Posts Tagged ‘Science Fiction’
Wednesday, September 30th, 2026
Another Gnome Press first from that Mysterious Benefactor:
Blish, James. The Seedling Stars. Gnome Press, 1957. First edition hardback (“First Edition” on copyright page, as per Currey), in the Curry (D) binding (gray cloth, lettered in red), a Fine- copy with slight bend at head and heel and the usual age-darkening of pages for a Gnome of this period, in a Fine-, Mylar-protected dust jacket with a trace of wear at head and heel, a tiny bit of dust soiling on top of front panel near spine, and barely perceptible darkening to front flap fold, slightly exaggerated in scan. Story of the Adapted Man, preceding Pohl’s Man Plus by a quarter-century, and including Blish’s classic “Surface Tension.” Currey, page 42. Chalker/Owings, page 204. Kemp, The Anthem Series page 260. Pringle, Ultimate Guide to Science Fiction, page 274 (“***”).
Tags:Books, Gnome Press, James Blish, Science Fiction, small press publishers
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Tuesday, September 29th, 2026
Another Gnome Press first from that Mysterious Benefactor:
Cole, E. B. The Philosophical Corps. Gnome Press, 1962. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight bumping at head and heel (though far less age darkening to pages that the average later Gnome), in a Fine- dust jacket with a tiny line of smudge on front panel and a trace of bumping to head and heel. The last Gnome Press book. Chalker/Owings, page 206 (“Really good series of connected stories from ASF. Deserved better, wider release”). Kemp, The Anthem Series, pages 282-283 (“A really good series of connected stories, science fiction in the good, old tradition).
Tags:Books, Gnome Press, Science Fiction, small press publishers
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Friday, September 25th, 2026
Another Gnome Press first from that Mysterious Benefactor:
Barnes, Arthur K. Interplanetary Hunter. Gnome Press, 1956. First edition (stated) hardback, a Fine- copy with slight crimping at head and trace of foxing to gutters (plus the characteristic age darkening of the pages common to Gnomes of this vintage), in a Very Good-, Mylar-protected dust jacket with shallow chipping at head, plus small 1/4″ chips at top and bottom of rear panel, smaller chip at heel front join, small chipping at points, significant age-darkening to spine, and general dust soiling to white dust jacket. Chalker/Owings, page 203. Kemp, The Anthem Series, page 250 (“This is a book of thrilling adventure replete with visits to strange worlds and wonderful fascinating lifeforms.”)
Tags:Arthur K. Barnes, Books, Gnome Press, Science Fiction, small press publishers
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Wednesday, September 23rd, 2026
Here’s a fairly neat item that came from that Mysterious Benefactor.
Campbell, John W. A Facsimile of the July 1939 Issue of Astounding Science Fiction. Southern Illinois University Press, 1981. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight bump at head, slight bend at heel and a trace of wear to bottom boards, in a Fine dust jacket. Just what it says, a hardback facsimile reprint of the July 1939 issue of Astounding Science Fiction, the one containing A. E. van Vogt’s classic first story “Black Destroyer,” as well as Isaac Asimov’s first sale to Astounding, “Trends.” This is the issue most historians mark as the beginning of the Golden Age of Science Fiction. This has an introduction by Stanley Schmidt, story notes by van Vogt and Asimov, and a reminiscence of Campbell by Ross Rocklynne.
Tags:A. E. van Vogt, Astounding, Books, Golden Age of Science Fiction, Isaac Asimov, John W. Campbell, Science Fiction
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Monday, September 21st, 2026
Another day, another Mysterious Benefactor Fantasy Press first.
Eshbach, Lloyd Arthur. Tyrant of Time. Fantasy Press, 1955. First edition hardback (in first state cloth binding), a Fine- copy with tiny bump to top front tip and just a trace of foxing to gutters, in a Fine-, Mylar protected dust jacket with just a sliver of a sticker ghost to the right of flap price where a price sticker was applied that extended just beyond the edge of the Mylar, otherwise mint. Short story collection from the owner and operator of Fantasy Press. Chalker/Owings, page 162. Kemp, The Anthem Series, page 48.
Tags:Books, Fantasy Press, Lloyd Arthur Eshbach, Science Fiction, small press publishers
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Thursday, September 17th, 2026
Another book from that Mysterious Benefactor:
Biggle, Lloyd Jr. A Galaxy of Strangers. Doubleday, 1976. First edition hardback, a Fine- copy with slight bumping at head, heel and points, in a Fine- dust jacket with pinpricks of wear at head and heel. Short story collection. I read a fair number of Biggle’s novels in my youth, but not any short stories.
Tags:Books, Lloyd Biggle Jr., Science Fiction
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Wednesday, September 16th, 2026
Another book from that Mysterious Benefactor:
Jones, Raymond F. The Toymaker. Fantasy Publishing Company Inc. (FPCI), 1951. First edition hardback, in the Currey A cloth binding (with “F.P.C.I.” binding at heel rather than Gnome Press), a Fine- copy with slight bend at head and heel, and very slight bumping of points, in a Near Fine- with trace of loss at points, slight edgewear at head and heel and slight dust soiling to white rear cover. Short story collection. Currey, page 273. Chalker/Owings, page 172 (though they mistitle it as The Toymaker and Others, a subtitle that doesn’t seem to appear anywhere on the book itself) (“All top-notch tales from the golden age of Astounding by a much under-appreciated writer, one of John W. Campbell’s favorites. There’s not a cropper in the book; highly recommended.”). Kemp, The Anthem Series, page 86.
Tags:Books, FPCI, Mysterious Benefactor, Raymond F. Jones, Science Fiction, small press publishers
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Tuesday, September 15th, 2026
Another book from that Mysterious Benefactor:
Smith, Edward E., Ph.D. Galactic Patrol. Fantasy Press, 1950. First edition hardback in a first state blue cloth dust jacket, a Near Fine copy with slight wear to gold lettering on spine, slight send at head and heel, and trace of foxing to inside covers and gutters, in a Near Fine, Mylar-protected dust jacket with thin lines of wear at head and heel and trace of dust soiling to white rear cover. Currey, page 456. Chalker/Owings, page 160. Kemp, The Anthem Series, page 34.
Tags:Books, E. E. "Doc" Smith, Fantasy Press, Mysterious Benefactor, Science Fiction, small press publishers
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Monday, September 14th, 2026
Another Mysterious Benefactor book.
Stableford, Brian. The Man in the Cage. John Day, 1975. First edition hardback (“10 9 8 7 6 6 5 4 3 2 1” on copyright page, as per Currey). First edition hardback, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Replaces an Ex-Library copy. Currey, page 465.
Indeed, one of the reason I cataloged this one is I’m running out of room and haven’t gotten my new bookcase yet, and this is just a 1-for-1 replacement…
Tags:Books, Brian Stableford, Mysterious Benefactor, Science Fiction
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Friday, September 11th, 2026
Another Dragonstairs chapbook:
Swanwick, Michael. Red Dog. Dragonstairs Press, 2026. First edition chapbook original, #66 of 80 signed, numbered copies, a Fine copy. “Red Dog is Michael Swanwick’s collection of essays, some fictional, about life in western Pennsylvania.” Bought from the publisher at the usual discount.
Copies of this will be available in the next Lame Excuse Books catalog, which, owing to the huge number of books I’m currently working through, should be out later this month.
Tags:chapbooks, Dragonstairs Press, Michael Swanwick, Pennsylvania, Science Fiction, small press publishers
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