Posts Tagged ‘reference works’

Library Addition: Signed, Limited Hardback of George Locke’s Voyages in Space

Wednesday, July 12th, 2023

As part of (I assume) it’s ongoing sale of the Gary Monson collection, Heritage Auctions offered up a lot of oversized and non-fiction works. Of those, this title was one I was most interested in, and is the reason I bid. I won the lot for $240 plus shipping.

Locke, George. Voyages in Space: A Bibliography of Interplanetary Fiction 1801-1914. Ferret Fantasy, 1975. First edition hardback, #17 of 18 signed, numbered hardback copies (plus an additional 10 copies not for sale), a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. The definitive bibliography on early space travel fiction. Chalker/Owings, page 527. Tymn/Schlobin/Currey A Research Guide to Science Fiction Studies 47. Barron mentions this in Anatomy of Wonder 4 7-7 (on Currey’s Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors), but does not have a separate listing for it. Not in Justice. Supplements an inscribed copy of the trade paperback.

Library Addition: Jack Vance in Pulps 1945-1975

Tuesday, June 6th, 2023

Another addition to the reference work library:

(Vance, Jack) Jean Luc Esteban. Jack Vance: Works published in PULPS magazines 1945-1975. LuLu, 2023. First edition (POD) hardback, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. An odd reference work, showing the full-color cover illustrations, title pages, first few story pages, and interior black and white illustrations, for every story Jack Vance published in pulp magazines for the covered period. (Never mind that by the 1970s, the magazines publishing Jack Vance weren’t pulps and hadn’t been for some time.) Sort of an strange work, with high production values (all the page are slick stock, not just the ones for the color illustrations) and odd editorial choices (the Table of Contents is at the rear, and there are a lot of pages left unnecessarily blank). Also, there is no magazine or illustrator index. But buying this is a whole lot less expensive than tracking down every single issue covered. If this is the sort of reference work you think you need, then you need it, and if you don’t, you don’t. Note also that there are four slightly variant titles this could be known under: the spine says Jack Vance in Pulps 1945-1975, the front cover says Jack Vance in Pulps First issues 1945-1975, the half-title page says Jack Vance Pulps Editions 1945-1975, and the title page says Jack Vance: Works published in PULPS magazines 1945-1975. Yeah, the book could have used an editor…

Library Addition: Signed Robert Bloch Bibliography

Monday, June 5th, 2023

Another addition to the reference library:

(Bloch, Robert) Larson, Russell D. The Complete Robert Bloch: An Illustrated Comprehensive Bibliography. Fandom Unlimited Enterprises, 1986. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine- copy with trace of wear at tips, signed by Bloch. Just what it says, an illustrated bibliography of Bloch’s work. Looks useful, though the type is a bit small for my aging eyes. Justice, Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Reference 185. Bought of eBay for $35 plus shipping.

Library Additions: Two Harlan Ellison TPO Firsts

Tuesday, May 23rd, 2023

Two collections of Harlan Ellison essays bought directly from the Ellison website.

  • Ellison, Harlan. FOE: Friends of Ellison. Edgeworks Abbey, 2019. First edition (stated) trade paperback original (these are Print on Demand books; the POD barcode page states “10 February 2019,” making it possible that these were run off as part of the initial batch run off for the Ellison website sales), a Fine copy. Collection of non-fiction essays, introductions and appreciations of other writers (Jack Vance, Richard Matheson, Philip Jose Farmer, Robert Silverberg, etc.). Bought for $20 (half-off the $40 list price) from the Harlan Ellison Books website.

  • Ellison, Harlan. Why do you call me Ishmael when you know my name is Bernie?. Edgeworks Abbey, 2019. First edition (stated) trade paperback original (these are Print on Demand books; the POD barcode page states “16 June 2019”), a Fine copy. Collection of non-fiction essays on various topics, including one on Lafferty. Bought for $20 (half-off the $40 list price) from the Harlan Ellison Books website. This now shows up as out of print there.

  • Library Additions: Seven Joe R. Lansdale Firsts

    Wednesday, March 8th, 2023

    Here’s a mixed bag of Lansdale firsts, one new Subterranean first, two sets of books that I already had in different states, and two different states of a book of Lansdale interviews that I’m in.

  • Lansdale, Joe R. Cold in July. Mark V. Ziesing, 1989. First hardback edition, #388 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine- slipcase with a bump at bottom rear. Isajenko, World Lansdalean A011.b. With Lansdale, Joe R. Savage Season. Mark V. Ziesing, 1989. First edition hardback, #388 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, in the same slipcase. Isajenko, World Lansdalean A013.a. Supplements a PC set (received as part of typing Cold in July into a computer from galley proofs) and a signed “mock” limited set. Bought from a private collector for $50.
  • Lansdale, Joe R. The Drive-In (A B-Movie With Blood and Popcorn, Made in Texas). Bantam Spectra, 1988. First edition paperback original, #57 of 100 aftermarket copies from The Overlook Connection with a special limitation page pasted in, a Fine- copy with pinprick of abrasion to bottom rear tip, in a Mylar-bag, in a Fine embossed aftermarket slipcase. Isajenko, World Lansdalean A010.a. With Lansdale, Joe R. The Drive-In 2 (Not Just One Of Them Sequels). Bantam Spectra, 1989. First edition paperback original, #57 of 100 aftermarket copies from The Overlook Connection with a special limitation page pasted in, a Fine copy, in a Mylar-bag, in the same slipcase. Isajenko, World Lansdalean A012.a. Supplements inscribed copies of the ordinary PBOs, plus inscribed hardback firsts of the Kinnell editions, plus The Complete Drive-In from Centipede Press. These Overlook Press aftermarket paperback limiteds were weird things, which is why I didn’t pick these up until I found a set at the right price. Bought from the same private collector for $35.

  • Lansdale, Joe R. The Events Concerning. Subterranean Press, 2022. First edition hardback, #371 of 1,250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Short story collection. Bought from the publisher. I’ll have copies of this available in the next

  • (Lansdale, Joe R.) Andrew J. Rausch and Mark Slade, editors. Conversations with Joe R. Lansdale. University Press of Mississippi, 2022. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Collection of interviews with Lansdale, including the ones Dwight Brown and I did for Nova Express. Bought from the publisher. I’ll have copies of this available in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog.

  • (Lansdale, Joe R.) Andrew J. Rausch and Mark Slade, editors. Conversations with Joe R. Lansdale. University Press of Mississippi, 2022. First edition trade paperback original (simultaneous with the much smaller hardback run), a Fine copy. Sent to me as a contributor’s copy.
  • Library Additions: Two Literary Reference Works

    Thursday, January 12th, 2023

    Two more reference works, one the last hardback addition from the Metroplex trip, the other from a PS Publishing order that came in.

  • (Burroughs, William S.) Morgan, Ted. Literary Outlaw: The Life and Time of William S. Burroughs. Henry Holt, 1988. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with slight haze rubbing. Reportedly one of the best biographies of Burroughs. Shoaf, Collecting William S. Burroughs in Print: A Checklist, IV.42. Bought for $7.99 at Half Price Books.
  • Campbell, Ramsey (S. T. Joshi, editor). Certainly: Essays and Reviews, 2002-2017. PS Publishing, 2021. First edition hardback, #168 of 200 signed, numbered copies in slipcase, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Companion volume to Probably, which I also have. Bought from the publisher for £20. I will have one copy for sale in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog (probably May or June).

  • Library Additions: Three Gene Wolfe Critical Companions

    Wednesday, November 30th, 2022

    Three Michael Andre-Driussi critical companions to Gene Wolfe works, all bought from Amazon (the only place they’re available; click on the hyperlinks to buy them there).

  • (Gene Wolfe) Andre-Driussi, Michael. A Chapter Guide for the Long Sun & the Short Sun. Sirius Fiction, 2022. First edition POD hardcover, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Just what it says, a chapter-by-chapter summary of The Book of the Long Sun and The Book of the Long Sun and The Book of the Short Sun, including lists of characters and unusual terms that show up in each chapter.

  • (Gene Wolfe) Andre-Driussi, Michael. Gene Wolfe’s The Book of the New Sun: A Chapter Guide. Sirius Fiction, 2019 (2022). First edition POD hardcover, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Same as the above, but for The Book of the New Sun.

  • (Gene Wolfe) Andre-Driussi, Michael. Gene Wolfe: 14 Articles. Sirius Fiction, 2016 (2022). First edition POD trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Various essays on Wolfe’s work.
  • Counting chapbooks, I now have 14 Andre-Driussi books on Gene Wolfe…

    Library Addition: Urish’s Hoard: The Guide to Elric Collectables

    Thursday, October 13th, 2022

    I read about this on a Michael Moorcock group on Facebook, and went “Why yes, this is relevant to my interests!”

    (Moorcock, Michael) Kirkland, James. Urish’s Hoard. Dreaming City Books, 2021. First edition? (no printing indicated, and it may well be a print-on-demand book) trade paperback original, a Fine copy. There was a Kickstarter for this back in early 2021, but after it was funded this was almost immediately available on Amazon, which is where I bought this.

    Though the first edition information can be had in more comprehensive forms elsewhere, there is a wealth of information on Elric comic book adaptations, art portfolios, music, games and RPG supplements, and even miniatures! There’s also a discussion of the foul-up behind the Melniboné Mythos section in the AD&D Deities and Demigods. I’d always thought TSR had done it without permission, but Mike had given his permission, not realizing that his agent had already sold RPG rights to Chaosium. Oops…

    There’s a ton of information gathered here (illustrated with color scans) you’re not going to find in other reference sources, so if it interests you, you might want to click the Amazon hyperlink on the title. Also, you’ve got to love the retro DAW Books inspired design of the cover.

    It does remind me that someone needs to do a comprehensive Moorcock bibliography, as Tanelorn Archive is over 40 years old, and Moorcock is very prolific…

    Library Addition: Lyle H. Wright’s American Fiction 1774 – 1850

    Tuesday, October 11th, 2022

    I have a lot of science fiction reference works and bibliographies, but fewer general bibliographies. The following was something I’d seen Lloyd Currey reference for many older books, and I thought I should pick up a copy, especially since I got it at a bargain price.

    Wright, Lyle H. American Fiction 1774 – 1850: A Contribution Toward a Bibliography. The Huntington library, 1969. Second Revised Edition, a Fine- copy with slight bend at head and heel in a Near Fine dust jacket with two 1/4″ closed tears to front, a slight age darkening to spine, and a trace of dust soiling to rear. Wright compiled two more volumes that go up through 1900, which I intend to pick up as targets of opportunity. Bought online for $5; a good deal for the price, but I was miffed that the eBay seller mailed it without any padding whatsoever, just in wrapping paper. This is not acceptable.

    Library Additions: Two Reference Works

    Sunday, August 21st, 2022

    The final two items from the private seller culling his collection. Both of these were $5 each.

  • McCutheon, Marc. The Online Price Guide to Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror. McCutheon, 2000. First edition trade paperback original (essentially just side-stapled 8 1/2″ x 11″ sheets), a Fine- copy with slight bend at top front corners. An odd self-published volume claiming to list online prices realized for a wide variety of SF/F/H books, and while the authors hit most of the biggest names, the selection is otherwise somewhat random and haphazard. Has some tidbits for things that are potentially useful, but fails to provide a lot of title-specific first edition point information (like the various dj states of Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot). I can see this being slightly useful for a real newbie the year it was published, but is of extremely dubious utility now. An oddity I bought cheap just because I had never heard of it and there was almost no information about it on the internet.

  • Wells, Stuart W., III. The Science Fiction Heroic Fantasy Author index. Purple Unicorn books, 1978. First edition trade paperback original (simultaneous with a hardback edition), a Very Good+ copy with 1/2″ tear at bottom of front spine-join, with light soiling along spine. A reference listing of genre books that was (like Marshall B. Tymn’s American Fantasy and Science Fiction: Toward a Bibliography of Works Published in the United States, 1949—1973) born obsolete, already superseded by far more comprehensive reference works published the same year. What was in the water that everyone rushed their SF/F/H bibliographical works into print in the 1978-1980 timeframe? You had Currey’s indispensable Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors: A Bibliography of First Printings of Their Fiction, you had the Firebell update of Bleiler’s Checklist, you Locke’s Spectrum of Fantasy, the first edition of Nichol’s Science Fiction Encyclopedia, the first two volume’s of Tuck’s own SF Encyclopedia, Tymn etc.’s Fantasy Literature, Miller’s Jack Vance bibliography Fantasms and even the Magill’s Survey of Science Fiction set. Extend it just a little into the early 80s and you get Bleiler’s Guide to Supernatural Fiction and the Levack bibliographies. And all this was just before the advent of desktop publishing.