Another new arrival belatedly cataloged:

WORMWOOD: Literature of the fantastic, supernatural and decadent #17, aut/11, Tarturus, (on Lovecraft, d'Annunzio, Hodder, Bramah, Armour; An Overview of American Decadence; more), new 15.00

book cataloged

Here's another book I neglected to catalog when if first came in:

Keene, Day DEAD DOLLS DON'T TALK / HUNT THE KILLER / TOO HOT TO HOLD: Three Complete Thrillers, Stark House Mystery Classics, 1st thus, 8/11, (pb originals first published in 1951 & 1959; David Laurence Wilson intro), new 23.95

---I've canceled my standing order with Stark House (too many cheaper copies on Amazon), but not without a degree of regret. The link above is to the publisher's description, here's a link to my covershot of the original pb edition of Dead Girls Don't Talk. Also, I see that I have one for Too Hot to Hold as well.

new arrival

Book here today:

Hirschhorn-Smith, John (ed) DELICATE TOXINS: A Collection of Strange Tales (An Anthology Inspired by Hanns Heinz Ewers), Side Real '11, 1st, one of 350 numbered copies, (all new tales taking the life, work and cultural milieu of Hanns Heinz Ewers as their inspiration), new no dj as issued (pictorial boards) 50.00 [discount, if any, to be determined when I receive invoice]

Also, this:
SPACE AND TIME #115, fall/11, (Don D'Ammassa, Kim Antieau, Robert Jeschonek; Harry Turtledove interview; etc.), new 5.00 -- on hand too are nos. 114 and 113, not yet cataloged, but not exactly at hand right now. I'm sure they will turn up!

feed fix

I see that the Locus Blinks feed at the bottom of this page needs to be updated. I haven't been around these premises much lately. I bet plenty more needs to be updated as well. Google tells me this is a popular site -- an assertion that if true actually kind of shames me -- and they want me to join their Adsense program. If it were a cash cow I'm sure I'd do it, but I really don't know what kind of a cow it might be. I doubt cash. So I haven't bothered. Meanwhile I will try to dicker around with this site -- not to add visuals, you can find those everywhere else you look -- but to maybe fix or update links or feeds that have been too long neglected -- and maybe add content sometimes.

Now I've removed the "Shared Items" feed that was here, because that's been phased out by Google. My current "sharings" (read time wastings) can be found as +1s.  All my previously shared crap can be downloaded in a handy zip file, openable in a web browser, I assume (i.e. a bunch of tiny .html files) -- if you really get the urge. I haven't, as of yet. Anyone giving it a go, if you select all and then hit "open", let me know what happens -- but don't blame me if a thousand tabs or windows are created. Update: I just tried selecting four and indeed four windows popped open. I guess there's no limit to how many you can open and it would probably be pretty quick, but if you have to close them all by hand one at a time, it might not be a good idea to go the whole hog route.

Long time no post, I know.

Long time no post, I know. I've been referred to as "the late Chris Drumm" and I can imagine why. I wonder myself sometimes. There's probably plenty to catch up on or try to explain away, but I'd rather start getting in the habit of at least pasting book listings as they occur. I could dump a clump from my new listings document, and maybe I will, but for now, here's the first of what I hope to be several:

Aickman, Rober & Elizabeth Jane Howard WE ARE FOR THE DARK: Six Ghost Stories, Tartarus '11, limited to 350 copies, (three stories each by the two authors; first published in 1951; new intro by R.B. Russell is based on interview with the surviving author; 258+xii pages), new in dj 50.00

And a used book:

Ballantine U6128 Gross, Henry (interviews conducted by...) THE FLOWER PEOPLE, 5/68, (PBO; hippies in NYC's East Village, 1967; 16 pages of photographs), fr-g (decent reading copy) 8.00

I'm also revising/revisiting older listings as the books cross my lap, adding links to covershots. These I hope to be able to remember to paste in my Notes blog that should have a feed below.

document trouble still?

I've had some problems with the document file for New Arrivals. After I broke it into two pieces, the old one (half as big) seems to make my browser crash using Firefox 4 with my Mac Mini. I don't know how many others may have tried looking at it and had problems, but I copied the text from that document and dropped it into a new one. So far it's opened okay once. Here's the new URL: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1257E5HZ1dBiqe1xHsVMj-v4M97a_L_2JRcCFa8YbLOA/edit?hl=en. Seems like Google has changed the pagination options, so maybe my documents will show up more successfully now -- but I probably still need to go through and divide them up so they will load better (if at all).

dividing up documents

It seems like the update Google made on Documents is making it difficult and sometimes impossible to load whole files. Supposedly they are working on the problem but meanwhile I think it might not be a bad idea if I reduced the size of the documents anyway. I'm not going to do it all at once. Maybe a file a day. I'll redo the links at the top of the individual documents, and here, when I get it all done. Meanwhile, I will add the new links here as they become available. Anyone having trouble accessing these, let me know, or add to the comments at Google Help. Here are the links:
newer new arrivals (new and used):
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1257E5HZ1dBiqe1xHsVMj-v4M97a_L_2JRcCFa8YbLOA/edit?hl=en [this is a new link to a fresh document -- the old one was causing Firefox 4 to crash on my Mac]
older new arrivals (used books):
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bwRdKJPKIqwFcYvfVg8kglkWh8Jfw65iEfWljLQbtNg/edit?hl=en
hardcovers (A to Dexter):
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dwmKqCGVyxX37XhZxpj-36_XCCo66g7h_NdcQ1X-Asc/edit?hl=en
hardcovers (Dibdin to Kuttner):
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EL2Uv2gJBUEByXpIYEsWNr0IsmO21Y-HvFFyX9qaw-Y/edit?hl=en
hardcovers (L to R):
https://docs.google.com/document/d/14a60UpZRDM18ihEM2MxrbpAPiwpmOLd0xpjuatNPGWk/edit?hl=en
hardcovers (S to Z) + book clubs:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PBnqYOUQlVDljE6fIPHp1OBkw71iLVth74Z-JBhcTxM/edit?hl=en
misc. softcovers (A to Dickey):
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dPUZ3PeQzVx8eZbSTJ8o_DA37XgE38veeaB_TKmJSCM/edit?hl=en
misc. softcovers (Dickson to Kuttner):
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wYo9qZs0_Tq0V9nVq5spEQ3iqGQECEjjfaOsENd6OzM/edit?hl=en
misc. softcovers (L to R):
https://docs.google.com/document/d/18frjzGaZo5Z5ato58qeNOERW_2cBgHUEmYFC0ojbhIc/edit?hl=en
misc. softcovers (S to Z):
https://docs.google.com/document/d/111YRGjACU1P4Zpbu23GVN3i3_XM3VrLbPQ7fs5p5aH8/edit?hl=en
mmpbs by publisher (A to Baen):
https://docs.google.com/document/d/19LTwa12sCACrzj3H6ta00N-PeTcW6QJln7DexdMGwhw/edit?hl=en
mmpbs by publisher (Ballantine to Del Rey):
https://docs.google.com/document/d/12qNXAtT1x_MdoUbl-C7_rFrQXUnYezYMSBRItrYuEU0/edit?hl=en
mmpbs (Dell to Playboy, including Imports):
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KRsRuWYT9L1IQxFllN0KAgOuwyKOcEwn_GSPbdU5eSE/edit?hl=en
mmpbs (Pocket to Zwitter):
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qkIfV8JlFEQwEdxT0kpG4flEEUQEr3rDqWk7dFOCP-o/edit?hl=en

new directions / lafferty developments

Nothing from me here in this space in way too long a time. I know. Nothing much going on, I guess. But I've been thinking about the new directions I find myself going down. I've just about stopped carrying new books. Between Amazon doing a better job than I could do carrying new books from general publishers, and the specialty/small press publishers doing a better job selling direct to customers, often giving better discounts to customers than they do to booksellers, and offering bonus tidbits to direct buyers that booksellers can't offer, I'm thinking I might just cancel the few remaining standing orders I have and even stop doing special orders for new books. There might still be some exceptions in special cases, but I think I will be just about stopping getting in new books -- not that I've been getting in that many for quite a while now. I keep getting in used books (can't help it) -- more than I can manage to catalog -- and I still have a backlog of new books to list. I think if I concentrate on dealing with this material from now on I'll have plenty to keep me going.

Sorry too that I've been less than responsive in many cases to requests for my reminiscences, and contacts, concerning R.A. Lafferty. I've even been dragging my feet filling orders for my own publications, which I still have in stock, albeit in dwindling quantities. My plan is to try to bestir myself to work back through my tasks list for things I should have dealt with long before now. So don't be surprised if you do hear from me, even if you've given up hope.

Meanwhile, there is news to report on the Lafferty front. Yesterday I received an email from the Lafferty Literary Estate. I'll just go ahead and copy it here along with my response to it. Anyone who has been interested in publishing Lafferty themselves (there have been a few of you) -- now might be a good time to let the Estate know of your interest, probably through the Virginia Kidd Agency.

Here goes:

Sent: Thu, Mar 3, 2011 3:46 pm
Subject: Sale of R.A. Lafferty literary rights

Hi Chris,



     I wanted you to be among the first to know that on May 1 the

Lafferty Estate state will sell the rights to the entire literary output

of the science fiction writer, R.A. Lafferty, to the Locus Science

Fiction Foundation for $70,000 plus 50% of any future profit from the

Lafferty rights in excess of $30,000 in any single year.



     If you know of anyone who might be interested in purchasing the

Lafferty literary works on more favorable terms, please have them

contact me at LaffertyEstate or 919-286-9519 and I will

provide additional information to help them decide whether they would

like to make a better offer before May 1.



      As you may know, R.A. Lafferty has received some of the highest

awards for science fiction writing, both in the U.S. (e.g. Hugo, World

Fantasy Lifetime Achievement) and overseas (e.g. the Japanese Seiun

Award), and he continues to have a devoted following.



      This sale will include the rights to approximately 21 published

and 13 unpublished novels, approximately 297 published and 96

unpublished short works such as short stories, essays and poems,

approximately 8 published and 4 unpublished book-length collections of

short works and approximately 24 published trade paperbacks or booklets.

   The complete description of the rights being offered for sale is

contained in my "Letter to Potential Bidders", which I will provide upon

request.



Thank you,



Betsy



Elizabeth Kennington, Executor

The Estate of R.A. Lafferty

1415 Pennsylvania Avenue

Durham, NC  27705

919-286-9519

My reply:

Sounds like a pretty good move. I don't know how it will impact my selling the booklets I still have on hand (in limited numbers), but I'm sure it will be good for getting Lafferty books back in print, plus maybe some of his never-published things finally seeing the light of day. I feel bad I didn't get my little agreement/contract thing written that I promised. I did a first draft and meant to knock it out, but I didn't get it done. Plus I had a royalty check all written, ready to include. So that's been collecting dust [not interest] in my checkbook register all this time. I could add that amount to whatever has accrued in the meantime and send another check out. Where should that go now?
I had been thinking about trying to carry on with the IN A GREEN TREE novels I started, but just couldn't seem to get back to it, much as I want it to be out there. Actually, I'd prefer a more conventional publisher to really do it. Locus will bring an expertise in publishing modes (eBook, on-line, print, POD, etc.) as well as a knowledge of the markets and the sci-fi world that should go a ways toward satisfying what I see as a pent-up demand for Lafferty works.
I've been getting a few inquiries about who and where to contact for reprint/publishing inquiries, and I was wanting to get that info updated before responding -- another thing I've been sitting on doing, and which I feel bad about.
Anyway, it looks like maybe things are taking a good turn for Lafferty readers and enthusiasts. Financially I have no idea if it's as good a deal as you could find -- but it looks to me like it should be a great thing for the Lafferty body of work.
Can I reprint your letter in my blog and forward it to people who might be interested in RAL publishing, as well as my reply here?
Really good to hear from you. I had a draft of an email written that I meant to send weeks/months ago -- but I just seem to put it off. At least now this is something.

Reply from the Estate lawyer (Ned Kennington) who forwarded the email to me from Betsy:

Hi Chris,

   It's good to hear from you.  Glad to hear that you seem to be doing O.K.

   If you want to try to get your contract straightened out with the
Virginia Kidd Agency before the sale to Locus, we are willing to use
what influence we have with the Agency to get them to cut you a fair
deal.  You might send me a copy of whatever you send the Agency, if you
want us to put in a good word for you.  If you don't get around to doing
it until after the sale, if you can deal with Liza Trombi, she seems to
be a good person who would treat you fairly.

   If you want to send royalties, they should go to Virginia Kidd
Agency until the sale (and maybe afterwards if Locus does not change
agents).  Let me know if you need an address for them.

    Please do let other people know about the sale, including publishing my letter in your blog, if you would like.

   Whoever the rights are sold to, I hope that heightened attention to
Lafferty will benefit everyone publishing him.

Take care,

Ned

And my response:

Dear Ned [and Betsy]:
Yeah, I do seem to be doing okay -- at least for a lazy old codger like myself. I will try to hunt down the people who have been wanting to get Lafferty info through me and let them know what's up.
Here's the address I have for Va. Kidd:
The Virginia Kidd Agency, Inc.
538 E Harford Street
P.O. Box 278
Milford  PA   18337
I assume that's still correct. I'm not sure about the email, but I've made a printout of the agreement I've drafted to send them, so we'll have something in writing. Maybe, I hope.
FYI, here's what I came up with:

TO THE EXECUTORS OF THE R.A. LAFFERTY LITERARY ESTATE and ITS AGENTS:
This is to indicate that I would like to continue with the agreement I originally had with R.A. Lafferty when I published a number of his then-unpublished stories. According to this agreement, I keep track of sales and gave him 25% of gross wholesale sales (or 15% of retail). I still have a number of these booklets that I am still selling, albeit at a trickle pace. But I do still keep track of sales and I will continue paying royalties to the Lafferty Estate. I do not plan to reprint any of the booklets beyond their original print-runs (up to 1000 copies), but I have been keeping a couple titles nominally in print by photo-copy (FOUR STORIES, MY HEART LEAPS UP chapters 1&2, LAUGHING KELLY [the latter two, always a photo-copy production].)
I do not claim to own any reprint rights for any of these stories, and they can be republished as the rights owners see fit without any problems from me. However, if you want to photo-reprint using my (crude but accurate) typesetting, perhaps some recompense might be in order [perhaps in copies of the publication].
I had been undertaking to publish Lafferty’s tetralogy IN A GREEN TREE as a series of booklets, but on reaching one booklet into the second novel it seemed that the project would be better if undertaken by a more conventional publisher -- and one with better marketing and production skills than myself. So I would like to indicate here that I would like to see this project be accomplished, but by someone besides myself, and that I do not retain any claims to it.

    Signed:                                                            (Chris Drumm)



-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Virginia Kidd Agency:
Above is what I come up with in terms of an agreement for me to continue selling the Lafferty publications I still have in stock. Sorry it’s taken me so long to get that simple thing accomplished. Additionally, I had a royalty check ready to send with it when I was asked to write up the agreement. I’m not sure I still have the printout of the sales breakdown but I can probably find it somewhere on my computer, if you want it. I will include a printout of sales figures since that unsent check was written and add that amount to the previous amount. Sorry I’m so slipshod, but I do take care to tick off every sale when it occurs and enter it into my spreadsheet.
I hope you are okay with the proposed sale of the rights to Lafferty’s works to Locus Publications. I don’t know how they propose to proceed, but it would seem that it could only help in getting Ray’s great works back in print, and hopefully have some of his unpublished things finally see the light of day.
Let me know how I can be of any assistance, and I hope the continuation of my agreement with Ray as delineated above will be agreeable.

I probably can find a current email address and contact person at Virginia Kidd, but I'd have a ascertain that it is indeed current. Anyone interested, contact me and I'll try to get it for them. Meanwhile, if you want to try to beat out Locus's offer, write to LaffertyEstate. I will try to do a better job responding to people, and try to catch up on the responses I've been tardy with.