Another book from that Mysterious Benefactor, and another small press book from the 1950s. Leinster, Murray. Operation: Outer Space. Fantasy Press, 1954. First edition hardback in a first state blue binding (as per Chalker/Owings), a Fine- copy with slight bumping at heel and a trace of rubbing to band at heel, in a Near Fine… Continue reading Library Addition: Murray Leinster’s Operation: Outer Space
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: Eric Frank Russell’s Deep Space
Another book from that Mysterious Benefactor (I’m going to be cataloging these for quite a while), and another small press book from the 1950s. Russell, Eric Frank. Deep Space. Fantasy Press, 1954. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine, Mylar-protected dust jacket (there’s a tiny bit of wrinkling at top of spine, but… Continue reading Library Addition: Eric Frank Russell’s Deep Space
Library Addition: Silverberg & Garrett’s The Shrouded Planet
A Mysterious Benefactor who enjoys my other blog contacted me to give me his entire library, knowing I could take care of and appreciate his books. He was getting on in years, and just didn’t want to deal with the hassle of selling his own collection, and didn’t feel that any of his relatives wanted… Continue reading Library Addition: Silverberg & Garrett’s The Shrouded Planet
Library Addition: Bibliography of Limited and Signed Editions in Literature
I’ve slowly been picking up some general literary bookselling references when I’ve found them cheap, and this purchase fits in that category. Dingman, Larry. Bibliography of limited and signed editions in literature, Twentieth Century American Authors. James Cummings Press, 1973. First edition hardback, a Very Good+ copy in red cloth with a few faint spots,… Continue reading Library Addition: Bibliography of Limited and Signed Editions in Literature
Library Additions: Three Critical Books
A friend is gradually culling the book collection of his mother, a literary academic, and I’ve been helping him seperate out books that might have some value from those that don’t. Here are three SF (or SF adjacent) critical works I saved for myself. Clareson, Thomas D. Understanding Contemporary American Science Fiction: The Formative Period,… Continue reading Library Additions: Three Critical Books
Library Addition: Centipede Press Limited Edition of Roger Zelazny’s Roadmarks
Centipede Press’ latest book is pitched firmly at my Zelazny collection: Zelazny, Roger. Roadmarks. Centipede Press, 2026. First limited edition, #358 of 400 numbered copies signed by introduction and glossary author (and Zelazny bibliographer) Christopher Kovacs and artist Pascal Blanche, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, still in publisher’s shrinkwrap. Zelazny’s novel of… Continue reading Library Addition: Centipede Press Limited Edition of Roger Zelazny’s Roadmarks
Library Addition: Mark V. Ziesing Bibliography 1982-1993
Here’s a bibliography of a publisher I collect that I never picked up when it came out because I was already aware of every book in it because I was on the Ziesing mailing list for the last half of the period covered. But I do like having bibliographies, so I finally picked it up.… Continue reading Library Addition: Mark V. Ziesing Bibliography 1982-1993
DVD Library Addition: Signed Fahrenheit 451
Every now and then I come across something that’s not a book signed by an author I collect. (Bradbury, Ray). Fahrenheit 451. Universal Studios, 2003. DVD of the 1966 Francois Truffaut film, let’s call it Fine, with only the seal at top slit, with sticker on front cover inscribed by Ray Bradbury: “Doug! 2006/Rosalie! XMAS… Continue reading DVD Library Addition: Signed Fahrenheit 451
John Crowley, RIP
Writer John Crowley has died. He’s slightly difficult to talk about, in that I knew him (first from bumping into him at conventions and getting him to sign stuff, after which he friended me on Facebook), but not particularly well. I liked and collected his work, but he was a bit more hit and miss… Continue reading John Crowley, RIP
Library Addition: The Mammoth Book of Stephen Jones
One of my more obscure collecting vectors is festschriften, a volume in which a science fiction writer or editor is lionized by other luminaries. Other volumes I have include Polder (celebrating John Clute) and Moorcock@60.com, about which I’m pretty sure you can figure out who’s being celebrated. This volume celebrates Britsh horror editor Stephen Jones,… Continue reading Library Addition: The Mammoth Book of Stephen Jones