Author: Lawrence Person

Lawrence Person is a science fiction writer living in Austin, Texas. His short fiction has appeared in Asimov's, Analog, Postscripts, Jim Baen's Universe, Fear, and several anthologies. He also edits the Hugo-nominated SF critical magazine Nova Express, and runs the Turkey City Writer's Workshop. His non-fiction has appeared in National Review, Reason, Whole Earth Review, The Freeman, The World & I, Science Fiction Eye, The New York Review of Science Fiction, and Slashdot.org. He owns such a large library (mostly science fiction first editions) he had to buy a two-story house to put it in, and then adopted a golden retriever to drag him out of his house on a regular basis. He also makes a mean batch of salsa.

Library Addition: Poul Anderson’s Three Hearts and Three Lions

Another book from that Poul Anderson auction lot. Anderson Poul. Three Hearts and Three Lions. Doubleday, 1961. First edition hardback (stated, as per Currey), a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a few touches of dust soiling to dust jacket, mainly to edges of flaps and along folds. Currey, page 13. Cawthorn &… Continue reading Library Addition: Poul Anderson’s Three Hearts and Three Lions

Library Addition: Poul Anderson’s The Broken Sword

We interrupt the ongoing cataloging of The Mysterious Benefactor’s additions to my library to catalog some Poul Anderson firsts from the collection of Henry Morrison from Heritage Auctions. Anderson, Poul. The Broken Sword. Abelard-Schuman, 1954. First edition hardback (no statement of printing on the copyright page, as per Currey), a Near Fine- copy with traces… Continue reading Library Addition: Poul Anderson’s The Broken Sword

Comic Creator Matt Howarth, RIP

Michael Swanwick is reporting the death of comic creator Matt Howarth. If you were a science fiction or comic fan in the 1980s, Howarth was a name to conjure with. Those Annoying Post Brothers was one of those must-read indie comics of the time, up there with Stig’s Inferno, Cerebus the Aardvark and Reid Fleming,… Continue reading Comic Creator Matt Howarth, RIP

Halloween Horrors: Soldiers Seeing Giant Spiders

Here’s not one, but two video compilations of purportedly true stories of soldiers encountering unusually large spiders in the course of a mission. The first video feature soldiers from Congo (the previously mentioned J’ba Fofi), New Guinea, Vietnam and Iraq. The second features more Vietnam stories, and another New Guinea story. You might want to… Continue reading Halloween Horrors: Soldiers Seeing Giant Spiders

Library Addition: Signed First of Alexander M. Phillips’ The Mislaid Charm

Another book from that Mysterious Benefactor: Phillips, Alexander M. The Mislaid Charm. The Prime Press, 1947. First edition hardback (and in a first state yellow dust jacket, as per Chalker/Owings), a Very Good copy with bumped corners, head and heel, and a 1/4″ portion of front hinge open and completely cracked one page further in… Continue reading Library Addition: Signed First of Alexander M. Phillips’ The Mislaid Charm

Library Addition: Gordon Dickson’s The Dragon and the George

Another book from that Mysterious Benefactor: Dickson, Gordon R. The Dragon and the George. Nelson Doubleday/SFBC, 1976. First edition hardback (as per Currey, with code G24 on page 243), a Fine- copy with slight bump at heel in a Fine-, Mylar-protected dust jacket with a trace of wear at points. Currey, page 160. Pringle, Modern… Continue reading Library Addition: Gordon Dickson’s The Dragon and the George

Library Addition: Signed First of Ray Bradbury/Dillons’ Switch on the Night

Another signed Ray Bradbury first: Bradbury, Ray (Leo and Diane Dillon, illustrators). Switch on the Night. Umbrella/Knopf, 1993. First edition hardback thus (“10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1” numberline), a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued, signed by Bradbury. Illustrated children’s book first published in 1955 with… Continue reading Library Addition: Signed First of Ray Bradbury/Dillons’ Switch on the Night

Library Addition: Ben Bova’s The Star Conquerors

Another book from that Mysterious Benefactor: Bova, Ben. The Star Conquerors. Winston Science Fiction, 1959. First edition hardback (stated, as per Currey), a Fine- copy with slight bend at head and heel in a Near Fine- dust jacket with 1/8″ and 1/16″ chips to bottom front panel and a few other touches of edgewear, otherwise… Continue reading Library Addition: Ben Bova’s The Star Conquerors