I mentioned the Kickstarter previously, and my package of “Alternate Classics of Filmdom” was waiting for me when I got back from London.
All bought for $20 from the Kickstarter. My only complaint is that the font size is ridiculously small…
Archive for September, 2014
Library Additions: Screenplays for Manos: The Hands of Fate, Plan 9 From Outer Space, and Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
Tuesday, September 9th, 2014Photo Gallery: Writers at the 2014 London Worldcon Part 1
Monday, September 8th, 2014
Leigh Kennedy, who I had lunch and dinner with the Monday before the con. We have loads of common friends, but knew them at different times, so there was a lot of trading stories…
In profile.
Cory Doctorow, exhibiting his unique sense of style…
…and with an actual top to his head.
John J. Miller of Wild Cards fame, with Gail Gerstner-Miller.
Kim Newman, in his usual natty, multilayered attire.
Jonathan Strahan and David Hartwell.
Pat Murphy, all scarfed-up.
With scarf and shoes.
Lavie Tidhar, who used to do reviews for me back in the Nova Express days.
Ian Watson and Lavie Tidhar, signing books at the PS Publishing table in the dealer’s room. I asked Watson what the genesis of the Watson-Aldiss feud was. “I’ve gotten to the age when I’m not sure I remember it properly anymore…”
Connie Willis.
Liz Hand.
And looking slightly less crazed.
Ellen Datlow and Liz Hand fan themselves and look down upon the peasantry.
Elle Datlow solo.
Guest of honor John Clute.
Adam Roberts.
Geoff Ryman peers at me suspiciously.
Gary K. Wolfe.
Andy Duncan.
Didn’t get all the names, but this is something like 75% of the Israeli SF publishing industry.
Kim Stanley Robinson.
John Gibbons.
Michael Swanwick, Geoff Ryman, and Ellen Datlow.
Michael Swanwick and Gordon Van Gelder, looking way too befuddled for the first day of the con.
Lisa Tuttle, who I had lunch with, joined by…
…George R. R. Martin.
George R. R. Martin and the Spanish George R. R. Martin.
Michael Swanwick and George R. R. Martin, enjoying fine dining in an atmosphere of unpretentious ambiance.
Parris McBride Martin.
Alastair Reynolds.
Pat Cadigan.
Pat Cadigan in green.
Pat Cadigan with fan-drawn cyberpunk.
Finally, Pat Cadigan with her spiffy Doc Martin boots.
The elusive Richard Calder.
Michael Swanwick showing off his outfit. “This shirt is bespoke! Bespoke, I tell you!”
Finally, Michael Swanwick showing off the t-shirt for MidAmericon II, the 2016 Kansas City Worldcon he’s Guest of Honor at. (Pat Cadigan is Toastmistress.)
Shoegazer Sunday: Skip Skip Ben Ben’s “Last Light”
Sunday, September 7th, 2014Here’s “Last Light,” a pleasant little ditty from Taiwan’s Skip Skip Ben Ben:
Bold New Frontiers in Cattle Rustling
Friday, September 5th, 2014I think these guys could be in a Joe R. Lansdale story…
Library Additions: Two Reference Works by George Locke
Friday, September 5th, 2014I saw grand old British bookseller/publisher/bibliographer George Locke at the London Worldcon. George has been book hunting and dealing in the field longer than I’ve been collecting, and has written a number of important bibliographies in the field, of which the three volume Spectrum of Fantasy set and Voyages in Space: a Bibliography of Interplanetary Fiction, 1801-1914 are perhaps the best known.
George has just published two books of genre bibliographic material, in editions of a mere 50 (!) copies each which, with a little prodding and discounting, he convinced me to pick up.
(Shadow effect is a scanner artifact.)
I paid £100 for the pair (a show special, since I believe George is selling them at £65 each).
If you’re looking to pick one or both of these up, you’ll probably have to contact George directly:
George Locke
Ferret Fantasy
27 Beechcroft Road
Upper Tooting
London, SW27 7BX
020 8767 0029
george_locke at hotmail.com
How A Professional Media Outlet Does Things
Wednesday, September 3rd, 2014So Sports Illustrated, the website that a few months ago decided “Hey, let’s make our site look like ass!” has released it’s Superbowl and MVP picks. Let’s take a look at these two screen shots I grabbed today so you can see how a real professional website works:
Evidently Tom Brady is going to be Defensive Rookie of the Year, as well as Coach of the Year, thanks to his awesome Lorem ipsum skills. At least so say the numerous clones SI hires as sportswriters…
Remember: Sports Illustrated is run by professionals. Do not attempt this at home…
Photos From the 2014 Armadillocon
Wednesday, September 3rd, 2014We interrupt this cavalcade of books, Slowdive covers and tanks to offer up some pics from the 2014 Armadillocon, which occurred a little more than a week before I flew off to London.
Howard Waldrop. Actually a pretty good picture of him.
Claude Lalumiere
The elusive Robert Taylor. Like most pictures of him taken in the wild, it’s a bit blurry…
Ian McDonald. I would say he’s signing one of the way too many of my own books I had him sign, but since I own the Simon & Schuster UK (true first) edition of River of Gods, not the Pyr first American edition, obviously it’s someone else’s book…
Arch-villain Denman Glober caught outside her secret underground lair.
Ted Chiang.
One of these men had a role in Once Upon A Time in China VI.
Martha Wells.
Mark Finn, describing his wrestling match with the gorilla.
Patrice Sarath.
Ian McDonald and Ted Chiang at the bar.
Library Additions: Books Bought From Cold Tonnage Books
Tuesday, September 2nd, 2014On my London Worldcon sojurn, I took a day to visit Andy Richards of Cold Tonnage Books, who I’ve been buying from and trading with for a quarter century. In addition to swapping old bookseller stories (and it was a shock to realize I’m considered one of the “old timers” by now), I went over his stock and picked out a few things, some to buy and some for Lame Excuse Books stock. Below are just the items for my own library.
Just noticed my cheap all-in-one HP scanner/printer/etc. is starting to develop streaks. Might need to get a new one before too long…