ABOUT THE STORE : NEWSLETTER

DISPATCHES FROM THE BORDER

Events and News from Borderlands Books

July, 2009

Chapter One - Event Information, News, and Special Features

News

* Edible Haunted Houses
As with so many things about the cafe, we'd like your opinion on this.  One of our suppliers makes cool little do-it-yourself Gingerbread Haunted House kits.  They include a base, the gingerbread house parts, icing, and candies to decorate with.  What we want to know is this: If we had a Haunted House Decorating Contest at the cafe, would you pay $20 for a kit like that? You could build and decorate the house either at the cafe at a specified time, or at home on your own time, as long as you brought your completed House to the cafe in time for judging.  The first prize would be something worth about $100, the second prize worth about $50, and the third prize worth about $25.  Seem like fun?  Is it something you'd do?  Please let us know!

* Preorder your copy of the lovely and scary art book WHO KILLED AMANDA PALMER? now!  Photos of Dresden Dolls' Palmer in a variety of different "deaths", stories by Neil Gaiman.  It's a $34.99 hardcover, and just beautiful. <http://whokilledamandapalmer.com/book>.  There will be 10,000 copies printed, but very, very limited quantities will be available from bookstores.

* BLOOD OF ELVES by Andrzej Sapkowski has won the David Gemmell Legend prize. The Guardian <http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/jun/19/1> reported that the award, which "is intended to restore fantasy to its proper place in the literary pantheon," was given to the Polish author who "outsells Stephen King in Poland, but his fantasy novels, set in a world where the races of dwarves, elves, gnomes and humans are on the verge of war with each other, have only recently been translated into English." More than 10,000 fans from 75 countries voted for the prize.

* "Preacher" in hardcover: Garth Ennis's incredible "Preacher" graphic novels are being collected into hardback volumes by Vertigo.   Let us know if you'd like to reserve copies.  More info here: <http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6666813.html?nid=2789&source=title&rid=1689110361>

* "Psycho" Shower Curtain & Bath Mat:
Okay, so they're not for everyone, but I thought these were pretty nifty (in a creepy, blood-curdling kind of way, of course): <http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/gear/b9b2/?cpg=cj>  Thanks to Chris O. and Amanda for pointing these out!

* Sample New PS Titles for Free:
From Pete Crowther at PS Publishing: "We decided it was high time we let you try before you buy, and so the PS internet monkeys are gradually adding free fiction samples to the catalogue - a single story from collections and anthologies, and a chapter or extract from longer works.  There's many more to come - we intend to have a sample available for every title we've released this year by the time Christmas rolls round, God willing - but for now you can test the flavour of the following titles for free:
HARSH OASES by Paul Di Filippo <http://store.pspublishing.co.uk/acatalog/info_301.html>
STARFALL by Steven Baxter <http://store.pspublishing.co.uk/acatalog/info_422.html> . . ."
[Ed. note: There are 10 additional books you can sample at PS's site: <http://store.pspublishing.co.uk/>]


* Science fiction author Ben Bova's B-Four Productions and Red Giant Media will join forces "to develop Bova's THE IMMORTALITY FACTOR for feature adaptation," according to Variety
<http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118004683.html?categoryid=13&cs=1>.  The book, "published by Tor in April, is the uncut version of Bova's 1996 thriller BROTHERS."  Kevin Fox will write the screenplay.

* LITTLE BROTHER on stage, and Cory Doctorow's weird new formats:
Chicago's Griffin Theatre has mounted a live production of Cory Doctorw's young adult novel LITTLE BROTHER, adapted by William Massolia. <http://boingboing.net/2009/06/17/little-brother-the-p.html>.  Also, Cory's busy being revolutionary again.  According to Locus magazine, his upcoming short story collection, A LITTLE HELP, will be self-published in at least four different formats: a free Creative Commons licensed online edition in various formats, a free audiobook, a print on demand trade paperback, and a limited edition hardcover in $100 - $250 range.  Doctorow explains that the publication is an experiment; he'll consider the book a success "if it generates the net equivalent to my cut of 10,000 normal book sales".  He also says that one of the more interesting reasons to do this is to try to empirically determine which is true between the conflicting hypotheses that "'self-publication is a narcissistic money pit'" and "'publishers are obsolete dinosaurs and writers can do just as well going it alone'".  We'll be watching to see what happens!

* Locus Award Winners:
Neal Stephenson's ANATHEM received the 2009 Locus Award for Best SF Novel.  The Locus Awards are presented to the winners of the annual Locus Poll.  For more info about the award and a complete list of winners, see <http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/Locus.html>.

* Partially inspired by Michael Swanwick's essay "The Postmodern Archipelago", David J. Williams (author of MIRRORED HEAVENS and BURNING SKIES) takes a controversial stance on the mainstream's lack of respect for science fiction: <http://www.suvudu.com/2009/06/science-fictions-subordination.html>.  [Dave tells me that it's dangerous to get him thinking, but I'm sure you'll agree the results are interesting! - Ed.]

Cafe News

From The Office

Alan has been so busy with the cafe that he hasn't had time to write an update.  So here's the brief version: we don't have a firm opening date yet, but we should shortly, and we'll let you know as soon as we do.  In the last month, Alan and assorted contractors have finished various Herculean tasks (thank you Arjan, Bruce, Bruno & Simon) and Alan and assorted volunteers (thanks also Ava, Bill, Chris, Jim and Salem!) have painted, nailed up and spackled over 1/3rd of a mile of baseboard molding, door and window frames and picture rail!  The floor is complete and looks fantastic, the plumbing is near done, the light fixtures are all hung and everything looks incredible and near completion.  More news to follow soon; we're getting really close.

- Jude Feldman

Top Sellers At Borderlands

Hardcovers
1. The City and the City by China Mieville
2. Naamah's Kiss by Jacqueline Carey
3. Hylozoic by Rudy Rucker
4. Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
5. An Empire Unacquainted With Defeat by Glen Cook
6. Julian Comstock: A Novel of 22nd Century America by Robert Charles Wilson
7. Green by Jay Lake
8. Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris
9. Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
10. Empress of Mars by Kage Baker

Mass Market Paperbacks
1. Lightbreaker by Mark Teppo
2. Kushiel's Mercy by Jacqueline Carey
3. Prefect by Alastair Reynolds
4. Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
5. Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey
6. The Devil You Know by Mike Carey tie with The City, Not Long After by Pat Murphy
7. Mirrored Heavens by David J. Williams
8. Edge of Reason by Melinda Snodgrass
9. Juggler of Worlds by Larry Niven & Edward M. Lerner
10. Victory of Eagles by Naomi Novik

Trade Paperbacks
1. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
2. Burning Skies by David J. Williams
3. Santa Olivia by Jacqueline Carey
4. Alive in Necropolis by Doug Dorst
5. World War Z by Max Brooks

Notes From a DVD Geek

Book Club Info

The Gay Men's Book Club will meet on Sunday, July 12th at 5 pm to discuss UGLIES by Scott Westerfeld.  Please contact the group leader, Christopher Rodriguez, at cobalt555@earthlink.net, for more information.

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Club will meet on Sunday, July 19th at 6 pm to discuss DEEPNESS IN THE SKY by Vernor Vinge.  Please contact Jude at jfeldman@borderlands-books.com for more information.

Upcoming Event Details

Ray Garton, BESTIAL (Leisure, Mass Market, $7.99), Saturday, July 11 at 3:00 pm - Join us to meet Ray Garton and check out this sequel to RAVENOUS! From Leisure's website: "Something very strange is happening in the coastal California town of Big Rock. Several residents have died in unexplained, particularly brutal ways, many torn apart in animal attacks. And there's always that eerie howling late at night. . . . You might think there's a werewolf in town. But you'd be wrong. It's not just one werewolf, but the whole town that's gradually transforming.  Bit by bit, as the infection spreads, the werewolves are becoming more and more powerful. In fact, humans may soon be the minority, mere prey for their hungry neighbors. Is it too late for the humans to fight back? Did they ever have a chance from the start?"
*IMPORTANT NOTE*: We don't know how credible this is, but we've just been informed that a religious organization is arranging a protest during Ray Garton's event here.  It is possible that it won't pan out, but right now the organizers are planning to protest outside Borderlands starting at 2:00 pm; the event is at 3:00 pm.  Here is the link to the posting: <http://www.gracecentered.com/christian_forums/index.php?topic=36457.0>.  We've never been the subject of a protest before -- it is an interesting experience!

Free Movies from SF in SF (at the Variety Preview Room in the Hobart Building, 582 Market Street): "Princess Mononoke" and "Kiki's Delivery Service", Wednesday, July 15th at 7:00 pm - Free movies! Free popcorn! Cash bar!  Bar proceeds and tips benefits Variety Children's Charity.  Doors at 6:30, first movie starts at 7:00 pm

Jay Lake, GREEN (Tor, Hardcover, $26.95), Saturday, July 18th at 3:00 pm - From the book jacket: "She was born in poverty, in a dusty village under the equatorial sun. She does not remember her mother, she does not remember her own name--her earliest clear memory is of the day her father sold her to the tall pale man. In the Court of the Pomegranate Tree, where she was taught the ways of a courtesan . . . and the skills of an assassin . . . she was named Emerald, the precious jewel of the Undying Duke's collection of beauties.  She calls herself Green.  The world she inhabits is one of political power and magic, where Gods meddle in the affairs of mortals. At the center of it is the immortal Duke's city of Copper Downs, which controls all the trade on the Storm Sea. Green has made many enemies, and some secret friends, and she has become a very dangerous woman indeed.  Acclaimed author Jay Lake has created a remarkable character in Green, and evokes a remarkable world in this novel. Green and her struggle to survive and find her own past will live in the reader's mind for a long time after closing the book." We're delighted to welcome Jay back to the store and present his new novel -- my favorite of his so far -- GREEN.  Follow the link (and scroll down to "Special Feature") to read customer Chris Hsiang's take on GREEN: <http://www.borderlands-books.com/about_newsletter_05-09.html>

Erin Cashier, Jay Lake, Heather McDougal, and Cliff Winnig, FOOTPRINTS (Hadley Rille, Trade Paperback, $15.95), Saturday, July 18th at 6:00 pm - "Long after our species and all its works have turned to dust, the Moon landing sites will still show evidence of our time here on Earth. Imagine future explorers from among the stars interpreting that. The astronauts' footprints should last longer than the fossils in the Olduvai Gorge have." --Jay Lake, ca. July 2008.
Join us to meet three contributors to, (and one of the editors of,) this "groundbreaking" anthology from the distinguished small press Hadley Rille.

A Night of Erotic Fantasy with D.M. Atkins, FAEWOLF, (Circlet Press, Trade Paperback, $14.95) and Cecilia Tan, MIND GAMES, (Ravenous Romance, Trade Paperback,  $12.99), Tuesday, July 21st at 7:00 pm - Celebrating the release of their new books FAEWOLF and MIND GAMES, D.M Atkins and Cecilia Tan will read hot and enticing segments of their fiction and answer questions about the fabulous intersection of genres that could be called erotic urban fantasy, or paranormal romance.  In MIND GAMES Cecilia Tan explores what happens when a young telepathic woman's sister disappears and her search takes her into the back rooms of a swingers' club. In FAEWOLF D. M Atkins presents a world in which faewolves, like werewolves, can walk among us as men. What happens when a young gay college student risks his heart and his life to love one of these men?

Clarion West reading with Amelia Beamer, Vylar Kaftan, Pat Murphy, Tim Pratt, and Rachel Swirsky, Thursday, July 23rd at 7:00 pm - In honor of 25 consecutive years of the Clarion West Writers Workshop, Borderlands Bookstore will be featuring a special Clarion West reading on July 23rd.  Clarion West is a non-profit literary organization that administers the Clarion West Writers Workshop, an intensive six-week workshop for writers preparing for professional careers in science fiction and fantasy, held annually in Seattle, Washington, USA.  The readers for this special event consist of former students of the workshop: Amelia Beamer, Vylar Kaftan, Pat Murphy, Tim Pratt, and Rachel Swirsky.

Lee Konstantinou, POP APOCALYPSE (Harper, Trade Paperback, $13.99), Saturday, July 25th at 2:00 pm - We're happy to welcome local author Lee Konstantinou, as he presents his debut novel! From the book jacket: "The United States and its Freedom Coalition allies are conducting serial invasions across the globe, including an attack on the anti-capitalist rebels of Northern California. The Middle East--now a single consumerist Caliphate led by Lebanese pop singer Caliph Fred--is in an uproar after an attack on the al-Aqsa Mosque gets televised on the Holy Land Channel.  The world is on the brink of a total radioactive, no-survivors war, and human-kind's last hope is Eliot R. Vanderthorpe, Jr., celebrity heir, debauched party animal, and Elvis impersonation scholar. But Eliot's got his own problems. His evangelical dad is breeding red heifers in anticipation of the Rapture. Eliot's dissertation is in the toilet. And he has a doppelganger. An evil doppelganger."

David Morrell, THE SHIMMER (Vanguard Press, Hardcover, $25.95), Saturday, July 25th at 5:00 pm - From Vanguard Press: "Morrell's legions of fans are in for a chilling ride when his new novel, THE SHIMMER (Vanguard Press Hardcover, $25.95), hits bookstores in July 2009. Inspired by the real-life "Marfa Lights" in Texas, Morrell takes readers on a terrifying journey and demonstrates how a thing of beauty can also be a thing of great danger.  When police officer Dan Page's wife disappears, her trail leads to Rostov, a remote Texas town where unexplained phenomena attract hundreds of spectators each night. Not merely curious, these onlookers are compelled to reach this tiny community and gaze at the mysterious Rostov Lights.  But more than the faithful are drawn there. A gunman begins shooting at the lights, screaming "Go back to hell where you came from!" then turns his rifle on the innocent bystanders. As more and more people are drawn to the scene of the massacre, the stage is set for even greater bloodshed. To save his wife, Page must solve the mystery of the Rostov Lights. In the process, he uncovers a deadly government secret dating back to the First World War. The lights are more dangerous than anyone ever imagined, but even more deadly are those who try to exploit forces beyond their control.  Riveting, yet thought provoking, THE SHIMMER is David Morrell at his compelling best."

SF in SF with author Kage Baker (at the Variety Preview Room in the Hobart Building, 582 Market Street), Saturday, July 25th at 7:00 pm - The author will read a selection from her work, followed by Q&A from the audience moderated by author Terry Bisson.  The author will schmooze & sign books after in the lounge. Books available for sale courtesy of Borderlands Books.  Seating is limited, so first come, first seated.  Bar proceeds benefit Variety Childrens Charity - learn more at <http://www.varietync.org/>.  We REALLY encourage you to take BART into the City, or use MUNI to get here - parking can be problematic in San Francisco, to say the least.  We are less than one block away from the Montgomery St. station.  Trust us - you don't want to be looking for parking and be late for the event!  Phone (night of event) 415-572-1015.  Questions? Email sfinsfevents@gmail.com.

Richard Kadrey, SANDMAN SLIM (Harper, Hardcover, $22.99), Saturday, August 1st at 3:00 pm - Please join us in welcoming local author Richard Kadrey, who has recently blown everyone away with his novel BUTCHER BIRD.  His newest offering, called SANDMAN SLIM, has a similarly noir-ish, kick-ass feel. From the book jacket: "When he was 19, James Stark was considered to be one of the greatest natural magicians, a reputation that got him demon-snatched and sent downtown -- to Hell -- where he survived as a gladiator, a sideshow freak entertaining Satan's fallen angels. That was 11 years ago. Now, the hitman who goes only by Stark has escaped and is back in L.A. Armed with a fortune-telling coin, a black bone knife, and an infernal key, Stark is determined to destroy the magic circle -- led by the conniving and powerful Mason Faim -- that stole his life.  Though nearly everything has changed, one constant remains: his friend Vidocq, a 200-year-old Frenchman who has been keeping vigil for the young magician's return. But when Stark's first stop saddles him with an abusive talking head that belongs to the first of the circle (a sleazy video store owner named Kasabian,) Stark discovers that the road to absolution and revenge is much longer than he counted on, and both Heaven and Hell have their own ideas for his future." You won't want to miss the novel that William Gibson calls "[a]n addictively satisfying, deeply amusing, dirty-ass masterpiece"!

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 any of the author's available 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

THE LEES OF LAUGHTER'S END by Steven Erikson (Night Shade Books, Signed, Limited Edition (150 copies) Hardcover, $49.00, and Trade Hardcover, $25.00) -  From Night Shade: "West of Theft, on a vast stretch of ocean known as the Wastes, the free-ship Suncurl pilots its way along the Lees of Laughter's end, away from the city of Lamentable Moll. Aboard the ship, three passengers have become the subject of the crew's gossip: the luckless manservant Emancipor Reese, and his masters, the homicidal necromancers known as Bauchelain and Korbal Broach . . .  But a bizarre force pursues them along the cursed sea-lane known as Laughter's End, even as an arcane thing awakens aboard the Suncurl. What secrets do the captain and her First Mate conceal from the rest of the crew? What lurks in the darkness of the ship's hold? And what of the eunuch's strange behavior . . . or his frightening offspring?" Highly recommended by Alan.

THE WISCON CHRONICLES VOL. 3 - CARNIVAL OF FEMINIST SF edited by Liz Henry (Aqueduct, Trade Paperback, $18.00) - From Aqueduct Press: "This volume explores some of the issues of interest at WisCon 2008: the politics of the intelligibility of stories, internet drama, and feminist fandom.  It offers a selection of thoughtful essays and analysis, dialogues, comments, arguments, meditations, and appeals to reason, collected from participants--writers, bloggers, activists, and fans, some of them WisCon veterans and some attending for the first time--including L. Timmel Duchamp, K. Tempest Bradford, Nancy Jane Moore, Alexis Lothian, and many others."

THE SMELL OF TELESCOPES by Rhys Huges (Eibonvale Press, Hardcover, $43.00) - A gorgeous book from Eibonvale Press: "Rhys Hughes regards this as his favorite book, and with good reason.  It is one of the funniest and most intelligent books from the lighter side of macabre writing I have ever seen.  It clamors with a cast of pirates, floppy-wristed Welsh bards, explorers and inventors, imps, squonks, moving public houses, M. R. Jamesian revenants, M R Jamesian punctuation, blueberry pies, trousers, noses, clocks, carrots . . . I can't list them all here, there isn't room.  Like all the best books, this quirky and surreal collection is hard to classify, but it lies in that region where the macabre and eerie worlds of classic horror and fantasy become a basis for something else -- for a dark and original sense of humour filled with unexpected cross-references, homages, satires and black comedy.  What makes this collection remarkable is not just the delightfully murky and skewed tales themselves, but the complex and ingenious way they all lock together and interrelate.  I was going to say 'tessellate' but if this is a tessellation then it is filled with impossible-sided polygons, non-Euclidean three-dimensional geometry, unexpurgated curves and cracks from which blueberry-scented steam emerges with a screaming hiss . . ."

CINEMA SPEC: TALES OF HOLLYWOOD AND FANTASY edited by Karen A. Romanko (Raven Electrick Ink, Trade Paperback, $13.95) - This collection features local authors Vylar Kaftan and Cliff Winnig, both of whom will be reading and signing at the store this month.  From Raven Electrick Ink: "CINEMA SPEC: TALES OF HOLLYWOOD AND FANTASY views moving pictures in all their forms, real and imaginary, from shadow plays to classic films, from videocassettes to animated tattoos. 32 authors have contributed flash fiction, short stories, and poetry to the anthology, transporting readers back to a time when flames flickered and paintings waltzed on cave walls, and forward to possible futures when the heavens themselves might serve as vidscreens. Along the way, the anthology makes multiple stops in Hollywood, the one we know and the one that could never exist, from 30s noir to extraterrestrial infiltration, from a magical 'gangland' to destruction after 'the big one.'"

THE SHADOW PAVILION by Liz Williams (Night Shade Books, Signed, Limited Edition Hardcover, $49.00, and Trade Hardcover, $24.95) -  The fourth Detective Inspector Chen novel continues the breakneck pace of the last book.  We can't get enough of these!  From Publisher's Weekly: "The fourth Det. Insp. Chen mystery (after 2007's PRECIOUS DRAGON) adds a bit of Bollywood to the high-stakes intrigues of Celestials and demons in Williams's clever mix of Chinese folklore and police procedural. Chen, of Singapore Three, is the city's liaison officer . . . between Earth and Hell and Heaven.  His latest set of troubles starts with the disappearance of his partner, the demon Zhu Irzh, along with Chen's wife's badger familiar.  Then Chen learns that someone has hired the bigendered demon assassin Lord Lady Seijin to murder Mhara, the new Emperor of Heaven, and that a rising Bollywood star is actually a tigress demon escaped from the harem of the demon who's trying to steal Zhu Irzh's fiancee.  The plot zips along via short, tightly written chapters, growing more and more intricate with each scene. Williams seamlessly blends the occult with modern issues like feminism and illegal immigration to create a thoroughly original fantasy."  Also newly available is PRECIOUS DRAGON (Night Shade Books, Mass Market, $7.99) in paperback. Recommended by Jude and Alan.

THIS MORTAL MOUNTAIN: THE COLLECTED SHORT FICTION OF ROGER ZELAZNY VOL.3 and LAST EXIT TO BABYLON: THE COLLECTED SHORT FICTION OF ROGER ZELAZNY VOL.4, both by Roger Zelazny (NESFA Press, Hardcovers, $29.00 each) - There will ultimately be six volumes of this impressive collection from NESFA.  They are beautiful, comprehensive, and will ultimately be very collectible.  Recommended by Alan and Jeremy.

New and Notable

THE WATERS AND THE WILD by Francesca Lia Block (Harper, Hardcover, $16.99) - As far as I'm concerned, the author of DANGEROUS ANGELS can do no wrong.  She writes smart, lush, gorgeous, non-patronzing young adult fantasy, and while THE WATERS AND THE WILD is not as strong as some of her previous novels, it is nonetheless fascinating.  (It's the bizarre story of a 13-year-old double Gemini who has just begun seeing her doppelganger, and decides she must be a changeling.)  However, there are some unpleasant people out there who dislike Ms. Block's work immensely.  In a stunning, infuriating case of FAHRENHEIT 451-style surreality, Locus Magazine and some websites have quietly reported that there's a group that is actually suing not only to remove Block's 1995 novel BABY BE-BOP from the West Bend, Wisconsin library, they also want the opportunity to _publicly burn the book_!  Additionally, they want damages to the tune of $30,000 per plaintiff for the emotional strain of being exposed to the novel.  Absolutely unbelievable.  <http://www.examiner.com/x-536-Civil-Liberties-Examiner~y2009m6d18-Civil-liberties-group-sues-to-publicly-burn-library-book>.  Anyway, in direct defiance of insanity like that, I recommend that you pick up any Francesca Lia Block novel and read it as soon as possible.  And while I'd love it if you'd buy your copies at Borderlands, borrowing them from the library first is a great way to show your support!

THE STRAIN by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan (William Morrow, Hardcover, $26.99) -  A nasty strain of vampirism is spreading across New York. . . really, really fast.  Read customer Grey_Area's review at i09: <http://io9.com/5273561/guillermo-del-toros-the-strain-is-an-antidote-to-fey-vampires>.

THE YEAR'S BEST SCIENCE FICTION, TWENTY-SIXTH ANNUAL COLLECTION edited by Gardner Dozois (Tor, Hardcover, $40.00 and Trade Paperback $21.95) - Thirty stories including several Hugo nominees.

THE PHYSICK BOOK OF DELIVERANCE DANE by Katherine Howe (Voice, Hardcover, $25.95) -  This novel which alternates between 1991 Harvard and the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 is getting great reviews from mainstream sources.  I'm looking forward to checking it out, as I usually like these historical-collision novels. - Jude

GREEN by Jay Lake (Tor, Hardcover, $26.95) - (See event write-up above.)

HAZE by L.E. Modesitt, Jr. (Tor, Hardcover, $24.95) -  The newest novel from the extremely prolific L.E. Modesitt, Jr. From the book: "What lies beneath the millions of orbiting nanotech satellites that shroud the world called Haze? Major Keir Roget's mission is to make planetfall in secret, find out, and report back to his superiors in the Federation, the Chinese-dominated government that rules Earth and the colonized planets.  For all his effectiveness as a security agent, Roget is troubled by memories of an earlier mission. When he was assigned to covert duty in the Noram backcountry town of St. George, he not only discovered that the long-standing Saint culture was neither as backward nor as harmless as his superiors believed, but he barely emerged with his life and sanity whole. Now, scouting Haze, he finds a culture seemingly familiar, yet frighteningly alien, with hints of a technology far superior to that of the Federation. Yet he is not certain how much of what he sees is real--or how to convey a danger he cannot even prove to his superiors, if he can escape Haze."

HOUSE OF SUNS by Alastair Reynolds (Ace, Hardcover, $26.95) - A enormous, sprawling novel set in the same world at the novella "Thousandth Night".

THE STARS DISPOSE (Tor, Hardcover, $23.95, 1997) and VANISHING POINT (Tor, Hardcover, $21.95, 1993) both by Michaela Roessner.  These two titles aren't exactly new, but they've been out of print and unavailable for a long time. These are the original first edition, un-remaindered hardcovers, in new condition and signed by the author.  If for some reason you're unfamiliar with Ms. Roessner, you're missing out!  THE STARS DISPOSE is a lush historical fantasy set in the court and kitchens of Medici Italy (we lovingly call it "fantasy food porn"), and VANISHING POINT is about a group of people who live in the Winchester Mystery House about 30 years after most of the world's population has inexplicably vanished.  These copies came directly from the author.  Strongly recommended by Jude and Cary.

WARBREAKER by Brandon Sanderson (Tor, Hardcover, $27.95) - Here is the starred review from Publishers Weekly: "Epic fantasy heavyweight Sanderson (the MISTBORN series) pens a powerful stand-alone tale of unpredictable loyalties, dark intrigue and dangerous magic. To keep a treaty made long ago, the king of Idris must send his daughter to marry Susebron, the God King of Hallandren. Loath to part with his eldest daughter, Vivenna, King Dedelin instead sends his youngest daughter, tomboyish 17-year-old Siri, who struggles to make sense of the schemers and spies in Susebron's court. Hoping to rescue her sister, Vivenna joins a group of Idrian operatives with questionable motives. As Vivenna comes to terms with her magical abilities, resurrected hero Lightsong questions the role of the undead Returned Gods, who command Hallandren's mighty army of zombie soldiers. Sanderson melds complex, believable characters, a marvelous world and thoughtful, ironic humor into an extraordinary and highly entertaining story."  Brandon starting posting this book online, unedited, as he wrote it, in 2007.  You can both download the book for free and read his fascinating thoughts on the process here: <http://www.brandonsanderson.com/book/Warbreaker>.  And, you can watch the amazing Dan Dos Santos create an oil painting of the cover here: <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqjWP18hPHE>

OVERTHROWING HEAVEN by Mark L. Van Name (Baen, Hardcover, $26.95) - From Baen Books: "It began as a favor to a woman trying to get away from an abusive husband.  Jon Moore grew up in a prison laboratory. When he escaped with nothing but his body's nanotech enhancements and more anger than even a long lifetime could wash away, an entire planet died behind him.  Memories of the things he'd done still haunted him; because of them, he often ended up helping those in need.  His kindnesses frequently didn't work out well. This one really didn't work out well.  It hurled Jon and Lobo, the intelligent assault vehicle and Jon's only friend, down an accelerating, ever more dangerous spiral involving private armies and government covert ops teams, a courtesan who always seems a step ahead of him, rival superpowers that define Good in terms of their own advantage and Ethics as whatever doesn't get in the way of their Good, and a brilliant, amoral scientist to whom human beings are just more experimental animals--and who might be Lobo's creator.  Jon and Lobo take the reader on a headlong rush through armed enemies and untrustworthy allies and encounter what just might be the worst danger their partnership will face: the truth."  Read the first chapter here! <http://www.webscription.net/chapters/1439132674/1439132674.htm?blurb>

JULIAN COMSTOCK: A STORY OF 22nd CENTURY AMERICA by Robert Charles Wilson (Tor, Hardcover, $25.95) - From Publishers Weekly: "Hugo-winner Wilson (AXIS) perpetrates a kind of skewed steampunk novel set in a postcollapse, imperial United States returned to 19th-century technology and mores.  Julian Comstock, the disgraced nephew of the tyrannical American president, grows up in a small town in what was formerly northern Canada.  Adam Hazzard, Julian's working-class friend, and Sam Godwin, a bluff old retainer and secret Jew, struggle to keep Julian alive despite his uncle's hatred and Julian's proclivity for annoying the repressive Dominion Church.  When Julian is drafted to fight the invading Dutch in Labrador, exaggerated tales of his heroism, written by would-be novelist Adam, catapult the young aristocrat to unwanted fame.  Written with the eloquence and elegance of a Victorian novel, this thoughtful tale combines complex characters, rousing military adventure and a beautifully realized, unnerving future."

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
Contributors - Jeremy Lassen, Christopher Hsiang

All contents unless otherwise noted are the property of

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

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

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