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ABOUT THE STORE : NEWSLETTER

DISPATCHES FROM THE BORDER

Events and News from Borderlands Books

October, 2008

Chapter One - Event Information, News, and Special Features

SF in SF presents a special Steampunk event for LitQuake, with authors Kage Baker, Joe R. Lansdale, and Rudy Rucker, Thursday, October 9th at 8:00 pm at the Variety Preview Room in the Hobart Building, 582 Market Street

LitQuake LitCrawl at Borderlands with special guests Richard Kadrey, Ellen Klages, and Pat Murphy, Saturday, October 11th from 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Alan Beatts, Scott Bradley and Amy Wallace, THE BOOK OF LISTS - HORROR (Harper, Trade Paperback, $14.95) Sunday, October 12th at 3:00 pm

Irete Lazo, Launch Party for THE ACCIDENTAL SANTERA (St. Martin's, Hardcover, $24.95) at the Cigar Bar and Grill, Tuesday, October 14th from 5:00 - 8:00 pm

SF in SF presents free movies "Shaun of the Dead" and "Repo Man," at the Variety Preview Room in the Hobart Building, 582 Market Street, Wednesday, October 15th at 7:00 pm

Cecelia Holland, Barry Malzberg, and Kim Stanley Robinson are guests of SF in SF Variety Preview Room in the Hobart Building, 582 Market Street, Saturday, October 18th at 7:00 pm

SF in SF presents an additional helping of free movies just in time to warm up for Halloween, "The Haunting" and "Don't Look Now," at the Variety Preview Room in the Hobart Building, 582 Market Street, Saturday, October 25th at 7:00 pm

David Farland, THE WYRMLING HORDE (Tor, Hardcover, $25.95) and Brandon Sanderson, THE HERO OF AGES (Tor, Hardcover, $27.95) Monday, October 27th at 7:00 pm

Ann and Jeff Vandermeer, STEAMPUNK (Tachyon Publications, Trade Paperback, $14.95) Tuesday, November 4th at 7:00 pm

Ellen Klages, WHITE SANDS, RED MENACE (Viking, Hardcover, $16.99) Saturday, November 8th at 3:00 pm

(for more information check the end of this section)

Stay tuned for Fall events with Steven Erikson, Kim Stanley Robinson, S.M. Stirling, and many other exciting authors!

Special Feature

Thanks once again to customer Chris Hsiang for the following review of THE JANUARY DANCER by Michael Flynn:

"The venerable Space Opera has seen an increasing resurgence in the last decade or so with authors like Neal Asher, Justina Robson, Alastair Reynolds, and Peter F. Hamilton. We have thrilled to descriptions of galaxy-spanning civilizations dominated by the vast, cool Artificial Intelligences and amoral transhumans with godlike abilities and motivations nearly unfathomable by us, their merely mortal supposed ancestors. In THE JANUARY DANCER, (Tor, Hardcover, $24.95) Michael Flynn, a multiple Hugo Award nominee and longtime contributor to "Analog", offers a more humanist approach to The New Space Opera that hearkens back to writers of the Mid 20th Century while keeping a modern style and staying grounded in current scientific understanding.


The eponymous January Dancer is an ancient alien artifact accidentally discovered by the typical hard-scrabble crew of one of those tramp cargo spaceships that always seem to be tripping over such things in the far edges of space. The Dancer quickly becomes a Maltese Falcon flying at the speed of light from owner to owner as ruthless forces vie for its possession. Decadent aristocrats and bloodthirsty pirates; interstellar trading corporations and rag-tag rebel fighters; highly-trained secret agents and desperate gutterpunk thieves--all are caught up in the music. Like the Golden Apple of Eris the enigmatic prize leaves a trail of broken souls, treachery, and bloodshed across the star roads. How's that for good old-fashioned fun?
 
About those star roads: Flynn's come up with an original way to move his players among scores of different worlds that blends hyperspace wormholes and superluminal travel. Ships travel along carefully plotted lines between certain stars where light travels much faster than the normal "flat space" we hang out in. Along these roads one can travel between far-flung planets in weeks yet never break Officer Einstein's speed limit. More of a loophole than a wormhole. And really, it's not nearly as goofy as fellow hard science-fiction author Vernor Vinge's "Zones of Thought" idea from A FIRE UPON THE DEEP (a really great novel, but I digress (a lot)). There is a catch to this method: should you graze the narrow embankments of these roads your ship "would become a brief but spectacular burst of Cerenkov radiation." Ka-bluey! Navigating along these courses is not so much a Yankee Clipper plying the trade winds as it is white-water rafting down a class 4 river.
 
Mr. Flynn has given these roads names like the Champs-Élysées, the Silk Road, Palisades Parkway, and--yes--Electric Avenue. These are only slight examples of the wordplay he indulges in. Wit abounds in these pages ranging from subtle or dry to sparkling and ultimately scathing. But do not be mistaken, a wacky farce this is not. The main characters have depth with surprising complexity. They banter while set on daunting tasks with grim purpose--like combat-hardened troops or emergency room personnel. The author strikes me as a man who would rather talk than fight and cause much more damage in the process.
 
He also uses inventive linguistic mash-ups that would make James Joyce howl with joy or fury. In the volume of space where the plot is set the main language, Gaelactic Standard, is based on Irish and influences all the other diverse planetary cultures. Snippets of Irish vocabulary turn up often, especially in the framing story, along with observations on traditional Celtic music and the nature of storytelling itself. The descendants of the last generations to leave Earth speak a bewildering patois of English, Spanish, Arabic and a thick olio of tongues from the Far East and the Subcontinent of that fabled lost world. The Terrans have scattered to a hundred worlds' ghettos where they are permitted to beg for work and be sneered at for their outlandish customs. At night in the tenements and warrens, away from the oppressive "eatees" they gather for supper of tkka masala, hodawgs with sarkrat, and eye-said krim for dessert. They yearn for a home none of them have ever seen and, in echos of previous Diasporas, they toast each other with, "Next year, a Hajj on Earth!"
 
The book-jacket blurb compares THE JANUARY DANCER to the works of the great old Smiths, E.E. Doc and Cordwainer (yes, I know they weren't related). I detected some Bester and even a bit of Asimov and Frank Herbert. It's not quite up to the grand scale of [Asimov's] Galactic Empire or the DUNE books, but there is the rich tapestry of human civilizations and wheels within wheels . . . plans within plans. This is not the best book you will read all year (unless you only read one book a year, in which case you should really try harder). However it is a very well-crafted, entertaining novel by a clever and experienced writer. I would especially recommend it to fans of the Firefly franchise and suspect it might be intended for them. I do not know if any sequels are on his set list but if Mr. Flynn calls the tune I wouldn't mind another spin around the floor."

- Christopher Hsiang

News

* Another book in the increasingly inaccurately named Hitchhiker's Trilogy. . . From Shelf Awareness, a book industry newsletter, comes the following: ". . .children's book author Eoin Colfer will write a sixth book in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series by the late Douglas Adams. Colfer's book, called AND ANOTHER THING. . ., will be
published in the U.S. by Hyperion in October 2009.
In a statement, Colfer, author of the ARTEMIS FOWL series, said he considers the HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY "like nothing I had read before, or since for that matter. It is a slice of satirical genius. A marvel of quantum tomfoolery. A dissection of the absurdities of our human condition. A space odyssey that forces us to face ourselves and collapse in hysterics . . . My first reaction was semi-outrage that anyone should be allowed to tamper with this incredible series. But on reflection, I realized that this is a wonderful opportunity to work with characters I have loved since childhood and give them something of my own voice while holding on to the spirit of Douglas Adams. I am bloody
determined that this will be the best thing I have ever written."

*One of our customers has a ticket for the World Fantasy Convention in Calgary that he's not going to use. He's willing to sell it for $100.  (The current price at the door is $180.) If you're interested in purchasing this ticket, email office@borderlands-books.com and we'll put you in touch with him.

*A super-cool, free pre-Halloween event to check out in Berkeley: Actors Reading Writers presents stories by Thomas Ligotti and Alfred Noyes.  Actors Gregory Scharpen and Dean Santomieri read "My Case for Retributive Action" by Thomas Ligotti and "Midnight Express" by Alfred Noyes.  Monday, October 6th at 7:30 pm at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. in Berkeley.

*Local author Pat Murphy, who will be appearing at Borderlands during the LitQuake LitCrawl (see below) has a brand-new website up in support of her award-winning novel THE WILD GIRLS.  It's at <http://www.verlavolante.com/>, and if you go to Verla's Desk, you can submit a pirate haiku and maybe win a prize!

Cafe News

Please forgive me for not writing my usual "From the Office" article this month but I've been very busy with what follows.  I'll try to make up for it next month but no promises.

Short version of the news about the cafe is that work has started in a big way and is moving along at a pretty good pace.

In the last two weeks, I've gotten all the remaining demolition work done -- in three days I filled two 14 foot long, eight foot wide, six foot high debris boxes; mostly with lath and plaster.  All the old wiring has been pulled out (imagine my surprise to find that the old tenants were stealing electricity from the bookstore . . . imagine my even greater surprise when I found out about it by turning off all the power and finding wires in the basement that were still "hot").  The old floor boards in the kitchen area have been removed (and stored for later repairs to the rest of the floor) and the floor has been reinforced for the tile that's going to go in (and I'll tell you -- 4' by 8' sheets of plywood over an inch thick are _heavy_).  And finally just today, the walls for the bathroom were framed (thanks to my friend and general contractor, Bruno DeMartis).

With a little luck, the plumber and electrician will start in a day or two and then in another two weeks or so it'll be time for the first round of inspections.  Not too bad for me, my brother and some part-time help.  And damn, has my brother Joe been a huge help.  Not only is he big and strong but he used to be an electrician (which was a big help during the why-is-this-still-"hot" discussion in the basement last week).

For those of you who are _really_ interested about the construction work, there will be a blog up very shortly at <http://www.borderlands-cafe.com>.

More news as I have it.

Best,
Alan

From The Office

Will Return Next Month.

Top Sellers At Borderlands

Hardcover:
1) Anathem by Neal Stephenson
2) Paul of Dune by Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert
3) Toll the Hounds by Steven Erikson
4) The Steel Remains (UK) by Rickard K. Morgan
5) The Scourge of God by S.M. Stirling
6) Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
7) Brisingr by Christopher Paolini
8) Return of the Crimson Guard (UK) by Ian Cameron Esslemont
9) The Night Sessions (UK) by Ken MacLeod
10) An Evil Guest by Gene Wolfe

Mass Market:
1) The Sunrise Lands by S.M. Stirling
2) Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
3) Night of Knives (UK) by Ian Cameron Esslemont
4) Debatable Space by Philip Palmer
5) Good Fairies of New York by Martin Millar
6) Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch
7) The City, Not Long After by Pat Murphy
8) Halting State by Charles Stross
9) Wanderlust by Ann Aguirre
10) Acacia by David Anthony Durham

Trade Paperback:
1) The Living Dead edited by John Joseph Adams
2) Toll the Hounds by Steven Erikson
3) World War Z by Max Brooks tie with
        Content by Cory Doctorow
4) Blindsight by Peter Watts
5) Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie

Notes From a DVD Geek

Happy October, horror fans.  This is the month in which all of the good, bad and indifferent horror movies come out on DVD.  Luckily, I’m here to point out the good stuff.

Before we get started with the horror movies, I wanted to point out one of the more interesting anime shows I’ve run across. . . a post-apocalyptic steampunk adventure in a world were androids and humans live side by side:  "Ergo Proxy".  This one went 24 episodes, and is worth checking out, now that it's available as a single box set DVD release.  The director of "Ergo Proxy" is the director who brought us the 2003 series "Witch Hunter Robin".  If you haven’t seen either of these, you might want to check them out.

Okay.  On to the red stuff.  Right off the bat, we see one of the longest anticipated sequels in the horror genre, finally hitting home video in the U.S.  Dario Argento’s third installment in the Three Mothers series, "Mother of Tears".  The first two films, "Suspira" and "Inferno" were masterpieces of their era.  Soundtracks, imagery, costuming and sets that screamed 70’s Italian horror cinema.  The good news, and the bad news is that Argento is still making films just like he did in the 70’s.  Incoherent scripts . . . nonsensical motivations and actions by the characters . . . Gorgeous grand guignol set pieces and a film score that overwhelms and intoxicates all at the same time.  "Mother of Tears" isn’t realistic in any sense of the word.  It is filled with ridiculousness and fetishized imagery that doesn’t quite acknowledge that, well, the world is 30 years older.  And this, to my mind, is a good thing.  I don’t want my Argento films to be teensploitation blood dramas or torture-porn epics.  I want Argento to be Argento, and "Mother of Tears" (much like his last two films, "Sleepless" and "The Card Player") could easily have been made and released in the 70s or early 80s.  It is vintage Argento, warts and all.  Like the other two films in the series, its main downside is the “throw a rock at the devil” ending. This is a reference to the classic Hammer film "To the Devil a Daughter," and its rather abrupt and seemingly out-of-nowhere ending.  If you like Argento, "Mother of Tears" is for you.  It’s not a great movie, but it is unabashedly an Argento movie.  If the subtle allure of "Inferno" eludes you . . well . . . You might want to give this one a pass.  This DVD release is longer and features more gore then the theatrical release (which screened one night in San Francisco, earlier this year, FYI).

For another movie that is “out of time” and features an intriguing score, be sure to check out "Wicked Lake".  Think "Last House on the Left," (or "I Spit on Your Grave") meets "Evil Dead".  It’s a classic rape revenge drama with a supernatural twist, and a score by Ministry’s Al Jourgensen.  This one has a lake . . . and zombies . . . and cute girls who are menaced by, and then kill, evil men.  What’s not to like?

In keeping with Criterion’s release of Carl Theodor Dreyer’s "Vampyr," which I mentioned last month, I thought I’d mention another “classic” adaptation of Le Fanu’s Carmila:  "The Blood Splattered Bride". This one has been lovingly restored by Blue Underground.  Vicente Aranda’s atmospheric tale of sex and violence is a classic of 70s horror films, and has never looked better.

Another classic horror film with overtly sexual themes, recently restored by Blue Underground is Andrzej Zulawski’s "Possession" starring Isabelle Adjani and Sam Neill. This one explores the psychology of betrayal, and is filled with set piece imagery that would make Argento proud.  The US cut of this film was heavily redacted and the Blue Underground features the original, much longer international cut of this film.

Another creepy horror thriller from 1981 is The Shaw Brothers horror film, "Corpse Mania".  Think Italian giallo film, by way of Hong Kong.  A maniacal necrophilliac is rampaging through Hong Kong brothels, locked in a cat-and-mouse game with the police detective who’s been tasked to bring him to justice.  Good stuff.

Finally, for those of you disappointed with the rather bare bones release earlier this year of the Rob Zombie remake of "Halloween," I give you the three disk unrated director's cut special edition.  Commentary on disk one.  Disk 2 has all the deleted scenes, alternate endings and out-takes that one could want, and disk 3 has a four hour “making of” documentary that is reminiscent of the extensive shooting documentary included with "The Devils Rejects".  THIS is the way to go for all true hard core Rob Zombie fans.  Unless of course, you have a Blue Ray player . . . then be sure to check out the Blue Ray edition of this unrated director's cut.

Speaking of Blue Ray…I wanted to ask you all a question.  Sort of an informal poll.  Please email in your answers to the following questions:

Do you own or have access to a Blue Ray player, or a PS3?

Do you have an HDTV?

Do you plan on buying a Blue Ray or HDTV in the near future?

Do you buy movies on Blue Ray?

If Borderlands stocked Blue Ray movies, would you buy them from Borderlands?

Anyway . . . Those are some of the high points for this month's horror releases.  Or at least, the high points as I see them.  If you’ve got a favorite horror movie that you’ve seen this year, or that is just coming out, please drop me a line and let me know about it.

Until next month, keeping watching those blood-red-drippy DVD’s.  Someone’s got to.

- Jeremy Lassen
jlassen@borderlands-books.com

Book Club Info

The Gay Men's Book Club will meet on Sunday, October 12th, at 5 pm to discuss THE REALITY DYSFUNCTION: EMERGENCE by Peter F. Hamilton.  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, October 19th, at 6 pm to discuss FEVRE DREAM by George R.R. Martin.  The book for November is OLD MAN'S WAR by John Scalzi.  Please contact Jude at jfeldman@borderlands-books.com for more information.

Upcoming Event Details

SF in SF presents a special Steampunk event for LitQuake, with authors Kage Baker, Joe R. Lansdale, and Rudy Rucker, Thursday, October 9th at 7:30 pm at the Variety Preview Room in the Hobart Building, 582 Market Street - The subtitle for this event is Impossibly Fantastic Victorian Science Fiction, and we're looking forward to this awesome reading with a rollicking trio of authors! Cash bar, books for sale courtesy of Borderlands, and a good time for all.  Doors open at 7:00 pm, and the event starts at 8:00 pm.  We expect a large turnout for this event, and we'll try to accommodate everyone, but come early to ensure that you get a good seat.  More info at <http://www.litquake.org/the-festival/>.

LitQuake LitCrawl at Borderlands with special guests Richard Kadrey, Ellen Klages, and Pat Murphy, Saturday, October 11th from 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm - We are delighted to once again take part in one of the most exciting literary events in San Francisco - the LitCrawl!  This is a three-hour pub-crawl-style literary event with dozens of venues and hundreds of authors, all taking place right here in the Mission District.  This year we are happy to host local luminaries Richard Kadrey (BUTCHER BIRD), Ellen Klages (WHITE SANDS, RED MENACE), and Pat Murphy (THE WILD GIRLS).  See <http://www.litquake.org/the-festival/lit-crawl-2008/> for the complete, mind-blowing schedule.

Alan Beatts, Scott Bradley and Amy Wallace, THE BOOK OF LISTS - HORROR edited by Scott Bradley, Del Howison and Amy Wallace (Harper, Trade Paperback, $14.95) Sunday, October 12th at 3:00 pm - Editors/Contributors Scott Bradley and Amy Wallace as well as contributor (and Borderlands' owner!) Alan Beatts, will talk about putting together THE BOOK OF LISTS - HORROR and sign copies after the discussion.  This collection has been described as, “Fascinating; charming; grandly goofy; opinionated and cranky; gloriously personal and beautifully off-center: this book will keep you entertained hour after hour.” by Peter Straub, author of GHOST STORY and LOST BOY, LOST GIRL.  We're really pleased that Alan, who has probably hosted a thousand author events since the store opened in 1997, will finally be on the other side of the podium. He, on the other hand, is terrified.  Come on out to cheer and learn about Stephen King's 10 favorite horror stories, the top 10 mistakes people in horror movies make, top 10 horror-themed rock n' roll songs, and oh, so much more!

Irete Lazo, Launch Party for THE ACCIDENTAL SANTERA (St. Martin's, Hardcover, $24.95) at the Cigar Bar and Grill, Tuesday, October 14th from 5:00 - 8:00 pm - From the book: "A one-of-a-kind novel that plunges readers into the secrets of Afro-Cuban Santeria - a world of fascinating beauty, pulsating rhythms, and great mystery.  Gabrielle Segovia, Ph.D., is struggling to build a career as a Latina scientist, cope with her third miscarriage, and resuscitate her marriage to fellow biology professor Benito Cruz. Becoming a santera is not in her plans.
But everything changes when her best friend, the feisty Patricia Munoz, drags her into a French Quarter voodoo shop during a conference in New Orleans. When Gabrielle gets home to the San Francisco Bay Area, the predictions from her on-a-whim reading begin to come true. That's when she learns she hails from a long line of practitioners of Santeria, the religion created when Yoruba slaves combined their ancient rituals with Catholicism.  Out of desperation to become a mother and save both her job and her marriage, Gabrielle turns to Puerto Rican relatives living in Miami she hasn't seen since she was a child. She finds herself warmly embraced by three generations of Segovia santeras and drawn into their world of seances, sacred drums, and ritual animal sacrifice.
Unexpectedly marked for initiation by the gods and goddesses of the Yoruba pantheon, Gabrielle must decide whether she can bring herself to answer the call. And, if she chooses, commit to the seemingly contradictory life of a scientist who is also a santera.  In this powerful debut novel, Irete Lazo captures a vibrant world still unknown to many and relates a journey that is at once funny, heart-wrenching, and, ultimately, triumphant." Please email Accidental.Santera@gmail.com to RSVP for the party!

SF in SF presents free movies "Shaun of the Dead" and "Repo Man," at the Variety Preview Room in the Hobart Building, 582 Market Street, Wednesday, October 15th at 7:00 pm - Free movies! Free popcorn! Cash bar!  The screenings will take place at Variety's Preview Room, located in The Hobart Building, 582 Market Street @ Montgomery, San Francisco.  Doors open at 6:30 pm and the first movie starts at 7:00 pm.  There will be one fifteen-minute intermission between the two films. Seating is limited and seats are available on a first-come, first seated basis, so arrive early!  Refreshments will be available for purchase, and your purchase benefits Variety Children's Charity of Northern California, a non-profit organization that supports children in local communities who are dealing with poverty, neglect, violence, and physical disabilities.  For more information about upcoming movies, write movies@borderlands-books.com.  For more information on Variety Children's Charity, see their web site at <http://www.varietync.org/> or write sffilmvariety@yahoo.com.

Cecelia Holland, Barry Malzberg, and Kim Stanley Robinson are guests of SF in SF at the Variety Preview Room in the Hobart Building, 582 Market Street, Saturday, October 18th at 7:00 pm - We are very excited to help SF in SF welcome these distinguished guests!  Each author will read a selection from their work, 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.

SF in SF presents an additional helping of free movies, "The Haunting" and "Don't Look Now," at the Variety Preview Room in the Hobart Building, 582 Market Street, Saturday, October 25th at 7:00 pm - Free movies! Free popcorn! Cash bar!  The screenings will take place at Variety's Preview Room, located in The Hobart Building, 582 Market Street @ Montgomery, San Francisco.  Doors open at 6:30 pm and the first movie starts at 7:00 pm.  There will be one fifteen-minute intermission between the two films. Seating is limited and seats are available on a first-come, first seated basis, so arrive early!  Refreshments will be available for purchase, and your purchase benefits Variety Children's Charity of Northern California, a non-profit organization that supports children in local communities who are dealing with poverty, neglect, violence, and physical disabilities.  For more information about upcoming movies, write movies@borderlands-books.com.  For more information on Variety Children's Charity, see their web site at <http://www.varietync.org/> or write sffilmvariety@yahoo.com.

David Farland, THE WYRMLING HORDE (Tor, Hardcover, $25.95) and Brandon Sanderson, THE HERO OF AGES (Tor, Hardcover, $27.95) Monday, October 27th at 7:00 pm - We are delighted to once again welcome David Farland and Brandon Sanderson to the store!  About David Farland's new book, from Macmillan: "Now the epic story continues: at the end of WORLDBINDER, Fallion Orden, son of Gaborn, was imprisoned on a strange and fantastic world that he created by combining two alternate realities. It's a world brimming with dark magic, ruled by a creature of unrelenting evil who is gathering monstrous armies from a dozen planets in a bid to conquer the universe. Only Fallion has the power to mend the worlds, but at the heart of a city that is a vast prison, he lies in shackles. The forces of evil are growing and will soon rage across the heavens. Now, Fallion's allies must risk everything in an attempt to free him from the wyrmling horde." And Brandon Sanderson will be presenting THE HERO OF AGES, book three of the MISTBORN saga.  Also from Macmillan: "Who is the Hero of Ages?  To end the Final Empire and restore freedom, Vin killed the Lord Ruler. But as a result, the Deepness---the lethal form of the ubiquitous mists---is back, along with increasingly heavy ashfalls and ever more powerful earthquakes. Humanity appears to be doomed.  Having escaped death at the climax of THE WELL OF ASCENSION only by becoming a Mistborn himself, Emperor Elend Venture hopes to find clues left behind by the Lord Ruler that will allow him to save the world. Vin is consumed with guilt at having been tricked into releasing the mystic force known as Ruin from the Well. Ruin wants to end the world, and its near omniscience and ability to warp reality make stopping it seem impossible. She can’t even discuss it with Elend lest Ruin learn their plans!  The conclusion of the MISTBORN trilogy fulfills all the promise of the first two books. Revelations abound, connections rooted in early chapters of the series click into place, and surprises, as satisfying as they are stunning, blossom like fireworks to dazzle and delight. It all leads up to a finale unmatched for originality and audacity that will leave readers rubbing their eyes in wonder, as if awaking from an amazing dream."  Don't miss the chance to meet two fabulous fantasy authors!

Ann and Jeff Vandermeer, STEAMPUNK (Tachyon Publications, Trade Paperback, $14.95) Tuesday, November 4th at 7:00 pm - Borderlands is happy to welcome the editors of STEAMPUNK to the store!  What exactly is Steampunk? Tachyon Publications says, "Steampunk is Victorian elegance and modern technology: steam-driven robots, souped-up stagecoaches, and space-faring dirigibles fueled by gaslight romance, mad scientists, and oh-so-trim waistcoats. It’s "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen," 10,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA, THE WIZARD OF OZ, and THE GOLDEN COMPASS. Replete with whimsical mechanical wonders and bold adventurers, this riveting anthology lovingly collects classic steampunk stories, pop-culture fueled discussions of steampunk, and essential recommended reading lists for the discerning steampunk fan.  From the editors of THE THACKERY T. LAMBSHEAD POCKET GUIDE TO ECCENTRIC and DISCREDITED DISEASES and THE NEW WEIRD, this is steampunk. Hang on tight."  Welcome Ann and Jeff for a rousing discussion and Q&A!

Ellen Klages, WHITE SANDS, RED MENACE (Viking, Hardcover, $16.99) Saturday, November 8th at 3:00 pm - THE GREEN GLASS SEA wasn't science fiction, but fiction about science. . . an awesome coming-of-age story about tomboy Dewey Kerrigan and her friend Suze, growing up in Los Alamos (a town that officially didn't exist) in 1942 while their parents worked on "the Gadget".  Now that the war is over, follow Dewey and Suze's continuing adventures in WHITE SANDS, RED MENACE.  These are both beautiful books; perfect period pieces that really capture the adventure, discovery, and flat-out confusion of growing up.  Meet local author Ellen Klages and discover this timeless new novel.

Borderlands event policy - all events are free of charge.  You are welcome to bring copies of an author's books purchased elsewhere to be autographed (but we do appreciate it if you purchase something while at the event).  For most events you are welcome to bring as many books as you wish for autographs.  If you are unable to attend the event we will be happy to have a copy of any of the author's available books signed or inscribed for you.  We can then either hold it until you can come in to pick it up or we can ship it to you.  Just give us a call or drop us an email.  If you live out of town, you can also ship us books from your collection to be signed.  Call or email for details.

Chapter Two - Book Listings

Small Press Features

Coffin Nails by John Llewellyn Probert (Ash-Tree Press, Limited Edition (400 copies) Hardcover, $49.00) From Ash-Tree: "The fil-makers who unleash a curse from an ancient abbey . . . The teenager who murders the sister he never had . . . The care-home whose attic harbours a monstrous secret . . . A schoolbook of poetry that means death for its readers . . . The witch's familiar unleashed by church organ music . . . Welcome to the sinister, scary, and sometimes outrageous world of John Llewellyn Probert. A place filled with troubled schoolchildren, overbearing theatre producers, brilliant surgeons, and nervous billionaires. Where a walk in the country can lead to a mansion filled with beautiful women, or a trap from which you can never escape. Where a picture on the wall of a primary school classroom can come to life with appalling consequences, and a rugby match can be the scene for a burned witch's revenge. Meet the parents who think they know what is best for their son — until he returns from the grave to show them otherwise. Learn about the girl who found solace in a burial chamber near Prague; and discover the real reason why West-End musicals succeed or fail."

Content - Selected Essays on Technology, Creativity, Copyright and the Future of the Future by Cory Doctorow (Tachyon Publications, Trade Paperback, $14.95) - From Tachyon: "Hailed by Bruce Sterling as a 'political activist, gizmo freak, junk collector, programmer, entrepreneur, and all-around Renaissance geek,' Cory Doctorow is the Internet's most celebrated hi-tech pop culture maven. And now finally there's (C)ONTENT, the first nonfiction collection of Cory Doctorow's infamous articles, essays, and polemics - accessible to geeks and noobs (if you’re not sure what that means, it’s you) alike."

The Cthulhu Mythos Encyclopedia edited by Daniel Harms (Elder Signs, Limited Edition (200 copies) Hardcover, $45.00) - From Elder Signs: "This is the third edition of [Harms'] popular and extensive encyclopedia of the Cthulhu Mythos. Updated with more fiction listings and recent material, this unique book spans the years of H.P. Lovecraft’s influence in culture, entertainment, and fiction. The voluminous entries make THE CTHULHU MYTHOS ENCYCLOPEDIA invaluable for anyone knowledgeable about the Cthulhu Mythos and necessary for those longing to learn about the Cosmic Horrors from past and present decades."

And Their Memory Was a Bitter Tree - Queen of the Black Coast and Others by Robert E. Howard (Black Bart, Hardcover, $25.00) A gorgeous new edition illustrated by Brom and Frank Frazetta.

The Atlantis Fragments by Donald Sidney-Fryer (Hippocampus Press, Limited edition (300 copies) Hardcover, $55.00) - From Hippocampus: "Donald Sidney-Fryer’s massive, 550-page poetry omnibus is the most elaborate book ever published by Hippocampus. Its color frontispiece, printed end papers, profusion of interior illustrations, Smythe sewn signatures and illustrated dust wrapper destine it to be a collector’s item. This hardcover omnibus presents the collected edition of the trilogy SONGS AND SONNETS ATLANTEAN in a limited edition of 300 copies."

New and Notable

The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror vol. 21 edited by Ellen Datlow, Kelly Link and Gavin Grant (St. Martin's, Hardcover, $35.00 and Trade Paperback, $21.95) - The current installment of the premier "year's best".

Return of the Crimson Guard by Ian Cameron Esslemont (Bantam UK, Hardcover, $36.98) - Ian Cameron Esslemont is co-creator, with Steven Erikson, of the Malazan world.  From the book: "The return of the mercenary company the Crimson Guard could not have come at a worse time for the Malazan Empire. Drained by constant warfare, weakened by betrayal and rivalries, many see the grip of Empress Laseen weakening. Conquered kingdoms and principalities test their old independence. Into this gathering civil war on Quon Tali - the Empire's homeland - comes the Guard. And with their return comes the memory of their hundred year old vow: undying opposition to the existence of the Empire. Yet rivalries and betrayals stalk the Guard as well - elements of its elite, the Avowed, scheme to open paths to even greater power. Ancient potent entities, Ascendants, also lend a hand exploiting all sides to further their own arcane ends. Meanwhile, a swordsman, Traveller, and his companion Ereko, move from one strange encounter to another in a mysterious dance meant ultimately to bring the swordsman to a final confrontation from which none have ever returned. As the Crimson Guard gathers itself from around the globe, Empress Laseen faces more immediate threats. To feed her wars she has bled dry provincial garrisons across Quon Tali and now regional nationalists see their chance. Behind their insurrections stand the veteran commanders of Laseen's predecessor, Emperor Kellanved. These generals and powerful mages, the "Old Hands," have lost patience with what they see as Laseen's mismanagement and have selected their own replacement. Yet there are hints that Laseen may be using the uprisings to draw out and finally eliminate these last irksome survivors of her predecessor's rule."

Pandemonium by Daryl Gregory (Del Rey, Trade Paperback, $13.00) - It's a world just like our world -- almost.  In this version of our world, random acts of demon possession began to occur in the 1950's. The demons are archetypes, sort of, and always follow the same patterns of behavior.  There's the Captain, the Painter, and several less salubrious characters as well. Our protagonist was briefly possessed by The Hellion as a child . . . but he believes that he somehow trapped the demon in his head, and now it wants out.  Follow his crazy quest to rid himself of his passenger, all the way from New Age conferences to black helicopters to run-ins with Mythos monsters, Phillip K. Dick, and Sinead O'Connor (who, in this alternate world, is a catholic priest!?!). A very worthwhile first novel.  Recommended by Alan and Jude.

How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier (Bloomsbury, Hardcover, $16.99) - I love Justine's new novel!  This one is lighter and funnier than  her previous novels, and in it we meet Charlotte (Charlie), a fourteen-year-old with a useless (to her) fairy: a parking fairy.  Charlie hates cars, and really wants a new fairy - any other fairy! Her best friend has a good clothes fairy -- how unfair is that? Too bad the school bully really needs Charlie's fairy, and keeps basically kidnapping her so she'll find him parking spaces. Fast, clever and fun.  Recommended by Jude.  And see photos of Ash from when Justine and Scott stopped in at the store here: <http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2008/09/20/borderlands-cat/>

Chalice by Robin McKinley (Putnam, Hardcover, $18.99) - I keep making a mess trying to explain this beautiful new tale from Robin McKinley, so head over to her blog and read the beginning: <http://robinmckinleysblog.com/2008/08/06/chalice-begins/>. Recommended by Jude.

The Steel Remains by Richard K. Morgan (Gollancz, Hardcover, $24.71) - I know I mentioned THE STEEL REMAINS in the last newsletter, but I hadn't read it at that point.  Now I've read it, and I want EVERYONE to read it! I don't want to tell you too much about it except that it's SO GOOD!  It's really grim, and I adore the protagonist, Gil.  He's the hero of Gallows Gap, and he's also unapologetically homosexual in a world that, uh, frowns on that -- to the point of big spikes and cages. A dark and compelling fantasy.  And it reads well a standalone, so no waiting for the next in the series.  Recommended by Alan, Jeremy and Jude.

Brisingr by Christopher Paolini (Knopf, Hardcover, $27.50) - The third, but not the last, in this inexplicably popular series.

Nation by Terry Pratchett (Harper, Hardcover, $16.99) - From Harper Collins: "The sea has taken everything.  Mau is the only one left after a giant wave sweeps his island village away. But when much is taken, something is returned, and somewhere in the jungle Daphne— a girl from the other side of the globe— is the sole survivor of a ship destroyed by the same wave. Together the two confront the aftermath of catastrophe. Drawn by the smoke of Mau and Daphne's sheltering fire, other refugees slowly arrive: children without parents, mothers without babies, husbands without wives— all of them hungry and all of them frightened. As Mau and Daphne struggle to keep the small band safe and fed, they defy ancestral spirits, challenge death himself, and uncover a long-hidden secret that literally turns the world upside down. . . . Internationally revered storyteller Terry Pratchett presents a breathtaking adventure of survival and discovery, and of the courage required to forge new beliefs."  Fans take note - this is not a Discworld novel.

Anathem by Neal Stephenson (William Morrow, Hardcover, $29.95) - I just have to make a brief addition to Chris Hsiang's excellent review in last month's newsletter.  I liked this one and I'd put it in a notch above CRYPTONOMICON -- perhaps even tying with DIAMOND AGE.  It really is a fine novel and I think it has one of his best endings yet.  Recommended by Alan.

An Evil Guest by Gene Wolfe (Tor, Hardcover, $25.95) - Gene Wolfe has been on a roll for the past few years and it's still going.  I quite enjoyed THE KNIGHT and THE WIZARD but I thought that PIRATE FREEDOM was simply marvelous.  AN EVIL GUEST continues the run with an odder story than the last three but one that's just as accessible and engrossing.  I'm not going to try to tell you about it nor compare it to anything.  I'm just going to say that it's good and leave it at that.  Recommended by Alan.

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

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

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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