Posts Tagged ‘First Edition’

Library Additions: Earnest Bramah’s The Moon of Much Gladness (in dust jacket)

Wednesday, December 11th, 2013

If you like Barry Hughart, you should really try reading Earnest Bramah’s Kai Lung series, which is exceptionally entertaining. Though most of the Kai Lung first editions were published slightly before my main collecting period, I do snatch up nice copies in dust jacket when I see them at an affordable price (though I doubt I’ll ever have a Bramah collection to rival Mike Berro’s).

Bramah, Earnest. The Moon of Much Gladness. Cassell & Company, 1932. First edition hardback (Berro A17), a Fine- copy with slight bends at head and heel in a VG+ dust jacket with a 1/8″ chip at rear head join, slight cracking at top edge of front cover, and dust soiling to rear, otherwise a fairly bright and attractive copy of a book seldom offered in dust jacket. Bought for $300 off the Internet from a major SF book dealer.

(Click to embiggen, but note that the what appear to be tiny spots of white rubbing to the black dj are in fact scanner artifacts.)

Moon Much Gladness

Library Addition: A [Gene] Wolfe Family Album

Tuesday, December 10th, 2013

I’ve been busy and have gotten slightly behind in cataloging books that have come in. In the interests “some content is better than no content,” I’m going to catalog the more interesting ones one at a time until I catch up with the backlog.

Up first: One of the few Gene Wolfe chapbooks I didn’t already own:

Wolfe, Gene. A Wolfe Family Album. United Mythologies Press, 1991. First edition chapbook original, a Fine copy. Signed by Gene Wolfe. Chapbook of mostly Wolfe family photos, evidently issued with the hardback edition of Letters Home (which I’ve owned for some time, but which didn’t come with the chapbooks when I bought it).

Wolfe Family Album

Reader Requested Book Scan: Joe R. Lansdale’s Molly’s Sexual Follies

Friday, November 22nd, 2013

Over on my post about the first hardback edition of Texas Night Riders, reader Jason Bovberg asked for a scan of Joe’s rarest book, the pseudonymous porn novel Molly’s Sexual Follies, since he had never seen one before. I checked online, and indeed there seem to be no scans of this book’s cover, so here’s a scan of my copy.

Lansdale, Joe R. with Brad Foster (as Mark Simmons). Molly’s Sexual Follies. Beeline Books, 1982. First edition paperback original, a VG- copy with considerable creasing and 1/2″ of separation between front cover and spine at heel.

Molly's

Molly's Title

Any other rarities from The Person Collection (he said vaingloriously) people want to see?

Library Additions: A Random Collection of Signed Books

Monday, November 18th, 2013

Some more library additions, with no particular theme except books signed by the author.

  • Bear, Greg. Early Harvest. NESFA Press, 1988. First edition hardback, #173 of 250 signed, numbered copies (800 print run total), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and slipcase. Supplements a signed trade copy. Bought off the Internet for $37.50.
  • Bradbury, Ray. Driving Blind Avon Books, 1997. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Inscribed by Bradbury: “Marilyn! /Onward!/Ray Bradbury/Oct. 18, ’97”. Bought for $20 off eBay.
  • Gaiman, Neil. Fortunately the Milk…. HarperCollins (UK), 2013. First edition hardback (the UK and U.S. edition were evidently simultaneous), slipcased limited edition (“with exclusive bookmark”) sold by UK bookstore chain Foyle’s signed by Gaiman and illustrator Chris Riddle, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued, still in shrinkwrap. I think this state came out about a month after the trade edition. Young adult novella. Bought for £19.99 plus shipping off eBay.

    Gaiman Milk

  • Gibson, William. Zero History. Putnum, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Gibson. Bought for $12 (marked down from $20) at a Half Price Books during a coupon sale.
  • Lake, Jay. Dogs in the Moonlight. Prime Books, 2004. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a bit of wear at the tips. Signed by Lake. Missed this when it came out, mainly because Prime was still part of Wildside. Bought for $24 off the Internet.
  • Lake, Jay. Endurance. Tor, 2011. Signed by Lake. Bought for 20% off cover at the San Antonio Worldcon.
  • Pohl, Frederik, with Jack Williamson. The Saga of Cuckoo. Nelson Doubleday (SFBC), 1983. First edition thus and first hardback (a book club omnibus edition of Farthest Star and A World Around a Star, both previously published only in paperback), code “N34” on page 433 (as per ISFDB), a Fine- copy with a tiny bit of crimping at head and heel, in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by both Pohl and Williamson. Bought for $22.50 off eBay.
  • Powers, Tim/James P. Blaylock. The Way Down the Hill/The Pink of Fading Neon. Axoltl Press, 1986. First Edition hardback, #178 of 300 hardback copies by both authors and introducers Ed Bryant and Charles De Lint, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Bought for $30 plus shipping from Heritage Auctions. One of those books I wasn’t sure whether I owned or not, since I had the other Axolotl Press Powers and Blaylock books…
  • Library Additions: A Major Collection of Roger Zelazny Books

    Monday, July 15th, 2013

    Bob Pylant is a major Roger Zelazny collector in Austin to whom I had sold the odd item to (like the NESFA Press Collected Zelazny volumes) over the years. Unfortunately, he suffered a car accident and had to sell some of his collection. So I went over to his house on June 13, made an offer on some choice items, and we reached an agreement.

    Which is how I spent $5,000 on Roger Zelazny books in a single day. (An amount that would go up to $5,400 when I won another item he had listed on eBay.) Several were upgrades of signed first edition hardbacks where I had either unsigned copies or Ex-Library copies.

    Bibliography
    For bibliographic details and first edition verification, I cite the following reference books:

  • Currey, L.W. Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors: A Bibliography of First Printings of Their Fiction. G. K. Hall, 1978.
  • Chalker, Jack & Owings, Mark. The Science Fantasy Publishers: A Critical and Bibliographic History. Mirage Press, 1991 (“Third Edition Revised and Enlarged”).
  • Kovacs, Christopher S. The Ides of Octember: A Pictorial Bibliography of Roger Zelazny. NESFA Press, 2010. (Note: Kovacs lists proofs, ARCs, etc. when known, so many hardback firsts are designated with the a “b” rather than an “a”.)
  • Levack, Daniel J. Amber Dreams: A Roger Zelazny Bibliography. Underwood/Miller, 1983.
  • The Zelazny Books

  • Zelazny, Roger. And the Darkness is Harsh. Pretentious Press, 1994. First edition chapbook, one of only 85 copies (of which 70 were given away for free) signed by Zelazny, with photo of the young Zelazny pasted in at front, and one sheet chapbook catalog laid in, a Fine copy. Contains the title story, “Mr. Fuller’s Revolt,” and the poem “Diet,” all taken from his high school literary magazine, where they were published when he was 16. Virtually impossible to find these days. Kovacs, VIII-1-a.

  • Zelazny, Roger and Fred Saberhagen. The Black Throne. Baen Books/SFBC, 1990 (stated; Kovacs says it actually came out in 1991). First edition hardback (book club, and the only hardback) a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, inscribed by Zelazny: “For Scott,/Best, ever/Roger Zelazny/ 11/30/91”. Supplements my unsigned copy. Kovacs, I-1-c.

  • Zelazny, Roger, and Robert Sheckley. Bring Me the Head of Prince Charming. Bantam Spectra, 1991. Uncorrected proof (trade paperback format) of the first edition, a Fine copy with slight bumping at head, with signature plate by Zelazny affixed to blurb page. Kovacs, I-14-a.

  • Zelazny, Roger, and Robert Sheckley. Bring Me the Head of Prince Charming. Bantam Spectra, 1991. First edition trade paperback original (simultaneous with the hardback), a Fine- copy with slight bumping at head, inscribed by Zelazny: “To Shirley,/Roger Zelazny.” Supplements my signed hardback copy. Kovacs, I-14-c.

  • Zelazny, Roger. The Changing Land. Del Rey, 1981. Uncorrected Proof of the paperback original first edition, a Near Fine- copy with what appears to be glue staining to the front cover (possibly from a publicity department sticker or attached sheet), and pinpoint spots of other staining, but otherwise square and unread. Supplements my signed, read paperback, and my signed/limited Underwood/Miller edition. Levack, 4a (for the PBO), Kovacs I-6-a (for the proof). See also the manuscript section below.

  • Zelazny, Roger. Creatures of Light and Darkness. Doubleday, 1969. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a tiny bit of age-darkening and dust staining, inscribed by Zelazny: “For Larry Woods/Roger Zelazny”. Levack, 8a. Kovacs, I-9-a. Currey, P. 570.

  • Zelazny, Roger. Damnation Alley. Doubleday, 1969. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Inscribed by Zelazny: “All best-/Roger Zelazny/ 10/6/79”. Levack, 9a. Kovacs, I-10-b. Currey, P. 570. Naturally I’d pick this up just after I picked up a nice unsigned copy.

  • Zelazny, Roger. The Dream Master. Ace, 1966. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine- copy with “ZELAZNY DREAM MASTER” printed at heel, previous owner’s small ownership stamp on inner cover, two small pieces of tape at same spot, bookstore stamp at rear, and the usual age darkening to pages and foxing to inner covers, otherwise tight, square and apparently unread. Signed by Zelazny. This was in a picture frame, so I missed the stamps. Supplements my signed UK hardback first. Levack, 14a. Kovacs, I-18-a. Currey, P. 570.

  • Zelazny, Roger, and Robert Sheckley. A Farce to Be Reckoned With. Bantam, 1995. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy, new and unread. Not signed, alas. Third in the series that started with Bring Me the Head of Prince Charming. Kovacs, I-20-b.

  • Zelazny, Roger. For a Breath I Tarry. Underwood/Miller, 1980. First edition hardback, #65 of 200 signed, numbered hardback copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, with publisher’s letter included. One of my favorite Zelazny novellas. Supplements my trade paperback copy. Levack, 16a. Kovacs, VI-3-a-i. Chalker/Owings, P. 432.

  • Zelazny, Roger. The Guns of Avalon. Doubleday, 1972. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket that is ever so slightly spine-faded, but much less than usual for this orange spine, and slight wrinkling. Signed Twice by Zelazny, once on title page and once on signature plate affixed sideways on FFE. The second Amber novel. Supplements my signed Ex-Library copy. Levack, 18a. Kovacs, I-22-a. Currey, P. 570.

  • Zelazny, Roger (& Kate Wilhelm). He Who Shapes b/w The Infinity Box. Tor, 1989. First separate edition and first edition thus, a paperback original, a Fine- copy, new and unread. Signed by Zelazny. Kovacs, VI-5-a.

  • Zelazny, Roger (& Samuel R. Delany). Home is the Hangman b/w We, In Some Strange Power’s Employ, Move On a Rigorous Line. Tor, 1990. First separate edition and first edition thus, a paperback original, a Fine copy, new and unread. Signed by Zelazny and inscribed by Delany: “Samuel R. Delany/N.Y.C./’91”. The Delany story is also something of a Zelazny pastiche, with a disguised Zelazny (“his last name was Z-something unpronounceable”) as one of the main characters. Kovacs, VI-8-a.

  • Zelazny, Roger. The Last Defender of Camelot. Underwood/Miller, 1980. First edition hardback, #5 of only 35 numbered hardbacks with a signed bookplate pasted onto the copyright page, a Fine- copy with wear at edges. Just the story (making it different from the next item), and far and away Zelazny’s scarcest hardback (even more so than Nine Princes in Amber). This is the one I bought for $400 off eBay. Levack, 23b. Kovacs, VIII-4-b (also II-132-d). Chalker/Owings, P. 432. See also the manuscript section below.

  • Zelazny, Roger. The Last Defender of Camelot. Pocket Books, 1980. Uncorrected proof of the paperback first edition, a Fine copy. Levack, 24a (for paperback edition). Kovacs, V-15-a (for proof).

  • Zelazny, Roger. The Last Defender of Camelot. Underwood/Miller, 1981. First limited (and non-book club) hardback edition, #6 of 333 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Short story collection. Includes stories not in the Pocket Books or SFBC editions. Supplements my signed SFBC edition. Levack, 24c. Kovacs, V-16-a-i. Chalker/Owings, P. 433.

  • Zelazny, Roger (as editor). Nebula Award Stories Three. Doubleday, 1968. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine-, completely unfaded white dust jacket with extremely minor wrinkling at head, with small Zelazny signature plate affixed to bottom inner flap of dust jacket. Nigh on impossible to find with the dust jacket this bright, much less signed. And most of the stories are pretty good as well!

  • Zelazny, Roger, and Alfred Bester. Psychoshop. Vintage, 1998. Uncorrected proof of the trade paperback first edition, a Fine copy. Kovacs, V-36-a.

  • Zelazny, Roger. Today We Choose Faces Signet, 1974. First edition paperback original (and trickier than usual to identify; it says “First Printing, April, 1973” at the bottom, but “FIRST PRINTING/SECOND PRINTING/”etc. through “TENTH PRINTING” above it), a Fine- copy with a touch of edgewear. Signed by Zelazny. Supplements a signed copy of the UK hardback first. Levack, 35a. Kovacs, I-41-a. Currey, P. 571.

  • Zelazny, Roger. To Die in Italbar. Doubleday, 1973. First edition hardback, a Near Fine+ copy with foxing along gutters and in a large rectangle on FFE where I presume the signed bookplate of the exact same size and shape now affixed to the title page once resided, in a Near Fine+ dust jacket with slight dust staining to rear white cover, and a bit of wear at points. Sequel to Isle of the Dead, and one of my least favorite Zelazny novels (which is why I waited until I had pretty much everything else to pick it up). Levack, 37a. Kovacs, I-42-a. Currey, P. 571.

  • Zelazny, Roger and Neil Randall. Roger Zelazny’s Visual Guide to Castle Amber. Avon/SFBC, 1988. First edition hardback (book club; the only hardback edition), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Zelazny. What the title says. Lots of illustrations and maps. Kovacs, X-14-b.

  • Zelazny, Roger. This Immortal. Ace, 1966. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine+ copy with small phantom creases to font and rear cover, a trace of edgewear along spine, and usual slight age darkening to pages and foxing of interior covers, otherwise square. Signed by Zelazny. Hugo Winner for Best Novel (tied with frank Herbert’s Dune), Nebula finalist. Levack, 34a. Kovacs, I-40-a. Currey, P. 571.

  • Zelazny, Roger. Wizard World. Baen, 1989. First edition paperback original thus, being an omnibus edition of Changeling and Madwand, a Fine copy, new and unread. Signed by Zelazny and cover artist David Mattingly. Kovacs, I-5-e-1

  • (Zelazny, Roger) Levack, Daniel J. Amber Dreams: A Roger Zelazny Bibliography. Underwood/Miller, 1983. First edition hardback, one of 200 signed hardbound copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Comparing the signed edition (left) to the unsigned edition (right), they seem printed in slightly different colors; the signed is more green, and the unsigned more yellow. The uniformity of tone in each makes me doubt either is the result of fading. Kovacs, XIII-1-a-1. Chalker/Owings, P. 435.

  • Zelazny Manuscripts/Etc.

    Note: Bob carefully inserted each page of manuscript or correspondence into clear page protectors with 2-ring binder tabs.

  • Zelazny, Roger. The Changing Land. 340 page typesetting copy of the original manuscript for the Del Rey edition, with Zelazny’s hand corrections and typesetting notes, as well as ancillary editorial material, original bill of sale, catalog description, and letter of provenance from L. W. Currey.
  • Zelazny, Roger. “The Last Defender of Camelot”. Roger Zelazny’s original story manuscript, 24 pages typed (many of which are typed on the back of sheets of scrap paper), with numerous hand corrections by Zelazny, along with a few pages of ancillary material. Each sheet is in a plastic sheet protector in a three-ring binder. Also in the binder is what appears to be a copy of the hand-corrected manuscript for “Stand Pat, Ruby Stone.”

  • Zelazny, Roger (adapted and illustrated by James Zimmerman). The Last Defender of Camelot. Zim Graphics, 1993. First edition of the graphic novel adaptation in cardstock covers, #5 of 25 copies signed on the cover by Roger Zelazny, and #5 of 200 copies signed by Zimmerman, a Fine copy. Something to drive Zelazny completists crazy! Kovacs, II-133-a and VI-10-a.

  • Zelazny, Roger. “Unicorn Variations”. Zelazny’s original story manuscript, 37 typed pages, with hand corrections by Zelazny and type-setting instructions undoubtedly added by the staff of Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, where the story appeared (the manuscripts for my own stories that appeared in Asimov’s came back marked up the same way). Each sheet in a plastic sheet protector in a three-ring binder, along with a few pages of ancillary material.

  • Roger Zelazny’s Professional Correspondence Archive. Two huge three-ring binders containing copies of all Zelazny’s outgoing letters, from about 1970 through 1981, plus the originals of incoming correspondence to him. Includes letters to him from Robert A. Heinlein, Thomas Disch, Lloyd Biggle, Jr., Marion Zimmer Bradley, George R. R. Martin, Fredric Pohl, Connie Willis, Pat Cadigan, Jack Dann, Lisa Goldstein, David Bischoff, John F. Carr, Ellen Kushner (rejecting a story!), Bruce McAllister, Victor Milan, Michael Stackpole, Reginald Bretnor, Phyllis Eisenstein, Thomas Canty (plus art proofs), Judy-Lynn Del Rey, Jim Baen, Byron Preiss, Jim Turner, David Hartwell, Jim Frenkel, Mike Ashley, George Scithers, Gerry de la Ree, Glenn Lord, Bob Frazier, (among many others), and a telegram from Philip K. Dick (with Zelazny’s scrawled notes from the ensuing telephone conversation). Plus other letters from agents, editors, academics, Hollywood functionaries, and random fans. Plus some SFWA Forums and convention program books Zelazny had material in. According to Bob, L. W. Currey got the archive as part of a purchase from the Zelazny estate. Since Bob had bought a number of expensive items from him in the past (some listed here), he said “Look, Bob, I don’t want to catalog all this. Let me sell it to you as a lot.” Which is how Bob got it.

  • Non-Zelazny Books

    Bob did have a few non-Zelazny books I picked up.

  • Banks, Iain. Against A Dark Background. Orbit, 1993. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Banks. Replaces an unsigned copy.
  • Banks, Iain. Consider Phlebas. Macmillan, 1987. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Banks. Replaces an unsigned copy.
  • Powers, Tim. The Anubis Gates. Mark V. Ziesing, 1989. First American hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Already had inscribed firsts of the PBO, and the UK first hardback editions, as well as the copy of the original hand-written manuscript in the ultralimited edition of the Berlyne Power bibliography. I picked up this to complete my Mark V. Ziesing collection…
  • Vance, Jack. The Best of Jack Vance. Taplinger, 1978. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Near Fine, slightly dust soiled/age darkened dust jacket.
  • I also made two mistakes: Picking up a proof of Zelazny and Thomas T. Thomas’ The Mask of Loki (forgot I already had a signed proof) and a signed hardback first of Iain Banks’ Excession (already had one). Those will be offered in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog, which I’ll start working on right after I post this.

    Roger Zelazny Books I Still Lack

    Believe it or not, this doesn’t actually complete my Zelazny collection, as there are still a few odds and ends I don’t have, mainly in edited works and works about Zelazny. Some aren’t particularly hard to find, I just haven’t picked them up yet.

  • The Doors of His Face, The Lamps of His Mouth (Pulphouse hardback of just that story)
  • Home is the Hangman (SFBC, 1996)
  • Trumps of Doom (Underwood Miller, 1985)
  • (with Thomas T. Thomas) Flare (Baen, 1992, paperback original)
  • (as editor) The Williamson Effect (Tor, 1996)
  • (as editor) Wheel of Fortune (AvoNova, 1995, paperback original)
  • Greenberg, Martin H., editor. Lord of the Fantastic: Stories in Honor of Roger Zelazny (Avon Eos, 1998)
  • Lindskold, Jane. Roger Zelazny. Twayne, 1992.
  • Sanders, Joseph L. Roger Zelazny: A Primary and Secondary Bibliography (G. K. Hall, 1982)
  • Yoke, Karl B. Roger Zelazny: Starmont Reader’s Guide (Borgo Press (Library binding hardback), 1979)
  • Yoke, Karl B. Roger Zelazny and Andre Norton: Proponents of Individualism (State University of Ohio, 1979)
  • Library Additions: A Random Assortment of Interesting Books

    Monday, June 17th, 2013

    Books and related items, and no particular theme, other than interesting firsts I picked up. Been dawdling about getting this documented, and now I need to put it up so I can catalog a major acquisition of books I made Friday…

  • Bok, Hannes. Bok 1. Glenn Nigra, 1975. Portfolio with 12 loose Hannes Bok illustration sheets, portfolio folder Fine- with bumping to corners, all illustrations Fine. Uneven shading in pic is a scanner artifact, as the portfolio folder is actually slightly too large to fit on the scanner.

  • De Camp, L. Sprague, and Fletcher Pratt. The Carnelian Cube. Gnome Press, 1948. First edition hardback, a Very Good+ copy with bumping at head and heel and wear at heel and tips, and slight dust soiling at head, in a Very Good- dust jacket with 1/4″ loss at head, and slightly less loss at heel and tips, significant fading to red ink on spine (the cube is barely carnelian anymore), partial stamp on rear flap, top front (non-price) flap trimmed at very tip, and general wear. The first Gnome Press book. Chalker & Owings, page 197. Earl Terry Kemp, The Anthem Series*, page 191. Currey (1978), page 132.

    Really only a placeholder copy, and I wouldn’t even have picked it up if it hadn’t been part of a lot with:

  • De Camp, L. Sprague, and Fletcher Pratt. Land of Unreason. Henry Holt and Company, 1942. First edition hardback, a Near Fine+ plus copy, with slight bumping at head and heel and slight dust soiling to page block at heel, in a Near Fine dust jacket with age darkening to rear cover. A very nice copy, and a splendid example of the Boris Artzybasheff dust jacket. Bought for $34 for this and the above (plus shipping and buyers premium) off Heritage Auctions.

  • McKillip, Patricia A. The Forgotten Beasts of Eld. Atheneum, 1974. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with bend at head and heel in a Near Fine- dust jacket with crimping at head and heel, edgewear and a closed 1/4″ tear at top front cover. The very first winner of the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel. Pringle, Modern Fantasy 100, #54. Bought for $26 off the Internet.

  • Swanwick, Michael. It Came Upon a Midnight. Dragonstairs Press, 2011. First edition chapbook original, #81 of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine- copy with one faint stray mark to front.

  • Swanwick, Michael. Midwinter Elves. Dragonstairs Press, 2012. First edition chapbook original, #15 of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine- copy with small stain on rear.

  • Vance, Jack. The Eyes of the Overworld. Gregg Press, 1977. First hardback edition, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Sequel to The Dying earth featuring Cugel the Clever. Precedes the Underwood/Miller edition. Hewett, A26g. Currey (1978), page 498.

  • Wolfe, Gary K. American Science Fiction: Nine Classic Novels of the 1950s. The Library of America, 2012. First Edition hardback thus, being a two volume compilation of some of the best American SF novels of the 1950s: Frederik Pohl and C. M. Kornbluth’s The Space Merchants, Theodore Sturgeon’s More Than Human, Leigh Brackett’s The Long Tomorrow, Richard Matheson’s The Shrinking Man, Robert A. Heinlein’s Double Star, Alfred Bester’s The Stars My Destination, James Blish’s A Case of Conscience, Algis Budrys’ Who?, and Fritz Leiber’s The Big Time, both volumes Fine in Fine dust jackets, new and unread, in a Fine slipcase. This is an example of book collecting madness, since I either have first editions of, or have already read, all the books here except Who?, but I thought this was a handsome set when it came out, and snapped this up when it showed up at Half Price Books.

  • *This is a newly published reference work on SF specialty publishers. I hope to finish a review of it Real Soon Now, and I’ll have copies for sale through Lame Excuse Books.

    Library Addition: Signed Edition of Isaac Asimov’s Foundation’s Edge

    Tuesday, May 14th, 2013

    You may remember that I’m collecting all the Hugo winners in first edition hardback. I finally picked up a limited edition of one of the ones I lacked.

    Asimov, Isaac. Foundations Edge. Whispers Press, 1982. First limited edition (consensus seems to be that the Doubleday trade edition precedes by about a month), #282 of 1,000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in quarter-bound leather over embossed cloth boards, top edge gilded in real gold, sans dust jacket, as issued. Hugo winner and Nebula Finalist. Chalker/Owings, p. 476. Bought off the Internet for $160.

    By no means as good as the first three Foundation books. The trade edition is extremely common, but this signed edition isn’t. I’ll probably pick up the trade edition as well, but I’m waiting for a Fine/Fine copy to come along super-cheap…

    Library Additions: Signed True First of Lauren Beukes’ The Shining Girls

    Monday, April 29th, 2013

    From the “Distant Stations Heard From department, here’s something that might be hard to come by in the future:

    Buekes, Lauren. The Shining Girls. Umuzi (South Africa), 2013. First edition hardback, #224 of 1000 copies signed and numbered by the author, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Precedes both UK and U.S. editions.

    A few notes:

  • The front and rear boards have one color decorations.
  • Full color photographic montage endpapers.
  • Copyright page states: “First edition, first printing 2013/9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1.”
  • No price on dust jacket (but it does have a UPC code at rear).
  • Dust jacket has 1″ foldover flaps at top and bottom.
  • I think this is the first South African book I have in SF library. Not sure how many of those thousand will make it up and over across the pond…

    Recent Library Acquisitions: A Few Random Interesting Books

    Tuesday, February 12th, 2013

    No particular theme, just a few books fellow science fiction bibliophiles might find of interest.

  • Anderson, Poul. Homebrew. NESFA Press, 1976. First edition hardback, one of 500 copies signed by Anderson (Currey B, no priority), a Fine- copy with slight bumping at head and heel in a Fine- dust jacket with a tiny bit of dust patterning to rear dust jacket. Currey (1978), pages 10-11. Three short stories plus miscellany.

  • Asimov, Isaac and Theodosius Dobzhansky. The Genetic Effects of Radiation. U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, 1966. Presumed first edition chapbook (no additional printings listed), a Near Fine copy with slight dust soiling and age darkening to covers, and phantom crease to bottom corner. Non-fiction pamphlet. Marjorie M. Miller, Asimov: A Checklist, page 48.

  • Smith, Reginald. Weird Tales in the Thirties. Self published, no date (but 1966). First edition, 8 1/2″ x 11″ side-stapled, mimeographed from typewritten copy, Near Fine- copy with small abrasion at top front, and slight bend to front and rear self-covers. Long essay about the magazine. Joshi, H. P. Lovecraft: An Annotated Bibliography, III-D-574.

  • Vance, Jack. Strange Notions with The Dark Ocean. Underwood/Miller, 1985. First edition hardbacks, number 47 of 500 signed (Strange Notions only, as issued), numbered sets in slipcase, Fine, sans dust jackets, as issued. Mystery novels. Hewett, A75 and A76.

  • Zelazny, Roger. Damnation Alley. Putnam, 1969. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with just a tiny bit of edgewear along top front. Levack, 9a. Currey (1978), page 570.

  • Lame Excuse Books December 2012 Catalog

    Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013

    OK, so I’m running a little behind. I’ve been busy. Here’s another edition of “I’m just going to dump my latest book catalog out as a big old block of text.” All the books listed below in this post are for sale, first come, first serve.


    Greetings, and welcome to Lawrence Person’s Lame Excuse for a Book Catalog! Once again there’s lots of great stuff, including new books from Joe R. Lansdale, James P. Blaylock, Tim Powers (including an out-of-print Charnel House limited), Mike Resnick, Jack Vance, a Jim Butcher limited edition, some signed Orson Scott Card, Octavia Butler’s rarest book, and numerous small press books from Subterranean, PS Publishing, Darkside/Midnight House, PS Publishing and ISFiC, among others. And even some postcards and a first edition Mark Twain! Plus some numerous random sale books from existing stock. Most in-print hardbacks start at $3 off cover price, and as usual I only have one or two copies for most titles, so you might want to act quickly.

    The URL for the main Lame Excuse Books webpage is:

    https://www.lawrenceperson.com/lame.html

    My blog, where I do a lot of book geeking (including new additions to my own collection) is:

    https://www.lawrenceperson.com

    I’m still doing a Lame Excuse Books Twitter feed:

    https://twitter.com/LameExcuseBooks

    Payment, Contact & Shipping Information

    E-mail me at lawrenceperson@gmail.com. I can hold books ten days on e-mail or phone requests (please leave a message on my voice mail for the latter: (512) 569-9036). U.S. shipping is $5.00 for the first book, and $1.00 a book thereafter. Foreign shipping is at cost (please inquire; for most locations, Global Priority starts at $17.00). Books may be returned in the same condition sent for any reason within 10 days of purchase for a full refund. Please make checks payable to Lawrence Person. I can also take PayPal payment to this e-mail address at http://www.paypal.com, and I can take MC and Visa directly through my merchant account.

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    Now the books!

    Hardbacks

    LP1837. Adams, Douglas, and John Lloyd. The Deeper Meaning of Liff. Harmony Books, 1990. First American edition, a Fine- copy with three small, short lines of writing to front free endpaper, in a Fine dust jacket. Collection of words that don’t exist but should. Seems to have had fewer reprints than Adams’ other works. $14.

    LP1620. Anderson, Poul. The Collected Short Works of Poul Anderson Volume 2: The Queen of Air and Darkness. NESFA Press, 2009. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. The second volume of NESFA’s collection of Anderson’s complete short fiction. Only have one left. $25.

    LP1872. Anderson, Poul. The Collected Short Works of Poul Anderson Volume 3: The Saturn Game. NESFA Press, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Bob Eggleton cover. Only have one left. $25.

    LP1247. Attanasio, A. A. Radix. William Morrow and Company, 1981. First edition hardback, an Ex-Library copy, some of the usual flaws (see Ex-Library Note), including stamps on all three edges, interior stamps and dj protector remnants inside front and rear covers, a slight bit of spine lean, and a slight bit of wear at heel; however, the dust jacket is in Near Fine shape, with moderate, slightly uneven (from a successful sticker removal that left no other signs) sunfading to spine, but otherwise complete and very attractive. Spine out, there is no sign this is an Ex-Library copy. The true first hardback edition of Attanasio’s first book (and a Nebula Finalist), and very uncommon thus (reportedly only 1000 hardbacks were done). This was my own personal copy until I recently obtained an non Ex-Lib copy. Fine/Fine copies go for north of $1000; of post-1980 SF from a major US publisher, probably only Ender’s Game goes for more. $75.

    LP2011. Barrett, Neal, Jr. Other Seasons. Subterranean Press, 2012. First edition hardback, one of 750 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. The usual giant Subterranean career retrospective collection, with lots of great stories. Only have one left. $37.

    LP2013. Blaylock, James P. Zeuglodon. Subterranean Press, 2012. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Set in the same universe as The Digging Leviathan and takes place in the hollow earth. Trade edition is sold out from the publisher. $35.

    LP2014. Blaylock, James P. Zeuglodon (with Hans Clinker). Subterranean Press, 2012. First edition hardback, One of 250 signed and numbered copies (with the signed and numbered chapbook Hans Clinker), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Only have one of the limited. $57.

    LP2015. Bradbury, Ray. Greentown/Tinseltown. Stanza Press, 2012. First edition hardback, Fine in decorated boards, sans dj, as issued. Miscellaneous collection of Bradbury material (stories, poems, essays, holographic material, etc.) about growing up on both a small town and (later) Los Angeles. Stanza is a subsidiary of PS Publishing. $35.

    LP2016. Butcher, Jim. Side Jobs. Subterranean Press, 2012. First edition hardback, one of 1000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. All of Butcher’s Dresden Files short stories in one volume. $5 off cover price. Only have one. $70.

    LP1384. Campbell, Ramsey. The Height of the Scream. Arkham House, 1976. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dj, new and unread, still in publisher’s shrinkwrap. Joshi 137, Jaffrey 141, Nielsen 143. From the Ventura collection. $10.

    LP1053. Campbell, Ramsey. The Overnight. PS Publishing, 2004. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dj, one of 500 limited copies signed by Campbell (plus an additional 200 slipcased), new and unread. Full length horror novel set in a bookshop. What self-respecting book junkie can resist that? Only have one. $30.

    LP889. Campbell, Ramsey (Poppy Z. Brite). Told By the Dead. PS Publishing, 2003. First edition hardback, one of 500 numbered “trade” hardbacks signed by Campbell and Introduction author Poppy Z. Brite, Fine in a Fine dj, new and unread. Full length short-story collection. $30.

    LP2017. Card, Orson Scott. Red Prophet. Tor, 1988. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine, Mylar-protected dust jacket. Inscribed by card: “to Julia — I’ll see you inside 8-face mound—Orson Scott Card”. Second book in the Alvin Maker series, Hugo and Nebula finalist, and possibly the last book by Card I personally enjoyed. $30.

    LP1839. Card, Orson Scott. Ender’s Game. Tor, 1985. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, inscribed by Card to fellow writer (and noted book collector) Scott Cupp: “to Scott Cupp-/A child-rearing guide/for the military school set…/Best,/Orson Scott Card/NASFIC-’85.” Hugo and Nebula winner for Best Novel, Card’s most famous work, and probably the most difficult domestic SF novel from a mainstream publisher in the last 30 years. Plus they’re making a big budget movie of this starring Harrison Ford and Ben Kingsley, with Asa Butterfield (the title character from Hugo) as Ender, which is due out 2013. (And it’s in post-production, so it will be an actual, real movie, not a Hollywood phantom.) Remember when firsts of Heinlein’s Starship Troopers went through the roof when the movie came out? I expect the same thing to happen to this. (I’m also hoping the movie will be more faithful to the book.) $2,200.

    LP2018. Card, Orson Scott. Speaker for the Dead. Tor, 1986. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a very slight bend at head and a tiny bit of haze rubbing. Sequel to Ender’s Game (and I think it actually has more intellectual heft than that book). Hugo and Nebula winner. If you’re reading these books for the first time, this is where to stop, as Xenocide was mostly a festering well of suck. $95.

    LP1628. Carey, Jacqueline. Kushiel’s Dart. Tor, 2001. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight dust staining to head in a Fine- dj with just a tiny trace of wear at the top outer tips. First in the Kushiel series. Supposedly very good, very popular, and very kinky. $40.

    LP1386. Clarke, Arthur C. Earthlight. Ballantine Books, 1955. First edition hardback (no statement of printing on copyright page, as per Currey), an Ex-Library Copy, with two lines of black marker on half title page, small stamp and writing on copyright page, “Salvage” stamp on FFE, pocket and stamps on RFE, and tape ghosts to boards, otherwise VG- with moderate dust soiling to top page block and wear to bottom boards in a VG+ dust jacket with 1″ x 2″ yellowed repair tape to head to repair what appears to be two 1/2 x 1/8″ sections of dj loss along front and rear join folds; save for that, this is a very attractive dust jacket in a Mylar protector that shows no signs of being from an Ex-Lib copy, and save the tape, the rear white panel appears to be free of the usual soiling. All and all, better than a shelf-filing copy of one of Clarke’s better novels, depicting a military conflict centered around a moon colony and near-Earth orbit. The Ballantine Books hardbacks of this era had very small runs compared to the simultaneous paperback editions; while this is not quite as hard to find as Childhood’s End, it’s hard enough. $225.

    LP1256. Crowther, Peter, editor (Stephen Baxter, Steven Erikson, Elizabeth Hand, Zoran Zivkovic, Juliet McKenna, Rhys Hughes, Gary Kilworth, Conrad Williams, Mike Ashley, Iain Emsley). Postscripts 6, Spring 2006. PS Publishing, 2005. First edition hardback, one of 150 signed, limited hardback copies of this issue of the magazine, signed by all contributors, a Fine copy, sans dj, as issued, new and unread. $25

    LP1391. Crowther, Peter (Stephen King, Joe Hill, Connie Willis, Ramsey Campbell, Steven Erikson, Graham Joyce, Lucius Shepard, Michael Marshall Smith, Lisa Tuttle, Thomas Tessier, Tim Lebbon, Christopher Fowler, etc.). Postscripts 10 (Spring 2007). First edition hardback, one of only 300 numbered hardback copies signed by all the contributors, a Fine- copy, the only flaw being slight dog-ear bends on the out corner edges of the rear free endpaper (which has a book ad on the inside), otherwise new and unread. While this is the special Michael Marshall Smith issue put out for the World Horror Convention, with over 70 pages of work by him, the real interest for most collectors are going to be the Stephen King and Joe Hill signatures; to the best of my knowledge, this is the first time both father and son have appeared in a signed edition of the same book. With only 500 copies total (there was also a 200 copy slipcased edition), this is a very small print run for a King limited edition, much less one also signed by Hill, and this was sold out well before publication (good thing I have a subscription). And the rest of the contributors are hardly chopped liver. Only have one… $200.

    LP1458. Crowther, Peter, editor (Paul Di Filippo, Steve Aylett, Mikal Trimm, etc). Postscripts Number 11 (Summer 2007). PS Publishing, 2007. First edition hardback, one of 200 copies signed by all the contributors, a Fine copy in illustrated boards, sans dj, as issued. $25.

    LP1522. Crowther, Peter (Brian Aldiss, Patrick O’Leary, Lisa Tuttle, etc.) Postscripts Volume 12 (Autumn 2007). First edition hardback, one of only 200 copies signed by all the contributors, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dj, as issued. $25.

    LP2019. Datlow, Ellen, and Terri Windling, editors (with Neil Gaiman, Tom Disch, Karen Joy Fowler, Kelly Link, etc.). The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror: Sixteenth Annual Collection. St. Martin’s, 2003. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Not seeing many copies online, but offered up at cover price. $35.

    LP2020. Datlow, Ellen, Kelly Link and Gavin Grant, editors (with Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Ursula K. Le Guin, Michael Swanwick, Karen Joy Fowler, etc.). The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror: Seventeenth Annual Collection. St. Martin’s, 2004. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. First volume with Link and Grant as co-editors. Not seeing many copies of this online either, but it’s also cover price. $35.

    LP2021. Denton, Bradley. Blackburn. St. Martin’s Press, 1993. Second printing hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Denton. The story of a moral serial killer. Just think, if Brad had only thought to make Jimmy Blackburn a Miami forensic analyst, he’d be rolling in the dough right now. My favorite of his novels. Highly recommended. $15.

    LP2023. Grant, Mira. When Will You Rise: Stories to End the World. Subterranean Press, 2012. First edition hardback, one of 1000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Stories by the author of Feed, including some set in that universe. Only have one. $35.

    LP1637. Hodgson, William, Hope. The Collected Fiction of William Hope Hodgson Volume 5: The Dream of X and Other Fantastic Visions. Night Shade Press, 2009. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dj, as issued. Fifth and final volume of the collected Hodgson. The first printings of all the rest are out of print. $30.

    LP1907. Howard, Robert E. The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard. Subterranean Press, 2010. First edition hardback, one of 750 copies signed by artist Greg Staples, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and slipcase, new and unread. Huge, handsome, and lavishly-illustrated volume. $7 domestic shipping, considerably more overseas. Only have one, and it appears to be the only copy listed on the Internet. $145.

    LP1909. Kress, Nancy. Nothing Human. Golden Gryphon, 2003. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with two tiny (1/16″) closed tears at head, otherwise new and unread. Novel. Thanks to that flaw, you can pick it up at half cover price. $12.

    LP2024. Lansdale, Joe R. The Edge of Dark Water. PS Publishing, 2012. First UK edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket (as well as decorated boards), new and unread. Got billed as a Young Adult, but it looks a good bit darker than the average YA novel. This edition had a much smaller print run than the American edition. $37.

    LP2025. Lansdale, Joe R. Trapped in the Saturday Matinee. PS Publishing, 2012. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket (as well as decorated boards), new and unread. Collects both fiction and non-fiction, including a lot of obscure, early Lansdale stories, as well as reviews, essays, etc. $30.

    LP2026. Lansdale, Joe R., with Keith Lansdale and Karen Lansdale (illustrations by Doug Potter). In Waders From Mars. Subterranean Press, 2012. First edition hardback, one of 600 numbered copies signed by all three Lansdales, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Illustrated children’s book about an invasion of ducks from outer space. Also, because I’m all awesome and stuff, I’ve had these copies specially signed by illustrator Doug Potter, who lives in Austin and is currently rooming with a certain national treasure. 600 is on the low end for a Lansdale book, or even for a Subterranean Lansdale book. $32.

    LP1965. (Lovecraft, H. P.) Joshi, S. T. (editor) (William Browning Spencer, Michael Shea, David J. Schow, Brain Stableford, Michael Marshall Smith, Ramsey Campbell, etc.) Black Wings: Tales of Lovecraftian Horror. PS Publishing, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Anthology of Lovecraftian horror featuring lots of very solid writers. Back in stock. Might want to pick one up before Black Wings II hits later this year. $30.

    LP2027. McDonald, Ian. Brasyl. Pyr, 2007. First edition hardback (precedes the UK edition by just under two months), a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with one tiny nick to top rear and a tiny bit of haze rubbing to rear cover, otherwise new and unread. McDonald’s usual dense, tricky, multi-strand novel. Hugo and Nebula Award finalist. $15.

    LP2028. Moon, Elizabeth. The Speed of Dark. Ballantine Books, 2003. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy in a Fine- dust jacket, with slight bump at heel and slight wrinkle to dust jacket top. Told from the first-person viewpoint of an autistic computer programmer. Nebula Award winner. Recommended. $25.

    LP2029. Moorcock, Michael. The War Hound and the World’s Pain. Timescape, 1981. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine, Mylar-protected dust jacket, apparently new and unread. Von Bek novel, and reportedly among Moorcock’s best. Pringle, Modern Fantasy 100 Best Books. $15.

    LP2010TP. Powers, Tim. Deliver Us From Evil. Charnel House, 2010. First edition hardback, one of only 100 signed, numbered copies, handbound in Japanese silk, in matching slipcase, accompanied by one page of the original Powers manuscript. Includes three chapters and a very detailed outline of a book Powers never finished. $450.

    LP2030. Powers, Tim. Expiration Date. Tor, 1996. First U.S. (and First Hardback) edition (the UK PBO precedes), a Fine- copy with a few short stray pencil marks to page-block edges in a Fine, Mylar-protected dust jacket. Signed by Powers. Berlyne, Powers:Secret Histories, 9b. Sequel to Last Call. $20.

    LP2031. Powers, Tim. Hide Me Among the Graves. Charnel House, 2012. First limited edition, one of 124 signed, numbered hardback copies in mica-flecked boards, a Fine copy, sans dj, as issued. The usual oversized, elaborate Charnel House production, now sold out from the publisher. Only have one. $395.

    LP1969. Reed, Robert. Eater-of-Bone and other novellas. PS Publishing, 2002. First edition hardback, Fine in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Includes his Hugo-winner “A Billion Eyes.” Only have one. $30.

    LP2032. Resnick, Mike. Stalking the Zombie. American Fantasy, 2012. First edition hardback, one of 500 unsigned hardback copies (750 total), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Latest in Resnick’s Stalking series. 500 is a pretty low print run for the latest volume in an existing series by a popular writer, especially one who was just Worldcon Guest of Honor. Only have one. $22.

    LP2033. Resnick, Mike. Win Some, Lose Some. ISFiC Press, 2012. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Signed by Resnick. Collection of all Resnick’s award-winning and nominated stories, along with commentary on them other SF luminaries (Gardner Dozois, Connie Willis, Michael Swanwick, etc.). probably the Resnick collection to have if you’re only having one. Only have one. $32.

    LP1353. Russell, Eric Frank (edited by John Pelan & Phil Stephenson-Payne). Darker Tides: The Weird Tales of Eric Frank Russell. Midnight House, 2006. First edition hardback, one of only 500 copies. Fine in a Fine dj, new and unread, still in publisher’s shrinkwrap. Back in stock. $40.

    LP1543. Shiner, Lewis. Black and White. Subterranean Press, 2008. Trade edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread, still in publisher’s shrink wrap. Lew’s new novel, a historical novel about a murder in a black neighborhood in the South in the 1960s. First printings are now out of print. $20.

    LP1744. Shiner, Lewis. The Collected Stories of Lewis Shiner. Subterranean Press, 2009 (actually not shipped until 2010). First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Another massive career retrospective, with such classics as “Mozart in Mirrorshades,” “White City,” “Steam Engine Time” and “Lizard Men of Los Angeles.” Recommended. $35.

    LP2036. Silverberg, Robert. The Collected Stories of Robert Silverberg Volume Five: The Palace at Midnight: 1980-82. Subterranean Press, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with tiny bit of crimping at head and heel, otherwise apparently new and unread, sans dust jacket, as issued. $20.

    LP2037. Silverberg, Robert. The Collected Stories of Robert Silverberg Volume Seven: We Are For the Dark: 1987-90. Subterranean Press, 2012. First edition hardback, a Fine copy, new and unread, sans dust jacket, as issued. The latest and greatest volume by the legendary grandmaster. Sold out from the publisher. $35.

    LP2038. LP1355. Simak, Clifford D. Physician to the Universe: The Collected Stories of Clifford D. Simak Volume II. Darkside Press, 2006. First edition hardback, one of only 500 copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dj, new and unread, still in publisher’s shrinkwrap. Back in stock. $40.

    LP1438. Smith, Curtis A., editor. Twentieth Century Science Fiction Writers. St. Martins, 1981. First edition hardback, an Ex-Library copy with all the usual flaws, lacking the dust jacket, otherwise VG+ with wear along edges. Has something of a whose who list of contributors in the back. Solid reference work. $8.

    LP1887. Stephenson, Neal. Zodiac: The Eco Thriller. Subterranean Press, 2011. First hardback edition, one of 500 copies signed by Stephenson, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread, in slipcase. First hardback of Stephenson’s second novel, and the usual quality Subterranean Press production. $30 off the publisher’s price. $120.

    LP1547. Sterling, Bruce. Tomorrow Now: Envisioning the Next 50 Years . Random House, 2002. First edition hardback (First Edition statement and numberline ending in 2, as per Random House practice), a Fine copy in a Fine, translucent dust jacket over decorated boards, as issued. Bruce’s pop futurology book. Signed by Sterling. Only have one. $20.

    LP1021. Sterling, Bruce. The Zenith Angle. Del Rey, 2004. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dj, new and unread. Signed by Sterling. $15.

    LP1855. Straub, Peter. The Juniper Tree and Other Blue Rose Stories. Subterranean Press, 2010. First edition hardback, one of 250 numbered leatherbound copies signed by Straub, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Collection of novellas set in the same world as Koko, Mystery, and The Throat, along with and interview conducted by Bill Sheehan. This edition is sold out from the publisher. $5 off publisher’s price. $70.

    LP2039. Sturgeon, Theodore. Volume VI: The Complete Stories of Theodore Sturgeon: Baby is Three. North Atlantic Books, 1999. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a small bit of wrinkling at top front. The title story is possibly Sturgeon’s best. $30.

    LP2040. Twain, Mark (edited by Harriet Elinor Smith, et. al.). The Autobiography of Mark Twain: The Complete and Authoritative Edition Volume 1. University of California, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Twain left instructions for his massive, unexpurgated autobiography to be published 100 years after his death, so here it is. And a massive book it is too, oversized and 740 pages, so add $2 for domestic shipping, much, much more international; honestly, this thing is so big that, unless you’re buying enough to send it via M-Bag, you should probably buy it somewhere else, as it will probably cost you an arm and a leg. Quickly went into multiple printings, but this is the true first, with the numberline ending in 1. If you’ve always wanted a Mark Twain first edition, now is your chance. Some people are asking $350 for this online! Me? How about cover price? $45.

    LP1427. Utley, Steven. Where or When. PS Publishing, 2006. First edition hardback, one of 500 signed, numbered copies signed by Utley; also, although not so called for in this edition, this copy has been specially signed by introduction author Howard Waldrop (so the only difference between this and the slipcase edition is, well, the slipcase), a Fine copy in a Fine dj, new and unread. Linked time travel stories. $30.

    LP919. Vance, Jack. The Augmented Agent. Underwood-Miller, 1986. First edition hardback, an Ex-Library copy with many of the usual flaws, including stamp at head, pocket and sticker on FFE, and flaps of dj protector (but not the dj itself) glued to inside front cover; other than the Ex-Lib flaws this would be a NF- copy in a Fine dj; in fact, except for some very slight wrinkling to the front and rear flaps, the dust jacket itself appears to be mint. Hewett A77. $25.

    LP2041. Vance, Jack. Desperate Days: Selected Mysteries Volume 2. Subterranean Press, 2012. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Thick omnibus edition of three Vance mystery novels (The Fox Valley Murders, The Pleasant Grove Murders, The Dark Ocean), and a companion to Subterranean’s earlier Dangerous Ways volume. Since that volume is sold out, and I only have one left of THIS one, you might want to pick this up if you want it. $42.

    LP749. Vance, Jack. Eight Fantasms and Magics. Macmillan, 1969. First edition hardback, an Ex-Library copy, with tape ghosts to front and rear boards and FFE, RFE missing, and crossed-out stamp at head, otherwise VG/NF with cracked rear hinge, some spine lean, what looks like water-mottling to publisher’s top edge stain, some spine lean, and a faint 1/4″ line across dj rear and back flap (uniform enough that it could be a publishers flaw from the purple dj) and slight fading to spine. Still more attractive than the average Ex-Lib copy, and the dj is nice enough to use as a replacement on a jacketless copy. $20.

    LP2042. Walton, Jo. Among Others. Tor, 2011. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine-, Mylar-protected dust jacket one tiny, non-breaking crease on the bottom inner front jacket fold corner, otherwise new and unread. Welsh fairy magic and science fiction fandom. Hugo and Nebula Award winner. Already hard to find, especially without a remainder mark (save that tiny crease, this copy is pristine). $150.

    LP2043. Wolfe, Gene. Home Fires. PS Publishing, 2011. First limited (and first UK) edition, one of 300 signed copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Science fiction love story of a rich middle-aged man whose wife, still young, has just returned from a interstellar war, and his attempts to woe her back by paying for the resurrection of her mother and booking them on a cruise ship. Complications (like pirates, spies, and voodoo gods) ensue. Recommended. $49.

    LP2044. Wolfe, Gene. The Sorcerer’s House. Tor, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Fantasy about a man who gets out of prison, only to discover that he’s been given the deed to the house he’s squatting in…a house that seems not only to be bigger on the inside than the outside, but which keeps adding new rooms. I like this the best of Gene’s most recent three novels. Recommended. $15.

    Trade Paperbacks

    LP1298. Ashley, Mike. editor (Charles Stross, Greg Bear, Greg Egan, Paul Di Filippo, Alastair Reynolds, Ian MacDonald, Harlan Ellison, Theodore Sturgeon, Pat Cadigan, Lawrence Person, Robert Reed, James Patrick Kelly, Gregory Benford, Clifford Simak, Stephen Baxter, Cory Doctrow, Geoff Landis, Jerry Oltion). The Mammoth Book of Extreme Science Fiction. Carroll & Graf, 2006. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy, new and unread. Includes my first anthology reprint, “Crucifixion Variations,” which I’m inordinately proud of, as well as a lot of other great stuff, including Egan’s mind- bendingly brilliant “Wang’s Carpets.” Signed or inscribed by me on request. Note that there was a UK edition; I got both of them in the mail the same day, so I’m assuming they were essentially simultaneous. $11.

    LP456. Barrett, Neal, Jr. Interstate Dreams. Mojo Press, 1999. First edition trade paperback original (TPO), first state with title page facing the wrong direction, Fine, apparently unread. Offbeat story about a vet with the power to pick any lock or slip by any alarm. $12.

    LP874. Datlow, Ellen & Windling, Terri. The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror: Sixteenth Annual Collection. St. Martin’s Griffin, 2003. First edition trade paperback original (simultaneous with the hardback edition), a Fine- copy with one small, faint, tackhead-sized dust stain to lower fore-edge, otherwise new and unread. Lots of the usual suspects, including Neil Gaiman, Elizabeth Hand, Karen Joy Fowler, etc. These are always worth picking up. $9.

    LP1198. De Lint, Charles. Someplace to be Flying. Orb, 2005. First printing of this trade paperback reprint, a Fine copy, new and unread. Signed by De Lint. $14.

    LP1708. Dick, Philip K. Puttering About in a Small Land. Tor, 2009. Advanced Uncorrected Proof of the first Tor edition, trade paperback format, a Fine copy, new and unread. Good to see Tor bringing back some of the more obscure mainstream Dick titles into print. This edition isn’t scheduled to be published until December. $10.

    LP1367. Genoa, Chris. Foop! Eraserhead Press, 2006. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy, new and unread, with bookmark signed by the author laid in. Ostensibly a time-travel novel, I heard someone (maybe John Barnes) rave about this on a panel at Worldcon. Supposedly very weird, somewhat Steve Aylett-ish, and has “something funny on every page.” Gets blurbs from James Morrow, Christopher Moore and Nick Sagan, among others. Looks like fun. $9.

    LP1303. Holkins, Jerry & Krahulik, Mike (aka John “Gabe” Gabriel & Tycho Brah). Penny Arcade 1: Attack of the Bacon Robots. Dark Horse, 2006. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy, new and unread. Collection of the online Penny Arcade comic stripe, which casts an appropriately jaundiced eye on the world of computer gaming. Recommended. $9.

    LP1368. Holkins, Jerry & Krahulik, Mike (aka John “Gabe” Gabriel & Tycho Brah). Penny Arcade 2: Epic Legends of the Magic Sword Kings. Dark Horse, 2006. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy, new and unread. Collection of the online Penny Arcade comic stripe, which casts an appropriately jaundiced eye on the world of computer gaming. Recommended. $9.

    LP1441. Holkins, Jerry & Krahulik, Mike (aka John “Gabe” Gabriel & Tycho Brah). Penny Arcade 3: The Warsun Prophecies. Dark Horse, 2007. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy, new and unread. Collection of the online Penny Arcade comic stripe, which casts an appropriately jaundiced eye on the world of computer gaming. Recommended. You should read the rip on Harry Knowles in here… $9.

    LP1442. Holkins, Jerry & Krahulik, Mike (aka John “Gabe” Gabriel & Tycho Brah). Penny Arcade 4: Birds Are Weird. Dark Horse, 2007. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy, new and unread. Latest collection of the online Penny Arcade comic stripe. Still amazingly funny, and better drawn than ever. Recommended. $9.

    LP2045. Lackey, Mercedes (edited by Teri Lee, introduction by Michael Longcor). Heralds, Harpers, & Havoc: Songs by Mercedes Lackey. Firebird Arts & Music of Oregon, Inc., 1993. Presumed first edition of this large chapbook original (8 1/2″ x 11,” center stapled format), a VG copy with some rubbing and slight warp to covers. 40 pages of sheet music and lyrics taken from Lackey’s novels, including several scored by Leslie Fish. Signed by introduction author Michael Longcor. Not in the Locus database. Can’t imagine this is particularly common. $15.

    LP1893. Leicht, Stina. Of Blood and Honey. Night Shade Press, 2011. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy, new and unread. Stina is a friend and long-time member of the Turkey City Writer’s Workshop, so it’s good to see her first novel make it out into the world. This is a fantasy set against the Troubles of Northern Ireland in the 1970s. Signed by Leicht $13.

    LP1924. (Lovecraft, H. P.) Lockhart, Ross E. The Book of Cthulhu. Night Shade Books, 2011. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy, new and unread. Cthulhu Mythos anthology, a mixture of new stories and reprints, with stories by Joe R. Lansdale, Gene Wolfe, Charles Stross, Kage Baker, Ramsey Campbell, Thomas Ligotti, Bruce Sterling, etc. At 500+ pages, it’s a lot of Cthulhu for your money. Signed by Lansdale. $13.

    LP2046. Moon, Elizabeth. Victory Conditions. Del Rey, 2008. Advanced uncorrected proofs of the hardback first edition, a Fine copy, new an unread, with review materials laid in. Signed by Moon. $20.

    LP709. Prachett, Terry. The Last Hero. HarperCollins, 2001. Uncorrected proof (trade paperback format) of the first U.S. edition, Fine-, mint and unread save for a booksale sticker to spine. A proof of just the text portion of this illustrated Discworld novel. $15.

    LP1204. Shan, Darren. The Vampire’s Assistant. HarperCollins, 2000. First edition trade paperback original (preceding the American), a Fine- copy with just a trace of wear to matte black cover and phantom crease to top rear corner. Book two of The Saga of Darren Shan and sequel to Cirque du Freak. Well-regarded YA vampire series. $8.

    LP776. Shirley, John. Black Butterflies. Mark V. Ziesing, 1998. First edition trade paperback original, Fine- with a neat former-owner’s signature on the inside front cover. Some of Shirley’s darker stories. $12.

    LP463. Stephenson, Neal and J. Frederick George (as Stephen Bury). Interface. Bantam, 1994 Second printing, NF+ with pinhead-sized spot on heel, phantom crease to rear corner, and spine slightly concave (usual for this title). Pseudonymous futuristic political thriller written by Stephenson with his uncle about a presidential candidate who’s mind is wired to a computerized polling system. Signed by Stephenson. $45.

    LP464. Stewart, Sean. Mockingbird. Ace, 1998. Uncorrected proof of the hardback first edition, Fine in decorated blue wraps with a significantly different cover than finally appeared on the hardback. A Nebula finalist. Nova Express Slipstream List. $15.

    LP1209. Utley, Steven (Tuttle, Lisa). The Beasts of Love. Wheatland Press, 2005. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy, new and unread. The latest short story collection by this talented and prolific ex-Austinite most famous for his collaborations with Howard Waldrop. Introduction by Lisa Tuttle. $17.

    LP373. Willis, Connie. Doomsday Book. Bantam, 1992. Trade paperback 1st, simultaneous with hardback edition NF, with bookstore stamp on head (but no spine creasing). Signed by Willis. Hugo winner. $25.

    Postcards

    Back in the 1970s, Bellevue Press published a series of science fiction poetry postcards by some notable SF writers. After poking around a bit I managed to locate some. Each of the following is a Fine, unmailed 3″ x 5″ postcard. I think these are interesting bits of collectable work by notable writers. And even if you don’t see it that way, well, you can still use them as postcards!

    LPPC1. Aldiss, Brian. Summer 1773. The Bellevue Press, 1976. Postcard first edition, Fine. $5.

    LPPC2. Bishop, Michael. White Power Poem. The Bellevue Press, 1977. Postcard first edition, Fine. $5.

    LPPC3. Dann, Jack. Borges. The Bellevue Press, 1977. Postcard first edition, Fine. $5.

    LPPC4. Dann, Jack. Hallways. The Bellevue Press, 1974. Postcard first edition, Fine. $5.

    LPPC5. Disch, Tom. The West Coast. The Bellevue Press, 1977. Postcard first edition, Fine. $5.

    LPPC6. Dorman, Sonya. Pomegranate. The Bellevue Press, 1977. Postcard first edition, Fine. I’m betting you don’t have a lot of Sonya Dorman in your collection… $3

    LPPC7. Le Guin, Ursula K. From Hsin Ch’i-chi 1140-1207. The Bellevue Press, 1977. Postcard first edition, Fine. Seems to be the least common of this series. $10.

    LPPC8. Le Guin, Ursula K. Traveling. The Bellevue Press, 1977. Postcard first edition, Fine. $5

    LPPC9. Yarbro, Chelsea Quinn. Constellations. The Bellevue Press, 1977. Postcard first edition, Fine. $5

    LPPC10. SPECIAL DEAL: Buy all 9 Postcards for $30, which is $13 off buying them individually. But quantities are limited…

    Mass Market Paperbacks

    LP1446. Allison, Clyde. The Ice Maiden. Ember Library Book, 1967. First edition paperback original (PBO) (no additional printings listed), a Fine- copy with very slight binding wrinkles at head and heel, tiny traces of edgewear, and not even a crease, but a very faint non-breaking 2″ indentation on bottom front cover only visible when you hold it up to the light, otherwise quite square and very possibly unread. “Sadisto stalks the red-hot mama of the frozen north!” Part of the “naughty” Agent 008 James Bond parody series, now quite rare and sought after. $395.

    LP2047. Blaylock, James P. The Digging Leviathan. Ace, 1984. First edition paperback original (PBO), a VG- copy with corner clip on top rear cover, rubbing along rear, spine fading and general wear. Influential Steampunk work to which the just-released Zeuglodon (see above) is a sequel. $5.

    LP2048. Butler, Octavia. Survivor. Signet, 1979. First paperback printing, a Good only copy with considerable creasing, one ex-library stamp on blurb page, and tape along front cover edges. The rarest of Butler’s Patternist series, and the only one she vowed never to allow to be reprinted, making copies somewhat hard to come back. This price is lower than any other I could find on the Internet. $49.

    LP2049. Butterworth, Michael. Space 1999 #6: The Edge of the Infinite. Warner Books, 1977. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Fine- copy with a pinhead-sized abrasion to upper spine, affecting the I and E in “SCIENCE FICTION” at the top of the spine, otherwise apparently new and unread, and with SFBC insert in middle of the book still intact. Not a lot of copie online, and evidently none this nice. $25.

    LP2050. Chandler, A. Bertram. The Way Back. DAW, 1978. First paperback and first U.S. edition, a Fine- copy with a tiny bit of wear at extremities. John Grimes/Rimworld novel. $5.

    LP2051. Campbell, John W. (Perry A. Chapdelaine, Tony Chapdelaine, and George Hay, editors). The John W. Campbell Letters Volume 1. AC Projects, 1985. Paperback reprint, a Near Fine copy with bump at heel and some wear at extremities. Letters from Campbell to a wide variety of science fiction writers. $10.

    LP2052. De Lint, Charles L. (writing as Samuel M. Key). I’ll Be Watching You. Jove, 1994. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Fine copy, new and unread. Suspense novel, the second one under the Key pseudonym. $9.

    LP2053. Denton, Bradley. Buddy Holly is Alive and Well on Ganymede. First paperback edition (the St. Martins hardback precedes), a Fine copy, new and unread. Signed by Denton. Fun novel. Recommended. $10.

    LP2054. Dozois, Gardner. Geodesic Dreams. Ace, 1994. First paperback edition (reprint of the St. Martins hardback), a Fine copy, new and unread. Short story collection. Before Dozois became the most influential editor in science fiction, he was widely regarded as one of the best short story writers of the 1970s, and this collection shows you why. Includes the Nebula-winning “Morning Child” and “The Peacemaker,” as well as “Chains of the Sea,” “Down Among the Dead Men,” and several other swell stories. You need at least one of the Dozois short story collections, and this is a pretty affordable way. Highly recommended. $5.

    LP2055. Dozois, Gardner. The Visible Man. Berkley, 1977. First edition paperback original (PBO), a VG- copy with spine creasing, spine lean, repeating number 11 at head, and general wear. A reading copy of Dozois’ first short story collection, including some fine early work like “A Special Kind of Morning,” “A Kingdom By the Sea,” etc. Recommended. $3.

    LP2056. Hinz, Christopher. The Paratwa. Tor, 1995. First (and only) U.S. paperback printing, a VG+ copy with spine creasing and lean. Concluding book in the Paratwa trilogy, an excellent action adventure SF series about pairs of genetically engineered, telepathically-linked assassins, and by far the hardest to find. $7.

    LP2057. Hughart, Barry. Bridge of Birds. Del Rey, 1985 (but later than that). Paperback reprint, a Near Fine+ copy with slight crease top top rear cover corner. Amazingly funny fantasy novel set in an ancient China that never was. World Fantasy Award winner. highly recommended. $7.

    LP2058. Kurtz, Katherine. Lammas Night. paperback reprint, Near Fine+ with small crease at bottom front corner and slight edgewear. English Druids vs. Nazis. Harder to find than most of her work. $10.

    LP782. Moran, Daniel Keys. Emerald Eyes. Bantam Spectra, 1988. First edition paperback original (PBO), NF- with one spine crease, slight lean, and wear and faint stamps at head and heel. Part of the Tales of the Continuing Time series, and one of the more desirable PBOs of the 1980s. $10.

    LP783. Moran, Daniel Keys. The Long Run. Bantam Spectra, 1989. First edition paperback original (PBO),VG+ with spine creases, slight lean, and a stamp at head. Part of the Tales of the Continuing Time series, at one time this book polled something like #3 on Internet SF list. $5.

    LP2059. Shea, Michael. Nifft the Lean. DAW, 1982. First edition paperback original (PBO), a NF+ with one very thin 1″ wrinkle in the middle of the spine (bind flaw) and a tiny bit of edgewear, otherwise quite an attractive copy. Brilliant, stylish dark fantasy, including the World Fantasy Award-winning “Pearls of the Vampire Queen” and the awesome “The Fishing of the Demon-Sea.” Highly recommended. $7.

    LP2060. Tiptree, Jr., James (Alice Sheldon). Star Songs of an Old Primate. Del Rey, 1978. First edition paperback original (PBO), a VG+ copy with slight wrinkling along spine, one tackhead-sized indention to front cover, slight age darkening to pages and moderate foxing to inside covers. Short story collection, including “Houston, Houston, Do You read” and “Her Smoke Rose Up Forever.” Not an overly common paperback. $5.

    LP2061. Wells, Martha. the Element of Fire. Tor, 1994. VG+, with spine creasing and wear to edges. Signed by Wells. First paperback edition. Her first novel. $5.

    LP2062. Zelazny, Roger (created by) (with David Drake, Robert Lynn Asprin, Michael Stackpole and Jane Lindskold). Forever After. Baen, 1995. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Fine copy, new and unread. Beautiful copy of this shared universe book, which Zelazny was working on at the time of his death. The preludes and afterword are his. $10.