Dispatches From The Border: July 2014
Events and News from Borderlands Books
Editor's Note - We have started changing the way we reproduce and
distribute this newsletter. The entire newsletter is posted and archived
at our blog <
http://borderlands-books.blogspot.com/>.
The current newsletter is also reproduced in full at our website, and is
distributed via email. You can view the current newsletter, and
subscribe to the email version of at <
http:///www.borderlands-books.com/>.
Upcoming Events
Juliet Blackwell, A VISION IN VELVET (Signet, Mass Market, $7.99), Kate
Carlisle, THE BOOK STOPS HERE (Obsidian, Hardcover, $24.95), and Gigi
Pandian, PIRATE VISHNU (Henery Press, Trade Paperback, $15.95) Saturday
July 12th at 3:00 pm
MP Johnson, DUNGEONS AND DRAG QUEENS (Eraserhead Press, Trade Paperback, $10.95) Sunday July 13th at 3:00 pm
Richard Lupoff, WRITER VOL. 1 (Ramble House, Trade Paperback, $18.00 and
Hardcover, $32.00), WRITER VOL. 2 (Ramble House, Trade Paperback,
$20.00 and Hardcover, $32.00) & WHAT IF? VOL. 3 (Ramble House, Trade
Paperback, $18.00 and Hardcover, $32.00), Saturday July 19th at 3:00 pm
Michael J. Martinez, THE ENCELADUS CRISIS (Night Shade Books, Trade Paperback, $15.99) Saturday July 26th at 3:00 pm
Serena Valentino, THE BEAST WITHIN (Disney Press, Hardcover, $16.99) Saturday July 26th at 5:00 pm
Tobias S. Buckell, HURRICANE FEVER (Tor, Hardcover, $24.99) Sunday July 27th at 3:00 pm
Joe Abercrombie, HALF A KING (Del Rey, Hardcover, $26.00) Monday July 28th at 7:00 pm
Glen Hirshberg, MOTHERLESS CHILD (Tor, Hardcover, $24.99) Saturday August 2nd at 3:00 pm
Katharine Kerr, SORCERER'S FEUD (Osel Books, Trade Paperback, $14.50) Saturday August 23rd at 3:00 pm
Kelli Stanley, CITY OF GHOSTS (Minotaur, Hardcover, $25.99) Saturday August 23rd at 5:00 pm
Brent Weeks, THE BROKEN EYE (Orbit, Hardcover, $28.00) Thursday August 28th at 7:00 pm
(for more information check the end of this newsletter)
And stay tuned for more exciting readings and signings, including Dana Fredsti, Ray Garton, and John Scalzi in September!
News
*Overheard in the Store:
"Have you been watching 'Game of Thrones'?" "I gave up 'cause I'm tired of their bullsh*t."
"I feel kinda weird. I feel the way something strangely compelling tastes."
"Teach me the ways of love, squishy poet from beyond the stars."
5 year-old: "Mom, I basically have memories from 50 years ago." Mom:
"You weren't born yet." 5 year-old: "THIS me wasn't, but I remember."
"You get a bunch of artists together in a room for a board meeting…Now THAT'S a stupid idea."
Do you remember Borderlands Press' wonderful Little Books series?
They've just announced a second series of Little Books, and according
to the announcement, they "are contracting with 15 popular writers to do
Little Books Series II, and currently have the following writers on
board: David J. Schow, Ed Gorman, Jack Ketchum, Dennis Etchison, Rick
Hautala, David Morrell, Ray Garton, Ed Lee, Karl Wagner, Chet
Williamson, Laird Barron, Poppy Z. Brite, and Joe Hill. (several more
writers to follow). All volumes in the series will be signed and
numbered and limited to 500 copies. If you have buyers who want the same
number throughout, we can accommodate." The books retail for $30 each.
Please call us or email us if you'd like to subscribe and purchase all
of the volumes of this very collectible and fun series. More info
about the series here:
http://borderlandspress.com/coming-soon-series-ii-of-our-little-books/
Would you like to be a Blackguard Captain? If you'll be attending our
event with Brent Weeks on Thursday, August 28th, enter to win some
prizes & the chance to hang out with Brent! Just send an email to
office@borderlands-books.com with a paragraph telling us about your
favorite character from any of Brent's books by 11:59 pm Pacific Time on
Sunday, July 27th. We'll choose five lucky winners who will each get a
tour t-shirt, a copy of THE BLACK PRISM to share with their friends,
and an invitation to meet Brent at the store before the event! We hope
you'll enter, and good luck to all.
The finalists for the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award have been announced!
Congratulations to them all, and especially to Max Gladstone who has had
several events at Borderlands. Winners will be announced at MythCon 45
which will be held August 8-11.
http://www.mythsoc.org/news/mythopoeic-awards-finalists-announced/
We are saddened by the loss of Walter Dean Myers, an amazing mainstream
YA author who dipped his toes into genre occasionally. The first-ever
winner of the Michael L. Printz award, five time Coretta Scott King Book
Award winner, and three time nominee for the National Book Award, he
passed away on July 1st after a brief illness.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/04/arts/walter-dean-myers-childrens-author-dies-at-76.html
Congratulations to SFWA's two new board members: Cat Rambo & Sarah Pinsker!
http://www.sfwa.org/2014/07/new-board-members-sfwa/
Check out these gorgeous Star Wars watercolor prints painted by a French
fan. She has more and they are available for purchase on her website.
http://io9.com/an-exclusive-look-at-the-new-fan-art-from-one-of-our-fa-1600187929
http://boutique.blule.fr/collections/star-wars
The David Gemmel Awards announced their winners. Congratulations to Mark Lawrence, Brian McClellan and Jason Chan!
http://gemmellaward.com/profiles/blogs/gemmell-awards-2014-the-winners
Guy Gavriel Kay was made a member of the Order of Canada. (Does that
means we have to call him Sir Kay now? Best do it just in case.)
Congratulations Sir Kay!
http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=15694&lan=eng
Condolences to the family and friends of award-winning author Daniel
Keyes who passed away last month. His novel "Flowers for Algernon" is
still taught in schools all over the country.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/daniel-keyes-author-of-the-classic-book-flowers-for-algernon-dies-at-86/2014/06/18/646e30d6-f6f4-11e3-a606-946fd632f9f1_story.html
True or not, this story about a dead girlfriend sending her boyfriend
recycled messages and photos through Facebook is truly terrifying.
Don't dive in unless it's light out and you have people near you.
http://jezebel.com/dead-girlfriends-fb-messages-from-beyond-the-grave-will-1599900589
The Sunburst Award for excellence in Canadian Fantastic Literature has
announced its shortlist for 2014. Congratulations to Nalo Hopkinson (who
had a recent event at Borderlands,) and to all the other nominees.
http://www.sunburstaward.org/content/2014-shortlists
Fans of Clive Barker and creepy fantastic horror rejoice! On the eve of
its 25th anniversary and release on Blu-ray, "Nightbreed" is slated to
become a TV series as well.
http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=41439
Sadly Angry Robot has closed down both their YA imprint, Strange
Chemistry, and their crime/mystery imprint, Exhibit A. All titles from
those imprints are discontinued and no titles will be forthcoming. So
if you've been delaying trying out Martha Wells' fantastic Emilie series
or Gwenda Bond's riveting The Woken Gods, now is the time to pick them
up before the print run is gone.
http://angryrobotbooks.com/2014/06/news-about-strange-chemistry-and-exhibit-a/
Nour Saleh is an artist who wears a hijab and so she's taken to tumblr
to share her drawings of herself as iconic heros complete with
headscarves. Check out these gorgeous interpretations!
http://io9.com/hijab-wearing-lady-draws-herself-as-different-marvel-su-1599805081
Locus announces the winners for their 2014 awards. Winners include Neil
Gaiman, Ann Leckie and recent past Borderlands guests James S.A. Corey
and Catherynne M. Valente. Congratulations to all the winners. For the
complete list of winners:
http://www.locusmag.com/News/2014/06/2014-locus-awards-winners-2/
Longtime editor and author Frank M. Robinson has passed away. Known for
writing speeches for Harvey Milk and as a pulp magazine collector and
scholar, Robinson was recently a recipient of a special SFWA award at
the Nebulas. We join with the rest of the community in mourning the
passing of this well-loved San Francisco local.
http://www.sfgate.com/lgbt/article/Frank-M-Robinson-writer-of-Harvey-Milk-Hope-5599194.php
The on/off switch for consciousness might have just been discovered by
accident deep in the brain. A team placing deep brain electrodes in a
woman's brain stimulated the claustrum and she immediate lost
consciousness. Check out the full article at New Scientist:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22329762.700#.U7bh6LFBkoB
The 2014 inductees into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame have been
announced: Frank Frazetta, Hayao Miyazaki, Leigh Brackett, Olaf
Stapledon and Stanley Kubrick.
http://www.empmuseum.org/at-the-museum/museum-features/science-fiction-and-fantasy-hall-of-fame.aspx
An 80s movie for 2014: check out the hilarious review of Wolfcop, a
classic for the ages to be sure...and I'm already getting my keys to
head to the movie theater.
http://io9.com/wolfcop-is-the-best-80s-movie-ever-made-in-2014-1600249694
From The Office
How Sharing Becomes Exclusionary
by Alan Beatts
A common idea in science fiction is the post-scarcity society; one in
which energy is so cheap and manufacturing involves so little effort
that, for all intents, physical property and goods are no longer in
limited supply and, as a result, have little or no cost (and, by
extension, no value). Voyage To Yesteryear by James Hogan is one of my
favorites but you'll find examples in the works of Ken MacLeod, Iain M.
Banks, Robert Heinlein (as is often the case, ahead of his time), and
many other authors. A feature of many of these societies is a real
sharing economy in which, once a person no longer needs an item, it is
passed along to another or just abandoned in a public place for the next
person who needs it. Another feature of some of these societies is a
sort of curious disdain for people who want to collect possessions
regardless of their need for them.
People often comment that we are living in the world of science fiction.
Day-to-day features of our lives were elements of SF only a decade ago
(smart phones, self-driving cars, and facial recognition software are
all fine examples). I suppose that the current rise in the "sharing
economy" as exemplified by companies like Uber and Airbnb could be
mistaken as the early days of the science fictional post-scarcity shared
property society. But it's not. In fact, it's more like a horrible
dystopian novel by someone like Richard Morgan, Philip K. Dick or even
George Orwell.
When I was much younger I was a relatively enthusiastic Libertarian . . .
or at least something like one. I never really agreed with the
Libertarian party but I did think that the government should regulate
businesses less and generally stay out of people's personal lives as
much as possible. I also thought that a fee-for-service model was
better than tax-funded public services and that privatization wasn't
such a bad idea at all. In retrospect I think I was pretty dumb or, at
the very least, simple-minded. Despite the change in mindset that I've
experienced over the ensuing decades, I still feel a little
uncomfortable bashing the modern sharing economy so vigorously. But . .
. .
There are two big, obvious problems with companies like Uber and Airbnb,
but there's also a much less obvious problem that might be even bigger.
The first problem is that no one is actually "sharing" anything. What
happening is that people are "selling" stuff, be it rides in their cars
or nights in their house. And, while the people doing the selling are
making some money, the companies assisting in those sales are making
boat-loads of money. Let me put it this way -- I "share" a truck with
someone. We both use it when we need it and make arrangements with
each-other about when we'll use it. We each cover half the costs of the
insurance, repairs, and gas. However, we pay our own parking tickets.
But neither of us makes any money off the deal, despite most of the
purchase cost of the truck having been paid by one of us. That is
actual sharing.
What the current "sharing economy" is about is private parties selling
the use of a thing (or their own time in the case of companies like
TaskRabbit) to other private parties with the assistance of a third
party (which is a large for-profit company, or at least one with dreams
of being large). No-one is actually "sharing" a goddam thing and
everyone involved is in it for the money -- the people selling want to
make some money, the companies running things want to make a lot of
money, and, in most cases, the people buying want to save some money.
It's not that I'm against people wanting to make (and save) money.
After all, I run a small business. But I do think it's a problem when
you call something and present something as "sharing" when it's not.
And it does have an effect. Recently lawmakers all over the US have
tried, with varying levels of success, to pass laws regarding the
sharing business model. It's a tough sell when you're trying to
"restrict" the "sharing economy". It makes one sound like the mean kid
at preschool who hoards their toys, "Billy hasn't learned to share yet,"
(and the teacher shakes his head sadly).
The other problem is that there isn't much accountability. It's a
strange business that was pioneered by companies like eBay and AbeBooks
in the 90s. The idea is that the big company involved in the
transaction isn't _really_ involved. All that they do is connect the
buyer and the seller then take a fee or commission for the transaction.
And often they even "clear" the transaction by collecting the money
from the buyer and passing it along to the seller. But, despite that
level of involvement, the "facilitator" is not actually a party to the
transaction. If something goes wrong (i.e. the items sold are damaged,
not as described, or aren't even delivered) the facilitator can't really
be held responsible. In all cases that I'm aware of, they just shrug,
send some nasty notes, and possibly de-list the seller. But they're not
accountable.
That is possibly a problem when you're buying a rare book or a
solid-gold Kama Sutra coffee pot, but it can really be a problem when
you're staying in someone's house or being driven around in their car.
And it's also a problem when you're driving someone around _in_ your
car or renting out your house. Recently people driving for Uber have
discovered that their insurance doesn't cover them when they're doing
commercial driving and neither does Uber's insurance. So, they get into
an accident, get dropped by their insurance, and, unable to pay for the
repairs for their car, end up with no car and unable to earn money
driving. And Uber just shrugs and, I'm sure, figures that there are
plenty more drivers where that one came from. Likewise, people renting
out their apartments via Airbnb have been evicted by their landlords for
violating their lease. To which Airbnb shrugs and responds that they
should have checked their lease and local laws first.
Instead of a real sharing economy, what is actually happening is more
like a "sharecropper economy". Like the landowners after the civil war,
companies like Uber and Airbnb have all the advantages in the situation
and no shortage of people willing to work for them, despite the lack of
any chance of advancement, benefits, or the give-and-take obligations
that go with employment. Meanwhile, they're subject to far less
regulation, restrictions and taxation than taxi companies and hotels.
And, obviously, they're willing to fight tooth and nail to avoid any
additional regulation or to pay the taxes that they already owe.
And then there's the hidden problem. The story that is being told about
the sharing economy is that it is helping people support themselves. I
constantly hear Airbnb talking about how occasional rentals are helping
people pay their mortgages or their rent. The thing that is being left
out of that is the rock-hard fact that, to participate you have to have
something that someone else wants. If you want to drive for Uber X or
Lyft you have to have a car. If you want to rent a room on Airbnb
you've got to live somewhere someone else would want to stay (and you
can't have six of your family members sharing a two-bedroom apartment).
In short, if you want to be part of the sharing economy, you can't be
poor or actually scrabbling to make ends meet. If your life is like
that, you don't have anything the sharing economy wants.
But, if you're poor, you can certainly get a job cleaning rooms in a
hotel. And driving a taxi has been a decent job for recent immigrants
to the US for decades.
Now, I ask you, does this sound like a dystopian SF novel? A society in
which the lower-middle class do work (without any job-security or
benefits) for the upper and upper-middle class while the lower class are
excluded and subsist on shrinking jobs at businesses that are being
destroyed by the economics of the "sharecropper economy".
In fact, I think that was a feature of novels by William Gibson, Richard
Morgan, and Harry Harrison. Excellent books all, but none of them very
happy. The great thing (perhaps the greatest thing) about science
fiction is that it allows us to look at where we are, extrapolate that
into the future, and consider where we might end up. And, upon
considering that, it gives us a chance to change the outcome. I love to
read dark visions of the future, but I sure as hell don't want to live
them.
Best Sellers
Borderlands Best-Selling Titles for June, 2014
Hardcovers
1. MY REAL CHILDREN by Jo Walton
2. CIBOLA BURN by James S. A. Corey
3. SKIN GAME by Jim Butcher
4. CALIFORNIA BONES by Greg Van Eekhout
5. THE THREE by Sarah Lotz
6. ROGUES edited by George RR Martin and Gardner Dozois
7. ARTEMIS AWAKENING by Jane Lindskold
8. THE MARTIAN by Andy Weir
9. WHAT MAKES THIS BOOK SO GREAT by Jo Walton
10. AFTERPARTY by Daryl Gregory
Mass Market Paperbacks
1. DANCE WITH DRAGONS by George RR Martin
2. NEPTUNE'S BROOD by Charles Stross
3. WISE MAN'S FEAR by Patrick Rothfuss
4. DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT by Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris
5. APOCALYPSE CODEX by Charles Stross
6. DEADSHIFTED by Cassie Alexander
7. HALF-OFF RAGNAROK by Seanan McGuire
8. LONDON FALLING by Paul Cornell
9. IMPULSE by Steven Gould
10. MEMORY OF LIGHT by Brandon Sanderson
Trade Paperbacks
1. OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE by Neil Gaiman
2. HOMELAND by Cory Doctorow
3. ANCILLARY JUSTICE by Ann Leckie
4. RITHMATIST by Brandon Sanderson
5. TIME TRAVELER'S ALMANAC edited by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer tie with ANNIHILATION by Jeff VanderMeer
Book Club Information
The QSF&F Book Club will meet on Sunday, July 13th, at 5 pm to
discuss FURTHER by Chris Roberson. 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
20th, at 6 pm to discuss MAKERS by Cory Doctorow. The book for August
is BLUE REMEMBERED EARTH by Alastair Reynolds. Please contact
bookclub@borderlands-books.com for more information.
Upcoming Event Details
Juliet Blackwell, A VISION IN VELVET (Signet, Mass Market, $7.99), Kate
Carlisle, THE BOOK STOPS HERE (Obsidian, Hardcover, $24.95), and Gigi
Pandian, PIRATE VISHNU (Henery Press, Trade Paperback, $15.95), Saturday
July 12th at 3:00 pm - Do you like witches or pirates? (We know you
like books!) Why choose when you can enjoy all three at this event?
Juliet Blackwell, Kate Carlisle, and Gigi Pandian return to their
respective series, with even more mystery, magic and pirates. Come
celebrate the release of three books! In A VISION IN VELVET, the sixth
in Blackwell's Witchcraft Mystery series, Lily must save someone very
important to her, her pot-bellied pig familiar Oscar. A witch is
reaching out from the past, through her velvet cloak, and it's up to
Lily to decide whether she is friend or foe and to prepare to fight if
she must. In THE BOOK STOPS HERE, rare-book expert and appraiser
Brooklyn Wainwright is thrilled to be appearing on the San Francisco
edition of the hit TV show This Old Attic. Her first subject is a very
valuable (and likely very dangerous) first-edition copy of The Secret
Garden. Then the show's host, Randolph, is accosted by an angry man who
says the book was purchased on the cheap at his garage sale, and he
wants it back, or else. Can she protect Randolph and herself? The past
also reaches out in PIRATE VISHNU, Pandian's second Jaya Jones mystery.
Historian Jones is stuck not only dealing with her complicated love
life but also trying to solve two murders a century apart and decipher a
treasure map left by one of her ancestors, the Pirate Vishnu of the
title. If she succeeds she could very well rediscover sacred jewels
thought lost forever. . . and if she fails she could end up being the
next one to walk the plank.
MP Johnson, DUNGEONS AND DRAG QUEENS (Eraserhead Press, Trade Paperback,
$10.95) Sunday July 13th at 3:00 pm -Borderlands is proud and tickled
as pink as Ms. LaRuse's wig to welcome MP Johnson for the release for
his latest work, DUNGEONS AND DRAG QUEENS. It is quite simply everything
you've always wanted in a fantasy novel and didn't know how to ask for.
Drag Queens! Wizards! Monsters! Fabulous Wigs! And more! When Sleazella
LaRuse, the reigning queen-of-queens of Green Bay, ends up in a
completely different world as the intended bride of the serpent god
Houmak, she must use all of her guile, skills, and lip-synching prowess
to make her way, survive and maybe find love along the way. A delicious
mix of irreverent humor, sword-and-sorcery and Drag-attude. Even if
you've never been into drag you'll be into this simply because it's a
great adventure story that never goes where you expect.
Richard Lupoff, WRITER VOL. 1 (Ramble House, Trade Paperback, $18.00 and
Hardcover, $32.00), WRITER VOL. 2 (Ramble House, Trade Paperback,
$20.00 and Hardcover, $32.00) & WHAT IF? VOL. 3 (Ramble House, Trade
Paperback, $18.00 and Hardcover, $32.00), Saturday July 19th at 3:00 pm
- Celebrated writer Dick Lupoff comes to Borderlands for the release
of three books. Read behind-the-scenes stories of triumphs and hardships
in WRITER VOL. 1 & 2. Memoir, criticism, analysis and anecdotes
combine and inform each other and give you a real idea of what it means
to be a working writer for 60 years. If you've enjoyed Richard Lupoff's
work in the past, dig into these books to see what was happening behind
the stories. Lupoff is also presenting the long awaited WHAT IF? VOL. 3,
decades after VOL. 1 & 2. Lupoff returns to collect stories that
were eligible for the Hugo, and in Lupoff's opinion should have won.
Collecting stories from 1966-1973, it includes works by Joanna Russ,
Samuel Delany, Gene Wolfe, Ursula LeGuin, and more!
Michael J. Martinez, THE ENCELADUS CRISIS (Night Shade Books, Trade
Paperback, $15.99)Saturday July 26th at 3:00 pm - Borderlands is pleased
to welcome Michael J. Martinez to celebrate the release of his second
novel THE ENCELADUS CRISIS, sequel to THE DAEDALUS INCIDENT. Again
dimensions collide, while ships sail to Saturn and people try to
discover the reason France invaded Egypt to begin with. Imagine an Age
of Sail novel, mixed with a first contact novel with a dash of history,
alchemy and a mystery that gets more complex day-by-day. There is
something old and familiar for everyone in this novel as well as
something new to discover and love.
Serena Valentino, THE BEAST WITHIN (Disney Press, Hardcover, $16.99)
Saturday July 26th at 5:00 pm - Valentino returns to the world of Disney
to explore the background of another villainous character. Like her
previous novel FAIREST OF ALL, which explored the past of the Wicked
Queen from Sleeping Beauty, this one tackles a different complex and
villainous character, the Beast from Beauty & the Beast. From the
publisher's description of the newest novel THE BEAST WITHIN: "A cursed
prince sits alone in a secluded castle. Few have seen him, but those who
claim they have say his hair is wild and nails are sharp -- like a
beast's! But how did this prince, once jovial and beloved by the people,
come to be a reclusive and bitter monster? And is it possible that he
can ever find true love and break the curse that has been placed upon
him?" Valentino's career has spanned comics, novels and hilarious How-To
books; she is a writer of great range, wonderful descriptions and dark
imagination. Come join us as we celebrate the release of her latest
enthralling work.
Tobias S. Buckell, HURRICANE FEVER (Tor, Hardcover, $24.99) Sunday July
27th at 3:00 pm - Come to Borderlands to celebrate the release of
Buckell's newest novel HURRICANE FEVER. A techno-thriller with slow
believable ecological collapse and geo-politics that feel ripped right
from the current political climate. From the publisher's website
"Prudence 'Roo' Jones never thought he’d have a family to look after --
until suddenly he found himself taking care of his orphaned teenage
nephew. Roo, a former Caribbean Intelligence operative, spends his
downtime on his catamaran dodging the punishing hurricanes that are the
new norm in the Caribbean. Roo enjoys the simple calm of his new life --
until an unexpected package from a murdered fellow spy shows up.
Suddenly Roo is thrown into the center of the biggest storm of all.
Using his wits -- and some of the more violent tricks of his former
trade -- Roo begins to unravel the mystery that got his friend killed.
When a polished and cunning woman claiming to be murdered spy’s sister
appears, the two find themselves caught up in a global conspiracy with a
weapon that could change the face of the world forever." We were
delighted when Tobias Buckell toured through Borderlands for his last
book ARCTIC RISING. Join us for what promises to be another great time!
Joe Abercrombie, HALF A KING (Del Rey, Hardcover, $26.00) Monday July
28th at 7:00 pm - Abercrombie's version of a coming of age novel, as
only Joe Abercrombie can write it! Blood, violence, intrigue and
revenge all inform this newest novel. Born with only one good hand,
Yarvi is looked down upon by his family and people. When his father
dies, Yarvi is betrayed and sold into slavery: now the throne he never
wanted has become his central goal. Survival is his main focus, but as
he gathers a collection of allies and grows into himself, Yarvi will
prove that he is more than anyone anticipated -- more skilled, more
strong-willed, more vicious, more vengeful, and much more than half a
king. Come to Borderlands and have your imagination set aflame in a
totally new world by this author who has made fans of noted authors,
cynical readers, and virtually anyone who enjoys a good story.
Glen Hirshberg, MOTHERLESS CHILD (Tor, Hardcover, $24.99) Saturday
August 2nd at 3:00 pm - The brilliant Glen Hirshberg is not your typical
horror writer, and MOTHERLESS CHILD is about as far as you get from a
typical vampire novel. From the publisher: "It's the thrill of a
lifetime when Sophie and Natalie, single mothers living in a trailer
park in North Carolina, meet their idol, the mysterious musician known
only as 'the Whistler.' Morning finds them covered with dried blood,
their clothing shredded and their memories hazy. Things soon become
horrifyingly clear: the Whistler is a vampire and Natalie and Sophie are
his latest victims. The young women leave their babies with Natalie's
mother and hit the road, determined not to give in to their unnatural
desires. Hunger and desire make a powerful couple. So do the Whistler
and his Mother, who are searching for Sophie and Natalie with the help
of Twitter and the musician's many fans. The violent, emotionally moving
showdown between two who should be victims and two who should be
monsters will leave readers gasping in fear and delight." MOTHERLESS
CHILD was originally published in a very limited edition from Earthling
Publications, and sold out almost immediately. We're happy that this
novel can finally get the huge audience it deserves!
Katharine Kerr, SORCERER'S FEUD (Osel Books, Trade Paperback, $14.50)
Saturday August 23rd at 3:00 pm - We're happy to welcome Katharine Kerr
back to Borderlands! Her newest novel is called SORCERER'S FEUD, the
follow-up to SORCERER'S LUCK. From the book description: "Art student
Maya Cayescu has always had secrets to keep -- her mysterious disease
that has turned her into something like a vampire, her father's
obsession with ritual magic, her own talents for the occult. Now,
however, she has a secret far more dangerous than those: in
self-defense, she killed a man with magic. Can her lover, the wealthy,
powerful runemaster Tor Thorlaksson, protect her from the consequences?
He has dangers of his own to face, because his family's evil past
haunts him. Worst of all, a powerful spirit from the mists of time is
hunting Tor down, in hopes of taking him away from Maya and making him
her own -- forever." Don't miss this thrilling new title and the chance
to meet Kit Kerr!
Kelli Stanley, CITY OF GHOSTS (Minotaur, Hardcover, $25.99) Saturday
August 23rd at 5:00 pm - The third novel following Stanley's stunning
CITY OF DRAGONS and CITY OF SECRETS takes us back to Miranda Corbie's
ultra-noir San Francisco of 1940. From the book description: "For the
United States, war is on the horizon. For Miranda Corbie, private
investigator and erstwhile escort, there are debts to be paid and
memories -- long-suppressed and willfully forgotten -- to be
resurrected. Enter the U.S. State Department and the man who helped
Miranda get her PI license. A man she owes. A man who asks her to
track a chemistry professor here in San Francisco whom he suspects is a
spy for the Nazis. Playing along may get Miranda a ticket to
Blitz-bombed England and answers about her past. . . if she survives.
Through sordid back alleys and art gallery halls, from drag dress
nightclubs to a Nazi costume ball, Miranda's journey into fear takes her
on the famed City of San Francisco streamliner and to Reno, Nevada, the
Biggest Little City in the World. . . where she finds herself framed
for a murder she never anticipated. Forced to go underground, Miranda
soldiers on alone, determined to find the truth about a murder, a Nazi
spy, and her own troubling past."
Brent Weeks, THE BROKEN EYE (Orbit, Hardcover, $28.00) Thursday August
28th at 7:00 pm - We are thrilled to welcome Brent Weeks back to
Borderlands! THE BROKEN EYE continues Brent's Lightbringer Series, but
it's very difficult to summarize the new book without spoilers. So
let's just say that you must come and meet Brent Weeks, one of the most
successful and popular new fantasy writers. He's also charming, did we
mention that? So don't miss this exciting opportunity to meet Brent and
continue to explore the Lightbringer world! (And, if you'd like to win
the chance to be a Blackguard Captain, get cool prizes and hang out
with Brent, see the News section above.)
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 the book(s) until you can
come in to pick them up or we can ship 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 for a nominal fee. Call or email for
details.
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 - Na'amen Tilahun
Assistant Editors - Jude Feldman, Alan Beatts
Guest Contributor - Mark W. Tiedemann
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
*******