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ABOUT THE STORE : NEWSLETTER

DISPATCHES FROM THE BORDER

Events and News from Borderlands Books

January, 2007

Chapter One - Event Information, News, and Special Features

TODAY! David Weber, OFF ARMAGEDDON REEF (Tor), Thursday, January 11th at 7:00 pm

The event with Robert Balmanno, originally scheduled for Saturday, January 13th has been CANCELED.

Christopher Moore Drop-By, YOU SUCK, A LOVE STORY (William Morrow), Thursday, January 18th at 1:00 pm

Cory Doctorow, OVERCLOCKED: STORIES OF THE FUTURE PRESENT (Thunder's Mouth Press), Thursday, February 8th at 7:00 pm

Rudy Rucker, MATHEMATICIANS IN LOVE (Tor), Saturday, February 10th at 3:00 pm

The Otherworldly Erotic Reading, with Blake C. Aarens, MI Blue, and others, emceed by Carol Queen, Wednesday, February 14th at 7:00 pm

Guy Gavriel Kay, YSABEL (Roc), Saturday, February 17th at 4:00 pm (Please note the time of this event has changed from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm.)

Elizabeth Moon, COMMAND DECISION (Del Rey), Saturday, March 3rd at 3:00 pm

Simon Wood, ACCIDENTS WAITING TO HAPPEN (Leisure), Saturday, March 10th at 3:00 pm

Kim Harrison, FOR A FEW DEMONS MORE (Eos), Saturday, March 24th at 1:00 pm

Tad Williams, SHADOWPLAY (DAW), Saturday, March 24th at 3:00 pm

And save the date: Sunday, March 25th we've got something really special coming up!

(for more information check the end of this section)

News

* Ripley has won second prize in the Chronicle Books "Stuff on My Bookstore Cat" Contest!  Click here to see Ripley's winning photo, taken by author Richard Kadrey: <http://www.chroniclebooks.com/bookstorecat/>. The "stuff" on Ripley is a Borderlands Books logo sweater custom-made by Amanda Cotten.

* Our Movie Nights in partnership with Variety Children's Charity should be starting up again in March.  We are just finalizing the dates, and we should have firm information for you next month.  Thanks to all of you who have been so supportive -- we'll have fun,  see some more great movies and continue to raise money for underprivileged kids this year.

* Hurry for your chance to win an advance copy of UN LUN DUN by China Miéville from Del Rey Publications!  You only have until Friday to enter the contest, but fortunately, entering is easy.  The following is from the Del Rey Internet Newsletter:
"Un Lun Dun is a tripped-up vision of a city we all know and a fantasy for all ages, imagined by the award-winning master of dark, literary fantasy, China Miéville.  It is London through the looking glass, an urban Wonderland of strange delights where all the lost and broken things of London end up . . . and some of its lost and broken people, too—including Brokkenbroll, boss of the broken umbrellas; Obaday Fing, a tailor whose head is an enormous pin-cushion, and an empty milk carton called Curdle.  Un Lun Dun is a place where words are alive, a jungle lurks behind the door of an ordinary house, carnivorous giraffes stalk the streets, and a dark cloud dreams of burning the world.  It is a city awaiting its hero, whose coming was prophesied long ago, set down for all time in the pages of a talking book.
When twelve-year-old Zanna and her friend Deeba find a secret entrance leading out of London and into this strange city, it seems that the ancient prophecy is coming true at last.  But then things begin to go shockingly wrong.

Be one of 15 lucky readers to receive an advance copy.  To enter, send an e-mail with "Un Lun Dun" in the subject line to <delrey@randomhouse.com>.  We'll select 15 winners at random.  Please include your name and address. (NOTE: your personal information will not be used for any purpose other than this contest.)  All entries must be received by January 12, 2007."

* Two Special Book Deals for the New Year

Each of the three books in Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle (Quicksilver, The Confusion, and The System of the World) were originally published as normal trade hardcovers but shortly thereafter, Hill House Publishers produced each of the books in beautiful, limited editions.  Each volume is bound in silk, slip-cased in the same material, signed by Stephenson, and limited to just 1000 numbered copies.  We have sold many copies of these editions and now we are down to our last complete set.  Each of the three volumes is normally priced at $200, and so the whole set would be $600.  But one lucky customer will be able to buy our final set of all three books for only $360.  Think of this as a little "thank you" for your support in 2006.

Secondly, the signed edition of Stephen King's newest book from Cemetery Dance, The Secretary of Dreams, is completely sold out at the publisher.  We're offering one of the 750 tray-cased, signed, and numbered copies to our customers at the below-market price of $450.

Please email us immediately if your are interested in either of these offers.  Based on the date and time of the email, the first customer who inquires will have the first chance to purchase.

Happy New Year!

* For fans of thrillers --
From Shelf Awareness, January 9th: "Anyone who subscribes to the free International Thriller Writers' newsletter before February 15 will automatically be entered into a contest with a thrilling prize for the grand prize winner: autographed copies of 150 novels by thriller writers Joseph Finder, Tess Gerritsen, John Lescroart, Gayle Lynds and David Baldacci, among others.  Three  runners-up will receive copies of the 2006 Thriller Anthology edited by  James Patterson.
The monthly ITW newsletter contains information about forthcoming thriller novels, thriller authors and general thriller news.  Sign up and entry information is at <http://news.shelf-awareness.com/ct.jsp?uz2786429Biz3569823>."

*From John Scalzi's blog, The Whatever, comes this: "Deb Geisler alerts me to a Mike Ford Memorial Auction & Extravaganza which will be held on the Friday night of Boskone, in February.  The auction in his memory will go to benefit the John M. Ford Memorial Book Endowment, which benefits the Minneapolis Public Library.
At the moment, NESFA (the folks who run Boskone) are soliciting items for the auction, so if you're an author or a fan with something interesting to contribute to the cause of literacy, click [<http://community.livejournal.com/nesfa/3671.html>] and let NESFA know.  I'll be pitching in a couple of items for auction myself. Don't let me be the only one."

*Congratulations to David Edelman, Joel Shepherd, Tobias Bucknell, John Scalzi, Kim Stanley Robinson and Ian McDonald -- their novels were chosen as the Top Science Fiction Books of the year by the review site Bookgasm.  Special notice goes to Pyr Books, who snagged three of those top slots.  Click here to see the details: <http://www.bookgasm.com/reviews/sci-fi/5-best-sci-fi-books-of-2006/>.

*Scalzi, Bucknell and McDonald also made SF Signal's Best of 2006 list, along with other fine folks including artist John Picacio: <http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/004631.html>

*Ray Bradbury answers questions about his new novel FAREWELL SUMMER: <http://outofthiseos.typepad.com/blog/2006/12/ray_bradbury_an.html#more>.  Also see our New and Notable Books section for Loren Rhoads' review of FAREWELL SUMMER.

*The ISFDB (Internet Speculative Fiction Database), "a community effort to catalog works of science fiction, fantasy, and horror," is now open for editing by the general public.  This ambitious project is hosted by Texas A&M University, and promises to be an immensely helpful resource. <http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/index.cgi>

*A year-old column of David Langford's Ansible was recently mentioned by The Website at the End of the Universe <http://www.theendoftheuniverse.ca/>, and it bears some repeat attention.  This column comments on the bizarre but common circular logic that supposes science fiction, fantasy and horror, in books, movies and TV, cannot be intelligent and adult, and as soon as they are judged such, they immediately and mysteriously cease to _be_  genre fiction.  For example, "Battlestar Galactica's executive producer Ronald D. Moore agrees: 'It's just fleshed-out reality ... it's not in the science-fiction genre.  Sci-fi doesn't usually treat adult men and women as adult men and women, and we wanted to treat them as adults.' Which, decoded, seems to mean it has more sex than most TV SF."   Simultaneously be outraged, amused, insulted and laugh your head off: <http://www.ansible.co.uk/sfx/sfx126.html>.

From The Office

Happy New Year, everyone!  I hope that 2007 has been treating you all very well thus far. 

First off, I want to thank you, our customers, as well as the authors and publishers who have supported us through 2006.  It was a good year for Borderlands (despite all the cafe delays).  Probably the best proof of that is the following -

According to Shelf Awareness (Friday, Jan. 5th), a bookselling industry newsletter --

"Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million Have a Flat Holiday"

"Sales during the holiday period at both Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million were below expectations.

At B&N, sales during the nine weeks between October 29 and December 30 were $1.1 billion, up 2.6%, but sales at stores open at least a year were down 0.1%, lower than the company's prediction of a "flat to low single digit increase." By contrast, sales at B&N.com during the same period were up 2.7% to $108.5 million.

In a statement, CEO Steve Riggio called the results "somewhat disappointing" and cited "a highly promotional and competitive environment."

Yesterday Sun Trust Robinson Humphrey downgraded B&N to "neutral" from "buy."

By way of comparison, at Borderlands our sales for December were up by more than twice B&N's 2.6% figure and we've been open for a hell of a lot longer than one year.

I don't believe in conducting my business (or personal life for that matter) on the cut-throat, dance-on-the-graves-of-my-competitors model.  But, B&N has engaged in a number of trade practices over the years that I (and in two cases, the Federal Trade Commission) think are a little sleazy and even borderline illegal.  So, I have to admit that their Christmas woes give me a bit of a smile.

Far more importantly though, the idea of Borderlands has been based from the beginning on the belief that there are enough people who want what we have to offer -- our selection, our careful and thoughtful service, and our friendly, community-oriented environment -- that we will be able to stay in business.  The fact that we're still in business seems to prove that we were right; those figures are added proof that it's working.  Here's to it continuing to work into 2007 and beyond.

Thank you,
Alan

Origin of the Bookstore, Part the Third

For the next ten months we'll be doing a special feature each month in honor of Borderlands' upcoming 10th Anniversary (November 3rd, 2007).  We'll share some stories about what Borderlands is and how it got that way.

Ripley

Possibly San Francisco's most famous cat, Ripley joined the Borderlands family in December of 2002.  She was a gangly six month old Sphynx catling, selected for her winning personality, semi-hypo-allergenic-ness, and complete and utter lack of "show-cat" cred.  Almost everyone knows Ripley, but few know the story of how Alan and I managed to misplace her on her very first night in the bookstore.

Flashback to that misty December eve not so long ago.  Alan and I had driven out to fetch Ripley from the East Bay after spending the afternoon shopping for cat food bowls, litter, litter box, small feathered doo-dads, and all the other assorted stuff that you don't realize you need until you decide to get a cat. 

Everything seemed perfect.  We'd "cat-proofed" the store to the best of our (okay, I admit it now, completely lame) abilities.  Not being a parent, I hadn't realized that "baby-proofing" is never as simple as you think it will be.  Sure, you've put those big plastic locks on the cabinet with the Ajax and the ant poison and capped all the electrical outlets, but what about all the stuff that you just don't realize can possibly be hazardous? Who could expect that the precious tykes will be trying to swallow the TV remote as soon as your back is turned, or smother themselves in your seemingly-harmless throw pillows?  Babies can make anything into a hazard; in fact, I think they are wholly responsible for that awful ascetic Danish-modern furniture look, where everything was streamlined and nothing had any sharp corners -- have you noticed that the Danish Modern trend coincided with the Baby Boom?  Cats function in exactly the same manner.  It is a wonder that any survive to continue the species, since they seem so bent on self-destruction.

But I digress.  So we'd (pitifully) cat-proofed the place, installed a cat door in any flat surface larger than four feet tall, set up the food and the water bowls and the litter box in (different parts of the) basement, and scattered feathered ankle-turners all over the place.  Now it was time for The Cat.  Despite my conviction that she'd be freaking out, projectile vomiting, and clinging upside down to the ceiling of the car by her claws on the way back to the bookstore, Ripley was surprisingly tranquil.  She curled up on my lap and fell asleep after thoroughly exploring the vehicle.  Perhaps I was lulled into a false sense of security.  When we finally arrived at the store after the three and a half hour drive, we were in a bit of a hurry to show the cat the litterbox in case she needed to use it.  So Alan took Ripley downstairs to the basement and I headed to the stock room where we'd stashed the cat food so I could bring it downstairs and fill up her bowl.  Not thirty seconds later, I heard a plaintive mewling from the basement, but it wasn't Ripley -- it was Alan, saying "Juuuuude?  I lost the cat!"

I rushed downstairs.  "You WHAT? How did you do that?"

"I just set her down in front of the litterbox and turned my back for a second, and she was gone!" 

And so ensued a desperate search through the store's 2000 square-foot basement, which is also Alan's workshop.  The basement, in addition to being full of wood-working tools including several large saws, contains random boxes of books intended for donation, tons of props that we use for window displays, mannequins and clothes racks from the used clothing store which used to occupy the store space,  bookcases-in-progress, and lots of the other odd stuff that somehow automatically collects in basements.  We tried calling the cat's name first, before realizing that (a) the cat didn't know her name, since she'd only had it for three hours, and (b) even if they do know their names, cats *never* come when you call them, and in fact frequently head the opposite direction instead.  So that was ineffective.  We meowed loudly.  We shook the bag of cat treats.  We waved catnip like a talisman. 

We looked in the most obvious places first; under the tables holding tools, in the cardboard boxes, etc.  No cat.  We then tried looking methodically over every inch of the basement -- over, under, around and through all the objects there.  No cat.  We held very very still, (and were vewy, vewy quiet) listening for meowing or rustling.  Nothing.  Following the useful maxim "when in trouble or in doubt/run in circles/scream and shout," I was starting to get a little frantic, and even a little irrational.  What if there was some undiscovered hole in the basement large enough for a cat to fit through?  What if she had crawled inside the walls of the building, like a rat?  What if she had impaled herself on a jigsaw?  What if we had a previously-undetected inter-dimensional portal in the basement, like the one we have in the ceiling of the office? (But that's another story.)  What if she was shivering in the Mission Playground next door, lost and alone and scared?  We intensified our search efforts.

Long story short, we finally located the cat, while crawling around on our hands and knees, in a space technically too small for the cat to fit.  (But isn't that always the way?)  She was *underneath* a wooden pallet, under the basement stairs, which was behind an enormous box of clothing hangers, which was behind a pile of 5-year-old newspapers, which was obscured by a doorless 50-year-old floor-safe that came with the store and is much too heavy to dispose of. 

Ripley was contentedly licking her paws as if we hadn't just spent half an hour panicking and feeling horrible and berating ourselves for killing the cat not ten minutes after we got her to the store.  Four years later, she hasn't shown a marked decrease in her tendency toward mischief.  At least now I know to check under the stairs first.

-Jude Feldman

Top Sellers At Borderlands

Hardcovers
1. Polity Agent by Neal Asher
2. Jennifer Morgue by Charles Stross
3. A Cruel Wind by Glen Cook
4.  The Android's Dream by John Scalzi
5. Teatro Grottesco by Thomas Ligotti
6. Soldier of Sidon by Gene Wolfe
7. Fugitives of Chaos by John C. Wright
      tied with
   The Sky People by S.M. Stirling
8. Odyssey by Jack McDevitt
9. 1824: The Arkansas War by Eric Flint
10. Sung in Blood by Glen Cook
        tied with
     Empire by Orson Scott Card

Paperbacks
1. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
2. Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan
3. Carnival by Elizabeth Bear
4. Draco Tavern by Larry Niven
5. Talyn by Holly Lisle
6. Dead Letters by Tom Piccirilli
      tied with
    Cell by Stephen King
7. 1812: The Rivers of War by Eric Flint
8. Orphans of Chaos by John C. Wright
9. Midshipwizard Halcyon Blithe by James M. Ward
10. Tyranny of the Night by Glen Cook

Trade Paperbacks
1. Hardwired by Walter John Williams
2. Voyage of the Sable Keech by Neal Asher
3. Nova Swing by M. John Harrison
4. Benighted by Kit Whitfield
5. Spears of God by Howard V. Hendrix

Notes From a DVD Geek

Happy New Year, movie buffs.  I hope you all spent a happy holiday season watching the creepy horror film known as IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE.  Okay, maybe I’m the only one who thinks this “holiday classic” is really creepy.  In any event, I hope you got to spend a lot of time with your family watching your favorite films.  I’ve got some interesting recommendations for you this month. 

First up is hands-down the best horror movie of the last year or so – THE DESCENT.  Those of you who saw the Variety/Borderlands screening of this contemporary British masterpiece last April know what I’m talking about.  For those of you who missed it in the theaters, it's now out on DVD.  Even if you’re not normally a fan of horror movies, THIS is one you need to see.

Speaking of the Variety/Borderlands film screenings . . . last summer, we had an anime double feature that presented Hayao Miyazaki’s PORCO ROSSO, and Mamoru Oshii’s JIN-ROH:  THE WOLF BRIGADE.  Both films were a hit, but JIN-ROH was particularly intense.  The director has also made several live-action films, and these have been collected together for a single DVD release:  Mamoru Oshii: Cinema Trilogy Collection, which features TALKING HEADS, STRAY DOGS, and RED SPECTACLES.  While the director (who also directed GHOST IN THE SHELL) may not be for everybody, his films are certainly a unique and grueling/compelling vision that I recommend for anybody who’s willing to be put through an emotional meat grinder.

Another oddball release that may not be for everyone, but for a completely different reason, is Richard Linklater's A SCANNER DARKLY, which is a rotoscoped (live action film, with animation on top) version of the classic P. K. Dick novel.  I found a lot to like about this one, but fans of Dick’s work might have some nits to pick, and non-fans might be alienated by the literal and sometimes uncinematic adaptation of this novel.  If you don’t mind a movie where people sit around and talk to each other for long periods of time . . . and you don’t mind a movie where most of the characters are whacked-out unlikeable drug addicts, give this one a try.

I’m beginning to realize that a lot of my recommendations might seem to be back-handed, or not particularly enthusiastic.  It may seem that way, but that is really not the case.  I’m just well aware that my taste in movies can be kind of idiosyncratic and not everybody shares my rarified tastes.  Having said all that, the one movie that EVERYBODY will like is The Wicker Man.  No . . . NOT the Nick Cage remake.  The original masterpiece starring Christopher Lee.  It’s got pagans . . . it’s got hippies . . . it’s got folk music . . . it’s got Christopher Lee.  Did I mention Christopher Lee?  It’s also got one of the best endings ever.  EVER!  Don’t be fooled by the recent remake.  Go for the original, which has just been re-released as a two-disk special edition.  This two-disker contains both the original British version of the film and the US theatrical version.  The British edition is a bit longer and contains some extra musical bits not found in the US edition.  If you don’t like this movie, it's because you simply have bad taste in movies, and you shouldn’t watch them any more.  Just kidding.  The usual “Your Milage May Vary” provisos apply.   But this is a good one with broad appeal.

The first of last summer’s “Oh-my-god-someone-else-is-doing-a-movie-about-stage-magicians-so-we-have-to-do-one-too” movies has hit DVD.  THE ILLUSIONIST starring Edward Norton is out.  Note, this is not THE PRESTIGE (AKA Batman versus Wolverine), based on the Christopher Priest novel.  That one is coming later.  THIS one is worth it, if only to see Edward Norton chew the scenery like the mad acting-monster that he is.  I LOVE Edward Norton.  You should, too.

In keeping with my tradition of including period epics (HEAVENLY KINGDOM, etc) as part of the “fantasy” genre of cinema, I want to point out that Criterion has just released a double feature of two of Akira Kurosawa's samurai masterpieces: YOJIMBO and its sequal SANJURO.  These releases are newly remastered and  anamorphically enhanced.  If you’ve never seen a Kurosawa samurai film before, this is an excellent place to start.  And given that they are Criterion editions, they feature a metric ton of film history, theory and criticism.  With a minimal investment in this DVD double feature, you can trick your friends into thinking you are a scholar of Japanese cinema.

Another great movie to pick up if you want to check out a contemporary Samurai film is ZATOICHI, directed by Takeshi Kitano, a contemporary Japanese director better known for his Yakuza epics.  This movie is based on a long-running film and TV franchise in Japan, but is by all accounts one of the best period Samurai films to be made since Kurosawa’s heyday.  We’ve got a special “Double feature” disk in stock that collects ZATOICHI with the director's Yakuza film, SONATINE.

Another set of DVD’s that is worth looking at is from Lurker Films.  We’ve got 4 separate DVD packages that collect some of the best H. P. Lovecraft adaptations ever put to film or video.  Some of them include rare gems like ROUGH MAGIC, and CHILEAN GOTHIC.  In addition, we will have copies of the Call of Cthulhu "silent movie" adaptation we screened last August at the Vareity/Borderlands film nights.  This movie was an indy production from a year or so ago, and not only features a brilliant score that makes the movie work incredibly well, but also is one of the most careful and accurate adaptations of ANY Lovecraft story. 

Finally, Guillermo Del Toro and Mike Mignola bring you the animated adventures of Hellboy in HELLBOY ANIMATED - SWORD OF SWORDS.  If you’re a Hellboy fan, you gotta take a look at this one.

That’s about it for now.  I’ll keep trying to get the good stuff on the shelves, and point it out to you here every month.

-Jeremy Lassen

Book Club Info

The Gay Men's Science Fiction Book Club will meet on Sunday, January 14th, at 5 pm to discuss ALTERED CARBON by Richard Morgan.  The book for February is HOLY FIRE by Bruce Sterling.  Please contact the group leader, Christopher Rodriguez, at cobalt555(at)earthlink.net, for more information.

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Club will meet on Sunday, January 21st at 6 pm to discuss UBIK by Philip K. Dick. The book for February is HE, SHE AND IT by Marge Piercy.   Please contact Jude at jfeldman(at)borderlands-books.com for more information.

Upcoming Event Details

TODAY! Thursday, January 11th at 7:00 pm: David Weber, OFF ARMAGEDDON REEF (Tor) - We're excited to be hosting David Weber (the super-popular author of the Honor Harrington books) as he presents the first book of an entirely new series!  Publishers Weekly has given OFF ARMAGEDDON REEF the following starred review: "Weber. . . launches an epic series with this gripping far-future saga, which springboards off the near-destruction of humanity in a massive war with the alien Gbaba.  The survivors of the human race retreat to the planet Safehold, where they sacrifice basic human rights—and an accurate memory of the Gbaba—for the preservation of the species.  The colony's founders psychologically program the colonists to prevent the re-emergence of scientific inquiry, higher mathematics or advanced technology, which the Gbaba would detect and destroy.   Centuries later, cultural stagnation on this feudal but thriving planet is enforced by the all-powerful Church of God Awaiting. But one kingdom—with the aid of the war's last survivor, a cybernetic avatar that awakens to reinvent itself as a man named Merlin Athrawes—risks committing the ultimate heresy.  Shifting effortlessly between battles among warp-speed starships and among oar-powered galleys, Weber brings the political maneuvering, past and future technologies, and vigorous protagonists together for a cohesive, engrossing whole."  Don't miss this rare opportunity to meet David Weber!

Saturday, January 13th at 3:00 pm: Robert Balmanno, SEPTEMBER SNOW (Regent Press) - We regret that this event has been CANCELED.

Thursday, January 18th at 1:00 pm: Christopher Moore Drop-By Event, YOU SUCK, A LOVE STORY (William Morrow) - This is not an "event" event.  Chris is just going to drop in to sign our store stock, say hi and poke the cat.  But, despite it not being a Real Live Event, you can still get a copy of Chris's brand new book, YOU SUCK, personally inscribed, and you can drop by to see him if you're available at 1:00 pm! (Chris won't be reading, and he may be a bit rushed, but you can certainly come by and say "Hi".)  If you're not able to come by in person, just reserve a copy  before January 18th,  and Chris will personalize it to anyone you'd like: to you, or to your Aunt Sophie, or to your thirty-five pound shaved cat, if you really want that.   For those of you who don't know yet, YOU SUCK is the sequel to BLOODSUCKING FIENDS, and so it is chock-full of bizarre (but surprisingly touching) San Francisco goodness.   The Emperor and His Loyal Men are back, Charlie Asher from A DIRTY JOB makes a brief appearance, the turkey-bowling guys from Safeway have a starring role, and there is oh-so-much more: Jody, coming to terms with feminist vampire power.  True love.  The Vampyre Flood.  Angst-y Abby Normal! Dyed-blue prostitutes! The Glas Kat! Silly goths!  A thirty-five pound shaved cat (as if you hadn't guessed)!  Oh, you must read this book.  Recommended by Jude.

Thursday, February 8th at 7:00 pm: Cory Doctorow, OVERCLOCKED: STORIES OF THE FUTURE PRESENT (Thunder's Mouth Press) -  We're glad to welcome Cory back to the store!  His new story collection is getting rave reviews, and you won't want to miss this chance to see him! "Have you ever wondered what it’s like to get bitten by a zombie? To live through a bioweapon attack? To have every aspect of your life governed by invisible ants?
In Cory Doctorow's collection of novellas, he wields his formidable experience in technology and computing to give us mindbending sci-fi tales that explore the possibilities of information technology — and its various uses — run amok.  "Anda's Game" is a spin on the bizarre new phenomenon of “cyber sweatshops,” in which people are paid very low wages to play online games all day in order to generate in-game wealth, which can be converted into actual money.  Another tale tells of the heroic exploits of “sysadmins” — systems administrators — as they defend the cyber-world, and hence the world at large, from worms and bioweapons.  And yes, there is a story about zombies, too."

Saturday, February 10th at 3:00 pm: Rudy Rucker, MATHEMATICIANS IN LOVE (Tor)  - A new novel from somewhat-local author Rudy Rucker is always a reason for celebration!  From Rudy's website: "A wild, funny tale. Crazy mathematicians compete for the love of two women across space, time and logic.
Berkeley grad students Bela Kis and Paul Bridge have discovered the mathematical underpinnings of ultimate reality. But then they begin fighting over the beguiling video-blogger, Alma Ziff.
First Bela gets Alma's interest by starting the wildest rock band ever. But then Paul undertakes the ultimate computer hack: altering reality to make Alma his. The change brings more than he bargained for: Alma is swept away into a higher world of mathematician cockroaches and cone shells bent upon using our world as an experimental set-up for deciding an arcane point of metamathematics.
It's up to Bela to bring Alma back, repair reality, stop the aliens, and, most important of all, discover the true meaning of love." We're glad to have Rudy back, and we bet you'll be glad to meet him!

Wednesday, February 14th at 7:00 pm: The Otherworldly Erotic Reading, with Blake C. Aarens, MI Blue, and others, emceed by Carol Queen - Valentine's Day is all-too-frequently full of roses and cow-eyed couples.  So come proudly independent or bring your significant other(s) and join us at Borderlands for the Otherworldy Erotic Reading!  Several readers will bring you speculative fiction coupled with raunch, emceed by author, educator, co-founder of The Center for Sex and Culture <http://www.centerforsexandculture.org/> and all-around sex goddess Carol Queen!  After the readings we'll head off to Killowatt (3160 16th Street) for some fun but deliberately completely un-romantic cocktails.  Obligatory disclaimers: The reading is for those 18 and over, please, and the cocktails are for those 21 and over.

Saturday, February 17th at 4:00 pm: Guy Gavriel Kay, YSABEL (Roc) (Please note the time of this event has changed from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm.) - We know you'll be as delighted as we are to meet fantasist Guy Gavriel Kay!  Mr. Kay is coming to Borderlands to read from and sign his new novel YSABEL.  Publishers Weekly has given it the following starred review: "Kay (The Last Light of the Sun) departs from his usual historical fantasies to connect the ancient, violent history of France to the present day in this entrancing contemporary fantasy.  Fifteen-year-old Canadian Ned Marriner accompanies his famous photographer father, Edward, on a shoot at Aix-en-Provence's Saint-Saveur Cathedral while his physician mother, Meghan, braves the civil war zone in Sudan with Doctors Without Borders.  As Ned explores the old cathedral, he meets Kate Wenger, a geeky but attractive American girl who's a walking encyclopedia of history. In the ancient baptistery, the pair are surprised by a mysterious, scarred man wielding a knife who warns that they've "blundered into a corner of a very old story. It is no place for children."  But Ned and Kate can't avoid becoming dangerously entangled in a 2,500-year-old love triangle among mythic figures.  Kay also weaves in a secondary mystery about Ned's family and his mother's motivation behind her risky, noble work.  The author's historical detail, evocative writing and fascinating characters—both ancient and modern—will enthrall mainstream as well as fantasy readers."  We'll see you here.

Saturday, March 3rd at 3:00 pm: Elizabeth Moon, COMMAND DECISION (Del Rey) - More info to come.

Saturday, March 10th at 3:00 pm: Simon Wood, ACCIDENTS WAITING TO HAPPEN (Leisure) - More info to come.

Saturday, March 24th at 1:00 pm: Kim Harrison, FOR A FEW DEMONS MORE (Eos) - More info to come.

Saturday, March 24th at 3:00 pm: Tad Williams, SHADOWPLAY (DAW) - More info to come. 

Borderlands event policy - all events are free of charge.  You are welcome to bring copies of an author's books purchased elsewhere to be autographed (but we do appreciate it if you purchase something while at the event).  For most events you are welcome to bring as many books as you wish for autographs.  If you are unable to attend the event we will be happy to have a copy of the author's books signed or inscribed for you.  We can then either hold it until you can come in to pick it up or we can ship it to you.  Just give us a call or drop us an email.  If you live out of town, you can also ship us books from your collection to be signed.  Call or email for details.

Chapter Two - Book Listings

Small Press Features

Science Fiction and Fantasy:

James Tiptree Award Anthology, The - vol 3 by Karen Joy Fowler, ed and Pat Murphy/ Debbie Notkin/ Jeffrey D. Smith, ed. (Tachyon, $14.95, Trade Paperback)

Strange Attractor Journal 3 by Mark Pilkington, ed.  (Strange Attractor, $18.00, Trade Paperback) - Trade paper style bound magazine.

Strange Attractor Journal 2 by Mark Pilkington, ed.  (Strange Attractor, $18.00, Trade Paperback) - Trade paper style bound magazine.

Secret Life by Jeff Vandermeer  (Prime Books, $14.95, Trade Paperback)

Stark and the Star Kings by Edmond Hamilton and Leigh Brackett (Haffner Press, $45.00, Hardcover) - Illustrated by Alex Ebel, introduction by John Jakes. Limited to 1000 copies. Contains the stories “The Star Kings,” “Queen of the Martian Catacombs,” “Enchantress of Venus,” “Black Amazon of Mars,” “Return to the Stars,” and “Stark and the Star Kings”.

Past Magic by Ian R. MacLeod  (PS Publishing, $45.00, Hardcover) - Introduction by Jack Dann. This edition limited to 500 numbered trade hardcover copies signed by Ian R. MacLeod.

To Be Continued - The Collected Stories of Robert Silverberg vol. 1 by Robert Silverberg  (Subterranean, $35.00 Hardcover, and Signed Numbered Limited Edition (125 copies) Hardcover, $60.00)

Crucible of Power, The - The Collected Stories of Jack Williamson vol. 5 by Jack Williamson  (Haffner Press, $40.00, Hardcover)

r/evolution: The Art of Jon Foster by Jon Foster and Cathy Fenner, ed. (Underwood Books, $27.00, Oversized Hardcover) - Also edited by Arnie Fenner and Irene Gallo

Dinosaur Alphabet by Harry S. Robins  (Frog, Ltd., $18.95, Oversized Hardcover)

Allies - Adventures in The Liaden Universe 12 by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (SRM Publisher, $10.00, Chapbook)

Shimmer - Vol. 2, Issue 1 - Autumn 2006 by Beth Wodzinski, ed.  (Shimmer, $5.00, Chapbook)

Horror:

Deadly Percheron, The by John Franklin Bardin  (Millipede Press, $15.00, Trade Paperback) - Introduction by Jonathan Lethem. Includes the first chapters of “I Love You, Terribly,” Bardin’s never-before-published final novel.

Offspring by Jack Ketchum  (Overlook Connection Press, $17.95, Trade Paperback)

Prodigal Blues by Gary A. Braunbeck  (Cemetery Dance, $40.00, Hardcover) - One of 1000 signed limited edition copies.

Night Visions 12 by Kealan Patrick Burke, ed.  (Subterranean, $28.00, Hardcover, and $50.00, Signed and Numbered Limited Edition (250 copies) Hardcover)

Wild Things: Four Tales by Douglas Clegg  (Cemetery Dance, $20.00, Hardcover) - One of 1500 signed limited edition copies.

Isis by Douglas Clegg  (Cemetery Dance, $20.00, Hardcover) - One of 600 signed limited edition copies.

Painted Bride, The by Stephen Gallagher  (Subterranean, $40.00, Hardcover) - One of 750 signed and numbered limited edition copies.

Four Octobers by Rick Hautala  (Cemetery Dance, $40.00, Hardcover) - One of 750 signed limited edition copies.

Geek Poems by Charlee Jacob  (Necro Publications, $45.00, Hardcover) - Limited to 100 signed and numbered hardcovers.

Weed Species by Jack Ketchum  (Cemetery Dance, $35.00, Hardcover) - One of 1500 signed limited edition copies.

Teatro Grottesco by Thomas Ligotti  (Durtro Press, $85.65, Hardcover) - Limited to 500 copies, sold out pre-publication.   Table of Contents:  Derangements - Purity; The Town Manager;Sideshow, and Other Stories; The Clown Puppet ; The Red Tower;  Deformations - My Case for Retributive Action; Our Temporary Supervisor; In a Foreign Town, In a Foreign Land;  The Damaged and the Diseased - Teatro Grottesco; Gas Station Carnivals; The Bungalow House; Severini; The Shadow, the Darkness;  Dead Dreams - Things They Will Never Tell You; This Degenerate Little Town; Envoi.

Harvest Moon by James A. Moore  (Cemetery Dance, $40.00, Hardcover) - One of 750 signed limited edition copies.

A Soul In A Bottle by Time Powers  (Subterranean, $45.00, Hardcover) - one of 500 signed and numbered copies. Illustrated by J.K. Potter.  Includes extra inserted pages.

Baby, The by Al Sarrantonio  (Cemetery Dance, $35.00, Hardcover) - One of 550 signed limited edition copies. Cemetery Dance Signature Series #3. Illustrated by Keith Minnion.

Aegri Somni: The 2006 Apex Digest Featured Writer Anthology by Jason Sizemore, ed. and Gill Ainsworth, ed. (Apex Publications, $14.95, Trade Paperback and $29.95, Hardcover) - Stories by Christopher Rowe, Scott Nicholson, Cherie Priest and others.

Long Last Call, The by John Skipp  (Cemetery Dance, $40.00, Hardcover) - One of 750 signed limited edition copies.

Evermore by James Robert Smith, ed. and Stephen Mark Rainey (Arkham House, $34.95, Hardcover)

Man Who Could Work Miracles, The by H.G. Wells  (Tartarus, $65.00, Hardcover)

Red Scare - Classic Vampire Stories Revisited by Tom English, ed.  (Dead Letter Press, $25.00, Chapbook) - Cover by Allen Koszowski. Includes an introduction by Tom English, “The Curse of the Vourdalak” by Aleskey Tolstoy and “Lazarus” by Leonid Andreyev. One of 26 lettered copies. This is letter D. 

New and Notable

Science Fiction and Fantasy:

Interstellar Patrol vol. 2: Federation of Humanity by Christopher Anvil  (Baen, $7.99, Mass Market)

Clan of the Cave Bear - Earth’s Children vol. 1 by Jean M. Auel  (Bantam, $7.99, Mass Market)

Capacity by Tony Ballantyne  (Bantam Spectra, $6.99, Mass Market)

Designated Targets by John Birmingham  (Del Rey, $7.99, Mass Market)

Airs Beneath the Moon by Toby Bishop  (Ace, $6.99, Mass Market)

Dragonmaster - Dragonmaster vol. 1 by Chris Bunch  (Roc, $7.99, Mass Market)

La Voz de los Muertos by Orson Scott Card  (Byblos, $10.95, Mass Market) - Spanish language translation of Speaker for the Dead

Wall of Mirrors by Jay Caselberg  (Roc, $6.99, Mass Market)

1812: The Rivers of War by Eric Flint  (Del Rey, $7.99, Mass Market)

Hell to Pay - a novel of the Nightside by Simon R. Green  (Ace, $6.99, Mass Market)

Confederation of Valor, A by Tanya Huff  (DAW, $8.99, Mass Market) - Omnibus of VALOR’S CHOICE and THE BETTER PART OF VALOR.

Valley of the Soul by Tamara Siler Jones  (Bantam Spectra, $6.99, Mass Market)

Cosmic Cocktails by Denise Little, ed.  (DAW, $7.99, Mass Market)

Grand Design, The - Tyrants and Kings vol. 2 by John Marco  (Bantam Spectra, $7.99, Mass Market)

Changelings - Twins of Petaybee vol 1 by Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough (Del Rey, $7.99, Mass Market)

Bridge of Souls - Quickening vol 3 by Fiona McIntosh  (Eos, $7.99, Mass Market)

Von Bek - The Tale of the Eternal Champion vol. 1 by Michael Moorcock  (Gollancz, $18.58, Mass Market) - THE WARHOUND AND THE WORLD’S PAIN, THE CITY IN THE AUTUMN STARS, and THE PLEASURE GARDEN OF FELIPE SAGITTARIUS in one compact volume.

Savage Messiah - Destinies of Blood and Stone vol 1 by Robert Newcomb  (Del Rey, $7.99, Mass Market)

War of Three Waters - Watershed Trilogy vol. 3 by Douglas Niles  (Ace, $7.99, Mass Market)

Darwin’s Watch - The Science of the Discworld vol. 3 by Terry Pratchett and Ian Stewart (Ebury Press, $14.78, Mass Market) - Also by Jack Cohen.

Powers of Detection - Stories of Mystery and Fantasy by Dana Stabenow, ed.  (Ace, $7.99, Mass Market) - All new stories by Anne Perry, Charlaine Harris, Simon R. Green, Sharon Shinn, and others.

Quantum Connection, The by Travis S. Taylor  (Baen, $7.99, Mass Market)

Path of the Fury by David Weber  (Baen, $7.99, Mass Market)

Worlds of Honor - Worlds of Honor vol. 2 by David Weber, ed.  (Baen, $7.99, Mass Market) - With stories by David Weber, Roland Green, Linda Evans, and Jane Lindskold.

One for Sorrow, Two for Joy by Clive Woodall  (Ace, $6.99, Mass Market)

Weavers of Saramyr, The - Braided Path vol. 1 by Chris Wooding  (Gollancz, $7.99, Mass Market)

Skein of Lament, The - Braided Path vol. 1 by Chris Wooding  (Gollancz, $7.99, Mass Market)

Frost-Haired Vixen, The by John Zakour  (DAW, $7.99, Mass Market)

Myth-nomers and Im-prevections by Robert Asprin  (Ace, $6.99, Trade Paperback)

Vermillion Sands by J.G. Ballard  (Vintage, $16.68, Trade Paperback)

Inversions by Iain M. Banks  (Orbit, $17.08, Trade Paperback)

Last Battle, The - Dragonmaster vol. 3 by Chris Bunch  (Roc, $14.00, Trade Paperback)

Age of Misrule (Omnibus Edition) by Mark Chadbourn  (Gollancz, $20.50, Trade Paperback) - WORLD’S END, DARKEST HOUR, and ALWAYS FOREVER in one brick-like volume.

9Tail Fox by Jon Courtenay Grimwood  (Gollancz, $16.68, Trade Paperback) - Fans of ALTERED CARBON will fall for this set-in-San Francisco noir police procedural with a weird, fantastic twist.  Police Sergeant Bobby Zha has to solve his own murder after he wakes up in someone else's body.  How he got there and why he's being trailed by the nine-tailed fox of Chinese legend are just the beginning: there is also the unsolved murder that reaches all the way back to 1942 Stalingrad -- a murder that an 11-year-old Russian girl claims is her responsibility -- and Colonel Billy, one of the homeless men who acts as Bobby Zha's eyes and ears on the street, is muttering about the scores of dead babies he has seen.   Dark and gritty, Dashiell Hammett meets William Gibson.  Compulsive proofreaders beware, though -- there are a handful of glaring copyediting mistakes that you will notice.  Recommended by Jude.

Nova Swing by M. John Harrison  (Gollancz, $21.08, Trade Paperback)

In the Earth Abides the Flame - Fires of Heaven vol. 2 by Russell Kirkpatrick  (Orbit, $16.68, Trade Paperback)

Dragon Avenger - Age of Fire vol. 2 by E.E. Knight  (Roc, $14.00, Trade Paperback)

Story of General Dann and Maria’s Daughter, Griot and Snow Dog, The by Doris Lessing  (Harper, $13.95, Trade Paperback)

Hollow Earth, The by Rudy Rucker  (MonkeyBrain, $15.95, Trade Paperback)

Mugglenet.com’s What Will Happen in Harry Potter 7 - Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Falls in Love and How Will the Adventure Finally End? by Ben Schoen and Emerson Spartz (Ulysses Press, $13.95, Trade Paperback) - Also by Andy Gordon, Gretchen Stull and Jamie Lawrence. Unauthorized predictions from the #1 Harry Potter fan site.

Silver Bough, The by Lisa Tuttle  (Bantam Spectra, $12.00, Trade Paperback)

Oath of Swords by David Weber  (Baen, $15.00, Trade Paperback) - Includes the new novella Sword Brother.

Fables vol 5 - The Mean Seasons by Bill Willingham  (Vertigo/DC Comics, $14.99, Trade Paperback)

Remake by Connie Willis  (Bantam Spectra, $15.00, Trade Paperback)

Polity Agent by Neal Asher  (Tor, $35.68, Hardcover)

Tower of Shadows, The by Drew C. Bowling  (Ballantine, $19.95, Hardcover)

Farewell Summer by Ray Bradbury (William Morrow, $24.95, Hardcover) Thanks to Loren Rhoads for the following review: "I've just finished reading FAREWELL SUMMER, Ray Bradbury's sequel to DANDELION WINE. This was one of those books that I had to set aside for a while, because I was enjoying it so much I didn't want to rush through it too quickly. Rushing through it was a real danger, since it's barely more than 200 pages of text that's printed nearly double-spaced. It's a novella tarted up as a novel.
Still, between Doug Spaulding's war of resistance to growing up and Calvin C. Quartermain's rediscovery of youth in the face of death, there is space for Bradbury to do what he does best: unsheath poetry. This book contains some of the most beautiful writing I've read all year.
About a graveyard: "He turned blindly to touch deep-cut green moss names and rainy years, and old games played on lost Memorial Days while his aunts watered the grass with tears, their voices like windswept trees."
On the jealousy of the elderly: "We are a minority, like the dark African and the lost Hittite. We live in a country of the young.  All we can do is wait until some of these sadists hit nineteen, then truck them off to war.  Their crime? Being full up with orange juice and spring rain. Patience.  Someday soon you'll see them wander by with winter in their hair.  Sip your revenge quietly."
My favorite part is a meditation on clocks: "Shake down all the grains of Time -- the big grains of centuries, and the small grains of years, and the tiny grains of hours and minutes -- and the clock pulverized them, slid Time silently out in all directions in a fine pollen, carried by cold winds to blanket the town like dust, everywhere.  Spores from that clock lodged in your flesh to wrinkle it. . ."
FAREWELL SUMMER was an amazing, touching, *true* book that I adored and couldn't wait to recommend. Until I reached the thirty-seventh and final chapter . . ."   However, after a glowing beginning, Loren was very dissatisfied with the last chapter.  Click here to read the rest of Loren's in-depth review, but be warned that it contains a spoiler! <http://morbidmom04.livejournal.com/2006/12/20/>

Voyage of the Jerle Shannara Trilogy, The by Terry Brooks  (Del Rey, $35.00, Hardcover) - Contains ISLE WITCH, ANTRAX, and MORGWAR

Scar Night - Deepgate Codex vol 1 by Alan Campbell  (Bantam, $22.00, Hardcover)

Empire by Orson Scott Card  (Tor, $100.00, Hardcover) - Limited to 100 signed and numbered copies.

Next by Michael Crichton  (HarperCollins, $27.95, Hardcover)

Grantville Gazette III by Eric Flint, ed.  (Baen, $25.00, Hardcover)

Assassin King, The - Symphony of Ages vol 6 by Elizabeth Haydon  (Tor, $25.95, Hardcover)

Childe Morgan - A Novel of the Deryni by Katherine Kurtz  (Ace, $24.95, Hardcover)

Maelstrom - Twins of Petaybee vol 2 by Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough (Del Rey, $23.95, Hardcover)

Terrier - Beka Cooper vol. 1 by Tamora Pierce  (Random House, $18.95, Hardcover)

Dr. Whom or E.T Shoots and Leaves - The Zero Tolerance Approach to Parodication by A.R.R.R. Roberts  (Gollancz, $18.58, Hardcover)

Winterbirth by Brian Ruckley  (Orbit, $27.08, Hardcover)

Exodus by Steve White and Shirley Meier (Baen, $26.00, Hardcover) - Sequel to The Shiva Option.

Ghost Rider - The Visual Guide by Andrew Darling  (DK, $19.99, Oversized Hardcover)

Piratepedia by Alisha Nichaus, ed.  (DK Books, $12.99, Oversized Hardcover)

Dragonology - Tracking and Taming Dragons - A Deluxe Book and Model Set by Dugald A. Steer, ed.  (Candlewick Press, $14.99, Oversized Hardcover)

New York Review of Science Fiction Number 220 Vol. 19, No.4 by Kevin J. Maroney, ed. and David G. Hartwell, ed. (Dragon Press, $4.00, Oversized Softcover)

Secret Commonwealth of Elves, Fauns, and Fairies, The by Robert Kirk  (New York Review of Books, $16.95, Other Hardcover)

Horror:

Forever Odd by Dean Koontz  (Bantam, $7.99, Mass Market)

Full Moon Rising by Keri Arthur  (Bantam Spectra, $6.99, Mass Market)

A Drop of Scarlet by Jemiah Jefferson  (Leisure, $6.99, Mass Market)

Ferocity by Stephen Laws  (Leisure, $7.99, Mass Market)

Death Instinct by Bentley Little  (Signet, $7.99, Mass Market)

Stake That! by Mari Mancusi  (Berkley, $9.99, Mass Market) - Digest sized

Shards of Crimson by Liz Maverick and Patti O’Shea/ Carolyn Jewel/ Jade Lee (Dorchester, $7.99, Mass Market)

No Dominion by Charlie Huston  (Del Rey, $13.95, Trade Paperback)

Ghost Interrupted by Sonia Singh  (Avon, $13.95, Trade Paperback)

Haunted Hikes - Spine-Tingling Tales and Trails from North America’s National Parks by Andrea Lankford  (Santa Monica Press, $16.95, Trade Paperback)

Mistral’s Kiss - Meredith Gentry vol 5 by Laurell K. Hamilton  (Ballantine, $23.95, Hardcover)

Hannibal Rising by Thomas Harris  (Delacorte, $27.95, Hardcover)

Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge  (Cemetery Dance, $40.00, Hardcover) - One of 2000 signed limited edition copies.

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Suskind  (Knopf, $25.00, Hardcover)

Birthday by Koji Suzuki  (Vertical, $21.95, Hardcover)

New and Notable DVDs

Bleach 01: Substitute directed by Noriyuki Abe  (Shonen Jump Home Video, $24.98, DVD) - Anime

Green Mile, The directed by Frank Darabont  (Warner, $20.97, DVD) - 2 Disk SE

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind directed by Michel Gondry  (Universal Pictures, $19.98, DVD)

Mamoru Oshii Cinema Trilogy: Talking Head, Stray Dog, Red Spectacles directed by Mamoru Oshii  (Bandai, $39.98, DVD) - 3 feature length live action films from the legendary anime director Mamoru Oshii.

Lupin The Third: The First Haul Movie Pack directed by Monkey Punch  (Funimation, $29.98, DVD) - Contains: Voyage to Danger, Dragon of Doom, the Pursuit of Harimaos Treasure, The Secret of Twilight Gemini, and Dead or Alive

Illustrated Man, The directed by Jack Smight  (Warner, $19.97, DVD)

Invader Zim: Complete Invasion directed by Jhonen Vasquez  (Anime Works, $29.95, DVD) - Animated.

Beast, The directed by Walerian Borowczyk  (Cult Epics, $24.95, DVD) - Experimental Erotica based on Beauty and the Beast.

Ambrose Bierce: Civil War Stories [Owl Creek Bridge] directed by Brian James Egen  (Hanover House, $19.95, DVD)

The Devil’s Rain directed by Robert Fuest  (Dark Sky Films, $14.98, DVD) - Starring Ernest Borgnine and William Shatner

H6: Diary of a Serial Killer directed by Martin Garrido Baron  (Tartan Video, $22.95, DVD)

Wicker Man (1973): 2 Disk Collector's Edition directed by Robin Hardy  (Anchor Bay, $19.98, DVD) - Contains both original and US versions of this cult classic.

We’re Going to Eat You directed by Tsui Hark  (Tokyo Shock, $19.95, DVD) - Hong Kong Action / Zombie Fantasia

Daughter of Darkness / The Blood Spattered Bride directed by Harry Kumel  (Blue Underground, $29.95, DVD)

Cannibal Ferox directed by Umbert Lenzi (Grindhouse Releasing, $24.95, DVD)

Masters of Horror: The Fair Haired Child directed by William Malone  (Anchor Bay, $16.98, DVD)

Masters of Horror: Haeckel’s Tale directed by John McNaughton  (Anchor Bay, $16.98, DVD)

The Vampire Collection: El Vampiro, and El Ataud Del Vampiro directed by Fernando Mendez  (Panik House Entertainment, $29.95, DVD) - Mexican Horror

Lady in the Water directed by M. Night Shyamalan  (Warner, $28.98, DVD)

Rampo Noir directed by Sugura Takeuchi  (Kadakawa Video, $22.95, DVD) - Anthology of short films based on the work Edogawa Rampo.

Red Shoes, The directed by Kim Yong-Gyun  (Tartan Asia Extreme, $22.95, DVD) - Korean Horror.

Castle of Blood directed by Antonio Margheriti  (Synapse Films, $19.95, DVD) - Italian Horror. Uncut international Release. AKA Danse Macabre

Featured Upcoming Titles

(These titles have not arrived yet.  You may pre-order any of these books by calling or emailing us.  Prices may be subject to change.  Of course, we have many more titles arriving each week . . . call or email us if you're curious about a particular upcoming title not listed here.)

Right on the heels of Teatro Grottesco, Durtro Press has announced that they will be publishing another work by Thomas Ligotti.  From the Durtro Press Newsletter: "Forthcoming in Spring 2007 from Durtro Press, Thomas Ligotti's new masterpiece, the long-awaited 'The Conspiracy Against The Human Race': Thomas Ligotti's devastating Nihilist Manifesto, a summary of his thought and beliefs in all their terrifying clarity. Approximately 136 pages long.  Format, cost and many more details to be announced soon."

Gods and Pawns by Kage Baker (Tor, Hardcover, $24.95) - I don't know why Cary and I keep accidentally calling this book "Gods and Prawns".  Despite that, we are delighted that another book of Company short stories will soon be available.  Also, the next (and last, I think,) Company novel, THE SONS OF HEAVEN, will be available in July!

Voices From the Street by Philip K. Dick (Tor, Hardcover, $24.95) - A previously unpublished novel from Philip K. Dick!  Rejoice!  Actually, be self-destructively depressed in 1950's Oakland -- but in a good way.

Fast Forward 1: Future Fiction from the Cutting Edge edited by Lou Anders (Pyr, Trade Paperback, $15.00) - Read the following starred review from Publisher's Weekly! "The solid, straightforward storytelling of the 19 stories and two poems that Anders (Futureshocks) gathers for this first in a projected series of all-original SF anthologies speculates on people's efforts to "make sense of a changing world." The contributors don't necessarily assume that humans will find it easy or even possible to cope with all the changes around and within them—but they'll try, which is just part of SF's continuing dialogue about the future. The collection's strongest pieces include Robert Charles Wilson's character study of an almost-artist in search of a muse ("YFL-500"), Mary A. Turzillo's dissection of love ("Pride"), Paul Di Filippo's witty extrapolation of electronic consumerism and democracy gone berserk ("Wikiworld") and Ken MacLeod's understated, moving report on the Second Coming ("Jesus Christ, Reanimator"). All the selections in this outstanding volume prompt thoughtful speculation about what kind of tomorrow we're heading toward and what we'll do when we get there."

Overclocked: Stories of the Future Present (Thunder's Mouth Press, Trade Paperback, $15.95 - Also from Publishers Weekly: " An unabashed promulgator of the Internet and its democratic potential, Doctorow (Eastern Standard Tribe) explores the benefits and consequences of online systems in this provocative collection of six mostly long stories.  "When Sysadmins Ruled the Earth" is a moving chronicle of a widely dispersed network of techno-geeks laboring to keep the World Wide Web running as an epitaph to an earth devastated by a bioweapon apocalypse.  In "After the Siege"—the bleak chronicle of a modern siege of Stalingrad—the horrors of war become fodder for a documentary film crew's reality-based entertainment.  Two tales riff on classic SF themes: "I, Robot," in which Isaac Asimov's positronic bots are cogs in a dysfunctional future totalitarian state, and "Anda's Game," a brilliant homage to Orson Scott Card's Ender's saga, in which a role-playing enthusiast finds herself immersed in a surprisingly real world of class warfare fought online by avatars of game players.  Most "meat"-minded readers will find much to savor."

Spook Country by William Gibson (Putnam, Hardcover, $25.95) - From Jack Womack, via William Gibson's blog: "Spook: as spectre, ghost, revenant, remnant of death, the madness lingering after the corpse is sloughed off.  Slang for intelligence agent; agent of uncertainty, agent of fear, agent of fright.
  Country: in the mind or in reality.  The World.  The United States of America, New Improved Edition.  What lies before you.  What lies behind. Where your bed is made.
  Spook Country: the place where we have all landed, few by choice, and where we are learning to live.  The country inside and outside of the skull. The soul, haunted by the past, of what was, of what might have been.  The realization that not all forking paths are equal -- some go down in value.
 The ground of being, pervaded with spectres.  The ground of actuality, similarly teeming.
  In traversing spook country, we ourselves have been transformed, and we will not fully understand how until we are no longer what we were."

From the Notebooks of Dr. Brain by Minister Faust (Del Rey, Trade Paperback, $13.95) YES!  A new novel from Minister Faust!  I adored Coyote Kings of the Space Age Bachelor Pad, an unfairly overlooked and very funny book.   And now Faust's upcoming book has gotten a starred PW review: "Masquerading as a self-help book for superheroes, this sharp satire of caped crusaders hides a deeper critique of individual treatment versus social injustice.  Faust (The Coyote Kings of the Space-Age Bachelor Pad) provides funny and knowing caricatures of the famous figures of American comic books via an extended therapy session by Dr. Eva Brain-Silverman.  Analyzing their various mental hangups, Dr. Brain attempts to help heroes like irascible billionaire crime-fighter Festus Piltdown III ("Flying Squirrel") overcome the rejection of his foster ward, Tran Chi Hanh ("Chip Monk").  But African-American hero Philip Kareem Edgerton ("X-Man") resists, insisting that recent events in "sunny Los Ditkos" are signs of a coup within F*O*O*J ("Fantastic Order of Justice") and not RNPN ("Racialized Narcissistic Projection Neurosis").  Faust's well-aimed jabs spare no super sacred cows nor many pop idols and pychobabbling media stars.  Underneath the humor, careful readers will find uncomfortable parallels to real-world urban tragedies in the novel's "July 16 Attacks," where Faust gives a double meaning to the "Crisis of Infinite Dearths."

This newsletter is distributed monthly free of charge and may be distributed without charge so long all the following information is included.

Dispatches from the Border
Editor - Jude Feldman
Assistant Editor - Alan Beatts

All contents unless otherwise noted are the property of

Borderlands Books
866 Valencia St.
San Francisco, CA  94110
415-824-8203
http://www.borderlands-books.com

Comments and suggestions should be directed to editor@borderlands-books.com

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2006
DECEMBER, 2006
NOVEMBER, 2006
OCTOBER, 2006
SEPTEMBER, 2006
AUGUST, 2006
JULY, 2006
JUNE, 2006
MAY, 2006
APRIL, 2006
MARCH, 2006
FEBRUARY, 2006
JANUARY, 2006

2005
DECEMBER, 2005
NOVEMBER, 2005
OCTOBER, 2005
SEPTEMBER, 2005
AUGUST, 2005
JULY, 2005
JUNE, 2005
MAY, 2005
APRIL, 2005
MARCH, 2005
FEBRUARY, 2005
JANUARY, 2005

2004
DECEMBER, 2004
NOVEMBER, 2004
OCTOBER, 2004
SEPTEMBER, 2004
AUGUST, 2004
JULY, 2004
JUNE, 2004
MAY, 2004
APRIL, 2004
MARCH, 2004
FEBRUARY, 2004
JANUARY, 2004

2003
DECEMBER, 2003
NOVEMBER, 2003