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ABOUT THE STORE : NEWSLETTER

DISPATCHES FROM THE BORDER

Events and News from Borderlands Books

January, 2006

Chapter One - Event Information, News, and Special Feature

Tim Pratt, Saturday, January 7th at 1:00 pm

Richard Paul Russo, Saturday, February 4th at 3:00 pm

Donald Sidney-Fryer, Saturday, February 18th at 4:00 pm

Justine Larbalestier and Scott Westerfeld, Tuesday, March 7th at 7:00 pm

(for more information check the end of this section)

News

* The genre unfortunately lost several prominent writers in December.

Horror writer J.N. (Jerry) Williamson passed away December 7th.  Author Gary Braunbeck has written a touching and funny tribute that can be read here: ( http://www.garybraunbeck.com/html/jerry_tribute.html )

Science fiction great Robert Sheckley passed away December 9th.  For more information and an address where condolence cards may be sent, see ( http://www.sheckley.com/ )

And extremely prolific British science fiction author Kenneth Bulmer passed away December 16th.  The Guardian UK obituary can be found here: ( http://books.guardian.co.uk/obituaries/story/0,11617,1672228,00.html )


* In other news, "[t]he San Francisco Bay Guardian is celebrating the talents of Bay Area writers with a short-fiction contest.  Entries will be judged by a panel of distinguished local writers and critics, and the first-, second-, and third-place winners will receive a gift certificate from The Booksmith in the Haight! . . . .

All entries must be in the San Francisco Bay Guardian office by 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 16, 2006. Winners will be notified by Feb. 15, 2006, and announced in the Feb. 22, 2006, issue."  For complete rules and more details, see: ( http://www.sfbg.com/promo/free_easy.html )

* Author and editor Eileen Gunn announced last week that her webzine The Infinite Matrix will cease publication shortly, but will go out with a bang.  Read her announcement (and the last issue of the webzine) here:  ( http://www.infinitematrix.net/faq/editorials/index.html )

From The Office

Happy New Year, everyone.  I'm lucky enough that the first part of this column hasn't changed much in the past seven years.  2005 was a good year for Borderlands, the staff and me personally.  Everyone is healthy and happy.  Business has been strong and our sales are up once again.  We've made a few changes around the shop (though, regrettably a number of the suggestions that you made last year have yet to be put into place -- believe me, I'm not ignoring them, I'm just slow).  One of the most recent changes has been a big reorganization of the shelves at the back of the store.  Everything is still pretty much in the same place, but the shelves have been rearranged.  Everyone seems to think that it looks much nicer plus the new arrangement leaves more room for browsing and our book club meetings.

As always, none of the good things that happened last year would have been possible without two groups of wonderful people.  First, my staff -- Jude, Jeremy, Claud, Cary, Francis, and Heather together make up the best staff that any business owner could ask for and more than that, they are the finest group of people I've ever had the pleasure to know.  Why they put up with me will be forever a mystery.

Second, you -- without our customers there would be no Borderlands Books.  More importantly, if you were not such a pleasant, loyal, intelligent, well-read and flat-out great group of people, Borderlands would be a far paler, smaller, and poorer store.  In fact, it quite possibility wouldn't be a store that I would have wanted to operate for seven plus years.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the best job that I've ever had in my life.

I hope you enjoy being our customers as much as we like serving you because in 2006 you're going to have the chance to be our customers even more often.  The big news for 2006 is that we're opening a cafe and news-stand right next door to the bookstore.

Ever since the beginning of 2005 (when I first heard that the owner of the upholstery shop next door was thinking of moving) I'd been thinking about taking the space when it became vacant.  A number of ideas crossed my mind but the one I kept coming back to was a cafe.  So, when the space opened up, I already had the outline of what to do with it.

The actual space is almost a mirror image of the bookstore except it's a bit narrower.  I'm planning on setting it up as one large room with a smaller, more private space at the rear.  In terms of food and drink, at least to start I'm going to be keeping it simple -- coffee, espresso, tea, bagels, pastry, and so forth.  Once we get going, I'll be expanding the menu (at least in part based on feedback we get from you).  I'm also planning on stocking a pretty extensive range of magazines catering to all interests.  I've thought for years that the neighborhood needed a good news-stand.

One question that comes up frequently is, "Will there be a connecting door to the bookstore?"  Due to building permit considerations there won't be, at least initially.  We may put one in later.  One big thing that the cafe will give us is a much larger, more open space for events.  More space means significantly more seating and the ability to host more prominent authors.  Anyone who has been to events like the Morbid Curiosity release party will appreciate how nice that will be.

The other question that often comes up is, "When are you going to be open?"  Well . . . opening a cafe in SF involves quite a few permits and inspections.  It's a much more complicated process than opening a bookstore.  So, at this time I don't have a specific date, only a best case target -- the beginning of May.  However, it may take even longer than that, depending on how the process goes.  I'll be giving more updates as we go along but for now I can say with confidence that it'll be open this year.  Beyond that, we'll just have to see.

Everyone at the store is very excited about this and I hope that you will be too.  It's a big step for us but I believe that it will let us keep on doing what we've been doing for eight years -- serving the genre readers of the Bay Area.

Thanks,
Alan

Top Sellers At Borderlands


Hardcovers
   1)  A Feast For Crows by George R.R. Martin
   2)  Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
   3)  Fifty Degrees Below by Kim Stanley Robinson
   4)  Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
   5)  Learning the World by Ken MacLeod
   6)  Accelerando by Charles Stross
   7)  Vellum by Hal Duncan (UK Edition)
   8)  The Secret Art of Dr. Suess by Theodore Geisel
   9)  Magic For Beginners by Kelly Link
  10)  Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

Paperbacks
   1)  A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
   2)  The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
   3)  The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
   4)  Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
   5)  Pretties by Scott Westerfeld
   6)  Newton's Wake by Ken MacLeod
   7)  Forty Signs Of Rain by Kim Stanley Robinson
   8)  Coyote Rising by Allen Steele
   9)  Witches of Karres by James Schmitz
  10)  Flash by L.E. Modesitt, Jr.

Trade Paperbacks
   1)  The Chronicles Of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
   2)  The Wizard by Gene Wolfe
   3)  Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
   4)  Alone with the Horrors by Ramsey Campbell
   5)  TIE - When Gravity Fails by George Alec Effinger
                     Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan

Other Bindings (Oversized, Undersized, etc.):
   1) Me Write Book: It Bigfoot Memoir by Graham Roumieu
   2) Wizardology by Douglas A. Steer
   3) Wormwood Literature of the Fantastic vol. 5, edited by Mark Valentine

Notes From a DVD Geek

Jeremy Lassen, Borderlands' DVD buyer here.  I've been continuing to bulk out the Borderlands DVD selection, and one of the things I emphasized on my last big order was Asian horror movies.  Not the sad, tepid U.S. remakes, but the originals.  Here are just a few suggestions for some quality Asian Horror.

The obvious first suggestion is the original Japanese Ring movie, Ringu, and its sequel Ringu 2, which are now available.  Both of these films are excellent and far exceed the thrills-and-chills quotient of the U.S. versions.  For the completist, there is:  Ringu: Anthology of Terror, which features all four Japanese "Ring" films (Ringu, Rasen, Ringu 2, Ringu 0).

Another very solid Asian horror movie is the Korean knock-off of The Ring, called Ring Virus.  Obviously derivative, but in many ways it is better then Rasen and Ringu 2.  Ring Virus is worth checking out.

Speaking of Korean horror, one of the most stylish and well-done Asian horror films of the last few years is A Tale of Two Sisters, directed by Kim Jee-Woon.  Based on a traditional Korean folk tale, this movie is the "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" of Asian Horror films -- a big budget, high quality film that will appeal to those who have never seen an Asian horror film before.  A Tale of Two Sisters is a great starting point for someone who wants to test the waters of this particular sub-genre.

Speaking of water . . . .  The original Japanese version of Dark Water, directed by Ringu, and Ringu 2 director Hideo Nakata is also available . . . the Japanese version is substantially better than the lackluster US remake, and shouldn't be missed.

Another outstanding Japanese horror film is Usumaki (Spiral).  Sort of a surreal Japanese Shadow Over Innsmouth-esque story that has to be seen to be believed.

For an old school Japanese horror film that pre-dates The Ring craze by about 30 years, be sure to check out Maski Kobayashi's Kwaidan.  This is a high quality Japanese ghost story, and given that it was being made concurrently with the Roger Corman/AIP Poe films of the 60's(see below), it is all the more intriguing.

If we are covering Asian horror movies, we can't miss Hong Kong/Chinese horror, and the Pang Brothers are one of the latest flavors in Hong Kong horror.  Their films The Eye, and The Eye 2 are outstanding, and both are now available on DVD.  Another great (and humorous) Hong Kong horror film is Mr. Vampire, directed by Ricky Lau, and produced by Sammo Hung.  This film falls a bit more in the martial arts/fantasia side of the genre, but it features undead Chinese hopping ghosts, and seamlessly mixes humor, horror, and kung-fu.  This one should not be missed.

Of course there are many other Asian horror films that we have in stock, and I hope you'll come in and take a look.  There are a lot of great films coming out of Asia right now, and I hope you get a chance to sample some of them.

Speaking of great films:  Over on this side of the Pacific, Rob Zombie's second film, The Devil's Rejects, has recently been released on DVD.  This movie is light-years beyond his first movie House of a Thousand Corpses, and though it features some returning characters from that film, it stands on its own just fine, and is a completely different kind of movie. The Devil's Rejects is a grim homage to Sam Peckinpah's work, and is easily one of the best films of 2005.  Great acting by an ensemble cast . . . a dramatic and emotional experience that will stay with you long after you've finished watching it.

Because I promised not to be elitist in this column, I have to talk about my guilty pleasures -- those fun films that aren't great movie making, but are great fun.  In this category, the ORIGINAL War of the Worlds has just been re-released on DVD.  Not only does it have the cheesy but seminal 1950's version of War of the Worlds, it also features the original Orson Wells radio broadcast of War Of the Worlds, and this extra makes this DVD a must-own.

More guilty pleasures abound in a new MGM double feature disk of "Tales of Terror",  and "Twice Told Tales".  Both of these films are anthology horror films from the early sixties... between the 6 short films from both of these movies, you are sure to find something you like.

A guilty pleasure from Asia is Matango:  Attack of the Mushroom People.  Though it is kind of high on the cheese quotient, this 1950's era Japanese movie holds up remarkably well, and is an excellent and powerful metaphor for drug addiction.  More importantly, it's the only feature-length adaptation of the fiction of William Hope Hodgson.

And you can't say "guilty pleasure" without mentioning Return of the Living Dead, directed by Dan O'Bannon.  Long before Shaun of the Dead, this zombie movie perfected the mix of real suspense, real terror, good zombie FX, and comedy.  And it features an extraordinary early 80's punk rock soundtrack, as well as a career making performance by scream-queen Linnea Quigley.  Nobody does "sexy-naked-zombie" like Quigley

And since my columns have been very horror-heavy, I'll end this piece with a recommendation outside of the horror genre.  Studio Ghibli is an animation studio in Japan that makes some of the best animated features around.  Their movies are finally being released here in the states, the latest couple-of-which were Howl's Moving Castle, and Spirited Away.  Both of these are excellent, and Spirited Away is available now on DVD. 

But I also want to recommend my favorite Studio Ghibli movie, Porco Rosso.  Porco Rosso follows the sea-plane adventures of The Red Pig, an Italian aviator who collects bounties on the various air pirates that plague the shipping lanes of Mediterranean.  Set between the two World Wars, with a hint of politics and romance to spice things up, Porco Rosso was obviously the inspiration for Disney's Dark Wing Duck.  Did I mention that Porco is an actual pig?  He used to be a human, but SOMETHING happened to him, and now he's an anthropomorphic pig.  It's never really explained, and doesn't need to be, as his appearance becomes the perfect foil for the themes and conflicts of the movie.  Very strange, and wonderful, and some of the most beautiful animation you will ever see. 

And just note to whet the appetite of all you Ursula K. Le Guin fans who are still smarting from the mess that the SCI-FI Channel made of Le Guin's A Wizard of Earthsea... Studio Ghibli's next feature length project is "Gedo Senki - A Tale from Earthsea"   Right now, details are vague, but it seems to follow the events of Books 3 and 4 of Le Guin's Earthsea series.

As with my last column I want to leave you with a few relevant links to some on-line resources:

For information on Studio Ghibli's films check out one of the better fan sites out there:  http://www.nausicaa.net/

For WAY too much information on Linnea Quigley, check out the "Official Fan Site" at: http://www.linneaquigleycircle.com/index2.html

For an excellent Primer on "New Asian Horror", check out http://www.greencine.com/static/primers/asianhorror2.jsp

Until next month, keep watching those movies, and let me know if there are any movies out there that we should have, but don't.

-Jeremy Lassen
jlassen@borderlands-books.com

Book Club Info

The Gay Men's Book Club will meet on Sunday, January 8th, at 5 pm to discuss THE SKINNER by Neal Asher.  The book for February 12th is DECLARE by Tim Powers.  Please contact the group leader, Christopher Rodriguez, at cobalt555@earthlink.net, for more information.

The Classic Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Club will meet on Sunday, January 15th, at 6 pm to discuss THE STARS MY DESTINATION by Alfred Bester  The book for February 19th is WONDERLAND by Joyce Carol Oates.  Please contact Jude at jfeldman@borderlands-books.com for more information.

Upcoming Event Details

Saturday, January 7th at 1:00 pm: Tim Pratt, THE STRANGE ADVENTURES OF RANGERGIRL (Bantam) - Borderlands is happy to welcome Tim back to the store to promote RANGERGIRL, his quirky and cool new novel.  Here's how the publisher describes the book:

"In this debut novel, acclaimed short-story author Tim Pratt delivers an exciting heroine with a hidden talent – and a secret duty.  Witty and suspenseful, here is a contemporary love song to the West that was won and the myths that shape us . . . .
As night manager of Santa Cruz’s quirkiest coffeehouse, Marzi McCarty makes a mean espresso, but her first love is making comics.  Her claim to fame: The Strange Adventures of Rangergirl, a cowpunk neo-western yarn.  Striding through an urban frontier peopled by Marzi’s wild imagination, Rangergirl doles out her own brand of justice.  But lately Marzi’s imagination seems to be altering her reality.  She’s seeing the world through Rangergirl’s eyes – literally – complete with her deadly nemesis, the Outlaw.
It all started when Marzi opened a hidden door in the coffeehouse storage room.  There, hidden behind the world she knows, she saw the face of something strange . . . and dangerous.  And she unwittingly became its guard.  But some primal darkness must have escaped, because Marzi hasn’t been the same since.  And neither have her customers, who are acting downright apocalyptic.
Now it’s up to Marzi to stop this supervillainous force that’s swaggered its way into her world. For Marzi, it’s the showdown of her life. For Rangergirl, it’s just another day . . . ."

And here's what Tim has to say about it: "When people ask me what the book is about, I usually say something like 'It's about Westerns, comic books, coffee shops, the folly of anthropomorphizing the natural world, friendship, loyalty, the responsibility of the artist in society, gunslingers, madness, and love.' Sometimes I vary the nouns."  Don't miss this very exciting reading!

Saturday, February 4th at 3:00 pm: Richard Paul Russo, THE ROSETTA CODEX (Ace) - Borderlands is particularly pleased to welcome back Philip K. Dick Award Winner Richard Paul Russo, author of SHIP OF FOOLS and the marvelous CARLUCCI books.  Richard will be reading from his brand-new space opera, THE ROSETTA CODEX.  From Publisher's Weekly: ". . . Cale Alexandros, the heir to a great mercantile family who's abandoned at age five on a backwater planet, grows up among savages. Barely surviving into adulthood, Cale makes his way out of the wasteland to the planet's one civilized city, where he discovers the Resurrectionists, a cult dedicated to unearthing the ancient technologies of an extinct alien race, and begins to understand the meaning of the Rosetta Codex, a strange artifact he himself discovered in the wasteland. Cale must also deal with the mysterious Blackburn and his employers, the Borg-like Sarakheen, who want the artifact for themselves. After regaining control of the Alexandros family holdings on another planet, Cale sets off on a journey that will transform the galaxy, his goal nothing less than the resurrection of the ancient aliens who created the codex . . . ."

Saturday, February 18th at 4:00 pm: Donald Sidney-Fryer, presenting Clark Ashton Smith's THE LAST OBLIVION (Hippocampus Press) - Borderlands is always happy to welcome a genuine gentleman, and Donald Sidney-Fryer is just that.  The last of the Courtly Poets will be sharing his insights on, and his performance of, the fantastic poetry of Sidney-Fryer's mentor, Clark Ashton Smith.  From Donald Sidney-Fryer's website: "Donald Sidney-Fryer has edited Clark Ashton Smith's Selected Poems as well as Smith's story collections Other Dimensions, The City of the Singing Flame, The Monster of the Prophecy and The Last Incantation.  He also assembled the mordant horror and fantasy poetry of Ambrose Bierce under the title A Vision of Doom.  His own first collection of verse, Songs and Sonnets Atlantean, was the final book to appear from Arkham House. . ."  Join us for an unforgettable performance!

Tuesday, March 7th at 7:00 pm: Justine Larbalestier and Scott Westerfeld -  Join us in welcoming these two versatile authors to Borderlands for the first time!  Justine Larbalestier is the author of the nonfiction THE BATTLE OF THE SEXES IN SCIENCE FICTION, the two novels MAGIC OR MADNESS and MAGIC LESSONS, and the forthcoming DAUGHTERS OF EARTH.  Scott Westerfeld is the prolific author of THE RISEN EMPIRE  and THE KILLING OF WORLDS, the awesome MIDNIGHTERS series, EVOLUTION'S DARLING, PRETTIES, UGLIES, and several more.  More details to follow next month, but you won't want to miss this rare appearance!

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

Nonfiction, etc.:

Revisiting Narnia: Fantasy, Myth and Religion in C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles edited by Shanna Caughey (Benbella, Trade Paperback, $14.95)

Mapping the World of Harry Potter edited by Mercedes Lackey (Benbella, Trade Paperback, $14.95) - With Leah Wilson

Tartarus Press Guide to First Edition Prices 2006/7 edited by R.B. Russell (Tartarus, Trade Paperback, $40.00)

Horror:

Wormwood - Literature of the Fantastic, Supernatural, and Decadent vol. 5 edited by Mark Valentine (Tartarus, Trade Paperback, $15.00)

Knife in the Back - Tales of Twilight and Torment by Basil Copper (Sarob, Hardcover, $45.00) - One of 150 signed limited edition copies

The Spirit Box by Stephen Gallagher (Subterranean, Hardcover, $40.00) - Limited to 750 signed and numbered copies.

Bronze by Kit Reed (Night Shade Books, Hardcover, $24.95) - Also available in an edition of 125 signed limited edition copies ($46.00)

Prodigal by Melanie Tem (Delirium Books, Hardcover, $50.00) - One of 200 signed and numbered limited edition copies. Dark Essentials series vol. 3, book 4.

Frog Toes and Tentacles by Caitlin R. Kiernan (Subterranean, Other Hardcover, $20.00) - Illustrated by Vincent Locke.  Also available in an edition of 224 signed and numbered limited edition copies which includes the chapbook FALSE STARTS ($45.00)

Terrors by Richard A. Lupoff (Elder Signs Press, Trade Paperback, $16.95) - Also available in an edition of 75 signed and numbered limited edition hard cover copies ($45.00).  Richard A. Lupoff is one of the most versatile writers in the trade, having written fiction in science fiction, mystery, and horror.  He is a master of the Lovecraftian and Mythos style tale.  This 360-page volume brings together some of his best stories in the Lovecraftian and horror genre, as well as previously unpublished works.  Also featuring an introduction by Fred Chapell, the author of Dagon, and an afterword by Richard A. Lupoff.
Table of Contents:  Introduction, The Crimson Wizard, The Crimson Wizard and the Jewels of Lemuria, The Golden Saint Meets Madame Medusa, The Whisperers, At Vega’s Taqueria, The Doom that Came to Dunwich, The Horror South of Red Hook, The Adventure of the Voorish Sign, The Secret of the Sahara, Treasure of the Red Robe Men, The Devil’s Hop Yard, Documents in the Case of Elizabeth Akeley, Lights! Camera!! Shub-Niggurath!!!, The Turret, The Heyworth Fragment, Streamliner, Afterword by Author.

Science Fiction and Fantasy:

Necessary Evils - Liaden Universe vol. 11 by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (SRM Publisher, Chapbook, $10.00)

Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet Number 17 edited by Kelly Link and Gavin J. Grant (Small Beer Press, Chapbook, $5.00)

Left Hand Series no. 11: Squid / Working Papers by Mark von Schlegell and Maureen Owen (Left Hand, Chapbook, $5.00)

Fugue XXIX by Forest Aguirre (Raw Dog Screaming Press, Hardcover, $29.95)

War Stories by Joe Haldeman (Night Shade Books, Hardcover, $29.00) - An omnibus of Joe Haldeman's war stories, this will be an important book that gives massive insight into Vietnam from the perspective of one of the finest science fiction writers in the field. Includes: War Year, 1968, "Time Piece", "The Private War of Private Jacob", "To Howard Hughes: A Modest Proposal", "The Monster", "Graves", "A Separate War", "Giza" Plus the long narrative poems "Saul's Death" and "DX".  Also available in an edition of 175 signed limited edition copies ($49.00).

Bold as Love by Gwyneth Jones (Night Shade Books, Hardcover, $25.95) - Also available in an edition of 125 signed limited edition copies ($49.00).

Westermead by Scott Thomas (Raw Dog Screaming Press, Hardcover, $30.95)

Invisible Pleasures by Mary Frances Zambreno (American Fantasy Press, Hardcover, $25.00)

The Wood Boy/The Burning Man by Raymond E. Feist and Tad Williams (Dabel Brothers, Oversized Softcover, $14.95) - Collects two previously published comics.

River of Mirrors - The Fantastic Art of Judson Huss by Judson Huss (Morpheus International, Oversized Softcover, $24.95) - Introduction by Terry Gilliam

Postscripts Autumn 2005 edited by Peter Crowther (PS Publishing, Trade Paperback, $10.00) - Contains stories by Joe Hill, Stephen Baxter, Chris Roberson, Zoran Zivkovic, Juliet McKenna, Matthew Rossi and Lawrence Person.  Also includes an interview with China Mieville by Iain Emsle.  Also available in a 150 copy limited edition of hardcover copies signed by all contributors ($50.00).

The Unauthorized Woman by Efrem Emerson (Raw Dog Screaming Press, Trade Paperback, $10.95)

James Tiptree Award Anthology vol. 2 edited by Karen Joy Fowler, Pat Murphy, Debbie Notkin and Jeffrey D. Smith (Tachyon, Trade Paperback, $14.95) - Stories by Ursula K. Le Guin, Jonathan Lethem, Joe Haldeman and others

Gift from the Stars by James Gunn (Benbella, Trade Paperback, $14.95)

Shadow Kingdoms - The Weird Works of Robert E. Howard vol. 1 by Robert E. Howard (Wildside Press, Trade Paperback, $10.00)

No One Noticed the Cat by Anne McCaffrey (Wildside Press, Trade Paperback, $10.00)

Strong Arm Tactics - Wolfe Pack vol. 1 by Jody Lynn Nye (Meisha Merlin, Trade Paperback, $16.95)

New and Notable

Nonfiction, etc:

The Lifebox, the Seashell, and the Soul - What Gnarly Computation Taught Me About Ultimate Reality, the Meaning of Life, and How to Be Happy by Rudy Rucker (Thunder’s Mouth Press, Oversized Hardcover, $35.00)

From Narnia to A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke and C.S. Lewis (ibooks, Trade Paperback, $12.95) - Edited and with an introduction by Ryder W. Miller.

Wish You Were Here - The Official Biography Of Douglas Adams by Nick Webb (Del Rey, Trade Paperback, $15.95)

Anime - From Akira to Howl’s Moving Castle by Susan J. Napier (Palgrave MacMillan, Trade Paperback, $17.95) - Updated edition
 
Horror:

Dread Locks - Dark Fusion vol. 1 by Neal Shusterman (Dutton, Hardcover, $15.99)

Plucker by Brom (Harry N. Abrams, Oversized Hardcover, $24.95)

Scary Godmother vol. 1 by Jill Thompson (Sirius Entertainment, Oversized Hardcover, $19.95)

Scary Godmother: Spooktakular Stories by Jill Thompson (Sirius Entertainment, Oversized Softcover, $9.95)

Already Dead by Charlie Huston (Del Rey, Trade Paperback, $12.95)

Shadows in the Darkness by Elaine Cunningham (Tor, Mass Market, $6.99)

Phantom Nights by John Farris (Tor, Mass Market, $6.99)

Undead and Unappreciated by Mary Janice Davidson (Berkley, Mass Market, $6.99)

Hawkes Harbor by S.E. Hinton (Tor, Mass Market, $7.99)

Valentine’s Rising - Vampire Earth vol. 4 by E.E. Knight (Roc, Mass Market, $7.99)

Gargoyles by Alan Nayes (Tor, Mass Market, $6.99)

The Midnight Work by Kassandra Sims (Tor Romance, Mass Market, $6.99)

Kitty and The Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn (Warner, Mass Market, $6.99)

Midnight Mass by F. Paul Wilson (Tor, Mass Market, $6.99)

Science Fiction and Fantasy:

The Final Key - Triad vol. 2 by Catherine Asaro (Tor, Hardcover, $25.95)

Flight of the Night Hawks - Darkwar vol. 1 by Raymond E. Feist (Voyager, Hardcover, $34.75)

9tail Fox by Jon Courtenay Grimwood (Gollancz, Hardcover, $24.37)

Fly by Night by Frances Hardinge (Macmillan, Hardcover, $34.87)

Traitor to the Blood by Barb Hendee and J.C. Hendee (Roc, Hardcover, $23.95)

Deryni Checkmate - Deryni vol. 2 by Katherine Kurtz (Ace, Hardcover, $24.95) - Revised and expanded edition.

Out of Time by John Marsden (Tor, Hardcover, $16.95)

Gods and Their Machines by Oisin McGann (Tor Teen, Hardcover, $19.95)

Wolf Star - Tour of the Merrimack vol. 2 by R.M. Meluch (DAW , Hardcover, $23.95)

The Martian War - A Thrilling Eyewitness Account of the Recent Alien Invasion As Reported By Mr. H.G. Wells by Gabriel Mesta (Pocket, Hardcover, $23.00)

Savage Messiah - Destinies Of Blood And Stone vol. 1 by Robert Newcomb (Del Rey, Hardcover, $26.95)

Silver May Tarnish by Andre Norton and Lyn McConchie (Tor, Hardcover, $24.95)

Zahrah the Windseeker by Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu (Houghton Mifflin, Hardcover, $16.00)

The Skewed Throne by Joshua Palmatier (DAW , Hardcover, $23.95)

Platinum Pohl by Frederik Pohl (Tor, Hardcover, $27.95)

Johnny and the Dead - Johnny Maxwell vol. 2 by Terry Pratchett (Harper, Hardcover, $15.99)

Pushing Ice by Alastair Reynolds (Gollancz, Hardcover, $27.83)

Princess of Wands by John Ringo (Baen, Hardcover, $25.00)

Living Next-Door to the God of Love by Justina Robson (Macmillan, Hardcover, $33.02)

Coyote Frontier by Allen Steele (Ace, Hardcover, $24.95)

Bridge of the Separator - A Videssos novel by Harry Turtledove (Baen, Hardcover, $24.00)

We Few - March Upcountry vol. 4 by David Weber and John Ringo (Baen, Hardcover, $26.00)

Blood of the Heroes by Steve White (Baen, Hardcover, $24.00)

Blackcollar by Timothy Zahn (Baen, Hardcover, $25.00) - Previously published in parts as THE BLACKCOLLAR and BLACKCOLLAR: THE BACKLASH MISSION.

How to Train Your Dragon by Hiccup Horrendous Haddock, III and translated by Cresida Cowell (Little,Brown, Other Hardcover, $10.99)

Absolute Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons (DC Comics, Oversized Hardcover, $75.00) - This oversized hardcover collection features digitally remastered line art and brand new coloring, overseen by John Higgins and Dave Gibbons. It includes 48 pages of supplemental materials that has been out of print for nearly two decades, featuring a sampling of Alan Moore's script pages and the original series proposal, plus tons of Dave Gibbons's initial character designs, cover sketches, and promo pieces. ABSOLUTE WATCHMEN is the definitive collection of this timeless series.

The Art of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire edited by Brian Wood (Fantasy Flight, Oversized Hardcover, $29.95) - Foreword by George R.R. Martin

GrimJack: Killer Instinct by John Ostrander (IDW Publishing, Oversized Softcover, $19.99) - Illustrated by Timothy Truman

Futureshocks edited by Lou Anders (Roc, Trade Paperback, $14.95) -  In this collection of short fiction, 16 of today's masters of speculative fiction reveal the terrors, triumphs, and seeming impossibilities awaiting humanity in the years to come. Featuring never-before-published stories by Kevin J. Anderson, Paul Di Filippo, Alan Dean Foster, Caitlín R. Kiernan, Louise Marley, Sean McMullen, John Meaney, Paul Melko, Robert A. Metzger, Chris Roberson, Adam Roberts, Mike Resnick & Harry Turtledove, Robert J. Sawyer, and Robert Charles Wilson.

In the Garden of Iden - The Company vol. 1 by Kage Baker (Tor, Trade Paperback, $14.95) - Finally back in print! Rejoice!

Capacity by Tony Ballantyne (Tor, Trade Paperback, $21.91)

Moonlight & Vines by Charles de Lint (Tor, Trade Paperback, $14.95)

Felaheen - The Third Arabesk by Jon Courtenay Grimwood (Bantam Spectra, Trade Paperback, $12.00)

The Greenstone Grail - Sangreal Trilogy vol. 1 by Amanda Hemingway (Del Rey, Trade Paperback, $12.95)

Dragon Champion - Age of Fire vol. 1 by E.E. Knight (Roc, Trade Paperback, $14.00)

The History of the Runestaff by Michael Moorcock (Gollancz, Trade Paperback, $17.45) - Fantasy Masterworks #36. Collects all the Hawkmoon novels ("The Jewel in the Skull", "The Mad God's Amulet", "The Sword of the Dawn", "The Runestaff") - in a single volume.

Righteous Blade - The Dreamtime vol. 2 by Stan Nicholls (Eos, Trade Paperback, $13.95)

Octagon Magic by Andre Norton (Starscape, Trade Paperback, $5.99)

Rowan and the Zebak - Rowan vol. 4 by Emily Rodda (Greenwillow, Trade Paperback, $5.99)

Rowan and the Ice Creepers - Rowan vol. 5 by Emily Rodda (Greenwillow, Trade Paperback, $5.99)

Rowan and the Keeper of the Crystal- Rowan vol. 3 by Emily Rodda (Greenwillow, Trade Paperback, $5.99)

The Rosetta Codex by Richard Paul Russo (Ace, Trade Paperback, $14.95) - Please see write-up in Events section.

When the Beast Ravens by E. Rose Sabin (Starscape, Trade Paperback, $5.99)

Old Man’s War by John Scalzi (Tor, Trade Paperback, $12.95)

The Last House in the Galaxy by Andy Secombe (Tor, Trade Paperback, $21.91)

The Green Futures of Tycho by William Sleator (Starscape, Trade Paperback, $5.99)

The Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross (Ace, Trade Paperback, $14.00)

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

The Pillow Friend by Lisa Tuttle (Del Rey, Trade Paperback, $12.00)

Conventions of War - Dread Empire’s Fall vol. 3 by Walter Jon Williams (Simon and Schuster, Trade Paperback, $21.91) - UK edition.

One for Sorrow, Two for Joy by Clive Woodall (Ace, Trade Paperback, $14.00)

Artifact: A Daredevils Club Adventure by Kevin J. Anderson, Janet Berliner, Matthew J. Costello and F. Paul Wilson (Tor, Mass Market, $6.99)

Currant Events - A Xanth novel by Piers Anthony (Tor, Mass Market, $6.99)

Myth Conceptions by Robert Asprin (Ace, Mass Market, $6.99)

The Life of the World to Come - Company vol. 5 by Kage Baker (Tor, Mass Market, $6.99)

The Hob’s Bargain by Patricia Briggs (Ace, Mass Market, $6.99)

Priestess of the White - Age of the Five vol. 1 by Trudi Canavan (Eos, Mass Market, $7.99) - "In a land on the brink of peace -- watched jealously by a ruthless cult from across the sea and beset by hidden enemies -- five extraordinary humans must serve as sword and shield of the Gods.
Auraya is one.
Her heroism saved a village from destruction; now Auraya has been named Priestess of the White. The limits of her unique talents must be tested in order to prove her worthy of the honor and grave responsibility awarded to her. But a perilous road lies ahead, fraught with pitfalls that will challenge the newest servant of the gods. An enduring friendship with a Dreamweaver -- a member of an ancient outcast sect of sorcerer-healers -- could destroy Auraya's future. And her destiny has set her in conflict with a powerful and mysterious, black-clad sorcerer with but a single purpose: the total annihilation of the White. And he is not alone . . . "  This first book in a new series by the Austrailian author of the Black Magician Trilogy should appeal to readers who are looking for a middle ground between authors like Steven Erikson and David Gemmell on the one hand and writers like Mercedes Lackey on the other.

The Star Tablet by Jay Caselberg (Roc, Mass Market, $6.99)

Song of the Earth by John R. Dann (Tor, Mass Market, $7.99)

The Borribles - Borribles vol. 1 by Michael de Larrabeiti (Tor Teen, Mass Market, $6.99)

The Borribles Go For Broke - Borribles vol. 2 by Michael de Larrabeiti (Tor Teen, Mass Market, $6.99)

The Borribles Across the Dark Metropolis - Borribles vol. 3 by Michael de Larrabeiti (Tor Teen, Mass Market, $6.99)

Darkwitch Rising - The Troy Game vol. 3 by Sara Douglass (Tor, Mass Market, $7.99)

Heir of Stone - Cloudmages vol. 3 by S.L. Farrell (DAW , Mass Market, $7.99)

Masters Of Fantasy edited by Bill Faucett and Brian Thomsen (Baen, Mass Market, $7.99) - Contains stories by David Drake, David Weber, Elizabeth Moon, Andre Norton, Mercedes Lackey and more.

Lion Of Macedon by David Gemmell (Del Rey, Mass Market, $7.99)

Chainfire - Sword of Truth vol. 9 by Terry Goodkind (Tor, Mass Market, $7.99)

The Two-Space War by Dave Grossman and Leo Frankowski (Baen, Mass Market, $7.99)

Against All Enemies - Paul Sinclair vol. 4 by John G. Hemry (Ace, Mass Market, $7.99)

Black Brillion by Matthew Hughes (Tor, Mass Market, $6.99)

The Dragon Quartet vol. 1 by Marjorie B. Kellogg (DAW , Mass Market, $7.99) - Contains THE BOOK OF EARTH and THE BOOK OF WATER.

The Dragon Quartet vol. 2 by Marjorie B. Kellogg (DAW , Mass Market, $7.99) - Contains THE BOOK OF FIRE and THE BOOK OF AIR.

Redeeming the Lost by Elizabeth Kerner (Tor, Mass Market, $6.99)

To Light A Candle - Obsidian Trilogy vol. 2 by Mercedes Lackey (Tor, Mass Market, $7.99)

The Wizard Of Karres by Mercedes Lackey, Eric Flint and Dave Freer (Baen, Mass Market, $7.99)

Crossroads and Other Tales of Valdemar edited by Mercedes Lackey (DAW , Mass Market, $7.99) - Valdemar stories by Tanya Huff, Mickey Zucker Reichert, Fiona Patton, Judith Tarr, Rosemary Edghill and others.

Wolf Captured - Firekeeper vol. 4 by Jane Lindskold (Tor, Mass Market, $7.99)

Foxmask by Juliet Marillier (Tor, Mass Market, $7.99)

Changelings - Twins Of Petaybee vol. 1 by Anne McCaffrey (Del Rey, Mass Market, $19.95)

Powers That Be by Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough (Del Rey, Mass Market, $6.99)

Ordermaster - Recluse vol. 13 by L.E. Modesitt, Jr. (Tor, Mass Market, $7.99)

Memory by Linda Nagata (Tor, Mass Market, $7.99)

Duke’s Ballad by Andre Norton (Tor, Mass Market, $6.99)

The Musashi Flex - A Matador novel by Steve Perry (Ace, Mass Market, $7.99)

The Boy Who Would Live Forever - A Gateway novel by Frederik Pohl (Tor, Mass Market, $7.99)

Predator’s Gold - The Hungry City Chronicles vol. 2 by Philip Reeve (Eos, Mass Market, $7.99) - This sequel to MORTAL ENGINES continues with the same breakneck pace and edge-of-your-seat adventure, but fewer deaths.  Tom and Hester barely make it to Anchorage, where the impetuous, petulant, and (to Tom) attractive young ruler has decided on a do-or-die course of action: to head for the Dead Continent of America.  Recommended by Jude.

Diamond Dogs, Turquoise Days by Alastair Reynolds (Ace, Mass Market, $7.99) - Two novellas set in the universe of Revelation Space.

Mindscan by Robert J. Sawyer (Tor, Mass Market, $6.99)

Cleopatra 7.2 - Cleopatra vol. 2 by Elizabeth Ann Scarborough (Ace, Mass Market, $7.99)

Hostile Takeover by Susan Shwartz (Tor, Mass Market, $6.99)

An Accidental Goddess by Linnea Sinclair (Bantam, Mass Market, $6.99)

A Host of Dragons - Dragon DelaSangre vol. 4 by Alan F. Troop (Roc, Mass Market, $7.99)

Curious Notions - A Crosstime Traffic Novel by Harry Turtledove (Tor, Mass Market, $6.99)

Homeward Bound by Harry Turtledove (Del Rey, Mass Market, $7.99)

Rebel Ice - Stardoc vol. 6 by S.L. Viehl (Roc, Mass Market, $7.99)

Dragon’s Son - Dragonworld Trilogy vol. 2 by Margaret Weis (Tor, Mass Market, $7.99)

The Lance Thrower - Camulod Chronicles vol. 6 by Jack Whyte (Forge, Mass Market, $7.99)

The Green and the Gray by Timothy Zahn (Tor, Mass Market, $7.99)

The Radioactive Redhead by John Zakour and Lawrence Ganem (DAW , Mass Market, $6.99)

New and Notable DVDs

Opera directed by Dario Argento (Anchor Bay, DVD, $14.98)

The Bird with the Crystal Plumage directed by Dario Argento (Blue Underground, DVD, $29.95)

Phenomena directed by Dario Argento (Anchor Bay, DVD, $29.98)

Cat O’ Nine Tails directed by Dario Argento (Anchor Bay, DVD, $9.98)

Phone directed by Ahn Byong Ki (Tartan Asia Extreme, DVD, $24.99)

DeathDream directed by Bob Clark (Blue Underground, DVD, $19.95)

Q The Winged Serpent directed by Larry Cohen (Blue Underground, DVD, $19.95)

The Land That Time Forgot / The People That Time Forgot directed by Kevin Connor (MGM, DVD, $14.95)

The Fall of the House of Usher / The Pit and the Pendulum directed by Roger Corman (MGM, DVD, $14.95) - Both screenplays written by Richard Matheson.

Tales of Terror / Twice Told Tales directed by Roger Corman (MGM, DVD, $14.95) - Screenplay by Richard Matheson. Three short films based on “Morella”, “The Black Cat”, and “The Case of M. Valdemar” by Poe. Starring Vincent Price, Peter Lorry, and Basil Rathbone.

Bubba Ho-Tep directed by Don Coscarelli and Joe R. Lansdale (MGM, DVD, $19.98)

The Serpent and the Rainbow directed by Wes Craven (Universal Pictures, DVD, $14.98) - Hatian Voodoo extravaganza. Wes Craven’s best film.

The Blind Dead Collection directed by Amando de Ossorio (Blue Underground, DVD, $99.95) - Coffin Shaped, limited edition box set contains Tombs of the Blind Dead, Return of the Evil Dead, The Ghost Galleon, The Night of the Seagulls, and a documentary on director Amando De Ossoro

The Ring Virus directed by Kim Dong-Bin (Tai Seng, DVD, $19.95) - Korean “sequel” to The Ring.

The Toolbox Murders directed by Dennis Donnelly (Blue Underground, DVD, $19.95)

Hammer Films Horror Classics Collection directed by Terence Fisher (Warner, DVD, $68.98) - Box Set containing six individual releases: The Curse of Frankenstein, Dracula Has Risen From the Grave, Frankenstein Must be Destroyed, Horror of Dracula, The Mummy, and Taste the Blood of Dracula.

The Abominable Dr. Phibes / Dr Phibes Rises Again directed by Robert Fuest (MGM, DVD, $14.95) - Starring Vincent Price.

The Satanic Rites of Dracula directed by Alan Gibson (Madacy, DVD, $7.98)

Deranged / Motel Hell directed by Jeff GillenKevinConnor (MGM, DVD, $14.95)

Cry of the Banshee / Murders in the Rue Morgue directed by Gordon Hessler (MGM, DVD, $14.98)

Uzumaki (Spiral) -  directed by Higichinksy (Elite, DVD, $19.98) - Lovecraftian Japanese Horror.

Matango: Attack of the Mushroom People directed by Ishiro Honda (Tokyo Shock, DVD, $19.95) - Based on the William Hope Hodgson story “A Voice in the Night”

Evil Dead Trip directed by Toshiharu Ikeda (Synapse, DVD, $24.94)

A Tale of Two Sisters directed by Kim Jee-Woon (Tartan Asian Extreme, DVD, $24.99)

H directed by Lee Jong-Hyuk (Tartan Asia Extreme, DVD, $24.99)

Whispering Corridors directed by Park Ki-Hyung (Tartan Aisian Extreme, DVD, $24.99)

Maximum Overdrive directed by Stephen King (Twentieth Century Fox, DVD, $9.98) - Based on the King short story “Trucks.”

Versus directed by Ryuhei Kitamura (Tokyo Shock, DVD, $24.97) - Widescreen Directors Cut

Kwaidan directed by Masaki Kobayashi (Criterion, DVD, $29.95) - 4 short films of ghostly horror and fantasy: The Black Hair, The Woman of the Snow, Hoichi, The Earless, and In A Cup of Tea.

Cure directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa (HVE, DVD, $29.95)

Memento Mori directed by Tae-Yong Kim and Kyu-Dong Min (Tartan Asia Extreme, DVD, $24.99) - Sequel to Whispering Corridors.

Mr. Vampire directed by Ricky Lau (Fortune Star, DVD, $9.98)

Circus of Fear directed by John Moxey and Christopher Lee (Blue Underground, DVD, $19.95) - AKA Psycho Circus.

Dark Water directed by Hideo Nakata (ADV, DVD, $19.98) - From the Director of The Ring.

The Eye directed by Brothers Pang (Palm, DVD, $24.99)

The Eye 2 directed by Brothers Pang (Lions Gate, DVD, $26.95)

Fearless Vampire Killers directed by Roman Polanski (Warner, DVD, $19.97)

Countess Dracula / The Vampire Lovers directed by Peter SasdyRoy WardBaker (MGM, DVD, $14.98) - The Vampire Lovers is a Hammer Production.

Suicide Club (AKA Suicide Circle) -  directed by Sion Sono (TLA Releasing, DVD, $14.99)

Invisible Man: The Legacy Collection directed by James Whale (Universal Pictures, DVD, $29.98) - Contains The Invisible Man, The Invisible Man Returns, The Invisble Woman, The Invistble Agent, and The Invisible Man’s Revenge.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Chosen Collection; Seasons 1-7 directed by Joss Whedon (Twentieth Century Fox, DVD, $199.98) - 40 Disk DVD collection contains all 144 episodes, plus many extras, inlcuding a BonusDisk of all new material not previously available.

The Devil’s Rejects directed by Rob Zombie (Lions Gate, DVD, $27.98)

Escape From LA directed by John Carpenter (Paramount, DVD, $14.99)

Ghost of Mars directed by John Carpenter (Columbia Pictures, DVD, $9.95)

Memoirs of an Invisible Man directed by John Carpenter (Warner, DVD, $14.97)

King Kong directed by Merian C. Cooper and Earnest B. Schoedsack (Warner, DVD, $26.99) - Two disk special edition.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban directed by Alfonso Cuaron (Warner, DVD, $19.96)

Time Bandits: Special Edition directed by Terry Gilliam (Anchor Bay, DVD, $24.98) - 2 Disk widescreen anomorphic edition.

Fisher King directed by Terry Gilliam (Columbia Pictures, DVD, $14.94)

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen directed by Terry Gilliam (Columbia Pictures, DVD, $14.94)

The Whole Wide World directed by Dan Ireland (Sony Pictures Classic, DVD, $19.94) - Based on the memoir One Who Walked Alone. The real-life romance of Robert E. Howard.

Strange Invaders / Invaders From Mars directed by Michael LaughlinTobe Hooper (MGM, DVD, $14.95)

Monsters that Challanged the World / It! directed by Arnold Laven (MGM, DVD, $14.95)

Visitor Q directed by Takashi Mike (Toko Shock, DVD, $29.95) - Reality TV gone horribly wrong.

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory directed by Mel Stuart (Warner, DVD, $19.96) - The original movie, starring Gene Wilder.

Invasion of the Star Creatures / Invasion of the Bee Girls directed by Bruno Ve Sota (MGM, DVD, $14.98)

Gormenghast directed by Andy Wilson (BBC Video, DVD, $34.98)

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.)

The Long Retreating Day by John Gaskin (Tartarus Press, Signed Limited Edition (450 copies), $45)

Black Pockets and Other Dark Thoughts by George Zebrowski (Golden Gryphon, Hardcover, $24.95)

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

Dispatches from the Border
Editor - Jude Feldman
Assistant Editor - Alan Beatts
Contributors - Jeremy Lassen,

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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