Posts Tagged ‘Philip Jose Farmer’
Monday, January 26th, 2026
Here’s all the books I added to my library in 2025, some 204 of them. This list is dominated by a whole lot of Robert E. Howard, first from a large bulk purchase from a collector at the beginning of the year, and then someone selling off someone else’s collection of books on Facebook later. I also bought an interesting Ed Bryant collection at a bargain price, some of David Hartwell’s collection from Kathryn Cramer, numerous books from shopping at Half Price Books locations in Austin, DFW and Houston (and a few points between), several signed paperbacks off eBay, and fewer small press books than usual (a lot have gotten ridiculously pricy).
And please note that there are a few things covered here that I haven’t previously listed on this blog.
Allston, Aaron. Star Wars: Legacy of the Force: Betrayal. Del Rey, 2006. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight bend at head and heel and slight bumping at points, in a Fine- dust jacket with trace of bumping at points, signed and dated (“2006/6/24”) by Allston. Bought from Half Price Books for $9.99.
Asimov, Isaac, editor. Where Do We Go From Here? Doubleday, 1971. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with one light thumbprint-sized blotch with a long sperm-like tail (binding flaw) to inside front cover, the ghost of that indention to the front free endpaper, slight bend at head, and front gutter just a little off from straight up and down (probably a binding flaw), in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Asimov. Reprint story anthology. Miller, Asimov: A Checklist, page 68. Currey, page 21. Bought from Kathryn Cramer for $100.
Asimov, Isaac, Martin S. Greenberg and Charles G. White, editors (Jack Vance, Larry Niven, etc.). Isaac Asimov’s Magical Worlds of Fantasy 1: Wizards. New American Library, 1983. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with slight wrinkle at spine head and trace of wear at points, signed by contributors Jack Vance and Larry Niven. Bought off eBay for $13.01.
Baring-Gould, Sabine (John Maclay, editor). A Little Gray Book of Gloom. Borderlands Press, 2025. First edition hardback, #462 of 350 signed numbered copies (Borderlands: “we only print 350 copies but if anyone has matching numbers above 350, we make sure they continue to get it”), a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Collection of ghost stories from this extremely prolific late 19th/early 20th century clergyman and writer who penned the lyrics to “Onward Christian Soldiers.”
Blaylock, James P. The Aylesford Skull. Titan Books, 2013. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine- copy with a few tiny touches of wear. Bought from Half Price Books for $4.99.
Interestingly, there was supposed to be a 750 signed, limited hardback edition of this. One copy of that showed up in a Cold Tonnage Books catalog in 2023, but I never saw any others listed. I asked Jim Blaylock about this on Facebook, and he told me the following:
The story behind those ultimately destroyed books is unlikely, but essentially the production of the books was botched. There was gold-embossed writing on the cover and, I think, spine, but the gold was misapplied and muddied. They weren’t saleable, and Titan had no idea of reproducing them, so they pulped the lot. Several were sent out as pre-orders that were okay. One of my friends got one, which she ultimately gave to me. I can’t be sure how many survived the carnage, but Andy has one of probably a dozen books. I was slightly miffed, partly because I had to sign the signature pages twice. The first 750 were signed by me and Tim Powers, and then I sent the result to K.W. Jeter in Ecuador along with the box of necessary pens. The story is far more hilarious than I have room for here, but they were ultimately blown to smithereens by the Ecuadorian postal service who suspected that the box was some variety of terrorist plot and exploded it in a parking lot.
Blaylock, James P. Beneath London. Titan Books, 2015. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine- copy with a few tiny touches of wear. Bought from Half Price Books for $4.99.
Blaylock, James P. The Invisible Woman. PS Publishing, 2024. First edition hardback, #76 of 200 signed, numbered hardbacks, a Fine copy in decorated boards and a Fine dust jacket. Set in the same universe as Pennies From Heaven. Bought from the publisher at the usual discount.
Bloch, Robert. Fear and Trembling. Tor, 1989. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine copy with small chip to top tip of rear cover, small chip to top tip of blurb page, slight, non-breaking spine creasing, and slight edgewear, inscribed by Bloch: “For Ingrid/ – best, always./Robert Bloch.” Bleiler, Supernatural Fiction Writers page 111. Bought off eBay for $16.77.
Bloch, Robert. Mysteries of the Worm: All the Cthulhu Mythos Stories of Robert Bloch. Kensignton Zebra, 1981. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine copy with a faint crease starting down front spine join and a few thin stray marks to pageblock edges, otherwise tight and square, inscribed by Bloch: “Warmest/good wishes/to/Dan/from/Robert Bloch.” I don’t think the sub-title is entirely accurate (or was even then), but otherwise a very solid collection of Bloch’s Mythos stories. Larson, The Complete Robert Bloch page 61. Bleiler, Supernatural Fiction Writers page 111. Supplements a less attractive, unsigned copy. Bought off eBay for $17.87.
(Bloch, Robert) Nemeth, Jim (with Randall D. Larson). Robert Bloch: An Unconventional Bibliography. No publisher listed (but probably Amazon KDP), 2025. Print-On-Demand “first edition” (printing date of “03 July 2025”), a Fine copy. “This bibliography, as unconventional and idiosyncratic as Bloch himself, documents the entire oeuvre of his varied and diverse career, sprinkled throughout with Bloch’s own remembrances regarding many of his works.” Alas, one “unconventional” touch is the omitting of standard bibliographic information like first edition points (there is no mention of how to tell apart the two printings of Sea Kissed, for example), or things like page counts, prices, etc. Still, there’s a good bit of useful information in here, and the Larson essays look interesting. Bought from Amazon for $18.99.
Brackett, Leigh. The Reavers of Skaith. Ballantine Books, 1976. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with a trace of edgewear. I now have all three Skaith books, thanks to a previous Half Price Books purchase. Currey, page 53. Bought from Half Price Books for $1.34.
Brackett, Leigh. The Starman of Llyrdis. Ballantine Books, 1976. First edition paperback original thus under this title, (a reprint of the 1952 Gnome Press hardback The Starman), a Near Fine copy with edgewear and a large bookstore stamp inside the front cover, otherwise nice and square. Currey, page 53. Bought from Half Price Books for 67¢.
Bradbury, Ray. Christmas Greetings 1997. Self-Published, 1997. First edition broadsheet of the poem “Witness and Celebrate,” a Near Fine copy folded in the middle and with a name and phone number for Bradbury biographer Donn Albright on the back, inscribed “IRMA!” and signed by Bradbury. Bought as part of a small eBay lot.
Bradbury, Ray (with Kent Williams, Craig P. Russell, Segrelles, John Van Fleet, Chuck Roblin, Ray Zone, Ralph Reese and Al Williamson). The Ray Bradbury Chronicles Volume 1. Byron Preiss/Mantier, Beall, Minoustchini Publishing, 1992. First edition hardback graphic novel, a Fine- copy with a tiny bit of bumping at heel in a Fine- dust jacket with a trace of wear at points. Bought off eBay for a $25 offer.
Bryant, Edward. The Cutter. Pulphouse, 1991. First edition paperback chapbook edition, a Fine- copy with small spots of rubbing to rear along spine, inscribed by Bryant: “Edward Bryant/6 -20-03/For Jane,/I love the movies/don’t you?/x o X/Ed.” Issue #8 of their Short Story Paperbacks series. Supplements a copy in my complete run of Short Story Paperbacks.
Bryant, Edward. Dreamer. Wormhole Books, 2003. First edition greeting card chapbook, #June of 500 copies signed by Bryant and other Wormhole Books staffers (Dawn Dunn, Chris Dunn, Joanna Erbach and Thomas Mark), a Fine copy in plain white envelope, presumably as issued. Wormhole Books seems to have been in business from 2001-2004 and produced a handful of chapbooks (most with small hardback runs) by Bryant, Connie Willis, etc. This seems to have been sent out as an Independence Day greeting to customers. Though probably categorized as ephemera, this appears to be an original Bryant story printed nowhere else. Does anyone know how many of these holiday card stories Wormhole published?
Bryant, Edward. Knock. No publisher listed, just “copyright (C) 2004 by Edward Bryant.” Presumed first edition thus, an 8 1/2″ x 11″ broadsheet, #28 of 50 signed copies, a Very Good+ copy with several wrinkles. No idea what this was done for, maybe a convention. Reprints a very short story originally published in Horrors! 365 Scary Stories, which I also have a story in.
Bryant, Edward. Particle Theory. Pocket/Timescape, 1981. First edition paperback original, a Very Good+ copy with spine creasing and former owner’s name stamped on inside front cover, inscribed by Bryant: “For Jane,/Yes, I know you’re not the/sort of person who makes requests/like this…but what the/heck—maybe these are fictions you can repeat/in the morning./Enjoy!/Edward Bryant/ 6/23/82.” Supplements a fine (but unsigned) copy.
Bryant, Edward. A Sad Last Love at the Diner of the Damned. Wormhole Books, 2001. First edition chapbook original (simultaneous with the much smaller hardback run), one of 750 copies on which “43” has been crossed out and replaced with “proof,” a Fine copy, signed by Bryant. I heard Ed read this at Armadillocon. Originally appeared in Skipp & Spector’s The Book of the Dead. Chalker/Owings (2002), page 1214 (which erroneously notes this as the original publication). Supplements a copy of the hardback edition.
Bryant, Edward. The Thermals of August. Pulphouse, 1992. First edition hardback, one of 100 signed, numbered hardbacks, a Fine- copy with some extremely minor nicks (greatly exaggerated in the scan), sans dust jacket, as issued. Hugo and Nebula finalists. Supplements a copy of the short story paperback version.
Bryant, Edward. While She Was Out. Wormhole Books, 2001. First edition chapbook original (simultaneous with the much smaller hardback run), #154 of 750 copies, signed by Bryant. Thriller story that was the basis of a 2008 film of the same name. Chalker/Owings (2002), page 1214.
Bryant, Edward. Wyoming Sun. Jelm Mountain Press, 1980. First edition trade paperback (simultaneous with a much smaller hardback run), a Fine- copy with slight wear at points, inscribed by Bryant: “Edward Bryant/6-20-30/For Jane,/Hey, Love Min. Sit/down. Have some tea/This is home,/Enjoy,/Ed.” Short story collection from a regional small press. Supplements a copy of the hardback. I also have an inscribed copy of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
Bryant, Edward and Harlan Ellison. Phoenix Without Ashes. Fawcett, 1975. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine copy with one spine crease, bookstore stamp inside front cover, and a touch of edgewear, signed by Bryant. Richmond, Fingerprints on the Sky page 108. Supplements a fine (but unsigned) copy. Also, see another copy under Ellison. All of the above Ed Bryant items, and Wilson’s Clarion II below, bought for $50.
Burke, James Lee. In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead. Hyperion, 1993/ First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine, Mylar protected dust jacket, inscribed by Burke: “To Morey,/All the best,/James Burke.” I picked this up because I heard good things about it (and the author), and since there’s a ghost in it, it qualifies as slipstream. Bought from Half Price Books for $9.99.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice and Joe R. Lansdale. Tarzan: The Lost Adventure: Book One. Dark Horse, 1995. First edition trade paperback graphic novel (I assume it’s a first edition, as I see no additional printing listed), a Fine copy. First of four issues of a Tarzan novel started by Burroughs and completed by Lansdale. These are more illustrated chapters rather than an actual graphic novel. Isajanko, A016.a. Supplements the later hardback first edition.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice and Joe R. Lansdale. Tarzan: The Lost Adventure: Book Two. Dark Horse, 1995. First edition trade paperback graphic novel (no additional printing listed), a Fine- copy with slight edgewear. Second of four issues of a Tarzan novel started by Burroughs and completed by Lansdale. Isajanko, A016.a.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice and Joe R. Lansdale. Tarzan: The Lost Adventure: Book three. Dark Horse, 1995. First edition trade paperback graphic novel (no additional printing listed), a Fine copy. Third of four issues of a Tarzan novel started by Burroughs and completed by Lansdale. Isajanko, A016.a.
Burroughs, Edgar Rice and Joe R. Lansdale. Tarzan: The Lost Adventure: Book Four. Dark Horse, 1995. First edition trade paperback graphic novel (no additional printing listed), a Near Fine- copy with slight edgewear, thin crease to front middle near spine, and thin crease running down front cover near spine. Fourth of four issues of a Tarzan novel started by Burroughs and completed by Lansdale. Isajanko, A016.a. All four of these bought off Facebook for $15.
Cabell, James Branch. Something About Eve. Robert McBride & Company, 1927. First edition hardback, limited “Large Paper” edition #655 of 850 signed, numbered copies, a Near Fine copy with bumping at heel, with frontispiece tissue guard intact and attached, sans dust jacket, I think as issued. Jones & Newman, Horror: The 100 Best Books 35, where it’s praised by no less than Robert E. Howard (“Cabell writes with a diamond pen”). Barron, Fantasy Literature *3-70. Tymn Zahorsk Boyer, Fantasy Literature: A Core Collections and Reference Guide page 59. Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy, page 45 (“The British issue of a book printed in America.”). Bleiler, The Checklist of Science Fiction and Fantasy (1978) page 37. Bleiler, Supernatural Fiction 327. Supplements a copy of the unsigned edition. Bought from L. W. Currey for $37.50, marked down from $75.
Campbell, Ramsey. The Inhabitant of the Lake & Other Unwelcome Tenants (60th Anniversary Edition). PS Publishing, 2024 (stated, actually 2025). First edition hardback thus, a considerably expanded version of the 1964 Arkham House first edition, #47 of 100 signed, traycased copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket in a Fine traycase. A massively expanded version of Campbell’s first book, a collection of Cthulhu Mythos stories that August Derleth helped him edit and polish before publishing for Arkham House. In addition to being a much more attractive package than both the original and the 2011 PS edition, the book includes 12 additional works (stories and essays) not in the original. Sold out upon publication, but I still have copies available through Lame Excuse Books. Bought from the publisher at the usual discount.
Card, Orson Scott. Ender’s Shadow. Tor, 1999. First edition hardback (trade state; Tor did expensive signed/leatherbound editions for both this and Shadow of the Hegemon), a Fine copy in a Fine, Mylar-protected dust jacket, signed by Card. Bought from a DFW Half Price Books for $8.49.
Card, Orson Scott. Shadows in Flight. Tor, 2012. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine, Mylar-protected dust jacket, signed by Card. Bought from a DFW Half Price Books for $8.49.
Card, Orson Scott. Shadow of the Hegemon. Tor, 1999. First edition hardback (trade state), a Fine copy in a Fine, Mylar-protected dust jacket, signed by Card. Bought from a DFW Half Price Books for $7.49.
Card, Orson Scott. Stonefather. Subterranean Press, 2008. First separate edition, one of 2,000 signed, hardback copies, a Fine copy in a Fine, Mylar-protected dust jacket. Fantasy novella. Bought from a DFW Half Price Books for $16.99.
Caro, Robert. The Years of Lyndon Johnson: Master of the Senate. Knopf, 2002. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket folded just slightly off-center, with a tiny bit of pull to top of flaps and a trace of edgewear, signed by Caro. The third in Caro’s monumental LBJ series. According to Caro, Johnson is the first Majority Leader to ever actually make the senate work. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. Replaces an unsigned copy. Bought for $29.49 at the Half Price Books in Humble. I now have three of the four volumes signed by Caro (the first two signed on his book tour for Working, which obviously I also have signed). (Previously.)
Chiang, Ted. Exhalation. Knopf, 2019. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight bend at head and heel in a Fine- dust jacket with slight bend at heel and a trace of haze rubbing. Short story collection, Ted’s second. Includes such Hugo and Nebula-winning stories as “The Merchant and the Alchemist’s Gate” (which he brought to a Turkey City Writer’s Workshop I hosted, despite it being, like all Ted’s short fiction, annoyingly perfect already), “Exhalation,” and “The Lifecycle of Software Objects.” Bought for $13 at Half Price Books.
Chiang, Ted. Story of Your Life. Subterranean Press, 2025. First edition hardback, #212 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine slipcase, sans dust jacket, as issued, in publisher’s resealable bag. Chiang’s Nebula-winning novella about attempts to communicate with aliens who don’t perceive time as linear, and the basis of the 2016 movie Arrival. The number matches the number of my Subterranean edition of Exhalation. I also own an inscribed first of Stories of Your Life, his first short story collection, which contains this. Lots of people love this novella, but I don’t like it nearly as much as “Understand” or “Hell is the Absence of God” (also contained there). I still have copies available through Lame Excuse Books. Bought from the publisher at the usual discount.
Clarke, Arthur C. Three signature cut “from extra limitation pages for the limited edition Ultramarine Press published in 1988 of 2061.” Bought for $45 for the three. For now I’ve put these into my first editions of The Fountains of Paradise, Rendezvous With Rama, and Tales from the White Hart.
Guran, Paula, editor. New Cthulhu: The Recent Weird. Prime Books, 2011. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Reprint anthology of Cthulhu Mythos and related stories, with stories from China Mieville, Neal Gaiman, Michael Shea, John Shirley, etc. Bought at Half Price Books for $13.
Clement, Hal. Some Notes on Xi Bootis. Advent: Publishers, 1960. First edition chapbook original, one of 500 copies (per Chalker Ownings), a Fine copy save a penciled “118” at top rear left corner. Given away as a freebie at the 1960 Pittsburgh Worldcon, where Clement gave a speech on the topic of speculative fiction set in this star system. Chalker/Owings, page 5. Hassler, Hal Clement, page 57, footnote 47. Not in Currey. Bought from Kathryn Cramer for $45.
Clement, Hal. Still River. Ballantine Books, 1987. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Clement. Pringle, Ultimate Guide to Science Fiction, page 302. (“**”). Bought from Kathryn Cramer for $15.
Crowley, John. Great Work of Time. Bantam, 1991. First edition paperback original thus and first separate edition, originally published as one of four novellas in Novelty two years before, a Fine- copy with edgewear. His World Fantasy Award-winning time travel novel, it which an initial time travel effort to keep the British Empire intact eventually results in radical changes down the line. Bought from Half Price Books for $1.79.
Davidson, Avram (as Ellery Queen). And on the Eighth Day. Random House, 1964. First edition hardback (“First Printing” stated, as per Currey), a Near Fine- copy with wear at head, heel and points, in a Very Good dust jacket with several 1/4″ to 1/8″ chips at head, heel, points and bottom center, “3-24” written in pen on inside top flap, two hairline tears to bottom front cover, and trace of dust soiling to white rear cover. Currey, page 131. Hubin, page 326. Bought from Kathryn Cramer for $10.
Davidson, Avram (as Ellery Queen). The Fourth Side of the Triangle. Random House, 1965. First edition hardback (“First Printing” stated, as per Currey), a Fine- copy with a trace of wear at head, heel and points in a Near Fine+ dust jacket with slight grubbiness to white jacket, 1/4″ close hairline tear at bottom front, and a touch of edgewear. Currey, page 131. Hubin, page 326. Currey says this Random House edition precedes, but Hubin says the Gollancz edition precedes. Bought from Kathryn Cramer for $10.
Davidson, Avram. The Island Under The Earth. Ace, 1969. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine+ copy with faint creasing along front spine join and slight edgewear (most noticeable at head and heel), otherwise square and bright, inscribed by Davidson to editor Lin Carter: “From one six-limbed to/another -/Lin Carter from/Avram Davidson/Jun 11, 1976/New York City.” In addition to having edited the acclaimed Ballantine Adult Fantasy line, Carter also bought two stories from Davidson: “Caravan to Illiel” for Flashing Swords #3: Warriors and Wizards, and “Milord Sir Smiht, The English Wizard” for Year’s Best Fantasy Stories 2, making this an even better associational copy. Dillon cover. Supplements an unsigned copy. Bought off eBay for $13.95.
Disch, Thomas M. The Businessman: A Tale of Terror. Harper & Row, 1984. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Disch. Cawthorn and Moorcock, Fantasy: The Hundred Best Novels 98. Pringle, Modern Fantasy: The Hundred Best Novels 88. Supplements an unsigned copy. Bought from Kathryn Cramer for $20.
(Donaldson, Stephen R.) W. A. Senior. Stephen R. Donaldson’s Chronicles of Thomas Covenant: Variations on the Fantasy Tradition. Kent State University Press, 1995. First edition hardback (“03 02 01 00 99 98 97 96 95 5 4 3 2 1” numberline), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket (although, oddly, it seems quite like a heavy grade of red construction paper). Critical companion to the Thomas Covenant books. Added mainly because Kent State has put out a number of interesting SF/F/H related books over the years, some of which (like Bleiler’s Guide to Supernatural Fiction) have gotten quite pricey on the secondary market. Bought for $8 at Recycled Books in Denton.
Donoghue, Emma. Room. Little, Brown, 2010. First edition hardback (“FIRST EDITION: SEPTEMBER 2010” and “10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1” numberline on copyright page), a Fine- copy with slight bend at head and heel and slight blunting of tips in a Fine, Mylar-protected dust jacket. Mainstream novel of a mother raising a son in a single room while trying to hide from him the fact she’s a prisoner there. Basis of the 2015 film of the same name. Bought at Half Price Books for $5.84.
Eggers, Dave. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. Simon & Schuster, 2000. First edition hardback (full “1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2” numberline), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed (with initials) and dated (“3/6/00”) by Eggers. His debut novel. You have to admire the chutzpah of the title. Bought from Half Price Books for $13.50.
Ellison, Harlan. The Man With Nine Lives b/w A Touch of Infinity. Ace Doubles, 1960. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine- copy with spine crease and faint crease along each cover’s spine join (exagerated here), both sides identically inscribed by Ellison: “For Carter/Harlan Ellison.” Richmond, Fingerprints on the Sky page 107. Currey, page 178. Supplements a slightly less attractive signed copy. Bought for $26.55.
Ellison, Harlan. No Doors, No Windows. Pyramid, 1975. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine+ copy with slight spine fading, hairline creasing on front and rear join, and slight edgewear, signed by Ellison. Richmond, Fingerprints on the Sky page 54. Currey, page 178. Supplements a better but unsigned PBO and the signed, limited Borderlands Press hardback. Bought for $26.
Bryant, Edward and Harlan Ellison. Phoenix Without Ashes. Fawcett, 1975. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with a trace of edgewear and spine ever so slightly concave, signed by Bryant and Ellison. Richmond, Fingerprints on the Sky page 108. Currey, pages 76 and 178. Supplements a Near Fine copy signed by Bryant, a Fine, unsigned copy, and a Near Fine unsigned copy, so now I have two each under Bryant and Ellison, which is probably more than I need. And I have unsigned copies for sale through Lame Excuse Books. Bought off eBay for $19.87.
Farmer, Philip Jose. Dare. Ballantine Books, 1965. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine- copy with a 1″ non-breaking crease or slice to rear cover, a bit of non-breaking spine creasing just starting, and a trace of edgewear, signed by Farmer. Currey, page 183. Pringle, Ultimate Guide to Science Fiction, page 79. Bought off eBay for $36.
Farmer, Philip Jose. The Lovers. Ballantine Books, 1961. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine copy with one faint spine crease just starting and slight edgewear Currey, page 185. Brizzi, Phillip Jose Farmer, pages 18-24. Pringle, Ultimate Guide to Science Fiction, 189. Bought off eBay for $16.49. Supplements a signed copy of the later hardback first and a less attractive signed PBO.
Farmer, Philip Farmer. Strange Relations. Ballantine Books, 1960. First edition paperback original, (and, unlike many Ballantine SF of the era, there was no simultaneous hardback edition, a Near Fine copy with one wrinkle across middle of spine and a small stray ink mark at head, signed by Farmer. Short story collection, the alien sex anthology before Alien Sex. Currey, page 178. Bought for $10 (the opening bid).
Farmer, Philip Jose. The Unreasoning Mask. Putnam, 1981. First edition hardback (simultaneous with the trade hardback), #349 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Pringle, Science Fiction: The Hundred Best Novels 96. Pringle, Ultimate Guide to Science Fiction, pages 339-340 (“***…Metaphsyical space opera, one of the author’s best”). Supplements a copy of the trade hardback. Bought from Kathryn Cramer for $35.
Ferris, John, Stephen Gallagher and Joe R. Lansdale. Night Visions 8. Dark Harvest, 1990. First edition hardback, #491 of 600 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine-, Mylar-protected dust jacket with a trace of edgewear at bottom rear, in a Fine slipcase. The second to last Dark Harvest volume of the original Night Visions anthology series, each volume of which includes original stories from three writers. Supplements a trade edition signed by Lansdale (I have all 12 volumes, including the three done by Subterranean). Bought off eBay for $30, a substantial discount off the original $55 price.
Note: The white streak at upper right is dust jacket glare.
Hammond, Warren. KOP. Tor, 2007. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Hammond. Postcyberpunk crime drama. Back when I was still invited to Worldcon etc., someone mentioned that this was a good cyberpunk police procedural. Bought from Half Price Books for $4.99.
Hammond, Warren. KOP Killer. Tor, 2012. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a trace of haze rubbing to rear panel, inscribed by Hammond: “To Deane,/Down the/rabbit hole/Warren Hammond.” Postcyberpunk crime drama. Bought from Half Price Books in Pearland for $4.99.
Harvia, Teddy (David Thayer). WingNuts in Time and Space. Self-published, 2025. First edition comic book fanzine original, #90 of 200 copies, a Fine copy, with letter from the author/illustrator laid in. An eight page comic from the award-winning fan artist featuring his WingNut characters talking about the Big Bang. Given to me free after he asked me if I wanted a copy. Sure!
Haydock, Ron. Deerstalker! Holmes and Watson on Screen. Scarecrow Press, 1978. First edition hardback (no additional printings listed), a Fine- copy with wear at points, sans dust jacket, presumably as listed. Filmography of Sherlock Holmes films and TV shows. Bought off Facebook for $10.
Hill, Joe. The Fireman. William Morrow, 2016. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight bend at head and heel in a Near Fine- dust jacket with two creases running the length of the front flap. Supplements an unsigned first and the signed, limited, slipcased PS Publishing edition. Bought from Half Price Books for $13.04.
Houlihan, John. Mon Dieu Cthulhu! The d’Bois Escapades: Volume One. No Publisher, 2018. Presumed first edition trade paperback original (no additional printings listed, but it looks like a POD book), a Fine copy. Contains two Napoleonic Wars Cthulhu Mythos novellas, “The Crystal Void” (“first illustrated edition”) and “Feast of the Dead,” for which this appears to be the first publication anywhere. I just found the concept interesting. Bought at Half Price Books for $4.94.
Howard, Robert E. The Adventures of Lal Singh. Cryptic Publications, 1985. First edition chapbook original, a Fine copy. Short story collection. Part of a large bulk purchase of Robert A. Howard books at the beginning of the year from a private collector for $725.
Howard, Robert E. Always Comes Evening. Underwood Miller, 1977. First edition thus, a reprint of the Arkham House edition #116 of 200 leatherbound copies signed by artist Keiko Nelson, a Fine copy in a Fine-, first state (dragon) dust jacket with a short hairline crack and three tiny spots of edgewear at head, four tiny spots of edgewear at heel, and indention in spine middle (where you would pull the book out of the slipcase with you fingers), with folded sheet reproducing the handwritten “The Song of Yar Ali Khan” laid in, in a Fine- slipcase with a trace of wear at points. Contents differ from the Arkham House edition. Chalker/Owens, page 430. Supplements a copy of the Arkham House first edition. Part of that large Howard purchase.
Howard, Robert E. Black Vulmea’s Vengence. Donald M. Grant, 1976. First edition hardback, a Fine-/Fine- copy with trace of wear at head, heel and points. Pirate stories. Currey, page 248. Chalker/Owings, page 218. Part of that large Howard purchase.
Howard, Robert E. Blades for France. George T. Hamilton, 1975. First edition chapbook original, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with faint dust prints to front cover. Part of that large Howard purchase.
Howard, Robert E. (Rob Roehm, editor). The Collected Letters of Robert E. Howard Volume One: 1923 – 1929. Robert E. Howard Foundation Press, 2007. First edition hardback, #267 of 300 copies, a Fine- copy with slight bumping at heel in a Near Fine+ dust jacket with slight bumping at heel, small fold to top of front flap, trace of wear at points, and slight haze rubbing to rear. Most of the letters in this volume seem to be to longtime close friend Tevis Clyde Smith.
With:
Howard, Robert E. (Rob Roehm, editor). The Collected Letters of Robert E. Howard Volume Two: 1930-1932. Robert E. Howard Foundation Press, 2007. First edition hardback, #266 of 300 copies, a Fine- copy with bump to top front point in a Fine- dust jacket with slight bend at head, bump at point, trace of wear at points, and faint non-breaking surface scratches to rear cover. In this volume we finally start to see a number of letters to H.P. Lovecraft (I haven’t looked yet, but I’m guessing most if not all are included in the two volume A Means to Freedom, which I also have).
With:
Howard, Robert E. (Rob Roehm, editor). The Collected Letters of Robert E. Howard Volume Three: 1933-1936. Robert E. Howard Foundation Press, 2007. First edition hardback, #265 of 300 copies, a Fine copy in a Near Fine- dust jacket with two long, faint scratches to the front cover, slight wrinkling at head and a trace of wear at points. Letters to a wide range of recipients: Lovecraft, Clark Ashton Smith, August Derleth, Emil Petja, etc. All three bought of Facebook for $60 for the set.
Howard, Robert E. The Coming of El Borak. Cryptic Publications, 1987. First edition chapbook original, a Fine copy. Short story collection. Part of that large Howard purchase.
Howard, Robert E. The Complete Yellow Jacket. Paul Herman, 1999. First edition chapbook original, #80 of 100 copies, a Fine copy. Collection of Howard’s work that appeared in The Yellow Jacket, the school paper for Howard Payne University. Bought off Facebook for $20.
Howard, Robert E. The Devil in Iron. Donald M. Grant, 1976. First edition hardback, a Near Fine+ copy with slight bump at heel and long, faint non-breaking crease to front free endpaper, in a Near Fine dust jacket with bump at heel, small section of slight discoloration to bottom rear edge, long, faint non-breaking crease to front flap and trace of wear at points. Chalker/Owings, page 218. Currey, page 249. Fifth volume in the Deluxe Conan series. Part of that large Howard purchase.
Howard, Robert E. The Early Adventures of El Borak. The Robert E. Howard Foundation Press, 2010. First edition hardback, #26 of 150 copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. All the Francis X. Gordon, Lal Singh and Yar Ali Khan stories. Although not signed when I purchased, I’ve now had introduction author David A. Hardy inscribe it to me. Bought off Facebook for $50.
Howard, Robert E. Echoes from an Iron Harp. Donald M. Grant, 1972. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with trace of wear at head, heel and point in a Fine- dust jacket with trace of wear at head, heel and points and trace of dust soiling to white rear panel. Howard’s third poetry collection. Lord, The Last Celt, page 129. Chalker/Owings, page 217. Part of that large Howard purchase.
Howard, Robert E. The Grey God Passes. Charles Miller, 1975. First edition chapbook original, a Fine copy. Chalker/Owings, page 547. Part of that large Howard purchase.
Howard, Robert E. Hawks of Outremer. Donald M. Grant, 1979. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight bumping at head and heel in a Near Fine+ dust jacket with slight bumping and small abrasion at heel and trace of wear at head and points. Howard’s Cormac Fitzgeoffrey stories. Chalker/Owens, page 220. Part of that large Howard purchase.
Howard, Robert E. The Hour of the Dragon. G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1977. First hardback edition thus (no statement of printing, as per Currey, and “7711” date on flap, as per ISFDB), “The Authorized Edition” of the Conan novel Conan the Conqueror edited by Karl Edward Wagner (and weirdly, the paperback edition precedes by a couple of months), a Fine-/Fine- copy with a trace of bumping at points. Currey, page 250, who notes “Follows the text of the five-part serial appearing in Weird Tales.” Supplements a copy of the Gnome Press first of Conan the Conqueror. Part of that large Howard purchase.
Howard, Robert E. The Incredible Adventures of Dennis Dorgan. FAX Collector’s Editions, 1974. First edition hardback, a Fine-/Fine- copy with slight bumping and edgewear at head, heel and a trace of wear at points. All Howard’s tales of Sailor Dennis Dorgan. Chalker/Owings, page 177. Part of that large Howard purchase.
Howard, Robert E. Isle of Pirate Doom. George T. Hamilton, 1975. First edition chapbook original, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with slight wear to top corners. Part of that large Howard purchase.
Howard, Robert E. The King’s Service. George T. Hamilton, 1976. First edition chapbook original, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Part of that large Howard purchase.
Howard, Robert E. The Lost Valley of Iskander. FAX Collector’s Editions, 1974. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, still in shrink wrap. Chalker/Owings, page 177. Francis X. Gordon stories. Neither Chalker/Owings nor ISFDB note any additional FAX printings. Part of that large Howard purchase.
Howard, Robert E. Marchers of Valhalla. Donald M. Grant, 1977. First edition thus, a larger and more heavily heavily illustrated version than the 1972 edition which adds an additional story (“The Grey God Passes”), a Fine- copy with slight bumping at head and heel in a Near Fine+ dust jacket with bumping at head and heel and two 1/2″ closed tears to top rear panel, with signature plate by illustrator Marcus Boas affixed to front free endpaper. Chalker/Owens, page 218 (“essentially a new book”). I’m not seeing any mention of the plate online or in the literature, and I’m not sure whose signature that is. Supplements the 1972 first edition. Part of that large Howard purchase.
Howard, Robert E. Pay Day. Cryptic Publications, 1986. First edition chapbook original, a Fine copy. Eight extremely short stories. Editor Robert M. Price: “These tales represent Howard’s attempt to write ‘realistic’ fiction.” Bought off Facebook for $20.
Howard, Robert E. The People of the Black Circle. Donald M. Grant, 1974. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Near Fine dust jacket with slight discoloration to the front panel and slight bumping at head. Chalker/Owings, page 217. Currey, page 250. First volume of the Deluxe Conan series. Part of that large Howard purchase.
Howard, Robert E. The Pride of Bear Creek. Donald M. Grant, 1966. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with previous owner’s name in ink on front free endpaper and a tiny dust print at heel, in a Fine- dust jacket with a few small nicks to front panel near bottom edge. The second collection of Breckenridge Elkins stories. Supplements a copy of the 1977 Grant edition. Lord, The Last Celt, page 117. Currey, page 251. Chalker/Owings, page 216. Part of that large Howard purchase.
Howard, Robert E. The Queen of the Black Coast. Donald M. Grant, 1978. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine copy. Chalker/Owings, page 218. Seventh volume of the Deluxe Conan series. Part of that large Howard purchase.
Howard, Robert E. Red Nails. Donald M. Grant, 1975. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket was one pinprick black dot on front of dust jack. Fourth in the Deluxe Conan series. Currey, page 251. Chalker/Owings, page 217-18. Part of that large Howard purchase.
Howard, Robert E. The Road of Azrael. Donald M. Grant, 1979. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy in a Fine- dust jacket with slight bend at head and heel. Another lavishly illustrated collection, this one with art by Roy Krenkel. Chalker/Owens, page 219. Part of that large Howard purchase.
Howard, Robert E. The Road to Rome. Roy A. Squires, 1972. First edition chapbook original, a Fine copy in a Fine- envelope with slight wear at edges. Lord, The Last Celt: A Bio-Bibliography of Robert Ervin Howard, page 128. The Private Press of Roy A. Squires 17. Chalker/Owings, page 589. Part of that large Howard purchase.
Howard, Robert E. Rogues in the House. Donald M. Grant, 1976. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Sixth in the Deluxe Conan series. Currey, page 251. Chalker/Owings, page 218. Part of that large Howard purchase.
Howard, Robert E. Sentiment: An Olio Rarer Works. Robert E. Howard Foundation Press, 2009. First edition hardback, #63 of 150 hardback copies, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a trace of edgewear at head. Hefty 583 page collection of Howard’s rarer works, including some never meant for publication. Edited by Bob Roehm. Introduction by Mark Finn. Bought off Facebook.
Howard, Robert E. The Shadow of the Beast. George T. Hamilton, 1977. First edition chapbook original, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with slight bend to top front right corner. Part of that large Howard purchase.
Howard, Robert E. The Shadow of the Hun. George T. Hamilton, 1975. First edition chapbook original, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with slight crease to top left front corner. Part of that large Howard purchase.
Howard, Robert E. Son of the White Wolf. FAX Collector’s Editions, 1977. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, still in shrink wrap. Francis X. Gordon stories. Chalker/Owings, page 177. Neither Chalker/Owings nor ISFDB note any additional FAX printings. Part of that large Howard purchase.
Howard, Robert E. A Song of the Naked Lands. Roy A. Squires, 1973. First edition chapbook original, a Fine copy in a Near Fine+ envelope with fold to flap and slight wear at edges. Lord, The Last Celt: A Bio-Bibliography of Robert Ervin Howard, page 130. The Private Press of Roy A. Squires 21. Chalker/Owings, page 589. Part of that large Howard purchase.
Howard, Robert E. Spears of Clontarf. George T. Hamilton, 1978. First edition chapbook original, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Part of that large Howard purchase.
Howard, Robert E. Swords of the North. Robert E. Howard Foundation Press, 2009. First edition hardback, #118 of 200 numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with slight wrinkling at head and slight edgewear at heel. “Featuring Viking Stories, Celtic Adventures, Drafts and Fragments.” Edited by Bob Roehm. Introduction by Rusty Burke. Bought off Facebook.
Howard, Robert E. The Swords of Shahrazah. FAX Collector’s Editions, 1976. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, still in shrink wrap. Kirby O’Donnell stories. Chalker/Owings, page 177. Neither Chalker/Owings or ISFDB note any additional FAX printings. Part of that large Howard purchase.
Howard, Robert E. The Tower of the Elephant. Donald M. Grant, 1975. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight bumping at head in a Fine- dust jacket with slight bumping at head and heel. Third in the Deluxe Conan series. Currey, page 251. Chalker/Owings, page 217. Part of that large Howard purchase.
Howard, Robert E. Two-Fisted Detective. Cryptic Publications, 1984. First edition chapbook original, one of 450 unsigned, unnumbered copies, a Fine- copy with slight bit of wear to the spine. Four stories featuring Detective Steve Harris. Bought off Facebook for $20.
Howard, Robert E. Up, John Kane! Roy A. Squires, 1977. First edition chapbook original, a Fine- with one faint surface scratch and faint indentation through pages copy in a Fine- envelope with slight wear at edges. The Private Press of Roy A. Squires 33. Chalker/Owings, page 590. Part of that large Howard purchase.
Howard, Robert E. Valley of the Lost. Charles Miller, 1975. First edition chapbook original, #691 of 777 signed by illustrator Bot Roda, a Fine copy (the ragged right edge of the front cover seems intentional). Chalker/Owings, page 547. Part of that large Howard purchase.
Howard, Robert E. A Witch Shall Be Born. Donald M. Grant, 1975. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with slight bend at head and slight crease to very tip of top front inner flap. Second in the Deluxe Conan series. Currey, page 251. Chalker/Owings, page 217. Part of that large Howard purchase.
Howard, Robert E. Writer of the Dark. Dark Carneval Press, 1986. First edition oversized 11 1/2″ x 8 3/8″ trade paperback original, #111 of 500 copies, a Near Fine copy with light streak of dampstaining to pageblock edges, slight dampstaining dye transfer from covers to first and last pages, just the start of a spine crease, and a touch of edgewear to covers. Collection of poetry and fiction. Bought off Facebook.
Howard, Robert E. and Tevis Clyde Smith (“El Gringo” (E. A. Fisher) illustrator). Red Blades of Black Cathay. Real Free Press, 1975. First edition chapbook graphic novel, a Fine copy. Part of that large Howard purchase.
(Howard, Robert E.) Derie, Bobby. Weird Talers: Essays on Robert E. Howard and Other. Hippocampus Press, 2019. First edition trade paperback original (though I think all Hippocampus Press trade paperbacks are POD books now), a Fine copy. Bought off Facebook for $5.
(Howard, Robert E.) de Camp, L. Sprague. The Miscast Barbarian: A Biography of Robert E. Howard (1906-2936). Gerry de la Ree, 1975. Presumed second printing (no limitation statement on final page, as pr Chalker/Owings) oversize chapbook original, a Fine copy. A short (42 pages, including art, bibliography and notes), impressionistic biography of Howard by de Camp, who was later to do a much more extensive biography of Howard, Dark Valley Destiny, in collaboration with his wife Catherine Crook de Camp. It is an understatement to note that de Camp’s biography, and his long legacy collecting, editing and publishing Howard’s work, is not regarded with universal love by the Robert E. Howard community. Chalker/Owings, page 128. Part of that large Howard purchase.
(Howard, Robert E.) Lord, Glenn. The Last Celt: A bio-Bibliography of Robert Ervin Howard. Donald M. Grant, 1976. First edition hardback a Fine- copy in a Fine- dust jacket with bumped corners. About a hundred pages of biography of Howard by various people (including H. P. Lovecraft), with the rest taken up with a bibliography. Chalker/Owings, page 218 (“Good and very useful.”). Part of that large Howard purchase.
(Howard, Robert E.) Willard M. Oliver. Robert E. Howard: The Life and Times of a Texas Author. University of North Texas Press, 2025. First edition hardback (“10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1” numberline), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Hefty 580 page biography of Howard that’s gotten lots of praise in the various REH-adjacent bibliographic groups I visit on Facebook. Bought off Amazon for $20.80, a hefty discount off the $40 list price. But click on that link and you’ll find it even cheaper…
Hunter, Stephen. Dead Zero. Simon and Schuster, 2010. First edition hardback (“1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2” numberline), a Fine- copy with slight bends at head and heel in a Fine- dust jacket with traces of wear at head, heel and points, signed by Hunter. Bought at Half Price Books for $7.19.
Hunter, Stephen. I, Ripper. Simon and Schuster, 2015. First edition hardback (“10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1” numberline), a Fine- copy with slight bends at head and heel in a Fine- dust jacket with traces of wear at head, heel and points, inscribed by Hunter: “To David,/All/best/Stephen Hunter”. Bought at Half Price Books for $7.19.
Hunter, Stephen. Night of Thunder. Simon & Schuster, 2008. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine, Mylar-protected dust jacket, signed by Hunter. “A Bob Lee Swagger novel.” Bought at a Dallas Half Price Books for $6.49, which is a quarter of the original selling price.
Jeter, K.W. Star Wars: Slave Ship: Book 2 of The Bounty Hunter Wars. Bantam Spectra, 1998. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with slight foxing to inside covers and a trace of edgewear. I already had volume 1 and volume 3 of the trilogy, as well a signed copy of the SFBC hardback omnibus. Bought for $3.99.
Jones, Diana Wynne. Minor Arcana. Gollancz, 1996. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dustjacket, signed by Jones, with sales slip laid in. Bought at a Half Price Books for $14.99. I kept this one because I like short story collections and I didn’t have a signed Jones in my collection.
Joshi, S. T., editor. Black Wings II: New Tales of Lovecraftian Horror. PS Publishing, 2012. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket with UPC sticker to rear cover (presumably as issued). Original Lovecraftian horror anthology featuring work from John Shirley, Don Webb, Steve Rasnic Tem, etc. This is the trade edition (there was also a signed, limited edition). Long out of print in hardback, but bought off Facebook for $30 (pretty close to the original price of £25).
Joshi, S. T., editor. Black Wings IIi: New Tales of Lovecraftian Horror. PS Publishing, 2014. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. original Lovecraftian horror anthology featuring work from Brian Stableford, Don Webb, Peter Cannon, etc. This is the trade edition (there was also a signed, limited edition). Long out of print in hardback, but bought off Facebook for $30 (pretty close to the original price of £25).
Koontz, Dean R. Oddkins: A Fable for All Ages. Warner Books, 1988. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, an association copy inscribed by Koontz to longtime friend and fellow writer Lisa Tuttle: “To Lisa —/A tale for kids of all ages./Button up your jammies, put/your slippers by the bed, and/be ready to run in case the/[underlined]bad toys[/underlined] show up some night./Warmest regards/Dean R. Koontz.” Lisa told me that she knew Koontz since she met him and his wife Gerda at a convention in the early 1970s when she was a student at Syracuse University, and in fact spent Thanksgiving break with the Koontzs one year. Koontz also dedicated his novel Beastchild to Tuttle. I saw on Facebook that Lisa had been selling off some books, and this is one of the ones she wanted to sell. The prices for signed Koontz firsts have come down a bit lately, to the point that recent titles can be had for cover price or even a bit less, but I have to think actual associational copies signed by him are a good deal harder to find. Bought from Lisa for £50, including shipping (which is a goodly chunk).
A little bit of the dust jacket top is cut off in the scan.
Koontz, Dean R. (as Leigh Nichols). Shadowfires. Avon, 1987. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine copy with one slight spine crease, start of a faint crease along front spine join, slight bumping at head, trace of wear at corners, and touch of age darkening to very tops of white cover, signed by Koontz: “Leigh Nichols/[quotation marks around printed Leigh Nichols name]/also known as/Dean R. Koontz.” One of Koontz’s many pseudonymous novels. Supplements unsigned copies of the book club hardback and the Dark Harvest trade hardback under Koontz’s own name. Bought off eBay for $15.59.
Kurland, Michael. The Unicorn Girl. Pyramid, 1969. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine copy with non-breaking crease across front cover and some edgewear (but no spine creasing). Second book in the hippie science fiction trilogy, preceded by Chester Anderson’s The Butterfly Kid and followed by T. A. Waters’ The Probability Pad (which I have). Bought from a DFW Half Price Books for $2.49.
Kuttner, Henry. Ahead of Time. Ballantine Books, 1954. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with slight wear at head, heel and points, in a Very Good+ dust jacket with two closed 2″ tears to front cover, wear at points, and slight soiling to lighter portions of jacket. Short story collection. Currey, page 291. Bought from L. W. Currey for $37.50, marked down from $75.
Kuttner, Henry. Valley of the Flame. Ace, 1964. First edition paperback original (40¢ price and no printing statement on copyright page, as per Currey), a Fine- copy with a trace of wear at points. Currey, page 293. Cawthorn and Moocrcock, Fantasy: The 100 Best Books, page 135. Bought at Recycled Books in Denton for $3.
Kuttner, Henry and C. L. Moore. Earth’s Last Citadel. Ace, 1964. First edition paperback original (40¢ price and no printing statement on copyright page, as per Currey), a Near Fine copy with hairline creasing along front spine join, slight edgewear at head, heel and points and a few other traces of edgewear. Currey, page 292. Bought at a DFW Half Price Books for $3.
Lachman, Marvin. A Reader’s Guide to the American Novel of Detection. G. K. Hall & Co., 1993. First edition hardback, an Ex-Library copy with most of the usual flaws (though UT Law Library rather than APL, so it doesn’t have the hideous APL band glued to the dust jacket), otherwise it would be a Fine/Fine copy. Provides plot synopsis for American detective novels, along with a few different index sections (pseudonyms, series characters, settings, etc.). There are no entries for Joe R. Lansdale, Kinky Friedman, or even Dashiell Hammett, so I wonder what the criteria was for an entry here. Bought for the munificent sum of $1 at UT’s ReUse shop.
Lafferty, R.A. The Man Who Lost His Magic: The Collected Short Fiction Volume 8. First edition hardback, #40 of 300 numbered copies signed by introduction author Gary K. Wolfe.
(Lafferty, R. A., Gene Wolfe) Knight, Dan (Amanda Patchin and Brent Towell, interviewers). Hedgehog Press Interviews Dan Knight. Hedgehog Press, 2024. First edition chapbook original, #23 of 50 copies, a Fine copy, with frontispiece tissue guard laid in. Interview with the publisher of United Mythologies Press, small press publisher of several works by R. A. Lafferty and Gene Wolfe. Bought off Abebooks for $15 plus shipping after Knight mentioned the existence off it on a Gene Wolfe group on Facebook. Do I want all the Lafferty and Wolfe critical chapbooks? Yes, yes I do.
Lansdale, Joe R. (Joe Hill) The Essential Horror of Joe R. Lansdale. Tachyon, 2025. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy, signed by Lansdale. According to the publisher, Joe showed up for their 30th Anniversary Party and “signed all the books.” Joe Hill provides the introduction. Bought from the publisher at the usual discount. I have copies available through Lame Excuse Books.
Lansdale, Joe R. Freezer Burn. Mysterious Press, 1999. Advanced Reading Copy, trade paperback format, of the trade hardback first edition, a Fine- copy, with slight wear at corners. Supplements the Crossroad Press signed, limited, true first edition. Bought for $9.99.
Lansdale, Joe R. Sugar on the Bones. Short Scary Tales (SST) Publications. 2025. First limited edition edition hardback, #101 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine slipcase (the slipcase was not included in the base price for the book, I had to pay extra for it). Signed, limited edition of the latest Hap and Leonard novel.
Lansdale, Joe R., editor. The Horror Hall of Fame. Cemetery Dance, 2011. First edition Advanced Uncorrected Proof, trade paperback format, of the hardback first edition, a Fine copy. Isajanko D13.a (but no mention of proof states). Bought off Facebook for $10.
(Lansdale, Joe R.) Christopher Golden & Brian Keene, editors. The Drive-In: Multiplex. Pandi Press, 2023. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy with seven different Pando Press/Lansdale advertising cards and such laid in. Supplements a copy of the the Thunderstorm Books signed/limited hardback. Bought from the publisher at cover price when they announced it was about to go out of print.
Lethem, Jonathan. K is for Fake. McSweeney’s Quarterly, 2000. First edition chapbook original, a Fine copy. Story about Franz Kafka from the then-forthcoming Kafka Americana. Bought for $10 from The Little Book House in the Woods in Spring, Texas.
Link, Kelly. 4 Stories. Jelly Ink, 2000. First edition chapbook original, a Fine copy, singed by Link. Jelly Ink was Link’s own publishing house before Small Beer Press. Bought from Kathryn Cramer for $35.
Locke, George. Ferret Fantasy’s Christmas Annual For 1972. First edition chapbook original, a Fine copy save for penciled inventory number on front cover. Full of obscure bibliographic entries and reprints of period literature. I would like to pick up all of Locke’s reference works. Tymn Schlobin Currey, A Research Guide to Science Fiction Studies 31. Burgess, Reference Guide to Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror 180. Bought from L. W. Currey for $12.50, marked down from $25.
(Lovecraft, H.P.) Eddy, Muriel E. & C.M. The Gentleman from Angell Street. Helios House Press, 2025. Third edition, first hardback and first thus, a greatly expanded version of the Fenham Publishing trade paperback of 2001 (which I also have), a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Biographical memoir of Lovecraft by two of his neighbors, now filled out with information gleaned from unearthed correspondence. Backed on Kickstarter for $65.
(Lovecraft, H. P.) S. T. Joshi, editor. Primal Sources: Essays on Lovecraft. Hippocampus Press, 2003. First edition trade paperback original (stated, though I think all Hippocampus Press trade paperbacks are POD books now), a Fine- copy with first page slightly dog-eared at bottom. Joshi essays on various Lovecraftian topics. Joshi, H.P. Lovecraft: A Comprehensive Bibliography III-C-65. Joshi, 200 Books by S. T. Joshi, I.23. Bought off Facebook for $10.
(Lovecraft, H.P.) Mariconda, Steven J. H. P. Lovecraft: Art, Artifact, and Reality. Hippocampus Press, 2013. First edition trade paperback original (though I think all Hippocampus Press trade paperbacks are POD books now), a Near Fine+ copy with a trace of light staining to page block edges and few light spots of staining to first few pages, and a trace of wear at points. Bought for $10.
McDonald, Ian. Hopeland. Tor, 2023. First edition hardback, a Fine-/Fine- copy with slight bumping to top points. Looks a bit New Weird-ish. ISDFB says the Tor edition precedes by a couple of days. Bought from Half Price Books for $13.49.
Michener, James A. The Eagle and the Raven. State House Press, 1990. First edition hardback, an unnumbered copy of 350 numbered copies signed by Michener and illustrator Charles Shaw, a Fine copy in a Fine Mylar-protected dust jacket. Novel of the clash between Sam Houston and Santa Ana, and unlike most Michener works, this one comes in at a sprightly 210 pages. Bought at a Half Price Books for $9.99.
Middleton, Richard. A Little Green Book of Ghastly Tales. Borderlands Press, 2025. First edition hardback, #462 of 350 numbered copies (Borderlands: “we only print 350 copies but if anyone has matching numbers above 350, we make sure they continue to get it”) signed by editor Nicholas A. Psaltso, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Collection from this British writer and poet who died young, including his most famous story, “The Ghost Ship.” I have copies available through Lame Excuse Books.
Moorcock, Michael. The Fireclown. Compact SF/Roberts & Vintner, 1965. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine- copy with slight spine creasing and wear at points, otherwise nice and square, signed by Moorcock, with a folded flyer for Modern Family Planning laid in (no idea if that was as issued or not). Bilyeu, Tanalorn Archive page 19. Currey, page 370. Bought for $20.51.
Moorcock, Michael. The Twilight Man. Compact SF/Roberts & Vintner, 1966. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with former owner’s name on blurb page and a few nicks of wear, otherwise tight and square, signed by Moorcock. Bilyeu, Tanalorn Archive page 35. Currey, page 373. Bought for $20.59.
Moorcock, Michael. Five signature plates. Mike was kind enough to put these in my SASE.
(Moorcock, Michael) Edward Kramer, editor. Michael Moorcock’s Pawn of Chaos. White Wolfe, 1996. Presumed first edition trade paperback original (most White Wolf Moorcock books have a first printing statement and/or numberline; while this one does not, it doesn’t have any later printing statement either, I have been unable to find anyone who has a copy with a printing statement, and it seems unlikely an anthology would have multiple printings), a Fine- copy with a trace of soiling to outer pageblock edge. Original anthology of Eternal Champion stories, featuring work by John Shirley, Don Webb, Bill Crider, Peter Crowther, etc. (even Gary Gygax!). Bought off Facebook for $10.
Moore, Christopher. Island of the Sequined Love Nun. Avon, 1997. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Moore. Comic novel. Bought off Facebook for $10.
Morris, Edmund. Dutch: A Memoir of Ronald Reagan. Random House, 1999. First edition hardback (with “First Edition” states and “24689753” numberline (yes, Random House first printing numberlines of the period started with “2”; don’t ask me why)), a Fine- copy with a touch of a crease at head in a Fine- dust jacket with a slight bit of pull at head and top front edge, inscribed by Morris: “To Wade/With regards.” Massive 874 page authorized biography of Reagan that was quite controversial when released because it added fictional characters for dramatic effect. Bought from Recycled Reads, the Austin Public Library resale shop, for $1.85.
Moskowitz, Sam. Explorers of the infinite: Shapers of Science Fiction. World Publishing Company, 1963. Hardback reprint (Currey says First Edition stated on copyright page, and I’m not seeing it anywhere), a Near Fine copy with bend at head and heel and a few pinpoint spots to boards, in a Near Fine- Mylar-protected dust jacket with wear at head and heel, slight age darkening to spine, some rubbing, and slight darkening to white portions of rear panel. Mostly essays on individual writers, arranged chronologically, from well-known figures like Lovecraft, Stapledon and Burroughs to more obscure ones like Fitz-James O’Brien and Frank Reade Jr. Moskowitz was tremendously important as one of the field’s first historians and critics, but also tremendously controversial due to many tendentious opinions. Bought at a DFW Half Price Books for $6.99.
Nesbit, Edith. A Little Fuchsia Book of Fantasy. Borderlands Press, 2025. First edition hardback, #463 of 350 numbered copies (Borderlands: “we only print 350 copies but if anyone has matching numbers above 350, we make sure they continue to get it”) signed by editor Hal Bodner, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Ten stories (including retellings of Hamlet and Macbeth) from an English author better known for children’s books. Bought from the publisher at the usual discount. I have copies of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
Neville, Leigh. Technicals: Non-Standard Tactical Vehicles from the Great Toyota War to modern Special Forces. Osprey, 2018. Fourth printing of the first trade paperback original edition, a Fine copy. Just what is says, a history of technicals, civilian vehicles (frequently Toyota pickup trucks) modified to mount military weapons like machine guns, anti-tank guns and rocket launchers. Usually an insurgent weapon, American Special Forces used them in some theaters in the 1980s and 90s. Given to me as a late Christmas present by Dwight.
Niven, Larry. Ringworld. Ballantine Books, 1970. First edition paperback original (“First Printing: October 1970,” as per Currey), a Near Fine copy with just a start of spine creasing, traces of soiling to rear cover, and trace of wear at head and heel and tips, otherwise a tight, square, beautiful copy. Hugo and Nebula winner for Best Novel. Currey, page 387. Pringle, Ultimate Guide to Science Fiction, page 262 (“***”). Barron, Anatomy of Wonder 4 *4-316. Magill, Survey of Science Fiction Literature, pages 1799-1804. The true first edition and the one in which Niven infamously had the earth rotating the wrong way. Supplements a copy of the Gollancz hardback first and replaces a less attractive PBO copy now available through Lame Excuse Books. Bought off Facebook for $5.
Niven, Larry. The Time of the Warlock. SteelDragon Press, 1984. First edition hardback, #185 of 200 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine, Mylar-protected dust jacket. Includes all of The Magic Goes Away and additional stories set in the same universe. Supplements an unsigned copy. Chalker/Owings, page 418. Bought off eBay for $23.50, less than the original limited edition list price of $30.
Piper, H. Beam. Four-Day Planet. G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1961. First edition hardback (no statement of printing, as per Currey), a Near Fine copy with slight wear at heel and points, slight bend at head and heel, and slight dust-soiling to page block edges, and a trace of foxing to gutters, in a Very Good- dust jacket missing several small chips from spine, the largest about 1″ x 1/16″), about 1/4″ loss at head, and shallow loss at points, inscribed by Piper: “For Bill Stroup/—off for California with his banjo on/his knee –/Hope the Injuns don’t get him. /a-crossin’ the plains —/H. Beam Piper.” According to the seller, Piper was a friend of his father’s. Currey, page 402. Bought for $150, bargained down from $180.
Pournelle, Jerry (with John F. Carr). The Survival of Freedom. Fawcett Crest, 1981. First edition paperback original (“First Fawcett Crest Printing: August 1981” and “10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1”), a Near Fine- copy with slight spine creasing and a touch of edgewear, a few other touches of wear, and pages slightly toned, signed not only by editor Pournelle, but also contributors Robert A. Heinlein (twice; once on the title page and once after his non-fiction piece on the L-5 society), Poul Anderson and Larry Niven. Proof, once again, of George Locke’s dictum not to look for books, but look at books. Heinlein didn’t make many (if any) public appearances after the Kansas City Worldcon in 1976. I found this book at the Half Price Books in Clear Lake City, so I wonder if the contributors might have signed this at a NASA or L-5 event. Contains a mixture of fiction and non-fiction, and includes contributions from Russell Kirk (non-fiction), Harlan Ellison (“‘Repent, Harlequin!’ Said the Ticktockman”) and Jack Vance (“Dodkin’s Job”). Bought for $2.99, quite a bargain considering that signed Heinleins start at about $300 these days.
Powers, Tim. Dinner at Deviant’s Palace. Charnel House, 2025. First limited edition thus, #56 of 99 numbered copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued, with cardstock ad for limited edition art print of Powers’ own interpretation of Deviant’s Palace laid in. Post-apocalytic science fiction novel that won the Philip K. Dick Award. Already sold out from the publisher, but I have a copy available through Lame Excuse Books.
Powers, Tim. The Mills of the Gods. Charnel House, 2025. First edition hardback (according to Charnel House, both this and the Baen edition came out December 2, 2025), #54 of 150 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Supernatural fantasy set in 1925 Paris. Bought from the publisher at the usual discount.
Price, Robert M., editor. Two-Fisted Detective Stories Volume 2. Cryptic Publications, 1988. First edition chapbook original, a Fine copy. Anthology of detective stories, including stories from Manly Wade Wellman (“Murder Music,” which doesn’t appear to be in the five volume Selected Stories), Robert Bloch (“The Knife and the Throat,” which doesn’t appear to have been reprinted in any Bloch collections), Lin Carter and C.J. Henderson. Bought off Facebook for $20.
Rand, Ayn (edited by Michael S. Berliner). Letters of Ayn Rand. Dutton, 1995 First edition hardback (“First Printing, June, 1995/1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2”), a Fine- copy with a trace of bend at head in a Fine- dust jacket with small crease to rear top flap tip and a trace of haze rubbing. 682 page collection of Rand letters. Bought for $9.99 from a Half Price Books in Garland.
Reagan, Ronald (edited Kiron B. Skinner, Annelisa Anderson, and Martin Anderson). Reagan: A Life in Letters. Free Press, 2003. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a trace of crimping at head and top points. Just what it says, a hefty 934 page collection of Reagan’s letters. Forward by George P. Schultz. Bought for $4.94.
Resnick, Mike. Eros Descending. Signet, 1985. First edition paperback original (“First Printing, December, 1985/1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9”), a Near Fine- copy with spine crease just beginning, start of a hairline crease along front spine join, a dozen or so very small rubs to bottom half of front cover, bookstore stamp to blurb page, and a trace of edgewear, otherwise a tight, square copy, signed by Resnick. Third book in the Tales of the Velvet Comet. Bought for $5.
Reynolds, Alastair. The Dagger in Vichy. Subterranean Press, 2025. First edition hardback, #422 of 1,000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, with bookmark laid in. Novella described as a mixture of science fiction and fantasy, with perhaps a dollop of Eldritch Horror.
Rice, Jeff. Kolchak: The Night Stalker: The Original Novel. Monstrous Books, 2024. First hardback edition (no additional printings stated), a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued, with postcard and press pass laid in. Supplements my copy of the paperback original, which precedes by over half a century. The extra button is in a photo below. Bought off Kickstarter for $39.
Rosenbach, A. S. W. A Book Hunter’s Holiday. Houghton Mifflin, 1936. First edition hardback, #747 of 760 signed, numbered copies, a Very Good+ copy with a bit of wear to the cloth and a large sticker ghost on the inside front cover, with some sheets still uncut, sans dust jacket, presumably as issued (the trade edition had a dust jacket, but all online examples of the signed edition seem to lack the dust jacket), but lacking the slipcase. Essays on bookselling and collecting. Received as a Christmas gift from Dwight, and a companion volume for Books and Bidders.
Rosenbach, A. S. W. Books and Bidders. Little Brown and Company, 1927. First edition hardback (“Published November, 1927), a Fine-copy with a faint 1″ groove at head near rear join and slight bend at head and heel, in a Very Good+ dust jacket with a 1” closed tear and associated creases at top rear, two much smaller closed tears, slight shallow loss at head and heel, and a bit of soiling to white rear cover, with dedication slip tipped in at the dedication page: “To Ben F. Wallace, with all best wishes/a.s.w. Rosenbach/ June 20, 1933.” Rosenbach was probably the grandest of the grand old men of the American bookselling trade in the first half of the 20th century. Given that Rosenbach sold multiple Gutenberg bibles throughout his career, I think my own bookselling efforts rather pale in comparison. Still, I expect this will be full of bookselling tidbits of yesteryear. Given to me as a birthday gift by Dwight.
Saha, Arthur W., editor. The Year’s Best Fantasy Stories: 9. SAW, 1983. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine copy with slight abrasion line to spine, slight age toning to pages, moderate foxing to inside covers, a trace of edgewear, and a trace of age darkening of white rear cover along spine. Year’s Best anthology with stories from R. A. Lafferty, Michael Shea, Tanith Lee, Harlan Ellison, Parke Godwin, etc. Saha took over from Lin Carter on this series starting with volume 7. Bought from a DFW Half Price Books for $1.99.
Scarborough, Elizabeth [Ann]. The Drastic Dragon of Draco, Texas. Bantam Spectra, 1986. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine- copy with slight pine creasing and lean trace of edgewear and wear at tips, slight foxing and page toning, inscribed by Scarborough: “For Bobbi,/Not a tall tail but a long one./Elizabeth Scarborough/Ann[?].” Bought at a Half Price Books for $1.99.
Schwarzkopf, General Norman H. (with Peter Petre) The Autobiography: It Doesn’t Take A Hero. Bantam Books, 1992. First edition hardback this, the large print edition (which came out in December 1992, while the true first came out in October 1992), a Fine- copy with slight bend at head and touches of wear at head and heel, in a Fine- dust jacket with slight wrinkle at head and slight wear at top points, with bookplate signed by Schwarzkopf pasted to front free endpaper. Autobiography of the architect of the U.S. military-led coalition’s overwhelming victory in Desert Storm. I meant to pick up a first of this back in the 1990s, but I knew this type of book would show up heavily discounted at some point, but evidently I never ran across a Fine/Fine copy at a price I liked. Bought from Recycled Reads for $2, which I think is incredibly cheap to buy a book with Stormin’ Norman’s signature.
Shepard, Lucius. Crows and Silences. Subterranean Press, 2024. First edition hardback, #108 of 750 copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Collection of four novellas, all of which have previously been published as stand-alone works, though one (Skull City), was only available in the limited edition of The Best of Lucius Shepard.
Shirley, John. Lovecraft Alive! Hippocampus Press, 2016. First edition trade paperback original (stated, though I think all Hippocampus Press trade paperbacks are POD books now), a Fine copy. Collection of Shirley’s Lovecraftian stories. Bought off Facebook for $10.
Silverberg, Robert. Nightwings. Centipede Press, 2025. First limited edition hardback, #338 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread, still in shrinkwrap. Somehow I never picked up the first edition hardback, even though the novella is one of Silverberg’s best. Includes a bonus interview with Silverberg and reproductions of covers of previous editions. Bought from the publisher at the usual discount.
Simmons, Dan. The Crook Factory. Easton Press, 1999. First edition hardback thus, #264 of 1,050 copies, a Fine leatherbound copy, sans dust jacket, as issued, with “a note about THE CROOK FACTORY and the author DAN SIMMONS” and Certification of Authenticity laid in. Supplements an inscribed first edition. Bought off eBay for $20.
Smith, Clark Ashton. Nero. Roy A. Squires, 1964. First edition chapbook original, one of “about 450” copies (Chalker/Owings says 381), a Fine copy of what seems to be the “ordinary” edition in a slightly crease and age-darkened white envelope. Squires’ second Clark Ashton Smith work. The Private Press of Roy A. Squires 3. Joshi/Schultz/Connors, Clark Ashton Smith: A Comprehensive Bibliography, I.A.20. Chalker/Owings, page 588. This, the other two CAS books below, and the Squires bibliography below, were bought for $140.
Smith, Clark Ashton. The Potion of Dreams. Roy A. Squires, 1975. First edition chapbook original, copy 124 of 292 copies, a Fine copy in a Near Fine+ envelope with age-darkening to edges. “The Fugitive Poems, Second Series, Third Volume, Xiccarph Edition.” The Private Press of Roy A. Squires 28. Joshi/Schultz/Connors, Clark Ashton Smith: A Comprehensive Bibliography, I.A.38.a. Chalker/Owings, page 589.
Smith, Clark Ashton. A Song From Hell. Roy A. Squires, 1975. First edition chapbook original, copy 124 of 296 copies, a Fine- copy with two thin scratches to front, in a Very Good only envelope whose flap came off when I opened it up. “The Fugitive Poems, Second Series, Second Volume, Xiccarph Edition.” The Private Press of Roy A. Squires 27. Joshi/Schultz/Connors, Clark Ashton Smith: A Comprehensive Bibliography, I.A.38.a. Chalker/Owings, page 589.
Smith, Clark Ashton, and George Sterling (David E. Schultz and S. T. Joshi, editors). The Shadow of the Unattained: The Letters of George Sterling and Clark Ashton Smith. Hippocampus Press, 2019. First edition trade paperback original (though I think all Hippocampus Press trade paperbacks are POD books now), a Fine copy. Sterling was the California poet who mentored and championed the work of the young Clark Ashton Smith. Bought for $10.
Squires, Roy A. The Private Press of Roy A. Squires. Roy A. Squires, 1987. First edition chapbook original, copy #128 of 230 copies of the “standard format” edition, a Fine copy in a Fine- envelope with short tears at either end of the flap fold and a touch of age-darkening to edges. Descriptive bibliography of the press. The Private Press of Roy A. Squires 39 (yes, the bibliography is the last item listed in the bibliography). Chalker/Owings, page 590. Burgess, Reference Guide to Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror 258.
Sterling, Bruce. Schismatrix Plus. SFBC, 2006. First hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Part of SFBC’s 50th Anniversary Collection. Honestly, I wasn’t even aware they had done this until I chanced across it. Supplements the trade paperback original and the hardback firsts of Schismatrix and Crystal Express. Bought for $4.99.
Stross, Charles. A Conventional Boy. Tor, 2025. First edition hardback (ISFDB states that the UK and U.S. editions came out the same day), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Bought at a DFW Half Price Books for around $9.99.
Stross, Charles. Dead Lies Dreaming. Tor, 2020. First edition hardback (ISFDB states that the U.S. edition came out two days before the UK edition), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Bought at a DFW Half Price Books for around $9.99.
Stross, Charles. The Labyrinth Index. Tor, 2018. First edition hardback (ISFDB states that the UK and U.S. editions came out the same day), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Bought at a DFW Half Price Books for around $9.99.
Sturgeon, Theodore. More Than Human. Farrar. Straus & Young and Ballantine Books, 1953. First edition paperback original (Currey state B, simultaneous with the hardback issue), a Good+ copy only with significant waviness to book and moisture spotting to edges, a touch of edgewear to covers, and just a trace of space concavity, otherwise square, signed by Sturgeon to the inside front cover. His celebrated fixup novel of a gestalt organism, including the classic “Baby is Three.” Currey (1978), page 472. Currey (2002), page 403. Pringle, SF 100 14. Bought off eBay for $20.61.
Swanwick, Michael. A Fantasist’s Guide to Venice. Dragonstairs Press, 2025. First edition chapbook original, #30 of 79 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy. Collection of short essays on various fantastic elements of Venice, in fact and fiction, following the author’s visit there. Note that this is one of at least four different cover patterns for this title, all done in reds and yellows.
Swanwick, Michael. Life: A User’s Manual. Dragonstairs Press, 2025. First edition chapbook original, #6 of 40 signed, numbered copies produced for Confluence 2025, a Fine copy, with tiny additional chapbook inscribed “for a friend of the Press” laid in. Vignettes on the stages of life.
Swanwick, Michael. S1ngular 1nterv1ews. First edition chapbook original, #57 of 60 signed, numbered copies, a Fine- copy with a slight crease in the middle. A series of one question interviews with science fiction professionals: David Hartwell (on editing Gene Wolfe’s Book of the New Sun), Samuel R. Delaney, John Crowley, etc.
Swanwick, Michael. Winter Constellations. Dragonstairs Press, 2024 (not seen until 2025). First edition chapbook original, #76 of 118 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy. Bought directly from the publisher.
Swanwick, Michael, with Marianne Porter. Under A Harvest Moon. Dragonstairs Press, 2025. First edition chapbook original, #5 of 80 copies signed by both Swanwick and Porter, a Fine copy. “A very short, dark and romantic story of love and death,” and an outgrowth of Swanwick’s online ‘fallen leaves” project. Bought from the publisher at the usual discount.
Tenn, William. The Square Root of Man. Ballantine Books, 1968. First edition paperback original (“First Printing: June, 1968”), a Very Good copy with spine creasing and lean, crease along front spine join, edgewear, and a bookstore stamp to teaser page, signed by Tenn. Currey, page 278. Bought off eBay for the opening bid of $10.
Vance, Jack. Bad Ronald. Underwood Miller, 1982. First hardback edition, #63 of 200 signed, numbered copies, a Fine- copy with a very small bump to top rear boards, in a Near Fine dust jacket with slight age darkening to top of spine, and a trace of same along edges. Suspense novel originally published as a paperback original under his legal name of John Holbrook Vance, and the basis of a well-regarded 1974 TV movie of the same name. Hewett, A.43.c. Cunningham, 5.b. Chalker/Owings, page 434. Hubin, page 404. Supplements copies of the text in Volume 12 of the Vance Integral Edition and the Subterranean Dangerous Ways omnibus (which I have both lettered and trade states of), but I still lack the 1973 Ballantine PBO. Though overgraded as Fine/Fine, I can’t really complain since I bought this off eBay at a bargain $35 price.
Vance, Jack. The Best of Jack Vance. Pocket Books, 1976. First edition paperback original, a Fine copy, signed by Vance. Hewett, A51. Cunningham, B.7.a. Currey, page 497. Supplements a copy of the Taplinger hardback. Bought off eBay for $35.
Vance, Jack. Marune: Alastor 933. Ballantine Books, 1975. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with just a tiny trace of wear to front tips, signed by Vance. Hewett, A48. Cunningham, B.56.a, Currey, page 499. Supplements another signed PBO copy (I should probably work a trade for a signed Vance PBO I don’t have) and an unsigned Underwood-Miller hardback. Bought off eBay for $10.50.
Vance, Jack. Showboat World. Pyramid, 1975. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine+ copy with one very faint spine crease, otherwise nicely tight and square, signed by Vance. Supplements two Underwood-Miller hardbacks (both 1/200 signed, numbered copies, one a PC copy) and replaces an unsigned PBO. Hewett, A47. Cunningham, B.71.a. Currey, page 500. Bought off eBay for $10.50.
Vance, Jack. Slaves of the Klau b/w Big Planet. Ace, 1958. First edition paperback original (for Slaves of the Klau and this Ace Double, though Big Planet was previously published as an Avalon hardback), a Very Good copy with stamps at head, heel and blurb page for Slaves of the Klau, with a dime-sized stain and a small, fine-line ballpoint division equation to inside from cover, spine creasing and wear, and wear at points, signed by Vance. First copy I have of Slaves of the Klau under that title, though it supplements two copies of the Underwood-Miller Gold and Iron (one a trade edition, the other one of 200 signed copies), the Avalon Big Planet, and the Underwood-Miller Big Planet. Hewett, A9. Cunningham, B.72.a. Currey, page 500. With Slaves of the Klau, I believe the only English-language titles I lack for Vance are three early 1980s DAW paperbacks, Nopalgarth, The Narrow Land and Dust of Far Suns (though I’m still looking for a few various states of Vance books). Bought off eBay for $16.50.
Verne, Jules (Tim Connair, editor). A Little Blue Book of Icy Peril. Borderlands Press, 2024. First edition hardback, #463 of 500 copies signed by the editor, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issue. Three novelette/novella length stories (“A Drama in the Air,” “Winter amidst the Ice,” and “Ascent of Mount Blanc”) plus notes.
Wagner, Karl Edward. Bran Mak Morn: Legion From the Shadows. Zebra Books, 1976. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with a tiny crease to bottom front corner and a trace of wear at points, inscribed by Wagner: “To Ed —/from the King of the Picts/Karl Edward Wagner/CONAN.” Novel featuring Robert E. Howard’s Bran Mak Morn character. Bought off eBay for $37.
Wagner, Karl Edward and David Drake. Killer. Baen, 1985. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine+ copy with phantom crease to top front corner, a trace of edgewear and slight foxing to inside covers (but no spine creasing). Novel of hunting an outer space monster in ancient Rome. Replaces a slightly less attractive copy. Bought from a DFW Half Price Books for $1.49.
Waldrop, Howard. The Ugly Chickens. Old Earth Books, 2009. First edition chapbook original thus, one of 250 copies distributed to members of the 2009 World Fantasy Convention, a Fine copy, signed by Waldrop. Nebula and World Fantasy Award winner for Best Novelette of 1980. Bought off eBay for the opening bid of $25.
(Waldrop, Howard) David E. Myers. “Whenever and Wherever: The Fishing and Fiction of Howard Waldrop” in The Flyfish Journal, Volume Seventeen, Issue 2 (2025). Profile of Howard and his fishing in a glossy lifestyle fishing magazine. Received as a gift from Dwight.
Includes one of the best pictures of Howard I’ve seen from his Oso sojourn:
Wellman, Manly Wade. The Beyonders. Warner Books, 1977. First edition, second printing paperback original (This is the rare case where Currey (1978) got something wrong: There it states “First Printing: April 1977/10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2” on the copyright page as the true first, but the 2002 Currey CD says “10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1” and no “First Printing” statement is the true first), a Near Fine+ copy with slight small crease to bottom outer corner, hairline crease along front spine join, and slight edgewear, otherwise nice and square, inscribed by Wellman: “To Vickie [?]/From whom I’ll sign/anytime./Manly Wade Wellman.” Science fiction novel. Currey (1978), page 512. Currey (2002), page 435. Supplements an unsigned first printing. Bought off eBay for $26.79.
Westwood, Emma, editor. Midnight Movie Monographs: Bride of Frankenstein. Electric Dreamhouse/PS Publishing, 2023. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Essays on the celebrated second film in the Universal Frankenstein series. The only other volume I have in this series is their Plan 9 From Outer Space book. Bought for $6 from Recycled Books in Denton.
Williamson, Jack. Mazeway. Del Rey, 1990. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Williamson. Bought off eBay for $10.
Wilson, Kris, Rob DenBleyker and Dave McElfatrack. Cyanide & Happiness: Twenty Years Wasted. Archaia, 2024. First edition hardback (“First Printing” stated), a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. With book mark, enamel pin and sticker set extras. Best of collection for the online cartoon. Bought off Kickstarter for $30.
Wilson, Robin Scott, editor. Clarion II. Signet, 1972. First edition paperback original, a very Good copy with spine creasing and a few other touches of wear. Anthology of stories by attendees of the Clarion Writer’s Workshop. Ed Bryant has a story in here, but this book is not signed.
Wolfe, Gene. The Island of Doctor Death and Other Stories and Other Stories. Pocket Books, 1980. Proof (trade paperback format) of the paperback original first edition, a Fine copy, inscribed by Wolfe to his longtime editor Hartwell: “To Dave Hartwell, who/had sense enough to/separate the Doctor stories./Gene Wolfe”. Supplements another signed copy of this proof inscribed to me by Wolfe. In his Nova Express interview, Gene said Hartwell was the best editor he ever worked with. I suppose it’s a bit greedy to have two signed proof firsts of this, but I had long wanted an associational copy of a Wolfe title inscribed to Hartwell, and this is a pretty good one. Bought from Kathryn Cramer for $100.
Wolfe, Gene. Two signatures cut from “extra limitation pages for the limited edition Ultramarine Press published in 1988 of There Are Doors. Right now I’m inclined to lay them in my first editions of On Blue’s Waters and In Green’s Jungles. Bought for $20 for the pair.
Yamane, David. Gun Curious: A Liberal Professor’s Surprising Journey Inside American’s Gun Culture. Exposit, 2024. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy, inscribed by the author: “To Lawrence-/Always/be/curious!” Given to me as a gift by Dwight.
Zelazny, Roger. Immer, Zlaz: The Zelazny Yoke Letters, Portrait of a Lifelong Friendship. Positronic Publishing, 2022. First edition? hardback, (sold as such, though its a print on demand book; as there’s no date code on the POD page at the back, so its possible that it’s a first printing), a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued, signed by editor/publisher/introduction author Warren Lapine. Massive 933 page volume of correspondence between Zelazny and longtime friend/critical biographer Carl B. Yoke. Bought from Lapine off eBay for $20.
Zelazny, Roger. Seven Tales in Amber. Positronic Publishing, 2023. Hardback print on demand book, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued, signed by editor/publisher/introduction author Warren Lapine. In contrast to the above, this is a slender, 86 page hardback containing seven Amber stories, many of which had originally appeared in obscure places like Amberzine. Bought from Lapine off eBay for $12.
Tags:Arthur C. Clarke, Avram Davidson, Books, Dean R. Koontz, Gene Wolfe, H. P. Lovecraft, Henry Kuttner, History, Jack Vance, James P. Blaylock, Joe R. Lansdale, Larry Niven, Michael Moorcock, Michael Swanwick, Philip Jose Farmer, Ray Bradbury, Robert E. Howard, S. T. Joshi, Science Fiction, Stephen Hunter, Ted Chiang, Tim Powers
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Wednesday, August 6th, 2025
Another Kathryn Cramer purchase:
Farmer, Philip Jose. The Unreasoning Mask. Putnam, 1981. First edition hardback (simultaneous with the trade hardback), #349 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Pringle, Science Fiction: The Hundred Best Novels 96. Pringle, Ultimate Guide to Science Fiction, pages 339-340 (“***…Metaphsyical space opera, one of the author’s best”). Supplements a copy of the trade hardback. Bought for $35.
Tags:Books, Kathryn Cramer, Philip Jose Farmer, Science Fiction
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Monday, June 9th, 2025
Two more purchases from that same eBay seller offering signed PBOs:
Farmer, Philip Jose. Dare. Ballantine Books, 1965. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine- copy with a 1″ non-breaking crease or slice to rear cover, a bit of non-breaking spine creasing just starting, and a trace of edgewear, signed by Farmer. Currey, page 183. Pringle, Ultimate Guide to Science Fiction, page 79. Bought for $36.
Farmer, Philip Jose. The Lovers. Ballantine Books, 1961. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine copy with one faint spine crease just starting and slight edgewear Currey, page 185. Brizzi, Phillip Jose Farmer, pages 18-24. Pringle, Ultimate Guide to Science Fiction, 189. Bought for $16.49. Supplements a signed copy of the later hardback first and a less attractive signed PBO.
Tags:Books, eBay, PBO, Philip Jose Farmer, Science Fiction
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Thursday, January 30th, 2025
Three more purchases from that eBay dealer selling off signed PBOs:
Ellison, Harlan. The Man With Nine Lives b/w A Touch of Infinity. Ace Doubles, 1960. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine- copy with spine crease and faint crease along each cover’s spine join (exaggerated here), both sides identically inscribed by Ellison: “For Carter/Harlan Ellison.” Richmond, Fingerprints on the Sky page 107. Currey, page 178. Supplements a slightly less attractive signed copy. Bought for $26.55.
Ellison, Harlan. No Doors, No Windows. Pyramid, 1975. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine+ copy with slight spine fading, hairline creasing on front and rear join, and slight edgewear, signed by Ellison. Richmond, Fingerprints on the Sky page 54. Currey, page 178. Supplements a better but unsigned PBO and the signed, limited Borderlands Press hardback. Bought for $26.
Farmer, Philip Farmer. Strange Relations. Ballantine Books, 1960. First edition paperback original, (and, unlike many Ballantine SF of the era, there was no simultaneous hardback edition, a Near Fine copy with one wrinkle across middle of spine and a small stray ink mark at head, signed by Farmer. Short story collection, the alien sex anthology before Alien Sex. Currey, page 178. Bought for $10 (the opening bid).
Tags:Books, eBay, Harlan Ellison, PBO, Philip Jose Farmer, Science Fiction, signatures
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Tuesday, January 21st, 2025
2024 was a weird year for book buying. I was unemployed until October, but still ended up buying a lot of books, but more were on the inexpensive range of the scale. The Clarke, the Dick set, the lettered Dark Kin and the Charnel House Powers books were the only items I paid more than $100 for.
Allston, Aaron. Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Outcast. Del Rey, 2009. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with the tiniest little crimping at head and heel, inscribed by Allston: “To Chris: May the/Force be with you!/Aaron Allston/2011/10/8.” Bought for $7.99.
Anderson, Poul. The Last Viking Book 3: The Sign of the Raven. Zebra Books, 1980. First edition paperback original (no other date or printing, as per ISFDB), a Near Fine- copy with one spine crease, one crease along front spine join, small bend to top front corner, and mild edgewear. Bought for 50¢.
Asimov, Isaac (Martin H. Greenberg, editor). The Asimov Chronicles: Fifty Years of Isaac Asimov. Dark Harvest, 1989. First edition hardback, #317 of 500 numbered copies signed by Asimov and illustrators Ron and Val Lakey Lindahn, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with touches of edgewear at points and a Fine- slipcase with with one thin 2″ scratch to rear. Career retrospective collection. Supplements a trade edition. Chalker/Owings, page 121. Bought off eBay for $75.
Asimov, Isaac. Foundation’s Edge. Doubleday, 1982. First edition hardback (“First Edition” stated and gutter code of M36 on page 365), a Very Good copy with bumping at head and heel, slight creasing to spine, a few tiny nicks to bottom boards, in a Very Good dust jacket with several tackhead-sized abrasion spots to bottom front panel, bumping at head and heel, and shallow loss of points. Hugo Award winner. Replaces a Book Club edition bought and read before I started collecting first editions, and supplements a copy of the Whispers Press signed/limited edition. Usually this would not qualify as a sufficiently attractive to pick up, but it was literally $1 at a garage sale from a storage unit.
Baxter, Stephen and Alastair Reynolds. The Medusa Chronicles. Gollancz, 2016. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by both authors. based on Arthur C. Clarke’s “A Meeting With Medusa.” I collect Reynolds and I used to collect Baxter, but he simply put out too many books for me to read in too short a time period that were too long. I’ve got better signatures for each of these guys obtained at various Worldcons. The signatures here look like they were whipped out at a store signing session for all the remaining copies after patrons had gotten all their stuff signed and right before they headed off to the pub. Bought for $15 marked down from $25.
Bear, Greg. Sisters. Pulphouse, 1992. First edition hardback, #48 of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. #26 in the Short Story Hardback series. Chalker/Owings (2003), page 272. Bought off eBay for $16.
Berle, Milton. Milton Berle’s Private Joke File. Crown, 1989. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight bend at head and heel in a Near Fine+ dust jacket with slight age darkening to spine and at top front, 1/4″ closed tear at top rear, slight bend at head and heel, and slight blind-side foxing, otherwise quite nice, inscribed by Berle: “To my friend Jim!!/One of the Really great Story tellers. best wishes/Milt/9/1/89.” Massive 642 page joke book. Bought for $15.87 plus shipping after Biblio discount, which is less than the original cover price of $24.95 (though knowing Crown, this could have been an “instant remainder” sold at a considerable discount).
Bisson, Terry. In The Upper Room and other likely stories. Tor, 2000. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight bumping at heel in a Fine- dust jacket with traces of haze rubbing, inscribed by Bisson to fellow SF writer Neal Barrett, Jr.: “for Neal/with gratitude for/your attention/+envy for you accomplish/ments./your fellow/word-slinger/Terry B./NY 2K.” Since I lacked this Bisson and knew Neal, I was happy to scoop this up for $15 (marked down from $25), which is less than cover price. A neat association copy at a bargain price.
Bloch, Robert. Firebug. Regency, 1961. First edition paperback original, a Very Good copy a spine crease and lean, edgewear, a few tackehead sized abrasions and pages darkening, signed by Bloch. Supplements a signed hardback first of the Scream omnibus, which contains Firebug. Bought for $17.50.
Blumlein, Michael. Long: The Collected Novellas of Michael Blumlein. Subterranean Press, 2024. First edition hardback, #74 of 750 numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket.
Blumlein, Michael. Short: The Collected Short Fiction of Michael Blumlein. Subterranean Press, 2024. First edition hardback, #74 of 750 numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Both bought from the publisher at the usual discount. I have one set of these two available through Lame Excuse Books.
Bradbury, Ray. A Christmas Wish 1991. Self published, 1991. First edition broadside, only Very Good with staining to left side, but inscribed to fellow writer F. Paul Wilson. Bought off eBay for $20.50.
Bradbury, Ray. Signed, mailed card reading “Ray Bradbury [signature]/The Illustrated Man.” Mailed from Fairfield, California, Jan 24. 1984. The back is addressed to and from bookseller James M. Dourgaruan of Pacheco, California. Also included with this lot is a postcard or cover blank for the Bantam Paperback edition of The Illustrated Man. Naturally, I’ll tuck both of these inside my first edition of The Illustrated Man. Bought for $19.50.
Bradbury, Ray. Signed, mailed postcard to Tim Sinniger from Paris reading “&/23/89/Dear/Tim: Happy/wishes from/Paris! have/A Grand/Summer! See/you, I hope, in/the Autumn/Fondly!/Ray Bradbury.” I will lay this in one of my few unsigned Bradburys (though not, alas, the highly appropriate We’ll Always Have Paris, which is already signed). Bought for $23.65.
Bradbury, Ray. That Son of Richard III: A Birth Announcement. Roy A. Squires, 1974. First edition chapbook original, #LXIII of 85 the signed “Autograph Edition,” a Fine- copy with just a trace of wear at tips, in a Near Fine+ original Autograph Edition publisher’s envelope with slight age darkening at edges and slight bumping at tips. Chalker/Owings, page 589. This is my third copy of this Bradbury chapbook, following an association copy inscribed to Lord John press founder Herb Yellin and an unsigned copy of the “ordinary” edition. Bought for $50 (marked down from $80) on eBay.
(Bradbury, Ray) Jonathan R. Eller and William F. Touponce. Ray Bradbury: The Life of Fiction. Ken State, 2004. First edition hardback (“08 07 06 05 04 5 4 3 2 1” numberline), a Fine- copy with a small binding flaw where a small rectangle of the black endpaper covering is missing from the top of the rear inside cover near the gutter, in a Fine dust jacket. Massive 570-page biography of Bradbury. Eller and Touponce are the ones editing the Critical Editions of Bradbury stories. This has had at least one printing since. Bought for $38.
Braunbeck, Gary A. In the Midnight Museum. Necessary Evil Press, 2005. First edition hardback, #118 of 450 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Bought for $10.
Brennan, Joseph Payne. Nine Horrors and a Dream. Arkham House, 1958. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine Mylar-protected dust jacket. Short story collection, and a good one. Jones & Newman, Horror 100 Best Books 56. Derleth, Thirty Years of Arkham House 53. Joshi, Sixty Years of Arkham House 53. Jaffrey, Horrors and Unpleasantries 53. Nielsen, Arkham House Books: A Collector’s Guide 56. Bleiler, The Guide to Supernatural Fiction 273. Barron, Horror Literature: A Reader’s Guide 4-54. Replaces a slightly less attractive copy.
Brennan, Joseph Payne. Stories of Darkness and Dread. Arkham House, 1973. First edition hardback, #74 of 100 copies signed and numbered by the author, a Fine copy in a Fine Mylar-protected dust jacket. Joshi, Sixty Years of Arkham House 123. Jaffrey, Horrors and Unpleasantries 126. Nielsen, Arkham House Books: A Collector’s Guide 129. Strangely, none of the Arkham House references mention this post-publication “limited” edition, one of a handful of Arkhams done this way (Greg Bear’s The Wind from a Burning Woman and Lucius Shepard’s The Ends of the Earth are two others). Supplements an unsigned copy. This and the above won from Heritage Auctions for $129 plus shipping.
Brunner, John. Wear the Butcher’s Medal. Pocket Books, 1965. First edition paperback original (“First printing……..May, 1965,” as Per Currey), a Very Good copy with spine creasing, foxing to inside covers, and slight wear at points, one crease and a few small indentations to rear cover, otherwise a fairly nice copy. Looks like a mainstream thriller in the mode of Geoffrey Household’s Rogue Male. Like Philip K. Dick, Brunner wrote several novels outside the SF/F/H genre, but unlike Dick, managed to get them published in his lifetime, though none seemed to make much of an impression. Currey, page 74. De Bolt, The Happening Worlds of John Brunner, page 23. Bought from Half Price Books for $2.99.
Bryant, Edward. The Baku. Subterranean, 2001. First edition hardback, #221 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. I think I passed on this when it first came out because I thought $35 was too pricey for what was essentially a 28 page novelette that had already been published in Night Visions 4 (plus an introduction and teleplay of same). Oh those younger, more innocent times. Bought for $10.
Bush, George H. W. All the Best: My Life in Letters and Other Writings. Lisa Drew/Scribner, 1999. First edition hardback, a Fine-/Fine- copy with just a tiny bit of bend at head and heel, signed by Bush on a bookplate on the half title page. (Note: All copies come with a printed signature on that page, but this is an actual signed bookplate below that.) Autobiography of the 41st President of the United States of America. I have two books signed by Bush43, but this is the first one I’ve picked up signed by Bush41. This, the Conklin and Dunsany were bought as a single (strange) auction lot for $190 ($243 after buyer’s premium).
Cadigan, Pat. Patterns. Ursus Imprints, 1989. First edition hardback, 162 of 400 signed, numbered copies, a Fine- copy with slight bumping at head and heel in a Near Fine+ dust jacket with a thin 2″ long scratch on rear near spine and slight edgewear. Supplements a trade edition inscribed to me. Bought for $7.99.
Carriger, Gail. Delightfully Deadly. Subterranean Press, 2022. First edition hardback, #971 of 1000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Bought for $32.50 (half price). Omnibus of three book previously published as trade paperback originals.
Clarke, Arthur C. Childhood’s End. Ballantine Books, 1953. First edition hardback, a Very Good+ copy with a spine crease and a bit of lean, trace of wear at head, heel and points, touch of dust soiling to outer edge of bottom page block, and a trace of foxing to inside covers, in a Very Good, Mylar-protected dust jacket with moderate spine fading, abrasion to the bottom 1/4″ of front panel (probably from an old style dust jacket protector) plus a few edgewear touches elsewhere, faint creasing along front spine join, two 1/4″ closed tears (and associated crease) at top near spine join, a couple of smaller closed tears, slight wear at points, and slight dust soiling to white rear panel; all in all, a nice copy of a book frequently found in much worse condition. Replaces an Ex-Library first (now available through Lame Excuse Books), from which I have extracted an aftermarket bundle of a signed Clarke bookplate, Clarke’s business card, and a picture of Clarke to lay into this copy. Clarke’s most important novel, and one of the keystone science fiction novels of the 20th century. Currey (State A), page 113. Locke, Science Fiction First Editions, page 23 and pages 84-85, where he argues that the hardcover (Currey A) state was probably printed before the simultaneous paperback edition. Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy page 52. Pringle, Science Fiction: The 100 Best Novels 9. Barron, Anatomy of Wonder 4 3-44. Magill, Survey of Science Fiction Literature, pages 337-341. Hartwell, Age of Wonders, pages 82-83. Pringle, The Utlimate Guide to Science Fiction page 58 (“****…Clarke’s best novel.”) Bought for a hammer price of $300 (the opening bid), which, after buyer premium and shipping, was just under $450.
For the story of just how frustratingly difficult and painful it was the pay for, see here.
Conklin, Groff. Big Book of Science Fiction. Crown Publishers, 1950. First edition hardback ($3.00 price on dust jacket, as per ISFDB), a Very Good+ copy with bumping at head and heel, spine slightly concave, wrinkles at head and blunting of points, in a Very Good dust jacket with creasing, rubbing and small tears at head and heel, long crease at top front, slight fading to spine, 1/4″ closed tear to top front flap, wear at points, and slight edgewear, with previous purchase slip laid in, and former owner name on front free endpaper. The owner was Charles Richter, whose name I didn’t recognize in the auction listing. I thought it might have been the author of one of the stories in the anthology, and didn’t assign any value when calculating a lot price for the Bush and Dunsany volumes, as I don’t typically collect reprint anthologies. Turns out it’s seismologist and physicist Charles Richter, as in “Richter Scale.” A card with his signature evidently sold for $202 in 2010. Conklin edited numerous science fiction reprint anthologies, and his signature is evidently quite uncommon. Bleiler, Science Fiction: The Early Years page 151 (included for three science fiction stories difficult to find elsewhere). Reginald, Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature: A Checklist 03270.
Crowley, John. Seventy-Nine Dreams. Ninpin Press, 2024. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. A dream journal. 5″ tall by 5″ wide. This and the three books below were offered as The John Crowley Conway Miscellany set on Kickstarter. Each has a different trim size.
Crowley, John. The Sixties: A Forged Diary. Ninpin Press, 2024. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. A reconstruction of Crowley’s life in New York City in the 60s. “After taking a job with a photography studio, he soon crosses paths with the likes of Andy Warhol and Richard Avedon, Claudia Cardinale and Raquel Welch.” 8″ tall by 6″ wide.
Crowley, John. Two Chapters in a Family Chronicle. Ninpin Press, 2024. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Two stories, “Percy and Lulu Go to Vermont” and “Poker Night at the Elks Club 1938” that “link three generations of John Crowley’s family.” 7″ tall by 5″ wide.
Crowley, John. Seventy-Four Dreams. Ninpin Press, 2024. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy, with signature plate by Crowley laid in (only one per set). Two speeches, “Practicing the Arts of Peace and “The Uses of Allegory.” 6″ tall by 4″ wide.
I still have sets of these available through Lame Excuse Books.
The four books together can be laid out to form a single image. Because the books are too large to fit on my scanner, I have copied the image from the Kickstarter page.
Davidson, Avram. Dragons in the Trees: A Visit to British Honduras (Belize). Or All The Seas With Oysters Publishing, 2023 (i.e. 2024). First edition trade paperback original (this is a Print-on-Demand book fulfilled through Amazon; I ordered it the same day it was announced on the Avram Davidson Universe newsletter on April 23, and the printing code at the back states “Made in the USA/Coppell, TX/23 April 2024”), a Fine copy. Non-fiction. “This unique travel journal, born from Davidson’s travels between December 1965 and January 1966, showcases his unparalleled imagination and erudite commentary. Known primarily for his fantastical fiction, Davidson proves to be a masterful travel writer, capturing the essence of his experiences with vivid prose and introspective reflections.” Note: Despite the “First edition paperback published 2023” line on the copyright page, the people at the Avram Davidson Universe confirmed that this POD edition is indeed the true first.
Davidson, Avram, and Grania Davis. A Goat For Azazel: The Grandson of Eszterhazy Returns…Again. A Ghost Novel. First edition chapbook, #80 of 80 copies signed by afterword author Michael Swanwick. Pitch for a proposed Dr. Eszterhazy novel, including sections on setting, protagonists and an extensive plot synopses. “Hand-stitched, with wrappers made of Mexican amate bark paper, chosen to commemorate Avram’s and Grania’s years in Mexico.” Sold out within hours of being offered for sale. I have one copy of this left available through Lame Excuse Books.
Dick, Philip K. The Collected Stories of Philip K. Dick, Volumes One Through Five (Beyond Lies the Wub, Second Variety, The Father-Thing, The Days of Perky Pat, The Little Black Box). Underwood Miller, 1987. First edition hardback, #135 of 400 numbered copies, all Fine copies in a Fine slipcase, sans dust jackets, as issued, with chapbook for Brief Synopsis for an Alternate World Novel: The Acts of Paul laid in. Wintz and Hyde, Precious Artifacts COL8.3 (though they erroneously state 300 rather than 400 sets). Chalker/Ownings, page 438. Supplements an unnumbered set (the varying shades of red set) and the later Subterranean Press set. Part of an estate purchase.
Dick, Philip K. Dr. Futurity with The Unteleported Man. Ace, 1972. First edition thus (each book previously published with other Ace Doubles), stating “Second Ace printing, September 1972,” a Near Fine copy with slight bumping at corners, slight wear along spine, foxing around edges of interior covers, and slight age darkening of pages. Levack, 14.c and 43.c. Wintz and Hyde, Precious Artifacts SF8.2 and SF29.2. Supplements the Ace PBO first of Dr. Futurity (back to back with John Brunner’s Slavers of Space), the Centipede Press first hardback of Dr. Futurity, the Ace PBO first of The Unteleported Man (back to back with Howard L. Cory’s The Mind Monsters), the Berkley PBO first of the expanded edition of The Unteleported Man, and the Gollancz hardback first of Lies, Inc. featuring the expanded text. Part of an estate purchase.
Dick, Philip K. The Golden Man. Berkley, 1980. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine copy with one spine crease and a trace of edgewear. Short story collection. Levack, 20.a. Wintz and Hyde, Precious Artifacts COL6.a. Supplements a copy of the SFBC (first hardback) edition. Part of an estate purchase.
(Dick, Philip K.) Maer Wilson. The Other Side of Philip K. Dick: A Tale of Two Friends. No publisher listed (but Amazon lists CreateSpace), 2016. First edition trade paperback original (stated; it has a POD barcode on the last page), a Fine copy, inscribed by Wilson: “To Karl,/Thanks so much for/your support! I/hope you enjoy The/Phil I Knew./Happy Reading/Maer Wilson/[squiggle]/ 8/27/16”. Biography of Dick from someone who knew him for the last decade of his life. Introduction by Tim Powers. Bought off eBay for $16.99, which I think is only a buck or two more than what unsigned copies go for on Amazon (I’m not seeing a price on the book).
Disch, Thomas M. The Brave Little Toaster Goes To Mars. Doubleday, 1988. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with previous owner’s name on front free endpaper, in a Fine, Mylar-protected dust jacket. Sequel to The Brave Little Toaster (which I have an inscribed copy of). Part of a PBA Galleries auction lot.
Disch, Thomas M. The Silver Pillow: A Tale of Witchcraft. Mark V. Ziesing, 1987. First edition hardback, #37 of 250 numbered copies signed by Disch and artist Harry O. Morris, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Chalker/Owings, page 490. Replaces a slightly less attractive copy. Part of a PBA Galleries auction lot.
Doyle, Arthur Conan (Mark W. Whitback, editor). A Little Orange Book of Odd Orchestrations Borderlands Books, 2024. First edition hardback, #463 of 500 copies signed by the editor, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Fantastic stories, several of which are covered in Bleiler’s Supernatural Fiction, pages 159-161, and Bleiler’s Science Fiction: The Early Years, pages 203-209. Part of their “Past Masters of Horror and Fantasy” series, focusing on late 19th/early 20th century writers. Now out of print from the publisher. I have copies of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
Dunsany, Lord (Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany). The Chronicles of Rodiguez. G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1922. First edition hardback (Currey state A), #148 of 500 copies, signed by Dunsany below his Preface and illustrator Syndney Sime below his frontispiece illustration, a Very Good copy with various rubs and touches of wear, abrasion wear to spine label, blunting of points, and several small foxing spots to pages throughout, lacking the dust jacket. An elaborate production, with paper vellum pages and marbled endpapers. Currey, page 168. Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy page 74. I lacked both Dunsany and Sime signatures in my collection before acquiring this.
Ellison, Harlan. bugf#ck: The Useless Wit and Wisdom of Harlan Ellison. (Note: That is how the title is spelled everywhere in the book except at the top of the copyright page, where it is spelled BUGFUCK.) Edgeworks Abbey/Spectrum Fantastic Arts LLC, 2011. First edition hardback (“10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1” numberline), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Small book of pithy quotations from Ellison. Bought of eBay from a Goodwill for $8.79 (and fortunately, it was a first in Fine/Fine condition, which wasn’t spelled out on the listing).
Ellison, Harlan (Rick Berry, illustrator). “Repent, Harlequin!” Said The Ticktockman. Underwood Books, 1997. First edition hardback, #851 of 1,000 numbered copies signed by the author and illustrator, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine slipcase. Oversized (13 1/4″ high) illustrated version of Ellison’s classic story. Richmond, Fingerprints on the Sky, page 116. Chalker/Owings (2002), page 894. Bought for $32 off eBay (original list price was $45).
Note: The book is about an inch too long for the scanner, so the bottom is chopped off.
Farmer, Philip Jose. Cache from Outer Space b/w The Celestial Blueprint. Ace Double, 1962. First edition paperback original (no statement of printing on copyright page and price of 40¢, as per Currey), a Very Good copy with 3/16″ abrasion at head, moderate spine creasing, wear at head and heel, and trace of wear at points, signed by Farmer. Ed Emshwiller. Currey, page 183. Brizzi, Reader’s Guide to Philip Jose Farmer, page 66. Bought off eBay for 99¢ plus shipping.
Farmer, Philip Jose. The Green Odyssey. Ballantine Books, 1957. First edition paperback original (simultaneous with the much more difficult hardback), a Very Good+ copy with spine creasing and lean, with crease to bottom rear corner, a few hairline cracks, and edgewear, inscribed “to John/from/Philip Jose Farmer.” Farmer’s first published book (though not the first written). Supplements an unsigned, less attractive PBO copy (and I still need the hardback first). Bought off eBay for $18.50.
Farmer, Philip Jose. Night of Light. Garland, 1975. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight bend at heel, sans dust jacket, as issued. Bought for $27.16 plus Transatlantic shipping, which essentially doubled the price.
Fraser, George MacDonald. Flashman and the Mountain of Light. Knopf, 1990. First American edition, hardback, a Fine- copy with slight bumping at head and heel in a Fine- dust jacket with slight bumping at head and heel and age-darkening to top edge of front flap. Bought from Half Price Books for $7.99.
Gaiman, Neil. Fragile Things. Morrow, 2006. First American hardback edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, inscribed by Gaiman: “To Paul Incono —/Neil Gaiman.” Short story collection. Supplements an unsigned UK first hardcover. Bought for $24.99 plus shipping.
Gaiman, Neil. The Graveyard Book. HarperCollins, 2008. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Newbery and Carnegie Medal winner. Replaces a Fine/Fine- copy. Bought for $8.09 from Half Price Books.
Gaiman, Neil. Speaking in Tongues DreamHaven, 2004. First edition compact disc (no additional pressings listed), a Fine copy, signed by Gaiman. Audio book of three stories and two poems read by Gaiman. Bought off eBay for $20 plus shipping.
Gaiman, Neil, and Adam Rex (illustrator). Chu’s First Day of School. HarperCollins Children’s Books, 2014. First edition hardback (“First Edition” stated and numberline ending in “1”), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Gaiman. Illustrated children’s book about a Panda, and a sequel to Chu’s Day, which I don’t have. Bought Bought off eBay for $30.
Note: This is just slightly too wide for my scanner, so a sliver of the right side of the book is cut off in the scan.
Gallagher, Stephen. Comparative Anatomy: The Best of Stephen Gallagher. Subterranean Press, 2022. First edition hardback, #198 of 1000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Bought for $22.50 (half price).
Haldeman, Joe. Worlds: A Novel of the Near Future. Viking, 1981. First edition hardback, a Near Fine+ copy with two tackhead sized spots to rear boards, slight spotting to bottom page block and slightly dusty top page block, in a Near Fine+ dust jacket with a faint crease at top spine. Completes my collection of the Worlds trilogy. Part of an estate purchase.
(Heinlein, Robert A.) James Gifford. Robert A. Heinlein: A Reader’s Companion. Nitrosyncratic Press, 2000. First edition trade paperback original (“First Edition/First printing, 8 May 2000”) on copyright page, presumably simultaneous with the hardback edition (also listed on the copyright page), a Near Fine+ copy with slight crease to bottom front corner. Critical companion covering all of Heinlein’s works. Hugo Award nominee. Bought from Half Price Books for $9.99.
(Heinlein, Robert A.) J. Neil Schulman. The Robert Heinlein Interview and Other Heinleiniana. Pulpless.com, 1999. First edition trade paperback edition thus (there was a previous digital edition, but this is the first hardcopy version), a Near Fine- copy with creases to both rear corners. Long interview with Heinlein conducted in 1975, along with reviews of his works, letters, etc. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a copy of this before. Bought from Half Price Books for $8.99.
Herron, Don, and John D. Haefele. Arkham House Ephemera: The Classic Years 1937 —1973: A Pictorial History & Guide For Collectors. Cimmerian Press, 2024. First edition trade paperback original (a POD books, with “version 1.1 (November 2024)” on the copyright page and “Made in the USA/Coppell, TX/08 November 2024” on last (barcode) page), a Fine copy. Just what the title says, a pictorial history of Arkham House ephemera (catalogs, review slips, etc.) issued from the press’s founding up through 1973. The book is actually useful even if you don’t collect ephemera, as the full catalogs show when books went out of print and how much they were going for, etc. The link is to the Amazon page for it.
(Holdstock, Robert) Coxson, Dan, editor (Michael Moorcock, Lisa Tuttle, Justina Robson, etc.). Heartwood: A Mythago Wood Anthology. PS Publishing, 2024. First edition hardback, #120 of 200 copies signed by the editor and all fiction contributors (but not introduction author Moorcock), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine slipcase. Anthology of stories set in Robert Holdstock’s Mythago Wood setting, a magical British ur-forest that gets larger (and more savage) the deeper you go.
Howard, Robert E. (Edited by P. Gardner Goldsmith) A Little Bronze Book of Weird Tales. Borderlands Press, 2024. First edition hardback, #463 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Now sold out from the publisher. I still have copies of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
Hurston, Zora Neale. Their Eyes Were Watching God. Harper Perennial, 2006. Trade paperback reprint, a Very Good copy with writing to heel and general wear. Just a reading copy of a book I’ve long heard good things about. Lots of academic essays at the back I think I’ll feel free to skip. Bought for 50¢.
Jacobs, Harvey. The Egg of the Glak and Other Stories. Harper & Row, 1969. First edition hardback, a Near Fine+ copy with slight bumping at head, heel, and top rear point, in a Very Good dust jacket I’ll replacing with the better dust jacket on my existing copy, inscribed by Jacobs: “To Polly Lyons,/with all good wishes/for sunthings and/moonthings. Happy/wedding./Harvey Jacobs.” The signature seems to match other online examples of Jacobs signature. Replaces an existing copy. Bought for $13.50.
King, Florence (as Laura Buchanan). The Barbarian Princess. Berkley Medallion Books, 1978. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with a trace of edgewear, otherwise new and unread. Historical bodice-ripper set in Roman Britain written by Florence King, who was better known for her political non-fiction, under the transparent pseudonym of Laura Buchanan (King is credited on the copyright page). King wrote a fairly amusing essay about writing it (“When in doubt, rape”). Given to me as a birthday gift by Dwight, who knew I already had several of her non-fiction books.
Kessel, John, Mark L. Van Name and Richard Butner, editors. Intersections: The Sycamore Hill Anthology. Tor, 1996. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with faint haze rubbing. Original anthology of Sycamore Hill writing workshop participants, including Bruce Sterling’s award-winning “Bicycle Repairman.” Part of an estate purchase.
King, Stephen. Storm of the Century. Book-of-the-Month Club, 1999. First hardback edition, being a trade paperback original, a Fine-/Fine- copy with slight bumping at head and heel and just a trace of wear at dj points. The BOMC is the first hardback, but I’m not sure there are any points to determine first vs. later printings. Collings, Horror Plum’d: An International Stephen King Bibliography and Guide, A64.b. Bought for $1.
Koontz, Dean R. Signed bookplate. Laid it into my first of Odd Thomas. Bought for $10 off eBay.
Kuttner, Henry, with C. L. Moore (as Lewis Padgett). Tomorrow and Tomorrow and The Fairy Chessmen. Gnome Press, 1951. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with previous owner’s name on FFE and slight bend at head, in a Near Fine-, price-clipped dust jacket with slight wear and shallow loss at heel, slight wear at head, and slight rubbing along folds. Currey, page 293. Chalker/Owings, page 198 (“One of the scarcest Gnomes”). Kemp, The Anthem Series, pages 200-201 (though he calls for gray boards lettered in “dark blue,” and the lettering here is clearly black; this calls for dark gray lettered in black, but honestly it looks more like a dark beige to me, so I’ve added a scan below). Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy page 171 (under Padgett).
This scans lighter than it actually is, so I’ve adjusted the brightness down a smidge to closely match the color I’m seeing with my eye.
Lansdale, Joe R. Cold in July. Bantam, 1989. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with slight wear to top front corner, a P/C copy of 100 copies prepared for The Overlook Connection in a custom slipcase (this one Near Fine with a couple of faint spots to rear, one to back spine, and slight age darkening at top, bottom and left edge) with a custom signature page for Lansdale tipped in. I always thought the Overlook Connection aftermarket slipcased PBO limiteds were weird things, and didn’t pick them up when they came out. (I think this may have been offered at $50, and the Drive-In set (which I also have) at $100, but I might be misremembering.) Isakjanko A011.a (though he does not mention this Overlook Connection variant). Person/Orbaugh/Lansdale, “Joe Lansdale: Notes Toward a Bibliography,” 1.5.a (and I did mention this version). Supplements multiple slipcase sets of the Ziesing Cold in July/Savage Season sets (a signed PC set I received for helping type this novel into a computer from galley proofs, a signed numbered set, and an inscribed “mock limited” set that Ziesing assembled and sold because he had extra slipcases left over). Bought online for $24.99.
Note: The scanner wasn’t picking up the blue of the lettering, so I had to turn the saturation way up, with the side effect that the very slight age darkening on the left side and at bottom has been greatly exaggerated.
Lansdale, Joe R. Cold In July. Short Scary Tales (SST) Publications, 2023. First edition hardback thus, #101 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, with tissue closure sticker and shipping card laid in. Lansdale’s first mystery novel, and basis of the 2014 film.
Lansdale, Joe R. The Donut Legion. Short Scary Tales (SST) Press, 2024. First limited edition hardback, #101 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket with tissue closure sticker and shipping card laid in. Supplements a copy of the first trade edition (which precedes) inscribed to me.
Lansdale, Joe R. Hoodoo Harry. The Mysterious Bookshop, 2016. First edition paperback original (simultaneous with the hardback edition), a Fine- copy that’s slightly flared, otherwise new and unread. Supplements a hardback lettered edition and another copy of this that’s inscribed to me by Lansdale, but the cover of which has started delaminating. Isajanko, C20.iii.
Lansdale, Joe R. In The Mad Mountains. Tachyon, 2024. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Stories inspired by H. P. Lovecraft.
Lansdale, Joe R. The Nightrunners. Dark Harvest, 1987. First edition hardback, #60 of 300 numbered copies signed by Lansdale, introduction author Dean R. Koontz, and illustrator Gregory Manchess, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine slipcase; a pristine, mint copy. Joe’s most splatterpunk work. Supplements both the lettered slipcrate edition and the trade edition I bought and had Joe sign back when it came out, so I now have all three states. Isajanko, A009.a.ii. Person/Orbaugh/Lansdale, “Joe Lansdale: Notes Toward a Bibliography,” 10a. Chalker/Owings, page 120 (Jack was not a fan of the novel). Bought off eBay for $75.
Lansdale, Joe R. The Senior Girls Bayonet Drill Team. Subterranean, 2023 (stated; received early 2024). First edition hardback, #371 of 1250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. The latest Lansdale short story collection. I still have copies of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
Lansdale, Joe R. Sugar on the Bones. Mulholland Books, 2024. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, inscribed to me by Lansdale. Hap & Leonard novel. Bought at cover price.
Lansdale, Joe R. Tarzan and the Land That Time Forgot. TimeShifter Press, 2018. First edition chapbook original, #22 of 75 numbered copies signed by the book designer and cover illustrator (but not Lansdale), a Fine copy. Published for an annual gathering of “the Edgar Rice Burroughs Clan of Friendship.” Tarzan/Land that Time Forgot crossover. With Zeppelins! Isajanko, The World Lansdalean, pages 298-299 (for two previous publications in books, but not this chapbook). Bought from an online book dealer for $25.
Lansdale, Joe R. The Unlikely Affair of the Crawling Razor. Subterranean Press, 2024. First edition hardback, #368 of 1000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, in publisher’s plastic bag. Auguste Dupin investigate a case involving The God of the Razor.
Lansdale, Joe R. and Kasey Lansdale. Dark Kin. Thunderstorm Books, 2023. First edition hardback, Letter L of 26 lettered copies, a Fine leatherbound copy in a Fine traycase, sans dust jacket (though the front panel of the regular dust jacket is bound in as a frontispiece), as issued. Bought from the publisher for $250, which is only twice the list price of the regular signed/numbered (and only other) edition.
Lansdale, Joe R. (writer), Sam Keith (artist). 30 Days of Night: Night Again. IDW, 2011. First edition graphic novel (“14 13 12 11 1 2 3 4” on copyright page), trade paperback format (preceded by four individual comic issues), a Fine- copy with slight wear at points. Spinoff graphic novel based on the 2007 vampire movie. Isajanko, 205.
Lansdale, Joe R. (story), Mark Alan Miller (script) and Piotr Kowalski (art). The Steam Man. Dark Horse Comics, 2016. First edition graphic novel (“First Edition: July 2016” and “10987654321” on copyright page), trade paperback format (preceded by five individual comic issues), a Near Fine copy with what appears to be a red remainder mark across the heel (without that it would be Fine- with slight wear at points). Graphic novel based on “The Steam Man of the Prairie and the Dark Rider Get Down.” Isajanko, page 219.
Lansdale, Joe R. (source), Jussi Piironen (writer and illustrator). Hap and Leonard: Savage Season. IDW, 2017. First edition trade paperback original graphic novel (“20 19 18 17 1 2 3 4” numberline), a Fine copy. Isajanko, page 210. Supplements my copy of the SST signed, limited edition hardback.
Lansdale, Joe R. (writer) and Timothy Truman (artist). The Lone Ranger and Tonto: It Crawls Part One of Four. Topps Comics, 1994. First edition comic book (“First Printing” stated), a Fine- copy with trace of wear to points (I know comics get rated on a 0-10.0 scale, but since I couldn’t remotely tell you the difference between a 9.3 and a 9.4, I’m not going to do this). Isajanko, page 212 (ditto all other issues listed below).
Lansdale, Joe R. (writer) and Timothy Truman (artist). The Lone Ranger and Tonto: It Crawls Part Two of Four. Topps Comics, 1994. First edition comic book (“First Printing” stated), a Fine- copy with trace of wear to points.
Lansdale, Joe R. (writer) and Timothy Truman (artist). The Lone Ranger and Tonto: It Crawls Part Three of Four. Topps Comics, 1994. First edition comic book (“First Printing” stated), a Fine- copy with trace of wear to points.
Lansdale, Joe R. (writer) and Timothy Truman (artist). The Lone Ranger and Tonto: It Crawls Part Four of Four. Topps Comics, 1994. First edition comic book (“First Printing” stated), a Fine- copy with trace of wear to points.
Lansdale, Joe R. (writer) and Timothy Truman (artist). Jonah Hex: Riders of the Worm and Such: Chapter One. DC Vertigo, 1995. First edition comic book (“First Printing” stated), a Fine- copy with trace of wear to points. Isajanko, page 214 (ditto all issues listed below).
Lansdale, Joe R. (writer) and Timothy Truman (artist). Jonah Hex: Riders of the Worm and Such: Chapter Two. DC Vertigo, 1995. First edition comic book (“First Printing” stated), a Fine- copy with trace of wear to points.
Lansdale, Joe R. (writer) and Timothy Truman (artist). Jonah Hex: Riders of the Worm and Such: Chapter Three. DC Vertigo, 1995. First edition comic book (“First Printing” stated), a Fine- copy with trace of wear to points.
Lansdale, Joe R. (writer) and Timothy Truman (artist). Jonah Hex: Riders of the Worm and Such: Chapter Four. DC Vertigo, 1995. First edition comic book (“First Printing” stated), a Fine- copy with trace of wear to points.
Lansdale, Joe R. (writer) and Timothy Truman (artist). Jonah Hex: Two-Gun Mojo: Chapter One. DC Vertigo, 1993. First edition comic book (“First Printing” stated), a Near Fine- copy with some creasing down left side and trace of wear to points. Isajanko, page 215 (ditto all issues listed below).
Lansdale, Joe R. (writer) and Timothy Truman (artist). Jonah Hex: Two-Gun Mojo: Chapter Two. DC Vertigo, 1993. First edition comic book (“First Printing” stated), a Fine- copy with a trace of edgewear.
Lansdale, Joe R. (writer) and Timothy Truman (artist). Jonah Hex: Two-Gun Mojo: Chapter Three. DC Vertigo, 1993. First edition comic book (“First Printing” stated), a Fine- copy with a trace of wear at points.
Lansdale, Joe R. (writer) and Timothy Truman (artist). Jonah Hex: Two-Gun Mojo: Chapter Four. DC Vertigo, 1993. First edition comic book (“First Printing” stated), a Fine- copy with a trace of wear at points.
Lansdale, Joe R. (writer) and Timothy Truman (artist). Jonah Hex: Two-Gun Mojo: Chapter Five. DC Vertigo, 1993. First edition comic book (“First Printing” stated), a Fine- copy with a trace of wear at points.
(Lansdale, Joe R.) Christopher Golden and Brian Keene, editors. Joe R Lansdale’s The Drive-In: Multiplex Thunderstorm Books, 2024. First hardback edition, #230 of 350 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Preceded by the Pandi Press trade paperback original. Original anthology set in Lansdale’s Drive-In universe, including stories by Joe & Kasey Lansdale, Josh Malerman, David J. Schow, Nancy Collins, Gary Braunbeck, Owen King, etc. Bought from the publisher at the usual discount. Sold out from the publisher, but I have one copy of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
(Lansdale, Joe R.) Dom Salemi, editor. Brutarian Quarterly 42 – Summer 2004. First edition magazine, a Near Fine copy with slight bend near spine, pricing sticker over UPC, and slight wear at points. Contains Gene Gregorits’ “Barbecue Noir: Joe R. Lansdale interviewed” on pages 2-16 (which is not in Rausch and Slade’s Conversations Joe R. Lansdale). Not in Isajanko.
Leiber, Fritz. Two Sought Adventure. Gnome Press, 1957. First edition, first state binding (black boards, labeled in red, as per Currey A), a Fine copy (albeit with the age-darkening of the pages characteristic of Gnome Press books of this era) in a Fine dust jacket. The first Fafhrd and Gray Mouser book, and one that completes my hardback first Fafhrd and Gray Mouser collection (along with the six volume Gregg Press set and the Rupert Hart-Davis The Swords of Lankhmar). Currey, page 309. Chalker/Owings, 203. Kemp, The Anthem Series, pages 256-258 (“highly recommended”). Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy page 238.
Lee, Tanith. Red as Blood, or Tales from the Sisters Grimmer. DAW, 1983. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine copy with one faint spine crease, previous owner’s name on blurb page, and slight edgewear. Supplements a copy of the SFBC (first hardback) edition. Bought from Lucky Dog Books for $2.50.
Leonard, Frances and Ramona Cearley, editors. Conversations With Texas Writers. University of Texas Press, 2005. First edition trade paperback original (simultaneous with the hardback edition), a Near Fine copy with phantom crease to rear cover and slight wear to tips. Interviews with and essays on Texas writers, including Joe R. Lansdale, Bruce Sterling and Robert E. Howard. Bought for 50¢.
Lethem, Jonathan. You Don’t Love Me Yet. Doubleday, 2007. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Lethem. Supplements an unsigned copy. Bought for $9.99.
Liu, Cixin. The Dark Forest Tor, 2015. First edition hardback thus and first English language edition, a Fine-/Fine- copy with slight bumping at head, heel and points. Sequel to The Three-Body Problem and second in the Remembrance of Earth’s Past trilogy. Part of an estate purchase.
Lovecraft, H.P. (S.T. Joshi, editor) Collected Fiction: A Variorum Edition Volume 4 (Revisions and Collaborations). Hippocampus Press, 2024. First hardback edition (the 2017 trade paperback precedes), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, still in shrinkwrap. I don’t know why Hippocampus originally put out the fourth book as a TPO after putting out the first three as hardbacks, but this finally rectifies the error to properly complete the set. Supplements the TPO, which now moves to my trade paperback section. I have copies of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
Lovecraft, H. P. (S.T. Joshi, editor) A Little Silver Book of Supernatural Stories. Borderlands Press, 2024. First edition hardback, #463 of 500 copies signed by Joshi, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Sampler of Lovecraft stories, including “Dagon,” “Nyarlathotep,” and “The Call of Cthulhu.” Out of print from the publisher. I still have copies of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
(Lovecraft, H.P.) Joshi, S.T. and David E. Schultz. Lovecraft’s Library: A Catalogue: Fifth Edition, Revised and Enlarged. Hippocampus Press, 2024. Trade paperback original thus of this newly revised and enlarged edition, a Fine copy. Non fiction book detailing Lovecraft’s own personal library. “This fifth revised edition provides comprehensive information on 1129 books owned by Lovecraft…In this new 2024 edition, fourty-four new titles have been added to the list of books owned by Lovecraft, and additional information has been supplied on all titles listed.”
Gray lines in purple at top are a scanner artifact.
McDevitt, Jack. McDevitt, Jack. Doorway to the Stars. Subterranean Press, 2024. First edition hardback, #444 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Novella about a stargate set in the same universe as Thunderbird. Bought at the usual dealer discount. I have copies of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
McDonald, Ian. Luna: New Moon. Tor, 2015. First hardback edition (the Gollancz trade paperback edition evidently precedes by five days), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. First in the Luna trilogy. Part of an estate purchase.
McDonald, Ian. Luna: Wolf Moon. Tor, 2017. First hardback edition (the Gollancz trade paperback edition of this also evidently precedes by five days), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Second in the Luna trilogy. Part of an estate purchase.
Monson, Joe, editor. The Horror at Pooh Corner. Hemelein Publications, 2024. First edition hardback, #82 of 100 numbered hardbacks signed by the editor and with a bookplate signed by the contributors laid in, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, with no less than three bookmarks laid in. Horror stories in Winnie-the-Pooh’s Hundred Acre Wood, following the lapse of the copyright in 2022. Backed on Kickstarter for $63.
Moorcock, Michael. I picked up a Fine- dust jacket for my inscribed book club (and first hardback edition) of The Black Corridor. The copy I took it off of cost me $7.99.
Morrow, James. Shambling Toward Hiroshima. Tachyon, 2009. First edition trade paperback original, second printing, a Fine copy, inscribed by Morrow: “To Josh,/Gorgantis Forever!/best wishes, James Morrow.” Novel of a psyop project in 1945 to make a kaiju movie to convince the Japanese to surrender. Not sure why I didn’t pick up a copy of this from Tachyon when first announced. Bought for $5.99 from Half Price Books.
Niven, Larry. Ringworld. Ballantine Books, 1970. First edition paperback original (“First Printing: October 1970,” as per Currey, a Very Good- copy with 1/4″ chip to top front corner, and another 3/4″ x 1/16″ chip to middle of front cover edge, spine crease, pages brittle, and a few pinpoint spots of soiling to page block edges, plus a few other spots of wear. Hugo and Nebula winner for Best Novel. Currey, page 387. Pringle, Ultimate Guide to Science Fiction, page 262 (“***”). Barron, Anatomy of Wonder 4 *4-316. Magill, Survey of Science Fiction Literature, pages 1799-1804. The true first edition and the one in which Niven infamously had the earth rotating the wrong way. Supplements a copy of the Gollancz hardback first. Bought for $4.99.
Niven, Larry. Signed bookplate. Laid it into my Gollancz first of Ringworld. Bought for $10 off eBay.
Novik, Naomi. A Deadly Education. Del Rey, 2020. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy in a Fine- dust jacket with bumped corners. “Lesson One of The Scholomance.” Bought from Half Price Books for $11.92.
Novik, Naomi. The Golden Enclaves. Del Rey, 2022. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. “Lesson Three of the Scholomance.” Bought for $13.99. In the past year I’ve picked up all three of these volumes at Half Price Books.
Novik, Naomi. The Last Graduate. Del Rey, 2021. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. “Lesson Two of the Schoolomance.” Sequel to A Deadly Education. Bought for $12.59.
Oates, Joyce Carol. American Appetites. Dutton, 1989. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Near Fine, Mylar-protected dust jacket with a 1/16″ chip at front heel join and a trace of wear at points, signed by Oates. Bought for $7.19.
Oates, Joyce Carol. Man Crazy. Virago Press (UK), 1998. First UK hardback edition (the Dutton precedes), a Fine copy in a Fine, Mylar-protected dust jacket, signed and dated (“3 Sept. 1998”) by Oates. Though the Dutton precedes, signed copies of this UK edition comps out slightly higher, and one signed copy online has the same “3 Sept. 1998” signed date. Maybe she did a UK signing that day. Bought for $13.50.
Oates, Joyce Carol. You Must Remember This. Dutton, 1987. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with dust print to outer page block, in a Fine, Mylar-protected dust jacket, inscribed by Oates: “for Nash and Marrion/Joyce Carol/Oates/11/8/87.” Bought for $6.74.
Oliver, Chad. Shadows in the Sun. Ballantine Books, 1954. First edition hardback (in a previously unrecorded binding state of dark red cloth lettered in brown), a Near Fine+ copy with slight bump at head, wear along top boards, and trace of wear at points, and a trace of foxing to gutters, in a Very Good- dust jacket with a 1/4″ deep x 1/2″ long chip, plus two smaller chips at top of front panel and associated long creases, shallow loss at head, spine faded, and numerous small spots to dust jacket, most notable on white portions, inscribed by Oliver: “11 January 1955/For Morris -/With the hopes that/this will give you as/much pleasure as/knowing you has/given me./Chad.” Quite a flawed dust jacket, but a previous unrecorded binding state, and copies of the hardback signed or inscribed by Oliver seem genuinely rare. Supplements that better unsigned hardback first and an inscribed UK hardback. Hall, The Work of Chad Oliver A2. Currey (1979), page 397. Currey (2002), page 322. Bought for $47.99 plus shipping.
Pedersen, Nate, editor. The Dagon Collection: An Auction Catalogue of Items Recovered in the Federal Raid on Innsmouth, Mass. PS Publishing, 2024. First edition hardback in decorated boards, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Anthology in the form of a mock auction catalog of Cthulhu Mythos related items from the Esoteric Order of Dagon, with contributions from F. Paul Wilson, Ramsey Campbell, etc. In the mode of Pedersen’s earlier The Starry Wisdom Library. I have copies available through Lame Excuse Books.
Poe, Edgar Allen (Thomas Monteleone, editor). A Little Gold Book of Grotesqueries. Borderlands Press, 2024. First edition hardback, #463 of 500 numbered copies signed by Monteleone, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Now sold out from the publisher, but I still have copies of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
Powers, Tim. After Many a Summer. Subterranean Press, 2023. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Novella. Bought for $20 (half price).
Powers, Tim. Empty Chamber. Charnel House, 2024. First edition hardback, #54 of 250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in embossed boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. New novella, elaborately decorated with gold and black Tarot-cardesque illustrations. “Handbound in full Corvon® Rust: An acrylic-coated, latex-saturated paper that imitates oxidized metal in all facets. A metal paper with a rusty finish. Printed on Mohawk 80lb. Superfine.” An attractive production. I still have copies of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
Powers, Tim. My Brother’s Keeper. Charnel House, 2023 (stated, actually 2024). First edition hardback, #54 of 200 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. The usual elaborate Charnel House production, with full-color illustrated endpapers. The Baen trade edition precedes. I have one copy of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
(Pratchett, Terry) Burrows, Marc. The Magic of Terry Pratchett. White Owl, 2020. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Critical companion to Pratchett’s works. Bought for $6.29.
Rand, Ayn. Ideal: The Novel and the Play. New American Library, 2015. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight bend at head and heel in a Near Fine+ dust jacket with slight wrinkle at top right front cover and slight bend at head and heel. Previously unpublished novel and play, both featuring the same plot and characters, neither of which Rand was happy enough with to publish. Bought for $7.99.
Reamy, Tom. Under the Hollywood Sign. Subterranean Press, 2023. First edition hardback, #395 of 750 numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. This is billed as “The Collected Stories of Tom Reamy,” and includes three works (“Dinosaurs,” “Sting!” and “Potiphee, Petey, and Me”) not in San Diego Lightfoot Sue, but doesn’t contain “Jenny’s Friends” or “The Wondrous Adventures of Grady Goodmonster or My Vacation,” two still uncollected Reamy stories. Bought for $22.50 (half price).
Robinson, Kim Stanley Robinson. Aurora. Orbit, 2015. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with just a trace of wear at points. Generation ship novel. Part of an estate purchase.
Rohmer, Sax (F. Paul Wilson, editor). A Little Yellow Book of Perilous Tales. Borderlands Press, 2024. First edition hardback, #463 of 500 copies signed by Wilson, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Short stories, including the very first Fu Manchu story ever published.
Rucker, Rudy. The Secret of Life. Bluejay, 1985. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with just a trace of age darkening to white edges, inscribed by Rucker: “& for Larry/Rudy Rucker/3/99.” Supplements an unsigned copy. Part of an estate purchase.
Rucker, Rudy, Peter Lamborn Wilson and Robert Anton Wilson, editors. Semiotext(e) SF. Autonomedia, 1989. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine- copy with slight bump to front corner. Anthology with both a lot of recognizable SF names (William Gibson, Bruce Sterling, Lewis Shiner, Philip Jose Farmer, Robert Sheckley, etc.) and a lot of counterculture figures (William S. Burroughs, Ivan Stang, Kerry Thornley, etc.) Part of that Autonomedia/RE:Search/Fringeware axis of post-punk SF that flourished in the late 80s and early 90s. If you don’t own a copy of Modern Stories #1 (I do), this is the only place to find Gibson’s “Hippie Hat Brain Parasite.” Part of an estate purchase.
Ruff, Matt. Lovecraft Country. Harper, 2016. First edition hardback, a Near Fine+ copy with bump at heel, sans dust jacket, as issued. Basis of the HBO TV series. Bought for $13.49 from Half Price Books.
Shea, Michael. Momma Durtt. Hippocampus Press, 2024. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Previously unpublished Cthulhu Mythos novel. I have copies of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
Sheckley, Robert. Citizen in Space. Ballantine Books, 1955. First edition paperback original (simultaneous with the hardback), a Near Fine- copy with spine wear, 1/8″ indention at head, two small creases at bottom front, and trace of wear to white rear cover. Short story collection. Currey, page 433. Pringle, The Ultimate Guide to Science Fiction, page 61 (“***”). Bought for $10.50 plus shipping.
Simmons, Dan. Carrion Comfort. Dark Harvest, 1989. First edition hardback, #303 of 400 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket a few touches of edgewear and a trace of rubbing to front spine join in a Fine slipcase. His celebrated novel of psychic vampirism. Winner of the Bram Stoker Award for Best Novel. Chalker/Owings, page 121. Bought off eBay for $75.
Somtow, S. P. (AKA Somtow Sucharitkul). Valentine. Gollancz, 1992. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, with a signed bookplate laid in. Second book in the Vampire Junction trilogy (and I already had a first of Vampire Junction, also with signed bookplate laid in). The Gollancz edition precedes the U.S. edition by about six months.
Stevenson, Robert Louis (Joe Hill) . The New Annotated Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The Mysterious Press, 2022. First edition hardback, #198 of 250 numbered copies signed by annotator Leslie S. Klinger and introduction author Joe Hill, a Fine copy in quarter-leather and marbled boards and Mylar protector, sans dust jacket, as issued. Profusely illustrated and annotated edition of the classic novel. Bought for $45, marked down from the original price of $150.
Strand Magazine, LXXIII 2024. First edition magazine original, 2024, a Fine copy. Contains the original Joe R. Lansdale story “Night Trails,” as well as a previously unpublished G. K. Chesterton essay on detective stories, plus work by Josh Malerman, John M. Floyd and Margie Deck, as well as interviews with James Patterson and Rupert Holmes. A gift.
Straub, Peter. The Buffalo Hunter. Cemetery Dance, 2012. First edition hardback, one of 450 signed copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Novella. Bought for $18 (original price was $50).
Straub, Peter. A Dark Matter. Doubleday, 2010. First edition hardback, a Fine-/Fine copy with slight bend at head and heel. Stoker Award winner. Part of an estate purchase.
Swanwick, Michael. Brief Lives. Dragonstairs Press, 2024. First edition chapbook original, #7 of 50 signed and numbered copies, a Fine copy. Brief essays on writers who died young, including Octavia Butler. I still have copies of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
Swanwick, Michael. Comicosmics. Dragonstairs Press, 2024. First edition chapbook original, #42 of 50 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy. Short shorts in the manner of Italo Calvino.
Swanwick, Michael. Father Winter. Dragonstairs Press, 2023 (not sold until 2024). First edition chapbook original, #13 of 120 signed, numbered copies of which 36 were offered for sale, a Fine copy.
Swanwick, Michael. Nevermore: an Interview with the Raven. Dragonstairs Press, 2024. First edition chapbook original, #4 of 40 copies, a Fine copy. What the title says. Bought from the publisher at the usual discount.
Swanwick, Michael. Phases of the Sun/Phases of the Moon. Dragonstairs Press, 2020 (not offered for sale until 2024). First edition accordion-fold chapbook original (Phases of the Sun goes one way, and then you flip it over and Phases of the Moon goes the other), a Fine copy. Bought for $60 from Dragonstairs and sold out within two minutes.
Swanwick, Michael. The Sleep of Reason. PS Publishing, 2024. First edition hardback, #24 of 100 signed, numbered copies (the only hardback edition), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. 80 short stories, each based on a Goya etching. Sold out from the publisher, I still have copies of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
Swanwick, Michael. The War with the Zylv. Dragonstairs Press, 2024. First edition chapbook original, #50 of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy. A story based on the piece of art used as the cover. I have copies available through Lame Excuse Books.
Vance, Jack. The Asutra. Dell, 1973. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with a touch of edgewear, one slight wrinkle near top of spine, and slight foxing to edges of inside covers, signed by Vance. Third book in the Durdane trilogy. Supplements the Underwood/Miller first hardback edition. Hewett, A45. Cunningham, 3.a. Currey, page 497. Bought for $13.50 off eBay.
Vance, Jack. The Face. DAW, 1979. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine- copy with faint crease along front spine join, start of a spine crease, crease along front spine, hairline cracks on front cover, edgewear and some wear to white back cover, and bookstore stamp to inside cover, signed by Vance (a late Vance signature). Fourth of the Demon Prince novels. Supplements the Underwood/Miller first hardback edition. Hewett, A61.b. Cunningham, 32.a. Bought off eBay for the opening bid of $10.
Vance, Jack. Future Tense. Ballantine, 1964. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with slight age darkening to white surfaces and slight foxing to inside cover edges, otherwise nice and square, signed by Vance, in flexible plastic book protector (these have done a good job protecting the book, but the previous owner taped several short, color-code chunks of information to the plastic so they have required considerable clean-up prying old tape off the plastic and cleaning off the sticky residue with Bestine). This was one of the few Vance titles I didn’t have any edition of (and the PBO is the only edition). Collection of four novelettes/novellas. Hewett, A6. Cunningham, 35.a. Currey, page 498. Bought off eBay for $16.50.
Vance, Jack. The Houses of Iszm b/w Son of the Tree. Ace Books, 1964. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with edgewear and some hairline cracks, since by Vance (late signature), in flexible plastic book protector. Supplements Underwood/Miller hardbacks and an unsigned PBO. Hewett A12 and A13. Currey, page 498. Cunningham, 41.a. Bought off eBay for $13.50.
Vance, John Holbrook (AKA Jack Vance). The Man in the Cage. Random House, 1960. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with slight bumping at head and heel and a few small, mild abrasions to topstain on pageblock, in a Very Good dust jacket with bumping and shallow loss at head and heel, with associated creasing at heel, 3″ scratch to rear panel, slight dust staining to white portions of dust jack, tiny, partial, thin abrasion line down middle of spine, spine possibly very slightly faded, small stamped “49” in a circle next to the (unclipped) price on front dust jacket flap, mild spotting to top and outer edge of rear flap, and mild foxing to blind side of dust jacket. Hewett, A10. Cunningham, 54.a. Levack/Underwood, Fantasms, 29.a. Currey, page 499. Bought from a customer who saw this on my Want List for $35.
Vance, Jack. The Palace of Love. Berkley Medallion, 1967. First edition paperback original (60¢ price and October, 1967 on copyright page, as per Currey), a Near Fine+ copy with 1/4″ closed tear at top front spine join and slight edgewear, signed by Vance (typical late overlapping Vance signature). Third book in the Demon Princes series. Hewett, A31. Cunningham, 62.a, Currey, page 499. Bought off eBay for $18.
Vance, Jack. The Pnume. Ace, 1970. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with slight edgewear, signed by Vance. Fourth Planet of Adventure book. Hewett A36. Cunningham, 65.a. Currey, page 500. Supplements a Dobson hardback first. Bought off eBay for $14.50.
Vance, Jack. The Seventeen Virgins. Underwood/Miller, 1979. First edition chapbook original, a Fine- copy with one wrinkle to top corner and slight fading along spine, signed by Vance. Hewett, A58. Cunningham, B.70a. Chalker/Owings, pages 430-431 (where they note that only 400 were produced, not the 600 stated). Supplements an unsigned copy and the signed, limited hardback edition of The Seventeen Virgins & A Bagful of Dreams. Bought off eBay for $32 plus shipping.
Vance, Jack. Space Opera. Pyramid Books, 1965. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with slight edgewear, signed by Vance. Hewett A18. Cunningham, 74.a. Currey, page 500. Supplements the Underwood Miller hardback. Bought off eBay for $16.50.
Vance, Jack. Wyst: Alastor 1716. DAW Books, 1978. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine copy with a long wrinkle down spine and slight edgewear, signed by Vance, in flexible plastic book protector. Hewett, A54. Cunningham, 86.a.
Walton, Jo. Or What You Will. Tor, 2020. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. A fictional character plots an escape from his writer’s mind. For some reason, there do not seem to be a lot of copies out there in the wild for so recent a book. Part of an estate purchase.
Wandrei, Donald. Dark Odyssey. Webb Publishing, 1931. First edition hardback, 118 of 400 signed, numbered copies, a Very Good copy with significant wear at head and heel and bumping at points, in a Good+ only dust jacket with 1 1/2″ spine loss at heel, 1″ spine loss at head, plus a few 1/4″ chips at dj top edge, wear at points, and a bit of rubbing; not great, but a mostly complete example of the notoriously fragile gold foil dust jacket. Poetry collection. At a 94 years old, it’s not the oldest dust jacket in my collection (I have an H.G. Wells first in dust jacket from 1922), but it is among the oldest. Bleiler Checklist (1978), page 202. Bought for $25, marked down from $50.
Watts, Peter. Echopraxia. Tor, 2014. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy in a Near Fine dust jacket with a long, very thin scratch to front cover, and slight bend at head and heel. Sequel to Blindsight. Supplements both a first of Blindsight and the Centipede Press signed/limiteds of both Blindsight and Echopraxia. Part of an estate purchase.
Westerfeld, Scott. The Risen Empire. Tor, 2003. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine Mylar-protected dust jacket. Space Opera. Replaces a slightly less attractive copy. Bought for $5.99
Whitehead, Colson. The Underground Railroad. Doubleday, 2016. First edition hardback “1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2” numberline and “First Edition” stated), a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a trace of wear at points and a “OPRAH’S/2016 SELECTION/BOOK CLUB” sticker (apparently as issued for some copies) and no barcode sticker over original. An alternate history/slipstream novel in which the underground railroad for escaped slaves is a literal railway underground, with stations along the way, and a different timeline from our own. Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award and Arthur C. Clarke Award winner. Bought for $13.99.
Wilhelm, Kate. Signed bookplate. Laid it into my first of Where Late The Sweet Birds Sang. Bought for $10 off eBay.
Williamson, Jack. Dragon’s Island and Other Stories. Five Star, 2002. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in decorated boards and a Fine dust jacket, inscribed by Williamson: “To Dane,/Jack Williamson/Bubonicon/2003.” Note: The cover title is Dragon’s Island, while Dragon’s Island and Other Stories appears on the title, half title and copyright pages. Bought off eBay for $26.
Williamson, J. N., editor, and Gary A. Braunbeck. Masques V. Gauntlet Publications, 2006. First edition hardback, #392 of 500 copies signed by Braunbeck and almost all the contributors (including Clive Barker, William F. Nolan, Ray Garton, Richard Christian Matheson, etc. I already owned Masques I-IV, but somehow never picked this one up. Interestingly, it says Braunbeck is the co-editor on the flap and title page, but not the front cover, spine or limitation page, probably because Williamson died in 2005 and presumably Braunbeck finished up. Mostly original horror anthology, with a few reprints scattered in. Originally published at $55. Bought for $36.
(Wolfe, Gene). Cano, Ramon Perales, editor. The Book of Fuligin. Strangers Publishing, no date (2024). First edition hardback graphic novel, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Slightly oversize (10 1/2″ high) graphic novel anthology of stories set in Gene Wolfe’s Book of the New Sun milieu. Backed on Kickstarter.
Wyndham, John (David Dyte, editor). Logical Fantasy: The Many Worlds of John Wyndham. Subterranean Press, 2024. First edition hardback, #361 of 1,000 numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and publisher’s plastic bag, with bookmark laid in. Bought for $25 plus shipping during a Subterranean sale.
Tags:Avram Davidson, Books, Dragonstairs Press, Fantasy, Horror, Isaac Asimov, Jack Vance, Joe R. Lansdale, Michael Swanwick, Neil Gaiman, Philip Jose Farmer, Philip K. Dick, Ray Bradbury, reference works, Science Fiction, Subterranean Press, Tim Powers
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Tuesday, December 31st, 2024
I’ve been buying some signed PBOs off eBay as of late, and here are the first two:
Bloch, Robert. Firebug. Regency, 1961. First edition paperback original, a Very Good copy a spine crease and lean, edgewear, a few tackehead sized abrasions and pages darkening, signed by Bloch. Supplements a signed hardback first of the Scream omnibus, which contains Firebug. Bought for $17.50.
Farmer, Philip Jose. The Green Odyssey. Ballantine Books, 1957. First edition paperback original (simultaneous with the much more difficult hardback), a Very Good+ copy with spine creasing and lean, with crease to bottom rear corner, a few hairline cracks, and edgewear, inscribed “to John/from/Philip Jose Farmer.” Farmer’s first published book (though not the first written). Supplements an unsigned, less attractive PBO copy (and I still need the hardback first). Bought off eBay for $18.50.
Tags:Books, Horror, PBO, Philip Jose Farmer, Robert Bloch, Science Fiction, signatures
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Thursday, December 26th, 2024
Here’s a long-time want that popped up at a good price from a seller in Europe.
Farmer, Philip Jose. Night of Light. Garland, 1975. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight bend at heel, sans dust jacket, as issued. Bought for $27.16 plus Transatlantic shipping, which essentially doubled the price.
Tags:Books, Garland Press, Philip Jose Farmer, Science Fiction
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Tuesday, July 23rd, 2024
A signed Farmer PBO at a bargain price.
Farmer, Philip Jose. Cache from Outer Space b/w The Celestial Blueprint. Ace Double, 1962. First edition paperback original (no statement of printing on copyright page and price of 40¢, as per Currey), a Very Good copy with 3/16″ abrasion at head, moderate spine creasing, wear at head and heel, and trace of wear at points, signed by Farmer. Ed Emshwiller. Currey, page 183. Brizzi, Reader’s Guide to Philip Jose Farmer, page 66. Bought off eBay for 99¢ plus shipping.
Tags:Ace Double, Books, PBO, Philip Jose Farmer, Science Fiction, signatures
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Monday, February 20th, 2023
It’s that time of the year again, where I compile every book I bought last year into one long post.
Adams, Richard. Watership Down. Macmillian, 1972. First American edition hardback, a Very Good copy with name marked out in black marker on front free endpaper, spine slightly worn, and slight staining at top edge, in a Very Good- dust jacket with one pinhead puncture to spine in “w,” small closed punctures along rear bottom spine join, a few pinhead dots of black staining to rear cover, shallow chipping at head, and age darkening to spine; slightly rough, but the page block is nice and square, and the UK first generally lists for well over a grand. Pringle, Modern Fantasy 51. Moorcock, Epic Pooh, pages [12-13-ish; the pages are unnumbered] (Mike is not a fan). Bought for $9.99.
Anderson, Poul and Gordon R. Dickson. Star Prince Charlie. Putnam’s, 1975. First edition hardback (no statement of printing on copyright page, as per Currey), a Fine copy in a Fine first state (slash between names on spine barely visible) dust jacket. Currey, page 13.
Anthony, Patricia. Gods Fires. Ace Books, 1997. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, inscribed by Anthony: “Hey-/Remember all those Wednesday nights over/on Walhat Hill, Jane?/Now we/only run/into each/other at cons. I miss/you sometimes! Email/me.” Then she’s altered her printed name to read “www.Patricia-Anthony.com”. Anthony died in 2013 and that domain is no longer active. Possibly an associational copy. Replaces an unsigned copy.
Bear, Greg. The Unfinished Land. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2021. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Bear, with a thank you note and several laminated bookmarks from the seller laid in. Bought for $49.95 from an eBay seller. My obituary for Bear can be found here.
Bester, Alfred. Virtual Unrealities: The Short Fiction of Alfred Bester. Vintage/Random House, 1997. First edition proof, trade paperback format, a Fine- copy with a tiny chip to tip of bottom front corner, gold “A Vintage Original” sticker on front cover and accompanying review page. Supplements a copy of the trade paperback original. Bought off eBay for $10.97.
Blaylock, James P. The Digging Leviathan. Ace, 1984. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with a tiny flake from the bottom front corner tip, inscribed by Blaylock: “To John Pelan,/the favorite of my/own books./Cheers/James P. Blaylock.” Replaces an unsigned copy and supplements an inscribed first of the Morrigan hardback. Bought for $5.
Blaylock, James P. The Disappearing Dwarf. Del Rey, 1983. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with edgewear and flake chips to outer rear corners, inscribed by Blaylock: “To John,/on the first anniversary/of a hell of a good idea./Cheers,/Jim,/aka James P. Blaylock.” Sequel to The Elfin Ship. Replaces an unsigned copy. Bought for $5.
Blaylock, James P. The Elfin Ship. Del Rey, 1983. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine- copy with slight spine creasing, inscribed by Blaylock: “To John Pelan,/My first book, but/not a bad one, I/hope./Best wishes/James P. Blaylock. Bought for $5.
Blaylock, James P. The Stone Giant. Ace, 1989. First edition paperback original, a Fine copy with the barest trace of edgewear. Inscribed by Blaylock: “James P. Blaylock/For John,/I hope this is readable./I write it about 5 years/ago and don’t rightly/remember./Cheers/Jim.” Sequel to The Disappearing Dwarf. Replaces an unsigned copy. Bought for $5.
Bloch, Robert. Midnight Pleasures. Doubleday, 1987. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, inscribed by Bloch: “Yours Truly, Robert Bloch!” Short story collection.
Bloch, Robert. The Opener of the Way. Arkham House, 1945. First edition hardback, a Near Fine+ copy with slight bumping at head and heel, slight wear in letters of spine, bookstore sticker to bottom of inner front cover, and a few touches of wear to boards, in a Near Fine- dust jacket with abrasion rub down right front fold edge, slight wear at head, slight loss at points, and slight dust soiling to rear cover, with auction sticker laid in, inscribed by Bloch: “To Charles R./Tanner with best wishes,/Robert Bloch, 1948.” What the people doing the Heritage description didn’t note (and possibly didn’t know) was that Charles R. Tanner was a fellow contemporary pulp writer (both had work in Amazing Stories), most famously of “Tumithak of the Corridors,” which appeared in Isaac Asimov’s Before the Golden Age. Flanagan, Robert Bloch: A Bio-Bibliography, page 49. Joshi, Sixty Years of Arkham House 10. Currey, page 46. Derleth, Thirty Years of Arkham House 10. Jaffery, Horrors and Unpleasantries 10. Nielsen, Arkham House Books: A Collector’s Guide 10 (also #23 on the Most Valuable list). Locke, Spectrum of Fantasy, page 36. Bleiler, Guide to Supernatural Fiction, 209. Chalker/Owings, pages 22-23. Kemp, The Anthem Series, page 299-300. (For an association copy signed to Robert Bloch, see this.)
Bloch, Robert. Out Of My Head. NESFA Press, 1986. First edition hardback, #371 of 800 hardback copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Bloch. Chalker/Owings, page 303. Replaces an equally perfect unsigned copy in my collection.
Bloch, Robert. Psycho II. Whispers Press, 1982. First edition hardback, #516 of 750 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine slipcase. Supposedly very different than the movie of the same name. Supplements a trade edition. Chalker/Owings, page 476.
Brackett, Leigh. The Ginger Star. Ballantine Books, 1974. First edition paperback original, a Fine- copy with slight wear at heel, edges and points, otherwise a tight, square copy. Currey, page 52. Bought for $2.
Brackett, Leigh. The Hounds of Skaith. Ballantine Books, 1974. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine+ copy with slight bumping to bottom corner and a trace of edgewear, otherwise a tight, square copy. Currey, page 52. Bought for $2.
Bradbury, Ray. Dawn to Dusk: Cautionary Travels. Gauntlet, 2011. First edition hardback, #67 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Somehow missed this when it came out, maybe because I was dealing with one of my periodic bouts of unemployment. Bought for $76 off eBay.
Bradbury, Ray. Farewell Summer. Morrow, 2006. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket with “National Book Award Distinguished Contribution to American Letters” sticker (presumably as issued; he was awarded it in 2000), signed by Bradbury. Sequel to Dandelion Wine.
Bradbury, Ray. The Last Circus & The Electrocution. Lord John Press, 1980. First edition hardback, #105 of 300 copies signed by Bradbury and introduction author William F. Nolan, a Fine copy in a Fine slipcase, sans dust jacket, as issued. Two stories, an introduction by Nolan and an afterword by Bradbury. Supplements a signed trade copy.
Bradbury, Ray. The Machineries of Joy. Simon & Schuster, 1964. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with previous owner’s name, city, and date to FFE, corners slightly bumped, slight bend at head and heel, and slight wear along bottom board edges, in a Very Good+ dust jacket with 3/16″ triangular chip at head join, slight edgewear at head and heel, bit of wrinkling to top edge, a few small, closed tears, a tiny bit of loss at points, and a few slight spots of dust soiling, signed and dated (“12/12/86”) by Bradbury. Short story collection. Nolan, The Ray Bradbury Companion, pages 148-150. Weist, Bradbury: An Illustrated Life, page 72. Currey, page 56.
Bradbury, Ray. One For The Road. Morrow, 2002. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Bradbury. Short story collection, including a smattering of older stories.
Bradbury, Ray. Phoenix 451. Gauntlet Press, 2022. First edition hardback, one of 350 unsigned copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Huge 833-page collection. “We are proud to be publishing five versions of Fahrenheit-451 he wrote beginning in 1955.” Plus a whole lot more, including color plates, play texts, ancillary material, etc. Bought from the publisher. I will have copies of this available in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog, which I intend to mail out Friday.
Bradbury, Ray. The Parrot Who Met Papa b/w David Aronovitz’s The Parrot Who Met Papa (concluded). The Pretentious Press, 1991. First edition chapbook original, a Fine copy, signed by Bradbury, then subsequently inscribed “Tom! Nov. 6, 1994.” Just about all these Pretentious Press chapbooks are hard to find and pricey. Bought from an online dealer for $150.
Bradbury, Ray. The Tonybee Convector. Knopf, 1988. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, inscribed by Bradbury: “Joe Anne &/Lee/Ray Bradbury/Dec. 10/1988.” Replaces an unsigned copy.
Bradbury, Ray. When Elephants Last In The Dooryard Bloomed. Knopf, 1973. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight bend at head and heel, in a Near Fine, price-clipped dust jacket, signed and dated (“12/12/86”). Supplements a later printing.
(Bradbury, Ray) Sam Weller. Listen to the Echoes: The Ray Bradbury Interviews. Stopsmling Books, 2010. First edition trade paperback original (simultaneous with a small hardback run), a Fine copy, signed by Bradbury. Collection of interviews Weller did with Bradbury, plus a previously unpublished Paris Review interview. Bought for $40 from an online bookseller.
Brin, David. The River of Time. Dark Harvest, 1986. First edition hardback, copy “Q” of 52 signed, lettered copies, a Fine copy (maybe Fine- with the spine of the gold biding showing a slight greenish tinge) in a Fine wooden “slipcrate,” sans dust jacket, as issued. Short story collection. Chalker/Owings, page 119. A lot of the Dark Harvest slipcrate editions were leather or imitation leather, but I have no idea what to call this goldish binding. This is the fourth Dark Harvest slipcrate edition I’ve bought, after George R. R. Martin’s Portraits of His Children, Joe R. Lansdale’s The Nightrunners, and Chet Williamson’s Dreamthorpe. Bought from a UK dealer for £50, which works out to less than the original $100 list price.
Brunner, John. The Productions of Time. Signet, 1967. First paperback original, a Fine- copy with slight darkening to pages and a trace of edgewear to points. 1967 Nebula nominee for Best Novella. De Bolt, The Happening Worlds of John Brunner page 203. Currey, page 72 (he says the text was “badly edited” without Brunner’s approval). Bought for $2.99.
(Burroughs, William S.) Morgan, Ted. Literary Outlaw: The Life and Time of William S. Burroughs. Henry Holt, 1988. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with slight haze rubbing. Reportedly one of the best biographies of Burroughs. Shoaf, Collecting William S. Burroughs in Print: A Checklist, IV.42. Bought for $7.99 at Half Price Books.
Campbell, John W. Cloak of Aesir. Shasta Publisher, 1952. First edition hardback, a Near Fine- copy with 2″ x 3/4″ light black staining to back rear cover (appears to be moisture staining from the cover dye), with a tiny bit of transfer to the very bottom outer tips of last few pages as well, with a few slightly light spots to boards, slight bumping at head and heel, and slight foxing along gutters, in a Very Good- dust jacket with light staining down spine, spots of light staining across back cover, shallow edge chipping at head, heel and points, signed by Campbell. Stories written under his Don A. Stuart pen name. Currey, page 97. Locke, Spectrum of Fantasy, page 46. Chalker Ownings, page 398. Kemp, The Anthem Series, page 166. Supplements an unsigned copy. Bought for £36.
Campbell, Ramsey (S. T. Joshi, editor). Certainly: Essays and Reviews, 2002-2017. PS Publishing, 2021. First edition hardback, #168 of 200 signed, numbered copies in slipcase, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Companion volume to Probably, which I also have. Bought from the publisher for £20. I will have one copy for sale in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog (probably May or June).
Cannell, Stephen J. White Sister. St. Martin’s Press, 2006. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed and dated (“9/12/06”) by Cannell. Bought off the Internet for $5.
Card, Orson Scott. Ender’s Way. Centipede Press, 2021. First edition, #156 of 300 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and Fine two-piece capped cloth slipcase, still in shrinkwrap. With:
Card, Orson Scott. Speaker for the Dead. Centipede Press, 2020. First edition thus, #156 of 300 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and Fine two-piece capped cloth slipcase. Hugo and Nebula winner for best novel. Both books bought for $400 off eBay, a significant discount off the original cover price for both ($250 for Ender’s Way and $295 for Speaker for the Dead.
Carter, Lin. Dreams from R’lyeh. Arkham House, 1975. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with bumping at head and heel in a Near Fine- dust jacket with wear at head, heel and points, and dust soiling to rear cover, mostly along fold edge. Poetry collection. In terms of desirability, this one is way, way down the list of Arkhams that took forever to sell out, down there with Gary Myer’s In the House of the Worm and those very later novels from people nobody ever heard of. Honestly, I was sort of surprised to discover that I hadn’t already picked up a cheap copy somewhere along the line. Joshi, Sixty Years of Arkham House 133. Jaffery, Horrors and Unpleasantries 137. Nielsen, Arkham House Books 139.
Chabon, Michael. A Model World and Other Stories. Morrow, 1991. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Chabon, with review slip laid in. Short story collection, and Chabon’s second book. Bought for $10.
Chabon, Michael, editor. McSweeney’s Enchanted Chamber of Astonishing Stories. Vintage Books, 2004. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Anthology with stories by Stephen King, Peter Straub, Margaret Atwood, etc. Companion to McSweeny’s/Chabon’s Thrilling Tales volume, which I also have. Bought for $7 from Recycled Books.
Chambers, Robert W. (Lisa Morton, editor). A Little Yellow Book of Carcosa and Kings. Borderlands Press, 2022. First edition hardback, #462 of 500 copies signed by Morton, a Fine copy, sans dust, as issued. Four linked horror tales, all reprinted from The King in Yellow, all set in a then-future United States. Now sold out from the publisher. I have one copy of this still available through Lame Excuse Books.
Clarke, Arthur C. Tales From The White Hart. Harcourt, Brace & World, 1970. First hardback edition (no statement of printing on copyright page, as per Currey), a Near Fine+ copy with what appears to be a 1″ slight sticker pull inside front cover and tarnishing to “o” in “from” gold metal colored lettering on spine, in a Fine- dust jacket with just a trace of edgewear at heel. A collection of “club stories,” sort of the English version of the American tall tale. Currey, page 115. Bought for $40.
Clute, John. Sticking To the End. Beccon, 2022. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine- copy with a bump at head. Collection of reviews, essays, etc. Supposedly both Beccon and Clute’s last book. Bought from the publisher at the usual discount. I will have copies available in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog.
Coldiron, Katherine. Midnight Movie Monographs: Plan 9 From Outer Space. PS Publishing/Electric Dreamhouse, 2021. First edition hardback, #209 of 300 copies with a signed faux movie ticket laid in (along with a “Watch Bad Movies/Make Good Art” sticker), a Fine copy in decorated boards and a Fine dust jacket. A book-length study of Ed Wood’s infamous magnum opus of the same name, widely hailed (or derided) as the worst movie ever made, as featured in the Tim Burton film Ed Wood. Bought from the publisher at the usual discount. I have copies of this available though Lame Excuse Books.
Dann, Jack. Masters of Science Fiction: Jack Dann. Centipede Press, 2022. First edition hardback, #251 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. A very attractive volume, as are the other books in this series.
Davidson, Avram. Beer! Beer! Beer! Or All The Seas With Oysters Publishing (OATSWOP), 2021. First edition print-on-demand trade paperback (the only print edition offered), a Fine copy. An original prohibition tale unearthed by the Davidson estate and offered through Amazon, which is the only place it’s available.
Davidson, Avram. Rogue Dragon. Ace, 1965. First edition paperback original (no statement of printing and 40¢ cover price, as per Currey), a Fine- copy with just a trace of edgewear at top outer point, but tight and square with bright white portions of cover. Currey, page 131. Replaces a slightly less attractive copy. Bought from Half Price Books for $5.
Davidson, Avram. What Strange Stars and Skies. Ace, 1965. First edition paperback original (no statement of printing and 40¢ cover price, as per Currey), a Fine- copy with a tiny crease across the Ace logo at head, otherwise tight and square. Currey, page 131. Replaces a slightly less attractive copy. Bought for $3.
de Camp, L. Sprague and P. Schuyler Miller. Genus Homo. Fantasy Press, 1950. First edition hardback, first state (Currey A) binding of green cloth lettered in gold, #172 of 500 numbered copies signed by both authors, further inscribed by Miller “To Sylvester Brown, Jr./in the hope that we’ve guessed/all wrong about tomorrow,” a Near Fine- copy with non-authorial judgement of the book written in a neat hand on the inside front cover (hidden by dj flap), gold spine lettering slightly rubbed and bumping at heel, and trace of foxing to inside covers and end-papers, in a Very Good+ dust jacket with closed tear creases to the bottom 1/4″ to 1/8″ of the front bottom edge, smaller closed tear and creasing at heed, quarter-sized abrasion to front cover affecting G in “Genus,” edgewear at heel, slight dust soiling to white back cover, and a few other touches of rubbing (slightly exaggerated in scan). Sleeper awakes sort of novel about a busload of humans awakening in a far future world ruled by evolved primates (thirteen years before Pierre Boulle’s La Planète des singes). I had several de Camp signatures already, but not one for Miller. Currey, page 133. Chalker Owings, page 160. Kemp, The Anthem Series, page 32. Bought for £45.
Delany, Samuel R. Dhalgren. Gregg Press, 1977. First hardback edition (and first edition thus, containing textual differences), a Near Fine- copy with spine just starting to crease, a few of spots of light rubbing to the spine, light dust spotting to top and side page block edges, six small, neat red page numbers from the introduction written inside the front cover, and a few small annotations in the same red in the introduction itself, sans dust jacket, as issued. It’s hard to overstate just how massively wide this book is, over 1,000 pages with the lengthy introduction, easily the widest book Gregg Press ever published, and one of the hardest Gregg Press titles to find period (reportedly only 350 copies were published), probably only behind Dick’s Dr. Bloodmoney and possibly the two Locus volumes. L. W. Currey was already asking $300 for a copy in 1989, and they don’t tend to come on the market much. Though far from my own favorite of Delany’s work, it is probably the very hardest of his books to find. K. Leslie Steiner, “Some remarks on Reading Dhalgren,” pages 57-92 in Delany’s The Straits of Messina. Weedman, Samuel R. Delany, pages 61-69. McEvoy, Samuel R. Delany, pages 97-120. Barron, Anatomy of Wonder 4, 4-127. Magill, Survey of Science Fiction Literature, pages 533-538. (“Dhalgren marks the nadir of pessimism in science fiction’s tradition of social criticism.”) Currey, page 139. Bought for $300 from someone selling off their book collection.
(Note: Ignore the blotches on the middle right part of the image, which is just the edge of another book I used to prop Dhalgren up on the scanner so I could scan the spine. And ignore the left side taper at the bottom.)
Delany, Samuel R. The Fall of the Towers. Gregg Press, 1977. First hardback edition, a Fine- copy with a tiny bit of bumping to top outer edge, sans dust jacket, as issued. Omnibus volume that includes Captives of the Flame (AKA Out of the Dead City), The Towers of Toron, and City of a Thousand Suns. McEvoy, Samuel R. Delany, pages 28-44. K. Leslie Steiner, “Ruins/Foundations, or The Fall of the Towers Twenty Years After,” pages 99-154 in Delany’s The Straits of Messina. Currey, page 140. Bought from a UK dealer for £67.50.
Derleth, August, and Mark Schorer. Colonel Markesan and Less Pleasant People. Arkham House, 1966. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a few touches of light dust staining to rear, the largest about dime-sized near the top where the back jacket copy begins. Story collection. Replaces a slightly less attractive copy. Joshi, Sixty Years of Arkham House 87. Derleth, Thirty Years of Arkham House 87. Nielsen, Arkham House Books 93. Bleiler, Guide to Supernatural Fiction 530.
Derleth, August, editor. Dark of the Moon: Poems of Fantasy and the Macabre. Arkham House, 1947. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with bumping to top corners, slight bumping at head and heel, and a trace of foxing to interior gutters, in a Very Good- first state (green) dust jacket with a 1″ x 1/2″ chip to top front cover, notable bump and creasing to top rear corner trace of dust soiling to perimeter of rear dust jacket slight loss at bottom rear corner, a light, thin 1″ abrasion scratch to spine just above “Arkham House,” a bit of general wear, and slight blind-side foxing; a nice copy in a flawed dust jacket. “A pioneering and well-nigh definitive anthology of weird poetry from the entire range of English and American literature…” – Joshi, Sixty Years of Arkham House 23. Derleth, Thirty Years of Arkham House 23. Jaffery, Horrors and Unpleasantries 26. Nielsen, Arkham House Books 24 (and 34th on his list of most valuable Arkham House books). Derleth, 100 Books By August Derleth 46. Bleiler, Checklist of Fantastic Fiction (1948), page 98. Bleiler, Checklist of Fantastic Fiction (1978), page 60.
Dick, Philip K. Selected Short Stories. The Folio Society, 2022. First edition hardback (“First Printing 2022”), a Fine copy in decorated boards and a decorated, die-cut slipcase that even sports a full-color illustration printed inside the slipcase, sans dust jacket, as issued. The pageblock edges even include a dye-pattern image of two eyes (appropriate to Dick’s frequent theme of paranoia). Plus a Jonathan Lethem introduction and a full-color illustration for each story from 24 different artists (including Dave McKean). It’s a very attractive package.
Dick, Philip K. The World Jones Made. Sidgwick & Jackson, 1968. First hardback editionb, an Ex-Library copy on which the dust jacket has been plasticized to the boards, with the front flap pasted onto the rear free endpaper, with library stamps, and slight age-darkening to pages; call it a Very Good Ex-Lib copy. Dick’s second published novel, originally published as half of an Ace Double. Probably the second hardest UK Dick hardback first to find (after The Penultimate Truth, which I already have), and it usually lists for several grand. Levack, 48g. Wintz & Hyde, Precious Artifacts, SF30.8. Currey, page 159. Bought from a UK book dealer for £327.
(Dick, Philip K.) R.D. Mullin, Istvan Csicsery Rosney, Jr., Arthur B. Evans and veronica Hollinger, editors. On Philip K. Dick: 40 Articleas from Science-Fiction Studies. SF-TH, Inc., 1992. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Collection of critical essays on Dick from a wide variety of authors (Kim Stanley Robinson, Gregg Rickman, Stainislaw Lem, etc.). I was unaware that there was a hardback of this until it showed up in the catalog. Supplements a trade paperback copy. Bought for £112.50.
Di Filippo, Paul. Aeota. PS Publishing, 2019. First edition hardback, trade edition, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Supplements a signed, limited edition. Bought for £5. I have one copy of this available though Lame Excuse Books.
Drake, Leah Bodine. A Hornbook for Witches. Arkham House, 1950. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with foxing to gutters and under flaps, slight bumping at heel (and unlike most Arkham (and U.S.) books, the printing on the book is 180° off what you would expect, running up the spine rather than down, so from bottom to top it reads “Drake • A HORNBOOK FOR WITCHES • Arkham House”), and a very slight bit of wear to Arkham’s usual Black Novelex boards, in a Near Fine- dust jacket with shallow 1/16″ chipping at head, heel and points, and age darkening to spine; a fairly nice copy. One of the rarest Arkham House books, with only 553 copies printed, and Jaffrey states that Drake took “about 300 copies” for her own distribution. Derleth, Thirty Years of Arkham House, 43. Joshi, Sixty Years of Arkham House, 43. Jaffery, Horrors and Unpleasantries, 40 (“There are few copies around, and copies are really hard to come by”). Nielsen, Arkham House Books, 44 (and #5 on his list of “The Thirty-Five Most Valuable Arkham House Books”). Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy Three, page 29. Kemp, The Anthem Series, pages 334 (“Scarcest Arkham House title of all.”), which also notes an audiobook edition of the title narrated by Vincent Price (though evidently only including four of the poems here). Bought from a fellow Biblio dealer for $832.
Dowling, Terry. The Complete Rynosseros (Volumes I, II and III). PS Publishing, 2020. First edition hardback, a PC copy of 300 signed, numbered sets, all Fine copies in decorated boards and Fine dust jackets and a Fine slipcase. All Dowling’s Tom Rynosseros stories. An attractive production with Nick Stathopoulos art. Volume III features Dowling discussing the origins and developments of every story. Volume I even has an introduction by Jack Vance! Bought for £60 for the set, a considerable discount from the £150 offering price.
(Doyle, Arthur Conan) Miranker, Cathy and Glen S., curators. Sherlock Holmes in 221 Objects: From the Collection of Glenn S. Miranker. The Grolier Club, 2022. First edition hardback, reportedly one of only 500 copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. A descriptive catalog, with pictures, of items exhibited from Miranker’s Sherlock Holmes collection, including not only rare first editions (including the only know first edition, first printing of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes in dust jacket), but also Doyle letters, original art, movie posters, etc. A fascinating and extensive collection.
Dozois, Gardner (Michael Swanwick, interviewer). In His Own Words. Dragonstairs, 2022. First edition chapbook original, #56 of 60 numbered copies signed by Swanwick, a Fine copy. Condensed transcription of an interview Swanwick conducted with Gardner at the 2001 Capclave. Instantly out of print from the publisher.
Dozois, Gardner, editor. The Very Best of the Best. St. Martins, 2019. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight bends at head and heel in a Fine- dust jacket with slight curl at head and heel. A best of best of collection.
Ellison, Harlan. The Man With Nine Lives/A Touch of Infinity. Ace Books, 1960. First edition paperback original (35¢ on cover, as per Currey), a Near Fine- copy with wear at head and heel and the usual age-darkening to pages, signed twice by Ellison at each of the two title pages. The Man With Nine Lives is a novella and A Touch of Infinity is a short story collection. Quite an attractive copy, nice and square with quite bright covers, and better than usually found. Richmond, Fingerprints on the Sky, page 107-108. Currey, page 178. Bought off eBay for $44.95.
Farmer, Philip Jose. Flesh. Doubleday, 1968. First hardback edition and first revised edition, a Fine- copy with slight bumping at heel in a Near Fine dust jacket with slight age-toning to white dust jacket, a few tiny closed tears at top edge, and some small black marks at head that may have one been a price written there, signed by Farmer. Currey, page 184. Bought from the same notable UK bookseller as Dwellers in the Mirage for £52.
Farmer, Philip Jose. Dark is the Sun. Del Rey, 1979. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Farmer. Bought off eBay for $35.
Farmer, Philip Jose. The Lovers. Ballantine Books, 1961. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Very Good+ copy with crease across bottom rear corner and slight spine lean, signed by Farmer. One of the first science fiction novels to deal frankly with sexual themes. Brizzi, The Work of Philip Jose Farmer, pages 18-24. Currey, page 185. Barron, Anatomy of Wonder 4, *3-69. Supplements a signed copy of the later hardback first edition. Won off eBay for $9.99.
Farmer, Philip Jose. Tarzan Alive: A Definitive Biography of Lord Greystoke. Doubleday, 1972. First edition hardback, a Near Fine+ copy with bumping at head, heel and top front corner, in a Very Good+ dust jacket with several small closed tears (and associated creases) at heel, slight dust soiling to white portions of dust jacket, and a few other touches of wear, inscribed by Farmer: “To Mitchell Haneson/from/Philip Jose Farmer/Oct 21,/1989/Chicago.” Fictional biography of Tarzan, and a central text in Farmer’s “Wold Newton Universe,” which ties a vast array of fictional heroes, from Sherlock Holmes to Doc Savage, into one extended family. Brizzi, Philip Jose Farmer, page 72. Currey, page 185. Bought off eBay for $39.99. Replaces an unsigned copy.
Ford, Jeffrey. The Best of Jeffrey Ford. PS Publishing, 2020. First edition hardback, a PC copy of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a fine slipcase. Supplements a trade copy. Bought for £15 plus shipping.
Ford, Jeffrey. The Best of Jeffrey Ford. PS Publishing, 2020. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. 550+ page volume. Bought for £5. I have one copy of this available though Lame Excuse Books.
Frazier, Charles. Cold Mountain. Atlantic Monthly Press, 1997. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- Mylar-protected dust jacket with faint 1/4″ scratch with John Berendt blurb sticker on it (as issued), in a Fine- after-market slipcase with one small bump to bottom rear corner. National Book Award winning Civil War novel that was the basis of the acclaimed 2003 movie of the same name. Bought from Half-Price Books for $30. I see these particular aftermarket slipcases sold on eBay, where they list for $85.
Gaiman, Neil (Gary Gianni, illustrator). The Case of Death and Honey. Arte Editions, 2022. First edition hardback, #254 of 500 numbered copies signed by Gianni (plus an additional 70 publisher’s copies), a Fine copy in a Fine slipcase, sans dust jacket, as issued. A very attractive book, stamped in gold and black on full red cloth binding, black and red printing, numerous black and white (and one color) illustrations from Gianni. A Sherlock Holmes story from Gaiman. There were numbered and lettered editions signed by Gaiman in different bindings that were already sold out by the time I found out about this book. Bought from the publisher at a thin discount. Note: The slipcase was extra, and is not included in every copy of this edition.
Gaiman, Neil. Trigger Warning. HarperCollins, 2015. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a tiny bit of crimping at head. Short story collection. Bought for $12.14
Gevers, Nick, and Peter Crowther, editors. New Worlds Issue #1. PS Publishing, 2021 (i.e., 2022). First edition hardback, #49 of 200 copies, a Fine copy in decorated boards and a Fine dust jacket, and a Fine embossed slipcase. Latest resurrection of this venerable UK fiction title, most famous for Michael Moorcock’s New Wave editorship in the 1960s, and Moorcock contributes a story (and signature) here, as do Alan Moore, Michael Swanwick, Ken MacLeod, James Lovegrove, Ian Watson, Ian R. MacLeod, etc. The trade paperback version came out last year, but this hardback edition is already out of print. Bought from the publisher at the usual discount.
Gingrich, Newt and William R. Forstchen. Never Call Retreat: Lee and Grant: The Final Victory. St. Martins, 2005. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Gingrich. Bought from Half Price Books for $7.99.
Golding, William. The Inheritors. Faber and Faber, 1955. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with a bump at head in a Near Fine dust jacket with a few faint, tiny spots to top rear outer corner, slight spotting at very top and bottom of flaps, slight bump at head, and numerous small blind side spots. All in all a very nice copy. Novel of Homo Sapiens driving the last Neanderthals to extinction. Pringle, Science Fiction: The 100 Best Novels 19. Magill, Survey of Science Fiction Literature, pages 1036-1039. Bought from a fellow Biblio dealer for £179.80 (including shipping).
Harrison, Harry. The Man From P.I.G.. Avon/Camelot Original, 1968. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine copy with one spine crease and usual mild age-darkening of pages. Currey, page 225. Bought for $1.99.
Heinlein, Robert A. Beyond This Horizon. Fantasy Press, 1948. First edition hardback, #413 of 500 signed, numbered subscriber copies (Currey State A), a Very Good copy with former owner George Price’s name and address on inside front cover and a quote from Hamlet (“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, / Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”) written on the front free endpaper in the same hand, with bumping at head and heel and a few faint spots of foxing to first few pages, in a Good+ dust jacket with 1/2″ chips to heel and bottom front cover, 1/4″ tackhead-sized chip to spine (affecting bottom of “O” in “HORIZON”), plus a few lesser chips, creases, rubs and general wear. Inscribed by Heinlein: “For George W. Price/All good wishes!/Robert A. Heinlein.” George W. Price ran Advent Publishers and participated in the 1959 Chicago Worldcon bid, and he seems to be still alive at age 93. Heinlein’s second novel. Currey, page 232. Chalker/Owings, page 158. Barron, Anatomy of Wonder 4, 3-84. Bought for £350 from a notable UK book dealer.
Heinlein, Robert A. Glory Road. Putnam, 1963. First edition hardback (no statement of printing on copyright page, as per Currey), an Ex-Library copy with front free endpaper excised, discard stamps, abrasion wear along bottom boards, light paste-ghosts to inside covers, reinforcement to front and rear gutters, etc.; call it a Good+ Ex-Lib copy in a Very Good+ dust jacket with 1/32″ strip of loss at very bottom of heel, slight wear and creasing at head and heel, trace of crease along front spine join, thin, closed 2″ tear/crack along spine to middle of back cover, slight wear at points, and the barest trace of those paste ghosts to blind side; actually a very presentable copy of the dust jacket. Replaces another Ex-Library copy (non-first) in my collection. Currey, page 232. Bought for $16 from a collector culling his collection.
Heinlein, Robert A. The Man Who Sold The Moon. Shasta Publishers, 1950. First edition hardback, one of 250 copies signed by Heinlein, a Very Good copy with spine slightly concave at top, slight bumping at head and heel, slight rub ear to lettering at head and heel, points slightly bumping, and traces of wear to boards, with the “FUTURE HISTORY/1951-2600 A.D.” sticker added to front free endpaper and inside back cover (as issued), in a Very Good- dust jacket with 1/8″ loss across heel, 1/8″ ship at head points and associated creasing, 3/4″ abrasion (possibly a sticker pull) near bottom of spine, not affecting any lettering, moderate creasing along spine and flap folds, slight age darkening to spine, very slight darkening to rear cover and tops of flaps, and usual blind side foxing. A fairly nice copy that I’ll probably ended up swapping the better dust jacket on my trade copy with. Bought from a private seller for $500. Chalker/Owings, page 398. Kemp, The Anthem Series, page 162. Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy, page 109. Currey, page 233.
Heinlein, Robert A. The Menace From Earth. Gnome Press, 1959. First edition hardback, a Near Fine+ copy with slight bumping at head, heel and points (and far less than usual age darkening to the cheap later Gnome Press paper) in a Near Fine+ dust jacket with one 1/8″ closed tear and associated triangular crease to bottom rear dust jacket, very slight age darkening to spine, trace of edgewear to rear flap, and a few traces of dust soiling to white over, otherwise an extremely nice example of the dust jacket. Short story collection, including the classic “By His Bootstraps.” Currey, page 233. Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy, page 109. Chalker/Owings, page 205. Kemp, The Anthem Series, page 278. Barron, Anatomy of Wonder 4, 3-87. ISFDB notes no price on dust jacket (as is the case here). Bought for £250 from a notable UK book dealer.
Heinlein, Robert A. Rocket Ship Galileo. Scribner’s, 1947. First edition hardback (Scribner’s seal and “A” printing code, as per Currey), a Near Fine copy with non-authorial inscription on FFE and mild blocks of foxing to inner covers and endpapers, in a Near Fine first state (unclipped $2.00 price) dust jacket with a pinhead-sized hole near heel and spine fading, and a tiny bit of wrinkling to bottom rear flap, otherwise a bright, vibrant example of the dust jacket. It’s a really attractive copy, and because the area of the hole and the board color are both dark, it doesn’t jump out at you. Currey, page 234. Locke, Spectrum of Fantasy, page 109 (he calls for “light yellow” endpapers, but these are really more of a light tan). Barron, Anatomy of Wonder 4, *5-62. Franklin, Robert A. Heinlein: America as Science Fiction, pages 75-76. Not in 333. Not in Magill’s Survey of Science Fiction Literature. Bought off a fellow Biblio dealer for $360.
Hill, Joe. The Fireman. Morrow, 2016. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Supplements a later limited edition. Bought for $14.99 at Half Price Books.
Hill, Joe. Strange Weather. William Morrow, 2017. First edition hardback, “Barnes & Noble Black Friday Signed Edition” as per the ISBN and copyright page (the first signed edition listed), one of an undetermined number with a signature page bound in (very similar to the one in Full Throttle), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Collection of four novellas. Bought for $40.05 from a fellow Biblio dealer.
Hill, Joe. Strange Weather: Aloft, Rain, Loaded, and Snapshot. Cemetery Dance, 2022. First edition thus and first separate editions of all four individual titles, all of which were originally published in Hill’s 2017 Strange Weather novella collection, each volume one of 948 copies signed by the artist (Charles Paul Wilson III for Aloft, Renae De Luz and Ray Dillon for Rain, and Zach Howard for Loaded), and Snapshot being numbered 781 and signed by both Hill and artist Gabriel Rodriguez, all Fine copies in Fine dust jackets and a Fine slipcase. (There was also evidently a 52 copy lettered edition offered for $1,000 I haven’t seen.) An attractive production. Bought for cover price, and sold out five years before publication…
Hodgson, William Hope (Michael Bailey, editor). A Little Aquamarine Book of Agitated Water. Borderlands Press, 2022. First edition hardback, #462 of 500 copies signed by the editor, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Includes many (but by no means all) of Hodgson’s eerie stories and poems about the sea, something he really excelled in.
Holkins, Jerry and Mike Krahulik. Lexcalibur II: The Word in the Stone. Penny Arcade, 2021 (i.e., 2022). First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. More fantasy-gaming themed humorous poetry, and sequel to the first Lexcalibur.
Howard, Robert E. Always Comes Evening. Arkham House, 1957. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with an old bookstore sticker inside the front cover and just a trace of foxing to gutters, in a Near Fine, price-slipped dust jacket with slight dust soiling to rear cover and slight age-darkening to letters, and a few other touches of wear. “Another volume that must be called a landmark.” – S. T. Joshi, Sixty Years of Arkham House. Howard’s first poetry collection, the second of three Howard books published by Arkham House, compiled by Howard estate executor Glenn Lord. Derleth, Thirty Years of Arkham House, 50. Joshi, Sixty Years of Arkham House 50. Jaffrey, Horrors and Unpleasantries, 49. Nielsen, Arkham House Books 53. Nielsen also ranks it 9th for scarcity and 13th most valuable, though the latter is out of date, since it’s much pricier and harder to find that Skull-Face and Others these days. Bought off eBay for $650.
Howard, Robert E. (Tim Underwood, editor). “…and their memory was a bitter tree…”. BlackBart, 2008. First edition hardback, #45 of 500 copies signed by illustrator Brom, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine slipcase. A volume lavishly illustrated in color by Brom and Frank Frazetta, with a preface by Arnie Fenner and an afterword by H. P. Lovecraft. Bought for $125. This appears to be the only book BlackBart ever did.
Howard, Robert E. Bran Mak Morn: The Last King. Wandering Star, 2005. First edition hardback, #634 of 850 numbered copies signed by illustrator Gary Gianni, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine- slipcase with a trace of wear at points, with a CD containing a reading of “Worms of the Earth” laid in. This and the other Wandering Star books here have gilt top edges. Bought for $125.
Howard, Robert E. The Iron Man. Donald M. Grant, 1976. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with a 1/2″ high area of abrasion across bottom of front and back boards near spine (but not at the spine itself), in a Fine- dust jacket with slight touches of wear at points and elsewhere. Howard’s boxing stories. Obtained as a throw-in freebie on another order.
Howard, Robert E. Robert E. Howard’s Conan of Cimmeria: Volume One (1932-1933). Wandering Star, 2002. First edition hardback, #89 of 100A [sic] numbered slipcased copies signed by artist Mark Schultz, with eight pages of black and white sketches after page 348, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine slipcase, bought still in shrinkwrap (taken out to verify the state). Bought for $300 (which is all of $30 more than original cover price 20 years ago, and the trade edition typically lists for more) from a private collector.
Howard, Robert E. Robert E. Howard’s Complete Conan of Cimmeria Volume Two (1934). Wandering Star, 2005. First edition hardback, #1462 of 1950 numbered copies signed by illustrator Gary Gianni, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine slipcase, with flyer for volume 3 with limitation number laid in. Bought for $187.50.
Howard, Robert E. Robert E. Howard’s Complete Conan of Cimmeria Volume Three (1935). Wandering Star, 2005. First edition hardback, 401 of 1000 numbered copies signed by illustrator Gregory Manchess. Bought for $175.
Howard, Robert E. The Ultimate Triumph: The Heroic Fantasy of Robert E Howard. Wandering Star, 1999. First edition hardback, #0507 of 1,500 slipcased copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine slipcase, still in shrinkwrap, with limitation bookmark. Bought for $125 from a private collector.
(Howard, Robert E.) Joe R. Lansdale, Nathan Fox and Dave Stewart. Pigeons From Hell. Dark Horse, 2009. First edition graphic novel trade paperback original, a Fine copy, signed by Lansdale. Based on the Robert E. Howard novella. Bought for $10 from a private collector.
Hubbard, L. Ron. Ole Doc Methuselah. Theta Press, 1970. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with age-darkening to white portions. Fixup novel of linked stories originally published 1946-1950. Strangely, there is no printing at all on the spine or cover of the book itself. Currey, page 256. Bought for $12 from Recycled Books.
Hughes, Matt. One More Kill. PS Publishing, 2018. First edition hardback, #22 of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Bought for £8 plus shipping. I will have one copy of this available in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog.
James, M. R. (edited and illustrated by Stephen R. Jones). A Little Jasmine Book of M. R. James. Borderlands Books, 2022. First edition hardback, #462 of 500 copies signed by Jones, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. Six tales from the master of the ghost story, plus some nonfiction pieces from James, Jones and others, including a select bibliography.
Kelly, James Patrick. Think Like A Dinosaur. Golden Gryphon Press, 1997. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with about 3/8″ slight abrasion or fade to the very top of the front cover, in a Fine- dust jacket with slight wrinkling at head and heel and slight edgewear at points and top of dust jacket, inscribed by Kelly: “To Katelein/Keep writing/+/:/Yr pal/Jim/ 4/19/98.” Short story collection. Supplements a perfect but unsigned copy. Bought for $11.49.
King, Stephen. The Dead Zone. Viking, 1979. First edition hardback (“First published in 1979 by the Viking Press” on the copyright page), a Fine copy in a Fine, first state (price of $11.95 and code 0879 on the bottom of the flap), Mylar-protected dust jacket, inscribed by King: “To Brian —/Be well, hope you/like this/Stephen King/10/13/79.”). King’s seventh novel, and the fifth under his own name. Collings, Horror Plumbed, A7. Spignesi, The Shape Under the Sheet, pages 241-247. Waiter/Golden/Wagner, Stephen King Universe (Cemetery Dance edition), pages 187-194. Bought for $240.
King, Stephen. Elevation. Hodder & Stoughton, 2018. First edition hardback (the UK and the US edition came out the same day, which means the UK should precede by several hours, if that matters), a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a tiny bit of surface wear. Castle Rock novella that looks like a cross between Thinner, Peyton Place and Up. Bought for $9.99 at Half Price Books.
King, Stephen. Gerald’s Game. Viking, 1992. First edition “preview edition,” one of 2,000 hardback copies with a handwritten note by King printed on the front free endpaper distributed at the 1992 American Booksellers Association convention, a Fine copy in a Fine printed and stapled cardboard slipcase, sans dust jacket, as issued. Collings, Horror Plumbed, A45. Waiter/Golden/Wagner, Stephen King Universe (Cemetery Dance edition), pages 285-290. Bought for $48.
King, Stephen. Pet Sematary. Doubleday, 1983. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Replaces a slightly less attractive copy. Collings, Horror Plumbed, A22. Spignesi, The Shape Under the Sheet, pages 301-304. Waiter/Golden/Wagner, Stephen King Universe (Cemetery Dance edition), pages 269-278. Bought for $15.
(King, Stephen and Stanley Kubrik) Oldham, Craig, editor. The Shining: A Visual and Cultural Haunting (Epiphany Edition). Rough Trade Books (via Kickstarter), 2022. First edition, printed pages and pamphlets loose in a decorated cardboard box, a Fine copy. It’s an elaborate production.
The loose sheets:
16 x typed replica sheets with All Work And No Play Makes Jack A Dull Boy as discovered by Wendy in the film.
120 x one-page pieces analysing, exploring, and extrapolating the films ideas, themes, influences, contexts and critiques.
10 x original typewriter art portraits made using the same model of Adler typewriter used by Jack Torrance.
Some examples:
Plus “Contributor Booklets” (which are more like brochures):
9 x 8-page cultural contributor essays from a range of celebrated artists, musicians, authors, architects and curators designed to evoke the film’s intertitle cards.
Original and exclusive piece from actor Dan Lloyd (Danny Torrance), an extraordinarily rare opportunity to share memories, stories and insights from this usually private person, as well as the coup of a rare interview with Shelley Duvall (conducted by Ryan Obermeyer) shedding light on her performance and experience of the film.
Artist Gavin Turk examines myths, mirrors and mazes and looks at the film through art, whilst fashion designer Margaret Howell takes us through her iconic maroon jacket worn by Jack in the closing act of the film.
Artist and musician Cosey Fanni Tutti on sound and the unfolding domestic violence within the film. Architecture expert and writer John Grindrod on the role of The Overlook Hotel itself and the impact of such spaces on our behaviour.
Producer and Record Label head James Lavelle (UNKLE) tells of his enduring inspiration and love for Kubrick and his art whilst author Jen Calleja looks into Shelley Duvall, folklore and fairytales.
And BFI Curator and Author Michael Blyth cross-examines the character of Wendy as she appears in both the film and the original Stephen King novel.
3 x 16 page reproduced texts including essays from H.P. Lovecraft, Sigmund Freud, and a short story which was a key influence for Kubrick when developing the film.
H.P. Lovecraft — Supernatural Horror in Literature An extract from the seminal yet largely overlooked essay that significantly influenced decisions not to explain the horrors which unfold at The Overlook.
Stephen Crane — The Blue Hotel First serialised in 1898, the American author’s story was highlighted by Kubrick in interviews as similar to events unfolding in The Shining and offers an insight into the director’s read of the film.
Sigmund Freud — The Uncanny Diane Johnson (co-writer of The Shining) cited Freud’s influential 1919 essay “The Uncanny” as a key text in Kubrick’s research. Freud explores many ideas that are woven through the film: retracing steps, recurring numbers and motifs, and the significance of the double. We will re-publish an extract from the essay.
Koontz, Dean R. Odd Thomas. Bantam Books, 2003. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy in a Fine- dust jacket with slight bumping at head and heel, slight haze rubbing to reflective surfaces, and one small spot of blind-side staining at heel. Another book Scott Cupp recommended. Bought for $7.20.
Lake, Jay. Last Plane to Heaven. Tor, 2014. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Short story collection. Foreword by Gene Wolfe. Bought for $7.19.
Lansdale, Joe R. Born For Trouble: The Further Adventures of Hap and Leonard. Tachyon Press, 2022. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Bought from the publisher at the usual discount. I have copies of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
Lansdale, Joe R. Dread Island. IDW Publishers, 2010. First edition hardback, #60 of 100 signed, numbered copies, a Fine- copy with slight wear at head and small abrasion to bottom board edge, in a Fine- dust jacket with slight wear, in a Fine slipcase. Supplements a signed, non-slipcased copy. Bought off eBay as part of an under $100 lot. Isajanko, A039aii.
Lansdale, Joe R. Gothic Wounds. Short Scary Tales, 2022. First edition hardback, #101 of 550 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket with tissue paper sealing sticker, shipping thanks card and SST business card laid in. The fourth in the Lansdale collected stories series. Bought from the publisher at the usual discount. I will have copies of this available in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog.
Lansdale, Joe R. The Magic Wagon. Borderlands Press, 1991. First limited edition hardback, #597 of 750 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and Fine slipcase. Supplements an inscribed copy of the true Double-D western hardback first, the UK hardback first, and the BookVoice signed/limited hardback edition. Bought off eBay for $43.
Lansdale, Joe R. Moon Lake. Short Scary Tales Publications (SST), 2022. First limited edition hardback, #101 of 500 signed, numbered copies (matching my other SST Lansdale limiteds), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket with business card, shipping card and tissue paper seal laid in.
Lansdale, Joe R. The Two-Bear Mambo. James Cahill Publishing, 1995. First edition hardback, letter T of 26 lettered copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket (as issued), in a Fine slipcase. Supplements a copy of the regular Cahill limited edition, which is distinctly less attractive than this. I saw a picture of someone else’s copy of this and went “That’s pretty! I need to pick that up!” Isajanko, A017aii. Bought off a fellow dealer for $200.
Lansdale, Joe R. Radiant Apples. Subterranean Press, 2021. First edition hardback, #347 of 1,500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Deadwood Dick novella. Bought from the publisher at the usual discount. I have copies of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
Lansdale, Joe R. Zeppelins West. Subterranean Press, 2001. First edition hardback, #222 of 350 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine slipcase. This edition includes extra sketches at the back. Bought from a UK book dealer for £54.
Lansdale, Joe R. (with Timothy Truman and Sam Glanzman). Jonah Hex: Two Gun Mojo. DC Vertigo, 1994. First edition graphic novel (preceded by the individual comic issues), trade paperback format, a Fine copy. According to comics decoding, the “00111” code on the bar code on the back cover indicates issue 1, cover variant 1 (don’t think there were any others in this case), and first printing (the last 1). Bought off eBay for $9.99.
Lansdale, Joe R., and Timothy Truman. On the Far Side With Dead Folks. Avatar, 2004. First edition graphic novel trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Adapted from Lansdale’s “On the Far Side Of The Cadillac Desert With Dead Folks.” Bought for $10 from a private collector.
Lansdale, Joe R., editor. Retro Pulp Tales. Subterranean Press, 2006. First edition hardback, Letter J of 26 lettered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine slipcase, signed by all the contributors (Bill Crider, Kim Newman, etc.) to this pulp fiction anthology as well as Lansdale. Bought from a private collector for $250 plus shipping.
(Lansdale, Joe R.) Bubba Ho-Tep: Hail To The King Edition. DVD, 2007. First edition thus, a Limited Edition with the case wrapped in a miniature Elvis Presley jacket, a Near Fine+ copy, still sealed, with some peel from the black plastic at the top of the case that can probably be fixed once I open it up to watch or get Joe to sign. DVD of the movie starring Bruce Campbell and Ossie Davis, based on the Lansdale story, with a script by Lansdale and director Don Coscarelli. Bought off eBay for $15.
Lengyel, Cornel. The Atom Clock. Fantasy Publishing Company, Inc. (FPCI), 1951. First edition chapbook original, one of 750 copies (simultaneous with a 250 copy hardback run), a Near Fine copy with sticker pull at top right of title page, over which is a small inked price of $125, in a Very Good+ dust jacket with a shallow chip and associated small crease at top right of the front cover, a closed 1/16th triangular tear at top rear, slight rubbing to front cover, and slight dust soiling to white rear cover. Anti-atomic play. Won awards, but I’m sure the sentiment of the thing would strike me as naive and dated. Chalker & Owings (1991), page 179, where they note that the hardback is “almost never seen.” Kemp, The Anthem Series, pages 89-90. Bought off eBay for a $30 offer.
Lovecraft, H. P. (Peter Straub, editor). Tales. Library of America, 2005. First edition hardback (and First printing stated), a Fine copy in a Fine subscribers copy slipcase, sans dust jacket, as issued. Has just about every one of Lovecraft’s greatest hits. Bought off eBay for a Make Offer price of $15.
Lovecraft, H. P., etc. (collected by August Derleth). Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos. Arkham House, 1969. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with just a trace of dust soiling to the rear panel. Beautiful copy. “A volume that has come to be regarded as the definitive anthology of tales utilizing the framework of the ‘Cthulhu Mythos’…” – Joshi, Sixty Years of Arkham House 102. Derleth, Thirty Years of Arkham House 97. Jaffery, Horrors and Unpleasantries 109. Nielsen, Arkham House Books 108.
(Lovecraft, H.P.) Derleth, August. Some Notes on H. P. Lovecraft. Arkham House, 1959. First edition chapbook original, a Very Good copy to which someone has attached a now-yellowing plastic protector, as well as attaching the bookplate of late antiquarian book dealer Franklin Victor Spellman to the inside front cover. Joshi, Sixty Years of Arkham House 55. Derleth, Thirty Years of Arkham House 55. Jaffery, Horrors and Unpleasantries 55. Nielsen, Arkham House Books 58. Joshi, Sixty Years of Arkham House (unnumbered item between 86 and 87 on page 84). Joshi, H.P. Lovecraft: A Comprehensive Bibliography, III.C.32. Tymn/Schlobin/Currey, A Research Guide to Science Fiction Studies, 284.
Machen, Arthur. The Great God Pan and The Inmost Light. John Lane, The Bodley head/Roberts Bros., 1895. Second edition, a Very Good copy with wear along spine edges, wear at head and heel, touches of wear at points, pencil scribbling on front free endpaper, a few stray words of pencil writing, former owner Bookplate of William H. Sahud and small bookstore label to inside front cover (plus foxing shadow of that label on FFE), front inner hinge just starting to crack, and age darkening to pages. This was a screw-up, as I missed the Second Edition statement, and didn’t know off the top of my head that the true first came out in 1894, not 1895. Denielson, Arthur Machen: A Bibliography page 21. Bleiler, Guide to Supernatural Fiction 1070. Bleiler, Checklist of Science-Fiction & Supernatural Fiction (1978), page 130. Bought for $240 at Recycled Books. (“This is one of those damn ‘learning opportunities,’ isn’t it?”)
“Chambers, Robert W.” (i.e., Arthur Machen)(Bentley Little, editor). A Little Brown Book of Unnatural Narratives. Borderlands Press, 2022. First edition hardback, #462 of 500 copies signed by Little, a Fine copy, sans dust, as issued. Three stories (“The Inmost Light,” “The Shining Pyramid” and “The Novel of the White Powder”) all reprinted from previous Machen collections. Hilariously, Borderlands accidentally kept the author embossing for Chambers from the above volume on the cover design when they printed this Machen collection, which is probably the funniest mistake since “Karl Edward Wanger” on the first state dust jacket of Gods in Darkness. With inserted slip apologizing for the typo laid in. I’ll have a few copies of this available in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog.
Malerman, Josh. A Little Red Book of Requests. Borderlands Press, 2019. First edition hardback, #290 of 500 signed copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. This came out the year after the Bird Box movie, so I imagine it disappeared very quickly.
Martin, George R. R., editor, Melinda Snodgrass. Wild Cards X: Double Solitaire. Bantam Spectra, 1992. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine- copy with one light spine crease, edgewear, wear at points, and slight foxing to inside covers.
Martin, George R. R., editor, Victor Milan. Wild Cards XII: Turn of the Cards. Bantam Spectra, 1993. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine copy with mild spine creasing, a trace of edgewear and slight foxing to inside covers.
(George R. R. Martin, editor) Miller, John J. . Wild Cards: Death Draws Five. iBooks, 2006. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight bumping at head and two small indents to bottom boards and slight bumping at top points in a Fine- dust jacket with slight bumping at head and top points. Solo Wild Card novel by Miller. At some con years back, Miller told me this was actually the rarest Wild Cards book. Precedes the Tor edition by 15 years. Bought from Half Price Books for $11.48.
Matheson, Richard. Purge Among Peanuts. Gauntlet Publications, 2001. First edition chapbook original, #20 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy. Bought from the same dealer as The Parrot Who Met Papa for $22.50.
Matheson, Richard, and Richard Christian Matheson. Pride. Gauntlet Press, 2002. First edition hardback, letter R of 52 lettered copies, a Fine- copy with a slight outlines of the enclosed CD of the authors reading the story on the rear cover, and a Fine traycase with a manuscript page inserted on the inside lid, sans dust jacket, as issued. A somewhat elaborate production. Features iterative drafts of this collaborative father-and-son short story. Bought from a fellow Biblio dealer for $65.
McCarthy, Cormac. Blood Meridian. Folio Society, 2022. First edition thus, an illustrated prestige reprint edition, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued, in Fine slipcase, with packed-by sip laid in. His celebrated ultra-violent western. While I was in the Dallas area, I saw two firsts of Blood Meridian at two different Half Price Books stores: one was $3,500, and the other was $4,000. So I may not be able to track down an affordable first of that any time soon. Bought from the Folio Society at cover price.
McCarthy, Cormac. Cities of the Plain. Knopf, 1998. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. The third book in the Border trilogy. Bought for $9.99
McCarthy, Cormac. The Passenger and Stella Maris. Knopf, 2022. Each is a stated first edition (though there was an earlier solo release of The Passenger with a different dust jacket; without a copy of that in hand I can’t tell if the two are otherwise identical, so either first edition thus or first edition in a second state dust jacket), each a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a fine decorated slipcase. Stella Maris is “a tightly controlled coda, told entirely in dialogue” to The Passenger. Bought from Amazon for $45.45 for the pair.
McCrumb, Sharyn. Bimbos of the Death Sun. TSR, 1987. First edition paperback original (PBO), a Near Fine- copy with a dime-sized sticker pull on the top left front cover, foxing to inner covers, and touches of edgewear. Her acclaimed, Edgar-Award winning murder mystery set at a science fiction convention. Replaces a less attractive copy. Bought for $2.24.
McCutheon, Marc. The Online Price Guide to Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror. McCutheon, 2000. First edition trade paperback original (essentially just side-stapled 8 1/2″ x 11″ sheets), a Fine- copy with slight bend at top front corners. An odd self-published volume claiming to list online prices realized for a wide variety of SF/F/H books, and while the authors hit most of the biggest names, the selection is otherwise somewhat random and haphazard. Has some tidbits for things that are potentially useful, but fails to provide a lot of title-specific first edition point information (like the various dj states of Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot). I can see this being slightly useful for a real newbie the year it was published, but is of extremely dubious utility now. An oddity I bought cheap just because I had never heard of it and there was almost no information about it on the internet.
McDevitt, Jack. Return To Glory. Subterranean Press, 2022. First edition hardback, #448 of 1,000 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, with bookmark and Packed By slip laid in. This will be in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog.
Merritt, A. Dwellers in the Mirage. Liverlight, 1932. First edition hardback (no statement of printing on copyright page, as per Currey), a Near Fine+ copy with slight foxing to inside covers from dust jacket flaps and just a tiny bit of bend at head and heel, with gilt embossing on spine entirely intact, in a Very Good+ dust jacket with shallow chipping at head, heel and points and modest dust staining to white dust jacket and a few touches of wear, otherwise intact and unclipped. A pretty nice copy of a classic inter-war fantasy novel in dust jacket. Cawthorn & Moorcock, Fantasy: The Hundred Best Books 44. Currey, page 365. Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy, page 155. Teitler, By the World Forgot, 855. Barron, Fantasy Literature, *3-242. Bought for £240.
(Moorcock, Michael) Kirkland, James. Urish’s Hoard. Dreaming City Books, 2021. First edition? (no printing indicated, and it may well be a print-on-demand book) trade paperback original, a Fine copy. There was a Kickstarter for this back in early 2021, but after it was funded this was almost immediately available on Amazon, which is where I bought this. Though the first edition information can be had in more comprehensive forms elsewhere, there is a wealth of information on Elric comic book adaptations, art portfolios, music, games and RPG supplements, and even miniatures! There’s also a discussion of the foul-up behind the Melniboné Mythos section in the AD&D Deities and Demigods. I’d always thought TSR had done it without permission, but Mike had given his permission, not realizing that his agent had already sold RPG rights to Chaosium. Oops…
Morrow, James. Reality By Other Means: The Best Short Fiction of James Morrow. Wesleyan University Press, 2015. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. I’ll have one of these available in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog.
Nolan, William F. A Little Gray Book of Shadows. Borderlands Press, 2018. First edition hardback, #290 of 500 signed copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued.
Oldham, Craig, editor. They Live: A Visual and Cultural Awakening. Rough Trade Books, 2018. First edition (stated) trade paperback original, a Fine copy. A critical companion to the 1988 John Carpenter film. Bought as an add-in with the Shining box above.
O’Leary, Patrick. 51. Tachyon Press, 2022. First edition trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Roswell/Area 51 novel. Bought from the publisher at the usual discount. I have copies of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
Pohl, Frederik. Midas World. St. Martin’s, 1983. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with the barest bit of bumping at head and heel, and a trace of fixing to inside covers, in a Very Good+ dust jacket with a 3/16th” chip at head, a 1″ closed triangular tear with associated nailhead-sized chip to upper front near spine (and small piece of blindside tape reinforcement), and a few pinpricks of abrasion along the spine, signed by Pohl. Over-graded by the seller as Fine/Fine, but I only paid $12 for it, and a copy with a better jacket to marry should be cheap.
Pohl, Frederik, and C. M. Kornbluth. The Space Merchants. Ballantine Books, 1953. First edition paperback original (no statement of printing, and simultaneous with the hardback edition, as per Currey), a Fine- copy with a touch of edgewear at points, otherwise new and unread. Pringle, SF 100 12. Currey, pages 289 and 405. Barron, Anatomy of Wonder 4 *3-147. Magill, Survey of Science Fiction volume 5, pages 2127-2131. Supplements a hardback first inscribed to my by Pohl. Bought for $3 from Half Price Books.
Pohl, Frederik, and Jack Williamson. Starchild. Ballantine Books, 1965. First edition paperback original (“”First printing: November 1965″ and 50¢ price, as per Currey), a Fine- copy with just a trace of edgewear at head and heel and a tiny 3/16” non-breaking indention to front cover, otherwise tight, square and unread. Second book in the Starchild trilogy. Currey, pages 405 and 544. Supplements the SFBC Omnibus The Starchild Trilogy inscribed to me by Pohl and Williamson. Bought for $3 from Half Price Books.
Powers, Tim. Always Going On. Subterranean Press, 2020. First edition hardback, #183 of 250 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued, with Subterranean “packed by” slip laid in. Only available as a set with Subterranean: Tales of Dark Fantasy 3 (see below).
Powers, Tim. The Skies Discrowned. Charnel House, 2022. First edition hardback, #54 of 200 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. “Handbound in Indigo Night Cave Paper (Belgium Flax dyed with Indigo & Walnut). This Cave Paper was made by hand for this edition. Each one of a kind sheet sheet guaranties that each book is unique. Exquisitely printed on 80lb Mohawk Superfine.” Part of a uniform prestige edition that Charnel House is doing of all Powers’ books. I will have one copy of this available in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog.
Powers, Tim. Stolen Skies. Charnel House, 2022. First limited edition hardback, #54 of 150 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. The third in the trilogy started with Alternate Routes and Forced Perspectives. The usual beautiful Charnel House edition.
Riddell, Charlotte (AKA Mrs J. H. Riddell) (Meghan Arcuri, editor). A Little Purple Book of Sharp Wit. Borderlands Press, 2022. First edition hardback, #462 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued. The latest in their reprints of 19th century authors series. Riddell was a prolific writer in her day, only a portion of which were ghost stories, four of which are collected here. It will be interesting to see if this volume sells for them, given that she’s no Robert W. Chambers when it comes to collectability.
Roy, Arundhati. The God of Small Things. Flamingo, 1997. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Booker Prize winner. Bought for $7.99.
Russell, Eric Frank. Somewhere A Voice. Dennis Dobson, 1965. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with a small Foyle’s stickler on inside front cover under flap in a Near Fine- dust jacket with a 3/4″ split to bottom of front fold (and faint associated crease to front), a nail-head sized semi-closed circular chip to rear spine join near head, slight age darkening to edges of white portion of jacket, a faint, intermittant line of rubbing near right front cover edge, and slight foxing to blind side of dust jacket spine, otherwise a fairly bright example of the dust jacket. Short story collection. Currey, page 424. Locke, Spectrum of Fantasy III, page 70. Bought from a notable UK book dealer for £32.
Scarborough, Dorothy (as Anonymous). The Wind. Harper & Brothers, 1925. First edition hardback, a Good+ copy with spine cracked, front hinge cracked, spots and abrasions to cover, slight fraying to head and heel, with small former owner plate for Violet Hayden Dowell (a Dallas author and art collector) on inside front cover, and a different ownership name written on FFE, along with “[Scarborough, Dorothy]. Tale of a women in west Texas driven insane by the incessant blowing of the wind. The novel was the basis of the 1928 film starring Lilian Gish. Bought for $36.
Schafer, William, editor. Subterranean: Tales of Dark Fantasy 3. Subterranean Press, 2020. First edition hardback, #183 of 250 numbered copies signed by all the contributors, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, with Subterranean “packed by” slip laid in. Anthology with stories by Robert R. McCammon, Richard Kadrey, etc. Sold as a set with Tim Powers’ Always Going On (see above), bought as a set from Subterranean for $75, 50% off the original cover price. Now sold out from the publisher.
Sheckley, Robert. Masters of Science Fiction: Robert Sheckley. Centipede Press, 2022. First edition hardback, #350 of 500 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, still in publisher’s shrinkwrap. “Signed by Jim & Ruth Keegan, with facsimile signatures by Robert Sheckley, Christopher Priest, and John Pelan.” The signed edition is sold out from the publisher, but I’ll have a few copies in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog.
Shepard, Lucius (edited by Bill Sheehan). The Best of Lucius Shepard Volume 2. Subterranean Press, 2021. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Huge, 800+ page collection.
Shepard, Lucius (edited by Bill Sheehan). The Best of Lucius Shepard Volume 2. Subterranean Press, 2021 (seen 2022). First edition hardback, #160 of 200 numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread.
Shepard, Lucius. Youthful Folly and Other Lost Stories. Subterranean Press, 2021 (seen 2022). First edition hardback, #160 of 200 numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Companion volume “which contains an additional 400 pages of previously uncollected fiction,” only available with the limited edition, much like Skull City, the companion volume to the limited edition of the first The Best of Lucius Shepard volume. Alas, unlike that set, there’s no slipcase for the two books.
Sholly, Pete Von. The PS Book of Fantastic Fictioneers: A History of the Incredible (Volume One Ackerman to Jackson and Volume Two: James To Wood.). PS Publishing, 2019. First edition hardbacks, Fine copies in Fine (One) and Near Fine (Volume Two, due to a 1″ slit along the spine edge) dust jackets. Profusely illustrated non-fiction book set covering creators of the fantastic, from Edgar Allen Poe to Ray Bradbury to Jim Henson to Joel Hodgson. Bought for £20 for the set.
Silverberg, Robert. The Book of Skulls. Scribner’s, 1972. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Silverberg. Hugo and Nebula finalist. Replaces a slightly less Fine signed copy. Bought for $45.
Silverberg, Robert. Among Strangers. Subterranean Press, 2022. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, new and unread. Massive, 760 page omnibus of three novels (Those Who Watch, The Man in the Maze, and Tom O’Bedlam), plus novelette “The Way to Spook City,” each dealing with aliens. I already have copies of this available through Lame Excuse Books.
Smith, Clark Ashton. The Abominations of Yondo. Arkham House, 1960. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Really an excellent copy. Joshi, Schultz & Connors, Clark Ashton Smith: A Comprehensive Bibliography, I.15.a. Joshi, Sixty Years of Arkham House 57. Derleth, Thirty Years of Arkham House 57. Jaffery, Horrors and Unpleasantries 57. Nielsen, Arkham House Books: A Collector’s Guide, 60. Currey, page 453. Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy, page 200. Bleiler, The Guide to Supernatural Fiction 1487. Chalker/Owings, page 29. Bought as part of the Heritage lot.
Smith, Clark Ashton. The Dark Chateau. Arkham House, 1951. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with slight crimping and a touch of wear at head, small embossed name at bottom of half-title page, moderate foxing to rear gutters, slight foxing to front gutters, and a thumbnail edge-like indention to the top of the first few pages, in a Near Fine- dust jacket with slight loss at points and age-darkening to white lettering on spine. Only 563 copies printed, one of the smaller Arkham House runs. Joshi, Schultz & Connors, Clark Ashton Smith: A Comprehensive Bibliography, I.13.a. Sidney-Fryer, Emperor of Dreams, page 27. Joshi, Sixty Years of Arkham House, 44. Derleth, Thirty Years of Arkham House, 44. Jaffrey, Horrors and Unpleasantries, 42. Nielsen, Arkham House Books, 46 (also ranked as the eighth scarcest Arkham House volume, and the ninth priciest). Bought from PBA Auctions for $406.25 plus shipping.
Smith, Clark Ashton. Genius Loci and other tales. Arkham House, 1948. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with small owners name in ink on front free endpaper, moderate rubbing to letters on spine, an slight bumping at head and heel, in a Very Good+ dust jacket with 2″ of moderate dampstaining along rear join at heel, a much fainter example of same along head join, age darkening to spine, and general wear. The third Arkham House collection of Smith stories. Joshi, Schultz & Connors, Clark Ashton Smith: A Comprehensive Bibliography, I.a.11. Joshi, Sixty Years of Arkham House 35. Derleth, Thirty Years of Arkham House 35. Jaffery, Horrors and Unpleasantries 35. Nielsen, Arkham House Books: A Collector’s Guide, 36. Currey, page 453. Locke, A Spectrum of Fantasy, page 200. Bleiler, The Guide to Supernatural Fiction 1486. Chalker/Owings, page 26. Kemp, The Anthem Series 35 (page 323). Bought as part of the Heritage lot.
Smith, Clark Ashton. Spells and Philtres. Arkham House, 1958. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight bump to top front corner and the barest trace of foxing to inside covers, in a Fine- dust jacket with slight age darkening to white portions of jacket, a few traces of dust soiling, and a trace of rubbing along front spine join near heel and at points. A really attractive copy of Smith’s first poetry collection from Arkham House. Joshi, Schultz & Connors, Clark Ashton Smith: A Comprehensive Bibliography, Joshi, Sixty Years of Arkham House 51. Derleth, Thirty Years of Arkham House 51. Jaffery, Horrors and Unpleasantries 51. Nielsen, Arkham House Books: A Collector’s Guide, 54. Chalker/Owings, page 28. Bought from a notable UK dealer for £400.
Smith, Clark Ashton. The Star-Treader and other poems. A.M. Robinson/Philopolis Press, 1912. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with start of a crease to top of spine and slight bumping at heel, in a Fine- dust jacket with one short stray pencil mark on front cover near spine, one small, faint teardrop stain affecting “r” in Star and hyphen, signed “Clark Ashton Smith/Auburn, Cal./Nov. 25th, 1912, with printed portrait of Smith laid in. (There is also a small stray pen-mark matching Clark’s fountain pen signature color to bottom inside front cover, which I don’t regard as a flaw.) By far the best of the three copies of this book I’ve handled, and replaces a less attractive copy. Smith’s first published book. Joshi, Schultz & Connors, Clark Ashton Smith: A Comprehensive Bibliography I.1.a. Bought as part of the Heritage lot.
Smith, Cordwainer. Space Lords. Pyramid, 1965. First edition paperback original, a Fine copy save a trace of foxing to inside covers. Currey, page 315. Bought for $4.00.
Smith, Cordwainer. The Underpeople. Pyramid, 1968. First edition paperback original, a Near Fine copy with one faint spine crease, bookstore stamp to blurb page, and edgewear. Part two of Nostrilia. Currey, page 315. Pringle, SF 100 46 (for Nostrilia). Bought for $1.99 from Half Price Books.
Smith, E. E. “Doc”. The Galaxy Primes. Ace Books, 1965. First edition paperback original (no statement of printing and 40¢ price, as per Currey), a Fine copy save for a trace of foxing to inside covers, otherwise tight, square and unread. Lucchetti, Doc: First Galactic Roamer, pages 50-51 (“Never issued in hardback.”) Currey, page 456. Bought for $3 from Half Price Books.
Smith, Michael Marshall. The Servants. Earthling Publications, 2007. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine- dust jacket with a small wrinkle to the bottom of the front flap. Precedes the UK and Eos editions. Bought from Half Price Books for $7.99.
Stephenson, Neal. The System of the World. William Morrow, 2004. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with trace of crimping at head, a couple of small spots of dust staining to boards and a small bump along bottom front board, in a Fine- dust jacket with slight crimping at head and touch of crimping at points, inscribed by Stephenson: “To Harris,/Neal Stephenson.” Bought for $7.19.
Strand, Jeff. Clowns vs. Spiders. No Publisher, 2019 (2022). Print on demand trade paperback original, a Fine copy. I picked it up because of the ridiculous title, and because I have a weakness for giant spider novels. Bought for $9.99 at Half Price Books.
Stross, Charles. Empire Games. Tor, 2016. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with bumping at head and heel in a Fine- dust jacket with bumping at head and heel. Merchant Princes novel. Bought from Half Price Books for $4.99.
Sturgeon, Theodore. Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. Pyramid, 1961. First edition paperback original (“First printing, June 1961” on copyright page, as per Currey), a Near Fine copy with slight wear at points, slight edgewear, and usual slight foxing to inside covers and slight age darkening to pages, otherwise a nice, square copy, signed by Sturgeon. Novelization of the Irwin Allen film. Diskin, Theodore Sturgeon: a primary and secondary bibliography, A148. Currey, page 473. Replaces an unsigned copy. Bought off eBay for $25.
Swanwick, Michael. The Proceedings of the American Martini Institute: A Report of the American Martini Laboratory: The Once And Future Rye: The Whisky that Was America. Dragonstairs Press, 2022. First edition chapbook original, #20 of 80 signed copies, a Fine copy. A history of rye whisky in America, in the same vein as Swanwick’s The Evolution of the Martini. Ten more of these and he’ll have enough for a book! Bought from the publisher at the usual discount.
Swanwick, Michael. Fantasia Romantica. Dragonstairs Press, 2022. First edition chapbook original, #9 of 48 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy. “Fantasia Romantica is Michael Swanwick’s witty take on the romantic lives of six fictional heroines. Was Rosie waiting when Sam Gamgee came home? And what was going on with Susan Pevensie?” Out of print almost instantly upon publication.
Swanwick, Michael. Solstice Veritas or The Christmas Cat and Other Memories. Dragonstairs Press, 2021. First edition chapbook original, #101 of 120 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy. Printed last year, but only offered for sale this year. “A collection of eight, well, true stories, memories and musings on holidays past.” Bought from the publisher at the usual discount. I will have a few copies of this available in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog, currently in progress.
Tarantino, Quentin. Cinema Speculation. HarperCollins, 2022. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Non-fiction book about the films Tarantino saw as a child in the 1970s, from Dirty Harry to Taxi Driver. Seems pretty interesting.
Tiptree, Jr. James. Up the Walls of the World. Berkley Putnam, 1978. First edition hardback (no statement of printing on copyright page, as per ISFDB), a Fine- copy with slight bending at head and a small ding to top front board, in a near Fine- dust jacket with a long crease along bottom front cover and associated 1/4″ closed tear. Tiptree’s only novel. Bought as part of a four book lot for $15.
Tartt, Donna. The Goldfinch. Little, brown and Company, 2013. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Near Fine- dust jacket with a few small abrasions to front cover (unfortunately, the uncoated dust jacket seems designed to degrade) and slight bumping at heel. Pulitzer Prize winner for fiction. Bought for $14.99.
Tolkien, J.R.R. The Lord of the Rings Illustrated Deluxe Edition. William Morrow, 2021 (stated; actually published October 2022). First edition hardback thus, a Fine copy in a Fine slipcase (with a cutout for the eye of Sauron on the book itself), sans dust jacket, as issued, with oversized folding maps of Middle Earth and Gondor/Mordor, cardstock reprint of The King’s Letter (from Aragon to Samwise) in silver tengwar on one side with a en English translation on the other, “Leaves from the Book of Mazarbul” in a waxpaper envelope, and the rear shrinkwraped book description laid in. A sturdy, gilt-edged omnibus edition containing all three volumes, with Tolkien’s own artwork and Middle Earth language calligraphy as full page color plates.
Even the box it ships to you is way too cool to throw away:
And the map pattern continues all the way around the box.
It’s a very attractive production, and if you’re interested in it, Amazon has now lowered the price to $140.01.
Treece, Henry. The Golden Strangers. The Bodley Head, 1956. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with neat previous owner’s name on inside front cover partially obscured by dj flap, one small bump to top front board edge, slight bend at head and heel and slight blunting of points, in a Near Fine dust jacket with slight dust staining to white rear cover, and slight wear at head, heel and points, with review slip laid in. A fantasy novel of the Celtic invasion of neolithic Britain. Cawthorn and Moorcock, Fantasy: The 100 Best Books 77. Bought from $42.12 plus shipping from a UK Biblio dealer.
Twain, Mark. Autobiography of Mark Twain Volume 2. University of California Press, 2013. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine, Mylar-covered dust jacket. The second massive volume in Twain’s anecdotal autobiography, the one he insisted not be published until 100 years after his death. Supplements a copy of Volume 1. Bought for $8.99.
Vance, Jack (Terry Dowling and Jonathan Strahan, editors). The Jack Vance Treasury. Subterranean Press, 2006. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine, Mylar-protected dust jacket, new and unread. When this was published, I managed to pick up the signed, limited edition (probably on sale), but not the regular trade edition. Out of print for over a decade, but bought from Camelot Books at the original cover price of $38.
Vance, Jack. The Kragen. Subterranean Press, 2007. First edition hardback, Letter Z of 26 lettered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine traycase. Supplements a copy of the signed, numbered edition. Bought off eBay for $295.95.
Vance, Jack. The Last Castle. Underwood/Miller, 1980. First hardback edition, number 121 of 200 numbered copies signed by Vance and illustrator Alicia Austin, a Fine copy in a Near Fine+ just jacket with one tiny 1/32″ chip to top of inner rear flap and a trace of wear at points, with additional signature card by Austin laid in. Oversized, lavishly illustrated version of this fine Vance novella. Hewett, A31d. Cunningham, 45bBought off eBay for $51.
Vance, Jack. Showboat World. Pyramid, 1975. First edition paperback original (“March 1975” on copyright page and $1.25 cover price, as per Currey), a Near Fine+ copy with one slight spine wrinkle near heel, a few very small, very faint phantom crease on rear cover, and two very faint parallel printing lines across teaser page (looks like an artifact of the printing process). I read this last year and it’s still great fun. Hewett A47a. Cunningham 71a. Currey, page 500. Bought for $2.99 from Half Price Books.
Vance, Jack. The Star King. Berkley Medallion, 1964. First edition paperback original, a near Fine copy with wrinkle along spine join, slight bumping at head, heel and bottom front corner, slight small creases to outer top corners, trace of age darkening and soiling to white cover, and slight foxing to inside covers, signed by Vance, with color laser-printed picture of Vance signing laid in. The first Demon Princes novel, shortened to Star King for many subsequent editions. Hewett, A15a. Cunningham, 76a. Bought off eBay for $15.50.
Vance, Jack. When The Five Moons Rise. Underwood Miller, 1992. First edition hardback, #245 of 300 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine slipcase. Short story collection. Hewett A86. Cunningham, 83a. Showed up on eBay with a Buy It Now price of $50, easily $100 below what they usually go for, so naturally I jumped on it.
van Vogt, A. E. The Weapon Makers. Hadley Publishers, 1947. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy with wear at head and heel, trace of rubbing to spine, and some dime-sized spots of foxing to inside covers, in a Very Good dust jacket with long wrinkles across back cover, shallow loss at points, spine quite faded, and a few additional touches of wear, inscribed by the author: “To/Fred C. Brown/best wishes,good luck/and cheerio. A. E. van Vogt.” Hadley was one of the earliest SF specialty publishers, and I now have three of their four books (including Campbell’s The Mightiest Machine and L. Ron Hubbard’s Final Blackout, but lacking E.E. “Doc” Smith’s The Skylark of Space, as it was a reprint of the Buffalo Book Company true first edition (which I have)). Currey, page 496. 333, page 65. Locke, Spectrum of Fantasy, page 217. Chalker Owings, page 231. Kemp, The Anthem Series, page 345-346. Bought for £112.50.
Waggoner, Tim. A Little Aqua Book of Marine Tales. Borderlands Press, 2018. First edition hardback, #290 of 500 signed copies, a Fine copy, sans dust jacket, as issued.
Waldrop, Howard. Strange Monsters of the Recent Past. Ace, 1991. First edition paperback original thus, adding A Dozen Tough Jobs to the contents of All About Strange Monsters of the Recent Past, a Fine copy, now inscribed to me by Waldrop. I’ve had a lot of copies of this over the years, but since I already had All About Strange Monsters of the Recent Past and A Dozen Tough Jobs, I never added a copy to my own library until now. Bought for $3 from Half Price Books.
Watts, Peter. Blindsight. Centipede Press, 2020. First limited edition hardback, #177 of 300 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Watts Hugo-Award nominated novel about a mission sent to examine an alien probe in the Kupier Belt. Supplements a copy of the Tor true first edition.
Watts, Peter. Echopraxia. Centipede Press, 2020. First limited edition hardback, #177 of 300 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Sequel to Blindsight that I haven’t read yet. Sets of these went out of print shortly after their announcement, and seems to be pretty close to Unobtanium on the secondary market. Bought for $400 with Blindsight from a private collector.
Weinstein, Sol. Loxfinger: A Thrilling Adventure of Hebrew Secret Agent Oy-Oy-7. Pocket books, 1965. First edition trade paperback original, a Very Good copy with two quarter-sized sticker pulls on front cover, the top one affecting the letters “ER” at the end of the title. The first in a series of Jewish James Bond parodies, published during a boom for Bond parodies. Weinstein was evidently a gag writer for several well-known comedians in the 1960s. This looks so silly that ever since I saw this title in a book catalog some quarter century ago, I’ve wanted to own a copy, and $5 seems like a fair price to pay. But I should probably read Goldfinger first to really appreciate it…
Wellman, Manly Wade. The Haunts of Drowning Creek. Holiday House, 1951. First edition hardback, a Good only copy with cracked front and rear inner hinges, a 1/4″ triangular board loss at heel, pocket removal, former owner’s name on inside front cover, bumped corners, and general spotting and wear. Reading copy only, but this is possibly the hardest Wellman Young Adult novel to find. Bought off eBay for $15 as part of a two book Wellman lot.
Wellman, Manly Wade. Jamestown Adventure. Ives Washburn, 1967. First edition hardback, an Ex-Library copy with usual stamps, checkout card, discard stamp, dust jacket taped to boards, sticker to spine and bottom price clipped (top price intact). (There was also an Uncle Sam sticker (presumably to indicate historical fiction) on the old-style Plasti-Kleer protector that has left a ghost image on the dust jacket through the protector.) Young adult historical novel. Currey, page 513. Bought from an online dealer for $2.83.
Wellman, Manly Wade. The Specter of Bear Paw Gap. Ives Washburn, 1966. First edition hardback, a Near Fine copy in decorated boards with parallel bumps to top and non-authorial inscription to FFE, in a Near Fine- dust jacket with clipped top price (bottom price intact), several small closed tears at top and bottom (including two with associated triangular creases), slight rubbing along folds, and gold “Guaranteed Binding” on bottom front cover extending across spine (possibly as issued). Young adult historical novel, the second in the Bear Paw Gap between The Mystery of Bear Paw Gap and Battle at Bear Paw Gap, both of which I already owned. Currey, page 514.
Wells, H. G. The Island of Dr. Moreau. Suntup Editions, 2021. First edition hardback thus, one of 1,000 copies signed by artists Benz & Chang, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine slipcase, with bookmark for the title laid in. (For a list of the additional material included, see here.) Originally offered at $130 and sold out. Bought off eBay for $90.
Wells, Stuart W., III. The Science Fiction Heroic Fantasy Author index. Purple Unicorn books, 1978. First edition trade paperback original (simultaneous with a hardback edition), a Very Good+ copy with 1/2″ tear at bottom of front spine-join, with light soiling along spine. A reference listing of genre books that was (like Marshall B. Tymn’s American Fantasy and Science Fiction: Toward a Bibliography of Works Published in the United States, 1949—1973) born obsolete, already superseded by far more comprehensive reference works published the same year.
Wilson, F. Paul. Sims Book 5: Thy Brother’s Keeper. Cemetery Dance, 2010. First edition hardback, letter R of 26 lettered copies, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket and a Fine traycase. Bought from a notable UK dealer for £52.60.
Williamson, Jack. The Silicon Dagger. Tor, 1999. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, inscribed by Williamson: “For/Vicky/Foreman/Jack Williamson/3-2-2000.” Jack’s second-to-last novel. Hauptmann, The Work of Jack Williamson, A78 (still forthcoming at the time). Won off eBay for $5.
(Gene Wolfe) Andre-Driussi, Michael. A Chapter Guide for the Long Sun & the Short Sun. Sirius Fiction, 2022. First edition POD hardcover, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Just what it says, a chapter-by-chapter summary of The Book of the Long Sun and The Book of the Long Sun and The Book of the Short Sun, including lists of characters and unusual terms that show up in each chapter.
(Gene Wolfe) Andre-Driussi, Michael. Gene Wolfe’s The Book of the New Sun: A Chapter Guide. Sirius Fiction, 2019 (2022). First edition POD hardcover, a Fine copy in decorated boards, sans dust jacket, as issued. Same as the above, but for The Book of the New Sun.
(Gene Wolfe) Andre-Driussi, Michael. Gene Wolfe: 14 Articles. Sirius Fiction, 2016 (2022). First edition POD trade paperback original, a Fine copy. Various essays on Wolfe’s work.
Wright, Lyle H. American Fiction 1774 – 1850: A Contribution Toward a Bibliography. The Huntington Library, 1969. Second Revised Edition, a Fine- copy with slight bend at head and heel in a Near Fine dust jacket with two 1/4″ closed tears to front, a slight age darkening to spine, and a trace of dust soiling to rear. Wright compiled two more volumes that go up through 1900, which I intend to pick up as targets of opportunity. Bought online for $5; a good deal for the price, but I was miffed that the eBay seller mailed it without any padding whatsoever, just in wrapping paper. This is not acceptable.
Pellegrino, Charles, and George Zebrowski. The Killing Star. AvoNova, 1995. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Zebrowksi. Supplements a paperback edition inscribed to me by Zebrowski I received for Nebula consideration. Bought for $9.
Tags:Avram Davidson, Books, Clark Ashton Smith, Fantasy, H. P. Lovecraft, Horror, Joe Hill, Joe R. Lansdale, Manly Wade Wellman, Michael Chabon, Michael Swanwick, Neil Gaiman, Philip Jose Farmer, Philip K. Dick, Ray Bradbury, Robert A. Heinlein, Robert E. Howard, Robert Silverberg, Science Fiction, Stephen King, Tim Powers
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Thursday, October 20th, 2022
Two signed farmer firsts, bought from different sources.
Farmer, Philip Jose. Flesh. Doubleday, 1968. First hardback edition and first revised edition, a Fine- copy with slight bumping at heel in a Near Fine dust jacket with slight age-toning to white dust jacket, a few tiny closed tears at top edge, and some small black marks at head that may have one been a price written there, signed by Farmer. Currey, page 184. Bought from the same notable UK bookseller as Dwellers in the Mirage for £52.
Farmer, Philip Jose. Dark is the Sun. Del Rey, 1979. First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket, signed by Farmer. Bought off eBay for $35.
Tags:Books, Fantasy, Philip Jose Farmer, Science Fiction
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