Posts Tagged ‘reference works’

Library Addition: First of 42: The Wildly Improbable Ideas of Douglas Adams

Thursday, September 28th, 2023

This was another Kickstarter purchase.

Adams, Douglas (edited by Kevin Jon Davies). 42: The Wildly Improbable Ideas of Douglas Adams. Unbound, 2023. First edition hardback (number line ending with 1), a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. A compendium of scripts, drafts, notes, sketches etc. from the archives of this Dr. Who and Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy writer. I backed this on Kickstarter, and my name can be found on page 315. This book was actually a #1 Sunday Times bestseller. I’m not sure if this Kickstarter edition differs from the trade edition, though I count 320 pages, while Amazon UK says 336 pages, so, maybe?

I will have exactly one copy of this available in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog.

Library Additions: H. P. Lovecraft’s Miskatonic Missives

Monday, August 28th, 2023

Here’s a Kickstarter project that was a long time in coming that finally shipped earlier this year.

  • Lovecraft, H. P. Miskatonic Missives. Helios House, 2022 (actually 2023). First edition hardback, one of 521 Limited Collector’s Edition sets (given the number of kickstarter backers), containing three volumes, plus a fake box that’s actually a traycase to contain the ephemera extras, all Fine copies, sans dust jacket, as issued, in a Fine slipcase.

    Each volume contains a reprint of one of H.P. Lovecraft’s most interesting letters, presented alongside related archival material such as contemporary short stories, art, maps, etc., as well as original art and new scholarship.

    Each volume is also packaged with a set of exclusive extras—replicas of related contemporary materials such as photos, maps, ticket stubs, postcards, news clippings, and diary pages. The Collector’s set packages all of these extras in a custom box which nests in the slipcase alongside the three books. Each Limited Edition Collector’s set is supplied with a Certificate of Ownership signed by editors Andrew Leman and Sean Branney of the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society, and a collectible enamel pin.

    This is just the loose extras; there are additional extras for each volume, in their individual envelopes in the Ephemera traycase.

    with

  • Lovecraft, H. P. (Sean Branney and Andrew Lman, editors and annotators). The Spirit of Revision: Lovecraft’s Letters to Zeila Brown Reed Bishop. Helios House, 2022. Second Edition hardback (I believe the first edition was trade paperback only), a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Bought with the above as an add-in.

  • It’s an impressive assemblage, and one legions of Lovecraft fans will be kicking themselves over not picking up in years to come.

    Total price for both with shipping was $203.50.

    Library Additions: Two Signed, Limited Jack Vance Reference Works

    Wednesday, August 9th, 2023

    Two more items from that Forum Jack Vance lot.

  • (Vance, Jack) Hewitt, Jerry, and Daryl F. Mallett. The Work of Jack Vance: An Annotated Bibliography & Guide. Borgo Press/Underwood -Miller, 1994. First edition hardback, #121 of 200 numbered copies signed by Vance, introduction author Robert Silverberg, Hewett and Mallett, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued, in a Fine- slipcase with a bump to the top rear that I probably inflicted myself. The definitive Vance bibliography. Supplements a trade copy. Hewitt, M166 (yes, a reference to the book in the book itself). Cunningham E.2. Jerry tells me that Mallett was actually the editor rather than co-compiler, and on my trade copy he’s crossed out “Borgo” and written in “Bozo” on the title page. I sense some tension there…

  • (Vance, Jack) Temianka, Dan. The Jack Vance Lexicon: From Ahuloh to Zipahgote. Underwood-Miller, 1992. First edition hardback, #87 of 200 numbered copies signed by Vance and Temianka, a Fine- copy with a slight bit of bend at heel, sans dust jacket, as issued, in a Fine slipcase. Just what it says, a Lexicon of Vancian vocabulary. Supplements a trade copy. Hewitt, M163. Cunningham I.3.
  • These two books alone are probably worth more than I paid for the entire lot.

    Library Addition: Signed, Limited Hardback of George Locke’s Voyages in Space

    Wednesday, July 12th, 2023

    As part of (I assume) it’s ongoing sale of the Gary Monson collection, Heritage Auctions offered up a lot of oversized and non-fiction works. Of those, this title was one I was most interested in, and is the reason I bid. I won the lot for $240 plus shipping.

    Locke, George. Voyages in Space: A Bibliography of Interplanetary Fiction 1801-1914. Ferret Fantasy, 1975. First edition hardback, #17 of 18 signed, numbered hardback copies (plus an additional 10 copies not for sale), a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. The definitive bibliography on early space travel fiction. Chalker/Owings, page 527. Tymn/Schlobin/Currey A Research Guide to Science Fiction Studies 47. Barron mentions this in Anatomy of Wonder 4 7-7 (on Currey’s Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors), but does not have a separate listing for it. Not in Justice. Supplements an inscribed copy of the trade paperback.

    Library Addition: Jack Vance in Pulps 1945-1975

    Tuesday, June 6th, 2023

    Another addition to the reference work library:

    (Vance, Jack) Jean Luc Esteban. Jack Vance: Works published in PULPS magazines 1945-1975. LuLu, 2023. First edition (POD) hardback, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. An odd reference work, showing the full-color cover illustrations, title pages, first few story pages, and interior black and white illustrations, for every story Jack Vance published in pulp magazines for the covered period. (Never mind that by the 1970s, the magazines publishing Jack Vance weren’t pulps and hadn’t been for some time.) Sort of an strange work, with high production values (all the page are slick stock, not just the ones for the color illustrations) and odd editorial choices (the Table of Contents is at the rear, and there are a lot of pages left unnecessarily blank). Also, there is no magazine or illustrator index. But buying this is a whole lot less expensive than tracking down every single issue covered. If this is the sort of reference work you think you need, then you need it, and if you don’t, you don’t. Note also that there are four slightly variant titles this could be known under: the spine says Jack Vance in Pulps 1945-1975, the front cover says Jack Vance in Pulps First issues 1945-1975, the half-title page says Jack Vance Pulps Editions 1945-1975, and the title page says Jack Vance: Works published in PULPS magazines 1945-1975. Yeah, the book could have used an editor…

    Library Addition: Signed Robert Bloch Bibliography

    Monday, June 5th, 2023

    Another addition to the reference library:

    (Bloch, Robert) Larson, Russell D. The Complete Robert Bloch: An Illustrated Comprehensive Bibliography. Fandom Unlimited Enterprises, 1986. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine- copy with trace of wear at tips, signed by Bloch. Just what it says, an illustrated bibliography of Bloch’s work. Looks useful, though the type is a bit small for my aging eyes. Justice, Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Reference 185. Bought of eBay for $35 plus shipping.

    Library Additions: Two Harlan Ellison TPO Firsts

    Tuesday, May 23rd, 2023

    Two collections of Harlan Ellison essays bought directly from the Ellison website.

  • Ellison, Harlan. FOE: Friends of Ellison. Edgeworks Abbey, 2019. First edition (stated) trade paperback original (these are Print on Demand books; the POD barcode page states “10 February 2019,” making it possible that these were run off as part of the initial batch run off for the Ellison website sales), a Fine copy. Collection of non-fiction essays, introductions and appreciations of other writers (Jack Vance, Richard Matheson, Philip Jose Farmer, Robert Silverberg, etc.). Bought for $20 (half-off the $40 list price) from the Harlan Ellison Books website.

  • Ellison, Harlan. Why do you call me Ishmael when you know my name is Bernie?. Edgeworks Abbey, 2019. First edition (stated) trade paperback original (these are Print on Demand books; the POD barcode page states “16 June 2019”), a Fine copy. Collection of non-fiction essays on various topics, including one on Lafferty. Bought for $20 (half-off the $40 list price) from the Harlan Ellison Books website. This now shows up as out of print there.

  • Library Additions: Seven Joe R. Lansdale Firsts

    Wednesday, March 8th, 2023

    Here’s a mixed bag of Lansdale firsts, one new Subterranean first, two sets of books that I already had in different states, and two different states of a book of Lansdale interviews that I’m in.

  • Lansdale, Joe R. Cold in July. Mark V. Ziesing, 1989. First hardback edition, #388 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine- slipcase with a bump at bottom rear. Isajenko, World Lansdalean A011.b. With Lansdale, Joe R. Savage Season. Mark V. Ziesing, 1989. First edition hardback, #388 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, in the same slipcase. Isajenko, World Lansdalean A013.a. Supplements a PC set (received as part of typing Cold in July into a computer from galley proofs) and a signed “mock” limited set. Bought from a private collector for $50.
  • Lansdale, Joe R. The Drive-In (A B-Movie With Blood and Popcorn, Made in Texas). Bantam Spectra, 1988. First edition paperback original, #57 of 100 aftermarket copies from The Overlook Connection with a special limitation page pasted in, a Fine- copy with pinprick of abrasion to bottom rear tip, in a Mylar-bag, in a Fine embossed aftermarket slipcase. Isajenko, World Lansdalean A010.a. With Lansdale, Joe R. The Drive-In 2 (Not Just One Of Them Sequels). Bantam Spectra, 1989. First edition paperback original, #57 of 100 aftermarket copies from The Overlook Connection with a special limitation page pasted in, a Fine copy, in a Mylar-bag, in the same slipcase. Isajenko, World Lansdalean A012.a. Supplements inscribed copies of the ordinary PBOs, plus inscribed hardback firsts of the Kinnell editions, plus The Complete Drive-In from Centipede Press. These Overlook Press aftermarket paperback limiteds were weird things, which is why I didn’t pick these up until I found a set at the right price. Bought from the same private collector for $35.

  • Lansdale, Joe R. The Events Concerning. Subterranean Press, 2022. First edition hardback, #371 of 1,250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Short story collection. Bought from the publisher. I’ll have copies of this available in the next

  • (Lansdale, Joe R.) Andrew J. Rausch and Mark Slade, editors. Conversations with Joe R. Lansdale. University Press of Mississippi, 2022. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Collection of interviews with Lansdale, including the ones Dwight Brown and I did for Nova Express. Bought from the publisher. I’ll have copies of this available in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog.

  • (Lansdale, Joe R.) Andrew J. Rausch and Mark Slade, editors. Conversations with Joe R. Lansdale. University Press of Mississippi, 2022. First edition trade paperback original (simultaneous with the much smaller hardback run), a Fine copy. Sent to me as a contributor’s copy.
  • Library Additions: Two Literary Reference Works

    Thursday, January 12th, 2023

    Two more reference works, one the last hardback addition from the Metroplex trip, the other from a PS Publishing order that came in.

  • (Burroughs, William S.) Morgan, Ted. Literary Outlaw: The Life and Time of William S. Burroughs. Henry Holt, 1988. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with slight haze rubbing. Reportedly one of the best biographies of Burroughs. Shoaf, Collecting William S. Burroughs in Print: A Checklist, IV.42. Bought for $7.99 at Half Price Books.
  • Campbell, Ramsey (S. T. Joshi, editor). Certainly: Essays and Reviews, 2002-2017. PS Publishing, 2021. First edition hardback, #168 of 200 signed, numbered copies in slipcase, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Companion volume to Probably, which I also have. Bought from the publisher for £20. I will have one copy for sale in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog (probably May or June).

  • Library Additions: Three Gene Wolfe Critical Companions

    Wednesday, November 30th, 2022

    Three Michael Andre-Driussi critical companions to Gene Wolfe works, all bought from Amazon (the only place they’re available; click on the hyperlinks to buy them there).

  • (Gene Wolfe) Andre-Driussi, Michael. A Chapter Guide for the Long Sun & the Short Sun. Sirius Fiction, 2022. First edition POD hardcover, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Just what it says, a chapter-by-chapter summary of The Book of the Long Sun and The Book of the Long Sun and The Book of the Short Sun, including lists of characters and unusual terms that show up in each chapter.

  • (Gene Wolfe) Andre-Driussi, Michael. Gene Wolfe’s The Book of the New Sun: A Chapter Guide. Sirius Fiction, 2019 (2022). First edition POD hardcover, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Same as the above, but for The Book of the New Sun.

  • (Gene Wolfe) Andre-Driussi, Michael. Gene Wolfe: 14 Articles. Sirius Fiction, 2016 (2022). First edition POD trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Various essays on Wolfe’s work.
  • Counting chapbooks, I now have 14 Andre-Driussi books on Gene Wolfe…