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ABOUT THE STORE : NEWSLETTER
DISPATCHES FROM THE BORDER
Events and News from Borderlands Books
April, 2012
Chapter One - Event Information, News, and Special Features
Upcoming Author Events
We're pleased to announce that we've moved all of our author
events to
Borderlands Cafe, right next door at 870 Valencia Street! Now you can
enjoy a snack or beverage while you listen to your favorite author.
SF in SF Urban Fantasy Panel with Steve Boyett and Bruce McAllister - Saturday, April 21st at 7:00 pm
Dana Fredsti, PLAGUE TOWN (Titan Books, Mass Market, $7.99) - Sunday, April 22nd at 3:00 pm
Christopher Farnsworth, RED, WHITE AND BLOOD (Putnam, Hardcover, $25.95) - Saturday, April 28th at 3:00 pm
Jack Campbell, THE LOST FLEET: BEYOND THE FRONTIER: INVINCIBLE (Ace, Hardcover, $26.95) - Friday, May 4th at 7:00 pm
Terry Bisson, ANY DAY NOW (Overlook, Hardcover, $24.95) - Saturday, May 5th at 5:00 pm
Walter Mosley, THE GIFT OF FIRE / ON THE HEAD OF A PIN (Tor, Hardcover, $24.99) - Thursday, May 10th at 7:00 pm
Borderlands Books and Cafe Rummage Sale - May 12th and 13th from Noon to 8:00 pm.
(for more information check the end of this section)
News
* The Locus Science Fiction Foundation is running a Kickstarter
donation campaign to fund the storage, archiving, and digitization of
their huge collection of over 60 years of science fiction and fantasy
ephemera, including photographs of everyone who is (or was) anyone in
the field over the past five decades. Their goal is to make the
contents of the entire collection searchable and viewable online.
This is a very worthy cause that deserves the support of anyone who
cares about the history of our field. You can make a donation at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2040521099/locus-photo-and-ephemera-archive-project .
* Borderlands gets a mention in this charming Globe and Mail article called "Bookworming By the Bay": http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/travel/destinations/travel-other-destinations/bookworming-by-the-bay/article2376933/ .
* Jack Vance is Alive and Well and ONLINE!!!
John Vance, Jack's son, would like you all to know about the fabulous website http://www.jackvance.com
Spatterlight Press is up and live, and filled with photos, information
and news about Grandmaster Jack Vance and his wonderful worlds of
science fiction and fantasy. Not only can you learn all about this
wonderful science fiction writer, but Jack's books are available as
ebooks, downloadable from the site, directly benefiting the
author! With photo albums of Jack, Norma, and the family, Jack in
his prime, and commentary from family and friends, this is a wonderful
resource for fans of Jack and his books alike. More is being added
- it launched in mid-March - so bookmark the site to visit and see what
gets added to the shop and photo albums. You can also "like"
Spatterlight Press on Facebook, and keep up to date with ebook releases
via Twitter, at https://twitter.com/#!/SpatterlightPrs
* Thanks to Rina Weisman from SF in SF, who pointed out another
Borderlands name-check (in an article about the unfortunately for-sale
Balderdash Books,) from Seattle's free weekly paper "The
Stranger". They called us "superb": http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/03/15/balderdash-books-is-for-sale
* I don't know how we missed this over a year ago: "Mental Floss"
Magazine presents 12 great bookstore cats including our own late,
beloved Ripley: http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/78757
* Congratulations to Andrea Hairston, whose novel REDWOOD AND WILDFIRE
won the 2011 James Tiptree, Jr. Award. Complete details at http://tiptree.org/
* For those of you who collect Philip K. Dick books, the titles
published by Vintage will be going out of print, and there will be new
editions with an entirely new cover design being published by Houghton
Mifflin Harcourt. We still have most of the Vintage editions if
you want to complete that collection now.
* i09.com offers "10 Great Fantasy Series to Read While You're Waiting for the Next George R.R. Martin Book" http://io9.com/5876715/10-great-fantasy-series-to-read-while-youre-waiting-for-george-rr-martins-next-book?tag=gameofthrones . We're happy to make additional suggestions once you need 'em.
* The nominees for the 2012 Arthur C. Clarke Award have been announced: http://www.clarkeaward.com/
. And then author Christopher Priest called the list
"dreadful" in The Guardian, and called for the judges to resign: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/mar/29/arthur-c-clarke-award-christopher-priest?newsfeed=true
. (My favorite part is where Priest says that Charles Stross
writes like "an internet puppy," and now Stross wants that blurb on his
next novel, _and_ you can also buy the t-shirt! http://www.zazzle.co.uk/internet_puppy_t_shirt_tshirt-235730813931635704 )
* Entertainment Weekly is running a "Game of Thrones" contest.
Entrants can win a trip to Comic-Con 2012 with admission the panel,
"Game of Thrones" DVDs, or copies of the books . https://usscpromotions.com/entertainmentweekly gameofthrones_ultimate_experience/
* I think it's pretty cool that THE HUNGER GAMES books (and movie) are inspiring teens to try archery: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/hunger-games-fans-filling-lanes-queens-archery-ranges-article-1.1052892
* FREE magazines: One of our long-time customers, Roger Miller, has 40
complete, consecutive years (1968 - 2008, plus random issues from the
last 4 years,) of Analog Science Fiction Magazine to give away to
someone local (San Francisco / Bay Area). He just wants them to go
to a good home, and you must pick them up. If you're interested,
email Jude at jfeldman@borderlands-books.com and I'll put you in touch
with Roger.
From the Office
Another Future for Bookstores
by Alan Beatts
If you've read this column much over the past few years, you know that
my outlook for bookstores in the long term isn't very optimistic. I
think that the combination of internet sales and ebooks is going to
result in most bookstores closing (although I'm not sure how soon that
will happen). I figure that a few smaller stores will stay open by
gearing their business towards truly rare antiquarian material along
with small press, high quality new books.
However, during a conversation with a fellow bookseller a few weeks ago,
I realized that there was another possible future for some
bookstores.
What if they were non-profit businesses geared towards supporting
education and literacy? Base on some cursory reading and my
admittedly limited understanding of the state and federal rules about
such things, it seems to me that it would be a viable model. One
of the endeavors that a 501c3 non-profit can engage in is education, and
an argument could probably be made that by merely existing a bookstore
promotes literacy. But of course, there is much more that a
bookstore could do to help with literacy in specific and education in
general -- author events (just like they do now), classes, internships,
and so on -- all would seem possible services.
I should point out that I'm not describing the sort of situation that
has happened in the past fews years, in which a store in financial
trouble will solicit donations from their customers and community to get
through the tough times. I don't want to seem too critical of
other businesses -- running any small business is hard and subject to
unique considerations and pressures that an outsider can only guess at
-- but personally, I have a problem with the idea that it is acceptable
for a privately-owned business to solicit donations. At the end of
the day, the business is still a privately-owned asset and so, really,
the donations are in essence a hand-out that goes right into the owner's
pocket. I wouldn't give a donation in such a circumstance and I
wouldn't ask for one in that situation either.
But converting a business into a real non-profit is a very different
matter. Consider this scenario: After years of struggling,
the owner of a bookstore finally decides to throw in the towel.
But rather than closing, he or she talks to the loyal customers and
finds that there is a huge amount of support for the business. So
much support, in fact, that people are willing to put their money where
their mouths are. Owner asks around and finds an attorney who is
willing to help set up a new organization pro bono. Once the ball
gets rolling, the non-profit is created with a board consisting of
customers, community leaders, educators and so forth. Next the
non-profit starts raising money to purchase the store from the owner at a
very reasonable price. The price is reasonable in part because
the sad reality now is that a bookstore usually sells for the price of
the inventory at wholesale, which is not much.
Once the money is raised, the owner sells the shop and gets a seat on
the board of the non-profit. It's possible that the owner might
want to retire at that point, in which case the board selects and hires a
new manager to operate the store. In that case, the owner agrees
to stick around for six months to a year to coach the new manager.
Or, if the former owner still wants to work in bookselling, perhaps
they are hired by the board to run the store.
Granted, it's tragic that someone who has worked for decades building a
business gives up their ownership and becomes merely a board-member or
an employee. But compared to the alternatives, it's a win for
everyone. The community retains its bookstore and gains a valuable
resource that will assist the local schools and students. The
former owner doesn't see what he or she has built over the years broken
up for parts and sold at clearance. Moreso, that former owner may
be able to continue being a bookseller long past the point when they
would have had to stop otherwise. Plus, they might get a regular
paycheck, which to most bookstore owners is a magical and mythical thing
that only other people get.
Does that model of a true non-profit bookstore solve the financial and
business problems facing bookstores today? Nope, not at all.
But it does allow a break from income tax; in some states (although not
California) it makes it legal to accept the services of volunteers; it
opens up the possibility of grants and other sorts of aid, and it
creates a structure under which people can make donations with the
confidence that they are not merely lining someone else's pockets (the
tax deduction doesn't hurt either).
I suspect that the hardest thing about such a transition would be the
former owner making the jump from being the final authority to being an
employee. But, for most people who are hooked on bookselling, it's
the bookselling that matters, not who's running the place.
Top Sellers At Borderlands
Hardcovers
1. A Perfect Blood by Kim Harrison
2. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
3. The Mirage by Matt Ruff
4. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
5. Arctic Rising by Tobias Buckell
6. Rising Thunder by David Weber
7. Intruder by C.J. Cherryh
8. Distrust That Particular Flavor by William Gibson
9. Crucible of Gold by Naomi Novik
10. Intrusion by Ken Macleod
Mass Market Paperbacks
1. Timeless by Gail Carriger
2. Discount Armageddon by Seanan McGuire
3. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
4. Westward Weird edited by Martin H. Greenberg and Kerrie Hughes
5. A Clash of KIngs by George R.R. Martin
6. A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin
7. A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
8. Feed by Mira Grant
9. Soulless by Gail Carriger
10. Doubletake by Rob Thurman
Trade Paperbacks
1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
2. The Pillars of Hercules by David Constantine
3. Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss
4. The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
5. The Drowning Girl by Caitlin R. Kiernan
Book Club Info
The QSF&F Book Club will meet on Sunday, April 8th, at 5 pm
to discuss SPIN STATE by Chris Moriarty. 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, April
15th, at 6 pm to discuss RAINBOWS END by Vernor Vinge. The book
for May 20th is GULLIVER'S TRAVELS by Jonathan Swift. Please
contact bookclub@borderlands-books.com for more information.
Upcoming Event Details
Note: We have moved all of our author events to Borderlands
Cafe, directly next door to the bookstore at 870 Valencia Street.
We now have more room, and you can enjoy your hot cocoa while listening
to your favorite author!
SF in SF Urban Fantasy Panel with Steve Boyett and Bruce McAllister -
Saturday, April 21st at 7:00 pm - We are happy to help SF in SF welcome
these authors! Mr. Boyett and Mr. McAllister will discuss urban
fantasy and probably read a bit, followed by Q&A from the audience
moderated by author Terry Bisson. Authors will schmooze & sign
books after in the lounge. Books available for sale courtesy of
Borderlands Books. Seating is limited, so first come, first
seated. Bar proceeds benefit Variety Childrens Charity - learn
more at <http://www.varietync.org/>.
We REALLY encourage you to take BART into the City, or use MUNI to get
here - parking can be problematic in San Francisco, to say the
least. We are less than one block away from the Montgomery St.
station. Trust us - you don't want to be looking for parking and
be late for the event! Phone (night of event) 415-572-1015.
Questions? Email sfinsfevents@gmail.com.
Dana Fredsti, PLAGUE TOWN (Titan Books, Mass Market, $7.99) - Sunday,
April 22nd at 3:00 pm - From the publisher: "In the small university
town of Redwood Grove, people are succumbing to a lethal strain of flu.
They are dying -- but not for long. Ashley Parker and her
boyfriend are attacked by these shambling, rotting creatures that crave
human flesh. Their lives will never be the same again. When she
awakes Ashley discovers that she is a “wild card” --immune to the virus
-- and is recruited by a shadowy paramilitary organization that offers
her the chance to fight back. Fatally attracted to her gorgeous
instructor, and bonding with her fellow wild cards, Ashley begins to
discover skills she never knew she had. As the town falls to
ever-growing numbers of the infected, Ashley and her team fight to
contain the outbreak -- but will they be enough?" Dana Fredsti has
been a guest at Borderlands when she was a contributor to "Morbid
Curiosity" magazine, and we're glad to have her back with this novel!
Christopher Farnsworth, RED, WHITE AND BLOOD (Putnam, Hardcover, $25.95)
- Saturday, April 28th at 3:00 pm - From the book jacket: "The
Presidential Campaign Trail, 2012: A political operative and a
volunteer are brutally murdered while caught in a compromising position.
Written in their blood on the wall of the crime scene: IT’S GOOD TO BE
BACK. And with that, a centuries-old horror known only as the
Boogeyman returns to taunt Nathaniel Cade, the President’s Vampire.
Against the backdrop of the 2012 presidential race, with the threat of
constant exposure by the media, Cade and Zach must stop the one monster
Cade has never been able to defeat completely. And they must do it
before the Boogeyman adds another victim to his long and bloody list:
the President of the United States himself."
Jack Campbell, THE LOST FLEET: BEYOND THE FRONTIER: INVINCIBLE (Ace,
Hardcover, $26.95) - Friday, May 4th at 7:00 pm - We're excited to
welcome John G. Hemry, (retired Naval officer and graduate of the U.S.
Naval Academy in Annapolis), writing the incredible "Lost Fleet" series
of space adventures as Jack Campbell! You can read an except
from the new book here: http://74.53.37.13/c/283/invincible-excerpt .
Terry Bisson, ANY DAY NOW (Overlook, Hardcover, $24.95) -
Saturday, May 5th at 5:00 pm - Terry Bisson has written seven novels and
a lot of brilliant short fiction, but ANY DAY NOW hearkens back to
Terry's real-life activist roots. From the publisher: "ANY DAY NOW
is truly a literary tour de force. It is a poignant excursion
into the last days of the Beats and the emerging radicalized culture of
the sixties from Kentucky to New York City and daringly unique.
This road movie of a novel, which begins as a fifties coming-of-age
story and ends in an isolated hippy commune under threat of revolution,
provides a transcendent commentary on America then and now." We're
delighted to welcome Terry back to Borderlands and hope you'll join us!
Walter Mosley, THE GIFT OF FIRE / ON THE HEAD OF A PIN (Tor, Hardcover,
$24.99) - Thursday, May 10th at 7:00 pm - We're very excited to
welcome esteemed author Walter Moseley to Borderlands! Mosley's
newest book is a double novel; two speculative tales in one volume,
about everyday people exposed to life-altering truths. THE GIFT OF
FIRE shows us the Prometheus of legend walking into present-day South
Central Los Angeles, and ON THE HEAD OF A PIN gives us advanced
animatronics that allow long-dead movie stars to share the screen with
today's A-list.
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.
Dispatches from the Border
Editor - Jude Feldman
Assistant Editor - Alan Beatts
All contents unless otherwise noted are the property of
Borderlands Books
866 Valencia St.
San Francisco, CA 94110
415-824-8203
http://www.borderlands-books.com
Note - Guest article, "Creating Timelines" by Chelsea Quinn
Yarbro copyright Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, 2012.
Comments and suggestions should be directed to editor@borderlands-books.com
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