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ABOUT THE STORE : NEWSLETTER

DISPATCHES FROM THE BORDER

Events and News from Borderlands Books

JANUARY, 2005

Chapter One - Event Information, News, and Special Feature

Sunday, February 6th at 2 PM, Lucius Shepard reading and signing VIATOR and A HANDBOOK OF AMERICAN PRAYER. 

Sunday, February 6th at 4 PM, Stephan Zielinski reading and signing BAD MAGIC.

Saturday, February 26th at 4 PM, Leisure Books signing party with Christine Feehan, Melanie Jackson, H.R. Knight, Mary Ann Mitchell

(for more information check the end of this section)

News

Two sad notes to begin our news this month: Immensely popular and prolific science fiction and Mad Magazine artist Frank Kelly Freas died in his sleep January 2nd, 2005, at the age of 82.  Freas, an artist for more than 50 years, illustrated the covers and interiors of works by many of science fiction's luminaries, including Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, and Robert Heinlein.  Among his many honors and awards, Freas received 10 Hugo Awards and in 1990 shared a Chesley Award with his wife Laura for their painting "Scribe".  In addition to his influential work for novels, magazines, games, advertising and movies, Freas was an official NASA mission artist and his space posters hang in the Smithsonian.  A beautiful hardcover retrospective of his work called FRANK KELLY FREAS: AS HE SEES IT was published in 2000 by Paper Tiger, and is still available.

Comics artist and graphic novelist Will Eisner passed away on January 3rd, 2005 at the age of 87, following a second quadruple bypass surgery.  Eisner was an artist for more than 60 years.  A Washington Post interview with the artist from June of last year said: "Reflecting his many aspects, Eisner has been called The (fill in the blank) of Comics: 'Orson Welles,' by McCloud; 'Brains,' by Alan Moore; 'Leonardo,' by Civilization magazine; 'Eisenstein,' by the Forward; and 'Elder Statesman' by a legion.  There is general agreement that he is the grandfather of the graphic novel." (For the complete interview, see http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11308-2004Jun2.html )

Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers' Workshop is holding a 48-hour email auction January 28-29, 2005, to assist in fundraising for the 2005 workshop.  If you would like to donate items, please contact clarion@msu.edu by January 10th.  For complete details on the auction, see http://www.msu.edu/~clarion/newsletter/nl23/auction.html

From The Office

Happy New Year, everyone!

First off, I want to thank all of you who made 2004 a record-breaking year for us.  Though it wasn't all we hoped it would be (the economy may be getting better, but everyone is still short on cash) it was still darn good and we hit new highs in sales.  So, thank you.  Without you we couldn't do it and, even if we could, there wouldn't be any reason to.

As we start 2005, we're thinking about making some (small) changes around the store and I wanted to ask your opinion about some of them.  It's not a long list and I'd really appreciate it if you could take the time to let me know what you think.  Though some of the questions may seem as if they only apply to our Bay Area customers, don't hesitate to sound off even if you live on the other side of the planet. 

1)  Would you like us to extend our hours, and, if so, what should we extend them to?  We're currently open from noon to eight seven days a week and we've considered both staying open later (especially on Friday and Saturdays) and opening earlier (i.e. around ten or eleven).

2)  Should we keep stocking DVDs?  Did you even know that we had DVDs? 

3)  On a related topic, should we start carrying Anime?  If so, any particular titles?

4)  Also, should we keep stocking jewelry?

5)  Finally, is there anything that we don't sell that you think we should?

6)  Should we offer free Wi-Fi in the store?  (if you don't know what that means, don't worry about it -- I didn't know 'till this year)

7)  Do you like the mylar dust jacket covers that we put on our hardcover books?  Would you be unhappy if we stopped putting them on?

8)  Last but not least, is there anything that you would like to see us do to serve you better or make the store more comfortable?  Or, is there anything that you would really like us to stop doing?

In advance, thanks for the help and for the support in the coming year.

Warmest Regards,
Alan Beatts
Owner 

Book Club Info

The Gay Men's Book Club will meet on Sunday, January 9th, at 5 pm to discuss 2001 by Sir Arthur C. Clarke.  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, January 16th at 6 pm to discuss JENNIFER GOVERNMENT by Max Barry. The book for February is ZEITGEIST by Bruce Sterling.  Please contact Jude at jfeldman@borderlands-books.com for more information.

Upcoming Event Details

Sunday, February 6th at 2 PM, Lucius Shepard reading and signing VIATOR and A HANDBOOK OF AMERICAN PRAYER

We here at Borderlands are tremendously excited to host a reading and signing with author Lucius Shepard!  Mr. Shepard is the author of GREEN EYES, LIFE DURING WARTIME, VALENTINE, and many others.  Reflecting his multiple eclectic and diverse styles, his two newest works are radically different from each other: VIATOR tells the story of four men hired to determine the salvage worth of the ship VIATOR, run aground two decades earlier.  The men begin to display erratic and eccentric behaviors, becoming obsessed with the ship.  Their presumed leader, Thomas Willander, concludes that something on board may be responsible for their erraticism.  He seeks to investigate the origins of the ship, but the men's behavior quickly borders on insanity, winter will soon be setting in, ominous sounds and lights are issuing from the forest surrounding the ship, and Willander's disturbing dreams may be coming true... 

Shepard's other new work, "A HANDBOOK OF AMERICAN PRAYER introduces Wardlin Stuart, an American messiah, a man who seems to have a direct line to God-- but if he does, it's a divinity unlike any you may have prayed to. . . . In this novel about America's conflicting love triangle -- celebrity, spirituality, and money -- Shepard negotiates the thin line between the real and the surreal, expounding upon violence and redemption along the way." (From the book jacket.)

Lucius Shepard has traveled extensively in Europe, Central and South America, North Africa and Asia, among other places.  His novels and stories have earned numerous awards in both the genre and the mainstream, including the Hugo, the Nebula, the World Fantasy Award, and the Theodore F. Sturgeon Award.  Mr. Shepard currently lives in Vancouver, WA.  Don't miss the rare opportunity to meet this brilliant author!


Sunday, February 6th at 4 PM, Stephan Zielinski reading and signing BAD MAGIC. 

Join us to meet Stephan Zielinski, local author of one of the weirdest and most entertaining novels in recent memory -- BAD MAGIC!  From the dust jacket:
"Magic is real. Strange forces and uncanny creatures abound.  Cosmic evil is loose in the world--especially around San Diego--along with transcendent evil, primordial evil, simmering evil, objective evil, and specific evil.
In sheer self-defense, most of the human race long ago taught themselves to shut their magical Third Eye, blinding themselves to this supernatural world around them.  As protection goes, it's not 100% effective, but it's still pretty good:  If you can't see them, they can't see you.
Fortunately for the rest of us, a few people can deal with the weirdness.  In San Francisco, a motley group of adventurers have banded together to fight evil.  They're an uncanny mix of alchemists, thaumaturges, necromancers, and totemists, working their wildly different magics in a milieu where thaumaturgy is a laboratory science and raw pain can be kept in a flask of liquid nitrogen.  They know they don't know what they're doing.  And they have to save a world that doesn't know it's under attack from forces that they wish were beyond comprehension.
Poised, headspinning, and richly inventive, BAD MAGIC shows us what people really see when their third eye opens."


Saturday, February 26th at 4 PM, Leisure Books signing party with Christine Feehan, Melanie Jackson, H.R. Knight, Mary Ann Mitchell

Borderlands hosts a signing party with some of Leisure Books' horror and dark romance writers.  Look for further details in next month's newsletter.  For more information on Leisure's authors, visit their website at http://www.dorchesterpub.com/Dorch/Authors.cfm .


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), except for some special events.  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 book 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

CRUSHER O’SHEA by Hal Murray Bonnett (Sidecar Preservation Society, Signed Limited Edition (150 copies) Chapbook, $9.00)

VIATOR by Lucius Shepard (Night Shade Books, Hardcover, $25.00)

THE HOUSE OF THE TEMPLE by Brian Lumley (Endeavor Press, Signed and Numbered Limited Edition (300 copies) Hardcover, $45.00)

THE GOLEM by Gustav Meyrink (Tartarus, Limited Edition (300 copies) Hardcover, $55.00)

GREAT GHOST STORIES - TALES OF MYSTERY AND MADNESS edited by R. Chetwynd-Hayes and Stephhen Jones (Cemetery Dance, Hardcover, $40.00)

THE DECEASED by Tom Piccirilli (Delirium Books, Signed and Numbered Limited Edition (150 copies) Hardcover, $55.00)

SLEEPWALKER by Michael Laimo (Delirium Books, Signed and Numbered Limited Edition (250 copies) Hardcover, $50.00)

STAGESTRUCK VAMPIRES AND OTHER PHANTASMS by Suzy McKee Charnas (Tachyon, First Edition Hardcover, $24.95)

WAITING MY TURN TO GO UNDER THE KNIFE by Tom Piccirilli (Fairwood Press, Signed and Numbered First Edition (250 copies) Hardcover, $27.95)

COVENANT by John Everson (Delirium Books, Signed and Numbered First Edition (250 copies) Hardcover, $50.00)

DARKER AGES by Paul Finch (Sarob, Limited Edition (180 copies) Other Hardcover, $45.00)

STATE OF THE ART: STORIES BY IAIN M. BANKS by Iain M. Banks (Night Shade Books, signed and numbered limited edition (150 copies) Hardcover, $45.00 and trade Hardcover $25.00)

LEVIATHAN 4: CITIES edited by Forrest Aguirre (Ministry Of Whimsy, First Edition Hardcover, $27.00)

HOWLING HOUNDS - THE HAUNTING TALES OF PHIL LOCASCIO by Phil Locascio (Sarob, Limited Edition (180 copies) Other Hardcover, $45.00)

THE SUICIDE CLUB AND OTHER DARK ADVENTURES by Robert Louis Stevenson (Tartarus, Limited First Edition (400 copies) Hardcover, $65.00)

THE TYRANT by Michael Cisco (Prime Books, Hardcover, $17.95)

DOGS IN THE MOONLIGHT by Jay Lake (Prime Books, Hardcover, $29.95)

THE PAINT IN MY BLOOD - ILLUSTRATION AND FINE ART by Alan M. Clark (IFD Publishing, Signed Numbered Limited First Edition (500 copies) Oversized Hardcover, $49.00 and Softcover, $29.00)

SATAN’S CIRCUS by Lady Eleanor Smith (Ash-Tree Press, Limited Edition (500 copies) Hardcover, $47.50)

THE MACHINERY OF NIGHT by Douglas Clegg (Cemetery Dance, Signed Limited Edition (1,500 copies) Hardcover, $40.00)

FEARFUL SYMMETRIES by Thomas F. Monteleone (Cemetery Dance, Signed Limited First Edition (750 copies) Hardcover, $40.00)

A LITTLE BEIGE BOOK OF NONDESCRIPT STORIES by F. Paul Wilson (Borderlands Press, Signed and Numbered Limited First Edition (500 copies) Other Hardcover, $20.00)

GHOSTS OF ALBION: ASTRAY by Amber Benson and Christopher Golden (Subterranean, Signed and Numbered Limited First Edition (750 copies) Hardcover, $40.00)

BLACK SPIRITS AND WHITE - A BOOK OF GHOST STORIES by Ralph Adams Cram (Tartarus, Limited Edition (300 copies) Hardcover, $55.00)

SPECTRUM 11 - THE BEST IN CONTEMPORARY FANTASTIC ART edited by Cathy Fenner (Underwood, Oversized Hardcover, $39.00 or Oversized Softcover $29.00)

AFTER THE DELUGE - A NOVEL OF POST-ECONOMIC SAN FRANCISCO by Chris Carlsson (Full Enjoyment Press, Trade Paperback, $13.95)

COURTNEY CRUMRIN IN THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM - COURTNEY CRUMRIN VOL. 3 by Ted Naifeh (Oni, Trade Paperback, $11.95)

AN OPENING ACT OF UNSPEAKABLE EVIL by Jim Munroe (No Media Kings Press, Trade Paperback, $14.00)

SPOOKS! edited by Tina L. Jens (Twilight Tales, Trade Paperback, $15.00)

MYTH-TAKEN IDENTITY - A MYTH NOVEL by Robert Asprin (Meisha Merlin, Trade Paperback, $14.95)

POLYPHONY 4 edited by Deborah Layne and Jay Lake (Wheatland Press, Trade Paperback, $17.95)

AMERICAN SORROWS by Jay Lake (Wheatland Press, Trade Paperback, $16.95)

EVERYONE IN SILICO by Jim Munroe (No Media Kings, Trade Paperback, $14.00)

FLYBOY ACTION FIGURE COMES WITH GASMASK by Jim Munroe (No Media Kings, Trade Paperback, $14.00)

DREAMSPY by Jacqueline Lichtenberg (Benbella, Trade Paperback, $14.95)

YALEEN by Ian Watson (Benbella, Trade Paperback, $19.95)

SAVAGE EMPIRE: DARK MOON RISING by Jean Lorrah (Benbella, Trade Paperback, $19.95)

SAVAGE EMPIRE: PROPHECIES by Jean Lorrah (Benbella, Trade Paperback, $19.95)

CONFESSIONS OF A VIRGIN SACRIFICE by A.M. Abrose (Chimera, Trade Paperback, $7.00)

THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE by David Gerrold (Benbella, Trade Paperback, $14.95)

THE VOYAGE OF THE STAR WOLF by David Gerrold (Benbella, Trade Paperback, $14.95)

DEATH AND THE MAIDEN - JONATHAN BARRETT, GENTLEMAN VAMPIRE, VOL. 2 by P.N. Elrod (Benbella, Trade Paperback, $14.95)

BLOOD WILL TELL by Jean Lorrah (Benbella, Trade Paperback, $14.95)

THOSE OF MY BLOOD by Jacqueline Lichtenberg (Benbella, Trade Paperback, $14.95)

THE FLYING SORCERERS by David Gerrold (Benbella, Trade Paperback, $14.95)

THE JAMES TIPTREE AWARD ANTHOLOGY VOL. 1 edited by Karen Joy Fowler, Pat Murphy, Debbie Notkin, and Jeffrey D. Smith (Tachyon, Trade Paperback, $15.95)

BLACK SHAPES IN A DARKENED ROOM by Marshall Moore (Suspect Thoughts Press, Trade Paperback, $16.95)

THE FINAL TRICK OF FUNNYMAN AND OTHER STORIES by Bruce Taylor (Fairwood Press, Trade Paperback, $16.99)

DREAMS OF THE DESERT WIND - A MODERN FANTASY OF THE MIDDLE EAST by Kurt R.A. Giambastiani (Fairwood Press, Trade Paperback, $17.99)

WITH STARS UNDERFOOT - ADVENTURES IN THE LIADEN UNIVERSE VOL. 10 by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (SRM Publisher, Chapbook, $10.00)

A DIRGE FOR THE TEMPORAL by Darren Speegle (Raw Dog Screaming Press, Trade Paperback, $14.95)

THE FALL OF NEVER by Ronald Damien Malfi (Raw Dog Screaming Press, Trade Paperback, $17.95)

PSYCH NOIR by John Edward Lawson (Raw Dog Screaming Press, Chapbook, $7.50)

HELL ON THE INSTALLMENT PLAN by Abel Diaz (Raw Dog Screaming Press, Chapbook, $5.00)

THE SCARS ARE COMPLIMENTARY by John Edward Lawson (Raw Dog Screaming Press, Chapbook, $2.50)

UNKNOWN PLEASURES - DARK EROTICA by Jeffrey Thomas (Raw Dog Screaming Press, Chapbook, $6.00)

ALL-STAR ZEPPELIN ADVENTURE STORIES edited by David Moles and Jay Lake (Wheatland Press , Trade Paperback, $19.95)

PARADISE PASSED by Jerry Oltion (Wheatland Press, Trade Paperback, $19.95)

CARMEN DOG by Carol Emshwiller (Small Beer Press, Trade Paperback, $14.00)

HER SMOKE ROSE UP FOREVER by James Tiptree, Jr. (Tachyon, Trade Paperback, $15.95)

THE JOY OF BOOKING - Webster’s Guide to Buying and Selling Used SF and Fantasy Books by Bud Webster (SRM Publisher, Chapbook, $10.00)

STUDIES IN FANTASY LITERATURE, VOL. 2 - A Scholarly Journal for the Study of the Fantasy Genre edited by Benjamin Szumskyj (Seele Brennt, Chapbook, $7.00)

THE ROBERT E. HOWARD COMPANION VOL. 1 edited by Joe Marek (Seele Brennt, Oversized Softcover, $12.00)

HOPEFUL MONSTERS by Hiromi Goto (Arsenal Pulp Press, Trade Paperback, $15.95)

WHEN FOX IS A THOUSAND by Larisa Lai (Arsenal Pulp Press, Trade Paperback, $16.95)

LAST PENTACLE OF THE SUN - WRITINGS IN SUPPORT OF THE WEST MEMPHIS THREE edited by M.W. Anderson (Arsenal Pulp Press, Trade Paperback, $16.95)

SO LONG BEEN DREAMING - POSTCOLONIAL SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY edited by Nalo Hopkinson (Arsenal Pulp Press, Trade Paperback, $19.95)

THE ARBITRARY PLACEMENT OF WALLS by Martha Soukup (DreamHaven, Trade Paperback, $14.95)

AN EARTHLY MOTHER SITS AND SINGS by John Crowley (DreamHaven, Chapbook, $20.00)

J.G. BALLARD: QUOTES by J.G. Ballard (REsearch, Other Softcover, $19.99)

THE BEST OF GAHAN WILSON by Gahan Wilson (Underwood, Trade Paperback, $15.00)

J.G. BALLARD - RESEARCH NUMBER 8/9 by J.G. Ballard (REsearch, Oversized Softcover, $17.99)

TRUNK STORIES #2 edited by William Smith (Hangfire, Chapbook, $4.00)

AUSTRALIEN ABSURDITIES - COMIC TALES OF SCIENCE FICTION FANTASY AND HORROR BY AUSTRALIAN WRITERS edited by Chuck McKenzie (Agog!, Trade Paperback, $21.95)

AGOG! SMASHING STORIES - NEW AUSTRALIAN SPECULATIVE FICTION edited by Cat Sparks (Agog!, Trade Paperback, $24.95)

AGOG! TERRIFIC TALES - NEW AUSTRALIAN SPECULATIVE FICTION edited by Cat Sparks (Agog!, Trade Paperback, $24.95)

AGOG! FANTASTIC FICTION - NEW AUSTRALIAN SPECULATIVE FICTION edited by Cat Sparks (Agog!, Trade Paperback, $24.95)

HOGG by Samuel R. Delany (FC2, Trade Paperback, $16.95)

1984: SELECTED LETTERS by Samuel R. Delany (Voyant, Trade Paperback, $17.95)

PHALLOS by Samuel R. Delany (Bamberger Books, Trade Paperback, $14.00)

BLAZING WORLD, A - THE UNOFFICIAL COMPANION TO THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN, VOL. 2 by Jess Nevins (Monkeybrain Books, Trade Paperback, $15.95)

WHY SHOULD I CUT YOUR THROAT? - EXCURSIONS INTO THE WORLDS OF SCIENCE FICTION, FANTASY, AND HORROR by Jeff VanderMeer (Monkeybrain Books, Trade Paperback, $15.95)

WIZARDRY AND WILD ROMANCE - A STUDY OF EPIC FANTASY by Michael Moorcock (Monkeybrain Books, Trade Paperback, $18.95)

MURGUNSTRUMM & OTHERS by Hugh B. Cave (Wildside Press, Trade Paperback, $24.95)

SWORD OF THE DEMON by Richard A. Lupoff (Cosmos Books, Trade Paperback, $15.00)

THE WORM IN EVERY HEART by Gemma Files (Prime Books, Trade Paperback, $17.95)

New and Notable

FIRETHORN by Sarah Micklem (Scribner, First Edition Hardcover, $25.00) - Although this book came out in June, I have just now gotten around to it.  As I was up until four o'clock this morning reading it, I'm disappointed that I waited so long.  This is an extremely well-written, difficult book about an independent and headstrong sixteen-year-old girl surviving in circumstances unsuited to her willful personality, to say the least.  It will appeal to fans of Jacqueline Carey's KUSHIEL books, with boldly, realistically drawn characters and a living, breathing world.  This first book in the soon-to-be trilogy introduces red-haired Luck, who flees her life of drudgery and powerlessness to live in the forest.  After a year in the forest, depending on her herb lore to sustain her, Luck eats the poisonous berries of the firethorn, and survives because a god intervenes, leaving her transformed with slight but unusual powers and a nagging sense of destiny.  Luck, now calling herself Firethorn, leaves the forest and meets a soldier of the Blood named Sire Galan during the raucous Upside Down festival days.  After just a few passionate nights together, she agrees to follow him to war as a "sheath" or camp follower.  Therein follows a love story, and a very personal, character-driven look at war in this fictional world, with its odd (to me) notions of power, honor, propriety, and property.  I call the novel "difficult" because it will frustrate and intrigue thoughtful readers at the same time -- among others, it entertains the question of a woman finding (or creating) personal power when society mocks the very concept.  I believe this novel will intrigue fans of Lynn Flewelling and George R.R. Martin, as well as the aforementioned Carey fans.  Recommended by Jude.

VERY BAD DEATHS by Spider Robinson (Baen, Hardcover, $18.00) - Robinson's most recent novel is a satisfying departure from Callahan's Bar and, in returning to a darker side of his work, it's reminicent of MINDKILLER.  Though there are some thin points in the plot, this is overall a good read and I hope it is an indication of the general direction that his writing will be going in the future.  Recommended by Alan.

OLD MAN’S WAR by John Scalzi (Tor, Hardcover, $23.95) - What if the price of youth was military service?  In OLD MAN'S WAR the aged, due to their experience and lack of social connections, are considered the best possible recruits for an interstellar war.  In exchange for enlisting they are given access to new and very expensive rejuvenation technology.  However, there's another catch that they only discover once they're off planet.

THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN edited by David Drake, Eric Flint, and Jim Baen (Baen, Hardcover, $24.00) - I haven't had a chance to read this entire collection but a quick glance over the table of contents was enough to assure me that this is truly a great (and very idiosyncratic) collection of SF stories.  Selected by the editors on the basis of what "turned the world upside down" for them, it covers a range of stories from the established classics to the obscure.  A great book for either the beginning reader in the field or for an old hand like me.  Recommended by Alan.

CENTURY RAIN by Alastair Reynolds (Gollancz, Hardcover, $29.48) - The newest book in Reynolds' sprawling future history that began with REVELATION SPACE.

CRUX by Albert E. Cowdry (Tor, Hardcover, $24.95)

SCHISM - TRIAD, VOL.1 by Catherine Asaro (Tor, Hardcover, $25.95)

ENEMIES OF FORTUNE by Lynn Abbey (Tor, Hardcover, $26.95)

CONRAD STARGARD:  THE RADIANT WARRIOR by Leo Frankowski (Baen, Hardcover, $24.00)

WARP SPEED by Travis S. Taylor (Baen, Hardcover, $22.00)

CLEOPATRA 7.2 by Elizabeth Ann Scarborough (Ace, Hardcover, $23.95)

WHEN THE BEAST RAVENS by E. Rose Sabin  (Tor, Hardcover, $23.95)

STAMPING BUTTERFLIES by Jon Courtenay Grimwood (Gollancz, Hardcover, $25.76)

FIRESONG - WIND OF FIRE VOL. 3 by William Nicholson (Hyperion, Hardcover, $17.99)

HOMEWARD BOUND by Harry Turtledove (Del Rey, Hardcover, $26.95)

THE DUKE’S BALLAD by Andre Norton (Tor, Hardcover, $24.95)

THE TIME OF NEW WEATHER by Sean Murphy (Delta, Trade Paperback, $13.00) - An extremely light and inconsequential story with some amusing ideas about freaks, capitalism gone terribly awry, true love, artistic civil disobedience and diners with an Elvis theme.  A quite "mainstream" genre novel, like Tom Robbins on helium -- sweet, fluffy, and trivial; recommended for reading on a plane or with a headcold. - Jude

MCSWEENEY’S ENCHANTED CHAMBER OF ASTONISHING STORIES edited by Michael Chabon (Vintage, Trade Paperback, $13.95)

THE EMPIRE OF THE STARS - THE DRAGON THRONE VOL. 2 by Alison Baird (Warner Aspect, Trade Paperback, $13.95)

COME ARMAGEDDON by Anne Perry (Ace, Trade Paperback, $16.00)

FOUR WAYS TO FORGIVENESS by Ursula K. LeGuin (Perennial, Trade Paperback, $13.95)

THE WIND’S TWELVE QUARTERS by Ursula K. LeGuin (Perennial, Trade Paperback, $13.95) - Back in print!

ORSINIAN TALES by Ursula K. LeGuin (Perennial, Trade Paperback, $12.95) Also back in print!

RECURSION by Tony Ballantyne (Tor UK, Trade Paperback, $25.76)

RIVER OF GODS  by Ian McDonald (Simon and Schuster UK, Trade Paperback, $25.76)

THE BEST TIME TRAVEL STORIES OF THE 20TH CENTURY by Harry  Turtledove, ed. (Del Rey, Trade Paperback, $17.95)

NATURAL HISTORY by Justina Robson (Bantam, Trade Paperback, $13.00)

ALTERNATE WARS - WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN VOL. 3 edited by Gregory Benford (ibooks, Trade Paperback, $11.95)

EMPHYRIO by Jack Vance (ibooks, Trade Paperback, $11.95)

BURNING WATER by Mercedes Lackey (Tor, Trade Paperback, $14.95)

THE KNIGHT - WIZARD KNIGHT, VOL. 1 by Gene Wolfe (Tor, Trade Paperback, $14.95)

GARDENS OF THE MOON - MALAZAN BOOK OF THE FALLEN, VOL. 1 by Steven Erikson (Tor, Mass Market, $7.99) - Finally out in paperback, this is one of the great fantasy series of the 21st century.  At eight bucks there's no reason to wait any longer -- if you like George R.R. Martin, Robert Jordan, Glenn Cook or the like, you have to read this book.  Recommended by Francis, Jeremy, Alan and Jude.

CRACHE by Mark Budz (Bantam Spectra, Mass Market, $6.99) - The follow-up to the Norton Award winning CLADE continues to investigate the dystopian near-future Bay Area in the days of advanced bio-tech.

LEGENDS 2:  DRAGON, SWORD, AND KING edited by Robert Silverberg (Del Rey, Mass Market, $7.99) - New short novels by Terry Brooks, George R.R. Martin, Orson Scott Card, Raymond E. Feist, Diana Gabaldon, and Elizabeth Haydon.  These stories (and the ones in LEGENDS 2: SHADOWS, GODS, AND DEMONS) were originally published as one hardcover volume called LEGENDS 2.  This volume's standouts are George R.R. Martin's "The Sworn Sword" (follow-up to "The Hedge Knight") and Diana Gabaldon's "Lord John and the Succubus".  I even liked the Orson Scott Card story (it's an Alvin Maker tale) and I loathe the man's personal politics.  Loudly, staunchly, emphatically and repeatedly recommended (along with the second volume) by Jude.

LEGENDS 2:  SHADOWS, GODS, AND DEMONS edited by Robert Silverberg (Del Rey, Mass Market, $7.99) - See above -- and THIS volume has a novella starring Shadow from AMERICAN GODS, a brilliant, weird and wonderful Robin Hobb story, a Tad Williams story set in Otherland ("The Happiest Dead Boy in the World"), and a Robert Silverberg story that completely captivated me.  Buy them, buy them now -- you'll be so glad that you did! - Jude

THE WAR WITH EARTH by Leo Frankowski (Baen, Mass Market, $6.99) - Sequel to A BOY AND HIS TANK.  Light military SF but not bad for all of that.

LIKE DEATH by Tim Waggoner (Leisure, Mass Market, $6.99) - Stunning Caniglia cover.

SUNSHINE by Robin McKinley (Berkley, Mass Market, $7.99) - A very unconventional and engaging vampire story.

FEAR ME by Stephen Laws (Leisure, Mass Market, $6.99)

KRIS LONGKNIFE: DESERTER by Mike Shepherd (Ace, Mass Market, $7.99)

LOST TRUTH by Dawn Cook (Ace, Mass Market, $7.99)

NIGHTWORLDS by William F. Nolan (Leisure, Mass Market, $6.99)

HOUSE OF BLOOD by Bryan Smith (Leisure, Mass Market, $6.99)

THE ELDER GODS - THE DREAMERS, VOL. 1 by David Eddings and Leigh Eddings (Warner, Mass Market, $7.50)

LESS THAN HUMAN by Maxine McArthur (Aspect, Mass Market, $6.99)

THE CARDINAL’S HEIR by Iaki Demarest (Medallion Press, Mass Market, $6.99)

ORPHANAGE by Robert Buettner (Warner, Mass Market, $6.99)

ALL THE WEYRS OF PERN by Anne McCaffrey (Ballantine, Mass Market, $7.99)

COALESCENT by Stephen Baxter (Del Rey, Mass Market, $7.50)

THE DOLPHINS OF PERN by Anne McCaffrey (Del Rey, Mass Market, $7.99)

FOOL’S FATE - TAWNY MAN, VOL. 3 by Robin Hobb (Bantam Spectra, Mass Market, $6.99)

IRONHAND’S DAUGHTER - A NOVEL OF THE HAWK QUEEN by David Gemmell (Del Rey, Mass Market, $7.50)

SPIN STATE by Chris Moriarty (Bantam Spectra, Mass Market, $6.99)

AFTERLIFE by Douglas Clegg (Onyx, Mass Market, $6.99)

PATH OF HONOR by Diana Pharaoh Francis (Roc, Mass Market, $7.50)

CODE NOIR - PARRISH PLESSIS, VOL. 2 by Marianne De Pierres (Orbit, Mass Market, $14.60)

INCOMPETENCE by Rob Grant (Gollancz, Mass Market, $14.60)

FAIRY GODMOTHER by Mercedes Lackey (Luna, Mass Market, $6.99)

MIDNIGHT HARVEST - A NOVEL OF SAINT-GERMAIN by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro (Aspect, Mass Market, $6.99)

THE ANCIENT LEGACY - MATHEW LLEWIN VOL. 3 by Mitchell  Graham (Avon, Mass Market, $7.99)

THE ETHOS EFFECT by L.E. Modesitt, Jr. (Tor, Mass Market, $7.99)

THE KING’S NAME - SULIEN TEXTS VOL. 2 by Jo Walton (Tor, Mass Market, $6.99)

SEDUCED BY MOONLIGHT - MEREDITH GENTRY, VOL. 4 by Laurell K. Hamilton (Ballantine, Mass Market, $7.50)

DRAGON’S KIN - A PERN NOVEL by Anne McCaffery (Ballantine, Mass Market, $7.99)

HAYDN OF MARS by Al Sarrantonio (Ace, Mass Market, $6.50)

IN THE KING’S SERVICE - A DERYNI NOVEL by Katherine Kurtz (Ace, Mass Market, $7.99)

WARTORN: RESURRECTION by Robert Asprin (Ace, Mass Market, $6.99)

DRAGON VENOM - OBSIDIAN CHRONICLES, VOL. 3 by Lawrence Watt-Evans (Tor, Mass Market, $7.99)


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

Dispatches from the Border
Editor - Madeline Ruegg
Assistant Editor - Alan Beatts
Contributors - Jude Feldman, Cary Heater

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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