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: Signed First of Dan Simmons’ The Abominable

This was the last Simmons title I didn’t own. Simmons, Dan. The Abominable. Little Brown, 2015. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Simmons. Bought off eBay for $50, the opening bid. The only Simmons first I lack is the trade first of The Fifth Heart, which preceded the… Continue reading Library Addition: Signed First of Dan Simmons’ The Abominable

Library Addition: Micheal Swanwick’s Basil, Pepper, Salt, and Garlic Greens

Been a while since the last Dragonstairs Swanwick chapbook: Swanwick, Michael. Basil, Pepper, Salt, and Garlic Greens: A Year in a Witch’s Kitchen. Dragonstairs Press, 2026. First edition chapbook original, #16 of 80 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy. Short stories tied to seasonal dishes. I will have copies of this available in the next… Continue reading Library Addition: Micheal Swanwick’s Basil, Pepper, Salt, and Garlic Greens

Library Addition: Signed First of Greg Bear’s Take Back the Sky

I picked this up because I had the first two books in the War Dogs trilogy and I found this signed first for less than cover price. Bear, Greg. Take back the Sky. Orbit, 2016. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Bear. Third book in the War Dogs… Continue reading Library Addition: Signed First of Greg Bear’s Take Back the Sky

Library Addition: Signed First of Andrew Vachss’ Flood

Another Half Price Books find: Vachss, Andrew. Flood. Donald I. Fine, 1985. First edition hardback, a Fine-copy with slight bumping at head and heel, in a Near Fine+ dust jacket with a 3/4″ hairline crease at bottom front panel, and slight bumping at head, heel and points, signed by Vachss. His first novel, a mystery.… Continue reading Library Addition: Signed First of Andrew Vachss’ Flood

Library Addition: Franz Kafka’s A Little Scarlet Book of the Surreal

Another Borderlands Little Book: Kafka, Franz. A Little Scarlet Book of the Surreal. Borderlands Press, 2026. First edition hardback, #463 of 350 copies signed by editor Ben Keefe (Borderlands: “we only print 350 copies but if anyone has matching numbers above 350, we make sure they continue to get it”), a Fine copy in decorated… Continue reading Library Addition: Franz Kafka’s A Little Scarlet Book of the Surreal

Library Addition: Dozois Year’s Best SF 28th

The final library addition from that Dozois auction buy. Dozois, Gardner, editor. The Year’s Best Science Fiction: Twenty-Eighth Collection. St. Martin’s Press, 2011. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine, Mylar-protected dust jacket, new and unread. One of the years St. Martin’s printed this on thin paper, so the volume is slimmer than… Continue reading Library Addition: Dozois Year’s Best SF 28th

Highlights from the David Aronovitz Auction

That Heritage auction of the David Aronovitz collection happened last week, and there were some truly breathtaking prices achieved. Here’s a look at some of them. An unsigned, first edition of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit went for a jaw-dropping $450,000. Pretty sure that smashes the record for that title. Speaking of Tolkien, an unsigned but… Continue reading Highlights from the David Aronovitz Auction