Posts Tagged ‘Science Fiction’
Wednesday, November 27th, 2024
Another signed Ray Bradbury Christmas broadside, this one signed to a fellow writer.
Bradbury, Ray. A Christmas Wish 1991. Self published, 1991. First edition broadside, only Very Good with staining to left side, but inscribed to fellow writer F. Paul Wilson. Bought off eBay for $20.50.
Tags:Books, broadsheet, Christmas, F. Paul Wilson, Ray Bradbury, Science Fiction
Posted in Books, Science Fiction | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 26th, 2024
Here are two Kickstarter books I backed on 2023 that just came in.
Monson, Joe, editor. The Horror at Pooh Corner. Hemelein Publications, 2024. First edition hardback, #82 of 100 numbered hardbacks signed by the editor and with a bookplate signed by the contributors laid in, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, with no less than three bookmarks laid in. Horror stories in Winnie-the-Pooh’s Hundred Acre Wood, following the lapse of the copyright in 2022.
(Wolfe, Gene). Cano, Ramon Perales, editor. The Book of Fuligin. Strangers Publishing, no date (2024). First edition hardback graphic novel, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Slightly oversize (10 1/2″ high) graphic novel anthology of stories set in Gene Wolfe’s Book of the New Sun milieu.
I will have a small number copies of The Book of Fuligin in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog, currently in progress.
Tags:Fantasy, Gene Wolfe, graphic novel, Horror, Kickstarter, Science Fiction, signatures, Winnie-the-Pooh
Posted in Books, Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction | No Comments »
Monday, November 25th, 2024
Four of these were bought from a dealer having a 40% off sale, and the fifth (the Rucker) was part of that estate purchase, which I didn’t realize was signed until I went to catalog it for sale because none of the other books in that purchase were.
Baxter, Stephen and Alastair Reynolds. The Medusa Chronicles. Gollancz, 2016. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by both authors. based on Arthur C. Clarke’s “A Meeting With Medusa.” I collect Reynolds and I used to collect Baxter, but he simply put out too many books for me to read in too short a time period that were too long. I’ve got better signatures for each of these guys obtained at various Worldcons. The signatures here look like they were whipped out at a store signing session for all the remaining copies after patrons had gotten all their stuff signed and right before they headed off to the pub. Bought for $15 marked down from $25.
Bisson, Terry. In The Upper Room and other likely stories. Tor, 2000. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight bumping at heel in a Fine- dust jacket with traces of haze rubbing, inscribed by Bisson to fellow SF writer Neal Barrett, Jr.: “for Neal/with gratitude for/your attention/+envy for you accomplish/ments./your fellow/word-slinger/Terry B./NY 2K.” Since I lacked this Bisson and knew Neal, I was happy to scoop this up for $15 (marked down from $25), which is less than cover price. A neat association copy at a bargain price.
Rucker, Rudy. The Secret of Life. Bluejay, 1985. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with just a trace of age darkening to white edges, inscribed by Rucker: “& for Larry/Rudy Rucker/3/99.” Supplements an unsigned copy.
Straub, Peter. The Buffalo Hunter. Cemetery Dance, 2012. First edition hardback, one of 450 signed copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Novella. Bought for $18 (original price was $50).
Williamson, J. N., editor, and Gary A. Braunbeck. Masques V. Gauntlet Publications, 2006. First edition hardback, #392 of 500 copies signed by Braunbeck and almost all the contributors (including Clive Barker, William F. Nolan, Ray Garton, Richard Christian Matheson, etc. I already owned Masques I-IV, but somehow never picked this one up. Interestingly, it says Braunbeck is the co-editor on the flap and title page, but not the front cover, spine or limitation page, probably because Williamson died in 2005 and presumably Braunbeck finished up. Mostly original horror anthology, with a few reprints scattered in. Originally published at $55. Bought for $36.
Tags:Alastair Reynolds, Arthur C. Clarke, Books, Cemetery Dance, Gary Braunbeck, Gauntlet Press, Horror, J. N. Williamson, Neal Barrett Jr., Peter Straub, Rudy Rucker, Science Fiction, signatures, small press publishers, Stephen Baxter, Terry Bisson
Posted in Books, Games, Horror, Science Fiction, technology | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 19th, 2024
Another bargain purchase:
Bear, Greg. Sisters. Pulphouse, 1992. First edition hardback, #48 of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. #26 in the Short Story Hardback series. Chalker/Owings (2003), page 272. Bought off eBay for $16.
Tags:Books, chapbooks, Greg Bear, Pulphouse, Science Fiction, small press publishers
Posted in Books, Science Fiction | No Comments »
Monday, November 18th, 2024
When this first came out, I thought it was an odd item at a bit too high a price point and too large a limitation (though I think it sold out anyway). But since then, I’ve collected just about every other signed Ellison edition, and this one finally showed up at an attractive price.
Ellison, Harlan (Rick Berry, illustrator). “Repent, Harlequin!” Said The Ticktockman. Underwood Books, 1997. First edition hardback, #851 of 1,000 numbered copies signed by the author and illustrator, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine slipcase. Oversized (13 1/4″ high) illustrated version of Ellison’s classic story. Richmond, Fingerprints on the Sky, page 116. Chalker/Owings (2002), page 894. Bought for $32 off eBay (original list price was $45).
Note: The book is about an inch too long for the scanner, so the bottom is chopped off.
Tags:Books, Harlan Ellison, Science Fiction, signatures, small press publishers, Tim Underwood
Posted in Books, Science Fiction | No Comments »
Wednesday, November 13th, 2024
An eBayer auctioned off a number of signed Vance and Matheson PBOs. I bid on several, but this is the only one I won.
Vance, Jack. The Palace of Love. Berkley Medallion, 1967. First edition paperback original (60¢ price and October, 1967 on copyright page, as per Currey), a Near Fine+ copy with 1/4″ closed tear at top front spine join and slight edgewear, signed by Vance (typical late overlapping Vance signature). Third book in the Demon Princes series. Hewett, A31. Cunningham, 62.a, Currey, page 499. Bought off eBay for $18.
Tags:Books, Jack Vance, PBO, Science Fiction
Posted in Books, Science Fiction | No Comments »
Monday, October 28th, 2024
This is the second volume from that Dark Harvest sell-off on eBay.
Asimov, Isaac (Martin H. Greenberg, editor). The Asimov Chronicles: Fifty Years of Isaac Asimov. Dark Harvest, 1989. First edition hardback, #317 of 500 numbered copies signed by Asimov and illustrators Ron and Val Lakey Lindahn, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with touches of edgewear at points and a Fine- slipcase with with one thin 2″ scratch to rear. Career retrospective collection. Supplements a trade edition. Chalker/Owings, page 121. Bought off eBay for $75.
Tags:Books, Dark Harvest, Isaac Asimov, Science Fiction, small press publishers
Posted in Books, Science Fiction | No Comments »
Monday, October 14th, 2024
Another signed Bradbury first:
Bradbury, Ray. That Son of Richard III: A Birth Announcement. Roy A. Squires, 1974. First edition chapbook original, #LXIII of 85 the signed “Autograph Edition,” a Fine- copy with just a trace of wear at tips, in a Near Fine+ original Autograph Edition publisher’s envelope with slight age darkening at edges and slight bumping at tips. Chalker/Owings, page 589. Bought for $50 (marked down from $80) on eBay.
Unnoted in Chalker/Owings is the fact that two of my three copies have a “PZ” glyph inscribed on the lower right side of the introduction page, just barely visible in the scan.
This is my third copy of this Bradbury chapbook, following an association copy inscribed to Lord John press founder Herb Yellin and an unsigned copy of the “ordinary” edition. The ordinary copy has this, but the one inscribed to Yellin doesn’t. Bit of a mystery…
Edited to add: Mystery solved! I checked with fellow bookseller (and Old Earth Books publisher) Mike Walsh to see if he could solve the glyph mystery, and he directed me to bookseller Terrance McVicker of Bats Over Books, who had the answer:
The “PZ” you note in your query is actually “ZN,” printed on top of each other, if you turn it sideways. It stands for “Zerkall Nideggen.” Nideggen is a Japanese paper, but Zerkall was the German manufacturer. I think what Zerkall did was buy the pulp paper from Nideggen, then process it in their factory.
What your seeing is the Zerkall Nideggen watermark. The sheet before cutting, measured 24″ X 36″ and there was a watermark in the lower right-hand corner of the full sheet. Which meant that, when the sheet was cut to quarto size, only one out of eight pages would have the watermark. Printers usually try to get one watermarked page per book/booklet, but it doesn’t always work out that way.
Thanks for the info!
Tags:Books, chapbooks, Moby Dick, poetry, Ray Bradbury, Roy A. Squires, Science Fiction, small press publishers
Posted in Books, Science Fiction | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 18th, 2024
Three more very cheap purchases from that storage locker sale:
Anderson, Poul. The Last Viking Book 3: The Sign of the Raven. Zebra Books, 1980. First edition paperback original (no other date or printing, as per ISFDB), a Near Fine- copy with one spine crease, one crease along front spine join, small bend to top front corner, and mild edgewear. Bought for 50¢.
Hurston, Zora Neale. Their Eyes Were Watching God. Harper Perennial, 2006. Trade paperback reprint, a Very Good copy with writing to heel and general wear. Just a reading copy of a book I’ve long heard good things about. Lots of academic essays at the back I think I’ll feel free to skip. Bought for 50¢.
Frances Leonard and Ramona Cearley, editors. Conversations With Texas Writers. University of Texas Press, 2005. First edition trade paperback original (simultaneous with the hardback edition), a Near Fine copy with phantom crease to rear cover and slight wear to tips. Interviews with and essays on Texas writers, including Joe R. Lansdale, Bruce Sterling and Robert E. Howard. Bought for 50¢.
Not a bad haul for $1.50…
Tags:Books, Bruce Sterling, Fantasy, Horror, interview, Joe R. Lansdale, Poul Anderson, reference works, Science Fiction, Texas, Zora Neale Hurston
Posted in Books, Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 17th, 2024
Three used books, two of which were bought extremely cheaply.
Asimov, Isaac. Foundation’s Edge. Doubleday, 1982. First edition hardback (“First Edition” stated and gutter code of M36 on page 365), a Very Good copy with bumping at head and heel, slight creasing to spine, a few tiny nicks to bottom boards, in a Very Good dust jacket with several tackhead-sized abrasion spots to bottom front panel, bumping at head and heel, and shallow loss of points. Hugo Award winner. Replaces a Book Club edition bought and read before I started collecting first editions, and supplements a copy of the Whispers Press signed/limited edition. Usually this would not qualify as a sufficiently attractive to pick up, but it was literally $1 at a garage sale from a storage unit.
King, Stephen. Storm of the Century. Book-of-the-Month Club, 1999. First hardback edition, being a trade paperback original, a Fine-/Fine- copy with slight bumping at head and heel and just a trace of wear at dj points. The BOMC is the first hardback, but I’m not sure there are any points to determine first vs. later printings. Collings, Horror Plum’d: An International Stephen King Bibliography and Guide, A64.b. Bought for $1.
Ruff, Matt. Lovecraft Country. Harper, 2016. First edition hardback, a Near Fine+ copy with bump at heel, sans dust jacket, as issued. Basis of the HBO TV series. Bought for $13.49 from Half Price Books.
Tags:Books, Cthulhu, Half Price Books, Horror, Isaac Asimov, Science Fiction, Stephen King
Posted in Books, Games, Horror, Science Fiction, technology | No Comments »