04/29/06 SAT:
---Ran my first road race in some years, the 8K at the Drake Relays. My conditioning leaves a lot to be desired, but I was glad to be able to finish about in the middle of the pack for my age group. A big race, even my personal photos have been posted on-line.

04/26/06 WED:
---Here today from Hippocampus:

Lovecraft, H.P. COLLECTED ESSAYS Volume 3: Science, Hippocampus ('05), 1st edn, (third volume of complete nonfiction; as a whole, this volume displays Lovecraft’s devotion to science as the ultimate arbiter of truth and as the source of his unique cosmic vision; edited by S.T. Joshi), {hc in dj available @ $40}, new 20.00
---COLLECTED ESSAYS Volume 4: Travel, Hippocampus ('05), 1st edn, (fourth volume of complete nonfiction; some of author’s most heartwarming pieces; edited by S.T. Joshi), {hc in dj available @ $40}, new 20.00

Waugh, Robert H. THE MONSTER IN THE MIRROR: Looking for H.P. Lovecraft, Hippocampus ('06), 1st edn, (essays by leading Lovecraft scholar; in all, the essays demonstrate that Lovecraft’s multifaceted work is a virtually inexhaustible treasure-trove for the scholar and analyst), new 20.00

---I notice now that I neglected to order a somewhat earlier Hippocampus title:

THE SHADOW OF THE UNATTAINED
THE LETTERS OF GEORGE STERLING AND CLARK ASHTON SMITH
Edited by David E. Schultz and S. T. Joshi
December 2005: 342 pp: ISBN 0974878936: Paperback: $20.00

Now I do have this on order, as well as a couple other titles I noticed I had run out of.

04/25/06 TUE:
---Word from Golden Gryphon:

Greetings from the Gryphon:

SLEEPING POLICEMEN, by Dale Bailey and Jack Slay Jr. is now available!

High in the Smoky Mountains, in an instant of gut-wrenching horror,
five lives are about to change forever.
For Nick Laymon, that night begins like any other evening during his
four years at Ransom College—with cold beer in the company of his closest
friends, Finney Durant and Reed Tucker, followed by the sweet midnight
promise of the girl he’s always dreamed of, Sue Thompson. It will end nine
hours later, when Nick and his friends run down a lone pedestrian on a stretch
of deserted mountain highway.
In the folds of the dead man's coat, Nick finds two items: a sheaf of
hundred dollar bills and a mysterious key. The cash ignites ambitions Nick has
barely dared admit before this moment. The key will lead him to a bus station
locker and the homemade video tape that waits inside it.
And the video tape, with its graphic depiction of the rape and murder
of a missing teenage girl, will plunge them all into a nightmare.
In the hours that follow, Nick Laymon and his friends will find
themselves under pressure from all quarters. From the private detective who
claims to represent the father of the missing girl. From the state trooper who
knows about the man they left for dead along that stretch of fog-shrouded
pavement. And from a shadowy underworld figure known as the Pachyderm,
who wants his money and his video back--and who is willing to go to any
length to get them.
Most of all, however, these hours will bring Nick and his companions
face to face with the limits of friendship. As his life unravels around him, Nick
Laymon will be forced to reckon with his own dark potential. And in the
explosive climax, he will face the most crucial choices of his life:
What kind of man does he want to be? And what kind of price is he
willing to pay?

Tell your librarian that they'll like this one; the college student that likes libraries is
still alive on the last page! Maybe they should order two?

SLEEPING POLICEMEN, by Dale Bailey and Jack Slay Jr.
Cover art by John Picacio
ISBN 1-930846-40-1 / $24.95 (Trade hardcover)
198 pages
Golden Gryphon Press

---I do have my pre-order in for this, I know, but am unsure if it is enough to trigger an actual shipment (fulfilling minimum invoice requirement).

---Word from Borderlands:

Many moons ago Charlie and Tom co-wrote a novelette entitled "When Dark Descends." They sent a copy of the manuscript to their agent at the time (Kirby McCauley) who lost the manuscript. It was never published, and both Charlie and Tom could not find any copies of the original—which had been written on typewriters. (remember those???)

In cleaning out some old files, Tom found the only remaining CARBON of the manuscript.

Tom assures me that "the people they gonna love-a this tale" so Borderlands Press will publish a limited edition in hardcover signed by both authors.

$35.00 Retail
$75.00 Lettered

When Dark Descends
by Charles L. Grant & Thomas F. Monteleone

An intriguing tale of mystery and apocalyptic vision.
Pub date: June 10, 2006

04/24/06 MON:
---Here today from PS Publishing:

Calder, Richard BABYLON, PS, 3/06, 1st edn, one of 700 SIGNED copies, (dark love story set in 1888 Whitechapel, London; K.J. Bishop intro), new in dj 45.00

Esslemont, Ian Cameron NIGHT OF KNIVES: A Novel of Malaz, PS, 5/06, 1st trade edn, (Steven Erikson intro), {hc in dj still available @ $50}, new 25.00

Etchison, Dennis FINE CUTS, PS, 3/06, 1st edn, (new collection of tales about Hollywood; Peter Atkins intro), new in dj 45.00

Morris, Mark (ed) CINEMA MACABRE, PS, 3/06, 1st edn, (fifty genre practitioners asked to pick their favourite horror movie and asked to wax lyrical about it; Jonathan Ross intro), new in dj 45.00

POSTSCRIPTS #6, spr/06, PS, (The A to Z of Fantastic Fiction; Juliet McKenna cover story; fiction by Matthew Hughes, Rhys Hughes, Zoran Zivkovic, Stephen Baxter, Garry Kilworth and Conrad Williams; Steven Erikson editorial; Elizabeth Hand interview; Mike Ashley on Houdini), as new 10.00

Samuels, Mark THE FACE OF TWILIGHT, PS, 2/06, 1st edn, (may be author’s most bizarre tale yet; Mark Morris intro; 133 pages), new 18.00

Wolfe, Gene CHRISTMAS INN, PS Chapbook #1, 1/06, (a special publication for Postscripts subscribers; 28 pages), new no dj as issued (illustrated boards) 35.00

Zivkovic, Zoran IMPOSSIBLE STORIES, PS, 3/06, 1st edn, (assembles for the first time between a single set of covers five of the author’s distinguished story-cycles, as well as the standalone “The Telephone: twenty-nine stories in all; di Filippo intro; 391 pages), new in dj 45.00

---Also available, but which I do not generally carry in inventory, are the slipcased and more limited editions of the above hardcovers (mostly signed, but less limited), and hardcover editions of the softcovers (Postscripts and The Face of Twilight).

---Also here today:

TALEBONES #32, spr/06, (Science Fiction & Dark Fantasy; Charles Coleman Finlay; Louise Marley interview; more; 108 pages), new 7.00

04/20/06 THU:
---Here today from Independent Press Group (Golden Gryphon, Tachyon--and Aio):

Ford, Jeffrey THE EMPIRE OF ICE CREAM, Golden Gryphon '06, 1st edn, (author's second short story collection; a neopolitan blend of the fantastic, the mythical, and the surreal; Jonathan Carroll intro), new in dj 24.95

Fowler, Karen Joy, Pat Murpy, Debbie Notkin & Jeffrey D. Smith (eds) THE JAMES TIPTREE AWARD ANTHOLOGY 2, Tachyon '06, 1st edn, (stories for men, women, and the rest of us; honors stories that expore and expand our notion of gender; Le Guin, Lethem, Haldeman, etc.), new 14.95

Neuce, Jus NOCTURNE, Aio ('05), (Bang!…a sudden act of violence shocks a planet; subtle speculation), new 14.00

Kelly, James Patrick BURN, Tachyon '05, 1st edn, (great stuff; a powerful cocktail of the strange and the hauntingly familiar; 178 pages), new in dj 19.95

Shepard, Lucius THE GOLDEN, Golden Gryphon '06, 1st softcover edn, (multiflavoured feast of rich emotions), new 14.95

Zebrowski, George BLACK POCKETS and Other Dark Thoughts, Golden Gryphon '06, 1st trade edn (Easton Press is doing a signed/leather edn), (author's first collection of horror stories; Howard Waldrop intro), new in dj 24.95

---Back in stock:

Reed, Robert THE DRAGONS OF SPRINGPLACE, Golden Gryphon '99, 1st edn, (stories; midcareer retrospective of author's finest achievements), new in dj 23.95

Tiptree, James, Jr. HER SMOKE ROSE UP FOREVER, Tachyon '04, 1st edn thus, (stories; updated edn contains revisions from author’s notes), new 15.95

---The Zebrowski and Ford are GG titles #45 and #44 respectively, if you are keeping track (or collecting). Of course, they look to be excellent reading--as do all Golden Gryphon titles. There were also some copies of Bisson’s NUMBERS DON’T LIE from Tachyon in my invoice, but not in the box. I don’t think I ever even got the regular published edition of that--just the special preview edition. Guess I still don’t have it now. Well, maybe next time, I guess.

04/17/06 MON:
---Finally got another batch uploaded to my biblio listings, bringing alphabet to Strie- (from Mic-). Next up will be through Tarr (including Sturgeon and Swanwick, I noticed.) Orders through biblio seem to be coming along at a fairly consistent pace, making for a nice subsidiary cashflow stream--nothing too tough to keep up with--but enough to keep at bay the sending of printed-paper catalogs.

---Finally got order to Hippocampus sent. Since it sounded like the hardcovers of the latest volumes of Lovecraft essays would be coming later, and I knew I needed some of those, I took my time--not entirely because I meant to, though. Anyway, I hope I will have the latest three of their publications in hand soon. I did have a standing order, but when they went to print-on-demand technology and somewhat more expensive (though larger) books, I was queried first. Getting caught in the current flow of my emails is not always the best for responsiveness, in spite of all my best of intentions.

04/12/06 WED:
---Here today from Haffner Press:

Williamson, Jack THE CRUCIBLE OF POWER: The Collected Stories of..., Volume Five, Haffner '06, 1st edn, (less than thee-part serials from 1938-1940; blend of classics reprinted for the umpteenth time and rarities debuting in book form here; Frank M. Robinson intro; 523 pages), new in dj 40.00

---Back in stock:

Hamilton, Edmond & Leigh Brackett STARK AND THE STAR KINGS, Haffner '05, 1st edn, (648-page collection of classic adventures, including previously unpublshed title story; Jakes intro; Alex Ebel illus), new in dj 45.00

04/11/06 TUE:
---Word from Golden Gryphon:

Greetings from the Gryphon:

BLACK POCKETS AND OTHER DARK THOUGHTS, by George Zebrowski, is now
available!

George Zebrowski’s first collection of horror stories includes the title novella
written especially for this volume. Gathered from his entire career, these nineteen
tales divide into Personal, Political, and Metaphysical terrors—to scare you
individually, societally, and when you ask “What’s it all about?”
“Part of the beauty of this book,” writes Howard Waldrop in his introduction,
“is that Zebrowski can write about people who are not like him (or you and me).
Many are not as intelligent, nice, thoughtful, or as sensitive as their author. What is
really hard is writing about someone just a little less, or a little more intelligent,
sensitive, caring, etc. than you. His deft use of character is such that you forget that
most horror stories just fill time before the protagonist is eaten or impaled or gets
their comeuppance somehow.” Zebrowski pulls horrifying situations out of the flaws
in his people, not from ancient evils or from the cliché of inexplicable serial killers.
“Zebrowski is writing a new kind of horror story,” Waldrop concludes, “—as new as
Fritz Leiber’s ‘Smoke Ghost’ was in its time,” in the legendary magazine Unknown
Worlds.
George Zebrowski’s forty books include novels, short fiction collections, a
book of essays, and various anthologies. He has been a finalist for the Theodore
Sturgeon Award and a multiple Nebula Award nominee. Stranger Suns was a New
York Times Notable Book in its year, and Brute Orbits, an uncompromising novel
about future prisons, was honored with the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for
Best Novel of its year. His classic Macrolife, praised by Arthur C. Clarke and many
others, has been reissued in a 25th Anniversary edition by Pyr Books, with an
introduction by Ian Watson.

No ax murderers, no little girls spitting pea soup, no werewolves--this is horror of the
psychological and philosophical nature, perfect for libraries.

Black Pockets and Other Dark Thoughts, by George Zebrowski
Cover art by Bob Eggleton
ISBN 1-930846-40-1 / $24.95 (Trade hardcover)
275 pages
Golden Gryphon Press

---I have an order sent out now for the above-announced book, and the previous couple GG titles I have fallen behind in getting--as well as titles from other publishers also distributed by Independent Press Group.

04/05/06 WED:
---Neglected to mention it when this came in (Apr 1), but welcome word of a new publication from Haffner Press arrived (and has been duly ordered by me):

Greetings!

NEW RELEASE!

The latest release from Haffner Press, THE CRUCIBLE OF POWER, THE
COLLECTED STORIES OF JACK WILLIAMSON, VOLUME FIVE made its debut at the
30th Annual Jack Williamson Lectureship on Thursday, March 2, 2006. We
now have the balance of the inventory on hand and the title is available
for immediate shipment!

Clocking in at over 540 pages, THE CRUCIBLE OF POWER is the latest
volume to collect the short fiction, in order of original publication of
Science Fiction Grand Master Jack Williamson. Previous volumes in the
series are:

THE METAL MAN AND OTHERS (Vol 1)
WOLVES OF DARKNESS (Vol 2)
WIZARD'S ISLE (Vol 3)
SPIDER ISLAND (Vol 4)

THE CRUCIBLE OF POWER includes twelve stories from 1938 to 1940, and a
foreword by author and popular culture expert Frank M. Robinson.
Included are two true rarities: two stories that originally appeared
under the pen-name Nils O. Sonderlund. These stories, originally
appearing in MARVEL TALES, were considered "too sexy" to appear under
Williamson's own name! An appendix reprints rare commentaries on this
volume's contents as they originally appeared in the pulp magazines. The
author provides an afterword commenting on the genesis of these stories,
and reflecting on the economic and cultural mood of the nation during
the early years of American Science Fiction.

Contents include:
"The Chivaree" (from the Portales Daily News)
"The Dead Spot" (from Marvel Science Stories)
"Nonstop to Mars" (from Argosy Weekly)
"The Crucible of Power" (from Astounding Stories)
"After World’s End" (from Marvel Science Stories)
"Passage to Saturn" (from Thrilling Wonder Stories)
"The Fortress of Utopia" (from Startling Stories)
"Star Bright" (from Argosy Weekly)
"As in the Beginning" (from Future Fiction)
"Hindsight" (from Astounding Stories)
"Mistress of Machine-Age Madness" (from Marvel Tales)

As with the previous volumes in THE COLLECTED STORIES OF JACK
WILLIAMSON, THE CRUCIBLE OF POWER is a smythe-sewn 6" x 9" hardcover and
typeset in a format designed to honor the Fantasy Press editions of
Williamson's first books from the 1940s & 50s. Full-color endpapers
reproduce the pulp magazine cover art for each story's first appearance.

THE CRUCIBLE OF POWER, THE COLLECTED STORIES OF JACK WILLIAMSON, VOLUME
FIVE
by Jack Williamson
544 page hardcover

ISBN: 1-893887-22-7
500-copy trade edition: $40.00 (U.S.)

ISBN: 1-893887-23-5
75-copy signed limited edition in slipcase $125.00 (U.S.)
---Anyone wanting this edition let me know and I will see what I can do (somewhat less discount than I can give for the trade edn, which is 20%).

04/04/06 TUE:
---I received a reply from Greenwood (see below). It looks like a short discount (5%), unless I buy five of their books. If I get some interest from others I could give a bit better discount (15%). I could also order other Greenwood titles to get to that discount, but they are all pricey too, although not quite so much as the Encyclopedia of the Supernatural. Here is the link I was given:

Below is a link for our science fiction and fantasy titles, which I sorted by publication date. Maybe some of these titles would interest you such as the J.R.R. Tolkien biography (the current list price is $30.95) or Unsung Heroes of The Lord of the Rings (list price of $39.95).

http://www.greenwood.com/catalog/subject/Literature/Science%2bFiction%2b%2526%2bFantasy.aspx?sortby=pdate

---Inquiry rec’d:

Do you still carry Greenwood Press books? And if so, do you have the
3-volume Encyclopedia of the Supernatural by Joshi adnd Dziemianowicz?

---My answer:

I probably can get Greenwood books. I'm not sure the discount now, but the 3-vol Ency sounds like something worth getting. I don't have it yet, though. Would you like me to pursue it further?

---Reply rec’d:

As for the encyclopedia, yes please see if you can get it.

---So I have sent an inquiry to Greenwood. Anyone else interested in this item, let me know. The more copies I get the better the discount. I see that it lists for $300, so I don’t want to get too many extras of this. Looks like quite a piece of work, though.

---Updated complete catalog info for CD-R burning today.

04/03/06 MON:
---Here today from Tartarus:

Coppard, A.E. FATHER RAVEN and Other Tales, Tartarus ‘06, one of 300 copies, (selects the best of author’s fantastical fiction; Mark Valentine intro), new in dj 55.00

---Word from Pyr/Prometheus:

I wanted to share this latest review of RIVER OF GODS, by Ian McDonald:

“River of Gods…is…perhaps [Ian McDonald’s] most accomplished novel to date. It's a dense and sometimes difficult read, reminiscent of William Gibson in full-throttle cultural-immersion mode, packed with technical jargon, religious and sociological observation and allusions to art both high and low. But River of Gods amply rewards careful consideration and more than delivers its share of straight-ahead entertainment. Already a multiple-award nominee following its British publication, McDonald's latest ranks as one of the best science fiction novels published in the United States this year.”

-San Francisco Chronicle (Circ. 578,541) Sunday, April 2, 2006

RIVER OF GODS
ISBN 1-59102-436-6
HARDCOVER $25 list price

---I also received a catalog in the mail from Pyr. They do have quite a list of titles. Prometheus publishes secular humanist books. The SF looks like it comes from that point of view as well--rational thought instead of supernatural belief. These days you can’t preach to the converted, though, I guess--anything they aren’t already convinced of, anyway.