(Image borrowed from this site)
I owe many people ‘thanks’, and need to confess my sins.
It should come as no secret that book bloggers love to discuss books. One of the things that has come into fashion over the past few years (once affectionately known as ‘book pron’) is to share the swag that comes to us via mail order, gifts, review copies, or moments where we succumb to temptation in new and used book shops. In my experience this ritual is not done to boast, but simply to share our love of reading and also give a shout out to say, “Hey, you might want to pick this up too!”. Book, music and film companies have to love us–Free Advertising! 🙂
I preface this post with that explanation/disclaimer because from my November 21st birthday up through Christmas (and post-Christmas shopping), I have come into an embarrassment of riches in the way of books, music, dvds and games. Having opened the door on my willingness to get used and discounted items, especially from my wife for Christmas, I find myself being very blessed indeed. Add to that a bunch of bookstore gift cards from lovely people, gift cards that I got from bookstores because of purchasing gift cards for others, and for signing up for Membership cards, and money from my parents and in a short span of time, it feels like I have acquired more than I had all year up to this point. I also want to do this by way of additional thanks to everyone who was so generous this year.
And now, THE LOOT!!!
I had grand plans of these being in a nice birthday-up-through-today order, but my poor memory meant that I was constantly finding things I had forgotten to list, so please forgive the random quality of this post.
Jeff and I have been bugging our local comic shop owners to dip into their full basement and bring in some of their used book inventory to sell in the shop. They finally succumbed to peer pressure last week…and of course I had to spend a little money! 😉 All of these were 75 cents to a dollar, so no guilt here.
1. The Psycho-technic League ~Poul Anderson
Bought largely because of the cool Vincent di Fate cover, which I promptly ripped when taking off the price sticker. Doh!
2. The Rest of the Robots ~Isaac Asimov
I read a copy of this earlier in the year. More fun robot stories from the Master. Mine doesn’t have this Paul Lehr cover, though, so this copy came home with me too.
3. R is for Rocket ~Ray Bradbury
My experience with Bradbury’s work is sadly limited. Bringing this short story collection home was a no-brainer.
4. New Worlds for Old ~Lin Carter, ed.
My friend Jerry was just showing me his collection of Ballentine Adult Fantasy books a few weeks ago (and in this context “adult” does not mean “adult content”) and lo and behold here was one for me. Stories by Howard, Lovecraft, C.L. Moore, Clark Ashton Smith, Wilde, and more.
5. Midnight at the Well of Lost Souls ~Jack L. Chalker
I was so excited to come across this because it is the January read for the Classic Science Fiction Book Club that I belong to.
6. The Songs of Distant Earth ~Arthur C. Clarke
Caught my eye because of the Michael Whelan cover and the raised lettering.
7. Retief of the CDT ~Keith Laumer
My friend Jerry is a big Retief fan and now I can see why.
8. The Space Merchants ~Pohl/Kornbluth
Great John Berkey cover accompanying a classic story (one of MANY) that is on my radar to read at some point.
9. The Tough Guide to Fantasyland ~Diana Wynne Jones
My Blogger Secret Santa, Heather J., sent me a wonderful package with this book, a Gil Elvgren 2011 calendar (Yowza!), some Laura Stoddart stationary (I’ve liked her work for years), and some candy and other goodies. Thank you sooooo much Heather!!!
10. Frenchman’s Creek ~Daphne du Maurier
11. Good-bye Mr. Chips ~James Hilton
My wife always snags interesting old books for me from the library, these were two she got for me for Christmas.
1. Spectrum 17 ~Cathy and Arnie Fenner, ed
I bought this with birthday money from my parents this year. Just had my annual look-through with Jeff over the weekend, so a review of this, and the following book, will be forthcoming.
2. Middle-earth: Visions of a Modern Myth ~Donato Giancola
My favorite fantasy imagined by one of the best sf/f illustrators working today. I ordered this months ago from the comic shop and am thrilled with the quality and content.
1. Savage Art ~Cathy and Arnie Fenner, ed
I bought the companion book, Shameless Art, earlier this year and Jeff made sure that this Christmas brought me the complete set.
2. War of the Worlds ~H.G. Wells
Not sure who the artist is, but isn’t this a great cover? Birthday gift from Jeff.
1. Sci-Fi Art: A Graphic History ~Steven Holland
This looks like a fun mix of classic and more contemporary sf art. Another birthday gift from Jeff that I look forward to perusing here soon.
2. The Very Best of Charles de Lint ~Charles de Lint
I was only aware of this book’s existence a few days before my birthday, but that didn’t stop me from wanting it not only for the wonderful Charles Vess cover illustration, but also because de Lint is one of my favorite short story authors. Thankfully I didn’t have to resist temptation long as my friend Pat had purchased it for me for a birthday gift.
3. Medicine Road ~Charles de Lint
The de Lint/Vess combination came around again come Christmas time thanks to Jeff and his family, as did the following book:
4. The Coyote Road: Trickster Tales ~Datlow, Windling, ed.
1. The Norse Myths ~Kevin Crosley-Holland
Isn’t that a gorgeous looking book? My friend Pat gave me that for Christmas as a companion to the de Lint book she got me for my birthday.
2. At Large, At Small ~Anne Fadiman
I have checked both of Fadiman’s essay collections out from the library on more than one occasion so I was thrilled that Mary found this near mint hardback copy for me for Christmas.
3. Podkayne of Mars ~Robert A. Heinlein
I am smitten with this story and have collected several copies of it with various cover illustrations. This one by Matt Stawicki is a favorite. I have one more cover that I am looking for and then I think I’ll have all the versions of this that I want….I think… Interestingly enough, I found this copy really cheap on ebay, ordered it for myself, and my wife got it in the mail, thought she purchased it for me, and wrapped it up for me for Christmas! Ha!
4. Hull Zero Three ~Greg Bear
This was one of my sins. I read about this online and got an irresistible urge to pick it up and start reading it, which is what I did. I am nearly finished and a review should be up soon. So far it is VERY good.
1. Xenocide ~Orson Scott Card
2. Children of the Mind ~Orson Scott Card
Every year in November I have a shot at a small performance based bonus. I got it this year, thank you Lord, and I used some of it to treat myself to these two books. Two of my most memorable reading experiences since I started blogging in 2005 were Ender’s Game and Speaker for the Dead, the later a Christmas present that year from Chris. These books have lovers, haters, and everything in between. I am on the ”lovers” side, in a BIG way. I’ve had a strong urge lately to continue on with Ender and the gang and when I found pristine copies in my local Borders while Christmas shopping earlier in the month I knew it was time to bring them home.
I mentioned earlier that I got several gift cards to Barnes and Noble and so I went out shopping today. These next three items are the result of my post-Christmas bookstore visit.
3. The Third Bear ~Jeff Vandermeer
I experienced Jeff Vandermeer’s work for the first time earlier this year in the form of his spectacular novel, Finch and when I came across this recently released collection of his short fiction I knew it was time to experience more of his work. I purchased with a gift card from my wife.
4. Asimov’s February 2011
I’m not sure how many issues of Asimov’s I’ll get to this year, but as we are soon to enter the Sci Fi Experience 2011, it made sense to pick up this latest issue.
5. Aurorarama ~Jean-Christophe Valtat
This is Valtat’s first book written directly into English as opposed to translated. It is getting some interesting buzz and sounds like a polarizing (pardon the pun) book that may really strike my fancy or may not. We’ll see. It looks beautiful, sounds very intriguing, and it seemed worth taking a risk that this might be really special. I purchased this with a gift card from one of my employees and a gift card from Barnes and Noble that I got because of the amount of gift cards I bought for others for Christmas presents.
1. Cryoburn ~Lois McMaster Bujold
Another risk taking purchase as I have not read the other novels in this series. I understand that in some ways this is a good jumping-on book, the cover has been catching my eye for weeks, and I had some great coupons and online membership deals from BN.com.
2. The Truth of Valor ~Tanya Huff
It was this cover, by Paul Youll, that made me take a second look at Huff’s Valor series. You may recall that I read and really enjoyed the first two books in this series recently. I had Borders Bucks that had to be used this week and on a bookstore visit yesterday I was able to find a nice copy of this book to bring home.
3. The Complete Peanuts: 1963-1964 ~Charles Schulz
I got caught up with all my volumes of this series over Thanksgiving weekend and was thrilled come our family Christmas morning to find that my daughter had purchased the next book that I needed. Yea!!!
1. Star Trek Vanguard: Open Secrets ~Dayton Ward
This was another birthday gift from my wife. It is the fourth in the Vanguard series, a series I hope to get back to in the coming year as I really enjoyed the way it began.
2. Creating the Lord of the Rings Symphony DVD
Anything LOTR related is always a hit with me, especially if it has to do with the films. The music is beautiful and Howard Shore’s dedication to the project is inspirational. This was in my Christmas gift pile from Jeff and his family and will be MUCH appreciated…and I suspect much watched.
3. Project U.L.F.: Reacquisitions ~Stuart Clark
Long-time blog friend Stuart Clark sent me his latest book as a Christmas gift, which is very nice and also a kick in the pants to a person who committed to reading his first book some 80 years ago, if I’m not mistaken. 🙂
4. Blue Murder ~Robert Leslie Bellam
5. Fawlty Towers ~Graham McCann
For the past several years a group of four of us who hang out and chat at the local comic shop have been doing gift exchanges for Christmas. We try to go used, get creative, and just have fun with it. My friend Jerry got me the above two books. His description of the Bellam book makes it sound very odd indeed and should be fun to read. Jerry is arguably as big a fan of Fawlty Towers as my wife and I and he found this book to be very informative and entertaining as I’m sure we will.
6. Underneath the Stars ~Kate Rusby
Since I’ve had the local library’s one copy of this checked out the greater part of the past year I was relieved to see this in my stocking last week. 🙂
1. J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator ~Wayne G. Hammond, Christina Scull
On Christmas day I got two surprises from my brother and his family, the first was the book pictured above, which was a belated birthday gift, the second was my Christmas present, which was the Helm of the King of the Dead collectible that you see pictured on the right. The one on the left is the helm that Samwise Gamgee wore in Return of the King, which was a Christmas gift from my dear wife. I have been collecting these for about 4 years now and getting two in one year, especially two of the ones I wanted really badly, makes me so very grateful.
A few years back I purchased an HD DVD player for my XBox 360 for a whopping $25. As this is now-defunct technology, you can get the dvd’s for as little as 75 cents on Half.com. I had mentioned to my wife that I would like more of these but did not specify anything in particular. These were stocking stuffers and Christmas gifts. I think she did quite well!
I used some of my gift money from my parents to order a few more recently, including the three Bourne films, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, The Mummy Returns and Phantom of the Opera.
1. Beauty and the Beast Blu-ray/DVD combo pack.
This was gift TO my daughter, but her boyfriend bought it for her so Mary and I decided to keep it. One day we’ll enter the 21st century and get a Blu-ray player and we’ll be happy to have this wonderful film (a Disney favorite) for our collection.
2. Moon
I reviewed this fantastic film back in February of this year and was thrilled when Mary found a good used copy for me for Christmas.
3. The Corrs, Unplugged
Another gift off my wishlist from my dear wife. I’ve long been a fan of The Corrs and have wanted this one for a while.
4. Shutter Island
Easily the best film I saw in theaters this year. I liked it ever so slightly more than Inception, which was also fantastic. My review of Shutter Island is here. This was another Christmas gift from Mary.
5. Quantum of Solace, two-disc edition
6. Inception
I had been waiting for a two-disc edition of the latest Bond film and then completely missed it coming out. When I cleaned my basement months ago I also cleaned my bedroom side-table draw and my pickup and between the three had a large bag of change. With that change I found a used copy of Quantum and a new copy of Inception (for a steal) and grabbed them both today.
7. Splinter Cell: Double Agent
8. Army of Two
I put a number of cheap used XBox 360 games on a wishlist and was happy that my wife got me both of these for Christmas. Back when my desktop PC worked I had played all the Splinter Cell games up to this one and so I’m excited to continue the franchise. And I’ve had several people tell me they enjoyed Army of Two, which is why it was also on my list.
9. Addicted to Love
As I mentioned earlier, one day we’ll take a leap forward and will purchase a blu-ray player. Even then there will be some films that I won’t care if I see them on blu-ray, but would like to have a dvd copy instead of a VHS copy. Many of Meg Ryan’s films are on that list and this is very close to being my favorite of her rom-com films. Thank you Mary!
One of the things I decided earlier this year was that if my parents went with tradition and gave us money for Christmas that I was going to buy myself some items from my Amazon wishlist. To that end I have ordered:
The Best of Larry Niven ~Jonathan Strahan, ed
I mentioned in a recent post that there is a list of Strahan books a mile long either out now or coming out in 2011 that I want. This was one of them and it is on its way to me as I type this.
Lorelei of the Red Mist ~Leigh Brackett
This book has been on my Amazon wishlist forever and I resisted buying it because it NEVER drops in price. I decided to say ‘damn the discount’ this time and go ahead and order it. I LOVE the cover of this book and I’ve heard great things about Brackett’s work. I’ve read one or two of her short stories in the past and enjoyed them, and her association with The Empire Strikes Back also makes her top-notch in my book.
The Rediscovery of Man ~Cordwainer Smith
Since my first taste of his work a couple of years ago, Cordwainer Smith has been a name excites me every time I see it. This collection has also been on my wishlist for some time and thanks to a very unnecessary but greatly appreciated Christmas gift card from Deanna (Ibeeg), I will soon be the proud, and thrilled, owner of my very own copy of this book.
Before I leave this gift gluttony behind, I wanted to take a moment to show you a couple more items that came my way this Christmas. I would hope that most children are proud of their fathers. I know that not everyone is fortunate enough to have a father to be proud of, but I am doubly blessed to have a father that I love dearly and am very proud of. He is a very talented craftsman and artist in his own right and he used his talents to make us kids some unexpected treasures for Christmas.
The above images are of these small wooden boxes my dad made for each of us kids and our spouses. Not only are they really neat in and of themselves, but they were made from the wood from these fake book placeholders that my wife Mary used at her job at the library at UMKC. These became obsolete with the recent installation of a robotic book storage and retrieval system and she had taken some to give to my dad to use rather than see them end up in the trash. Talk about recycling! These have been re-purposed so completely that they are unrecognizable. I cannot wait to move to my new office (whenever that will be) so that I can use this on my desk.
And last but not least he made each of our families one of these beautiful chests. They are made to look aged and although you cannot see it well they have these really cool locks. The letter/number combination is just something fun and mysterious that my dad added for uniqueness. Isn’t it awesome?!?! These were a complete surprise. He told us all he made one and was doing a drawing for it on Christmas day with consolation prizes for the losers. Of course his generosity meant that the “consolation prizes” were actually the same thing (with different numbers) for the other two families who didn’t “win”. 🙂
I have had a very blessed 42nd birthday and Christmas. I want to thank all of my family and friends for their generosity this year. I feel very fortunate and although this may to some appear to be an example of the “give me” spirit of the holidays, I hope everyone knows that the real spirit behind this is to express my thanks and also, as I mentioned, just to generate conversation about books, films, games, etc. ..the things so many of us cherish as meaningful hobbies/activities. I’d love to know/see what you got too! Feel free to post any links in the comments and/or to share in the comments section.
Only a few days left of ol’ 2010. I hope each and every one of you enjoy them to the fullest.
Wow, that is a LOT of awesome! The books all look wonderful, but I think the chest your dad made is my favourite thing in this post. It’s gorgeous.
It seems almost wrong when you have so many amazing books there to post to comment on the CD you got, but yay for Kate Rusby! I received ‘The Girl Who Couldn’t Fly’ for Christmas, and have had it on repeat since opening it. She’s even better live, but this will have to tide me over until the next round of folk festivals. I hope you enjoy listening.
Old English Rose: Not at all, you picked out one of the true gems to comment on. I LOVE this CD and the live DVD performance, Kate Rusby Live from Leeds that was recorded around the same time. I had posted earlier that I had received her Christmas CD, Sweet Bells, in November and it is great too. I hope you enjoy your CD as well.
Memory: I couldn’t agree with you more. It was quite a shock…a very pleasant one, of course.
The stash looks amazing! I am glad to see you picked up Cryoburn, looking forward to seeing whether you like it.
Maria: I thought of you right away when I ordered it the other day. It was your review that pushed me over the edge.
Wow, you did get a ridiculous amount of loot. I too don’t mind getting used books. I prefer to get the earliest edition I can anyway, so what else would I do?
John: I’m good with used books but have some weird eccentricities about them. For more recently released stuff I either want something new or something that could truly be classified as “like new” if it is used. For older, “classic” paperbacks and hardbacks I don’t mind if they’ve been loved, though I’ll still look for the best copy I can find. I like the idea of reading, say, Heinlein or Asimov from a book that has been read by others before me, books that have had a life of their own. But when it comes to newer stuff I want to be the first one. Doesn’t make much sense, I know.
hot damn is that a haul!! nice!
Wow! Enjoy all of your new loot! The boxes and chests are simply beautiful and beautifully simple. Have a wonderful New Year!
Ah, the boxes from your father are by far my favorite in all your loot. Such special treasures come from their hands. (My father made me a creche in 1969 which continues to be my most prized Christmas ‘decoration’.)
From the plethora of literature you included in your post, the one that struck me most was the Peanuts anthology. We saw a spectacalar show on Charles Shultz Christmas Day, when he was featured on PBS’ American Masters. Truly, I’m still thinking about it because I know that an author writes best of what he knows, but I never realized how closely Shultz resembled Charlie Brown in spirit. Nor how the little red-haired girl was a true love in his life, and all the other things we take for granted in the Peanuts strip are real. Indicative of his soul, which in turn shines a light on mine.
Bellezza: That sounds like a great show. I’m going to have to try to track that down. I saw Charles Schulz on some show, perhaps 60 minutes, the weekend of his last syndicated strip, which was sadly not long at all before he passed away. He most certainly poured a lot of himself, his life experiences, and his viewpoint into the characters who inhabit the Peanuts universe. I think that is largely why they continue to be so popular. There is a real humanity there.
Susan: I will try to. Who knows how many years it will take to actually read all this stuff! 🙂
Redhead: My thoughts exactly!
Didn’t you do well? I appreciate the comment 😉 and live in hope that 2011’s Sci-Fi challenge might be the year! Beautiful work by your father. He should go into business with that stuff. He could make a fortune.
All the best for the coming year and congrats on another great year of blogging!
The chest and box that your father made are very cool. You have every right to be proud of him. He is incredibly talented.
You got a great haul my friend. Which also is great for me as well because I see a couple of items I may wish to borrow in the future… 🙂
A fantastic post that has me drooling… and reaching for amazon for some post-Christmas retail therapy of my own! Very impressed by your father’s handiwork – really lovely.
holy b’moley! That’s a haul and a half Carl!! I know how you love sci fi so you have to be in hog heaven!
but I have to say..those boxes and chests your dad made are awsome!!! does he want to adopt an old daughter???
Those boxes and the chest are amazing! Once again I am in awe of your dad’s amazing work. Beautiful.
Mosker: Mary is going to bring hers to work so that she can show people there, since you guys have a better idea of what they came from in the first place.
Deslily: I don’t know if they are accepting applications or not. 🙂 And yes, given that it is now SF time, I am definitely in hog heaven.
Peta: Post-Christmas retail therapy is the best, isn’t it?
Jeff S: You may borrow away!
Stuart: Thank you very much, and I hope you have a great year ahead of you as well.
Wow! Carl. That’s some book haul you’ve got there. 🙂 You’ll be challenging Chris for most books coming into the house if you’re not careful! 😉
Darren: Whoa now, I don’t want to contend for the title! 😉
There is so much to comment on here that I’m a bit overwhelmed, but let me begin with this: what you show and say in this post makes it clear to me, more than anything else, that you are the beneficiary of much kindness and generosity. That doesn’t happen by accident, chance or whim, it takes a good person with a good heart to earn such treatment, and I congratulate you on being worthy of it. There’s no question in my mind that you deserve every bit of largess you receive.
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The used books: Love the Poul Anderson, but then that should come as no surprise to you, as he’s an oft-mentioned favorite of mine. And you have Asimov, Clarke – though not his best by a long shot – and Bradbury. A good collection by the latter, I think. I used to have that New Worlds for Old collection, don’t know if I still do, but I don’t remember a thing about it. I hope once you read it you do one of your reviews that lists the stories and reaction to each. You know already that Space Merchants is a classic, I’ve not seen that edition – meaning that cover – but I like it.
I’m not sure, in the Retief books, where this one fits, but it’s not the first one, unless it’s been retitled. The DWJ looks like it could be fun, if she doesn’t fall into her cutsey mode, which she sometimes does with her cat books, and the last two, well, I’ll be very interested indeed in your opinions!
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The Art Books I do wish I’d started collecting the Spectrum series instead of the Illustrator series, which I bought from #10-24. These days I’d MUCH rather have the fantasy art than the other. This one certainly looks great, as does the Middle-Earth volume. Lots of pleasant time could be spent leafing through just those two! I’m not familiar with the Savage Art (nor Shameless Art) books and will be investigating them, as well as the SF Art book.
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I’m not the De Lint fan that you are, so I’ll skip over those. Coyote Road looks interesting, and I’s suggest a terrific books by Barry Lopez, Giving Birth to Thunder, which, like all his books, is wonderful.
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I’ll be waiting for that Greg Bear to come out in paperback (or is this one a trade already?) I like the covers fro the Bujold and Huff, but not enough to buy the books. Yay for you, getting the next Peanuts volume. Those are some especially good strips, I think.
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I got rid of all my Star Trek paperbacks, about 45 of them, sold them on eBay (don’t ask, it was a disaster) and am not familiar with this series. I’m really a STNG guy, it is by far my favorite of the ST series.
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I’d not seen that LOTR Symphony DVD, I wonder if the library will have it. I’ll be chacking, as I’d like to see it.
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Ah! Robert Leslie Bellem! Now there’s a surprise! His Dan Turner stuff is by far his best, and is available via LULU. I have a bunch of it and the language he uses and the wisecracks, just great stuff, mostly initially appearing in Hollywood Detective.
Oops, someone at the door. Gotta go. More later.
Richard: I suspected you would know something about Robert Leslie Bellem. I might have told you this before, but you and my friend Jerry seem to me to be two peas in a pod when it comes to your knowledge of classics and books in general.
I have only read about a dozen Star Trek books in my life, almost all original series, which is what I prefer as far as reading goes. DS9 is my favorite of the television series although I hold the original series in a class all by itself. This series is set in the original series time but isn’t about the main characters, which makes it interesting for me because the authors have a chance to create their own characters and breath life into them.
The Greg Bear just came out in hardback, so it may be awhile. I have 25 pages left which I’ll be reading tonight and will be working on a review.
Thanks for the Lopez recommendation.
I didn’t start collecting the Spectrum series until about number 8 or 9, but Jeff has found me all but one of the earlier ones on his travels to various used bookstores. I really do like them a lot. There is always a good bunch of art in them that doesn’t appeal to me at all, but the good far outweighs that which isn’t my cup of tea, and I feel like it is an adventure to go through these every year.
So, is that a good one of Poul Anderson’s in your opinion? I have only read a few of his short stories, and the novella (?) that people compared Avatar too when it came out…was it called Call Me Joe? I liked it and want to read more Anderson.
I had the feeling this wasn’t one of the first Retief books but it was .75, and in really good shape, so it was a must buy. Same with the Clarke since it was so cheap and I liked the cover. I haven’t read much Clarke either and I’m sure Rama or Childhood’s End is where I need to start, although I’d welcome your opinion.
Thank you so much for the kind words. I don’t know that I “deserve” the kindness but I am very grateful for it and do not in any way take it for granted. I have great friends, both here in the KC area and online and have a very generous family so I certainly feel blessed.
That took a while. Where was I?
I’m not sure what that Tolkein book is. Biography? Art book? What is it about? As for the helmets, I’d not heard of them before.
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Since I watch almost no movies other than older stuff via Netflix, I really have no comments on the DVDs.
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That Larry Niven looks great! So does the Leigh Brackett (who is the publisher?) and it looks to be a Kelly Freas cover, though maybe not. As for the Rediscovery of Man, is that the NESFA edition? Cover looks different.. No mater, I think you will like it. I have the NESFA and mean to read it (I read some of the contents way, way back) soon.
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The woodwork is fantastic, you have a VERY talented father and he’s sensitive to both your taste and needs. How grand id that?
What a lot of wonderful things! That’s enough to keep you going for months, and months! Happy reading, listening and watching!
Richard: The Tolkien book is a biography of sorts but focused on Tolkien’s illustrations and has examples of them. The helmets are just one of many collectibles lines that are a result of the films but they are beautiful metal little (about 5 inched tall counting the base) reproductions of the Weta helmets made for the films. As far as collectibles go they are really high quality for a reasonable price.
Most of our movie watching comes from Netflix on demand, but I still buy a fair number of DVDs each year just because we are a family that has a habit of rewatching films that we like whenever the mood strikes.
The Niven book is published by Subterranean Press and the Brackett book is by Haffner Press. I have wanted it for a loooong time. And you’ve got a good eye, the Rediscovery of Man is indeed an NESFA book. It will be my first, I believe.
Given how I go all over the place with my reading, this is probably enough to keep me busy for years.
OMG are you sure you didn’t buy a bookstore?! 🙂
What wonderful loot. I love the box and chest too. So pretty. I hope you are enjoying a relaxing week and can make some headway into those books!
Iliana: It feels like it! I’ve made a little headway already. I’ve finished one, which will be reviewed soon, and have started another. Plus I watched one of the films again, Addicted to Love, with Mary last night.
Sorry to hear that you damaged the cover of THE PSYCHOTECHNIC LEAGUE. I don’t have a file copy to offer you, but I could probably dig up a type-free tearsheet or print of the art, if you’ll supply me with a mailing address via my AOL e-mail account to which I could send it.
I didn’t know Poul Anderson terribly well–we’d met at Campbell’s office up at ANALOG a few times back in the ancient past, but I was too much in awe of him to carry on a lucid conversation. Our paths eventually crossed again decades later at a convention in Arizona less than a year before Poul passed away. His parting words to me were, “Well, Vincent, it’s been one hell of a collaboration.” It wasn’t until then that I’d become aware that over the decades I’d illustrated a few dozen of his novels and stories. How lucky I was to even have done that much.
Holy moley, that’s a lot of swag there. I don’t even know where or how to begin commenting. So I’ll opt with a simple list.
1. HD-DVD BSG! Sweet!
2. Your dad made some awesome gifts.
3. Helmets are very cool, as is the Tolkien book.
4. Enjoy Third Bear, it’s on my TBR list.
Glad you had a great Christmas & birthday. Here’s to a happy New Year, too.
Logankstewart:
Yes it is! I was very surprised by the BSG set. I didn’t even realize they released season one in the HD DVD format. My wife and I are probably the only two proclaimed SF fans who didn’t watch the show when it was out, so it will be fun to see what all the fuss was about.
Yes, my dad is pretty amazing and I feel very fortunate.
They are really cool, unbelievably so given their price point.
So far so good with The Third Bear, which I started last night. The title story is deliciously dark and very well told.
Vincent Di Fate: I really and truly appreciate your generous offer and am pleased and surprised to see your comment here. I was certainly disappointed in the damage to the book and wish the store owners would have found a less-potentially-damaging way to price these used books.
Interesting story about Poul Anderson. I always wonder how much interaction, if any, illustrators have with authors or even with the books their work is commissioned for. I imagine in some cases works aren’t even commissioned but that options are made to use art that is already completed for works coming out. I find the whole art direction process for books to be very fascinating.
I’m glad you got to have that last interaction with Poul Anderson before he passed away. I can certainly understand the awe factor of your earlier meetings.
The holiday season was indeed kind to you, dear friend. But then I can think of no one more deserving!!! And while I found myself drooling over so many of your gorgeous books and movies, they all sort of flew out of my mind when I saw the gorgeous box and chest your Dad made! Oh my goodness, they are too beautiful, too special for words!!!
May 2011 bring you and Mary and Tori all the beautiful blessings you hope for!!!!
Mr Di Fate,
Just in case you return to this post again I want you to know that one of the gifts Carl got me from Christmas was your incredible book Fantastic Visions. I read it cover to cover just the other day. I learned a LOT from it. Thank you.
Debi: I wish the same and more for you and Rich and Annie and Max and Gray. And whatever menagerie of pets may be in the household right now. 🙂 You are all wonderful and I look forward to another year of being a small part of your lives.
Jeff S.: I need to borrow that book! 😉
How incredibly cool that Vincent Di Fate visited the blog, Carl! I really hope you are able to get an image of that cover through him. Awesome. I have, or had, Fantastic Visions.
Yes, I think that’s a pretty good Poul Anderson collection. I’m not sure how many of those stories appeared in Astounding / Analog as opposed to other SF mags, and I was pretty much an Astounding/Analog reader, with occasional sorties to Galaxy and F&SF.
Richard: Yes, I was pretty psyched by that myself. I glanced at the Fantastic Visions book before I gave it to Jeff but haven’t had the chance to really give it a good look through. I will remedy that soon.
Well, I’m echoing the choir, but BSG is brilliant. Savor its rich characters and deep philosophy. Even my wife likes it, and she’s not a sci-fi fan at all.
Logankstewart: I’m sure we will. This is not an unusual place for us to be. We don’t have DVR…don’t have anything but free tv at the moment as we are paying off debt (doing the Dave Ramsey thing), and so we generally catch up on SF shows well after they have run their course. This was true with Firefly, DS9, and even now we are still making our way through Stargate Atlantis and Farscape.
Try a hair dryer set on warm to release those darn ole price stickers that are stubborn about peeling off paper book jackets.
Hey, thanks for the tip Shirley! I’ll remember that next time.
Read Space Merchants! It’s a fast little book and quite good. Have you seen The Lord of the Rings symphony live? I did several years ago and it was great. Hope you enjoy all the loot!
Melanie: I’m looking forward to watching the symphony DVD, and I will definitely read Space Merchants. I was on some site that was talking about it just days before I saw it with its great Berkey cover in the store.