP3099. Matheson, Richard. The Memoirs of Wild Bill Hickok. Jove, 1996. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Near Fine- copy with wear at heel, a 1/4″ non-breaking indentation to front cover right where Hickok’s bowtie is, so you don’t really notice it, a phantom crease on the top half of the rear cover, and some edgewear, otherwise a nice tight, square copy of this western. $8.

    LP3100. Merz, Jon F. The Destructor. Kennsington Pinnacle, 2003. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Fine- copy with a trace of edgeware, one tiny nick affecting the S in “Destructor” on the spine and faint foxing to inside covers, otherwise tight, square and apparently unread. Lawson vampire novel, about a vampire who keeps other vampires in line. $7.

    LP3101. Merz, Jon F. The Syndicate. Kennsington Pinnacle, 2003. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Fine- copy with a trace of edgewear and faint foxing to inside covers, otherwise tight, square and apparently unread. Lawson vampire novel. $20.

    LP3102. Shea, Michael. In Yana, the Touch of Undying. DAW, 1985. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Near Fine copy with faint, almost invisible spine creasing, and just a little foxing/age darkening to the very tops of inner covers and pages, otherwiase nice and square. Dark fantasy novel by this deeply underappreciated writer. $35.

    LP3103. Smith, L. Neil. Lando Calrissian and the Flamewind of Oseon. Del Rey, 1983. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Fine- copy with a trace of edgeware and faint foxing to very tops of inside covers, otherwise tight, square and apparently unread. Star Wars spinoff novel, the second Lando Calrissian novel from this Prometheus Award-winner. $8.

    LP3104. Smith, L. Neil. Lando Calrissian and the Mindharp of Sharu. Del Rey, 1983. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Near Fine copy with slight spine creasing and lean, touch of edgewear, and slight foxing to inside covers. Star Wars spinoff novel, the first Lando Calrissian novel from this Prometheus Award-winner. $5.

    LP3106. Vance, Jack. The Houses of Iszm/Son of the Tree. Ace, 1964. Paperback reprint, a Very Good copy with wrinkling/war to top 1″ of Houses of Iszm side of spine, uniform creases along both spine joins, previous owner’s name and address crossed out on inside front cover (Son of the Tree) and title page (Houses of Iszm), and maybe some faint spine fading, otherwise a nice, square copy of these two short Vance novels. Hewett, A13ab. $5.

    LP3108. Zelazny, Roger. Creatures of Light and Darkness. Avon, 1970 (stated; actually 1978). Avon paperback reprint (Seventh Printing), a Near Fine- copy with slight spine creasing, light, tiny creases to front and back bottom covers, a pinhead sized black dot to bottom page block, and slight edgewear, signed by Zelazny. Black Walotsky cover. Bob Pylant told me signed copies of this were harder to find than Zelazny’s other titles. Levack, 8j. Kovacs, I9d. $35.

    LP3109. Zelazny, Roger. Creatures of Light and Darkness. Arrow Books, 1972. First UK paperback edition, a Near Fine- copy with crease to top front corner, slight spine fading, slight edgewear, and a touch of rubbing. Levack, 8e. Kovacs, I9e. $6.

    LP3110. Zelazny, Roger. Damnation Alley. Berkley Medallion, 1977. First movie tie-in edition, a Near Fine- copy with slight spine creasing and slight spine lean, traces of a small sticker remnant to bottom rear of cover near spine, and a 1/2″ crease on back cover near upper middle of spine, signed by Zelazny. Features 24 pages of B&W still from the Jan-Michael Vincent movie made from Zelazny’s novel. Levack, 9m. Kovacs, I10h. $35.

    LP3111. Zelazny, Roger. The Dead Man’s Brother. Hard Case Crime, 2009. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with a short, slight cease at heel, otherwise apparently new and unread. Posthumously published crime novel. In his postscript, son Trent Zelazny estimates this was probably written around 1970-71. Kovacs, I13b. $10.

    LP3112. Zelazny, Roger. The Doors Of His Face, The Lamps Of His Mouth. Avon, 1974. First paperback edition, a Near Fine copy with one faint spine crease and just a trace of edgewear and a pencil price on blurb page, inscribed by Zelazny: “For Sandra -/all best/Roger Zelazny.” Highly recommended. Levack, 12f. Kovacs, V9e. $25.

    LP3113. Zelazny, Roger. The Illustrated Roger Zelazny. Ace, 1979. First mass market paperback edition, a near Fine- copy with bookstore stamp inside front cover, a half-tackhead sized abrasion along rear
    spine join next to the “IL” in illustrated, plus two more much smaller abrasion, along with a moderate 1″ crease near bottom outer cover corner, and very slight age darkening to white cover portions, otherwise a tight, square, apparently unread copy, signed by Zelazny. A fairly nice signed copy of a book prone to having the color page portions fall out. Levack, 20d. Kovacs, V14d. $40.

    LP3114. Zelazny, Roger. Jack of Shadows. Signet, 1972. Paperback reprint, Very Good+ with some small spots of light staining near the spine, non-breaking spine crease, slight age-darkening along spine, and touches of edgewear. Levack, 22a. Kovacs, I26c. $20.

    LP3115. Zelazny, Roger. Knight of Shadows. Avon Books, 1990. First paperback edition, a Near Fine+ copy with tiny corner crease on top front corner, and some pinhead spots of rubbing along the spine, signed by Zelazny. With letter from the bookseller Bob Pylant bought it from laid in. Ninth Amber novel. Kovacs, I27e. $15.

    LP3116. Zelazny, Roger. Lord of Light. Avon, 1969. First paperback edition, a Very Good copy with spine creasing and lean, a slight crease on bottom back cover near spine, and slight edgewear. Black Walotsky cover. Hugo winner and nebula finalist. One of Zelazny’s best. Highly recommended. Kovacs, I29d. $10.

    LP3117. Zelazny, Roger. Lord of Light. Avon, 1976. Paperback reprint (Eleventh printing), a Fine- copy with slight edgewear and slight age darkening to pages, otherwise tight, square and unread, inscribed by Zelazny: “All good wishes/Roger Zelazny,” with a small cursive “MP” on the blurb page in the same color ink as the signature. Hugo winner and Nebula finalist. Probably Zelazny’s best novel. Highly recommended. Levack, 25g. Kovacs, I29d. $49.

    LP3118. Zelazny, Roger. Nine Princes in Amber. Corgi/Transworld, 1974. First UK paperback edition (35p price, as per Levack and Kovacs), a Near Fine+ copy with two small wrinkles on spine and a trace of wear at points, otherwise nice and square. Not seeing any nice copies of this online. Levack, 28g. Kovacs, I34d. $20.

    LP3119. Zelazny, Roger. Roadmarks. Orbit/Macdonald Futura, 1981. First UK paperback edition, a Fine- copy with slight age darkening, a trace of edgewear, and usual slight darkening to pages. Levack, 31e. Kovacs, I37c. $20.

    LP3120. Zelazny, Roger. Sign of Chaos. Avon, 1988. First paperback edition, a Fine copy (with the characteristic slight age darkening to pages), signed by Zelazny. A tight, square, perfect copy. Kovacs,
    I38d. $49.

    LP3121. Zelazny, Roger. Sign of the Unicorn. Sphere Books, 1985. UK paperback reprint, a Near Fine copy with small, thin, faint crease near top of front cover, bottom 1/8″ corner tip a tiny bit chewed, a few other traces of wear, otherwise a nice, square copy, signed by Zelazny. “Reprinted 1982, 1983, 1985.” Third Amber novel. All five of the original Amber novels are Highly Recommended. Kovacs, I39d. $25.

    LP3122. Zelazny, Roger. This Immortal (AKA …And Call me Conrad). Ace, 1966. First edition paperback original (F-393, 40¢ price on cover, as per Levack), an expanded form of the serialized …And Call Me Conrad, a Near Fine- copy with very slight spine lean, a slight crease to top rear outer corner, a 1/2″ wrinkle at top near spine, and slight edgewear, signed by Zelazny. Gray Morrow cover. First book edition of …And Call Me Conrad, which won the Hugo Award for Best Novel (tied with Frank Herbert’s Dune). A very nice signed copy of the true book first of Zelazny’s first novel. Levack, 34a. Kovacs, I40a. $75.

    LP3123. Zelazny, Roger. To Die In Italbar. DAW Books, 1974. First paperback edition (DA No. 117, 95¢ on cover, full numberline starting with 1), a Fine- copy with slight edgewear at head and heel, and a trace elsewhere, otherwise tight and square, signed by Zelazny. (Note: “Printed in U.S.A.” notice at bottom of back cover is chopped off at the edge. I note that the ISFDB example of the front cover cuts off the “UQ1129” code at the top of the cover, but that is present in full with a slight black border above here. I gather there were some cover registration issues with this run…) Sequel to Isle of the Dead, but not as good. Levack, 35c. Kovacs, I41c. $35.

    LP3124. Zelazny, Roger. To Die In Italbar. Corgi, 1977. Corgi/Transworld, 1977. First UK paperback edition, a Fine- copy with slight bumping at top points and slight age darkening to pages, otherwise tight, square and unread. Levack, 35i. Kovacs, I41e. $10.

    LP3126. Zelazny, Roger. Wizard World. Baen, 1989. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine copy with non-breaking spine creasing (hard to see at first glance) and just a trace of edgewear, otherwise tight and square, since by Zelazny and cover artist David Mattingly. Omnibus edition of Changeling and Madwand. Not seeing any signed copies online. Kovacs, I5e. $49.

    LP3127. Zelazny, Roger and Fred Saberhagen. The Black Throne. Baen, 1990. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine+ copy with one faint, non-breaking spine crease, foxing to inside covers and the barest trace of edgewear, otherwise tight, square and apparently unread. Kovacs, I1b. $5

    LP3128. Zelazny, Roger (“Created by”) (Jane Liskold, David Drake, Michael A. Stackpole, and Robert Lynn Asprin). Forever After. Baen, 1995. First edition paperback original, a near Fine copy with a faint 1″ non-breaking creasing at bottom front cover, slight waviness to first few pages (no sign of dampstaining, so possibly slight glue-bunching), slight age darkening to pages, and a touch of edgewear, otherwise a nice, square copy. Fixup fantasy novel set just after a climatic triumph centered around four objects of power. Zelazny wrote four segments before he died, and his collaborators did the rest. Kovacs, IIXb. $5.

    LP3129. Zelazny, Roger, editor (Harlan Ellison, Samuel R. Delany, Michael Moorcock, J. G. Ballard, Fritz Leiber, etc.). Nebula Award Stories Number Three. Pocket Books, 1970. First mass market paperback edition, a Very Good+ copy with thin 3/4″ crease on rear cover outer edge, a faint sticker indentation (but no pull or residue) and two faint non-breaking roller machine lines (running parallel the entire length) on the front cover, previous owner name and date in red ink on blurb pages, and slight edgwear. Still a nice, square copy. Includes a lot of very good-to-great science fiction stories, including Moorcock’s “Behold the Man,” Leiber’s “Gonna Roll the Bones,” Ballard’s “The Cloud Sculptors of Coral D,” and Ellison’s “Pretty
    Maggie Moneyeyes.” Levack, 1c (under edited books). Kovacs, I2c. $5.

    LP3130. (Zelazny, Roger) Carver, Jeffrey A. Roger Zelazny’s Alien Speedway: Clypsis. Bantam Spectra, 1987. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with a trace of edgewear and slight age-darkening of pages, otherwise tight, square and apparently unread. First in a series about spaceship racers. “A Byron Preiss Book.” One of those Big Name/Little Name “collaborations” that popped up in the 1980s where the big name provided a rough outline and the little name actually wrote the book. I think book buyers quickly caught on to what they were getting. Do they even still do that anymore? Zelazny evidently knew Carver, as he typed some of his own work on the backs of pages from a Carver manuscript. Kovacs, XIC1b. $5.

    LP3131. (Zelazny, Roger) Wylde, Thomas. Roger Zelazny’s Alien Speedway: Pitfall. Bantam Spectra, 1988. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine- copy with a serious 2″ crease to bottom rear cover, some edgewear, foxing to inside covers, and slight age darkening to pages. “A Byron Preiss Book.” Second book in the series. Kovacs, XIC2b. $5.

    Library Addition: The Sandman Overture Absolute Edition

    Thursday, May 27th, 2021

    An unexpected addition to my Absolute Sandman collection:

    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.

    Honestly, I was unaware this even existed, as I haven’t kept up with Gaiman’s prodigious comics work. I think I already had all the other Absolute Sandman volumes, but I still lack the Absolute Death collection.

    Library Addition: Signed, Limited Edition of Neil Gaiman’s Smoke and Mirrors

    Monday, March 8th, 2021

    Another book from the Subterranean Press PC sale:

    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).

    Library Additions: Half Price Books Etc. Finds

    Wednesday, February 3rd, 2021

    All of these are Half Price Books finds (mostly in Houston) unless otherwise noted, including a fair amount of signed work and non-fiction.

  • Adams, Douglas. Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency. Simon & Schuster, 1987. First edition hardback (simultaneous with the UK Heinemann edition), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Bought for $9.99.
  • Barksdale, Dante, with Grace Kearney. Growing Up Barksdale: A True Baltimore Story. No publisher listed, printed 2020. Trade paperback POD reprint, a Fine copy. Autobiography by a former Baltimore gang member who’s family’s story provided some of the grist for David Simon’s The Wire. A Christmas gift from Dwight.
  • (Ellison, Harlan) Ellen Weil and Gary K. Wolfe. Harlan Ellison: The Edge of Forever. Ohio State University Press, 2002. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine- copy with bottom outer edges slightly bumped. Bought for $12.49.
  • Gaiman, Neil. The View from the Cheap Seats. William Morrow, 2016. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Gaiman. Collection of non-fiction (essays, interview, etc.).
  • King, Stephen. Lisey’s Story. Scribner, 2006. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Bought at Goodwill for $3.99. I generally don’t pick up King’s new trade editions because I know they will show up used cheap. And I generally can’t afford the signed limited editions unless they’re coming out from a publisher I’m already a regular customer of and can pick them up at a (usually slight) discount pre-publication. But $3.99 for a perfect copy falls into “good enough” territory.
  • McCarthy, Cormac. All the Pretty Horses. Knopf, 1992. First edition hardback, an Ex-Library copy with all the usual flaws, otherwise Very Good. A true first of his first Pulitzer winner and first book of the Border trilogy. Bought for $6.99.
  • Stephenson, Neal. Seveneves. HarperCollins, 2015. First edition hardback, special signed edition with gold “Signed First Edition” sticker on the cover and “THIS SIGNED EDITION OF/seveneves/by/Neal Stephenson/[signature]/HAS BEEN SPECIALLY BOUND/BY THE PUBLISHER” signature page bound in before the half-title page, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Bought for $9.99.
  • Sterling, Bruce. Schismatrix Plus. Ace, 1996. First edition trade paperback original, Near Fine- with slight spine crease, slight sun fading to spine, and edgewear, signed by Sterling. Contains the novel plus the Shaper/Mechanist stories from Crystal Express. I never bothered to pick this up when it came out because I already had first editions of both, but picking up variant titles is classic late-phase book collecting behavior. Bought for $7.49.
  • (Tolkien, J. R. R.) Day, David. An Encyclopedia of Tolkien: The History and Mythology That inspired Tolkien’s World. Canterbury Classics, 2019. First edition hardback, a Fine copy bound in embossed leather, sans dust jacket, as issued. Tolkien reference work by an author who has done a lot of other Tolkien reference works. A very attractive book, with gilded edges and full-color illustrated endpapers, from a publisher that mostly seems to do leatherbound prestige reprints. Bought for $12.49.

  • Another Industrial Book Piracy Site

    Monday, April 6th, 2020

    It looks like we have another massive book piracy site, https://full-english-books.net.

    Here’s the WhoIs information:

    Domain Name: FULL-ENGLISH-BOOKS.NET
    Registry Domain ID: 2298584626_DOMAIN_NET-VRSN
    Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.namesilo.com
    Registrar URL: http://www.namesilo.com
    Updated Date: 2019-06-10T04:26:19Z
    Creation Date: 2018-08-17T17:40:19Z
    Registry Expiry Date: 2021-08-17T17:40:19Z
    Registrar: NameSilo, LLC
    Registrar IANA ID: 1479
    Registrar Abuse Contact Email: abuse@namesilo.com
    Registrar Abuse Contact Phone: +1.4805240066
    Domain Status: clientTransferProhibited https://icann.org/epp#clientTransferProhibited
    Name Server: ARNOLD.NS.CLOUDFLARE.COM
    Name Server: ZITA.NS.CLOUDFLARE.COM
    DNSSEC: unsigned

    Among the writers they appear to have ripped off are:

  • Neil Gaiman
  • William Gibson
  • Joe Haldeman
  • Elizabeth Hand
  • Stephen Jones
  • Stephen King
  • Joe R. Lansdale
  • George R. R. Martin
  • J. K. Rowling
  • Charles Stross
  • Bruce Sterling
  • Lisa Tuttle
  • Among many, many others.

    I’m no longer a member of SFWA, but those who are may want to pass this on to the legal committee…

    Library Addition: Neil Gaiman’s Nothing O’Clock

    Monday, May 14th, 2018

    Here’s a nice book that may have two different fandoms scrambling to grab a copy:

    Gaiman, Neil. Doctor Who: Nothing O’Clock. Borderlands Pres/Gauntlet, 2018. First edition hardback, #109 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, still in publisher’s shrinkwrap. Bought from the publishers at the usual dealer discount.

    Please note that I’ll have copies of this for sale in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog (currently in preparation).

    Library Additions: January 1 through June 30, 2016

    Monday, July 18th, 2016

    Here’s a omnibus “roll up” post for every book I bought during the first half of 2016. I’m a bit late getting this up, and I have a huge wave of books I bought July 10 I need to catalog…

  • Adams, Douglas and John Lloyd. The Deeper Meaning of Liff. Pan Books, 1990. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Near Fine, price-clipped dust jacket. Bought for £5 from Cold Tonnage Books.
  • Aldiss, Brian. The Creten Teat. House of Stratus, 2002. First hardback edition (according to Aldiss’ site, the trade paperback version preceded), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. I have heard, second-hand, that House of Stratus went into receivership about the time this came out, and that very few hardback copies actually made it out into the world. Bought off Amazon for $9.94.
  • Allston, Aaron. Star Wars: The New Jedi Order: Enemy Lines II: Rebel Stand. Del Rey, 2002. First edition paperback original, a Fine copy, signed and dated by Allston.
  • Aylett, Steve. The Inflatable Volunteer. Phoenix House, 1999. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, with a publicity postcard signed by Aylett laid in. Bought for £5 from Cold Tonnage Books.
  • Aylett, Steve. Toxicology. Gollancz, 2002. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, with a postcard laid in. Bought for £5 from Cold Tonnage Books.
  • Bear, Greg. Halo: Cryptum. Tor, 2010. Book One of the Forerunner Saga. Bought at Half Price Books for $3.
  • Bradbury, Ray. The Autumn People. Paperback original, VG with a small sticker pull on front cover, spine crease, rubbing, stamps on insider covers, and general wear. Comic adaptations of Bradbury stories. Bought for $1.99 from Half Price Books.
  • Bradbury, Ray. A Christmas Wish 1988 (If Only We Had Taller Been). Privately printed, 1988. First edition Christmas broadsheet, a Fine copy. Inscribed by Bradbury: “For Rev. Gerald Watt, C.R./With fond good wishes/for/1989/Ray Bradbury.” Bought for $28 off eBay.

    Bradbury Christmas 88

  • Bradbury, Ray. A Christmas Wish 1989 (The Bread of Beggars, The Wine of Christ). Privately printed, 1989. First edition Christmas broadsheet, a Fine copy. Inscribed by Bradbury: “For Rev. Watt. Thanks for Asking!/Love!/Ray/Bradbury/ 5/6/90.” Bought for $29 off eBay.

    Bradbury Christmas 89

  • Bradbury, Ray. Christmas Greetings 2008 (Imagine that you have been dead). Privately printed, 2008. First edition Christmas broadsheet, a Fine- copy with slight corner bumping. Signed by Bradbury. Bought for $25 off eBay.

    Bradbury Christmas 2008 1

    Bradbury, Ray. Let’s All Kill Constance. William Morrow, 2003. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed and dated by Bradbury. Bought off eBay for $19.95, which is $4 off cover price.

    Bradbury Kill Constance

    IMG_0644

  • Bradbury, Ray. Quicker Than The Eye. Avon, 1996. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a tiny bit of fading to spine. Short story collection. Bought off eBay for $17.57.

    P1010024

  • Bradbury, Ray. Yestermorrow. Joshua Odell Editions/Capra Press, 1991. First edition hardback (“First Edition” stated and numberline ending in 1), a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a tiny bit of dust jacket crimping at head and heel. Inscribed by Bradbury: “Matthew!/Ray Bradbury/ 4/30/94”. Bought off eBay for $20, which is 5¢ over list price.

    Yestermorrow

    IMG_0615

  • (Bradbury, Ray) Weist, Jerry. Bradbury: An Illustrated Life. William Morrow, 2002. First edition hardback (precedes the Donald M. Grant limited edition by two years), a Fine-/Fine- copy with very slight bumping at head and heel. Inscribed by Bradbury: “To all the/Grand Tubers/Ray Bradbury.” Oversized illustrated history of Bradbury’s work. Bought for $27.10 off eBay.
  • Blish, James. A Dusk of Idols and Other Stories. Severn House, 1996. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Bought for £5 from Cold Tonnage Books.
  • Brown, Dan. The Da Vinci Code. Doubleday, 2003. First edition hardback (price of $24.95 on flap, “First Edition” and “10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1” numberline on copyright page), a near Fine copy with owner blindstamp on front free endpaper, in a Fine- dust jacket with a small crease to bottom corner of front flap. Bought for $2 from the “Nostalgia Bargain” section of a Half Price Books.
  • Buckell, Tobias. Xenowealth. Self published via Kickstarter, 2016. Hardback first edition, signed by the author. Short story collection. See here for more details.
  • Buckell, Tobias. Xenowealth. Self published via Kickstarter, 2016. Trade paperback edition, signed by the author.
  • Butler, Samuel. Erewhon or Over the Range. Trübner & Co., 1872. First edition hardback, a rebound copy in modern full leather (at least according to the auction description, but “modern” is a relative term; the new binding is worn enough that it appears to be at least 50 years old), original covers bound in rear of textblock, with heavy rubbing on joints and corners, hinges starting, minor scattered foxing on preliminary and terminal leaves, pages characteristically brittle, overall a Very Good rebind copy. Published anonymously, Erehwon (“nowhere” spelled backwards) is satire in the mode of Gullivers Travels, and one of the most important 19th century Utopian/Dystopian novels. Bleiler Checklist (1978), page 36. Bleiler Checklist (1948), page 68. Bleiler, SF: The Early Years, page 113. Reginald (Volume I), page 84. Barron, Anatomy of Wonder 4, 1-19. Magill, Survey of Science Fiction Literature Volume Two, page 729. Bought for $75 (including buyer’s premium) from Heritage Auctions.

    P1010019

    P1010020

    And here’s a picture of the original boards bound into the back:

    P1010023

  • Carr, Terry. Fandom Harvest. Laissez Faire Productions AB, 1986. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. According to Chalker/Owings (1991), page 538, only 250 hardbacks were done. Bought for £5 from Cold Tonnage Books.
  • Constantine, Storm. The Monstrous Regiment. Orbit, 1989. Trade paperback original, a Fine- copy with a touch of edgewear at head and heel, signed by Constantine. Bought for £5 from Cold Tonnage Books.
  • Ellison, Harlan. Edgeworks 2: Spider Kiss/Stalking the Nightmare. White Wolf, 1996. First edition hardback omnibus thus, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Bought for £5 from Cold Tonnage Books. When the Edgeworks series first came out, I didn’t pick them up because I already had all the individual works they contained. But at £5 it’s worth picking up for title variant completeness…
  • Farmer, Philip Jose. The Other in the Mirror. Subterranean Press, 2009. First edition hardback, with a signed (but unnumbered) limitation page, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and Fine slipcase. Omnibus edition of three novels (Fire in the Night, Jesus on Mars, and Night of Light), the first two of which were only published as paperback originals. Original price for the signed/numbered edition was $125. This supplements my trade edition, and all editions are now out of print from the publisher. Bought off eBay for $24.95 plus shipping.
  • Franklin, Jay (AKA John Franklin Carter). The Rat Race. Fantasy Publishing Co. Inc., 1950. First edition hardback, one of 1,200 hardback copies (per Chalker/Owings), a Fine- copy in the second state (gray boards, red titling, per Kemp) binding, with slight bend at head and heel in a Near Fine+ second state (per Kemp) dust jacket that’s slightly misaligned (about 1/4″ more on rear than front flap), slight wear at extremities, and some indentations along rear spine gutter. Chalker/Owings, The Science-Fantasy Publishers (1991), page 171. Kemp, The Anthem Series, page 79. Bought for $19 (including dealer discount), plus a $5 show credit coupon, at the Austin Book and Paper Show.

    Franklin Rat Race

  • Gaiman, Neil. Fragile Things. Headline Review, 2006. Short story collection. This UK edition precedes the US edition by a week.
  • Greenberg, Martin. Journey to Infinity. Gnome Press, 1951. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with a tiny bit of bend at head in a Fine- second state (30 titles) dust jacket with a few small traces of wear, and a few pinhead spots on the front cover, otherwise extremely bright and attractive. Chalker/Owings (1991), pages 198-199. Kemp, 204. Bought for $25 with buyer premium.

    Journey to Infinity

  • Greenberg, Martin. All About the Future. Gnome Press, 1954. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight dust soiling to page block edges and one small indention to very bottom of from board, in a near Fine- dust jacket with a 1″ closed triangular tear at bottom front along spine, a semi-closed 1/8″ tear at head, and shallow chipping at points. Chalker/Owings (1991), page 202. Kemp, 204. Note that Kemp calls for black boards with red lettering; my copy is gray boards with a reddish cloth spine with silver lettering, and Chalker/Owings doesn’t report on the binding state at all, which would theoretically make this a previously unrecorded binding variant. However, Gnome Press variant collector Steve Carper believe that this is in fact the primary binding state, and that Kemp got it wrong and the black boards/red lettering state is the variant. Bought for $20 with buyer premium.

    All About the Future

  • (Hitchcock, Alfred) Paul Condon and Jim Sangster. The Complete Hitchcock. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Bought for £5 from Cold Tonnage Books.
  • Knight, Damon, editor (Leon Stover, Gene Wolfe, R. A. Lafferty, etc.). Orbit 9. Putnam, 1971. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with a touch of edgewear at points in a Near Fine- dust jacket with slight edgewear and very slight darkening to white rear jacket. Inscribed by contributor Leon Stover: “For Robert & Virgina Heinlein/with thanks for/9 June 1984/Leon Stover.” Stover would not only later publish a critical book on Heinlein from Twayne, but was working on the official authorized biography of Heinlein before the latter’s death, a project cancelled after a falling out with Virginia Heinlein. Bought for $6.50 from Houston bookstore Kaboom Books.

    Orbit 9

    IMG_0583

  • Lansdale, Joe R. (Pete Von Sholly, illustrator). Christmas Monkeys. PS Publishing, 2015. First edition hardback, one of 300 copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and decorated boards, with bookmark signed by the author and artist laid in (as issued). Illustrated children’s book (for certain values of “children”).
  • Le Guin, Ursula K. The Unreal and the Real: Selected Stories of Ursula K. Leguin: Volume Two: Outer Space, Inner Lands. Small Beer Press, 2012.
  • (Lovecraft, H.P.) Eddy, Muriel, and C.M. Eddy, Jr. The Gentlemen from Angell Street: Memories of H. P. Lovecraft. First edition trade paperback original thus, containing additional material not in the 1961 edition, a Fine copy. Bought for £5 from Cold Tonnage Books.
  • Martin, George R. R., editor. Wild Cards VI: Ace in the Hole. Bantam, 1990. First edition paperback original, a Fine copy.
  • Martin, George R. R. and Melinda Snodgrass, editors. Lowball: A Wild Cards Novel. Tor, 2014.
  • McCarthy, Cormac. The Sunset Limited: A Novel in Dramatic Form. Dramatists Play Service, 2006. Play chapbook original, possibly a first printing (I’m not sure how you tell printings for Dramatists Play Service), a Near Fine+ copy with a bit of curl.
  • (Moore, Alan) Parkin, Lance. Magic Words: The Extraordinary Life of Alan Moore. Aurum, 2013. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in decorated boards with a purple band across the front cover, sans dust jacket, as issued. Non-fiction biography.
  • Newman, Kim. Moriarty: The Hound of the D’Urbervilles. Titan Books, 2011. Fine, signed by Newman. Bought for £5 from Cold Tonnage Books.
  • Niven, Larry. Protector. Ballantine Books, 1973. First edition (“First printing: September 1973,” as per Currey) paperback original, a Near Fine- copy with small number stamp at heel, one slight spine crease, and a tiny bit of spine lean.
  • Novik, Naomi. The Blood of Tyrants. Del Rey, 2013.
  • Pohl, Frederik. The Far Shore of Time. Tor, 1999. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Pohl. Bought for $10 off Ebay.

    P1010030

  • Pohl, Frederik and C.M. Kornbluth. Wolfsbane. Ballantine Books, 1959. PBO first edition (as per Currey), Fine- with a touch of wear and 1/16″ tear at heel front cover join.
  • Pohl, Frederik and Jack Williamson. The Singers of Time. Doubleday Foundation, 1991. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with small wrinkle to top inner flap tip. Signed by Pohl. Bought off eBay for $4.00 plus shipping.

    IMG_0663

  • Rajaniemi, Hannu. Collected Fiction. Tachyon, 2015.
  • Simmons, Dan. The Fifth Heart. Subterranean Press, 2015 (actually 2016). First signed limited edition, #189 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine slipcase. Remember when Simmons’ Carrion Comfort was notably taller than just about every book published that year? This is slightly taller, which seems to increasingly be the form factor of choice for limited editions.
  • Swanwick, Michael, with Marianne Porter. Fallen Leaves. Dragonstairs Press, 2016. First edition hardback, number 17 of 20 signed, numbered copies (the only edition), a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued, with spine label affixed.

    Swanwick Leaves

    IMG_0622

  • Swanwick, Michael. 5 Seasons. Dragonstairs Press, 2016. First edition chapbook original, #69 of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy. Five one page stories about the seasons.

    5 Seasons

  • Tymn, Marshall B. American Fantasy and Science Fiction: Toward a Bibliography of Works Published in the United States, 1949—1973. Fax Collector’s Editions, 1979. Paperback original, a Very Good+ copy with spine creasing and wear along the spine. Though Tymn authored or co-authored a number of important reference works, this, an attempt to update Bleiler’s Checklist with modern works, limited only to those published in hardback, is generally not numbered among them, as it was largely superseded by Currey and Reginald the same year of publication. Chalker/Owings (1991), page 178, are not kind: “Alas, it’s useless, one of the most worthless pieces of bibliography in the past 20 years or so.” There was a hardback, but Chalker/Ownings says it was just attaching a premade casing to the paperback. Not in Keith L. Justice’s Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Reference. Bought for £5 from Cold Tonnage Books.
  • Vance, Jack. Cugal’s Saga. Timescape, 1983. First edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Third book in the Dying Earth series (or fourth, if you count Michael Shea’s A Quest for Simbilis). Hewett, A71. Preceded the Underwood/Miller limited edition by six months.
  • Vance, Jack. The Houses of Iszm Underwood/Miller, 1983. First hardback edition, one of 482 trade copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Hewett, A12h.
  • Wake, Paul, Steve Andrews and Ariel (yes, just “Ariel,” no last name; I can only assume it’s edited by the mermaid from that Disney movie). Waterstone’s Guide to Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror. Waterstone Guides, 1998. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. There are some good contributors in here (like John Clute), but the author entries are distributed somewhat randomly. Waterstone’s is a UK bookstore chain, and I imagine these are pretty common on the other side of the pond. Here? Not so much. Bought for £5 from Cold Tonnage Books.
  • Wandrei, Donald. Don’t Dream: The Collected Horror and Fantasy Fiction of Donald Wandrei. Fedogan & Breamer, 1997. Bought for $12.50 at Half Price Books with a 50% off coupon (cover price is $29).
  • Library Additions: January 1 — June 30, 2015

    Monday, July 6th, 2015

    Time once again for the roundup of all library additions for the first half of the year. All books listed below are Fine first edition hardbacks in Fine dust jackets unless otherwise noted.

  • Asimov, Isaac. In Memory Yet Green: The Autobiography of Isaac Asimov, 1920—1954. Doubleday, 1979. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with slight sun darkening to the very tops of inside flaps. Non-fiction. The first volume of Asimov’s massive two volume autobiography (I already had a first edition of the second volume, In Joy Still Felt).
  • Banks, Iain M. The Algebraist. Orbit, 2004. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Banks. Supplements an unsigned first.
  • Banks, Iain M. Player of Games. Macmillian (UK), 1988. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Banks. Supplements an unsigned first.
  • Barrett, Neal. Through Darkest America. Worldwide, 1988. First paperback edition, a Fine- copy with tiny bump to bottom front corner and slight age-darkening to paper, otherwise apparently unread. Inscribed by Barrett, Jr. to fellow Texas science fiction writer Lewis Shiner: “11/29/88//Unca Lew—/Having you here for/a while has made my/day, as ever—/(Signature)”. Lew confirmed that it was indeed inscribed to him, noting he must have sold it and because he was moving again and already had the hardback…

    Shiner Darkest

  • Barker, Clive. Tortured Souls: The Legend of Primordium. Subterranean Press, 2015.
  • Baxter, Stephen. Raft. Grafton, 1991. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a tiny bit of haze rubbing. Author’s first book. Bought for $50 off an Australian Internet dealer. Replaces an Ex-Library copy.

    Raft

  • Bova, Ben, editor. (Roger Zelazny) The Best of Omni Science Fiction. Omni Society, 1980. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight wear in a Very Good dust jacket with shallow chipping at points, rubbing to rear cover, a 1/2″ closed tear, and general wear. Roger Zelazny’s personal contributor’s copy (for the story “Halfjack,” see below), with two signed typed letters from Omni editor Ben Bova laid in.
  • Blaylock, James p. Doughnuts. Airtight Seels Allied Productions (A.S.A.P.), 1994. First edition hardback, number 11 of 224 signed, numbered hardback copies, a Fine copy (save some waviness to the pages, which I take as a byproduct of the binding process), sans dust jacket with color illustration pasted onto the front board, as issued. In addition to the short story, this volume includes an Introduction by Lewis Shiner, an Appreciation by Lucius Shepard, an Afterward by Tim Powers, illustrations by Phil Parks, and tipped-in color photographs by Vicki Blaylock (and is signed by all of them). An elaborate production, much like all of A.S.A.P.’s hardback chapbooks. Chalker & Owings, Science Fantasy Publishers (2002), 1011. (Also Supplement Two, page 57.) Bought for $60 from a dealer off the Internet.

    Doughnuts

  • Bradbury, Ray. The Cat’s Pajamas. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Bradbury. Short story collection. Bought off eBay for $21.50.
  • Bradbury, Ray. Christmas Greetings 2008. First edition broadsheet, 8 1/2″ x 11″ card-stock, a Fine- copy with extremely light bumping at right tips. Signed by Bradbury. One of the many yearly Christmas greetings Bradbury used to send out to friends. Bought for $25 off eBay.

    Bradbury Christmas 2008

  • Bradbury, Ray. A Memory of Murder. Dell, 1984. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with a tiny bit of edgewear, signed by Bradbury, with a review slip laid in. Collection of Bradbury’s early mystery stories. An unusual book, in that you wouldn’t think he would have a mass market paperback original (with no hardback edition) this late in his career. Not particularly common, and even less so signed. Bought off eBay for $25.

    Bradbury Memory Murder

  • Brunner, John. Tomorrow May be Even Worse. NESFA Press, 1978. First edition trade paperback, a Fine- copy with a tiny bit of bumping at points. Signed by Brunner. Small book of verse (one SF topic for every letter, arranged from A to Z), illustrated by fan artist ATom.

    Brunner Worse

  • Cahill, James, editor. Ten Tales. James Cahill Publishing, 1994. First edition hardback, one of only 26 unnumbered “Author Copies”, a Fine- copy (gilt letters on spine are showing small spots of what might be oxidation) in a Very Good only slipcase with spotting and uneven fading, sans dust jacket, as issued. Original anthology with the Zelazny story “The Salesman’s Tale.” There was also a 250 copy numbered edition. (Chalker and Owings Supplement Three calls for a 26 copy leatherbound edition; this copy is bound in cloth with a cloth slipcase.)
  • (Cave, Hugh B.) Thomas, Milt. Cave of a Thousand Tales: The Life and Times of Hugh B. Cave. Arkham House, 2004. Non-fiction biography. Bought for $14 off eBay.
  • Collins, Suzanne. Catching Fire. Scholastic Press, 2009. First edition hardback (number line ending in 1, “First edition, September 2009” stated), a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a tiny bit of crimping at very top edge. Second book in the Hunger Games series.
  • Derleth, August. Dwellers in Darkness. Arkham House, 1976. Octavo, cloth. irst edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Bought from L. W. Currey for $17.50.
  • Dick, Philip K. (Frank T. Hollander, editor). Young Author’s Club: The Wartime Adolescent Writings of Philip K. Dick. Frank T. Hollander, 2014. First edition trade paperback original, #58 of 100 copies signed by the editor/publisher, a Fine copy. A 94 page chapbook containing Dick’s published writings from 1942 to 1944 in the Berkeley Daily Gazette newspaper, consisting of fiction and poems, some of which are fantasy. Includes bibliographic information and story notes. Something likely to drive Dick completists crazy.

    Dick Young Authors

  • Donaldson, Stephen R. One page typed signed letter to Roger Zelazny inviting him to a party. Part of a large collection of Roger Zelazny books, manuscripts and correspondence described here.
  • Doran, Niall, Alastastair Richardson, Joe Shemesh. Kinky Love: Mating of the Tasmanian Cave Spider. Bookend Trust, 2015. First edition hardback, one of an undetermined number of signed copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket in decorated boards, as issued. Non-fiction. (See the companion Neil Gaiman piece further down the page.)

    16Legs Kinky

  • Ellison, Harlan. The Top of the Mountain. Subterranean Press, 2014. Oversized collection of Ellison’s prize-winning stories.
  • Eisenstein, Phyllis. Born to Exile. Arkham House, 1978. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Bought from L. W. Currey for $12.50.
  • Farmer, Philip Jose. The Grand Adventure. Berkley Books, 1984. First hardback edition, #264 of 325 signed, numbered hardbacks, a Fine- copy (tiny bit of wear to reflective inlay pattern to the cover), sans dust jacket in a Fine slipcase, as issued. The trade paperback precedes by a month. This limited edition is the only hardback edition. Bought for $39.99 off eBay, which is less than the original issue price of $50.
  • Farmer, Philip Jose. Riverworld and Other Stories. Berkeley, 1979. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine copy with one spine crease. Precedes the Gregg Press hardback.
  • Fitzpatrick, E. H. The Coming Conflict of Nations, or the Japanese American War. H.W. Rokker, 1909. First edition hardback, a Very Good copy in black cloth boards stamped in gold, stamping on spine dulled bit still present, a few spots of wear or discoloration, slight bends at head and heel, newspaper review clipping pasted in on inside front cover, resulting in considerable foxing to front free endpaper. Inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper: “Professor John Syphers/with the best wishes/of the author./Ernest Hugh Fitzpatrick/L.R.C.P., Ed./Pontiac, Illinois/March 5, 1910.” There’s also a long inscription by the recipient of the inscription on the other side of the front free endpaper. Bleiler, Checklist (1978), page 73. Bleiler, Science Fiction: The Early Years, page 247. Reginald, page 188. Possibly the first novel to predict a war between the United States and Japan. Bought off eBay for $10.50. Given that Currey has an unsigned copy that looks a bit worse at $350, I think it was a good buy…

    Conflict of Nations

    Fitzpatrick 1

    Fitzpatrick 2

  • Friedman, Kinky. A Case of Lone Star. Beech Tree Books, 1987. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with slight haze rubbing. Inscribed by Friedman: “To Justa—/to one good/American from/another —/Your friend,/Kinky/Aug 13, 1987.” Bought at the 2015 Austin Book Show for (after discounts and show $5 credit) $10.

    Kinky sig

  • Gaiman, Neil, and Newman, Kim, compilers. Ghastly Beyond Belief. Aarow Books, 1985. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine- copy with slight spine-creasing and edgewear along spine. Compilation of book and movie blurbs. Almost bought this at the 1988 Worldcon, but passed thinking that as a paperback it would be easier to find later. Little did I know…
  • Gaiman, Neil, with Niall Doran, Craig Wellington and Jodee Taylah (artist). Sixteen Legs Production Art: A Visit to the Queen of the Dark. Bookend Trust, 2015. First edition hardback, one of an undetermined number (though probably just over 100 copies, given that there are just under 100 names (including my own) listed under Premium Supporters on page 43) of the Limited Deluxe Edition signed by the three authors and the artist, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket in decorated boards, as issued.

    16Legs QueenB 1

  • Gibson, William. Distrust That Particular Flavor. Non-fiction collection of essays. Bought for half price.
  • Goldstein, Lisa. Tourists. Simon and Schuster, 1989. Signed by Goldstein. Bought for $10.
  • Heinlein, Robert A. The Star Beast. Scribner’s, 1954. First edition hardback (with Scribner’s seal and letter A on copyright page, as per Currey), a Fine- copy with slight bend at head and heel, slight dust soiling at head, and a tiny faint green pinprick dot at heel, in a Very Good+ dust jacket with very shallow (1/32″) chipping at head and points, a 1/2″ closed tear at heel, and very slight dust soiling to rear cover. A very nice copy of this well-regarded Heinlein juvenile. Bought for $200 from Lloyd Currey. Currey (1979), page 234.

    Star Beast

  • Hind, Charles Lewis. The Enchanted Stone. Adam and Charles Black (London), 1896. First edition hardback, a Very Good copy with repaired hinges, slight spine fading, bookplate on insider front cover and uneven foxing on front and rear free endpaper. By the Book World Remembered, page 106, which describes it as a “Fantastic tale of a vast Chinese city under London.” Tietler, By the World Forgot, page 53, which notes that this UK first edition has an extra chapter not in the American edition. Bleiler, Checklist (1978), page 100. Reginald, page 253. A very odd sounding Wainscot (to use Clute’s term from The Encyclopedia of Fantasy) indeed. Bought off the Internet for $36 plus shipping from Canada.

    Enchanted Stone

  • Honan, William H. Visions of Infamy: The Untold Story of How Journalist Hector C. Bywater Devised the Plans That lead to Pearl Harbor. St. Martin’s Press, 1991. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Fellow collector Chris Skillings sent this to me after reading about how I picked up E. H. Fitzpatrick’s The Coming Conflict of Nations, or the Japanese American War. Bywater sounds like he was a very interesting guy…
  • Howard, Robert E. The Dark Man and Others. Arkham House, 1963. First edition hardback, a Near Fine- copy with crimping at head and heel, previous owner’s bookplate on FFE, and a drop of dampstaining that affects the FFE and the first few pages, in a Very Good+ dust jacket with slight creasing at head and heel, slight wear along spine, slight dust staining to white rear cover. The second Arkham collection of Howard’s short stories, all but one from Weird Tales. Won off eBay for $60.

    Howard Dark Man

  • Hughes, Matthew. Of Whimsies & Noubles. PS Publishing, 2014. First edition hardback, #96 of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket.
  • Joyce, Graham. 25 Years in the Word Mines with Second Shift: More Tales from the Word Mines. PS Publishing, 2015. First edition hardback, #48 of 100 slipcased sets, a Fine copy in decorated boards (for both) and a Fine dust jacket (for 25 Years in a slipcase. Career retrospective for graham Joyce, who unfortunately died of cancer before it was published. Second Shift is signed by Ella Joyce, Owen King, and Kelly Braffet. I have one copy available though Lame Excuse Books, if you’re interested.
  • Lafferty, R. A. The Man With the Aura: Collected Short Fiction Part 2. Centipede Press, 2015. First edition hardback, #36 (matching the first volume) of 300 copies signed by introduction author Harlan Ellison, series editor John Pelan and designer Jacob McMurray, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, still in shrink wrap.
  • Lafferty, R.A. Sinbad: The Thirteenth Voyage. Broken Mirrors Press, 1989. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Traded a signed Howard Waldrop book to cover artist Lissanne Lake for it.

    Sinbad

  • (Lafferty, R. A.) Feast of Laughter Issue 1. Kistic Press, 2014. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. First volume in a new (and long overdue) series of non-fiction on Lafferty’s work. Bought from Amazon, because the publisher said it was cheaper that way than buying direct. (Indeed, it’s even available as a free download.) Oddly enough, Lissanne Lake did the cover for this as well…

    Feast of Laughter

  • (Lafferty, R. A.) Feast of Laughter Issue 2. Kistic Press, 2015. Another fine issue…
  • Lansdale, Joe R. Prisoner 489. Dark Regions Press, 2014 (i.e., 2015). First edition hardback, #278 of 400 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket in decorated boards, as issued.
  • Leckie, Ann. Ancillary Justice. Gale/Thorndike Press, 2015. First hardback edition (a Large Print edition preceded by the trade paperback original and which, in turn, precedes the Subterranean Press signed/limited edition), a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Hugo and Nebula winner for best novel.

    Ancillary justice LP

  • Leckie, Ann. Ancillary Justice. Subterranean Press, 2015. First signed/limited edition, and first non-Large print hardback, #170 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket.
  • Leiber, Fritz (edited by S. T. Joshi). Adept’s Gambit: The Original Version. Arcane Wisdom Press, 2014. First edition hardback, #322 of 500 numbered copies signed by Joshi, a Fine copy. Bought off eBay for $22.50.
  • (Lovecraft, H.P.) Joshi, S. T. H. P. Lovecraft: A Life. Necronomicon Press, 1996. First edition, one of only 250 signed hardbacks (the only hardback edition), a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a very tiny wrinkle at head. Widely considered to be the definitive Lovecraft biography until Joshi’s two volume expansion I Am Providence (which I also have) came out in 2010. The hardback of H. P. Lovecraft: A Life peaked around $500, but has since drifted down a bit. I bought this one from the publisher off eBay for $160.

    Lovecraft A Life

  • (Lovecraft, H. P.) Shreffler, Philip A. The Lovecraft Companion. Greenwood Press, 1977. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. One of the first broad critical companions to Lovecraft’s work, offering an in-depth summary of Lovecraft’s literary theory, plot summaries of all his stories, an encyclopedia of characters and monsters, and an in-depth look at Cthulhu Mythos monsters. An interesting high-level overview and “first cut” of Lovecraft criticism, from before S. T. Joshi turned it into a cottage industry, and pretty much all the topics covered here have been examined at much greater depth since. Currey (1979), page 332. Joshi, Lovecraft Bibliography, I-C-158. Tymn Schlobin Currey, 294. Bought off the Internet for $42.50. Scan shows surface wear to the dust jacket protector.

    Lovecraft Companion

  • (Lovecraft, H.P.) Books at Brown, 1991-1992, Volumes XXXVIII-XXIX. The Friends of the Library of Brown University, 1995. First edition academic journal, trade paperback format, a Near Fine copy with a slightly bent top outer corner. Features numerous essays on H. P. Lovecraft (the Providence native for which the Brown library contains considerable holdings), including work from S. T. Joshi, Peter Canon, Robert Price, etc.

    Books at Brown

  • (Lovecraft, H.P.) Pedersen, Nate, editor. The Starry Wisdom Library: A Catalogue of the Greatest Occult Book Auction of All Time. PS Publishing, 2014. Mock catalog of Lovecraftian tomes of forbidden knowledge.
  • (Lovecraft, H.P.) Schweitzer, Darrell. That Is Not Dead: Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos Through the Centuries. PS Publishing, 2015.
  • Lumley, Brian. Tales of the Primal Land. Subterranean Press, 2015. #117 of 250 signed, numbered copies.
  • Lumley, Brian. Tales of the Primal Land. Subterranean Press, 2015. Trade edition.
  • Martin, George R. R. Portraits of His Children. Dark Harvest, 1987. First edition hardback, #OO of 52 signed, lettered copies bound in white leather, a Fine copy in a Fine wooden “slipcrate” slipcase, sans dust jacket, as issued. Zealzny provides the introduction (“A Sketch of Their Father”) and a signature. I always thought the Dark Harvest slipcrates were attractive productions, and I’m happy to have one in my library. Supplements a trade edition. Chalker/Owings, page 119.

    IMG_0383

  • Martin, George R. R., editor. Wild Cards. Bantam Spectra/SFBC, 1987. First hardback edition (book club), preceded by the trade paperback original, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with edgewear at points. Shared world superhero anthology which includes the Zelazny story “The Sleeper.” Man, seems like every single edition of the early Wild Cards books had ugly covers…
  • Martin, George R. R., editor. Wild Cards. Bantam Spectra, 1987. Uncorrected page proofs (trade paperback format) of the hardback first edition, a Fine copy. Shared world superhero anthology which includes the Zelazny story “The Sleeper.”

    Wild Cards proof

  • McCammon, Robert R. The Border. Subterranean Press, 2015. Signed by McCammon.
  • Moody, Rick. Garden State. Pushcart Press, 1992. Presumed first edition hardback (no additional printings stated), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Author’s first book. Sent to me by Temporary Culture publisher Henry Wessells. Thanks, Henry!
  • Moorcock, Michael. The Whispering Swarm. Tor, 2014. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Moorcock. Seems to be both a roman a clef of growing up in London, as well as a world shift fantasy.
  • Niven, Larry. A Hole In Space. Ballantine Books, 1974. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine copy with touches of general wear. Currey (1979), page 387.
  • Powers, Tim. Dinner at Deviants Palace. Chatto & Windus, 1986. First trade hardback, first UK hardback, and first non-book club hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Berlyne, Powers: Secret Histories, A5c.1.
  • Powers, Tim. Nobody’s Home. Subterranean Press, 2014. First edition hardback, #277 of 474 signed numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and printed cloth slipcase. Supplements my copy of the trade edition, which precedes, as this slipcased edition was not shipped until 2015.
  • Simak, Clifford. City. Gnome Press, 1952. First edition hardback, a Near Fine- copy with slight spine lean and previous owner’s name and date on front free endpaper) in a Near Fine+ dust jacket with a few pinhead sized spots of discoloration on dust jacket flaps and along top flap edges, and extremely slight dust-staining to white rear panel; an exceptionally nice example of the dust jacket. One of Simak’s key works, and one of the more desirable Gnome Press titles. Chalker & Owings (1991), page 199. Currey (1979), page 446. Kemp, The Anthem Series, page 208. Won for $200 from Heritage Auctions.

    City

    Sladek, John. Mechasm. First edition paperback original under this title (published earlier in the UK as The Reproductive System) and first U.S. edition, a Very Good copy with a small, faint 1/4″ stamp at heel, edgewear, stamp on blurb page, and faint spine creasing. Inscribed by Sladek: “For Scott,/John Sladek”. Formerly Scott Cupp’s copy. Currey (1979), page 450. Bought for $5 at Half Price Books.

    Mechasm

    Sladek mechasm sig

  • Sloane, William. The Edge of Running Water. Farrar and Reinhart, 1939. First edition hardback, a Very Good+ copy with slight bumping at head and heel, foxing to gutters, darkening of endpapers and slight age darkening to pages, in a Good only dust jacket with a 1/2″ to 1/4″ loss at head, loss at points, long thin crease, 2″ closed tear, dust staining and wrinkling to rear panel, creasing and tear at bottom front edge, and additional shallow chipping at edges and general wear. Bleiler, Guide to Supernatural Fiction, 1482. Bleiler, Checklist of Science Fiction and Supernatural Fiction (1978), page 181. Crawford, Donahue and Grant, 333, page 56. Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy I, page 200. Barron, Horror Literature, 3-181. Bought from Currey for $50.

    Edge of Running Water

  • Smith, Clark Ashton (Johnson, Raymond F. and Ardath Winterowd, editors). Shadows Seen and Unseen. HTH Art Studio, 2007. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket over decorated boards, signed by the editors. Odd miscellanea of poems, facsimile manuscripts, drawings, paintings, and non-fiction about Smith from various sources. An oversized, 94 page hardback.

    Shadows Seen

    Smith, Edward E., Ph.D. Second Stage Lensmen. Fantasy Press, 1953. First edition hardback, Currey Binding A (blue cloth lettered in gold), first issue, #368 of 500 numbered copies signed by Smith, a Very Good+ copy with large square of discoloration to inside front cover due to a bookplate (now laid in; see below) and a few instances of light spotting to boards, in a Near Fine- dust jacket with a couple of closed 1/2″ tears, modest edgewear at head, heel and points, and slight soiling to the rear cover, but otherwise a nice intact and very bright example of the dust jacket. Inscribed by Smith (as the subscriber copies frequently were): “To Joseph R. Brady,/Three in a row – Hot Dog! [Tic Tac Tow Game]/With sincere appreciation/Of your continued interest—/Edward E. Smith, Ph.D.” (Though it seems a fulsome personal inscription, it’s quite similar to the one I have in my subscriber copy of Skylark Three to another subscriber.) Currey (1979), page 456. Chalker and Owings (1991), page 161. Kemp, The Anthem Series, page 41. Lucchetti, Doc: First Galactic Roamer, page 60. Won for $121.50 off eBay.

    2nd Stage Lensmen

    Second Stage Lensmen Signature

    Second Stage Lensmen Bookplate

  • Smith, James Robert and Stephen Mark Rainey, editors. Evermore. Arkham House, 2006. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Edgar Allen Poe tribute anthology. Bought for $14 off eBay.
  • Stapledon, Olaf. Last and First Men. Methuen, 1930. First edition hardback, first state, as per Currey (2002), with 8-page publisher’s catalog at rear dated 630, a Very Good- copy with FFE excised and slight loss to paper at gutter, foxing to gutter, moderate spotting to outer page block edges, a small circular stamp reading “Dempsters Clenferrie” (possibly an Australian bookstore stamp) on half title page, and a few sports to first few pages, lacking the dust jacket. His acclaimed epic novel describing several million years of future human evolution.
  • Stapledon, Olaf. Odd John. Methuen, 1935. First edition hardback, first state binding (light blue binding lettered in dark blue) in Currey (2002) A2 issue (catalog at rear dated 835, no priority between issues 1 and 2), a Very Good- copy with lightened spots on spine, slight spine lean, modest wear at heel and points, and spots of foxing to first few pages, lacking the dust jacket. His celebrated novel of a mental superman.

    P1000946

  • Swanwick, Michael. Hunting the Phoenix. Dragonstairs Press, 2015. First edition hardback (“archival board wrappers covered with hand-dyed rice paper, with a stab binding ornamented with a single aventurine bead”), #6 of 30 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued, new and unread. Sort of an in-progress illustrated sketchbook for a Swanwick novel, more impressionistic colored line art than narrative. If it’s not the strangest Swanwick item yet, it’s tied with the hardback state of Puck Aleshire’s Abecedary. Bought for $30 from the publisher.
  • Swanwick, Michael. Season’s Greetings. Dragonstairs Press, 2014. First edition chapbook original, #18 of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy. I should be able to pick up copies of this to sell through Lame Excuse Books later in the year.

    Swanwick X 2

  • Thorburn, Wayne. Red State: An Insider’s Story of How the GOP Came to Dominate Texas Politics. University of Texas Press, 2014. Non-fiction.
  • Updike, John. The Witches of Eastwick. Franklin Press, 1984. First edition hardback, a limited edition signed by Updike (which precedes the trade edition), a Fine copy in decorated leather boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Pringle, Modern Fantasy 100 91. Bought off eBay for $19.99.

    P1000963

    P1000967

  • (Vance, Jack) Andre-Driussi, Michael. Handbook of Vance Space. Sirius Fiction, 2014. Non-fiction critical companion to the galactic setting shared by most of his science fiction.
  • Weinbaum, Stanley G. A Martian Odyssey and Others. Fantasy Press, 1949. First edition hardback (trade state), a Near Fine- copy with one small indention to top edge of front board, faint dust staining to top page block, and slight foxing to gutters, in a Very Good dust jacket with about 1/16th inch chipping loss at head, heel and points, a thin 1/4″ nick in the middle of the spine, one closed 1/4″ tear to top rear, and a tiny bit of dust soiling to rear cover. Actually a very presentable copy of a key small press collection of one of the most important pre-Golden Age SF writers, and a book I’ve wanted for quite a while. Currey (1979), page 511. Chalker/Owings (1991), page 159. Kemp, The Anthem Series, page 27. Bought for $34.66 off eBay.

    Martian Odyssey

    Wells, H. G. Select Conversations With an Uncle (Now Extinct). John Lane, 1895. First edition hardback (sixteen pages of ads inserted at back, as per Currey), a Very Good copy with wear to bottom boards, wear at head and heel, a thin 1″ white line (possibly white out or white paint) across top rear, and slight wear along font boards, otherwise fairly nice, with gilt scratched but otherwise complete at head. Includes Larry McMurtry’s ownership plate, which features the brand from his father’s ranch. Twelve conversations (all fictional) and two short stories. Currey, page 522. H. G. Wells: A Comprehensive Bibliography, 3. Bought at auction for $6, or $20 with buyer’s premium.

    P1000969

    P1000972

    P1000974

  • Westerfeld, Scott. The Manual of Aeronautics. Simon Pulse, 2012. Illustrated non-fiction guide to Westerfeld’s Steampunk Leviathan universe. Bought for $4.99 at Half Price Books.
  • Wolfe, Gene. The Land Across. PS Publishing, 2014. First limited edition hardback, #18 of 200 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket.
  • Wolfe, Gene. Soldier of Sidon. Tor, 2006. Third Latro book.
  • Zelazny, Roger. “And Only I Escaped To Tell Thee.” Carbon copy of original typed manuscript. This and all the rest of the Zelazny books listed in this post were part of a large collection of Roger Zelazny books, manuscripts and correspondence described here.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Blood of Amber. Arbor House, 1986. Uncorrected proof (trade paperback format) of the hardback first edition, a Fine- copy with phantom crease the length of rear cover, with review slip (with sticker signed by Zelazny affixed to it) laid in. Kovacs, Ia.

    Blood of Amber proof

  • Zelazny, Roger. Bridge of Ashes. Gregg Press, 1979. First hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Zelazny. Supplements an unsigned hardback. Levack, 2e. Kovacs, I3b.
  • Zelazny, Roger. “The Burning.” One page typewritten poem.
  • Zelazny, Roger. “A City Divided.” Original typed manuscript with numerous hand-corrections.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Archive material about various Amber novels from various people, most concerning The Courts of Chaos in one way or another, including a handwritten six page synopsis of The Courts of Chaos by Zelazny, followed by the typed version of the same synopsis, plus letters to (originals) and from (apparently file carbon copies) Zelazny on the subject.
  • Zelazny, Roger. “The Cyborg Connection.” Original typed manuscript with numerous hand-corrections, with a carbon copy of the second draft. This story would later be published as “Halfjack.”
  • Zelazny, Roger. Dilvish the Damned. Del Rey, no date (but probably 1981 or 82). Unbound long galleys (the very first proof state of the book production cycle, pages age darkened but otherwise Fine, unbound but gathered into signature sheets. Kovacs, I15a.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Doorways in the Sand. Harper & Row, 1976. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Zelazny, with an additional signed note laid in “To David, This copy of Doorways in the Sand, being the chronicles of both Fred Cassidy and a Hugo and Nebula finalist.” Atypically, both the note and signature are printed rather than in Zelazny’s elegant cursive handwriting. While I wouldn’t swear it’s Zelazny’s handwriting, it’s not entirely dissimilar to other examples I have of it. Currey, page 570. Levack, 13a. Kovacs, I17b.
  • Zelazny, Roger. The Dream Master. Rupert Hart Davis, 1968. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a trace of dust staining along very top edge and at heel spine join, with sticker for Henry Morison Inc. (Zelazny’s literary agent) affixed to front free endpaper. Signed by Zelazny. Currey, page 570. Levack, 14b. Kovacs, I18b.
  • Zelazny, Roger. “Fire and/or Ice.” Original hand-corrected typescript, including one hand-written manuscript page.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Four for Tomorrow. Garland Press, 1975. First hardback edition under this title (issued in UK hardback as A Rose for Ecclesiastes), a Fine copy in a Fine aftermarket dust jacket Bob photo-produced from the Ace paperback edition that Garland used to print the plates from. With a a title page of the Ace paperback inscribed by Zelazny (“Many a good wish/to you/Roger Zelazny/ 7/6/84”) laid in. Replaces an unsigned ex-library copy. Currey, page 570. Levack, 17f. Kovacs, V11f.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Frost and Fire. William Morrow and Company, 1989. Uncorrected bound galleys (or so it says; actually a trade paperback format proof), a Fine copy, signed by Zelazny. Kovacs, V12a.

    Zelazny Frost and Fire Proof

  • Zelazny, Roger. “Garden of Blood.” Carbon copy typed story manuscript.
  • Zelazny, Roger. “The George Business.” Carbon copy typed story manuscript, with multiple signed letters from Dragon Tales editor Orson Scott Card accepting the story, apologizing for delayed payment, etc., along with a signed signature plate by Card.
  • Zelazny, Roger. “Go Starless Into That Night.” Carbon copy of original typed manuscript, with two acceptance letters from editor Jim Baen.
  • Zelazny, Roger. The Hand of Oberon. Doubleday, 1976. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with one closed 1/4″ tear at bottom rear, with review slip laid in. Inscribed by Zelazny: “With all good wishes,/Roger Zelazny.” Currey, page 570. Levack, 19a. Kovacs, I23a.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Isle of the Dead. Rapp & Whiting, 1970. First hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a tiny bit of edgewear at extremities. Inscribed by Zelazny: “To Willi/Every kind of good/wish./Best,/ Roger Zelazny/ 3/27/82.” Supplements an unsigned copy. Currey, page 570. Levack, 21b. Kovacs, I25b.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Original ribbon-copy, hand-corrected first draft manuscript for Knight of Shadows, with two letters of authenticity from Zelazny, and the manuscript signed twice by him (on the first and last pages) in 1989. Although Zelazny was already a celebrated author at the time, he still displayed thrifty habits by typing out his manuscript on the back of whatever 8 1/2″ x 11″ scrap paper he had lying around, be it government forms, convention flyers, flyers for the Santa Fe Opera Company, and pages (presumably photocopies of works sent to Zelazny to critique or review) from other author’s manuscripts, including pages from Tom Deitz’s Fireshaper’s Doom and Jeffrey Carver’s From a Changeling Star.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Knight of Shadows. William Morrow and Company, 1989. Uncorrected bound galleys (or so it says; actually a trade paperback format proof), a Near Fine+ copy with slight fading to spine and small crease to bottom font corner, signed by Zelazny. Kovacs, I27a.

    Knight of Shadows proof

  • Zelazny, Roger. The Last Defender of Camelot. Underwood/Miler, 1980. First edition chapbook original, simultaneous with the extremely small hardback run (which I picked up in my previous Zelazny purchase), #265 of 275 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, in issued manila envelope. Levack, 23a. Kovacs, VIIIa. I now have something like eight different items with this title…

    Last Defender Chapbook

  • Zelazny, Roger. “The Last of the Wild Ones.” Carbon copy of original typed manuscript.
  • Zelazny, Roger. “LP Me Thee.” One page typewritten poem.
  • Zelazny, Roger. My Name is Legion. Faber & Faber, 1979. First hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Zelazny. Levack, 27h. Kovacs, I32c.
  • Zelazny, Roger. A Night on the Lonesome October. Avon Books, 1993. Advanced uncorrected proof of the hardback first edition, a Fine copy. Signed by both Zelazny and cover artist Gahan Wilson. Kovacs, I33a.

    Lonesome October Proof

  • Zelazny, Roger. “Richard Lupoff’s Sword of the Demon.” Extremely short review/piece of non-fiction. Appeared in Starlog’s SF Yearbook Volume 1, edited by David Gerrold and compiled by David Truesdale.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Roadmarks. Del Rey, 1979. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, with review slip laid in. Signed by Zelazny. Levack, 31a. Kovacs, I37z.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Second draft photocopy of the manuscript for Sign of Chaos, showing the hand-corrections in the first draft, with further corrections by Zelazny in red, along with a four page style guide for spelling the names of the characters, etc. in the book.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Sign of Chaos. Arbor House, 1987. Proof (trade paperback format) of the hardback first edition, a Fine copy in a Fine proof state dust jacket (no copy or price on back cover, spine or flaps). Signed by Zelazny. Kovacs, I38a.
  • Zelazny, Roger. The Sign of the Unicorn. Doubleday, 1975. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a trace of dust soiling to white rear cover. Signed by Zelazny. Currey, page 571. Levack, 33a. Kovacs, I39a.
  • Zelazny, Roger. “Stand Pat, Ruby Stone.” Carbon copy story manuscript.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Today We Choose Faces. Millington, 1973. First hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Zelazny. Currey, page 571. Levack, 37b. Kovacs, I42a.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Untitled poem, later published as “To Spin Is Miracle Cat.” One page typewritten poem.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Trumps of Doom. Arbor House, 1985. Proof (trade paperback format) of the hardback first edition, a Fine copy in a Fine proof dust jacket (no copy or price on back cover, spine or flaps). Signed by Zelazny. Kovacs, I43a.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Trumps of Doom. Underwood/Miller, 1985. First limited hardback edition, #316 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket in a Very Good+ suede slipcase that has some brown dampstaining discoloration along the spine. Kovacs, I43c.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Unicorn Variations. Timescape Books, 1983. Advanced uncorrected proof of the hardback first edition, a Fine copy, signed by Zelazny. Kovacs, V21a.

    Unicorn Variations Proof

  • Zelazny, Roger. “A Very Good Year.” Original hand-corrected typescript of the first draft, and a carbon-copy of the second draft.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Original hand-written first draft for story “Walpurgisnacht” on yellow lined legal paper, 5 pages long.
  • Zelazny, Roger. “The White Beasts.” Original hand-corrected typescript, plus carbon of corrected story.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Some 30 pages of correspondence between Zelazny and editor/packager Byron Preiss, most concerning The Illustrated Roger Zelazny, including copies of B&W sketches and a page of original colored pencil art by Gray Morrow for the project.
  • Zelazny, Roger, and Robert Sheckley. Several pages of correspondence between Zelazny (carbons) and Robert Sheckley (originals) concerning three stories for an anthology, plus a small autographed note to “Bob” from Zelazny.
  • Various other letters to Zelazny, some with replies.
  • Zelazny, Roger, editor. Warriors of Blood and Dream. AvoNova, 1995. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine+ copy with number “34” written across inside cover EAC code and foxing to inside covers. Anthology. Kovacs, IX7a.
  • Zelazny, Roger, editor. Wheel of Fortune. AvoNova, 1995. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine- copy with slight spine creasing and foxing to insider covers. Anthology. Kovacs, IX8a.
  • (Zelazny, Roger) Neil Randall. Combat Command in the World of Roger Zelazny’s Nine Princes in Amber: The Black Road War. Ace, 1988. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with just a trace of edgewear, otherwise new and unread. Sort of a strategic pick-your-own-path adventure. Kovacs, X8a. I had one of these about a decade ago that I sold on eBay for $25…
  • (Zelazny, Roger) Stephen, Christopher P. A Checklist of Roger Zelazny. Ultramarine, 1993. revised edition. Non-fiction chapbook, since superseded by the Kovacs bibliography. Kovacs, XXIII3b.

    Zelazny Checklist

  • Library Additions: Signed Neil Gaiman Tasmanian Cave Spider Book

    Wednesday, May 27th, 2015

    So a while back I got word of Neil Gaiman being involved in a benefit for a project involving (I kid you not) Tasmanian cave spider sex. He’s evidently quite the Tasmaniophile, having spent his honeymoon with Amanda Palmer in Hobart. It sounded like an odd, interesting project, and the sort of thing to drive Gaiman completists crazy if they didn’t presupport, so I went ahead and ponied up for the deluxe package, which was, IIRC, a bit over $100 for both books.

    Now, finally both books from the Sixteen Legs project have come in:

  • Gaiman, Neil, with Niall Doran, Craig Wellington and Jodee Taylah (artist). Sixteen Legs Production Art: A Visit to the Queen of the Dark. Bookend Trust, 2015. First edition hardback, one of an undetermined number (though probably just over 100 copies, given that there are just under 100 names (including my own) listed under Premium Supporters on page 43) of the Limited Deluxe Edition signed by the three authors and the artist, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket in decorated boards, as issued.

    16Legs QueenB 1

  • Doran, Niall, Alastastair Richardson, Joe Shemesh. Kinky Love: Mating of the Tasmanian Cave Spider. Bookend Trust, 2015. First edition hardback, one of an undetermined number of signed copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket in decorated boards, as issued.

    16Legs Kinky