(Photo Credit, image by Vincent di Fate)
Though it is mid-October and I am thick in the process of immersing myself in gothic fiction and my journey with the Hobbits, events have come together of late that have me looking towards January with anticipation. What with the Classic Science Fiction Book Club voting on books for the first half of 2012 and Andrea recently posting about her science fiction treasures from a trip to the local used bookstore I find myself jonesing for a little science fiction. And so to help feed the SF monkey so he’ll leave me in peace I found myself shopping online, in my local Barnes and Noble, and then in a small town used bookstore this past week, gathering science fiction to myself to add to my already enormous pile of unread books.
As you will see as this post progresses, I am laying blame at the feet of Richard, the gang at the Classic Science Fiction Book Club (new members welcome) and Andrea for this surge of science fictional purchasing.
Before I reveal my newest acquistions, allow me to give an early plug to two science fiction related events that begin in January. The first is my annual NON-CHALLENGE, the Science Fiction Experience 2012, which runs from January through February. The second, which ties in nicely with the first, is Little Red Reviewer’s declaration of January being Vintage Month
Two weeks ago today I noticed the local AMC was hosting a re-release of J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek film to the IMAX. Didn’t take much to convince myself to snag a ticket and go see it that very night. It was tremendous to see this film on the big screen again, and the image and sound on IMAX is to die for.
When I left the theater I just had to stop by the local Barnes and Noble. After all, it was right next door and it would be rude to not go over and say “hello”. I did not wish to hurt its feelings. While there I was thrilled to see the latest novel in the Star Trek Vanguard series on the shelf. Little matter that I have most of these still to read, it was coming home with me. And after all, what could be more perfect than going to see Star Trek on the big screen and then going and buying a Star Trek novel?
Do you all see how this justification thing works?
Andrea read and reviewed Star Born, her first Andre Norton novel, and gave it high marks. I too have yet to read any of Andre Norton’s novels and quite honestly I was so blown away by this cover that it could have been any book written by anybody about anything and I would have been tracking it down for my collection.
I was fortunate to find a lovely, unread copy of this book in amazing condition for little or nothing on ebay and it quickly found its way into my home.
Richard reviewed a slightly different version of this book on his site the other day. His description of a series of short stories that add to a greater overall story arc sold me as I tend to really enjoy this kind of story telling. It reminded me of similar books I have read recently: Jack Vance’s The Dying Earth, James White’s Hospital Station, Metatropolis, edited by John Scalzi. All of those have been enjoyable reading experiences for me this year and the chance of finding another book with a similar storytelling device, by an author I have yet to sample, was too good to pass up. On Saturday I was able to visit a small, packed to the gills, used bookstore in a town just down the road from me and I managed to snag this book as well as the rest of the ones you’ll see below.
The second book I completed reading this year was Keith Laumer’s Bolo: The Annals of the Dinochrome Brigade and I thought it was excellent. Laumer’s Bolo creations share a kinship with Asimov’s robots and are no doubt inspired by them. Included in this short story collection was a Retief story. I loved it. I had been told about Retief by my friend Jerry who thought I might enjoy him, given my affection for space opera rogues like Slippery Jim DiGriz, the Stainless Steel Rat. If the rest of Laumer’s Retief stories are like that small taste, I am in for some rip-roaring reading. This is a collection of Retief adventures and I look forward to spending more time with him.
While I was in the “L” section looking at Laumer’s work I found this excellent copy of short stories with a fun Richard Powers cover. Richard Powers is one of the illustrators that I like to collect and I had actually purchased another copy of this last year for Christmas for the friend who recommended Laumer. It was a pretty nice copy, but this one is even better, so it felt like fate to find this one and I had to pick it up as well. I’ve already read a couple of the short stories in it, one I hope to find online at some point as I think it would be fascinating to discuss with the Classic Science Fiction Book Club group.
Having enjoyed the first collection of short stories in the Sector General series, Hospital Station, I have been on the lookout for more books in the series, especially ones with cover art by John Berkey, who I just love. This is a hardcover, ex-library edition in really nice shape and thus there was no hesitating when I saw it on the shelf. The Sector General stories are a series of short stories set in an enormous galactic hospital station that caters to all alien kind. I get the impression there are recurring characters but the series isn’t necessarily one long group of interconnected novels. I highly recommend giving them a try. Have to thank both Richard and my friend Jerry for getting me interested in these.
I consider myself a huge fan of Asimov’s Foundation trilogy, despite only having read them once and that just a few years ago. I’ve mentioned before that I always felt intimidated by the description of the books. Imagine just how thrilled I was when I finally got the courage to read them and not only found them accessible buy highly enjoyable as well. This book, the fourth I believe in the Foundation chronology, is the one that started it all for me. I saw this book on my uncle’s bookshelf as a young man and the Michael Whelan cover grabbed hold of me immediately. I kid you not, every time I visited my grandmother’s house I would go into his room and look at this book. Over the years I’ve kept an eye out for good copies of this book, particularly ones, like the one I purchased (this isn’t a picture of mine) that has the raised cover image. This is the best I’ve found thus far and I had to take it home.
I’m excited that the first book, Foundation, has been chosen as one of our “classic” reads for the book club next year. I’ve been longing to re-read the trilogy and it will be great to be able to discuss it with others as I do.
I have not read any of A.E. Van Vogt’s work, but I often hear good things. This novel was chosen as one of our “classic” reads for next year and I found an old copy with this cover image that was in really nice shape.
Gotta love the retro vibe.
I’m not sure, but I think I voted for this one simply because I wanted to give Van Vogt a try, so how could I walk away without it? I mean really, how could I? š
I just know that one of these days I am going to read these books. It boggles my mind that I don’t own them all already simply because of the fact that Michael Whelan did the covers. This book was in great shape.
Aged, but it looks as if it was never read and the color of the cover is still really vibrant.
Again, this was a no-brainer.
If blame needs to be laid, it is Deslily first and foremost who keeps this series in my mind. So hey, Deslily, I’m getting closer to reading them! š And Richard has provided me with a list of the books in chronological order, so again the excuses are wearing thin.
This is the second time this year I have purchased a book written by Poul Anderson because the Vincent di Fate cover rocked my socks off. I pulled this book off the shelf and was in awe. It not only looks new, but looks as if it was just printed. Nevermind that it is the third of a trilogy of books and that the other two are much larger than this trim volume. I had to have it. Vincent di Fate is, in my humble opinion, one of the true Masters of classic science fiction illustration. His work is so alive and it blends a degree of realism and imagination so seamlessly that looking at his work makes me feel that space travel is indeed possible. How could it not be? I have yet to read any of Poul Anderson’s novels but I’ve read some of his shorter work and have been very impressed.
Well, that is all my retail therapy for the last few weeks. Now, as always, comes the tricky part, finding time to actually read them.
What about you, any book buying binge’s lately?
oh yes! thanks to you I’ve also been picking up the Star Trek Vanguard books, think I’ve got 6 of ’em now. Just (as in really just seconds ago) purchased a copy of Neil Gaiman & P. Craig Russell’s Murder Mysteries off of ebay. And also scored an Andre Norton hardback of “Merlin’s Mirror” and Edmund Hamilton’s “Valley of Creation” off of Amazon Marketplace this morning. Someone really needs to take internet access and my credit card away from me when i’m at work, it’s raining cats & dogs and i’m bored…. š
I would feel bad about the “thanks to you” and accept it as blame if a)I didn’t enjoy the first book so much and b) you weren’t contributing to my growing t-shirt pile. LOL! Glad you are on board for Vanguard. Have you read any of them yet?
P. Craig Russell is another of those amazing illustrators.
I’m fairly certain that I’ve read some Edmund Hamilton short stories before in various older SF/F collections. His book, The Star of Life, is one that I’ve seen before in pictures that I hope to snag one day because of its excellent cover.
oh, i’m totally aware that we are bad influences on each other! Have not started any of the Vanguard books yet, waiting for your sci-fi challenge.
Hope you enjoy the Andre Norton, she was my brothers favorite author growing up so by default i’ve read gobs of her stuff also. Amongst her sci-fi storys some of my favorites were “Moon of Three Rings” and it’s sequel “Moonsinger” and also “Beastmaster” and “Lord of Thunder”.
I’ve read a little bit of it and I like it so far.
And yes, we are bad influences. I always know when I get an email from you that it is going to be full of temptation.
Thanks for the Norton suggestions. I am always interested in suggestions, especially of classic authors, when I haven’t read their work. The more prolific they are the more I want to know where a good place to start is.
Just remembered another favorite Andre Norton, “Catseye”…don’t know how I forgot that one i’ve got multiple copies…and looking back at my recommendations I’m seeing a pattern. They’re all futuristic science fiction, but interacting with animals. Same thing with the Hamilton book, “Valley of Creation”.
nice binge. There was a ‘Friends of the Library: Used Book Sale’ the other day. I find myself trying to buy the same books, not remembering if I own them already or not (because, well, I, too, have yet to read all I own). I need to catalog my books and store it on-line for reference. Anyway, I think N walked away with the most books, though I reminded her they were for the family collection. They’ve disappeared into her room.
I’ve found myself in the mood to read something truly bizarre and absurd lately, but I also want to get to some of the RIP reads I’ve gotten myself psyched for, as well as the new release books coming off the Holds I requested months ago…
btw. love the covers on these. and that piece of art you opened with is stunning.
Hey, N’s room is part of the “family” isn’t it? LOL! Gotta love having a child who would hoard books for her very own.
If you are looking for bizarre and absurd and haven’t read Jeff Vandermeer yet, I recommend his short story collection, The Third Bear, and his novel Finch, which is the third in a series but all three books act independently. It is bizarre and absurd at times but also really good quality stuff.
I know, isn’t Vincent di Fate’s art great? I need to shoot him an email and ask if he’ll let me use it for the Science Fiction Experience banner. He is a great guy. I posted earlier in the year about a book I bought with his work on the cover and he sent me this great artists proof of it that I still need to get framed.
what constitutes the family library will become very interesting when the daughter moves out (at age 35)…
wow, he does sound like a great guy. I love how the blogosphere has really opened up these opportunities for interacting with writers and artists.
That is true! I guess I can count that as one good thing about having a daughter who doesn’t like to read like Mary and I do, she won’t be running off with our books!
I was pretty amazed. He saw my post, which indicated how disappointed I was that I the cover tore when I took off the stupid price sticker the bookseller had put on it and he offered to give me what is essentially a really nice sized print of his work on heavy stock paper for free. It made my day!!! Hoping to get it framed over the coming holiday season as a gift to me.
I’ve been buying. But I’ve mostly kept the (unplanned) binges at bay recently. however I’m off down to London next month (with some really nice places to buy graphic novels) and if last time is anything to go by…
Ha! Best of luck with the self control, Darren. š I hope you find some really great stuff on your trip, but still come back with money in your wallet.
I haven’t done too much binge buying of late, but when I found myself in the next town over babysitting a friend’s children, I could resist leaving the wife in sole charge for an hour or so to hit the bookstore. Although this store is only about 10 miles away, it is in a direction I rarely go and so I only get there about twice a year. Which is probably a good thing.
Thanks L for reminding me, my library is having thier Friends of the Library sale this Saturday. I either need to avoid it like the plague or be there bright and early waiting for the doors to open, haven’t decided yet. š
Also, Carl i’ve been good, I found another original poster artist on Etsy with a REALLY lovely Empire Strikes Back design.
I always find out about the Friends of the Library sale too late to get in on it. I need to get myself put on a mailing list or something. Because I really need more books. š
And leave the ESB Etsy link here!
you asked for it! š
http://tinyurl.com/3sjymw6
You know me, I LOVE the spaceships!
Me too!
I have actually seen that work before and it is great! I am very impressed with the trend of these interesting designer movie posters that people are doing. There is some really great stuff out there.
I certainly do see how the justification thing works. š
I wish you fun upon your Star Trek novel reading journey.
Dragonsdawn looks interesting. Currently, I have Dragonsong on my list to read by this author. It will be my first Anne McCaffrey book.
I blame this new keen interest of mine on reading Among Others which in a way could be indirectly blamed on you then. š
Retail book therapy is incredibly awesome, and it looks like you had a great session. My last big book therapy session was making 5 book hardcover purchase from Borders for a total of $24 during their last few open door days.
I wish you lots of luck in figuring out how and when you will read your newly acquired treasures. That is always tricky, for certain.
I do need to actually get back to reading those Star Trek books. There is only one more book left to come out in the series. Bought time I catch up!
I’ll have to look at Richard’s list to see where this one fits in the series. I won’t be reading it first. I imagine that I’ll read Dragonflight first. I haven’t read any of her books either.
I blame a lot of things on Among Others, but they are all good things!
It was, and I only spent $30 at the used bookstore so I don’t feel guilty about the splurge.
I need luck and a time-stopping machine if I am ever to get these books read.
A Time-stopping machine! Yes, that is the answer to all the unread books laying around and all the books I want to add to the piles. You have come across a great idea. š
I hope I will like McCaffery. I have high hopes.
And, I agree, lots of great things came out of reading Among Others. That book is definitely on my favorite books of the year list.
I hope I like her work too. My only experience with her writing was not a good one. I read an introduction she wrote to another author’s book that was just horrible. Poor sentence structure, disjointed thoughts, run on sentences. Very, very bad. BUT, it was written fairly recently and she is not a young woman. I put it down to age and its inclusion in the book simply to honor her. If I were her editor/agent I personally would not have let it be published, but that is just me. I’m still holding out hope for her novels.
You’ve got Crystal Singer don’t you? I loved the early Pern novels but pretty much quit collecting them after The White Dragon. Don’t really care for the ones written with/by her son. You know if Deslily likes them they’ve GOT to be entertaining. š
Crystal Singer is fantastic. I planning on reading Killashandra and Crystal Line at some point…
I haven’t read any of the Pern books though, oddly enough.
No, I have Killishandra, a couple of copies actually, that I bought because I love the cover image so much.
ah, I knew you had one or the other, both Whelan covers. I know I liked Crystal Singer & Killashandra, don’t remember if I’ve read Crystal Line tho… old age, recall suxs š
Well, you are not alone. I often wish I would have kept detailed accounts of all I’ve read, because I certainly cannot remember everything.
Yay for new books! Enjoy!
I hope to! š
Great to see Keith Laumer in your list. He writes some great adventures and is one of my favorite authors. And since you enjoy Jimmy DiGriz you’ll definitely enjoy Retief. Also if you can find it, Baen published a new compilation of Retief stories titled Retief! (And if anyone’s curious it’s available as a free ebook from Baen as well : http://www.webscription.net/p-347-retief.aspx)
If you can find it I highly recommend Dinosaur Planet as it’s a fun time traveling romp.
Thanks for the link and the recommendations Doug. I had seen the cover of that Retief book online but didn’t realize it was a newer compilation. I’ll have to keep an eye out for it.
Let me know when you’ll be discussing “Foundation.” I have a copy that I’ve been meaning to read for some time…
I will Grace. I’m hoping to try to bridge the gap between the book club and this blog with some of the books we are scheduled to read next year because I would love to discuss them with some of you Group Read style if people are interested, and Foundation is one of those books.
That would be awesome, and I’d definitely be interested!
Grace, here is the reading schedule for the Classic SF Book Club for the first 6 months of next year:
2012 Classic Group Reads
January- Foundation by Issac Asimov
February- Puppet Masters by Robert Heinlein
March- The Dispossessed by Ursula K. LeGuin
April- Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
May- The War Against the Rull by A.E. van Vogt
June- The Day of Triffids by John Wyndham
2012 Modern Group Reads
January- Downbelow Station by C.J. Cherryh
February- Forge of God by Greg Bear
March- Pushing Ice by Alastair Reynolds
April- To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis
May- Embassytown by China Mieville
June- Cetaganda by Lois McMaster Bujold
I imagine I’ll put together a reading schedule for Foundation for anyone who is not part of and doesn’t want to be part of the book club but would like to do a group read of that book in January.
I love how excited you get over old space books!! lol…
Oh my and you bought a pern book?!! holy cow!!! I will admit that Anne McCaffrey did the crystal singer series and they are sci fi not fantasy… so . ummm I didn’t read them.. I am too much in love with the Pern books.. although there is some sci fi in them it’s done so subtly you barely notice it…the Pern books are VERY character oriented… the bad ones are beyond bad and you can’t help but really like the other characters she doesn’t leave you wondering about the at all.. you feel like you know them!…and we won’t mention the dragons. :o)
p.s. don’t get me started! lol
totally agree with the strength in the early books being the characters. Robinton’s my favorite, besides the dragons of course! š
I was extremely lucky and met anne mccaffrey once at a convention. I asked her if she based Robinton on anyone and she said yes her neighbor in Ireland…!! I still want to go to irland for that reason! lol
But lessa is a strong strong woman character and F’lar and F’nor and others are all unforgetable
I wondered how long it would take you to get over here and see that I picked up a Pern book, š
I am looking forward to getting to them at some point.
From what I’ve read about the Crystal Singer trilogy they certainly don’t sound like the kind of science fiction that would put you off. As much as you love McCaffrey you should give them a try!
And yes, I do get SUPER excited about old SF treasures like these. I don’t like buying used copies of newer books unless they are in pristine condition, but when I want to read classic science fiction I say give me an older paperback any day.
I always feel like I should read more sci-fi. I love those old covers, but somehow never get around to them. Apart from the McCaffrey books, think I’ve read most of her Pern series, apart from the newer ones she wrote with her son. Some I love, some I just shake my head at š
I love all your justifications by the way, make perfect sense to me.
Glad to hear it Fence. I’m trying to throw out those justifications to help all my brother and sister book bingers as well. š
I love that Di Fate illustration painting! Wow!
I understand all the influences, all the reasoning. I understand the compulsion (what else would you call it?) to buy books with particularly fine covers. I’ve read all of the books except the ST one, though for some it’s been so long ago (the Norton) I barely recall it. Norton: I’ve read the Witch World books the most times, 2 or 3 each, but not all of the others. As I recall, that’s a pretty good Anderson, but as you say it’s a trilogy.
I went to redhead and signed up.
Yes, I saw you had been over there, I actually replied to your comment to her over on her site and recommended a specific Cordwainer Smith collection.
I’ve enjoyed what I’ve read of the Norton, but have sat it aside because I need to finish the R.I.P reading that I am doing. The big dip in temps today (47 for a high) really has me in a science fiction mood. All it takes is for a bitter cold wind and I want to take a trip to the stars! I’ll try to control my urges.
I may have to sign up for all of this. . . . š
Yes you may! š
I’m already picking out the SF books for January and can’t wait! I love the covers on the books you selected.
Me too. I already have too many that I want to read that there is no way I’ll get to all of them during the two months of the Science Fiction Experience. Guess that is a good problem to have.
Maybe not a trip to the outer rim, but during Borders recent demise I (guiltily) have to admit to being one of the vultures who swooped in and grabbed a few heavily discounted books. Among my swag were a few SF&F titles, namely:
The Somnambulist by Jonathan Barnes – weird, quirky, borderline steampunk. I liked it a lot. 4/5
Miserere by Teresa Frohock – Fantasy with a bit of a different angle. Good. 3/5
Market Forces by Richard K. Morgan – reading now. I loved his “Altered Carbon.” One of my favorite recent SF reads. So far, so good.
Kraken by China Mieville – TBR
You aren’t alone, Stuart, I swooped down the first day and then again later and bought quite a few books. Of course I shopped there a lot during the year too so didn’t feel too bad.
I’ve heard great things about Richard Morgan. Didn’t he pass away recently?
Kraken is one I want to read. I borrowed it from the library and sampled it and liked it, just didn’t have time right then to keep up with it.
As far as I know Richard K Morgan is alive and well. I think you might be thinking of the actor Richard Morgan! I’ll send Kraken to you when I’m done with it.
Cool! I realized once you mentioned it that I was thinking of Robert Holdstock, who died a couple of years back but I had just read about it a few months ago. I was picturing the novel Mythago Wood in my head.
That sounds completely justifiable to me Carl š I’m so glad that you get to share a book that you love so much. That’s a wonderful feeling <3 Although I have not read Star Born, the books I have read by Andre Norton have been amazing. PERN!!!! You just HAVE to read the series. They're truly wonderful books.
I’m glad you agree Kelly! We book buyers have got to stick together! And hey, I’m helping the local economy. See the justifications just keep coming. š
First off the Vincent Di Fate All One Universe painting is AMAZING!!! It’s actually my favorite image in the whole post which includes some great artwork.
We really must read some ST Vanguard this year. It’s been so long since I read book one though I can’t remember what happened in it.
The Star Born cover is amazing. I will be keeping an eye open at the local bookstores to snag a copy of it as well. I haven’t read any Norton yet but I really want too. I do own a book or two of hers now I just haven’t been able to get to them yet.
Your Retief book reminds me I need to a need to track down a copy of that Bolo book as well. I wouldn’t mind checking out Retief as well.
I love the Berkey cover as well on the Sector General book. I have acquired a collection of the first 3 SG books that I hope to get to during the SciFi Experience.
I want a copy of Foundation’s Edge as well for that Whelan cover. A question are you going to do a group read of just the Foundation book 1 or the whole trilogy?
I think I own a copy of the War Against the Rull. I need to check when I get home. I have only read one short story from the author which I thought was good enough that I would like to try more of his work.
Great cover on the Dragonsdawn. I read the first 3 books in the Dragon series as a teenager and I would love to read them again as an adult. I have to track down copies with the Whelan covers though as those were the versions I read and loved as a youth.
Great cover on the Poul Anderson book as well. I can see why you snagged it.
I can’t believe you visited that store without me.!!! I’m so jealous. We have to make that trip to the Columbia to see those book stores soon!!!
Puppet Masters on the book club list. Man what a GREAT Heinlein book. I wish I had the time to read it again but their is still so much Heinlein I haven’t read for the first yet for me to start in on any rereads of his yet. š We need to track down that movie version they made of this though.
Great post my friend.
The nice thing about Puppet Masters though is at least you can join in on the conversation if for some reason I get a chance to combine the book club read with a group read over here.
And I know there are several of us on the book club site who want to read all three Foundation books, so we’ll see how that goes. I won’t want to stop with just the one. I would actually like to get to Foundations Edge and Foundation and Earth this coming year, especially since I’ve now snagged copies of both.
Yes, that Vincent di Fate image is great. Hope he lets me use it for the Experience this year.
Do want to try to get to Dragonflight this coming year too.
And I am SOOO ready to read the next Vanguard book. Gonna have to go on Wiki and read a summary of the first one though just to jog the memory. I brought a shelf home from my old office and hung it up in my home office and move my Vanguard books there. Looks nice. I like seeing all of them together on their own shelf.
I have 5 Sector General novels now, with a wide variety of cover artists on them, but I pretty much like them all.
I’ve read about 40 pages of the Star Born novel (less than 200 page book) and it is fun so far. Follows two story lines, one between native races on a planet and the other a guy who lands with a crew from a ship that is from a completely different solar system. Will be interesting to see how these two groups clash.
I figure I will join The Puppet Masters dicussion.
I can’t justify reading all 3 Foundation books myself after reading them just two years ago. There’s just so many books I want to get to that I haven’t read yet for me to read at my 10 times slower reading speed than yours to justify a reread for me. If it was just one book I might be able to swing it but not up to 5. I might join in the discussion though.
I like the idea of reading Dragonflight with you. I would like to see if my daughter might want to join in on that one as well. I think she would really enjoy the series and us reading it together might motivate her. She might think it would be cool to read it along with you as well.
If you find a good Wiki summary of book one please steer it my way as well on the first Vanguard book.
Like I said I need to actually read the first Sector General book and soon!!!
I will say it again I MUST own a copy of Star Born for the cover alone plus I really want to read it too. š Is wrong I want to read SciFi so bad before the RIP challenge is over. I need to stay focused on A Wise Man’s Fear though. Your temptations are killing me. š
The temptations are obviously getting to me too, because I’ve also read about 40 pages of the third Torin Kerr book (Tanya Huff’s Valor series) in addition to Star Born. Bad me.
Here is “a” wiki for Harbinger…I’m going to keep looking for a more detailed review:
http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Harbinger
Dragonflight would be fun, and even more so if Ashley did it with us.