Posts Tagged ‘Iain M. Banks’

Library Additions: July 1—December 31, 2019

Thursday, March 26th, 2020

Here are all the library additions I picked up over the second half of last year. Sorry it starts with a repeat from yesterday, but that’s the way the alphabet crumbles…

  • Aldiss, Brian W. Juniper. No publisher listed, 1985. First edition poster-sized broadsheet, #13 of 300 copies signed by Aldiss and designer Patrick Eddington, a Fine copy. Not in Reginald. Not in the Locus database. Not (yet) in ISFDB. (This edition predates the earliest listing for “Juniper” by a year.) Bought for $36 plus a hefty $30 in shipping at auction.

  • Banks, Iain. Canal Dreams. Macmillian (UK), 1989. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with a few pinpricks of light staining at head and a small wrinkle at top center to the first few pages, in a Fine dust jacket. Inscribed to late central texas SF writer Carrie Richardson: “Yo, Carrie!/This one’s for you./Iain Banks/10 March 90/at Wiscon 14.” Supplements an unsigned copy. Bought for $15.00.
  • Banks, Iain. Espedair Street. Macmillian (UK), 1987. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy one light pinprick stain at head and slight ear at heel, in a Fine dust jacket. Inscribed to Richardson: “To Carrie!/Weird regards/Iain Banks/10 March 90/at Wiscon 14.” Supplements an unsigned copy. Bought for $15.00.
  • Banks, Iain. The State of the Art. Mark V. Ziesing, 1989. First edition hardback, a Fine- with a few pinpricks of light staining at head, in a Fine dust jacket. Inscribed to Richardson: “To Carrie!/best wishes from am on the/GS GCU Arbitrary/Iain M. Banks/10 March 90/at Wiscon 14.” Interesting that he puts the middle “M” on the signatures for the SF books as well. Supplements an unsigned copy. Bought for $10.

  • Bradbury, Ray. Fever Dream. St. Martin’s, 1987. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed and dated by Bradbury (6/12/88). Children’s book version of the Bradbury story. Part of the “Night Light” series of books, which have glow-in-the-dark elements. Like the glow-in-the-dark signed/limited edition of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline (which I also have), the glow is super-duper faint. Bought for $20.
  • Bradbury, Ray. Marionettes, Inc. Subterranean Press, 2009. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, inscribed to “Sunny” and signed by Bradbury. As his eyesight worsened near the end of his life, Ray’s signature became larger and more sprawling, as you can see below. Bought for $34.99 off eBay. Replaces an unsigned copy.

  • Bradbury, Ray. The Other Foot. Perfection Form Company, 1982. First edition chapbook (presumed; no additional printings listed), a Fine copy, signed by Bradbury. As with The Veldt, this is a short story reader with questions for classrooms and reading comprehension questions in the back. Not in The Undead, which includes a number of other Bradbury chapbooks. Bought off eBay for $35.

  • Bradbury, Ray. Ray Bradbury on Stage: A Chrestomathy of His Plays. Primus/Donald I Fine, no date listed (but 1981). First edition trade paperback original, a Near Fine+ copy with slight bumping at head, a slight, small crease near front bottom corner, a bit of dust soiling at heel, and a touch of edgewear at points. Signed by Bradbury. Combines the contents of three other play collections, The Anthem Sprinters and Other Antics, The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit And Other Plays (which I also have in signed first edition), and Pillar of Fire and Other Plays. Bought for $20 off eBay.
  • Burgess, Anthony. A Clockwork Orange. Heinemann, 1962. First edition hardback, an Ex-Library copy with interior pocket removed, rear inner flap previously taped to rear inside cover, with tape stains there and to rear free endpaper, in a Near Fine, first state (16s, flaps untrimmed) dust jacket, with tape stains to rear flap, with a crease across bottom of front flap and a few specks of dirt to front flap, otherwise a very well-protected example of the first state dust jacket; call it a Very Good/Near Fine Ex-Lib copy. Signed by Burgess. A keystone work, and basis of the Stanley Kubrick film. Signed firsts of famous books made into famous films are among the most desirable first editions across a wide range of collectors. This edition also includes the final chapter, where Alex “groweth up” and contemplates leaving behind his antisocial ways for marriage and a family, omitted from most subsequent editions. Pringle, SF 100 36. Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy, page 48. Locke, Science Fiction First Editions, page 22. Anatomy of Wonder 4, 3-4 1. Magill, Survey of Science Fiction, pages 396-401. Bought off a noted UK SF dealer for £600, making it among the most expensive single volumes I’ve ever purchased, but I’ve never seen a signed copy in a first state dust jacket list for under a grand before.

  • Butler, Octavia. Xenogenesis. Guild America Books, 1989. First edition hardback thus (an omnibus edition of Dawn, Adulthoode Rights, and Imago), a Fine- copy with slight bumping at head and heel, in a Fine- dust jacket with a trace of edgewear. Inscribed by Butler: “To Carrie/Good reading/Octavia E. Butler.” Supplements signed copies of the three individual first editions. Bought for $25.

  • Crowley, John. Reading Backwards: Essays & Reviews, 2005-2018. Subterranean Press, 2019. First edition hardback, #101 of 750 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Copies available through Lame Excuse Books.
  • (Day, Felicia) The Guild: Season Two. DVD. DVD itself is Fine, case is Near Fine with wear at bottom points. Signed by Felicia Day. Bought from Half Price Books for $3. I don’t usually list DVDs I buy here, but since this one was signed…
  • (Dick, Philip K.) Paul de Coudray and Elizabeth Haidle. The Pipers. Mascot Press, 2019. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Graphic novel adaptation of the Philip K. Dick story of the same name. Backed on Kickstarter for $24.

  • Duncan, Andy. The Pottawatomie Giant and Other Stories. PS Publishing, 2012. First edition hardback, #80 of 200 signed, numbered copies, with an additional inscription by Duncan (“To/David –/Welcome/to the party!/Andy Duncan [with snake doodle]/NCSU/9/12/12.”) on the title page, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and decorated boards. Supplements a trade edition copy. Bought for $7.99; list is £39.99.
  • Egan, Greg. The Best of Greg Egan. Subterranean Press, 2019. First edition hardback, #248 of 1,000 numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Another giant career retrospective collection.
  • Emshwiller, Carol. Carmen Dog. mercury House, 1990. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight spotting to head, in a Fine dust jacket. Inscribed by Emshwiller: “To Carrie,/Carol Emshwiller.” Nova Express slipstream list. Bought for $7.50.

  • Farmer, Philip Jose. The Lavalite World. Phantasia Press, 1983. First edition hardback, #192 of 250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine slipcase. The fifth World of Tiers novel. Chalker/Owings, page 340. Bought off eBay for $34.99.

  • Garnett, David, editor. New Worlds 2. VGSF, 1992. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Inscribed to me by Moorcock, who wrote the afterword.
  • Hardy, David A. Hardyware: The Art of David A. Hardy. Paper Tiger, 2001. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a few invisible scratches, etc., with review materials laid in. Science fiction art, of the planet and spaceship variety. (Not the Austin writer.)
  • Hill, Joe. Full Throttle. HarperCollins, 2019. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, limited edition issue with page signed by Hill bound in. Short story collection. Bought at Half Price Books (who sell new books now as well), with two store stickers (including publisher’s gold “Signed First Edition” sticker) for 20% off cover price. Irritatingly, both this limited edition and the trade edition below have the same ISBN.

  • Hill, Joe. Full Throttle. HarperCollins, 2019. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, trade edition, signed by Hill. Note that the dust wrapper on both this and the limited above have a new type of material with a distinct texture (almost like a paper version of suede). Bought from a noted mystery bookseller for 20% off.
  • Hill, Joe and Gabriel Rodriguez. Locke & Key 4: Keys to the Kingdom. Subterranean/IDW, 2019. First limited edition hardback, #159 of 250 signed/numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine slipcase, new and unread. The latest collected signed/limited volume of the acclaimed dark fantasy/horror graphic novel series. The IDW edition came out many years back, but as with the other Subterranean volumes, this includes additional material, including the full comic scripts. Bought from the publisher with a dealer discount.

  • Hughes, Matthew. Epiphanies. PS Publishing, 2016. First edition hardback, #37 of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Bought for £4 plus shipping.
  • Hughes, Matthew. What the Wind Brings. Pulp Literature Press, 2019. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Slipstreamy historical novel of the Caribbean by the fantasy and science fiction writer. Bought for $40 plus shipping.

  • Hughes, Matthew. A Wizard’s Henchman: First Book of the Kaslo Chronicles. PS Publishing, 2016. First edition hardback, PC of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Bought for £5 plus shipping.
  • Kilworth, Garry. House of Tribes. Bantam Press (UK), 1995. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format, of the hardback first edition, a Fine- copy with a bump at heel in a Near Fine dust jacket which is slight taller than the proof, hence the bend at the top. Fantasy about mice. Also has a personalized review letter from Bantam laid in upon which Michael Moorcock has written “Mouse shit.”
  • Koontz, Dean R. Beastchild. Charnel House, 1992. First hardback edition, #612 of 750 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued, in a Very Good only slipcase with a couple of quarter-sized dampstains to back. Reprint of a 1970 PBO, dedicated to Lisa Tuttle (among three others). Bought off eBay for $65.00.

  • Krahulik, Mike, and Jerry Holkins. The Splendid Magic of Penny Arcade: The 11 1/2 Anniversary Edition. Del Rey, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Retrospective “behind the scenes” collection of the gaming webcomic, which I somehow missed when it came out.
  • Laidlaw, Mark. White Spawn. PS Publishing, 2015. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Bought for £5 plus shipping.
  • Lansdale, Joe R. The Big Book of Hap and Leonard. Short, Scary Tales Publications, 2019. First edition hardback, #101 of 400 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Collection of Hap and Leonard stories. Includes everything in the Tachyon Hap and Leonard trade paperback, plus several additional pieces. I’ve also laid the three SST stickers affixed to the tissue paper wrapping the book ships with, because that’s just the sort of hairball I am. I still have copies available through Lame Excuse Books.

  • Lansdale, Joe R. Blood in the Gears. Short, Scary Tales Publications, 2019. First edition hardback, #101 of 550 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Second in a four volume collection of all Lansdale’s short fiction, this one leaning toward dark suspense stories such as “Drive-In Date,” “The Steel Valentine,” “Incident On And off A Mountain Road,” etc. Bought from the publisher at a dealer discount. I still have copies available through Lame Excuse Books.

  • Lansdale, Joe R. The Elephant of Surprise. Mulholland Books, 2019. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread, inscribed to me by the author. Hap and Leonard novel.
  • Lansdale, Joe R. and Kasey Lansdale. Terror Is Our Business: Dana Roberts’ Casebook of Horrors. Cutting Block Books, 2018. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy, inscribed to me by Joe Lansdale.
  • (Lansdale, Joe R.) Jabcuga, Joshua, Todd Galusha, and Horacia Domingues. Joe R. Lansdale’s Bubba Ho-Tep and the Cosmic Blood-Suckers. IDW, 2019. Trade paperback original, a Fine copy, inscribed to me by Lansdale. Graphic novel adaptation of Lansdale’s Bubba and the Comic Blood-Suckers.

  • Lansdale, Joe R., editor. Crucified Dreams: Tales of Urban Horror. Tachyon Press, 2011. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Reprint anthology. Some good stories in here.
  • (Lovecraft, H.P.) Joshi, S.T. (Don Webb, William F. Nolan, W. H. Pugmire, etc.) Black Wings VI. PS Publishing, 2017. First edition hardback, #138 of 300 numbered copies signed by all the contributors (including the recently deceased Pugmire), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and Fine slipcase, new and unread. New tales of Lovecraftian horror. Bought from the publisher at a steep discount.
  • Moorcock, Michael. The Brothel in Rosenstrasse. New English Library, 1982. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Near Fine+ dust jacket with slight spine fading and slight wear at top points. Inscribed to me by Moorcocok. Von Bek novel.
  • Moorcock, Michael. Byzantium Endures. Secker & Warburg, 1981. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with bumps to top points in a Very Good+ price-clipped dust jacket with several delamination wrinkles across the spine. Inscribed to me by Moorcock. Colonel Pyat novel.
  • Moorcock, Michael. The City in the Autumn Stars. Grafton, 1986. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with a tiny bump at head and top front corner blunted, in a Near Fine+ dust jacket with several invisible scratches to rear cover, trace of wear at points, and 1/4″ closed tear at bottom rear fold join. Inscribed to me by Moorcock.
  • Moorcock, Michael. Corum: The Prince With the Silver Hand. White Wolf, 1999. First U.S. hardback edition thus, being an omnibus edition of The Bull and The Spear, The Oak and the Ram, and The Sword and the Stallion, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Inscribed to me by Moorcock. “Michael Moorcock/To Lawrence/All best!” Previously published in an omnibus edition as The Swords Trilogy by Gregg Press (which I also have a signed first of). Contains Mike Mignola art not in the Millennium edition.
  • Moorcock, Michael. Count Brass. White Wolf, 2000. First U.S. hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Inscribed to me by Moorcock: “To Lawrence/Very best.” Omnibus edition of Count Brass, The Champion of Garathorm and The Quest for Tanelorn. There were earlier UK hardback editions from Granada (as The Chronicles of Count Brass) and Millennium; the White Wolf edition contains new artwork by Walter Simonsen and a map by Jim Cawthorn not in any previous editions. Eternal Champion Volume 15. I think this was the last Moorcock book White Wolf did, and after 2000 they went back to concentrating strictly on gaming-related books.
  • Moorcock, Michael. The Dancers at the End of Time. White Wolfe, 1995. First White Wolf hardback, a Fine copy in a Near Fine dust jacket with three closed tears at heel, the largest 1/4″, and a trace of haze rubbing. Omnibus edition of An Alien Heat, The Hollow Lands, and The End of All Songs.
  • Moorcock, Michael. The Dragon In the Sword. Ace, 1986. First edition hardback, a Near Fine+ copy with two pinhead spots to bottom page blocks, slight bend at head, and slight blunting to bottom points, in a Near Fine+ dust jacket with bumping to bottom front point and wrinkling at head and a trace of edgewear. Inscribed to me by Moorcock: “To Lawrence/All best —/Michael Moorcock.” Precedes the Grafton edition by a year.
  • Moorcock, Michael. Earl Aubec and other stories. White Wolf, 1999. First edition hardback thus, a Fine- copy with page 25/26 creased at the very edge in a Fine- dust jacket with a touch of blind-side dye transfer at the outer edge crease. Inscribed to me by Moorcock: “To Lawrence/All very best/from/Michael Moorcock.” Short story collection. Reprint of the Millennium volume, but I can’t find a content listing for the Millennium volume anywhere online to see if the contents differ, though at least the introduction is new to this volume.
  • Moorcock, Michael. Elric: La Saga. Editizione Oscar Draghiluglio, 2019. First edition hardback thus, an Italian omnibus edition of the first six Elric novels, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Inscribed to me by Moorcock: “To Lawrence/Prego!/Michael Moorcock.” A beautifully printed book, with decorated boards, full-color, full page plates by a variety of artists. A thrown-in by Mike, who had just received a big box of them. “See those behind you? Go ahead and take one if you want…”

  • Moorcock, Michael. Elric of Melniboné. Hutchison, 1972. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight bumping at head and heel in a Near Fine- dust jacket with a 3/8″ chip at heel/front join, shallow chipping at head and heel, and touches of edgewear. Inscribed to me by Moorcock. Tanelorn Archives, page 17.

  • Moorcock, Michael. Elric: Song of the Black Sword. White Wolf, 1995. First edition hardback thus, reprinting the Millennium Elric of Melniboné omnibus, with a new introduction and new (and hideous) cover art, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Inscribe to me by Moorcock: “Michael Moorcock/To Lawrence/Very best!”

  • Moorcock, Michael. Elric: The Stealer of Souls. White Wolf, 1998. First edition hardback thus, a reprint of the Millennium Stormbringer omnibus volume, but with a new introduction, new art, and the new John Davey essay “Elric: A Reader’s Guide,” a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Inscribed to me by Moorcock: “To Lawrence/All best/Michael Moorcock.”
  • Moorcock, Michael. The Eternal Champion. Millennium, 1992. First edition hardback thus, an omnibus edition containing The Eternal Champion, Phoenix in Obsidian, and The Dragon in the Sword, a Fine- copy in a Fine dust jacket, inscribed to my by Moorcock: “To Lawrence,/All best.” Yoshitaka Amano cover. Millennium Eternal Champion series Volume 2. Precedes the White Wolf edition by a couple of years.
  • Moorcock, Michael. Hawkmoon. White Wolfe, 1995. First White Wolf hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with just a trace of bend at head and some blind-side black dye transfer to just the inner creases of the flap folds. Inscribed to me by Moorcock: “To Lawrence,/All very best,/Michael Moorcock.” There were two early editions, as The History of the Runestaff in the 1970s and a Millennium edition of the same name, but this edition contains material not in either of those, including a new Moorcock introduction and new art and maps by James Cawthorn.
  • Moorcock, Michael. King of the City. Scribners (UK), 2000. First edition hardback, a Near Fine- copy with bumps to top points and a cluster of small gray stains on pageblock edges, and slight bumping at heel, in a Near Fine dust jacket with bumping to top points, slight bumping at heel, and slight edge wrinkling along bottom flaps. Inscribed to me by Moorcock: “To Lawrence,/All the best—/Michael Moorcock.” Sequel to Mother London.
  • Moorcock, Michael. The Laughter of Carthage. Secker & Warburg, 1984. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight bend at head, in a Near Fine-, price-clipped dust jacket with two scratches to front cover and a long lamination wrinkle down the spine. Inscribed to me by Moorcock.
  • Moorcock, Michael. Legends From the End of Time. WH Allen, 1976. First UK edition hardback, a Fine- copy with top front point slightly blunted, in a Fine- dust jacket with slight bumping at head and top front point. Inscribed to me by Moorcock. The U.S. true first looks like ass, while this edition has a groovy Rodney Matthews cover that looks a lot like Roger Dean. Tanelorn Archives, page 24.

  • Moorcock, Michael. Letters from Hollywood. HAARP, 1986. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with bumping at head and heel and blunting of points, in a Very Good dust jacket with shallow chipping at heel and points, wrinkling along front join, trace of dampstaining to bottom rear flap, and touches of general wear. Inscribed twice by Moorcock: On front free endpaper: “To Howard —/The third of the/world’s finest cities —/Love/Mike/Aug 18th/NY.” On half-title page: “Michael Moorcock/To Lawrence.” Collection of letters to J.G. Ballard.

  • Moorcock, Michael. London Peculiar and Other nonfiction. PM Press, 2012. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy, new and unread, inscribed to me by Moorcock.
  • Moorcock, Michael. The Mystery of the Texas Twister with Argosy January/February 2004. First edition trade paperback original, both fine copies in a Fine paper slipcase with advertising insert intact and inserted. Inscribed to me by Moorcock. Attempt to revive the venerable Argosy magazine, which evidently only lasted three issues. Upon receiving it, Mike said “I thought it was a Mentos ad!”

  • Moorcock, Michael (as Bill Barclay). Printer’s Devil. Compact, 1966. First edition paperback original, a Very Good- copy with spine creasing, rear cover bunching near spine, a nickel-sized blotch of discoloration, pages age-darkened, and slight curl and top front corner. The only book in this post I didn’t buy from Mike. Bought off eBay for £14.50 plus shipping. Tanelorn Archives, page 27. Currey, page 371.

  • Moorcock, Michael. The Revenge of the Rose. Grafton, 1991. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Inscribed to me by Moorcock. Elric novel.
  • Moorcock, Michael. Sojan. Savoy Books, 1977. First edition trade paperback original, a Near Fine+ copy with a bump at head, slight crease at top of back cover, and touches of edgewear, plus slight age-darkening of pages. Inscribed to me by Moorcock: “To Lawrence,/All very best/yours,/Michael Moorcock.” Includes a fantasy novel Moorcock published in his own Tarzan fanzine in his teens, plus very early Moorcock short stories (most of which have not appeared anywhere else), plus considerable additional material on Elric, Jerry Cornelius, etc. Tanelorn Archives, page 31. Currey, page 372.

  • Moorcock, Michael. The Vengeance of Rome. Jonathan Cape, 2006. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Inscribed to me by Moorcock. Colonel Pyat novel.
  • Moorcock, Michael. Von Bek. Millennium, 1992. First edition hardback thus, an omnibus edition of The Warhound and the World’s Pain, The City in the Autumn Stars, and “The Pleasure Garden of Filipe Sagittarius,” a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a slight edge wrinkling at top front, and slight crimping at head and heel. Inscribed to me by Moorcock: “To Lawrence,/An v. last!” Tale of the Eternal Champion Vol. 1. No additional printings mentioned, but also no numberline as mentioned by a few online dealers. Looks like a first printing to me, and neither ISFDB nor the Locus database lists a second Millennium hardback printing.
  • Moorcock, Michael, editor. Before Armageddon. W.H. Allen, 1975. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket (though there is now a small hole on the title page where Mike’s fountain pen slipped). Inscribed to me by Moorcock. Reprint anthology of pre-World War I future war stories, including “The Battle of Dorking.” Tanelorn Archives, page 7. Currey, page 374.
  • Moorcock, Michael, and Langdon Jones, editors. The Nature of the Catastrophe. Hutchison, 1971. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with a few small white spots on black cloth, and slight bumping at head, in a Fine- dust jacket with a trace of blindside spotting (I also not that the laminated portion of the dust jacket appears slightly uniformly darkened throughout, save about 1/8″ at the far edge of each flap that’s not laminated, and that portion is bright, undarkened white; both copies I’ve seen so affected, leading me to believe that this is an artifact of the lamination process used by the publisher on the dust jacket, making it likely that all copies are so affected). Inscribed to me by Moorcock: “To Lawrence,/Avguard [?} the heart,/Mike Moorcock.” Anthology of Jerry Cornelius stories by Moorcock and divers hands, including Brian Aldiss, M. John Harrison, Norman Spinrad and James Sallis. Tanelorn Archives, page 25. Currey, page 375.
  • Moore, C. L. Northwest of Earth. Gnome Press, 1954. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with a trace of wear to bottom boards and slight bumping at head, in a Near Fine+ dust jacket with slight edgewear along spine joins, at head and at front points, barest trace of dust soiling to white back cover, a few other traces of wear, and, if you look very closely, the spine is just barely sun-faded, much less than commonly found. All the Northwest Smith and Jirel of Jory stories not found in Shambleau and Others. Currey, page 378, Chalker/Owings (1991), page 201 (“These unique stories belong in every SF library”). Kemp, The Anthem Series, page 231. Bought off a fellow Biblio dealer for $75.

  • Norton, Andre, editor. Grand Master’s Choice. NESFA Press, 1989. First edition hardback, #44 of 275 signed, numbered copies, a Fine- copy with deep groove across top of half title page, title page and table of contents (I’m guessing a manufacturing process flaw), in a Fine- dust jacket with slight non-breaking crease along bottom inside flap. Anthology where Nebula Grandmaster winners Robert A. Heinlein, Jack Williamson, Clifford Simak, L. Sprague de Camp, Fritz Leiber, Andre Norton and Isaac Asimov pick their personal favorites of their stories. Bought for $15 from Half Price Books, marked down from $30 during their most recent coupon sale.

  • Park, Paul. Other Stories. PS Publishing, 2015. First edition hardback, #63 of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Bought for £5 plus shipping.
  • Penzler, Otto. Mysterious Obsession: Memoirs of a Compulsive Collector. The Mysterious Bookshop, 2019. First edition hardback, #219 of 250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Non-fiction. The story of how Penzler assembled his famed collection of mystery first editions. This edition sold out before publication. I have precisely one copy available through Lame Excuse Books. Bought directly through Mysterious Bookshop at a slight discount off the $50 cover price.

  • Resnick, Mike. Voyages: The Chronicles of Lucifer Jones, 1938-1941. Subterranean Press, 2017. First edition hardback, #128 of 1,000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Bought from the publisher during a 50% off sale.
  • Silverberg, Robert. In Another Country and Other Short Novels. Five Star, 2002. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Signed by Silverberg. Contains “In Another Country,” “The Way to Spook City,” “They Hide, We Seek” and “This is the Road.” Five Star is a small press that seems to deal mostly with the library market, and I know that SF/F dealers who have tried to obtain their books have generally found their wholesale terms unreasonable. Bought for $24 off the Internet. I have an unsigned copy of this title for sale in my latest book catalog.

  • Silverberg, Robert, and Randall Garrett, as Robert Randall. The Dawning Light. Gnome Press, 1959. First edition hardback, a Fine copy with less than the usual age-darkening, in a Near Fine dust jacket with slight loss at front points and a trace of edgewear; a very attractive example of the dust jacket. Signed by Silverberg. Currey, page 436. Clareson, Robert Silverberg: a primary and secondary bibliography, A233. Chalker/Ownings, page 205. Kemp, page 272. Bought for $47.31 plus shipping (which was from overseas) from a fellow Biblio dealer.

  • Smith, Clark Ashton. The Star-Treader And Other Poems. A.M. Robinson, 1912. First edition hardback, a Near Fine- copy with crack to front hinge just starting at bottom, slight bumping at head and heel and page blocks dusty, in a Very Good dust jacket with faint soiling to front and rear, a 1/2″ x 1/8″ chip at rear heel join, shallow chipping at head. Inscribed twice by Smith (the first apparently with a fountain pen, the second with a ballpoint): “Clark Ashton Smith/Auburn, Cal/Nov. 27th, 1912” then “For Harry Rosenberry/with sincere compliments/of Clark Ashton Smith/Apr. 14th, 1961,” which was exactly four months before his death. Replaces an unsigned copy (now available through Lame Excuse Books). Not in Currey. Not in Bleiler’s Guide to Supernatural Horror. Bleiler Checklist (1978), page 181. Sidney-Fryer, Emperor of Dreams, page 128. Won off eBay for $333.

  • Swanwick, Michael. Is There Something About You Irish?. Dragonstairs Press, 2019. First edition chapbook original, #50 of 60 signed, numbered copies, a Fine- copy (with slight phantom crease at top front), new and unread. Short essays on various Irish aspects of Swanwick’s life, done for the Dublin Worldcon.

  • Swanwick, Michael. Northern Lights. Dragonstairs Press, 2019. First edition chapbook original, #4 of 120 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, new and unread. Three short stories about supernatural Scandinavian creatures.

  • Tuttle, Lisa. The Somnambulist and the Psychic Thief. Jo Fletcher books, 2016. Uncorrected bound proof, trade paperback format, of the trade paperback first edition, a Fine- copy with edgewear. Jesperson and Lane book I.
  • Wilson, Gahan. A Little Purple Book of Phantasies. Borderlands Press, 2019. First edition hardback, #88 of 500 numbered copies signed by editor Stuart David Schiff, a Fine copy in decorated boards (a Wilson illustration, natch), sans dust jacket, as issued. Short story collection, something of a best of collection, with a smattering of cartoons. Out of print before publication. I’ll have copies for sale through

  • Youll, Stephen. The Art of Stephen Youll: Paradox. Paper Tiger, 2001. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with bumping at head, heel and top front corner, with review materials laid in. Science fiction art, lots of which you would recognize.
  • Usually I post this considerably earlier than March, but the Moorcock purchase took a while to process…

    Library Additions: Five Signed Firsts

    Monday, September 2nd, 2019

    All five of these books were picked up from Adventures in Crime & Space at Armadillocon, and all five came from the estate of late SF writer Carrie Richerson.

  • Banks, Iain. Canal Dreams. Macmillian (UK), 1989. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with a few pinpricks of light staining at head and a small wrinkle at top center to the first few pages, in a Fine dust jacket. Inscribed to Richardson: “Yo, Carrie!/This one’s for you./Iain Banks/10 March 90/at Wiscon 14.” Supplements an unsigned copy. Bought for $15.00.
  • Banks, Iain. Espedair Street. Macmillian (UK), 1987. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy one light pinprick stain at head and slight ear at heel, in a Fine dust jacket. Inscribed to Richardson: “To Carrie!/Weird regards/Iain Banks/10 March 90/at Wiscon 14.” Supplements an unsigned copy. Bought for $15.00.
  • Banks, Iain. The State of the Art. Mark V. Ziesing, 1989. First edition hardback, a Fine- with a few pinpricks of light staining at head, in a Fine dust jacket. Inscribed to Richardson: “To Carrie!/best wishes from am on the/GS GCU Arbitrary/Iain M. Banks/10 March 90/at Wiscon 14.” Interesting that he puts the middle “M” on the signatures for the SF books as well. Supplements an unsigned copy. Bought for $10.

  • Butler, Octavia. Xenogenesis. Guild America Books, 1989. First edition hardback thus (an omnibus edition of Dawn, Adulthoode Rights, and Imago), a Fine- copy with slight bumping at head and heel, in a Fine- dust jacket with a trace of edgewear. Inscribed by Butler: “To Carrie/Good reading/Octavia E. Butler.” Supplements signed copies of the three individual first editions. Bought for $25.

  • Emshwiller, Carol. Carmen Dog. mercury House, 1990. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight spotting to head, in a Fine dust jacket. Inscribed by Emshwiller: “To Carrie,/Carol Emshwiller.” Nova Express slipstream list. Bought for $7.50.

  • Library Addition: Iain M. Banks’ Cleaning Up

    Wednesday, June 28th, 2017

    Tracked down an Iain Banks chapbook I lacked.

    Banks, Iain M. Cleaning Up. Birmingham Science Fiction Group, 1987. First edition chapbook, a Fine- copy with one small phantom indentation to top rear and a touch of soiling. Issued for Novacon 17. Bought online for £24.99 plus shipping.

    Cleaning Up

    Lame Excuse Books December 2016 Catalog

    Thursday, December 15th, 2016

    Welcome once again to another installment of “Lawrence Just Posts The Latest Lame Excuse Books Catalog as a Giant Text File.” If there’s anything here you want to buy, drop me a line at Lawrence Person (lawrenceperson@gmail.com).


    Greetings, and welcome to the Lame Excuse Books catalog for December 2016!

    I’m going to be honest with you: This is a pretty weird catalog. It’s got the usual small press firsts from Subterranean Press, Tachyon, Dragonstairs Press, etc., but it’s also got some William F. Buckley spy thrillers (one signed), some werewolf books (both from some auction lots), and random beat-up reading copies, as well as a big bunch of markdowns to existing stock (including a whole lot of Subterranean Press books). Plus new books by Joe R. Lansdale, James P. Blaylock, Bruce Sterling, Michael Swanwick, Greg Egan, Robert Silverberg, a new Charnel House Harlan Ellison limited, etc.

    The picks of the list:

    * James P. Blaylock’s The Further Adventures of Langdon St. Ives
    * Joe R. and John L. Lansdale’s Hell’s Bounty and Zombie Gold
    * Alastair Reynold’s Beyond the Aquila Rift
    * Bruce Sterling’s Pirate Utopia

    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

    Also note that TomFolio books is shutting down, and I haven’t picked a new book listing service yet.

    Payment, Contact & Shipping Information

    Email me at lawrenceperson@gmail.com. I can hold books ten days on email 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, First Class International starts at $22.50 now). 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 email address at http://www.paypal.com, and I can take MC and Visa directly through my merchant account.

    Please mail checks to:

    Lawrence Person
    Lame Excuse Books
    P.O. Box 27231
    Austin, Texas 78755

    Finally, if you want me to take you off this mailing list, please let
    me know. I hate spam just as much as the next person.

    Now the books!

    Hardbacks

    LP2382. Abraham, Daniel. Balfour and Meriweather in The Incident of the Harrowmoor Dogs. Subterranean Press, 2013. First edition hardback, #124 of 250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Steampunky-looking mystery novella. List price is $45. For you? $20.

    LP2170. (Anderson, Poul) Gardner Dozois and Greg Bear, editors. (Larry Niven, Greg Benford, Tad Williams, etc.) Multiverse: Exploring Poul Anderson’s Worlds. Subterranean Press, 2014. First edition hardback, one of 250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and Fine slipcase, new and unread. Poul Anderson tribute anthology, including stories using his characters and settings. $70.

    LP2171. (Anderson, Poul) Gardner Dozois and Greg Bear, editors. (Larry Niven, Greg Benford, Tad Williams, etc.) Multiverse: Exploring Poul Anderson’s Worlds. Subterranean Press, 2014. First edition hardback, one of 1,500 trade copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Poul Anderson tribute anthology, including stories using his characters and settings. $30.

    LP2514. Armstrong, Kelley. Driven. Subterranean Press, 2016. First edition hardback, one of 1000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, with fill-color endpapers and several full color plates, new and unread. Her latest werewolf novel. Half off cover price. $20.

    LP2383. Armstrong, Kelley. Forsaken. Subterranean Press, 2015. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Otherworld. Werewolves. How about 75% off cover price? $10.

    LP2063. Baker, Kage. Black Projects, White Knights. Golden Gryphon, 2002. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Short stories about The Company. $12.

    LP1621. Baker, Kage. The Empress of Mars. Subterranean Press, 2009. First edition hardback, one of 500 copies signed by Baker, a Fine copy in a Fine dj, new and unread. A full length novel, and not to be confused with the earlier novella from Night Shade. Out of print from the publisher. $45.

    LP1115. Baker, Kage. Mother Aegypt and Other Stories. Night Shade Books, 2004. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dj, new and unread. includes an original, never before published novella. LAST COPY! $15.

    LP2064. Banks, Iain M. Against a Dark Background. Orbit, 1993. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with slight haze rubbing (which means the glossy black areas seem to have a bit of haze on them if you move them back and forth under a strong light), otherwise new and unread. Banks first “pure” non-Culture SF novel. Banks was a phenomenally talented writer who died way too young. $125.

    LP2065. Banks, Iain M. Consider Phlebas. Macmillan, 1987. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with a tiny bit of bend at edge of head and heel, in a Fine, Mylar-protected dust jacket. Read once, by me. The first Culture novel, and Banks’ first “pure” SF novel. Recommended. I’m not seeing a single unsigned first of the Macmillan Consider Phlebas anywhere online. $300.

    LP2066. Banks, Iain M. Excession. Orbit, 1996. First edition hardback, a Fine copy (though with the characteristic slight page darkening of Orbit books of this era) in a Fine dust jacket. Inscribed by Banks: “To Narayan/-best wishes/Iain M. Banks”. Recommended. A Culture novel. For some reason I can’t find a single signed Excession on Bookfinder. $175.

    LP1622. Banks, Iain M. Matter. Orbit (UK), 2008. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy in a Near FIne dust jacket with bumping at head and heel and associated wrinkles. Culture novel. $12.

    LP2173. Banks, Iain. The Quarry. Little Brown (UK), 2013. Fourth printing of the hardback first edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Banks’ last novel, alas. $8.

    LP1939. Bear, Elizabeth. ad eternum. Subterranean Press, 2012. First edition hardback, one of 250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Part of her New Amsterdam series. Also included in this edition is the 9,000 word chapbook Underground. $35.

    LP2118. Bear, Elizabeth. The White City. Subterranean Press, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Magic alternate history thing. $20.

    LP2386. Benford, Gregory. The Best of Gregory Benford. Subterranean Press, 2015. First edition hardback, #123 of 250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Another huge career retrospective collection. $55.

    LP2387. Benford, Gregory. The Best of Gregory Benford. Subterranean Press, 2015. First edition hardback, trade edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Another huge career retrospective collection. $35.

    LP2515. Blaylock, James P. The Adventures of Langdon St. Ives. Subterranean Press, 2016. First edition hardback, one of 200 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Omnibus edition of four Lagdon St. Ives steampunk novellas. “The Here-and-Thereians” plus a short coda (“Earthbound Things”) are original to this volume, so you need this even if you have the previous Subterranean Press Langdon St. Ives volumes. List price: $60. For you: $55.

    LP2516. Blaylock, James P. The Adventures of Langdon St. Ives. Subterranean Press, 2016. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Omnibus edition of four Lagdon St. Ives steampunk novellas. “The Here-and-Thereians” plus a short coda (“Earthbound Things”) are original to this volume, so you need this even if you have the previous Subterranean Press Langdon St. Ives volumes. Trade edition. PICK OF THE LIST. List price: $40. For you: $35.

    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. LAST COPY. $35.

    LP2517. Bloch, Robert. Flowers from the Moon. Arkham House, 1998. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with very slight fold to the very top 1/16″ of the front inner flap, otherwise pristine. Collection of early Bloch stories, including the title werewolf story and four Cthulhu Mythos stories. $25.

    LP1625. Bloch, Robert (Gahan Wilson). Skeleton in the Closet, and Other Stories (The Reader’s Bloch Volume 2). Subterranean Press, 2008. First edition hardback, one of only 750 copies, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dj, as issued, new and unread. More uncollected Bloch. Illustrated by Gahan Wilson. $30.

    LP1626. Bradbury. Ray. Marionettes, Inc. Subterranean Press, 2009. First edition hardback, one of 2000 copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. A collection of Bradbury’s robot stories, including two previously unpublished works. Now sold out from the publisher. Only have one. $30.

    LP1519. Bradbury, Ray. Moby Dick: A Screenplay. Subterranean Press, 2008. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dj, new and unread, still in publisher’s shrinkwrap. The basis of the John Huston movie. No out of print from the publisher, and I only have one. $30.

    LP2068. Bradbury, Ray. Nemo! Subterranean Press, 2013. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Previously unpublished Ray Bradbury screenplay set in Winsor McCay’s Little Nemo in Slumberland comic strip. Now sold out from the publisher, but I still have it at less than cover price. $30.

    LP2518. Buckley, William F., Jr. Brothers No More. Doubleday, 1995. First edition hardback, a Very Good copy with slight dampstaining to last few pages at heel lifting some of the binding dye to the page edges, in a near Fine dust jacket with slight surface wear and slight crease to inner top flap. Thriller that starts in World War II. Earlier this year, I won a Buckley lot at auction quite cheaply, about half of which were signed. The non-signed books in the lot I’m blowing out cheap as reading copies. $3.

    LP2519. Buckley, William F., Jr. Elvis in the Morning. Harcourt, 2001. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy in a Near Fine dust jacket with a touch of surface wear/soiling (especially along spine join) and slight edge curl. Novel of Elvis in the 50s and 60s. Certainly when I think of Elvis, Buckley is the first novelist that comes to mind. (Actually this did get better reviews than, say, Tender…) $ 3.

    LP2520. Buckley, William F., Jr. High Jinx. Doubleday, 1986. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with a few pinpricks of dust staining at head in a Very Good+ dust jacket, with shallow chipping at head, heel and along the top edge of the front. A Blackford Oakes spy thriller. $3.

    LP2521. Buckley, William F., Jr. Marco Polo, if You Can. Doubleday, 1982. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with very slight dust staining at head, in a Near Fine- price-clipped dust jacket with 1/8″ chipping at head and a tiny bit at heel and points. Inscribed by Buckley: “1/14/82 /For Roger Bink/Warm regards/Wm F. Buckley Jr.” $10.

    LP2522. Buckley, William F., Jr. Spytime: The Undoing of James Jesus Angleton. Harcourt, 2000. First edition hardback, a Very Good with spy concave, in a Near Fine dust jacket. Novel based on Angleton’s real0life hunt for a communist mole in the CIA. $3.

    LP2523. Buckley, William F., Jr. A Very Private Plot . First edition hardback, a Very Good- copy with dampstaining at heel and associated black dye trasnfer from boards, in a Very Good- dust jacket with dampstain warping to front and rear. A Blackford Oakes spy thriller. $3.

    LP477. Chizmar, Richard, editor (Jack Ketchum, John Shirley, David B. Silva). Night Visions 10. Subterranean Press, 2001. First Edition hardback, Fine in a Fine dj, new. All new stories by Jack Ketchum, John Shirley, and David B. Silva done in a uniform format with the Dark Harvest Night Visions series. $12.

    LP755. Crowley, John. Daemonomania. Bantam, 2000. First edition hardback, Fine in Fine dj, new and unread. The third book in the Aegypt sequence. Back in stock. $10.

    LP1683. Crowley, John. Endless Things. Small Beer Press, 2007. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Concluding novel of the Aegypt series. CHEAP! $10.

    LP1777. De Lint, Charles. Eyes Like Leaves. Subterranean Press, 2009. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread, signed by De Lint. This last copy has hung around a while, so let’s sell it cheap. $20.

    LP2524. Donaldson, D. J. Blood on the Bayou. St. Martin’s Press, 1991. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacet with a bit of haze rubbing to the rear cover. Werewolf mystery novel set in New Orleans (“An Andy Broussard/Kit Franklin Mystery”). $20.

    LP1686. Egan, Greg. Crystal Nights and Other Stories. Subterranean Press, 2009. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Short story collection. Now sold out from the publisher. $32.

    LP2525. Egan, Greg. The Four Thousand, The Eight Hundred. Subterranean Press, 2016. First edition hardback, one of 1,000 copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Hard science fiction novella set on the asteroids of Vesta and Ceres. Only have one. $37.

    LP1527. Egan, Greg. Incandescence. Gollancz, 2008. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dj with a tiny bit of crimping at head, new and unread. Far future SF novel. Precedes the Night Shade edition. Gollancz seems to have cut back drastically on their hardback print runs; this came out May 15, and was already OP in hardback on June 1, and I had to scramble around to find some in the UK. $30.

    LP1836. Egan, Greg. Zendegi. Night Shade Press, 2010. First U.S. edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Novel set in a post-theocracy Iran and a popular virtual reality game. $10.

    LP2542. Ellison, Harlan. Coffin Nails. Charnel House, 2016. First edition oversized hardback, a Fine copy, one of 200 signed, numbered copies, sans dust jacket, as issued. The usual lavish Charnel House production, an attractive brown patterned (“crackle paper”) binding, with embossed silver nails spelling out “HE” on the front cover, and a giant silver nail on the cover. Features 25 uncollected Ellison stories from across his career. Sure to be a lust object for all your bibliophile friends. Only have one. $5 off cover price. $295.

    LP2123. Ellison, Harlan. The Deadly Streets. Subterranean Press, 2013. First hardback edition, one of 750 copies of the trade edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Early Ellison collection now available in hardback. Cover price: $45. Your price: $30.

    LP2306. Gaiman, Neil and Michael Reaves. Interworld and The Silver Dream. Subterranean Press, 2014. First limited hardback edition, each #344 of 500 signed copies, both Fine copies in Fine dust jackets, new and unread. Two young collaborative young adult novels involving parallel worlds. Offered at $20 off cover price, and I only have one set. $100.

    LP1400. Garton, Ray. Night Life. Subterranean Press, 2005. First edition hardback, one of 400 signed and numbered copies bound in leather, in a Fine, Mylar protected dust jacket, new and unread. Garton’s sequel to Live Girls, sold out pre-publication within mere hours of Subterranean announcing the book. $45.

    LP2525. Haining, Peter. The Dracula Centenary Book. Souvenir Press, 1987. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with just a tiny bit of crimping at points. Illustrated non-fiction book about various Dracula facts, real, fictional and on screen. $10.

    LP2526. Hughes, Winifred. The Maniac in the Cellar: Sensation Novels of the 1860s. Princeton University Press, 1980. Presumed first edition hardback (no additional printing stated), a Fine copy in a near Fine-, price-clipped dust jacket with spots of rubbing to matte black rear cover. Non-fiction on Victorian sensation novels of the 1860s. $5.

    LP1640. King, Stephen. Stephen King Goes to the Movies. Subterranean Press, 2009. First edition hardback, one of 2000 copies (and the only hardback edition), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Includes five stories by King that were made into movies (“1408,” “The Mangler,” “Low Men in Yellow Coats” (made into Hearts in Atlantis), “Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption,” “The Mist” and “Children of the Corn,” each with new introductions by King about how the moves were made and what he thought of them. Illustrations by Vincent Chong. With two color printing and heavier than usual paper, this is a lavish production beyond even the usual high Subterranean Press standards. I haven’t read all the stories in here, but the ones I have are among King’s best. Recommended. $26 off cover price! $49.

    LP2527. Kuznia, Yanni, editor (Jacqueline Carey, Kevin Hearne, Laura Bickle, Aliette De Bodard). A Fantasy Medley 3. Subterranean Press, 2015. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Trade edition of this short fantasy anthology, now sold out from from the publisher, but I’m still offering it at 50% off cover price. $10.

    LP1846. Lake, Jay. The Sky That Wraps. Subterranean Press, 2010. First edition hardback, one of 1,000 signed copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Short story collection by the author of the Hugo-nominated Mainspring, and a swell guy to boot. $5 off cover price. $29.

    LP1959. Lansdale, Joe R. Act of Love. Subterranean Press, 2012. First edition hardback thus, with a new novelette, “A Bone Dead Sadness,” and interview with Lansdale not included in any previous edition, one of 200 signed, numbered slipcased copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and slipcase, new and unread. Only have one. $100 List. For you, $90.

    LP1848. Lansdale, Joe R. By Bizarre Hands Rides Again. Morning Star Press, 2010. Expanded edition with new stories and story notes, one of 300 copies signed by Lansdale, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. The original was a great short story collection, and thus new edition has everything in the original and more. Highly recommended. $65.

    LP2482. Lansdale, Joe R. (Pete Von Sholly, illustrator). Christmas Monkeys. PS Publishing, 2015. First edition hardback, one of 300 copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and decorated boards, with bookmark signed by the author and artist laid in (as issued). Illustrated children’s book (for certain values of “children”). LAST COPY! $34.

    LP18840. Lansdale, Joe R. Christmas With the Dead. PS Publishing, 2010. First edition hardback, one of 300 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Now out of print from the publisher. $34.

    LP2195. Lansdale, Joe R. Devil Red. Knopf, 2011. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Signed by Lansdale. Hap and Leonard novel. Recommended. $12.

    LP2484. Lansdale, Joe R. Fender Lizards. Subterranean Press, 2015. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Even though this is the trade edition, I got Joe to sign it at Armadillocon, and it’s sold out from the publisher, but still cover price. $40.

    LP2528. Lansdale, Joe R. and John L. Lansdale. Hell’s Bounty. Subterranean Press, 2016. First edition hardback, one of 1,000 copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Weird western about demons, bounty hunters and the end of the world. Sold out from the publisher, and only have one of this true first edition. However, see the next item… $65.

    LP2529. Lansdale, Joe R. and John L. Lansdale. Hell’s Bounty with Zombie Gold. Short, Scary Tales (SST) Publications, 2016. First edition hardback thus for Hell’s Bounty, true first edition for Zombie Gold, one of 200 signed, numbered sets with matching numbers, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Hell’s Bounty is by and signed by both Lansdales, while Zombie Gold is by John L. Lansdale solo. Two weird westerns, heavy on the action and bloodshed. For the set: $95. (One dealer has this set at $140.)

    LP2530. Lansdale, John L. Zombie Gold. Short, Scary Tales (SST) Publications, 2016. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Trade edition of this weird western. $30.

    LP1850. Leiber, Fritz. Strange Wonders. Subterranean Press, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Collection various work, some previously unpublished or uncollected. 25% off cover price. $30.

    LP2531. Levy, Edward. The Beast Within. Arbor House, 1981. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with a bit of curl and head and heel and a trace of dust soiling to back cover, in a near Fine dust jacket with haze rubbing along spine join. “A modern day Jekyll and Hyde in the clothes of a werewolf…a lupine incubus.” $5. Given when this was published, there’s a good chance David Hartwell edited it. $5.

    LP2532. Lupoff, Richard. Lisa Kane. Bobbs-Merrill, 1976. First edition hardback, a Fine- with a few dust marks to front board, in a Near Fine- dust jacket with crinkling at head and heel, slight curl at top front edge, slight creases to inner flaps, and slight darkening to top of rear cover. Werewolf novel. $5.

    LP2533. Mieville, China. This Census-Taker. Subterranean Press, 2016. First limited edition hardback thus (the Del Rey trade edition precedes), #443 of 750 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Now sold out from the publisher, and I only have one. $60.

    LP1853. Niven, Larry. The Best of Larry Niven. Subterranean Press, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Another huge Subterranean career retrospective collection. LAST COPY. $35.

    LP2534. Novik, Naomi. Blood of Tyrants. Del Rey, 2013. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. The eight Temeraire book about the Napoleonic War with dragons. $10.

    LP1968. Powers, Tim. The Bible Repairman and Other Stories. Subterranean Press, 2012. First hardback edition, one of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. $10 off cover price. $65.

    LP2082. Powers, Tim. Salvage and Demolition. Subterranean Press, 2013. First edition hardback, one of 350 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Powers latest novella, about a rare book dealer. Now sold out from the publisher, but I’m offering it at $5 off cover price. $60.

    LP2083. Powers, Tim. Salvage and Demolition. Subterranean Press, 2013. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. This trade edition is also sold out from the publisher, and also offered at $5 cover price. $22.

    LP2207. Prachett, Terry. Raising Steam. Doubleday, 2014. First American edition, hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread, with review materials laid in. Discworld goes Steampunk. $10.

    LP1642. Resnick, Mike. Kilimanjaro: A Fable of Utopia. Subterranean Press, 2008. First edition hardback, one of 1000 signed copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Companion volume to his Kirinyaga stories, in which the Maasai try to create their own Utopia. Only have one. $28.

    LP2535. Reynolds, Alastair. Beyond the Aquila Rift. Subterranean Press, 2016. First edition hardback, trade state, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Another huge career retrospective collection, and at 781 pages, I think it’s the largest yet. $42.

    LP2399. Reynolds, Alastair. Slow Bullets. WSFA, 2015. First hardback (and first signed) edition, one of 1000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Produced for CapClave, where Reynolds was Guest of Honor. $35.

    LP1742. Scalzi, John. God Engines. Subterranean Press, 2009 (actually not shipped until 2010). First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Trade edition. $15.

    LP1976. Shepard, Lucius. The Dragon Griaule. Subterranean Press, 2012. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. All Shepard’s Dragon Griaule stories in one volume. $35.

    LP1977. Silverberg, Robert. The Collected Stories of Robert Silverberg Volume Six: Multiples 1983-1987. Subterranean Press, 2012. First edition hardback, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. The earlier volumes are gone baby gone… $30.

    LP2136. Silverberg, Robert. The Collected Stories of Robert Silverberg Volume Eight: Hot Times in Magma City: 1990-95. Subterranean Press, 2013. First edition hardback, a Fine copy, new and unread, sans dust jacket, as issued. The latest and greatest volume by the legendary Grandmaster. I sold a lot of the collected Silverberg volumes at Worldcon, and this trade edition is now sold out from the publisher. $30.

    LP2536. Silverberg, Robert. Early Days: More Tales from the Pulp Era. Subterranean Press, 2016. First edition hardback, #168 of 1000 signed, numbered copies. Collection of early Silverberg stories. Only have one, $5 off cover price. $35.

    LP2137. Silverberg, Robert. The Last Song of Orpheus. Subterranean Press, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Original 30,000 word novella. $10 off cover price. $25.

    LP2209. Simmons, Dan. Muse of Fire. Subterranean Press, 2008. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Original science fiction novella. Out of print from the publisher. $30.

    LP1288. Smith, Clark Ashton (edited by Scott Connors and Ron Hilger). Star Changes: The Science Fiction of Clark Ashton Smith. Darkside Press, 2005. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dj, new and unread, still in publisher’s shrinkwrap. $32.

    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. Now sold out from the publisher, but still $25 off the publisher’s price. $120.

    LP1480. Sterling, Bruce. Islands in the Net. Arbor House, 1988. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with very slight bumping at heel and the ownership stamp of Louis Mackey on FFE, in a Near Fine, price-clipped (but otherwise pristine and Mylar-protected) dj. Signed by Sterling (who has also written “Copyright 1988” and “2007”). Mackey was a well-known professor at the University of Texas and something of a minor celebrity, having played a role in the film Richard Linklater film Slacker (he’s the professor complaining that he missed Charles Whitman’s shooting spree). Since Bruce attended UT, it would have been nice if this had been some sort of association copy, but no, Bruce said he had never heard of him when I had him sign this. So whether the Mackey signature is a plus or a minus depends on the eye of the beholder. $35.

    LP2537. Sterling, Bruce (Warren Ellis, Christopher Brown, Rick Klaw). Pirate Utopia. Tachyon, 2016. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Novella in which the Italian Futurists set up their own state after World War I. Includes H.P. Lovecraft and Houdini as characters. Includes an Introduction by Warren Ellis, and interview with Sterling by Rick Klaw, and an afterword by Christopher Brown. $18.

    LP1856. Straub, Peter. The Juniper Tree and Other Blue Rose Stories. Subterranean Press, 2010. First edition hardback, one of 1,500 trade copies, 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 an interview conducted by Bill Sheehan. $22.

    LP1425. Stross, Charles. Missile Gap. Subterranean Press, 2007. First edition hardback, one of 1000 signed, numbered copies, Fine in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. A very alternate Cold War novella. This first printing is now out of print from the publisher. $27.

    LP1981. Stross, Charles. Palimpsest. Subterranean Press, 2012. First edition hardback, one of 1,000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. His Hugo-winning, far-future novella. $30.

    LP197. Tepper, Sheri. Gibbon’s Decline and Fall. Bantam, 1996. First edition hardback, Fine in a Fine dj, new in dj. Get this off my shelf. $1.

    LP2538. Tolkien, J. R. R. The Lord of The Rings (The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King). Houghton Mifflin, 1965. Fifth Printing of this edition (the Second U.S. hardback edition, with all the all the appendices at the back of The Return of the King, and fold out maps of Middle Earth (The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers) and Mordor (The Return of the King) present, a Very Good- set, well read, all three spines slightly dull, spine on The Fellowship of the Ring slightly concave, map in The Fellowship of the Ring with one small tear near attachment point reinforced with tape, lacking the dust jackets, in a Very Good- slipcase with significant rubbing at heel, slight wear/abrasion at points and to attached slipcase frontispiece, with about 1/4″ loss to top right corner, affecting very edge of end line of elvish script. A well-worn set that was formerly my father’s. He read these to me and my sister in our youth, and then we read the hell out of them in our teen years. Still, the front cover embossing for all three books (depicting the eye of Sauron, the one ring, and the Tengwar/Black Speech inscription on the ring) is still quite bright and attractive on all three volumes. My father died in January of 2016, and my mother gave these to me as part of downsizing from a house to an apartment. Since I already own a copy of this edition with the dust jackets, I’m offering this up here. Highly recommended as the most important work of fantasy of all time. Sets of this edition in dust jacket tend to go for about $150, so let’s offer this up at 1/5th that. $30.

    LP2539. Tolkien, J. R. R. The Lord of The Rings (The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King). Houghton Mifflin/SFBC, 1986 (the ISFDB IDs the 10259 code on the back of The Fellowship of the Ring as belonging to the SFBC edition that year). Book club reprint hardback, Near Fine copies with slight spotting at head, in Near Fine- (The Fellowship of the Ring)/Very Good+ (The Two Towers, The Return of the King) dust jackets with slight spine fading wear at head, heel and points, a 1/2″ tear at head of The Two Towers, and three 1/4″ closed tears and two small black marks on rear cover of The Return of the King. Just sturdy reading copies of the definitive epic fantasy trilogy of the 20th century. Another thing downsized from my mother’s move. $5.

    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. Sort of surprised I have two left, as the Vance stuff usually disappears pretty quick. $40.

    LP2540. Varley, John. Demon. Putnam, 1984. First edition hardback, an ex-library copy with all the usual flaw; call it a Very Good- Ex-Lib copy with pages yellowing (as usual), spine concave, wear along bottom boards, plus all the usual stamps, pocket, etc., in a Very Good+ dust jacket with sticker to spine, and spots of wear where Mylar dj protector has been worn through. Third book in the titan trilogy. Space-filler first of a book that reportedly had a smaller print run than the first two volumes. $5.

    LP2144. Varley, John. Good-bye, Robinson Crusoe and Other Stories. Subterranean Press, 2013. First edition hardback, one of 1,000 copies signed numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. $15 off cover. $30.

    LP2541. Varma, Devendra P. The Gothic Flame: Being a History of the Gothic Novel in England: Its Origins Efflorescence, Disintegration and Residuary Influence. The Scarecrow Press, 1987. First edition thus, being the reprint of a work first published in 1957, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Non-fiction work on the development of the Gothic novel. Includes bibliography at back. $20.

    LP2542. Windsor, Patricia. The Blooding. Scholastic Press, 1996. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Werewolf novel. I see precisely one copy listed online, and it’s not as nice as this one. $25.

    LP1988. Willis, Connie. All About Emily. Subterranean Press, 2011. First edition hardback, one of 400 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Sold out from the publisher. Only have one. $40.

    LP1447. Willis, Connie. D. A. Subterranean Press, 2007. First edition hardback, one of only 400 signed/numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dj, new and unread. Sold out from the publisher. Only have one. $34.

    LP2405. Zafon, Carlos Ruiz. The Prisoner of Heaven. Subterranean Press, 2014. First limited edition hardback, #339 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. This edition is sold out from the publisher, and I’m not seeing any copies of it listed online. $125.

    Trade Paperbacks

    LP2543. Chabon, Michael. The Yiddish Policeman’s Union. Harper Perennial, 2008. First trade paperback edition, preceded by the hardback, a Near Fine+ copy with 1/8″ white abrasion at heel. Inscribed by Chabon: “For Delois/Happy Mother’s Day/Michael Chabon.” Read once. Hugo and Nebula Winner for Best Novel. Another book from my mother’s household downsizing. $7.

    LP2124. Gunn, James. The Unpublished Gunn Part 2. Chris Drumm Books, 1996. First edition chapbook original, a Fine copy. $5.

    LP2544. McCammon, Robert. Blue World. Subterranean Press, 2015. Trade paperback reprint, a Fine, unread copy. Short story collection. $5.

    LP2545. Lansdale, Joe R. Hap and Leonard. Tachyon. 2016. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Signed by Lansdale. All the Hap and Leonard short fiction, including three novella’s (Veil’s Visit (with Andrew Vachss), Hyenas, and Dead Aim) previously published as stand-alone novellas. Only have one. $16.

    LP2507. Swanwick, Michael. 5 Seasons. Dragonstairs Press, 2016. First edition chapbook original, one of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy. Five one page stories about the seasons. All these Dragonstairs press chapbooks tend to disappear pretty quickly, so here’s a chance to pick it up while it’s still cover price. $6.

    LP2508. Swanwick, Michael. Seasons Greetings. Dragonstairs Press, 2015. First edition chapbook original, one of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy. The 2015 Swanwick Christmas chapbook, now out of print from the publisher. $10.

    LP2547. Swanwick, Michael. Solstice Spirits. Dragonstairs Press, 2015. First edition chapbook original, one of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy new and unread. Four brief seasonal tales. Though dated 2015, I was only able to order this recently, and it’s already sold out from the press. $15.

    Mass Market Paperbacks

    LP2548. Effinger, George Alec. Planet of the Apes 2: Escape to Tomorrow. Award Books, 1975. First edition paperback original, a Very Good+ copy with creasing and a tackhead-sized abrasion to upper right corner and a stamped “2” at head, two small wrinkles along spine, and general wear. Based on the short-lived CBS TV show, one of four Effinger did. $5.

    LP2549. Farmer, Philip Jose. Tarzan: The Dark Heart of Time. Del Rey, 1999. First edition paperback original, a near Fine copy with slight spine creasing and a touch of edgewear. A surprisingly uncommon PBO, given the author and subject matter. $35.

    LP2550. Kuttner, Henry. Lancer, 1973. Paperback reprint, a Poor copy with the page blocks failing out, held together with two rubber bands, but otherwise intact. All Kuttner’s Gallagher stories, in which an inventor creates robots while blind stinking drunk, and then can’t remember what he made them for. Only reason I’m bothering to sell it is that these are GREAT, HILARIOUS stories and this hasn’t been reprinted nearly often enough. Reading copy only. Highly recommended. $3.

    LP2541. Leiber, Fritz. The Wanderer. Ballantine Books, 1964. First edition paperback original, a Very Good copy with creasing and wear along spine, a long crease along top front corner, and general wear. Hugo Winner for best novel.

    Since Sherri Tepper died recently, I thought I’d list which books of hers I have, all marked down a bit:

    LP1586. Tepper, Sherri S. The Flight of Mavin Manyshaped. Ace, 1985. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with just a trace of wear at top outer corner, otherwise new and unread. A really beautiful copy. $20.

    LP2291. Tepper, Sheri S. The Bones. Tor, 1987. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Very Good+ copy with one spine crease, top front corner crease, and touches of edgewear. Believe it or not, there was once a time when science fiction and fantasy novelists looked at switching to horror as a good career move… $4.

    LP2292. Tepper, Sheri S. King’s Blood Four. Ace, 1983. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Very Good+ copy with one spine crease, 1 1/2″ thin crease along bottom front spine join, edgewear, and small abrasion to top rear cover. First book in the True Game series. $4.

    LP1675. Tepper, Sheri S. Jinian Footseer. Tor, 1985. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Very Good+ copy with crease along spine join, partial crease and wrinkle on spine, small crease to lower back corner, and touches of general wear. True Game novel. $4.

    LP1869. Tepper, Sheri S. Marianne, the Magus and the Manticore. Ace, 1985. Third printing, a VG copy with spine creasing, spine line, number stamp at head, and general wear. The Marianne titles are probably the least common of all Tepper’s books. $8.

    LP1618. Tepper, Sheri S. The Revenants. Ace, 1984. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Very Good+ copy with spine-creasing and edgewear, but otherwise square. Standalone fantasy novel involving a Sphinx’s riddles. $4.

    LP1586. Tepper, Sherri S. The Search of Mavin Manyshaped. Ace, 1985. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Fine- copy with just a trace of edgewear, otherwise new and unread. A really beautiful copy. Third book in the Mavin trilogy. $35.

    LP2293. Tepper, Sherri S. The Song of Mavin Manyshaped. Ace, 1985. Second printing, a Near Fine copy lines at head and heel, a small name on blurb page, and a few touches of edgewear. The first Mavin book. $4.

    LP2294. Tepper, Sheri S. Wizard’s Eleven. Ace, 1984. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Near Fine copy with small date stamp at heel, edgewear, and one tiny wrinkle near base of spine, otherwise tight and square. Third book in the True Game series. Man, Tepper must have been a writing machine in the mid-1980s… $4.

    Library Additions: January 1 — June 30, 2015

    Monday, July 6th, 2015

    Time once again for the roundup of all library additions for the first half of the year. All books listed below are Fine first edition hardbacks in Fine dust jackets unless otherwise noted.

  • Asimov, Isaac. In Memory Yet Green: The Autobiography of Isaac Asimov, 1920—1954. Doubleday, 1979. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with slight sun darkening to the very tops of inside flaps. Non-fiction. The first volume of Asimov’s massive two volume autobiography (I already had a first edition of the second volume, In Joy Still Felt).
  • Banks, Iain M. The Algebraist. Orbit, 2004. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Banks. Supplements an unsigned first.
  • Banks, Iain M. Player of Games. Macmillian (UK), 1988. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Banks. Supplements an unsigned first.
  • Barrett, Neal. Through Darkest America. Worldwide, 1988. First paperback edition, a Fine- copy with tiny bump to bottom front corner and slight age-darkening to paper, otherwise apparently unread. Inscribed by Barrett, Jr. to fellow Texas science fiction writer Lewis Shiner: “11/29/88//Unca Lew—/Having you here for/a while has made my/day, as ever—/(Signature)”. Lew confirmed that it was indeed inscribed to him, noting he must have sold it and because he was moving again and already had the hardback…

    Shiner Darkest

  • Barker, Clive. Tortured Souls: The Legend of Primordium. Subterranean Press, 2015.
  • Baxter, Stephen. Raft. Grafton, 1991. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a tiny bit of haze rubbing. Author’s first book. Bought for $50 off an Australian Internet dealer. Replaces an Ex-Library copy.

    Raft

  • Bova, Ben, editor. (Roger Zelazny) The Best of Omni Science Fiction. Omni Society, 1980. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight wear in a Very Good dust jacket with shallow chipping at points, rubbing to rear cover, a 1/2″ closed tear, and general wear. Roger Zelazny’s personal contributor’s copy (for the story “Halfjack,” see below), with two signed typed letters from Omni editor Ben Bova laid in.
  • Blaylock, James p. Doughnuts. Airtight Seels Allied Productions (A.S.A.P.), 1994. First edition hardback, number 11 of 224 signed, numbered hardback copies, a Fine copy (save some waviness to the pages, which I take as a byproduct of the binding process), sans dust jacket with color illustration pasted onto the front board, as issued. In addition to the short story, this volume includes an Introduction by Lewis Shiner, an Appreciation by Lucius Shepard, an Afterward by Tim Powers, illustrations by Phil Parks, and tipped-in color photographs by Vicki Blaylock (and is signed by all of them). An elaborate production, much like all of A.S.A.P.’s hardback chapbooks. Chalker & Owings, Science Fantasy Publishers (2002), 1011. (Also Supplement Two, page 57.) Bought for $60 from a dealer off the Internet.

    Doughnuts

  • Bradbury, Ray. The Cat’s Pajamas. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Bradbury. Short story collection. Bought off eBay for $21.50.
  • Bradbury, Ray. Christmas Greetings 2008. First edition broadsheet, 8 1/2″ x 11″ card-stock, a Fine- copy with extremely light bumping at right tips. Signed by Bradbury. One of the many yearly Christmas greetings Bradbury used to send out to friends. Bought for $25 off eBay.

    Bradbury Christmas 2008

  • Bradbury, Ray. A Memory of Murder. Dell, 1984. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with a tiny bit of edgewear, signed by Bradbury, with a review slip laid in. Collection of Bradbury’s early mystery stories. An unusual book, in that you wouldn’t think he would have a mass market paperback original (with no hardback edition) this late in his career. Not particularly common, and even less so signed. Bought off eBay for $25.

    Bradbury Memory Murder

  • Brunner, John. Tomorrow May be Even Worse. NESFA Press, 1978. First edition trade paperback, a Fine- copy with a tiny bit of bumping at points. Signed by Brunner. Small book of verse (one SF topic for every letter, arranged from A to Z), illustrated by fan artist ATom.

    Brunner Worse

  • Cahill, James, editor. Ten Tales. James Cahill Publishing, 1994. First edition hardback, one of only 26 unnumbered “Author Copies”, a Fine- copy (gilt letters on spine are showing small spots of what might be oxidation) in a Very Good only slipcase with spotting and uneven fading, sans dust jacket, as issued. Original anthology with the Zelazny story “The Salesman’s Tale.” There was also a 250 copy numbered edition. (Chalker and Owings Supplement Three calls for a 26 copy leatherbound edition; this copy is bound in cloth with a cloth slipcase.)
  • (Cave, Hugh B.) Thomas, Milt. Cave of a Thousand Tales: The Life and Times of Hugh B. Cave. Arkham House, 2004. Non-fiction biography. Bought for $14 off eBay.
  • Collins, Suzanne. Catching Fire. Scholastic Press, 2009. First edition hardback (number line ending in 1, “First edition, September 2009” stated), a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a tiny bit of crimping at very top edge. Second book in the Hunger Games series.
  • Derleth, August. Dwellers in Darkness. Arkham House, 1976. Octavo, cloth. irst edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Bought from L. W. Currey for $17.50.
  • Dick, Philip K. (Frank T. Hollander, editor). Young Author’s Club: The Wartime Adolescent Writings of Philip K. Dick. Frank T. Hollander, 2014. First edition trade paperback original, #58 of 100 copies signed by the editor/publisher, a Fine copy. A 94 page chapbook containing Dick’s published writings from 1942 to 1944 in the Berkeley Daily Gazette newspaper, consisting of fiction and poems, some of which are fantasy. Includes bibliographic information and story notes. Something likely to drive Dick completists crazy.

    Dick Young Authors

  • Donaldson, Stephen R. One page typed signed letter to Roger Zelazny inviting him to a party. Part of a large collection of Roger Zelazny books, manuscripts and correspondence described here.
  • Doran, Niall, Alastastair Richardson, Joe Shemesh. Kinky Love: Mating of the Tasmanian Cave Spider. Bookend Trust, 2015. First edition hardback, one of an undetermined number of signed copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket in decorated boards, as issued. Non-fiction. (See the companion Neil Gaiman piece further down the page.)

    16Legs Kinky

  • Ellison, Harlan. The Top of the Mountain. Subterranean Press, 2014. Oversized collection of Ellison’s prize-winning stories.
  • Eisenstein, Phyllis. Born to Exile. Arkham House, 1978. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Bought from L. W. Currey for $12.50.
  • Farmer, Philip Jose. The Grand Adventure. Berkley Books, 1984. First hardback edition, #264 of 325 signed, numbered hardbacks, a Fine- copy (tiny bit of wear to reflective inlay pattern to the cover), sans dust jacket in a Fine slipcase, as issued. The trade paperback precedes by a month. This limited edition is the only hardback edition. Bought for $39.99 off eBay, which is less than the original issue price of $50.
  • Farmer, Philip Jose. Riverworld and Other Stories. Berkeley, 1979. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine copy with one spine crease. Precedes the Gregg Press hardback.
  • Fitzpatrick, E. H. The Coming Conflict of Nations, or the Japanese American War. H.W. Rokker, 1909. First edition hardback, a Very Good copy in black cloth boards stamped in gold, stamping on spine dulled bit still present, a few spots of wear or discoloration, slight bends at head and heel, newspaper review clipping pasted in on inside front cover, resulting in considerable foxing to front free endpaper. Inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper: “Professor John Syphers/with the best wishes/of the author./Ernest Hugh Fitzpatrick/L.R.C.P., Ed./Pontiac, Illinois/March 5, 1910.” There’s also a long inscription by the recipient of the inscription on the other side of the front free endpaper. Bleiler, Checklist (1978), page 73. Bleiler, Science Fiction: The Early Years, page 247. Reginald, page 188. Possibly the first novel to predict a war between the United States and Japan. Bought off eBay for $10.50. Given that Currey has an unsigned copy that looks a bit worse at $350, I think it was a good buy…

    Conflict of Nations

    Fitzpatrick 1

    Fitzpatrick 2

  • Friedman, Kinky. A Case of Lone Star. Beech Tree Books, 1987. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with slight haze rubbing. Inscribed by Friedman: “To Justa—/to one good/American from/another —/Your friend,/Kinky/Aug 13, 1987.” Bought at the 2015 Austin Book Show for (after discounts and show $5 credit) $10.

    Kinky sig

  • Gaiman, Neil, and Newman, Kim, compilers. Ghastly Beyond Belief. Aarow Books, 1985. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine- copy with slight spine-creasing and edgewear along spine. Compilation of book and movie blurbs. Almost bought this at the 1988 Worldcon, but passed thinking that as a paperback it would be easier to find later. Little did I know…
  • Gaiman, Neil, with Niall Doran, Craig Wellington and Jodee Taylah (artist). Sixteen Legs Production Art: A Visit to the Queen of the Dark. Bookend Trust, 2015. First edition hardback, one of an undetermined number (though probably just over 100 copies, given that there are just under 100 names (including my own) listed under Premium Supporters on page 43) of the Limited Deluxe Edition signed by the three authors and the artist, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket in decorated boards, as issued.

    16Legs QueenB 1

  • Gibson, William. Distrust That Particular Flavor. Non-fiction collection of essays. Bought for half price.
  • Goldstein, Lisa. Tourists. Simon and Schuster, 1989. Signed by Goldstein. Bought for $10.
  • Heinlein, Robert A. The Star Beast. Scribner’s, 1954. First edition hardback (with Scribner’s seal and letter A on copyright page, as per Currey), a Fine- copy with slight bend at head and heel, slight dust soiling at head, and a tiny faint green pinprick dot at heel, in a Very Good+ dust jacket with very shallow (1/32″) chipping at head and points, a 1/2″ closed tear at heel, and very slight dust soiling to rear cover. A very nice copy of this well-regarded Heinlein juvenile. Bought for $200 from Lloyd Currey. Currey (1979), page 234.

    Star Beast

  • Hind, Charles Lewis. The Enchanted Stone. Adam and Charles Black (London), 1896. First edition hardback, a Very Good copy with repaired hinges, slight spine fading, bookplate on insider front cover and uneven foxing on front and rear free endpaper. By the Book World Remembered, page 106, which describes it as a “Fantastic tale of a vast Chinese city under London.” Tietler, By the World Forgot, page 53, which notes that this UK first edition has an extra chapter not in the American edition. Bleiler, Checklist (1978), page 100. Reginald, page 253. A very odd sounding Wainscot (to use Clute’s term from The Encyclopedia of Fantasy) indeed. Bought off the Internet for $36 plus shipping from Canada.

    Enchanted Stone

  • Honan, William H. Visions of Infamy: The Untold Story of How Journalist Hector C. Bywater Devised the Plans That lead to Pearl Harbor. St. Martin’s Press, 1991. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Fellow collector Chris Skillings sent this to me after reading about how I picked up E. H. Fitzpatrick’s The Coming Conflict of Nations, or the Japanese American War. Bywater sounds like he was a very interesting guy…
  • Howard, Robert E. The Dark Man and Others. Arkham House, 1963. First edition hardback, a Near Fine- copy with crimping at head and heel, previous owner’s bookplate on FFE, and a drop of dampstaining that affects the FFE and the first few pages, in a Very Good+ dust jacket with slight creasing at head and heel, slight wear along spine, slight dust staining to white rear cover. The second Arkham collection of Howard’s short stories, all but one from Weird Tales. Won off eBay for $60.

    Howard Dark Man

  • Hughes, Matthew. Of Whimsies & Noubles. PS Publishing, 2014. First edition hardback, #96 of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket.
  • Joyce, Graham. 25 Years in the Word Mines with Second Shift: More Tales from the Word Mines. PS Publishing, 2015. First edition hardback, #48 of 100 slipcased sets, a Fine copy in decorated boards (for both) and a Fine dust jacket (for 25 Years in a slipcase. Career retrospective for graham Joyce, who unfortunately died of cancer before it was published. Second Shift is signed by Ella Joyce, Owen King, and Kelly Braffet. I have one copy available though Lame Excuse Books, if you’re interested.
  • Lafferty, R. A. The Man With the Aura: Collected Short Fiction Part 2. Centipede Press, 2015. First edition hardback, #36 (matching the first volume) of 300 copies signed by introduction author Harlan Ellison, series editor John Pelan and designer Jacob McMurray, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, still in shrink wrap.
  • Lafferty, R.A. Sinbad: The Thirteenth Voyage. Broken Mirrors Press, 1989. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Traded a signed Howard Waldrop book to cover artist Lissanne Lake for it.

    Sinbad

  • (Lafferty, R. A.) Feast of Laughter Issue 1. Kistic Press, 2014. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. First volume in a new (and long overdue) series of non-fiction on Lafferty’s work. Bought from Amazon, because the publisher said it was cheaper that way than buying direct. (Indeed, it’s even available as a free download.) Oddly enough, Lissanne Lake did the cover for this as well…

    Feast of Laughter

  • (Lafferty, R. A.) Feast of Laughter Issue 2. Kistic Press, 2015. Another fine issue…
  • Lansdale, Joe R. Prisoner 489. Dark Regions Press, 2014 (i.e., 2015). First edition hardback, #278 of 400 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket in decorated boards, as issued.
  • Leckie, Ann. Ancillary Justice. Gale/Thorndike Press, 2015. First hardback edition (a Large Print edition preceded by the trade paperback original and which, in turn, precedes the Subterranean Press signed/limited edition), a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Hugo and Nebula winner for best novel.

    Ancillary justice LP

  • Leckie, Ann. Ancillary Justice. Subterranean Press, 2015. First signed/limited edition, and first non-Large print hardback, #170 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket.
  • Leiber, Fritz (edited by S. T. Joshi). Adept’s Gambit: The Original Version. Arcane Wisdom Press, 2014. First edition hardback, #322 of 500 numbered copies signed by Joshi, a Fine copy. Bought off eBay for $22.50.
  • (Lovecraft, H.P.) Joshi, S. T. H. P. Lovecraft: A Life. Necronomicon Press, 1996. First edition, one of only 250 signed hardbacks (the only hardback edition), a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a very tiny wrinkle at head. Widely considered to be the definitive Lovecraft biography until Joshi’s two volume expansion I Am Providence (which I also have) came out in 2010. The hardback of H. P. Lovecraft: A Life peaked around $500, but has since drifted down a bit. I bought this one from the publisher off eBay for $160.

    Lovecraft A Life

  • (Lovecraft, H. P.) Shreffler, Philip A. The Lovecraft Companion. Greenwood Press, 1977. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. One of the first broad critical companions to Lovecraft’s work, offering an in-depth summary of Lovecraft’s literary theory, plot summaries of all his stories, an encyclopedia of characters and monsters, and an in-depth look at Cthulhu Mythos monsters. An interesting high-level overview and “first cut” of Lovecraft criticism, from before S. T. Joshi turned it into a cottage industry, and pretty much all the topics covered here have been examined at much greater depth since. Currey (1979), page 332. Joshi, Lovecraft Bibliography, I-C-158. Tymn Schlobin Currey, 294. Bought off the Internet for $42.50. Scan shows surface wear to the dust jacket protector.

    Lovecraft Companion

  • (Lovecraft, H.P.) Books at Brown, 1991-1992, Volumes XXXVIII-XXIX. The Friends of the Library of Brown University, 1995. First edition academic journal, trade paperback format, a Near Fine copy with a slightly bent top outer corner. Features numerous essays on H. P. Lovecraft (the Providence native for which the Brown library contains considerable holdings), including work from S. T. Joshi, Peter Canon, Robert Price, etc.

    Books at Brown

  • (Lovecraft, H.P.) Pedersen, Nate, editor. The Starry Wisdom Library: A Catalogue of the Greatest Occult Book Auction of All Time. PS Publishing, 2014. Mock catalog of Lovecraftian tomes of forbidden knowledge.
  • (Lovecraft, H.P.) Schweitzer, Darrell. That Is Not Dead: Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos Through the Centuries. PS Publishing, 2015.
  • Lumley, Brian. Tales of the Primal Land. Subterranean Press, 2015. #117 of 250 signed, numbered copies.
  • Lumley, Brian. Tales of the Primal Land. Subterranean Press, 2015. Trade edition.
  • Martin, George R. R. Portraits of His Children. Dark Harvest, 1987. First edition hardback, #OO of 52 signed, lettered copies bound in white leather, a Fine copy in a Fine wooden “slipcrate” slipcase, sans dust jacket, as issued. Zealzny provides the introduction (“A Sketch of Their Father”) and a signature. I always thought the Dark Harvest slipcrates were attractive productions, and I’m happy to have one in my library. Supplements a trade edition. Chalker/Owings, page 119.

    IMG_0383

  • Martin, George R. R., editor. Wild Cards. Bantam Spectra/SFBC, 1987. First hardback edition (book club), preceded by the trade paperback original, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with edgewear at points. Shared world superhero anthology which includes the Zelazny story “The Sleeper.” Man, seems like every single edition of the early Wild Cards books had ugly covers…
  • Martin, George R. R., editor. Wild Cards. Bantam Spectra, 1987. Uncorrected page proofs (trade paperback format) of the hardback first edition, a Fine copy. Shared world superhero anthology which includes the Zelazny story “The Sleeper.”

    Wild Cards proof

  • McCammon, Robert R. The Border. Subterranean Press, 2015. Signed by McCammon.
  • Moody, Rick. Garden State. Pushcart Press, 1992. Presumed first edition hardback (no additional printings stated), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Author’s first book. Sent to me by Temporary Culture publisher Henry Wessells. Thanks, Henry!
  • Moorcock, Michael. The Whispering Swarm. Tor, 2014. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Moorcock. Seems to be both a roman a clef of growing up in London, as well as a world shift fantasy.
  • Niven, Larry. A Hole In Space. Ballantine Books, 1974. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine copy with touches of general wear. Currey (1979), page 387.
  • Powers, Tim. Dinner at Deviants Palace. Chatto & Windus, 1986. First trade hardback, first UK hardback, and first non-book club hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Berlyne, Powers: Secret Histories, A5c.1.
  • Powers, Tim. Nobody’s Home. Subterranean Press, 2014. First edition hardback, #277 of 474 signed numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and printed cloth slipcase. Supplements my copy of the trade edition, which precedes, as this slipcased edition was not shipped until 2015.
  • Simak, Clifford. City. Gnome Press, 1952. First edition hardback, a Near Fine- copy with slight spine lean and previous owner’s name and date on front free endpaper) in a Near Fine+ dust jacket with a few pinhead sized spots of discoloration on dust jacket flaps and along top flap edges, and extremely slight dust-staining to white rear panel; an exceptionally nice example of the dust jacket. One of Simak’s key works, and one of the more desirable Gnome Press titles. Chalker & Owings (1991), page 199. Currey (1979), page 446. Kemp, The Anthem Series, page 208. Won for $200 from Heritage Auctions.

    City

    Sladek, John. Mechasm. First edition paperback original under this title (published earlier in the UK as The Reproductive System) and first U.S. edition, a Very Good copy with a small, faint 1/4″ stamp at heel, edgewear, stamp on blurb page, and faint spine creasing. Inscribed by Sladek: “For Scott,/John Sladek”. Formerly Scott Cupp’s copy. Currey (1979), page 450. Bought for $5 at Half Price Books.

    Mechasm

    Sladek mechasm sig

  • Sloane, William. The Edge of Running Water. Farrar and Reinhart, 1939. First edition hardback, a Very Good+ copy with slight bumping at head and heel, foxing to gutters, darkening of endpapers and slight age darkening to pages, in a Good only dust jacket with a 1/2″ to 1/4″ loss at head, loss at points, long thin crease, 2″ closed tear, dust staining and wrinkling to rear panel, creasing and tear at bottom front edge, and additional shallow chipping at edges and general wear. Bleiler, Guide to Supernatural Fiction, 1482. Bleiler, Checklist of Science Fiction and Supernatural Fiction (1978), page 181. Crawford, Donahue and Grant, 333, page 56. Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy I, page 200. Barron, Horror Literature, 3-181. Bought from Currey for $50.

    Edge of Running Water

  • Smith, Clark Ashton (Johnson, Raymond F. and Ardath Winterowd, editors). Shadows Seen and Unseen. HTH Art Studio, 2007. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket over decorated boards, signed by the editors. Odd miscellanea of poems, facsimile manuscripts, drawings, paintings, and non-fiction about Smith from various sources. An oversized, 94 page hardback.

    Shadows Seen

    Smith, Edward E., Ph.D. Second Stage Lensmen. Fantasy Press, 1953. First edition hardback, Currey Binding A (blue cloth lettered in gold), first issue, #368 of 500 numbered copies signed by Smith, a Very Good+ copy with large square of discoloration to inside front cover due to a bookplate (now laid in; see below) and a few instances of light spotting to boards, in a Near Fine- dust jacket with a couple of closed 1/2″ tears, modest edgewear at head, heel and points, and slight soiling to the rear cover, but otherwise a nice intact and very bright example of the dust jacket. Inscribed by Smith (as the subscriber copies frequently were): “To Joseph R. Brady,/Three in a row – Hot Dog! [Tic Tac Tow Game]/With sincere appreciation/Of your continued interest—/Edward E. Smith, Ph.D.” (Though it seems a fulsome personal inscription, it’s quite similar to the one I have in my subscriber copy of Skylark Three to another subscriber.) Currey (1979), page 456. Chalker and Owings (1991), page 161. Kemp, The Anthem Series, page 41. Lucchetti, Doc: First Galactic Roamer, page 60. Won for $121.50 off eBay.

    2nd Stage Lensmen

    Second Stage Lensmen Signature

    Second Stage Lensmen Bookplate

  • Smith, James Robert and Stephen Mark Rainey, editors. Evermore. Arkham House, 2006. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Edgar Allen Poe tribute anthology. Bought for $14 off eBay.
  • Stapledon, Olaf. Last and First Men. Methuen, 1930. First edition hardback, first state, as per Currey (2002), with 8-page publisher’s catalog at rear dated 630, a Very Good- copy with FFE excised and slight loss to paper at gutter, foxing to gutter, moderate spotting to outer page block edges, a small circular stamp reading “Dempsters Clenferrie” (possibly an Australian bookstore stamp) on half title page, and a few sports to first few pages, lacking the dust jacket. His acclaimed epic novel describing several million years of future human evolution.
  • Stapledon, Olaf. Odd John. Methuen, 1935. First edition hardback, first state binding (light blue binding lettered in dark blue) in Currey (2002) A2 issue (catalog at rear dated 835, no priority between issues 1 and 2), a Very Good- copy with lightened spots on spine, slight spine lean, modest wear at heel and points, and spots of foxing to first few pages, lacking the dust jacket. His celebrated novel of a mental superman.

    P1000946

  • Swanwick, Michael. Hunting the Phoenix. Dragonstairs Press, 2015. First edition hardback (“archival board wrappers covered with hand-dyed rice paper, with a stab binding ornamented with a single aventurine bead”), #6 of 30 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued, new and unread. Sort of an in-progress illustrated sketchbook for a Swanwick novel, more impressionistic colored line art than narrative. If it’s not the strangest Swanwick item yet, it’s tied with the hardback state of Puck Aleshire’s Abecedary. Bought for $30 from the publisher.
  • Swanwick, Michael. Season’s Greetings. Dragonstairs Press, 2014. First edition chapbook original, #18 of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy. I should be able to pick up copies of this to sell through Lame Excuse Books later in the year.

    Swanwick X 2

  • Thorburn, Wayne. Red State: An Insider’s Story of How the GOP Came to Dominate Texas Politics. University of Texas Press, 2014. Non-fiction.
  • Updike, John. The Witches of Eastwick. Franklin Press, 1984. First edition hardback, a limited edition signed by Updike (which precedes the trade edition), a Fine copy in decorated leather boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Pringle, Modern Fantasy 100 91. Bought off eBay for $19.99.

    P1000963

    P1000967

  • (Vance, Jack) Andre-Driussi, Michael. Handbook of Vance Space. Sirius Fiction, 2014. Non-fiction critical companion to the galactic setting shared by most of his science fiction.
  • Weinbaum, Stanley G. A Martian Odyssey and Others. Fantasy Press, 1949. First edition hardback (trade state), a Near Fine- copy with one small indention to top edge of front board, faint dust staining to top page block, and slight foxing to gutters, in a Very Good dust jacket with about 1/16th inch chipping loss at head, heel and points, a thin 1/4″ nick in the middle of the spine, one closed 1/4″ tear to top rear, and a tiny bit of dust soiling to rear cover. Actually a very presentable copy of a key small press collection of one of the most important pre-Golden Age SF writers, and a book I’ve wanted for quite a while. Currey (1979), page 511. Chalker/Owings (1991), page 159. Kemp, The Anthem Series, page 27. Bought for $34.66 off eBay.

    Martian Odyssey

    Wells, H. G. Select Conversations With an Uncle (Now Extinct). John Lane, 1895. First edition hardback (sixteen pages of ads inserted at back, as per Currey), a Very Good copy with wear to bottom boards, wear at head and heel, a thin 1″ white line (possibly white out or white paint) across top rear, and slight wear along font boards, otherwise fairly nice, with gilt scratched but otherwise complete at head. Includes Larry McMurtry’s ownership plate, which features the brand from his father’s ranch. Twelve conversations (all fictional) and two short stories. Currey, page 522. H. G. Wells: A Comprehensive Bibliography, 3. Bought at auction for $6, or $20 with buyer’s premium.

    P1000969

    P1000972

    P1000974

  • Westerfeld, Scott. The Manual of Aeronautics. Simon Pulse, 2012. Illustrated non-fiction guide to Westerfeld’s Steampunk Leviathan universe. Bought for $4.99 at Half Price Books.
  • Wolfe, Gene. The Land Across. PS Publishing, 2014. First limited edition hardback, #18 of 200 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket.
  • Wolfe, Gene. Soldier of Sidon. Tor, 2006. Third Latro book.
  • Zelazny, Roger. “And Only I Escaped To Tell Thee.” Carbon copy of original typed manuscript. This and all the rest of the Zelazny books listed in this post were part of a large collection of Roger Zelazny books, manuscripts and correspondence described here.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Blood of Amber. Arbor House, 1986. Uncorrected proof (trade paperback format) of the hardback first edition, a Fine- copy with phantom crease the length of rear cover, with review slip (with sticker signed by Zelazny affixed to it) laid in. Kovacs, Ia.

    Blood of Amber proof

  • Zelazny, Roger. Bridge of Ashes. Gregg Press, 1979. First hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Zelazny. Supplements an unsigned hardback. Levack, 2e. Kovacs, I3b.
  • Zelazny, Roger. “The Burning.” One page typewritten poem.
  • Zelazny, Roger. “A City Divided.” Original typed manuscript with numerous hand-corrections.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Archive material about various Amber novels from various people, most concerning The Courts of Chaos in one way or another, including a handwritten six page synopsis of The Courts of Chaos by Zelazny, followed by the typed version of the same synopsis, plus letters to (originals) and from (apparently file carbon copies) Zelazny on the subject.
  • Zelazny, Roger. “The Cyborg Connection.” Original typed manuscript with numerous hand-corrections, with a carbon copy of the second draft. This story would later be published as “Halfjack.”
  • Zelazny, Roger. Dilvish the Damned. Del Rey, no date (but probably 1981 or 82). Unbound long galleys (the very first proof state of the book production cycle, pages age darkened but otherwise Fine, unbound but gathered into signature sheets. Kovacs, I15a.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Doorways in the Sand. Harper & Row, 1976. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Zelazny, with an additional signed note laid in “To David, This copy of Doorways in the Sand, being the chronicles of both Fred Cassidy and a Hugo and Nebula finalist.” Atypically, both the note and signature are printed rather than in Zelazny’s elegant cursive handwriting. While I wouldn’t swear it’s Zelazny’s handwriting, it’s not entirely dissimilar to other examples I have of it. Currey, page 570. Levack, 13a. Kovacs, I17b.
  • Zelazny, Roger. The Dream Master. Rupert Hart Davis, 1968. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a trace of dust staining along very top edge and at heel spine join, with sticker for Henry Morison Inc. (Zelazny’s literary agent) affixed to front free endpaper. Signed by Zelazny. Currey, page 570. Levack, 14b. Kovacs, I18b.
  • Zelazny, Roger. “Fire and/or Ice.” Original hand-corrected typescript, including one hand-written manuscript page.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Four for Tomorrow. Garland Press, 1975. First hardback edition under this title (issued in UK hardback as A Rose for Ecclesiastes), a Fine copy in a Fine aftermarket dust jacket Bob photo-produced from the Ace paperback edition that Garland used to print the plates from. With a a title page of the Ace paperback inscribed by Zelazny (“Many a good wish/to you/Roger Zelazny/ 7/6/84”) laid in. Replaces an unsigned ex-library copy. Currey, page 570. Levack, 17f. Kovacs, V11f.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Frost and Fire. William Morrow and Company, 1989. Uncorrected bound galleys (or so it says; actually a trade paperback format proof), a Fine copy, signed by Zelazny. Kovacs, V12a.

    Zelazny Frost and Fire Proof

  • Zelazny, Roger. “Garden of Blood.” Carbon copy typed story manuscript.
  • Zelazny, Roger. “The George Business.” Carbon copy typed story manuscript, with multiple signed letters from Dragon Tales editor Orson Scott Card accepting the story, apologizing for delayed payment, etc., along with a signed signature plate by Card.
  • Zelazny, Roger. “Go Starless Into That Night.” Carbon copy of original typed manuscript, with two acceptance letters from editor Jim Baen.
  • Zelazny, Roger. The Hand of Oberon. Doubleday, 1976. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with one closed 1/4″ tear at bottom rear, with review slip laid in. Inscribed by Zelazny: “With all good wishes,/Roger Zelazny.” Currey, page 570. Levack, 19a. Kovacs, I23a.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Isle of the Dead. Rapp & Whiting, 1970. First hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a tiny bit of edgewear at extremities. Inscribed by Zelazny: “To Willi/Every kind of good/wish./Best,/ Roger Zelazny/ 3/27/82.” Supplements an unsigned copy. Currey, page 570. Levack, 21b. Kovacs, I25b.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Original ribbon-copy, hand-corrected first draft manuscript for Knight of Shadows, with two letters of authenticity from Zelazny, and the manuscript signed twice by him (on the first and last pages) in 1989. Although Zelazny was already a celebrated author at the time, he still displayed thrifty habits by typing out his manuscript on the back of whatever 8 1/2″ x 11″ scrap paper he had lying around, be it government forms, convention flyers, flyers for the Santa Fe Opera Company, and pages (presumably photocopies of works sent to Zelazny to critique or review) from other author’s manuscripts, including pages from Tom Deitz’s Fireshaper’s Doom and Jeffrey Carver’s From a Changeling Star.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Knight of Shadows. William Morrow and Company, 1989. Uncorrected bound galleys (or so it says; actually a trade paperback format proof), a Near Fine+ copy with slight fading to spine and small crease to bottom font corner, signed by Zelazny. Kovacs, I27a.

    Knight of Shadows proof

  • Zelazny, Roger. The Last Defender of Camelot. Underwood/Miler, 1980. First edition chapbook original, simultaneous with the extremely small hardback run (which I picked up in my previous Zelazny purchase), #265 of 275 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, in issued manila envelope. Levack, 23a. Kovacs, VIIIa. I now have something like eight different items with this title…

    Last Defender Chapbook

  • Zelazny, Roger. “The Last of the Wild Ones.” Carbon copy of original typed manuscript.
  • Zelazny, Roger. “LP Me Thee.” One page typewritten poem.
  • Zelazny, Roger. My Name is Legion. Faber & Faber, 1979. First hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Zelazny. Levack, 27h. Kovacs, I32c.
  • Zelazny, Roger. A Night on the Lonesome October. Avon Books, 1993. Advanced uncorrected proof of the hardback first edition, a Fine copy. Signed by both Zelazny and cover artist Gahan Wilson. Kovacs, I33a.

    Lonesome October Proof

  • Zelazny, Roger. “Richard Lupoff’s Sword of the Demon.” Extremely short review/piece of non-fiction. Appeared in Starlog’s SF Yearbook Volume 1, edited by David Gerrold and compiled by David Truesdale.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Roadmarks. Del Rey, 1979. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, with review slip laid in. Signed by Zelazny. Levack, 31a. Kovacs, I37z.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Second draft photocopy of the manuscript for Sign of Chaos, showing the hand-corrections in the first draft, with further corrections by Zelazny in red, along with a four page style guide for spelling the names of the characters, etc. in the book.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Sign of Chaos. Arbor House, 1987. Proof (trade paperback format) of the hardback first edition, a Fine copy in a Fine proof state dust jacket (no copy or price on back cover, spine or flaps). Signed by Zelazny. Kovacs, I38a.
  • Zelazny, Roger. The Sign of the Unicorn. Doubleday, 1975. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a trace of dust soiling to white rear cover. Signed by Zelazny. Currey, page 571. Levack, 33a. Kovacs, I39a.
  • Zelazny, Roger. “Stand Pat, Ruby Stone.” Carbon copy story manuscript.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Today We Choose Faces. Millington, 1973. First hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Zelazny. Currey, page 571. Levack, 37b. Kovacs, I42a.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Untitled poem, later published as “To Spin Is Miracle Cat.” One page typewritten poem.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Trumps of Doom. Arbor House, 1985. Proof (trade paperback format) of the hardback first edition, a Fine copy in a Fine proof dust jacket (no copy or price on back cover, spine or flaps). Signed by Zelazny. Kovacs, I43a.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Trumps of Doom. Underwood/Miller, 1985. First limited hardback edition, #316 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket in a Very Good+ suede slipcase that has some brown dampstaining discoloration along the spine. Kovacs, I43c.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Unicorn Variations. Timescape Books, 1983. Advanced uncorrected proof of the hardback first edition, a Fine copy, signed by Zelazny. Kovacs, V21a.

    Unicorn Variations Proof

  • Zelazny, Roger. “A Very Good Year.” Original hand-corrected typescript of the first draft, and a carbon-copy of the second draft.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Original hand-written first draft for story “Walpurgisnacht” on yellow lined legal paper, 5 pages long.
  • Zelazny, Roger. “The White Beasts.” Original hand-corrected typescript, plus carbon of corrected story.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Some 30 pages of correspondence between Zelazny and editor/packager Byron Preiss, most concerning The Illustrated Roger Zelazny, including copies of B&W sketches and a page of original colored pencil art by Gray Morrow for the project.
  • Zelazny, Roger, and Robert Sheckley. Several pages of correspondence between Zelazny (carbons) and Robert Sheckley (originals) concerning three stories for an anthology, plus a small autographed note to “Bob” from Zelazny.
  • Various other letters to Zelazny, some with replies.
  • Zelazny, Roger, editor. Warriors of Blood and Dream. AvoNova, 1995. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine+ copy with number “34” written across inside cover EAC code and foxing to inside covers. Anthology. Kovacs, IX7a.
  • Zelazny, Roger, editor. Wheel of Fortune. AvoNova, 1995. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine- copy with slight spine creasing and foxing to insider covers. Anthology. Kovacs, IX8a.
  • (Zelazny, Roger) Neil Randall. Combat Command in the World of Roger Zelazny’s Nine Princes in Amber: The Black Road War. Ace, 1988. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with just a trace of edgewear, otherwise new and unread. Sort of a strategic pick-your-own-path adventure. Kovacs, X8a. I had one of these about a decade ago that I sold on eBay for $25…
  • (Zelazny, Roger) Stephen, Christopher P. A Checklist of Roger Zelazny. Ultramarine, 1993. revised edition. Non-fiction chapbook, since superseded by the Kovacs bibliography. Kovacs, XXIII3b.

    Zelazny Checklist

  • Library Addition: Another Major Collection of Roger Zelazny Books and Manuscripts

    Monday, June 29th, 2015

    I recently bought another $6,000 worth of (mostly) Roger Zelazny manuscripts and first editions from Bob Pylant, and it has taken me a while to catalog all of it. (See a listing of my previous $5,400 purchase from Bob here.) As with my earlier purchase from him, Bob had meticulously placed every page of the manuscripts into a plastic page protectors (save the last few pages of Sign of Chaos (see below), where he ran out), and placed them all into binders, many of which included multiple stories and related archive material, including correspondence between Zelazny (generally carbon copies) and his editors (almost always originals). Below is a brief summary of each that doesn’t quite get down to the level of an actual archival description (there are only so many hours in the day). And since this is such a long post already, I’ve only included scans or pictures of books I thought there weren’t good copies of on the Internet (mostly the proofs).

    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.
  • Original Zelazny Book Manuscripts

  • Zelazny, Roger. Archive material about various Amber novels from various people, most concerning The Courts of Chaos in one way or another, including a handwritten six page synopsis of The Courts of Chaos by Zelazny, followed by the typed version of the same synopsis, plus letters to (originals) and from (apparently file carbon copies) Zelazny on the subject.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Dilvish the Damned. Del Rey, no date (but probably 1981 or 82). Unbound long galleys (the very first proof state of the book production cycle), pages age darkened but otherwise Fine, unbound but gathered into signature sheets. Kovacs, I15a.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Original ribbon-copy, hand-corrected first draft manuscript for Knight of Shadows, with two letters of authenticity from Zelazny, and the manuscript signed twice by him (on the first and last pages) in 1989. Although Zelazny was already a celebrated author at the time, he still displayed thrifty habits by typing out his manuscript on the back of whatever 8 1/2″ x 11″ scrap paper he had lying around, be it government forms, convention flyers, flyers for the Santa Fe Opera Company, and pages (presumably photocopies of works sent to Zelazny to critique or review) from other author’s manuscripts, including pages from Tom Deitz’s Fireshaper’s Doom and Jeffrey Carver’s From a Changeling Star.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Second draft photocopy of the manuscript for Sign of Chaos, showing the hand-corrections in the first draft, with further corrections by Zelazny in red, along with a four page style guide for spelling the names of the characters, etc. in the book.
  • Original Zelazny Short Story Manuscripts, etc.

  • Zelazny, Roger. “And Only I Escaped To Tell Thee.” Carbon copy of original typed manuscript.
  • Zelazny, Roger. “The Burning.” One page typewritten poem.
  • Zelazny, Roger. “A City Divided.” Original typed manuscript with numerous hand-corrections.
  • Zelazny, Roger. “The Cyborg Connection.” Original typed manuscript with numerous hand-corrections, with a carbon copy of the second draft. This story would later be published as “Halfjack.”
  • Zelazny, Roger. “Fire and/or Ice.” Original hand-corrected typescript, including one hand-written manuscript page.
  • Zelazny, Roger. “Richard Lupoff’s Sword of the Demon.” Extremely short review/piece of non-fiction. Appeared in Starlog’s SF Yearbook Volume 1, edited by David Gerrold and compiled by David Truesdale.
  • Zelazny, Roger. “Garden of Blood.” Carbon copy typed story manuscript.
  • Zelazny, Roger. “The George Business.” Carbon copy typed story manuscript, with multiple signed letters from Dragon Tales editor Orson Scott Card accepting the story, apologizing for delayed payment, etc., along with a signed signature plate by Card.
  • Zelazny, Roger. “Go Starless Into That Night.” Carbon copy of original typed manuscript, with two acceptance letters from editor Jim Baen.
  • Zelazny, Roger. “The Last of the Wild Ones.” Carbon copy of original typed manuscript.
  • Zelazny, Roger. “LP Me Thee.” One page typewritten poem.
  • Zelazny, Roger. “Stand Pat, Ruby Stone.” Carbon copy story manuscript.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Untitled poem, later published as “To Spin Is Miracle Cat.” One page typewritten poem.
  • Zelazny, Roger. “A Very Good Year.” Original hand-corrected typescript of the first draft, and a carbon-copy of the second draft.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Original hand-written first draft for story “Walpurgisnacht” on yellow lined legal paper, 5 pages long.
  • Zelazny, Roger. “The White Beasts.” Original hand-corrected typescript, plus carbon of corrected story.
  • Correspondence Archives

  • Donaldson, Stephen R. One page typed signed letter to Zelazny inviting him to a party.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Some 30 pages of correspondence between Zelazny and editor/packager Byron Preiss, most concerning The Illustrated Roger Zelazny, including copies of B&W sketches and a page of original colored pencil art by Gray Morrow for the project.
  • Zelazny, Roger, and Robert Sheckley. Several pages of correspondence between Zelazny (carbons) and Robert Sheckley (originals) concerning three stories for an anthology, plus a small autographed note to “Bob” from Zelazny.
  • Various other letters to Zelazny, some with replies.
  • Roger Zelazny Hardback First Editions

    I had all but a couple of these, but all these copies are Fine/Fine and signed by Zelazny.

  • Zelazny, Roger. Bridge of Ashes. Gregg Press, 1979. First hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Zelazny. Supplements an unsigned hardback. Levack, 2e. Kovacs, I3b.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Doorways in the Sand. Harper & Row, 1976. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Zelazny, with an additional signed note laid in “To David, This copy of Doorways in the Sand, being the chronicles of both Fred Cassidy and a Hugo and Nebula finalist.” Atypically, both the note and signature are printed rather than in Zelazny’s elegant cursive handwriting. While I wouldn’t swear it’s Zelazny’s handwriting, it’s not entirely dissimilar to other examples I have of it. Currey, page 570. Levack, 13a. Kovacs, I17b.
  • Zelazny, Roger. The Dream Master. Rupert Hart Davis, 1968. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a trace of dust staining along very top edge and at heel spine join, with sticker for Henry Morison Inc. (Zelazny’s literary agent) affixed to front free endpaper. Signed by Zelazny. Currey, page 570. Levack, 14b. Kovacs, I18b.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Four for Tomorrow. Garland Press, 1975. First hardback edition under this title (issued in UK hardback as A Rose for Ecclesiastes), a Fine copy in a Fine aftermarket dust jacket Bob photo-produced from the Ace paperback edition that Garland used to print the plates from. With a title page of the Ace paperback inscribed by Zelazny (“Many a good wish/to you/Roger Zelazny/ 7/6/84”) laid in. Replaces an unsigned ex-library copy. Currey, page 570. Levack, 17f. Kovacs, V11f.
  • Zelazny, Roger. The Hand of Oberon. Doubleday, 1976. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with one closed 1/4″ tear at bottom rear, with review slip laid in. Inscribed by Zelazny: “With all good wishes,/Roger Zelazny.” Currey, page 570. Levack, 19a. Kovacs, I23a.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Isle of the Dead. Rapp & Whiting, 1970. First hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a tiny bit of edgewear at extremities. Inscribed by Zelazny: “To Willi/Every kind of good/wish./Best,/ Roger Zelazny/ 3/27/82.” Supplements an unsigned copy. Currey, page 570. Levack, 21b. Kovacs, I25b.
  • Zelazny, Roger. My Name is Legion. Faber & Faber, 1979. First hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Zelazny. Levack, 27h. Kovacs, I32c.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Roadmarks. Del Rey, 1979. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, with review slip laid in. Signed by Zelazny. Levack, 31a. Kovacs, I37z.
  • Zelazny, Roger. The Sign of the Unicorn. Doubleday, 1975. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a trace of dust soiling to white rear cover. Signed by Zelazny. Currey, page 571. Levack, 33a. Kovacs, I39a.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Today We Choose Faces. Millington, 1973. First hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Zelazny. Currey, page 571. Levack, 37b. Kovacs, I42a.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Trumps of Doom. Underwood/Miller, 1985. First limited hardback edition, #316 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket in a Very Good+ suede slipcase that has some brown dampstaining discoloration along the spine. Kovacs, I43c.

    Roger Zelazny Trade Paperback, Proofs, and Chapbooks

  • Zelazny, Roger. Blood of Amber. Arbor House, 1986. Uncorrected proof (trade paperback format) of the hardback first edition, a Fine- copy with phantom crease the length of rear cover, with review slip (with sticker signed by Zelazny affixed to it) laid in. Kovacs, Ia.

    Blood of Amber proof

  • Zelazny, Roger. Frost and Fire. William Morrow and Company, 1989. Uncorrected bound galleys (or so it says; actually a trade paperback format proof), a Fine copy, signed by Zelazny. Kovacs, V12a.

    Zelazny Frost and Fire Proof

  • Zelazny, Roger. Knight of Shadows. William Morrow and Company, 1989. Uncorrected bound galleys (or so it says; actually a trade paperback format proof), a Near Fine+ copy with slight fading to spine and small crease to bottom font corner, signed by Zelazny. Kovacs, I27a.

    Knight of Shadows proof

  • Zelazny, Roger. The Last Defender of Camelot. Underwood/Miller, 1980. First edition chapbook original, simultaneous with the extremely small hardback run (which I picked up in my previous Zelazny purchase from Bob), #265 of 275 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, in issued manila envelope. Levack, 23a. Kovacs, VIIIa. I now have something like eight different items with this title…

    Last Defender Chapbook

  • Zelazny, Roger. A Night on the Lonesome October. Avon Books, 1993. Advanced uncorrected proof of the hardback first edition, a Fine copy. Signed by both Zelazny and cover artist Gahan Wilson. Kovacs, I33a.

    Lonesome October Proof

  • Zelazny, Roger. Sign of Chaos. Arbor House, 1987. Proof (trade paperback format) of the hardback first edition, a Fine copy in a Fine proof state dust jacket (no copy or price on back cover, spine or flaps). Signed by Zelazny. Kovacs, I38a.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Trumps of Doom. Arbor House, 1985. Proof (trade paperback format) of the hardback first edition, a Fine copy in a Fine proof dust jacket (no copy or price on back cover, spine or flaps). Signed by Zelazny. Kovacs, I43a.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Unicorn Variations. Timescape Books, 1983. Advanced uncorrected proof of the hardback first edition, a Fine copy, signed by Zelazny. Kovacs, V21a.

    Unicorn Variations Proof

  • (Zelazny, Roger) Stephen, Christopher P. A Checklist of Roger Zelazny. Ultramarine, 1993. revised edition. Non-fiction chapbook, since superseded by the Kovacs bibliography. Kovacs, XXIII3b

    Zelazny Checklist

    Roger Zelazny Paperbacks

  • Zelazny, Roger, editor. Warriors of Blood and Dream. AvoNova, 1995. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine+ copy with number “34” written across inside cover EAC code and foxing to inside covers. Anthology. Kovacs, IX7a.
  • Zelazny, Roger, editor. Wheel of Fortune. AvoNova, 1995. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine- copy with slight spine creasing and foxing to insider covers. Anthology. Kovacs, IX8a.
  • (Zelazny, Roger) Neil Randall. Combat Command in the World of Roger Zelazny’s Nine Princes in Amber: The Black Road War. Ace, 1988. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with just a trace of edgewear, otherwise new and unread. Sort of a strategic pick-your-own-path adventure. Kovacs, X8a. I had one of these about a decade ago that I sold on eBay for $25…
  • First Editions By Other Authors (Some Related to Zelazny)

    And here are books not by or about Zelazny, but some have contributions from Zelazny or some other connection to him.

  • Banks, Iain M. The Algebraist. Orbit, 2004. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Banks. Supplements an unsigned first.
  • Banks, Iain M. Player of Games. Macmillian (UK), 1988. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Banks. Supplements an unsigned first.
  • Bova, Ben, editor. (Roger Zelazny) The Best of Omni Science Fiction. Omni Society, 1980. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight wear in a Very Good dust jacket with shallow chipping at points, rubbing to rear cover, a 1/2″ closed tear, and general wear. Roger Zelazny’s personal contributor’s copy (for the story “Halfjack” (see above)), with two signed typed letters from Omni editor Ben Bova laid in.
  • Cahill, James, editor. Ten Tales. James Cahill Publishing, 1994. First edition hardback, one of only 26 unnumbered “Author Copies”, a Fine- copy (gilt letters on spine are showing small spots of what might be oxidation) in a Very Good only slipcase with spotting and uneven fading, sans dust jacket, as issued. Original anthology with the Zelazny story “The Salesman’s Tale.” There was also a 250 copy numbered edition. (Chalker and Owings Supplement Three calls for a 26 copy leatherbound edition; this copy is bound in cloth with a cloth slipcase.)
  • Martin, George R. R. Portraits of His Children. Dark Harvest, 1987. First edition hardback, # OO of 52 signed, lettered copies bound in white leather, a Fine copy in a Fine wooden “slipcrate” slipcase, sans dust jacket, as issued. Zealzny provides the introduction (“A Sketch of Their Father”) and a signature. I always thought the Dark Harvest slipcrates were attractive productions, and I’m happy to have one in my library. Supplements a trade edition. Chalker/Owings, page 119.

    IMG_0383

  • Martin, George R. R., editor. Wild Cards. Bantam Spectra/SFBC, 1987. First hardback edition (book club), preceded by the paperback original, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with edgewear at points. Shared world superhero anthology which includes the Zelazny story “The Sleeper.” Man, seems like every single edition of the early Wild Cards books had ugly covers…
  • Martin, George R. R., editor. Wild Cards. Bantam Spectra, 1987. Uncorrected page proofs (trade paperback format) of the hardback first edition, a Fine copy. Shared world superhero anthology which includes the Zelazny story “The Sleeper.”

    Wild Cards proof

  • Powers, Tim. Dinner at Deviants Palace. Chatto & Windus, 1986. First trade hardback, first UK hardback, and first non-book club hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Berlyne, Powers: Secret Histories, A5c.1.
  • Roger Zelazny Books I Still Lack

    Still have a few stray “fill out” Zelazny titles I haven’t been able to track down yet:

  • The Doors of His Face, The Lamps of His Mouth (Pulphouse hardback of just that story)
  • (as editor) The Williamson Effect (Tor, 1996) (It’s not hard to find, I’m just looking for a perfect copy)
  • 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)
  • Library Additions: Random Interesting Books

    Monday, December 15th, 2014

    A few of these are from a mostly-disappointing book shopping jaunt around Houston the day after Thanksgiving, plus two from eBay.

  • Banks, Iain. The Steep Approach to Garbadale. Little/Brown, 2007. First edition hardback, a limited edition of 1000 numbered copies signed by Banks distributed through the Waterstone’s bookstore chain, a Fine copy in a Fine slipcase, sans dust jacket as issued. Supplements a trade copy.

    P1000915

  • Bradbury, Ray. A Graveyard for Lunatics. Knopf, 1990. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Bradbury. Bought for $19.99 off eBay.

    Bradbury Grave Signature

  • Brooks, Max. World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War. Crown, 2006. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket. Bought for $12 at Quarter-Price Books in Houston, which is conveniently close to Joel’s Classical Shop.
  • Ford, John M. Growing Up Weightless. Easton Press, 1993. First hardback edition, one of an undetermined number of signed subscriber copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued, in decorated leather boards. Bought from Half Price Books for $35.

    Growing Up Weightless

  • Niffenegger, Audrey. The Time Traveler’s Wife. MacAdam/Cage, 2003. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Bought for $20 at Half Price Books. Replaces a less perfect copy.

    Time Traveler's Wife

  • Science Fiction Necrology: 2013–2014

    Thursday, July 10th, 2014

    Joe Pumelia asked me to put together a quick necrology of notable science fiction figures who have died over the last 18 months for his forthcoming fanzine, a roll-call which is depressingly extensive and filled with world-class talent. Here’s a quick and dirty list that just hits the highlights of writers (and one artist) who have died in that time, along with select top works for those unfamiliar with their output to pursue.

  • Aaron Allston (December 8, 1960 – February 27, 2014): Texas writer best known for his gaming and media tie-in work. See: Doc Sidhe (a Doc Savage homage).
  • Iain Banks (16 February 1954 – 9 June 2013): Notable Scottish writer who penned both celebrated mainstream novels and (as Iain M. Banks) swell science fiction. Died entirely too young from cancer. See: The Wasp Factory, The Bridge, Player of Games.
  • Neal Barrett, Jr (November 3, 1929 – January 12, 2014): The dean of weird Texas science fiction writers. See: The Hereafter Gang and the stories in Perpetuity Blues.
  • Tom Clancy (April 12, 1947 – October 1, 2013): Bestselling technothriller writer, some of whose work qualified as near-future SF. See: The Hunt for Red October and Red Storm Rising.
  • Basil Copper (February 5, 1924 – April 3, 2013): English horror writer who had four books published by Arkham House.
  • H.R. Giger (February 5, 1940 – May 12, 2014): Brilliant and darkly disturbing Swiss artist. Responsible for the Xenomorph creature design in the movie Alien.
  • Rick Hautala (February 3, 1949 – March 21, 2013): Prolific horror writer who had many books published by Zebra, and was a recipient of the Horror Writers of America Lifetime Achievement Award.
  • James Herbert (8 April 1943 – 20 March 2013): British horror writer. His novel The Fog was made into the John Carpenter movie.
  • Daniel Keyes (August 9, 1927 – June 15, 2014): Writer famous for only one work, but it was a doozy: “Flowers for Algernon”.
  • Jay Lake (June 6, 1964 – June 1, 2014): A young writer who exploded in a supernova of productivity, only to be struck down in his prime by the recurring cancer whose fight he documented in his blog. See: Mainspring and the stories in The Sky That Wraps.
  • Doris Lessing (October 22, 1919 – November 17, 2013): Nobel Prize-winning writer, some of whose books used genre settings or tropes.
  • Richard Matheson (February 20, 1926 – June 23, 2013): A writer with a long and illustrious career in science fiction and horror, most famous for works adapted for TV or movies, including numerous scripts for the original Twilight Zone. See: I Am Legend (filmed three times, and they still haven’t gotten it right), The Shrinking Man, The Night Stalker, “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet,” “Little Girl Lost,” “Duel,” and “He Who Kills” (the Zuni fetish doll segment of Trilogy of Terror).
  • Andrew J. Offutt (or andrew j. offutt, as he preferred to spell it) (August 16, 1934 – April 30, 2013): Prolific SF/F writer, including work in the Thieves World shared-universe.
  • Frederik Pohl (November 26, 1919 – September 2, 2013): A giant from the golden age who had a career revival in the 1970s. Wrote collaborations with C.M. Kornbluth and Jack Williamson, and was a noted editor. See: Gateway, Man Plus, The Space Merchants (with Kornbluth), and “Tunnel Under the World.”
  • Nick Pollotta (August 26, 1954 – April 13, 2013): Writer who did humorous SF and fantasy under his own name, and series men’s adventure novels under house pseudonyms.
  • Frank M. Robinson (August 9, 1926 – June 30, 2014): Writer who compiled an illustrated history of science fiction, as well as collaborating on the novel that was made into the movie The Towering Inferno.
  • Alan Rodgers (August 11, 1959 – March 8, 2014): Horror writer and former editor of Night Cry magazine. See: “The Boy Who Came Back From the Dead.”
  • Michael Shea (July 3, 1946 – February 16, 2014): The finest dark fantasy prose stylist of his generation. See: Nifft the Lean, the stories in Polyphemus.
  • Lucius Shepard (August 21, 1943 – March 18, 2014): One of most important science fiction writers of the 1980s, winning Hugo and Nebula Awards for his short fiction. See: The stories in The Jaguar Hunter.
  • Steven Utley (November 10, 1948—January 12, 2013): Texas science fiction writer, known for his time travel tales and his stories in collaboration with Howard Waldrop. Died of an aggressive cancer less than a month after first diagnosis. See: “Custer’s Last Jump” and “Black as the Pit, From Pole to Pole” (both with Waldrop).
  • Jack Vance (August 28, 1916 – May 26, 2013): One of the all-time great science fiction writers, and arguably the finest prose stylist the field has ever produced. See “The Dragon Masters,” the stories in The Dying Earth, and the four Planet of Adventure books.
  • Colin Wilson (June 26, 1931 – December 5, 2013): British writer who wrote science fiction and horror. His novel The Space Vampires was turned into the movie Lifeforce.
  • Library Additions: June 14—December 31, 2013

    Monday, January 6th, 2014

    It’s been another landmark year for adding books to my library of science fiction first editions. This post documents everything I bought after my big Zelazny acquisition on June 13, including some books that have been covered in posts since, and many that haven’t. (What I bought earlier in the year before the big Zelazny purchase can be found here.) All are first edition hardbacks, Fine copies in Fine dust jackets, unless otherwise noted.

  • Adams, Douglas. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Harmony Books, 1979. First U.S. edition.
  • (Adams, Douglas) Gaiman, Neil. Don’t Panic: Douglas Adams & The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Titan Books, 2003. First hardback edition and first edition thus (revised and updated), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Non-fiction reference work.
  • Aldiss, Brian. Moreau’s Other Island. Jonathan Cape, 1980. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Aldiss on the front free endpaper.
  • Aldiss, Brian. This World and Nearer Ones: Essays Exploring the Familiar. Weidenfield and Nicolson, 1979. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket.
  • (Aldiss, Brian) Aldiss, Margaret. Item Eighty-Three: Brian W. Aldiss: A Bibliography: 1954—1972. SF Horizons, (1973). Chapbook, Fine. Non-fiction.
  • Asimov, Isaac. Nemesis. Doubleday, 1989. First edition hardback, number 485 out of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine slipcase, sans dust jacket, as issued. This was a serendipitous find. I wasn’t looking for it (since I’m not generally a big fan of Asimov’s later work), but merely entered “signed limited edition” in Amazon’s books section just to see what I would find and this came up at $80. Given that it was originally issued at $125, and given that copies on Bookfinder start at $150, I thought it was a good price. Asimov isn’t actually a hard signature (especially compared to verified Philip K. Dick or Robert A. Heinlein signatures), but he has become fairly pricey one for his first editions.

  • Asimov, Isaac, edited by Stanley Asimov. Yours, Isaac Asimov. Doubleday, 1995. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with one tiny black remainder mark I missed, otherwise apparently new and unread, in a Fine dust jacket. Non-fiction collection of Asimov’s letters.
  • Ballard, J. G. Myths of the Near Future. Jonathan Cape, 1982.
  • Ballard, J. G. The Disaster Area. Jonathan Cape, 1967. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Near Fine dust jacket with edgewear and a few tiny spots of rubbing to dust jacket rear. Replaces a copy with a far more worn dust jacket. Bought for $100 at Half Price Books during a coupon sale.

    Disaster Area

  • Ballard, J. G. The Drought. Jonathan Cape, 1965. First hardback edition and first complete edition, a Near Fine+ copy, with spine of book itself slightly discolored and small sticker for London bookseller Foyles on inside cover, in a Fine dust jacket. Currey, page 22. Goddard and Pringle, J. G. Ballard: The First Twenty Years, item 59. Bought for $212.50, marked down from $425.

  • Ballingrud, Nathan, and Eileen Gunn. North American Monster Stories. Small Beer Press, 2013. Paperback chapbook original, Fine.
  • Banks, Iain. The Quarry. Little Brown, 2013.
  • Bear, Elizabeth. Book of Iron. Subterranean Press, 2013. Number 65 of 250 signed, numbered copies.
  • Bear, Elizabeth. Book of Iron. Subterranean Press, 2013. Trade edition.
  • 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.
  • Beaumont, Charles. The Intruder. Centipede Press, 2013. First edition thus, one of 200 copies signed by editor Roger Anker, William F. Nolan, and J.K. Potter. Basis of the Roger Corman film starring William Shatner.
  • Beaumont, Charles and John Tormerlin. Run From the Hunter. Centipede Press, 2013. First edition thus and first edition under authors’ actual names, one of 200 copies signed by John Tomerlin and J.K. Potter.
  • Beyer, William Gray. Minions of the Moon. Gnome Press, 1950. First edition hardback, a Very Good+ copy with small spotting to front and rear boards and wear at top and bottom boards, in a Near Fine+ dust jacket with wear along spine and front panel join and slight edgewear elsewhere; a really nice example of the Edd Cartier dust jacket. The eighth Gnome Press book. Chalker/Ownings (1991), page 198. Kemp, The Anthem Series, page 197. Trying to collect the entire Gnome Press line…

    Minions Moon

  • Blaylock, James P. with Kim Stanley Robinson. Two Views of a Cave Painting b/w Escape From Kathmandu. Axolotl Press, 1986. First edition hardback, #43 of 300 signed, numbered hardback copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket.
  • Bleiler, Richard. Supernatural Fiction Writers. Charles Scribner’s Sons/Thomson/Gale, 2003. First edition hardbacks of the Second Edition (stated inside, not on the cover), a two volume set, Fine- copies with slight dust soiling at heel in decorated boards with slight haze rubbing, sans dust jacket, as issued. Non-fiction reference work. Bought for $40, including dealer discount, which I though was a pretty good price, since non-Ex-Library copies list in the multiple hundreds. Note that the first edition was edited by the late E. F. Bleiler, while this second edition is edited by his son (who I’ve sold many a book to over the years…)
  • (Blish, James) Stableford, Brian M. A Clash of Symbols: The Triumph of James Blish. Borgo Press, 1979. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket (somewhat uncommon for Borgo, who usually went for plasticized decorated boards for their hardbacks), #17 of 62 signed/numbered copies signed by Stableford. Bought for $28. Non-fiction critical work, part of the Milford series, which I pick up in hardback when I chance across them for authors I’m interested in.
  • Brackett, Leigh. The Sword of Rhiannon. Boardman, 1955. First hardback edition (“First published in Great Britain, 1955″, as per Currey), a Fine- copy with slight bend at head and heel and foxing to interior gutters, in a Very Good dust jacket with 1/4” of wear rubbing/chipping (dust jacket is present, but image has been worn away) at head, a similar, smaller amount of wear at heel, a shallow chip with associated wear at top rear, and crease along front cover spine join running the entire length of the jacket, and wear along extremities; despite all that, the rest of the jacket is quite bright and attractive. Currey, page 53. Cawthorn & Moorocock, Fantasy: The Hundred Best Books 75. A fairly uncommon book these days.

  • Bradbury, Ray. Collected Short Stories. Petersen Publishing Company (The Great Author Series), 2002. Presumed first edition hardback (no additional printings listed), a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, presumably as issued.

  • Bradbury, Ray. The Dragon. Footsteps Press, 1988. First edition chapbook, #72 of 300 signed, numbered copies, Fine. Has affixed wrappers with a transparent blue Mylar window (there were evidently also red and yellow window variants).

  • 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.
  • Bradbury, Ray. The Homecoming. Collins Design, 2006. First edition hardback in decorated boards, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Bradbury. Illustrated by Dave McKean. Short story done as a short illustrated book. Bought for $30.51 off eBay.

  • Bradbury, Ray. The Veldt. The Perfection Form Company, 1982. (Possible) First edition chapbook original, a Fine copy in stapled wraps, inscribed by Bradbury on the cover. Reading comprehension questions at the back.

  • Bradbury, Ray. With Cat for Comforter. Gibbs Smith Publisher, 1997. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Bradbury. Illustrated by Louise Reinoehl Max. Short poem turned into an illustrated children’s book. Replaces an unsigned copy in my library. Bought for $16.66 off eBay.

  • Bradley, Marion Zimmer. The Sword of Aldonis. Gregg Press, 1977. First hardback edition, Fine- with a trace of wear at tips, sans dust jacket, as issued. Darkover novel. Currey (1978), page 61.
  • Bradley, Marion Zimmer. The Heritage of Hastur. Gregg Press, 1977. First hardback edition, Fine- with a trace of wear at tips, sans dust jacket, as issued. Darkover novel. Currey (1978), page 62. Bought more as part of my long-term goal of collecting all the Gregg Press first editions…
  • 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. (What appear to be tiny spots of white rubbing to the black dj are in fact scanner artifacts.)

    Moon Much Gladness

  • Brundage, Margaret (edited by Stephen D. Korshak and J. David Spurlock). The Alluring Art of Margaret Brundage, Queen of Pulp Pin-Up Art. Vanguard Productions/Shasta Phoenix, 2013. First edition hardback, slipcased limited edition with 16 additional pages of art, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Brundage was the woman who did all those great “damsel in distress” covers for Weird Tales in the 1930s, and it’s great to finally have a book of her art.

    P1000125

  • Brunner, John. The Man Who Was Secrett and Other Stories. Ramble House/Dancing Tuatara Press, 2013. First edition POD hardback, Fine/Fine.
  • Budrys, Algis. Cerberus. Pulphouse, 1989. First edition hardback, #53 of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Part of the “Pulphouse Convention Series.” Fourth book Pulphouse did, and the first one that wasn’t an issue of their namesake hardback magazine.
  • Campbell, Ramsey. Scared Stiff: Tales of Sex and Death. Scream Press, 1987. First edition hardback, #130 of 250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued, in a Fine slipcase. Bought for $20. I’m sort of collecting a complete Scream Press collection, but it’s fairly low on my list of priorities…
  • Carriger, Gail (pen name of Tofa Borregaard). Heartless. Orbit, 2011. Paperback original, a Fine- copy. Parasol Protectorate #4.
  • Chabon, Michael. Fountain City: A Novel Wrecked. McSweeney’s, 2010. First edition paperback original, a small, slightly oblong format, roughly 5 1/4″ high, by 6 1/4″ long, a Fine- copy in Fine- fold over wrappers (which fold out into a sort of map picture), with a tiny, 1/16″ cut to top font cover. The opening chapters of a novel Chabon abandoned. Bought for $22.50, down from $45.

  • Clarke, Arthur C. Imperial Earth. Gollancz, 1975.
  • Clement, Hal (writing name of Harry C. Stubbs). Fossil. DAW, 1993. First edition paperback original, Fine- with a tiny bit of edgewear.
  • Clement, Hal. Small Changes. Doubleday, 1969. First edition hardback, a Near Fine+ copy with blindstamp on title page and crimping at head and heel, in a Near Fine- dust jacket with dust soiling to white background and a small closed tear and associated wrinkle to top front flap. Signed “”Hal Clement” (Harry C. Stubbs)”. Not overly common these days. Bought for $28.
  • Dick, Philip K. The Collected Stories of Philip K. Dick Volume 4: Minority Report. Subterranean Press, 2013. First thus.
  • Dick, Philip K. A Handful of Darkness. Rich & Cowan, 1955. First edition hardback, Currey binding A (blue boards lettered in silver) in a first state dust jacket (no mention of World of Chance), an Ex-Library copy with most of the usual flaws, including protected dust jacket flaps taped to boards (and inner cardboard sleeve additionally taped) and stamp for Eeeling Science Fiction Postal Library on inner cover; dust jacket is completely intact, the only flaws being “D11/2” written in white on bottom spine just above publisher, and slight dust staining to white rear cover; call it a VG/NF Ex-Lib copy. Levack, 21a. Currey (1978), page 157. Dick’s first short story collection and first hardback book. (Hairline crack on left is a scanner artifact.)

  • (Dick, Philip K.) Peake, Anthony. A Life of Philip K. Dick: The Man Who Remembered the Future. Arcturus, 2013. Non-fiction.
  • Di Filippo, Paul. Time’s Black Lagoon. DH Press, 2006. Paperback original, a Fine, unread copy. Sequel to the movie The Creature From the Black Lagoon.
  • Dozois, Gardner and George R. R. Martin, editors. Songs of Love & Death. Gallery Books, 2010.
  • Egan, Greg. The Eternal Flame (Orthogonal Book 2). Night Shade Books, 2012.
  • Ellison, Harlan. All the Lies That Are My Life. Underwood/Miller, 1980. First edition hardback, one of 400 unsigned trade hardcover copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Chalker/Owings, page 432.
  • Ellison, Harlan. Harlan Ellison is Watching. Underwood/Miller, 1989. First edition hardback, #46 of 600 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and slipcase. Chalker/Owings, page 440.
  • Ellison, Harlan. Stalking the Nightmare. Phantasia Press, 1982. First edition hardback, #240 of 700 signed hardback copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and slipcase. Supplements a copy of the trade edition. Chalker/Owings, page 340.
  • Farmer, Philip Jose. Lord Tyger. Doubleday, 1970. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight crimping at head and heel and trace of foxing along gutters, in a Fine- dust jacket with slight darkening to spine and a few traces of dust soiling. Signed by Farmer. Farmer’s SF take on Tarzan. Currey (1979), page 153. Bought for $60.

    Lord Tyger

  • 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

  • Gaiman, Neil, with David McKean. Mythological Creatures. The Royal Mail, 2009. First edition folded broadside, legal-paper sized printed cardstock, two-sided, with six stamps in attached Mylar pouches, Fine. Collectable stamp folder with six mini-stories by Gaiman, one for each mythological creature on the stamps, with Dave McKean art. An odd item I only recently became aware of, and one that may frustrate Gaiman completists a few years hence…

    Mythical Creatures

  • 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.
  • Haldeman, Joe. A Separate War and Other Stories. Ace, 2006.
  • Harrison, Harry. Skyfall. Faber & Faber, 1976. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed and dated (“82”) by Harrison. Bought for $20.
  • Heinlein, Robert A. The Number of the Beast. New English Library, 1980. First hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Reportedly Heinlein’s worst novel, but if you’re collecting the whole set…

    Heinlein Number Beast

  • Heinlein, Robert A. The Puppet Masters. Doubleday, 1951. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight foxing to endpapers and tiny touches of wear at heel in a in a Near Fine- dust jacket with extremely shallow surface chipping at head and slight fading of purple coloring on spine. A very nice copy of one of Heinlein’s most important early novels. Currey (1978), page 233. Pringle, SF 100 4.

    Puppet Masters

  • (Heinlein, Robert A.) Patterson, William H. Robert A. Heinlein in Dialogue With His Century Volume 1: Learning Curve: 1907-1948. Tor, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Non-fiction biography.
  • Hill, Joe. Locke & Key 3: Crown of Shadows. Subterranean Press, 2013. #31 of 250 signed, numbered copies, in slipcase. Graphic novel.
  • Howard, Robert E. Cormac MacArt Baen, 1995. First edition paperback original, Fine- with a tiny bit of edgewear, foxing inside covers, and a phantom crease along rear cover. Mostly reprints Howard stories from Tigers of the Sea, but adds a new Cormac MacArt story by David Drake.
  • Howard, Robert E. Kull Baen, 1995. First edition paperback original thus (“First Complete Edition”), a Fine copy.
  • Howard, Robert E. Kull: Exile of Atlantis. Subterranean Press, 2013. Hardback first edition thus, #305 of 1,500 copies signed by artist Justin Sweet, a Fine copy in a Fine dustjacket and slipcase.
  • Howard, Robert E. The Sower of Thunder. Donald M. Grant, 1975. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by illustrator Roy G. Krenkel. Currey (1978), page 252.
  • Howard, Robert E. (edited by Robert M. Price). Nameless Cults: The Cthulhu Mythos Fiction of Robert E. Howard. Chaosium, 2001. Trade paperback original, Fine. Includes four Howard story fragments finished by others.
  • Hubin, Allen J. Crime Fiction, 1749-1980: A Comprehensive Bibliography with 1981-1985 Supplement to Crime Fiction, 1749-1980: A Comprehensive Bibliography. Garland, 1984/1988. First edition hardbacks, Near Fine copies with dust staining at head and traces of wear at points and heel, sans dust jacket, as issued. Bought from Half Price Books for $5 for the set (marked down from an original price of $60). I’m a sucker for comprehensive bibliographies…
  • (Jeter, K. W. and Ferret, as Dr. Adder and Mink Mole). Alligator Alley. Morrigan Books, 1989. First edition hardback, copy #104 of 210 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and slipcase, as well as a cassette tape of material related to the novel. Does not include the T-shirt that was sold with some of the slipcased copies. Supplements my trade edition. Jeter told me he actually had very little to do with the novel…
  • Jones, Sergent Morgan, and Damien Lewis. The Embassy House. Threshold Editions, 2013. Non-fiction on Benghazi embassy attack. Withdrawn by the publisher under political pressure.
  • Jones, Stephen, Editor. Weird Shadows Over Innsmouth. Fedogan & Breamer, 2005. Cthulhu Mythos anthology.
  • Jones, Stephen, Editor. Weirder Shadows Over Innsmouth. Fedogan & Breamer, 2013. Cthulhu Mythos anthology.
  • Klaw, Rick, editor. Rayguns Over Texas. Fandom Association of Central Texas, 2013. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy, new and unread, signed by 13 of the contributors. Anthology of SF stories from Texas writers published for the 2013 Worldcon in San Antonio. I have a story in here, “Novel Properties of Certain Complex Alkaloids,” that’s like a Greg Egan story by way of H. P. Lovecraft and Timothy Leary. Introduction by Bruce Sterling. This copy signed by myself, editor Rick Klaw, cover artist Rocky Kelly, Don Webb, Chris Brown, Matthew Bay, Stina Leicht, Nicky Drayden, Rhonda Eudaly, Derek Austin Johnson, Marshall Maresca, Sanford Allen, and Josh Roundtree. I also have an additional copy inscribed to me by several of the contributors in my contributor copy library.
  • (Koontz, Dean R.) Kotker, Joan G. Dean Koontz: A Critical Companion. Greenwood Press, 1996 (stated; probably more recent). Reprint hardback, Fine, sans dust jacket, as issued. Non-fiction.
  • 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.
  • Lansdale, Joe R. Bleeding Shadows. Subterranean, 2013. Short story collection.
  • Lansdale, Kasey, editor. Impossible Monsters. Subterranean Press, 2013.
  • Leiber, Fritz. The Moon is Green and Other Tales. Armchair Fiction, 2013. First edition trade paperback original (POD), a Fine copy, new and unread.
  • (Leiber, Fritz) Morgan, Chris. Fritz Leiber: a bibliography, 1934—1979. Morgenstern, 1979. Chapbook original, one of 1000 copies, a Near Fine+ copy with spots of age darkening to cover.
  • Leinster, Murray and Charles L. Fontenay. Planet of Dread b/w Twice Upon a Time. Armchair Fiction, 2010. First edition trade paperback original (POD), a Fine copy, new and unread. Honestly, I just picked this up for the cool, retro giant spider cover.

  • Lem, Stainslaw. A Perfect Vacuum. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1979. First English language edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with small closed tear at bottom front and a few touches of wear. Reviews of imaginary books. Replaces an Ex-Library copy in my library.
  • Lethem, Jonathan. Chronic City. Doubleday, 2009.
  • Littell, Jonathan. The Kindly Ones. Harper, 2009. First U.S. edition of a book original published in French as Les Bienveillantes, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a few touches of wear at edges. In 1989 Littell published a 3rd-generation cyberpunk PBO called Bad Voltage, then slipped from public view until he published Les Bienveillantes, a novel about the Holocaust, in France in 2006 (he’s a dual U.S. French citizen), which won the prestigious Prix Goncourt literary award.
  • (Lovecraft, H.P.) Lockhart, Ross E., editor. The Book of Cthulhu II. Night Shade Press, 2012. Trade paperback original. Anthology.
  • Martin, George R. R. and John J. Miller. Wild Cards Volume VII: Dead Man’s Hand. Bantam Spectra, 19990. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with a trace of edgewear.
  • (Martin, George R. R.) Samuelson, Todd, Editor. Deeper Than Swords: Celebrating the Work of George R. R. Martin. Texas A&M University Cushing memorial Library and Archives, 2013. Oversized trade paperback, a Fine copy. Illustrated critical companion to Martin’s work, published as part of an event at the library with Martin on March 22, 2013.
  • Matheson, Richard. The Memoirs of Wild Bill Hickock. Jove, 1996. Paperback original, VG with creasing.
  • Matheson, Richard. The Shrinking Man. Gregg Press, 1979. First Gregg Press edition, Fine, sans dust jacket, as issued.
  • Mieville, China. London’s Overthrow. The Westbourne Press, 2012. First edition trade paperback original, Fine, new and unread. Non-fiction. Appears to be a political rant with pictures.
  • McDevitt, Jack. Echo. Ace, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a tiny bit of wrinkling at top edge.
  • Moorcock, Michael. Sailor on the Seas of Fate. Quartet Books, 1976. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with a chip out of the corner of the front free endpaper, in a Fine dust jacket. Currey, page 372.
  • Moore, C.L. Judgment Night. Gnome Press, 1952. First edition hardback, a Near Fine+ copy with slight crimping at head and heel, mild foxing to inner gutters, and a few tiny spots of wear to bottom boards, in a Near Fine+ dust jacket with 1/4″ closed tear at heel, slight wrinkling at rear head, and a touch of edgewear. A truly superb, bright example of the dust jacket. Collection of five longer stories. Currey (1978), Page 377. Chalker/Owings (1991), page 199. Anatomy of Wonder 4, 3-130. Another notable book from the golden age of the genre small press. Bought for $65 off eBay.

    Judgment Night

  • Picacio, John. John Picacio 2014 Calendar. Lone Boy, 2013. First edition, Fine, signed by the artist, with Kickstarter specials, including six oversized loteria cards, a sketcbook, and a signed pencil.

    P1000119

  • 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…
  • Rainey, Stephen Mark. Song of Cthulhu. Chaosium, 2001. Trade paperback original, Fine. Anthology.
  • Reynolds, Alastair. Dr. Who: Harvest of Time. BBC Books, 2013. Signed by Reynolds at the 2013 San Antonio Worldcon.
  • Roberts, Adam (as A. R. R. R. Roberts). The Soddit, or Let’s Cash In Again. Gollancz, 2003. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Signed by Roberts. Parody of The Hobbit.
  • Robinson, Kim Stanley. 2312. Orbit, 2012. First UK edition (I think the U.S. precedes by two days), a Fine- copy with slight wrinkling to top of dust jacket.
  • Schweitzer, Darrell. Cthulhu’s Reign. DAW, 2010. paperback original, Fine. Anthology.
  • Sennholz, Mary. On Freedom and Free Enterprise. Von Nostrand, 1956. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with slight dust-staining to head and crimping at head and heel in a very Good+ dust jacket with 1/4″ tears at head and heel. Collection of free market essays, published in honor of the 50th anniversary of Ludvig von Mises’ receiving his doctorate. Bought for $5 at Half Price Books.
  • Shaver, Richard S. The Shaver Mystery, Book One. Armchair Fiction, 2011. First edition trade paperback original, Fine, new.
  • Shaver, Richard S. The Shaver Mystery, Book Two. Armchair Fiction, 2011. First edition trade paperback original, Fine, new.
  • Shaver, Richard S. The Shaver Mystery, Book Three. Armchair Fiction, 2012. First edition trade paperback original, Fine, new.
  • Shaver, Richard S. The Shaver Mystery, Book Four. Armchair Fiction, 2013. First edition trade paperback original, Fine, new. The four volumes collect stories and ancillary material from the “Shaver Mystery,” Shaver’s weird, strangely compelling conspiracy theory/alternate reality in which a hateful race of “deros” (“detrimental robots”) lived inside he earth, beaming mind-control rays at surface dwellers (and occasionally kidnapping them for torture, food, or sport). Shaver’s elaborate, unhinged vision brought a vast legion of cranks out of the shadows and onto the subscriber ranks of Amazing, whose editor Ray Palmer started publishing Shaver’s stories in the 1940s, which was to have a considerable impact on SF fandom. I doubt much of this has seen print since it’s original appearance in Amazing, or in Palmer’s subsequent The Hidden World. If you’re a connoisseur of crank literature, Shaver is up there with the whackiest.
  • Shea, Michael. Assault on Sunrise. Tor, 2013. Sequel to The Extra.
  • Shea, Michael. The Incomplete Nifft. Baen, 2000. First edition paperback original thus, an omnibus edition of Nifft the Lean and The Mines of Behemoth, a NF copy, with a crease on the bottom back cover.
  • Silverberg, Robert. Capricorn Games. Random House, 1976. Signed by Silverberg. Currey (1979), page 436.
  • Silverberg, Robert. The Collected Stories of Robert Silverberg Volume 8: Hot Times in Magma City: 1990-1995. Subterranean Press, 2013. Fine, sands dust jacket, as issued.
  • (Simak, Clifford D.) Becker, Muriel R. Clifford D. Simak: a primary and secondary bibliography. G. K. Hall, 1980. First edition hardback, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Non-fiction. I do wish the books were separated from the short fiction listings…
  • Smith, Clark Ashton. Lost Worlds. Arkham House, 1944. First edition hardback, a Near Fine+ copy with slight crimping at head and heel, bump to top front corner, usual age darkening to pages, and a trace of foxing to gutters, in a Near Fine dust jacket with age darkening to light-colored portion of spine, short closed tear and associated 1/2″ wrinkle crease at head, a tiny bit of rubbing at heel, and age darkening around edges and crease folds. Smith’s second prose collection and the seventh Arkham House book published. Currey (1978), page 453. Locke, Spectrum of Fantasy One, page 200. Bleiler, Guide to Supernatural Fiction, 1485. Tymn, 4-202. Joshi, Sixty Years of Arkham House 7. Derleth, 30 Years of Arkham House, 7. Jaffery (1982), 7. Nielsen, 7. Bought for $172 off the Internet.

    CAS Lost Worlds

  • Smith, Edward E., Ph.D. Skylark Three. Fantasy Press, 1948. First edition hardback, one of 500 subscriber copies with a signature page inscribed by Smith bound in: “To Hugh F. Henry—/Three in a row — Hot dog!/And thanks a million for/the compliment./Edward E. Smith, Ph.D.” (Doc Smith had marvelously clear handwriting), a Fine- copy with a tiny bit of crimping at head and heel and faint foxing to gutters, in a Near Fine dust jacket with slight rubbing to top 1/2″ of front, slight edgewear at head, and slight dust soiling to rear cover. E. E. “Doc” Smith is someone I only pick up as a target of opportunity, but I couldn’t pass up a chance to pick up a very attractive example of one of the Fantasy Press subscriber copies for one of their most popular writers for approximately $150 after sale discount.

  • Smith, George O. The Brain Machine. Garland Press, 1975. First hardback edition, Fine, sans dust jacket, as issued. Originally a paperback original under the title The Fourth “R”. Currey (1979), page 458. Garland, like Gregg Press, usually did interesting hardback reprints.
  • Smith, George O. Hellflower. Abelard Press, 1953. First hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Near Fine+ dust jacket with slight spine fade to red portions and tiny traces of wear, otherwise a complete, bright and attractive dust jacket. Currey (1979), page 458.

    Hellflower

  • Stephenson, Neal. Some Remarks. Atlantic Books, 2012. First UK edition. Non-fiction.
  • Sturgeon, Theodore. A Touch of Sturgeon. Simon & Schuster (UK), 1987. Fine-/Fine- with sight crimping at head.
  • Swainston, Steph. The Modern World. Inscribed by the author: “S. Swainston/12.05.07/’All things from eternity are of like forms/And come round in a circle.’ — Marcus Aurelius”. With photograph of the author laid in. Bought for $24. I should really get around to reading The Year of Our War some day…
  • Swanwick, Michael. Moon Dogs. NESFA Press, 2000. First edition hardback, one of 175 signed slipcased copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Supplements an inscribed trade copy.
  • Swanwick, Michael. Tumbling. Dragonstairs Press, 2013. First edition micro-chapbook original, 3″ x 2 3/4″ inches, #10 of 50 signed, numbered copies, Fine, new and unread.

  • Taine, John. The Time Stream. Buffalo Book Company, 1946. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with foxing to inside covers and a few faint pinpoint spots on boards, in a VG- dust jacket with uneven loss to top edge, mostly 1/16″ but occasionally as much as 1/4″. According to Chalker/Owings (1991), page 78, only 500 copies were ever bound, and half of those were lost in a rainstorm. Currey (1979), page 29. Bleiler Checklist, 1978, page 191. Locke, Spectrum of Fantasy One, page 211. 333, page 63. An important early SF specialty book.

    Taine Time Stream

  • Tucker, Wilson. Ice and Iron. Doubleday, 1974. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with edgewear at head and heel, with review slip laid in. Inscribed by Tucker: “For Dave, at Nashville,/Wilson Bob Tucker/May 19, 1979”. Tucker was famous both as a writer and as a noted fan. Bought for $20.
  • Turner, Gary, and Marty Halpern. The Silver Griffith. Golden Gryphon, 2003. First edition hardback, #34 of 100 numbered copies signed by all the contributors, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, in slipcase.
  • Utley, Steven. Silurian Tales — Volume 1: The 400-Million-Year-Itch. Ticonderoga, 2012.
  • Utley, Steven. Silurian Tales — Volume 2: Invisible Kingdoms. Ticonderoga, 2012.
  • Vance, Jack. Araminta Station. Underwood Miller, 1987. First edition hardback, #443 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and Fine slipcase. First book of the Caldwell Chronicles. Precedes both the NEL and Tor editions by six months. Hewett, A79. Chalker/Owings (1991), pages 437-438. Bought for $120.

    Araminta Station

  • Vance, Jack (as John Holbrook Vance). The Deadly Isles. Bobbs-Merrill, 1969. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with a tiny bit of crimping at head and heel in a Fine- dust jacket with a few bare traces of dust soiling and a tiny bit of rubbing at extremities. Overall a beautiful copy of this Vance mystery. Currey, p. 497. Hewett, A33.

    Vance, Jack. Gold and Iron. Underwood/Miller, 1982. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a slight wrinkle at rear heel. Previously published in paperback as Slaves of the Klau. Hewett, A9e.

    Vance Gold Iron

  • Vance, Jack. Lyonesse: Suldrun’s Garden. Underwood/Miller, 1983. First hardback edition, #78 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. (Note: Unlike the signed, numbered edition of Lyonesse: The Green Pearl, this was not issued in a slipcase.) Hewett, A70b. Chalker/Owings (1991), page 436. Supplements my copy of the unsigned library edition in decorated boards issued without a dust jacket. Bought for $100.

    Suldrun's Garden

  • Vinge, Joan D. World’s End. Bluejay Books, 1984. First edition hardback, #127 of 750 signed numbered copies in slipcase, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. This copy has been additionally inscribed by Vinge: “To Marcia Adams/-with all my best wishes-!/Joan D. Vinge/2005.” There was a PBS cooking show host and cook book author by that name who died in 2011; not sure if that’s who it’s inscribed to or not. I do wonder how many of these slipcased hardcovers Bluejay Books did. I have their slipcased edition of K. W. Jeter’s Dr. Adder, and I know they did a few others, but there does not appear to be a list online. I’ll write Jim Frenkel and ask…
  • Waldrop, Howard. The Horse of a Different Color. Small Beer Press, 2013. Inscribed to me to by the author.
  • Webb, Don. The War With The Belatrin/A Velvet of Vamphyres. Wildside, 2012. Trade paperback original, a Fine copy, inscribed by Webb.
  • Webb, Don & Gary Lovisi. Do the Weird Crime, Do The Weird Time/Gargoyle Nights. Wildside, 2012. Trade paperback original, a Fine copy, inscribed by Webb.
  • Weinbaum, Stanley G. Dawn of Flame. Ruppert Printing Service (for The Milwaukee Fictioneers), 1936. One of only 245 copies of the Currey B state (with the Lawrence A. Keating introduction), a Near Fine+ copy with very faint spine creasing and slight gray staining to bottom page block (or possibly where the red page block staining has worn away), sans dust jacket, as issued. Currey, page 510. Chalker/Owings, page 279. Bleiler, Checklist (1978), page 204. Locke, Spectrum of Fantasy (I), page 224. Bought at the San Antonio Worldcon for $1,200 (negotiated down from $1,500) from Erle Melvin Korshak. And if I’m remembering correctly, it was on consignment from Sam Moskowitz’s widow through Robert Weinberg to Korshak.

  • Wellman, Manly Wade. The Ghost Battalion. Ives Washburn, 1958. First edition hardback, most likely a repaired Ex-Library copy, Very Good with tape ghosts on boards, front free endpaper excised and another attached in it’s place, slight wear at heel, dust soiling at head, and slight crimping at head and heel, in a Near Fine dust jacket with edgewear and about 1/16″ inch of color loss at heel, and possible spine fading (hard to tell, since it’s a different color than the front and back covers). Second book in the Iron Scouts Civil War YA trilogy. Bought for $18 off eBay.

    Ghost Batallion

  • Wellman, Manly Wade. What Dreams May Come. Doubleday, 1983. First Edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, with signature plate signed by Wellman attached to front free endpaper. Features supernatural detective John Thundstone. Replaces an Ex-Library copy in my collection. Bought for $20 from a major SF book dealer.

    Wellman What Dreams

  • Wellman, Manly Wade. Worse Things Waiting. Carcosa, 1973. First edition hardback, Trade Edition issue, a Fine- copy with a couple of pinpricks of wear, in a Fine dust jacket. Inscribed to fellow horror writer Dennis Etchison: “Better Things Waiting/for/Dennis Etchison/Manly Wade Wellman/Dec 7, 1979”. Being a Wellman collector, I could hardly pass up an associational copy of this, his best and most important collection, inscribed to another top horror writer. (This is the second Wellman-inscribed association copy I own along with Third String Center inscribed to Wellman’s own brother, western writer Paul I. Wellman.) Currey (1979), page 515. Chalker/Owings (1991), page 87. Bleiler, Guide to Supernatural Fiction, 1672. Jones/Newman, Horror 100, 70. Bought for $100.

    Worse Things Waiting

    Worse Things Inscription

  • Wells, H. G. (edited by Robert Philmus and David y. Hughes). Early Writings in Science and Science Fiction by H. G. Wells. University of California Press, 1975. Presumed first edition hardback (no additional printings listed), a Fine- copy with slight crimping at head and heel and trace of foxing to inside front covers, in a VG- dust jacket with a 1/2″ square chip missing from bottom front cover and a 3/8″ chunk tapering to a point over 3″ missing at top rear. Not in Currey. Reginald, 1975-1991, 36697. Dictionary of Literary Biography: Volume 178: British Fantasy and Science-Fiction Writers Before World War I, page 242. Not a great dust jacket, but it was only $8, and copies online are somewhat pricey…
  • Wilson, Gahan. Everybody’s Favorite Duck. Mysterious Press, 1988.
  • Wolfe, Gene. Home Fires. Tor, 2010. Already read it in ARC.
  • 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

  • Wolfe, Gene (Mooney, J. E. and Bill Fawcett, editors. Shadows of the New Sun: Stories in Honor of Gene Wolfe. Tor, 2013. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. A tribute anthology.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Home is the Hangman. SFBC, 1996. First separate hardback edition. Kovacs, VI-7-a.
  • Zelazny, Roger. Knight of Shadows. Ultramarine Press, 1989. First limited hardback edition, #20 of 40 signed, numbered copies, bound in quarter leather, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Kovacs, 27-d-i. Chalker/Owings (1991), page 612. Proof that being a collector drives you slightly insane. (“Slightly?” asks the peanut gallery.) Ultramarine Press would take the sheets of the trade edition, then add a signed limitation page and leather binding. Honestly, I’m less than impressed with both their business model and most of the books produced, and I’m not too wild about post-first edition limiteds, but this edition seems nicer than many, 40 is a pretty low limitation for a Zelazny limited, and since I have such an extensive Zelazny collection, I decided to pony up for it. Bought for $240.

    Zelazny Knight

  • Zelazny, Roger, and Thomas T. Thomas. Flare. Baen, 1992. First edition paperback original, Fine.
  • (Zelazny, Roger) Kovacs, Christopher, compiler. The Ides of Octember: A Pictorial Bibliography of Roger Zelazny. NESFA Press/Camelot Books, 2011. First hardback edition, letter M of 21 lettered copies with a Zelazny signature sheet (taken from unused Ultramarine press Zelazny books), a Fine copy in three-quarters bound leather, in a Fine patterned traycase with the pictorial cover from the trade paperback edition, sans dust jacket, as issued. An elaborate aftermarket edition of this Zelazny incorporating unbound NESFA sheets obtained by the compiler. I paid $191 for it, considerably less than the $500 list price it was offered at.

    Octember HD

  • (Zelazny, Roger) Yoke, Karl. Roger Zelazny/Andre Norton: Proponents of Individualism State library of Ohio, 1979. First edition chapbook original, Near Fine+ with some age toning. Non-fiction.

  • Lame Excuse Books July Catalog

    Wednesday, August 21st, 2013

    Time once again for Lawrence Just Plops the Latest Book Catalog on the Blog. I should be taking all these books (and many more besides) to Worldcon.


    Greetings, and welcome to Lawrence Person’s Lame Excuse for a Book Catalog!

    Before the catalog itself, some big news: I will be dealing books at this year’s Worldcon in San Antonio. I’ll have three tables there and as much of my stock as I think will fit. Come on by! (Also, if you have some tasty SF/F/H first editions you want to part with, let me know.)

    Back to the catalog! Once again there’s lots of great stuff, including new books from Joe R. Lansdale, Philip K. Dick, Tim Powers, Avram Davidson and Jack Vance, Nebula and World Fantasy Award winners, some early Iain Banks (one signed), the collecting bible of the field (L. W. Currey’s guide to first editions), a big, thick guide to SF speciality publishers of the golden age, and numerous small press books from Golden Gryphon, Subterranean, PS Publishing, Centipede Press, and Fedogan & Breamer (yeah, they’re back) among others. Only a few sale books this time around, since I’m hoping to sell a boatload at Worldcon. 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; I just bought a bunch of rare Zelazny) 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 $23.95 now; yes, it’s gone up again). 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.

    Please mail checks to:

    Lawrence Person
    Lame Excuse Books
    P.O. Box 27231
    Austin, Texas 78755

    Finally, if you want me to take you off this mailing list, please let me know. I hate spam just as much as the next person.

    Now the books!

    Hardbacks

    LP2063. Baker, Kage. Black Projects, White Knights. Golden Gryphon, 2002. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread.Short stories about The Company $15.

    LP2064. Banks, Iain M. Against a Dark Background. Orbit, 1993. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with slight haze rubbing (which means the glossy black areas seem to have a bit of haze on them if you move them back and forth under a strong light), otherwise new and unread. Banks first “pure” non-Culture SF novel. Banks was a phenomenally talented writer who died way too young. $150.

    LP2065. Banks, Iain M. Consider Phlebas. Macmillan, 1987. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with a tiny bit of bend at edge of head and heel, in a Fine, Mylar-protected dust jacket. Read once, by me. The first Culture novel, and Banks’ first “pure” SF novel. Recommended. I’m not seeing a single unsigned first of the Macmillan Consider Phlebas anywhere online. $400.

    LP2066. Banks, Iain M. Excession. Orbit, 1996. First edition hardback, a Fine copy (though with the characteristic slight page darkening of Orbit books of this era) in a Fine dust jacket. Inscribed by Banks: “To Narayan/—best wishes/Iain M. Banks”. Recommended. A Culture novel. For some reason I can’t find a single signed Excession on Bookfinder. $200.

    LP2068. Bradbury, Ray. Nemo! Subterranean Press, 2013. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Previously unpublished Ray Bradbury screenplay set in Winsor McCay’s Little Nemo in Slumberland comic strip. Now sold out from the publisher, but I still have it at cover price. $35.

    LP2070. Dahlquist, Gordon. The Dark Volume. Bantam, 2009. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Sequel to The Glass Book of the Dream Eaters. Only have one. $19.

    LP2071. Dann, Jack. The Fiction Factory. A Thousand Deaths. Golden Gryphon, 2005. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Collection of all Jack’s collaborative stories, including those with Gardner Dozois, Michael Swanwick, Barry Malzberg, etc. haven’t read all of them, but recommended based on the ones I have, especially “Down Among the Dead Men.” $15.

    LP2072. Dick, Philip K. The Collected Stories of Philip K. Dick Volume 3: On the Dull Earth. Subterranean, 2012. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. I don’t really need to provide a blurb here, do I? $37.

    LP2073. Di Filippo, Paul. Strange Trades. Golden Gryphon, 2001. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Short story collection about various jobs. Introduction by Bruce Sterling. Recommended, especially for “The Mill.” $15.

    LP1114B. Effinger, George Alec (Neil Gaiman, Howard Waldrop, Neal Barrett, Jr., Gardner Dozois, Bradley Denton, Michael Bishop, Mike Resnick, Barbara Hambly, Lawrence Person, Jack Dann, Pamela Sargent, George Zebrowski, Lawrence Person, Richard Gilliam).Live! From Planet Earth. Golden Gryphon, 2005. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dj, new and unread. Posthumous collection of some of George’s best non-series stories, including “The Aliens Who Knew, I Mean, Everything,” “Two Sadnesses,” “All the Last Wars at Once,” and “Seven Nights in Slumberland.” Includes introductions by Neil Gaiman, Howard Waldrop, Neal Barrett, Jr., Gardner Dozois, Bradley Denton, Michael Bishop, Mike Resnick, Barbara Hambly, Lawrence Person, Jack Dann, Pamela Sargent, George Zebrowski, Lawrence Person, and Richard Gilliam. Signed by me (I did the introduction to “My Old Man”) at your request. You need one. $15.

    LP1950. Effinger, George Alec. A Thousand Deaths. Golden Gryphon, 2000. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Includes all of George’s stories featuring his often-killed protagonist Sandor Courane, including the novel The Wolves of Memory, which George considered the best of his own work before When Gravity Fails. $15.

    LP2074. Landis, George. Impact Parameter. Golden Gryphon, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Short story collection. $15.

    LP904B. Lansdale, Joe R. Bumper Crop. Golden Gryphon, 2004. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. The second Golden Gryphon best of Lansdale collection, companion to the earlier High cotton (see below). Recommended. You can pay $15 for it now, or $20 after I get it signed at Worldcon (if there are any left).

    LP2075. Lansdale, Joe R. Dead Aim. Subterranean Press, 2013. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Latest Hap and Leonard novella. This trade edition is already sold out from the publisher, but I’ve still got it at cover price. $25.

    LP2077. Lansdale, Joe R. Devil Red. Knopf, 2011. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. The latest Hap and Leonard novel, and compulsively readable. The boys go up against another contract killer, and Vanilla Ride makes another appearance. $15.

    LP1962B. Lansdale, Joe R. High Cotton. Golden Gryphon, 2000. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Best of Lansdale collection. Highly recommended. Same deal here: You can pay $15 for it now, or $20 after I get it signed at Worldcon (if there are any left).

    LP2078. Lansdale, Joe R., with John Farris and Stephen Gallagher (with introduction by Robert R. McCammon). Night Visions 8. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Anthology series of original horror stories. The Lansdale story, “Incidents On and Off a Mountain Road,” was the basis of an episode in the Masters of Horror TV show. $20.

    LP2079. (Lovecraft, H. P.) Price, Robert M., editor. Worlds of Cthulhu. Fedogan & Breamer, 2012. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Cthulhu Mythos anthology. Good to see Fedogan & Breamer wake from their deathless slumbers. $26.

    LP2080. Lupoff, Richard A. Claremont Tales. Golden Gryphon, 2001. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. $15.

    LP2081. McDevitt, Jack D. Seeker. Ace, 2005. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Nebula Award winner for best novel. $25.

    LP2082. Powers, Tim. Salvage and Demolition. Subterranean Press, 2013. First edition hardback, one of 350 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Powers latest novella, about a rare book dealer. Now sold out from the publisher, but I’m offering it at cover price. $60.

    LP2083. Powers, Tim. Salvage and Demolition. Subterranean Press, 2013. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. This trade edition is also sold out from the publisher, and also offered at cover price. $30.

    LP1970. Resnick, Mike. Blasphemy. Golden Gryphon, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. All of Resnick’s stories dealing with religion in one place. $15.

    LP1698. Resnick, Mike. Dreamwish Beasts and Snarks. Golden Gryphon, 2009. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Short story collection. $15.

    LP2084. Rusch, Kristine Kathryn. Recovering Apollo 8. Golden Gryphon, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. $15.

    LP2085. Rusch, Kristine Kathryn. Stories for an Enchanted Evening. Golden Gryphon, 2001. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. $15.

    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. $35.

    LP2086. Swanwick, Michael. Vacuum Flowers. Arbor House, 1987. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Near Fine+ dust jacket with a bit of dust staining and age darkening to white rear cover and a bit of haze rubbing. His second novel, a well-regarded cyberpunk work. $9.

    LP2087. Tidhar, Lavie. Osama. PS Publishing, 2011. First edition hardback, #36 of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, as issued. Alternate History novel and winner of the 2011 World Fantasy Award. Only have one. $70.

    LP2088. Tidhar, Lavie. Osama. PS Publishing, 2011. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Trade edition. Only have one. $35.

    LP2089. Vance, Jack. Magic Highways. Subterranean Press, 2013. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Third in Subterranean’s series reprinting the early Jack Vance, gathering sixteen early science fiction stories from 1946 to 1956. $42.

    LP2090. VanderMeer, Jeff. Secret Life. Golden Gryphon, 2004. Golden Gryphon, 2004. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Short story collection. $15.

    LP801B. Waldrop, Howard (with Bruce Sterling, George R. R. Martin, Leigh Kennedy, Steven Utley, Buddy (Jake) Saunders, and A. A. (Al) Jackson, IV. Custer’s Last Jump and Other Collaborations. Golden Gryphon, 2003. First edition hardback, Fine in a Fine dj. New and unread. Signed by Waldrop, Jackson, Sterling and Utley. In addition to the swell title story, there’s an 11th century Japanese detective story written with Bruce Sterling (“The Latter Days of the Law”) original to this volume, “Black as the Pit From Pole to Pole” (Frankenstein’s Monster in the Hollow Earth, with Utley), and tons more neat stuff. Highly Recommended. You need it. $15 now, $20 after I get Howard to sign it at Worldcon, assuming it doesn’t sell out there.

    LP2091. Wellman, Manly Wade. The Complete John Thundstone. Haffner Press, 2012. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread, still in publisher’s shrinkwrap. All Wellman’s stories featuring his brainy/brawny psychic detective in one place. Gotta a love a scholar who has a swordcane to fight supernatural evil. Fun stuff. If you don’t already have Carcosa House’s long-out-of-print Lonely Vigils and the two Doubleday novels, What Dreams May Come and The School of Darkness, then you need this. Hell, you might need it anyway. Recommended. $42.

    LP2100. Zebrowski, George. Empties. Golden Gryphon, 2009. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Horror novel. Howard says it’s a good one. $15.

    LP2101. Zebrowski, George. Swift Thoughts. Golden Gryphon, 2002. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Short story collection, something of a a Best of from this hard SF writer. Introduction by Gregory Benford. $15.

    LP2093. Zelazny, Roger. Bridge of Ashes. Gregg Press, 1979. First hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Near Fine- dust jacket with one tiny (1/32″) chip and several small (1/16″) closed tears along bottom front, and wear at points. One of Zelazny’s less common hardbacks. Levack 2e. $49.

    Trade Paperbacks

    LP2094. Anderson, Kevin David and Sam Stall. Night of the Living Trekkies. Quirk Books, 2010. First edition trade paperback original, a Near Fine- copy with black remainder mark to top edge, otherwise Fine. Zombies at a Star Trek convention. A little divertimenti to read between chapter’s of Finnigans Wake. $5.

    LP2095. Davidson, Avram. The Wailing of the Gaulish Dead. The Nutmeg Point District Mail, 2013. Perfect-bound chapbook first edition, one of 200 copies in heavy cardstock with self-wrapper flaps and errata sheet pasted inside, a Fine copy. $22.

    LP2096. Kemp, Earl Terry. The Anthem Series: A Guide to the Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror and Weird Specialty Publisher’s of the Golden Age. The Last Stand, 2012. First edition trade paperback original (TPO), oversized, a Fine copy. Covers SF/F/H small press publishers from the beginning up into the early 1960s, including complete descriptions of all the contents, including plot synopsis for ever individual story! Scattershot and oddly organized, but contains lots of works that aren’t in Chalker/Ownings, as well as listing a lot of ephemera, and pictures of first edition covers compared to later covers. If you collect SF books of this period, you need it. $72.

    LP2097. (Lansdale, Joe R.) Michael Blaine, Dennis Etchison, James Kisner, Dean R. Koontz, Joe R. Lansdale, Richard Christian Matheson, Robert R. McCammon, William F. Nolan, Alan Rodgers, David B. Silva, J. N. Williamson and Chelsea Quinn Yarbro. The Monitors of Providence. World Fantasy Convention, 1986. First edition chapbook original, one of 1000 copies given out at the 1986 World fantasy Convention in Providence, RI, a Fine- copy with a tiny bend to one corner. These aren’t as easy to find as they used to be… $35.

    LP2098. Mieville, China. London’s Overthrow. The Westbourne Press, 2012. First edition trade paperback original (I code on copyright page), a format every-so-slightly bigger than a mass market paperback, a Fine copy, new and unread. Appears to be a political rant with color pictures of run-down London, just shy of a hundred pages. Only have one. $25.

    LP2099. Robinson, Kim Stanley. The Best of Kim Stanley Robinson. Night Shade Books, 2011. First trade paperback edition, reprinting the hardback of the year before. $10.

    LP2113. Shaver, Richard S. The Shaver Mystery Volumes I-IV. Armchair Fiction, 2011-2013. First edition trade paperback editions, all Fine, new and unread. Collects stories and ancillary material from the “Shaver Mystery,” Shaver’s weird, strangely compelling conspiracy theory/alternate reality in which a hateful race of “deros” (“detrimental robots”) lived inside he earth, beaming mind-control rays at surface dwellers (and occasionally kidnapping them for torture, food, or sport). Shaver’s elaborate, unhinged vision brought a vast legion of cranks out of the shadows and onto the subscriber ranks of Amazing, whose editor Ray Palmer started publishing Shaver’s stories in 1947, which was to have a considerable impact on SF fandom. I doubt much of this has seen print since it’s original appearance in Amazing, or in Palmer’s subsequent The Hidden World. If you’re a connoisseur of crank literature, Shaver is up there with the whackiest. Collective list price of $52, but yours for $45.

    LP2102. Zelazny, Roger. (and Thomas T. Thomas). The Mask of Loki. Baen, 1990. Uncorrected page proofs, trade paperback format, of the paperback first edition, a Fine copy, new and unread. Don’t see another copy online. Previously part of Bob Pylant’s vast collection of Zelazny first editions. $49.

    Mass Market Paperbacks

    LP2103. Broderick, Damien. The Dreaming Dragons. Pocket Books, 1980. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy, with wear at tips, otherwise tight and square. Interesting novel about an investigation that leads to a dramatic revelation about human consciousness. Pringle, SF100 list. $7.

    LP2104. Carriger, Gail. Blameless. Orbit, 2010. First edition paperback original, a Fine copy, new and unread. Third book in the very clever Parasol Protectorate steampunk series that started with Soulless. $10.

    LP2105. Crichton, Michael. Westworld. Bantam, 1974. Presumed first edition paperback original (no additional printings listed), an Ex-Library copy with stamps and checkout sheet inside front cover, blurb page clipped, stamp on title page, bottom 1″ of front cover starting to detach, and general wear; call it Good+, but it is structurally sound. The novelization of his own script for the “robots go crazy” thriller he directed. $10.

    LP2106. Eckert, Allan W. The Hab Theory. Popular Library, 1977. Apparent first paperback edition, preceded by the hardback, a VG copy with spine creases and lean. Well-regarded 700 page disaster novel. $10.

    LP2107. Herbert, Frank. The Worlds of Frank Herbert. Ace, 1971. First edition paperback original thus (adding one story not in the UK PBO) with no statement of printing on copyright page and 75¢ on the cover, as per Currey, a VG+ copy with stamp at heel, wear along extremities and at tips, and a pinhead sized indention/scrape to front cover. Short story collection. $5.

    LP2108. McDonald, Ian. Empire Dreams. Bantam Spectra, 1988. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine+ copy with edgewear at head, otherwise tight and square. His first short story collection, including the short version of “King of Morning, Queen of Day” and “Unfinished Portrait of the King of Pain, by van Vogh.” Recommended. $7.

    LP2109. Moon, Elizabeth. Lunar Activity. Baen, 1990. First edition paperback original, a VG+ copy with spine creasing and lean, crease along top front cover, and general wear. Short story collection. $5.

    LP2110. Moon, Elizabeth. Phases. Baen, 1997. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with one page (9/10) formerly dog-eared, otherwise apparently new and unread. Inscribed by Moon: “For Lauren/Best wishes/Elizabeth Moon.” Short story collection. $10.

    LP2111. Nolan, William F. Logan’s World. Bantam, 1977. First edition paperback original (no additional printings listed), a Near Fine copy with phantom creasing to front cover, and a few touches of general wear, but tight and square. Sequel to Logan’s Run. $10.

    LP2112. van Vogt, A. E. Masters of Time. Manor Books, 1975. Paperback reprint, Near Fine. $3.

    LP2113. Waldrop, Howard, and Jake Saunders. The Texas-Israeli War: 1999. Ballantine Books, 1974. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine- copy with a bit of bunching near spine and a small crease along outer front cover edge, otherwise a solid square copy. $10.