J. G. Ballard and the London Riots

August 13th, 2011

J. G. Ballard fans will find this Andrew Fox piece on Ballard’s works and the London riots of considerable interest.

Having been interned as a child in a Japanese prisoner of war camp in World War II (the source of Empire of the Sun), Ballard has always been interested in what happens when you strip away the veneer of civilization. Much of Fox’s piece concerns Ballard’s later novels, which I have not read, “all of which feature middle class professionals either diving into or being pulled into revolutionary, nihilistic violence due to ennui, boredom, or a cancerlike consumerism which has replaced religion and patriotism at the center of their psyche.” (Though I have a number of Ballard first editions, I’m still catching up on the reading them, having just finished The Crystal World earlier this year.) Ballard’s penultimate novel, Millennium People, evidently features “middle class professionals in suburban London instigating terrorism and revolution in an effort to shock a sense of meaning back into their lives.” Which does tie rather neatly into the London riots of the last week…

Also, I must have missed this Theodore Dalrymple piece on Ballard.

(Hat tip: Instapundit.)

Authors On “Great” Books They Hate

August 12th, 2011

Interesting piece, if only for the gratification of confirming that many other people loath Holden Caulfield every bit as much as I do.

Biggest surprise: Several people (including John Crowley) naming Gravity’s Rainbow as their least-liked great book. I didn’t get far into it myself, but I’m not sure I gave it a fair shot. The problem is finding a big block of time (something I’m preciously short on) to give it another go, as I have the impression that it’s not amenable to the “one chapter a night” method I used to read Moby Dick

(Hat tip: Bill Crider.)

My Updated Books Wanted List

August 11th, 2011

I may have mentioned that I have a large library. I started out collecting first edition hardbacks of “hypermodern” (which in my case meant “post-Neuromancer“) science fiction (with some fantasy and horror works and authors thrown in for good measure), and once I had collected everything I wanted there, I started going after every important post-World War II SF work, toward which I’m making significant progress. Hence this list of books I’m still looking for.

By and large, I don’t buy later printings, copies without dust jackets, copies with price-clipped dust jackets (unless all copies of the true first edition were released that way), copies with facsimile dust jackets, or overly crummy copies. Most of the books I buy are in Fine/Fine condition, but that relaxes a bit the older (and pricier) books become. I have picked up Ex-Library copies in dust jacket when the better copies of the true first can’t be found under a grand. I also only buy first state bindings and dust jackets, unless there’s no priority, or the true first state is insanely rare (such as with Stanley G. Weinbaum’s Dawn of Flame).

With that in mind, I compiled a list of first editions on my want list, so here’s a significant portion of that list (omitting things available relatively cheap, or hideously expensive), listed alphabetically by author. I also put down all the Manly Wade Wellman and Jack Vance books I was looking for, since I have so many I was having a hard time keeping track of what I had and what I was still missing.

  • Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Arthur Baker)
  • Isaac Asimov’s I, Robot (Gnome Press)
  • J. G. Ballard’s Crash (Cape)
  • J. G. Ballard’s The Drowned World (Gollancz)

  • Alfred Bester’s Tiger! Tiger! (Sidgwick & Jackson)
  • James Blish’s A Case of Conscience (Faber & Faber)
  • Robert Bloch’s The Opener of the Way (Arkham)
  • L. Sprague de Camp’s Lest Darkness Fall (Henry Holt, 1941)
  • Philip K. Dick’s Dr. Bloodmoney (Gregg Press)
  • Philip K. Dick’s Counter-Clock World (White Lion)
  • Philip K. Dick’s Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said (Doubleday)
  • Philip K. Dick’s A Handful of Darkness (Rich & Cowan, 1st state in blue boards stamped in silver, in first state dj (no mention of World of Chance))
  • Philip K. Dick’s The World Jones Made (Sidgwick & Jackson)
  • Philip K. Dick’s World of Chance (Rich and Cowan)
  • Harlan Ellison’s The Fantasies of Harlan Ellison (Gregg Press)
  • Robert A. Heinlein’s Between Planets (Scribner’s, unclipped $2.50 dj)
  • Robert A. Heinlein’s Beyond This Horizon (Fantasy Press)
  • Robert A. Heinlein’s The Door Into Summer (Doubleday)
  • Robert A. Heinlein’s Farmer in the Sky (Scribner’s)
  • Robert A. Heinlein’s Glory Road (Putnam)
  • Robert A. Heinlein’s Methuselah’s Children (Gnome, 1st state binding, 1st state dj)
  • Robert A. Heinlein’s The Puppet Masters (Doubleday)
  • Robert A. Heinlein’s Red Planet (Scribner’s)
  • Robert A. Heinlein’s Rocket Ship Galileo (Scribner’s, unclipped $2.00 dj)
  • Robert A. Heinlein’s The Star Beast (Scribner’s, unclipped $2.50 dj)
  • Robert A. Heinlein’s The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag (Gnome)
  • Robert A. Heinlein’s Waldo & Magic Inc. (Doubleday)
  • Robert E. Howard’s The Coming of Conan (Gnome Press)
  • Robert E. Howard’s The Dark Man (Arkham House)
  • Robert E. Howard’s Skull-Face and Others (Arkham House)
  • R. A. Lafferty’s Horns on Their Head (Pendragon Press HB)
  • R. A. Lafferty’s Funnyfingers & Cabrito (Pendragon Press HB)
  • Joe R. Lansdale (as Ray Slater)’s Texas Night Riders (Chivers) >Fritz Leiber’s Two Sought Adventure (Gnome)

  • Fritz Leiber’s The Secret Songs (Rupert Hart-Davis)
  • H. P. Lovecraft’s The Outsider and Others (Arkham House)
  • Richard Matheson’s Born of Man and Woman (Chamberline Press)
  • Richard Matheson’s The Shrinking Man (David Bruce and Watson)
  • Chad Oliver’s Another Kind (Ballantine HB)
  • Chad Oliver’s Shadows in the Sun (Ballantine HB)
  • Mervyn Peake’s Titus Groan (Eyre & Spottiswoode)
  • Mervyn Peake’s Gormenghast (Eyre & Spottiswoode)
  • Mervyn Peake’s Titus Alone (Eyre & Spottiswoode)
  • Jack Vance’s Araminta Station (Underwood Miller)
  • Jack Vance’s The Deadly Isles (Bobbs-Merrill)
  • Jack Vance’s The Dragon Masters (Dennis Dobson)
  • Jack Vance’s Ecce and Old Earth (Underwood Miller)
  • Jack Vance’s Four Men Called John (Gollancz)
  • Jack Vance’s The Houses of Iszm (Underwood Miller)
  • Jack Vance’s The House on Lily Street (Underwood Miller)
  • Jack Vance’s The Eyes of the Overworld (Gregg Press)
  • Jack Vance’s The Last Castle (Underwood Miller)
  • Jack Vance’s The Many Worlds of Magnus Ridolph (Dennis Dobson)
  • Jack Vance’s Monsters in Orbit (Dennis Dobson)
  • Jack Vance’s Seventeen Virgins/A Bagful of Dreams (Underwood Miller HB)
  • Jack Vance’s Showboat World (Underwood Miller)
  • Jack Vance’s Son of the Tree (Underwood Miller)
  • Jack Vance’s Strange Notions/The Dark Ocean (Underwood Miller)
  • Jack Vance’s To Live Forever (Ballantine Books HB)

  • Jack Vance’s Vandals of the Void (Winston)
  • Jack Vance (as Alan Wade)’s Take My Face (Mystery House)
  • Jack Vance (as Peter Held)’s Isle of Peril (Mystery House)
  • Stanley G. Weinbaum’s A Martian Odyssey and Others (Fantasy Press)
  • Manly Wade Wellman’s Carolina Pirate (Washburn)
  • Manly Wade Wellman’s Clash on the Catabwa (Washburn)
  • Manly Wade Wellman’s The Ghost Battalion (Washburn)
  • Manly Wade Wellman’s Gray Riders (Aladdin)
  • Manly Wade Wellman’s Haunts of Drowning Creek (Holiday House)
  • Manly Wade Wellman’s Jamestown Adventure (Washburn)
  • Manly Wade Wellman’s Mystery at Bear Paw Gap (Washburn)
  • Manly Wade Wellman’s Napoleon of the West (Washburn)
  • Manly Wade Wellman’s The South Fork Rangers (Washburn)
  • Manly Wade Wellman’s The Specter of Bear Paw Gap (Washburn)
  • Gene Wolfe’s The Grave Secret (Portentous Press chapbook)
  • Gene Wolfe’s The Old Woman Whose Rolling Pin Was the Sun (Cheap Street chapbook)
  • Roger Zelazny’s Damnation Alley (Putnam)
  • If you have nice copies any of the above, and if you’re willing to sell it to me considerably cheaper than can be found on Bookfinder.com, drop me an email at lawrenceperson@gmail.com and I’ll consider it.

    Long, Interesting Piece on Jerry Lewis

    August 11th, 2011

    No, really. I wouldn’t call myself a Jerry Lewis fan (his brand of humor had already gone out of fashion by the time I was born), but he did do an excellent job in The King of Comedy (which is, I can assure you, not the film you want to watch while you’re depressed). Anyway, there’s a lot of interesting stuff in here, even if you take his claim of banging Marilyn Monroe with a grain of salt. I was unaware he had written a highly-praised book on directing, or taught directing classes attended by Stephen Spielberg and George Lucas. He also seems to be a remarkably astute businessman, since he made the studios promise to give all the rights to his movies back after 30 years.

    Anyway, it’s an interesting piece, even if you’re not particularly a Jerry Lewis fan.

    A Comic Review of Gene Wolfe’s Home Fires

    August 10th, 2011

    A swell review, in comic form, of Gene Wolfe’s Home Fires

    It has a lot in common with my own review.

    (Hat tip: James Wynn.)

    One More Heinlein First Edition Addition: Podkayne of Mars

    August 9th, 2011

    One more Heinlein first edition to add to the others:

    Heinlein, Robert A. Podkayne of Mars. Putnam, 1963. First edition hardback (no statement of printing, as per Currey, $3.50 price on dust jacket), a Fine copy in a Near Fine dust jacket with slight wear at extremities, as well as a 3″ long faint, irregular, non-breaking crease on front cover (so faint you can’t even see it on the embiggened scan).

    The last of the Heinlein juveniles, and surprisingly hard to find these days, Replaces an ex-library copy.

    Haiku on Watching a Golden Retriever Chase a Laser Pointer Dot

    August 8th, 2011

    Generations of
    Breeding still could not teach you
    Optic principles

    Library Additions: January 22, 2011—August 7, 2011

    August 7th, 2011

    The book-buying continues apace here at Stately Person Manor since the last roundup. Many were bought from a notable SF book dealer having a sale. And some weren’t even bought, as there’s a large number of unclaimed Nova Express proofs and ARCs that were integrated into my own library after I cleaned my office. All of these are Fine hardback first editions in Fine dust jackets, unless otherwise noted. Signed book are noted, except for recent titles where the entire run was signed (like several Subterranean Press books).

    Books that I have available for sale through Lame Excuse Books are marked LEB (though some of those titles won’t appear on the stock page until after I send out my next book catalog, which will probably be late this month or early next; email me if you’d like to get on the mailing list to received it).

    And if perchance you’re new to my mad bibliomania, the most comprehensive post on my library can be found here.

    Now the books:

  • Aldiss, Brian. Brothers of the Head Pierrot Publishing Ltd., 1977. First edition hardback (simultaneous with the much more common trade paperback edition), oversized and illustrated, a Fine copy in a VG+ dust jacket with light wrinkling, wear to extremities, and some age toning to white flaps of the dust jacket. Signed by both Aldiss and illustrator Ian Pollock. The hardback edition was already uncommon, but became more so after an art house movie based on it came out a few years ago. Bought this from a dealer in France, of all places.

  • Aldiss, Brian. Cultural Breaks. Tachyon, 2005. Advanced reading copy, trade paperback format, with packet of review material.
  • Aldiss, Brian. This World and Nearer Ones. Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1979. Signed by Adliss. Bought for $8 from a notable SF book dealer. Non-fiction.
  • Aylett, Steve. Lint. Thunder Mouth Press, 2005. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
  • Baker, Kage. The Graveyard Game. Tor, 2005. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
  • Baker, Kage. The Life of the World to Come. Tor, 2004. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
  • Baker, Kage. The Machine’s Child. Tor, 2006. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
  • Baker, Kage. The Sons of Heaven. Tor, 2007. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
  • Barker, Clive. Weaveworld. Poseidon Press, 1987. One of signed, 500 numbered copies, in unprinted Mylar dust jacket, in slipcase, as issued. Bought from a notable SF dealer for less than half original publisher’s price.
  • Barnes, John. The Armies of Memory. Tor, 2006.
  • Bear, Greg. The Collected Stories of Greg Bear. September, 2002. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
  • Bear, Greg. Heads. One of 300 signed, numbered copies, in slipcase, sans dust jacket, as issued. Bought for $8 from a notable SF book dealer.
  • Binder, Eando. Lords of Creation. Prime Press, 1949. One of 112 copies with plate signed by Binder affixed, Near Fine, sans dust jacket, with uncut pages, as issued. Bought for $8 from a notable SF book dealer.
  • Bisson, Terry. Greetings & Other Stories. Tachyon, 2005. Trade paperback original.
  • Bisson, Terry. Numbers Don’t Lie. Tachyon, 2005. Advanced reading copy, trade paperback format.
  • Boyett, Steven R. Mortality Bridge. Subterranean Press, 2011.
  • Boyle, T.C. The Human Fly and Other Stores. Speak, 2005. Advanced uncorrected proof, trade paperback format, with packet of review material.
  • Brin, David. Dr. Pak’s Preschool. Cheap Street, 1989. One of 117 signed, numbered copies of the “Collector’s Edition,” in Fine handmade dust jacket and slipcase. Bought from a notable SF book dealer at a considerable discount off the original offered price.

  • Broderick, Damien. Godplayers. Thunder Mouth Press, 2005. Trade paperback original.
  • Broderick, Damien. K-Machines. Thunder Mouth Press, 2006. Trade paperback original.
  • Brotherton, Mike. Star Dragon. Tor, 2003. Advanced uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
  • Buckner, M. M. Wintermind. Tor, 2008.
  • Burks, Arthur J. Black Medicine. Arkham House, 1966.
  • Canon, Peter. Forever Azathoth. Subterranean Press, 2011. One of 350 signed/numbered copies.
  • Charnes, Suzy McKee. Stagestruck Vampires and Other Phantasms. Tachyon, 2004. Advanced reading copy, trade paperback format.
  • Clarke, Arthur C. and Stephen Baxter. Firstborn. Del Rey, 2007. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
  • Constantine, Storm. The Wraiths of Will and Pleasure. Tor. 2003. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
  • Crowther, Peter & Nick Gevers, editors. Postscripts #24/25: The New and Perfect Man. PS Publishing, 2011. Signed, traycased edition. Contributor copy, with my story “The Dog Parade” inside. For more information, see here.
  • De Camp, L. Sprague & Catherine Crook. Footprints in Sand: A Literary Sampler. Advent, 1981. One of 500 signed, numbered copies. Bought for $8 from a notable SF book dealer.
  • De Camp, L. Sprague. Heroes & Hobgoblins Donald M. Grant, 1981. One of 1,250 copies signed by de Camp, a Fine copy in a price clipped (but otherwise Fine) dust jacket.
  • De Camp, L. Sprague. The Prisoner of Zhamanak. Phantasia Press, 1982. One of 500 signed, numbered copies, in slipcase. Bought for $8 from a notable SF book dealer.
  • Di Filippo, Paul. The Emperor of Gondwanaland. Thunder Mouth Press, 2005. Trade paperback original.
  • Di Filippo, Paul. A Princess of the Linear City. PS Publishing, 2010. Fine in decorated boards, sans dj, as issued. LEB
  • Doctorow, Cory. A Place So Foreign and 8 More. Four Walls and Eight Windows, 2003. Trade paperback original. Signed by Doctorow.
  • Egan. Greg. The Clockwork Rocket. Night Shade Press, 2011. LEB
  • Emshwiller, Carol. I Live With You. Tachyon, 2005. Advanced reading copy, trade paperback format.
  • Farris, John. Fiends. Dark Harvest, 1990. One of 500 signed, numbered copies, in slipcase. Bought for $8 from a notable SF book dealer.
  • Finch, Sheila. Reading the Bones. Tachyon, 2003. Trade paperback original.
  • Gaskell, Jane. Atlan. Hodder and Stoughton, 1965.

  • Gunn, Eileen. Stable Strategies and others. Tachyon, 2004. Advanced reading copy, trade paperback format.
  • Gunn, James. The End of the Dreams: Three Short Novels. Scribner’s, 1975. Inscribed by Gunn. Review materials laid in. Bought for $8 from a notable SF book dealer.
  • Gunn, James. The Magicians. Scribner’s, 1976. Inscribed by Gunn. Bought for $8 from a notable SF book dealer.
  • Haldeman, Joe, Stephen Giron, Edo van Belkom. Chapbook Seven. Buffalo Fantasy League, 2008. First edition hardback chapbook, one of only 20 copies bound in hardback, signed by Haldeman and Giron, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Haldeman’s section is hand-written and -illustrated.

  • Halpern, Marty and Claude Lalumiere. Witpunk. Four Walls Eight Windows, 2003.
  • Heinlein, Robert A. Assignment in Eternity. Fantasy Press, 1953. First edition hardback, first state Currey A binding (brick red cloth, with six gilt bands on spine, and with “Heinlein” 3mm high), a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. Details here.

  • Heinlein, Robert A. Have Space Suit–Will Travel. Scribner’s, 1958. Details here.

  • Heinlein, Robert A. A Heinlein Triad. Gollancz, 1966. Details here.
  • Heinlein, Robert A. The Man Who Sold the Moon. Shasta Publishers, 1950. Details here.

  • Hughes, Matthew. Black Brillion. Tor, 2004. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
  • Jablokov, Alexander. Brain Thief Tor, 2010. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
  • Le Guin, Ursula K. The Adventure of Cobbler’s Rune. Cheap Street, 1982. One of 250 signed, numbered hardback copies, Fine, sans dust jacket, as issued.
  • Le Guin, Ursula K. Solomon Leviathan’s Nine Hundred and Thirty-First Trip Around the World. Cheap Street, 1984. One of 250 signed, numbered hardback copies, Fine, sans dust jacket, as issued.

  • Le Guin, Ursula K. The Water is Wide. Pendragon Press, 1976. Chapbook, one of 200 signed copies, a Fine copy.
  • Leiber, Fritz. The Change War. Gregg Press, 1978. Fine sans dj, as issued.
  • Link, Kelly and Gavin J. Grant. The Best of Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet. Del Rey, 2007. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
  • Link, Kelly and Gavin J. Grant. The Best of Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet. Del Rey, 2007. Trade paperback original.
  • (Lovecraft, H. P.) Leiber, Fritz, etc. H. P. Lovecraft: A Symposium. Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society/Riverside Quarterly, 1964. Chapbook, a Fine copy, with errata sheet laid in. Non-fiction.

  • MacLeod, Ken. The Night Sessions. Orbit, 2008.
  • Marusek, David. Mind Over Ship. Tor, 2009. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
  • Marusek, David. Mind Over Ship. Tor, 2009.
  • McDevitt, Jack. The Law of Gravity Isn’t Working on Rainbow Bridge. Buffalo fantasy League, 2003. First edition hardback chapbook, #16 of a very small number bound into hardback, signed by McDevitt, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket. The first of the Eeriecon chapbooks.

  • McMullin, Sean. Voyage of the Shadowmoon. Tor, 2002. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
  • Melko, Paul. Singularity Ring. Tor, 2008.
  • Mieville, China. Embassytown. Macmillan (UK), 2011. Signed.
  • Moorcock, Michael/Joe R. Lansdale. Sojan the Swordsman/Under the Warrior Star. Planet Stories/Paizo, 2010. Trade paperback.
  • Morrow, James. The Cat’s Pajamas & Other Stories. Tachyon, 2004. Advanced reading copy, trade paperback format.
  • Nagata, Linda. Memory. Tor, 2003.
  • Nasir, Jamil. The Houses of Time. Tor, 2008. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
  • Niven, Larry. A Gift From Earth. Macdonald, 1969. First hardback edition. Signed. A Near Fine copy in a Near Fine dust jacket.
  • Niven, Larry/Derwin Mak. Eeriecon Chapbook Ten: Doubling Rate/Willpower. Buffalo Fantasy League, 2011. First edition hardback chapbook, one of only 15(!) hardback copies, signed by both authors, Fine in a Fine dust jacket. LEB

  • Niven, Larry/Derwin Mak. Eeriecon Chapbook Ten: Doubling Rate/Willpower. Buffalo Fantasy League, 2011. Wraps edition.
  • Priest, Cherrie. Fathom. Tor, 2008.
  • Reed, Robert. Sister Alice. Tor, 2003.
  • Resnick, Mike. The Science Fiction Professional: Seven Years of “Ask Bwana” Columns. Farthest Star Science Fiction, 2002. Trade paperback original.
  • Resnick, Mike, et. al. With a Little Help From My Friends. Farthest Star Science Fiction, 2002. Trade paperback original.
  • Reynolds, Alastair. Troika. Subterranean Press, 2011. One of 350 signed, numbered copies with a different cover.
  • Reynolds, Alastair. Troika. Subterranean Press, 2011. Trade edition. LEB
  • Robson, Justina. Natural History. Macmillan (UK), 2003. Trade paperback original (simultaneous with the hardback edition), signed by Robson, with additional signed note on a Post-It square laid in.
  • Rossi, Matthew. Things That Never Were. MonkeyBrain Books, 2003.
  • Rucker, Rudy. Frek and The Elixer. Tor, 2004. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
  • Rucker, Rudy. Mad Professor: The Uncollected Short Stories of Rudy Rucker. Thunder’s Mouth Press, 2007. Trade paperback original.
  • Rucker, Rudy. Mathematicians in Love. Tor, 2006. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
  • Rucker, Rudy. Postsingular. Tor, 2007. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
  • Schroeder, Karl. Sun of Suns. Tor, 2006. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
  • Schroeder, Karl. The Queen of Candesce. Tor, 2007. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
  • Schroeder, Karl. Pirate Sun. Tor, 2008. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
  • Schroeder, Karl. The Sunless Countries. Tor, 2009. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
  • Shiner, Lewis. Dark Tangos. Subterranean Press, 2011.
  • Shunn, William. An Alternate History of the 21st Century. Spilt Milk Press, 2007. Chapbook.
  • Silverberg, Robert. Homefaring. Phantasia Press, 1983. One of 450 signed, numbered copies, in slipcase. Bought for $8 from a notable SF book dealer.
  • Silverberg, Robert. Sunrise on Mercury and Other Science Fiction Stories. Thomas Nelson Inc., 1975. Signed on affixed label by Silverberg. Bought for $8 from a notable SF book dealer.
  • Spector, Craig. Underground. Tor, 2005.
  • Stewart, Ian and jack Cohen. Heaven. Warner Books, 2004.
  • Stross, Charles. The Family Trade. Tor, 2004. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
  • Stross, Charles. The Clan Corporate. Tor, 2006. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
  • Stross, Charles. The Merchant’s War. Tor, 2007. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
  • Stross, Charles. The Revolution Business. Tor, 2009. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
  • Stross, Charles. Trade of Queens. Tor, 2010. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
  • Stross, Charles. Rule 34. Ace, 2011.
  • (Sturgeon, Theodore) Diskin, Lahna F. Theodore Sturgeon: a primary and secondary bibliography. G.K. Hall & Co., 1980. Fine, sans dust jacket, as issued. Non-fiction.
  • Swanwick, Michael. Bones of the Earth. Eos, 2001. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
  • Swanwick, Michael. The Dragons of Bable. Tor, 2007. Advanced reading copy, trade paperback format.
  • Totten, Michael. The Road to Fatima Gate. Encounter Books, 2011. Signed. Non-fiction.
  • Tregillis, Ian. Bitter Seeds. Tor, 2010.
  • Vance, Jack. Dangerous Ways. Subterranean Press, 2011. Traycased edition, signed by Vance. See here for more details.

  • (Vance, Jack) Tiedman, Richard. Jack Vance: Science Fiction Stylist. Mimeographed from typewritten copy on yellow paper stock, self wrappers, stapled, one of only 225 copies, Fine, with additional correspondence laid in.

  • Vinge, Vernor, and John-Allen Price. Chapbook Eight. Buffalo Fantasy League, 2002. First edition hardback chapbook, one of a very small number hardbound, signed by Vinge and Price, a Fine copy in a Fine dust jacket.

  • Watts, Peter. Behemoth: ß-Max. Tor, 2004. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
  • Wellman, Manly Wade. Devils Planet. World Distributors, 1951. First edition, pulp paperback format, Very Good with slight rubbing and internal tape reinforcement, and spine creasing, otherwise bright.

  • Westerfield, Scott. Peeps. Razorbill, 2005.
  • Westerfield, Scott. The Risen Empire. Tor, 2003. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
  • Westerfield, Scott. The Killing of Worlds. Tor, 2003. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
  • Westfahl, Gary, George Slusser and David Leiby, editors. Worlds Enough and Time: Explorations of Time in Science Fiction and Fantasy. Greenwood Press, 2002. Fine first edition hardback, sans dj, as issued, with review slip laid in. Non-fiction.
  • What, Leslie. Olympic Games. Tachyon, 2004. Advanced review copy, trade paperback format.
  • Wilhelm, Kate. Listen, Listen. Houghton Mifflin, 1981. Signed by Wilhelm. Bought for $8 from a notable SF book dealer.
  • Wilhelm, Kate. A Sense of Shadow. Houghton Mifflin, 1981. Inscribed by Wilhelm. Bought for $8 from a notable SF book dealer.
  • Wilson, F. Paul. Gateways. Tor, 2003. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
  • Wilson, F. Paul. Ground Zero. Tor, 2009. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
  • Wolfe. Gary K. Bearings: Reviews 1997-2001. Beccon, 2010. Trade paperback. Non-fiction.
  • Wolfe. Gary K. Sightings: Reviews 2002-2006. Beccon, 2011. Trade paperback. Non-fiction.
  • Wolfe, Gene. The Best of Gene Wolfe. Tor, 2009. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
  • Wolfe, Gene. Innocents Aboard. Tor, 2004. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
  • Wolfe, Gene. An Evil Guest. Tor, 2008. Uncorrected proof, trade paperback format.
  • Wright, John C. Orphans of Chaos. Tor, 2005.
  • Zivkovic, Zoran. The Book. Polaris, 2003.
  • Zivkovic, Zoran. Hidden Camera. Dalkey Archive Press, 2005.
  • Zivkovic, Zoran. Steps Through the Mist. Polaris, 2003.
  • Previous posts on my book collection:

  • Library Additions: November 15, 2010—January 14, 2011
  • Library Additions, July 12—November 14, 2010
  • Library Additions, January 25, 2010—July 11, 2010
  • Library Additions: December 1, 2009—January 14, 2010.
  • My Book-Hunting Trip to Archer City and Points East (and New Acquisitions Found There)
  • Items in Evidence of a Case of Bibliomania (or, How I Spent $1,000 in One Week and All I Got Were These Cool Books)
  • Lawrence Person’s Library: Reference Books (Part 1)
  • Lawrence Person’s Library: Reference Books (Part 2: Oversized Books)
  • That Didn’t Take Long: Warren Jeffs Found Guilty

    August 4th, 2011

    “A Texas jury convicted polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs of child sexual assault on Thursday.” Which is to say, the same day the “defense” rested. It’s like that episode of Get Smart where 86 is on trail, and the jury comes back with a guilty verdict in less than 30 seconds. “They must have decided in the hallway.”

    So, how’s that “I’ll be my own defense lawyer” thing working out for you, crazy pedophile polygamist guy?

    Crime Blotter Update: Warren Jeffs Trial Nears End

    August 4th, 2011

    You might remember my previous update on convicted polygamist Warren Jeffs, former president of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Jeffs is on trail for child sex abuse of one of his 12-year old “wives.” The defense has just recently rested in that trial. Will he be convicted? Well, since:

  • The prosecution played an audio sex tape of Jeffs have sex with said 12-year old while three of his other “wives” watched, and
  • Jeffs is acting as his own attorney (oooo, bad idea, space cadet, albeit not as bad as being a crazy pedophile cult leader);
  • Signs would point to Mr. Jeffs spending more time in correctional facilities in the near future. (Insert you own joke about the new “wives” he’ll meet there.)