Monday, December 9, 2019

Dispatches from the Border, December 2019

DISPATCHES FROM THE BORDER
Events and News From Borderlands Books
DECEMBER, 2019

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Upcoming Events
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Sisters in Crime / Mystery Writers' of America Annual Holiday Party, Saturday December 7th from 2:00 - 4:00 pm

Writers With Drinks (at The Make Out Room, 3225 22nd Street, San Francisco) with authors Meg Elison, Megan E. O'Keefe, Alvin Orloff, Amanda Rosenberg, Zoe Young, Olga Zilberbourg and fabulous guest host Maggie Tokuda-Hall! Saturday December 14th at 7:30 pm

(for more information check the end of this newsletter)

We're about to take our customary event hiatus until the New Year, but we'll be back in 2020 with dozens and dozens of fabulous authors, including Seanan McGuire, Maggie Tokuda-Hall, exciting debut author Juliette Wade in conversation with Deborah Ross, and many, many more!

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News
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* We're very sad to report the death of the incredible artist Gahan Wilson, who passed away at age 89.  Read Neil Gaiman's loving tribute here: http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2019/11/gahan-wilson-born-dead-now-dead-again.html

* We're also sad to note that Dorothy "D.C." Fontana, author of several of the most beloved original "Star Trek episodes", passed away last month: http://www.treknews.net/2019/12/03/star-trek-writer-dorothy-dc-fontana-dead/

* Borderlands' owner Alan Beatts, along with The Booksmith's Christin Evans and Dog Eared & Alley Cat Books' owner Kate Rosenberger, will be participating in a panel on the state of bookshops and bookselling, including how the industry works, what issues are facing it, and the place and importance of bookshops in city life.  The panel will take place Tuesday, January 28th from 6:00 - 7:30 pm at Manny's, 3092 16th Street, San Francisco. https://www.welcometomannys.com/

* The best science fiction and fantasy books of 2019, according to Silivia Moreno-Garcia and Lavie Tidhar: https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/the-best-science-fiction-and-fantasy-books-of-2019/2019/11/21/96604448-ef65-11e9-8693-f487e46784aa_story.html

* The original movie "Bladerunner" was set in November, 2019.  Since it's no longer set in the future, here are a couple of interesting discussions about that: https://nationalpost.com/entertainment/movies/as-of-wednesday-blade-runner-is-no-longer-set-in-the-future ; https://laist.com/2019/11/18/blade_runners_2019_los_angeles_then_now_future_past.php

* And, relatedly, dystopia meets Autopia with a museum exhibition of vehicles from dystopian movies including "Blade Runner" and "Mad Max: Fury Road": https://paleofuture.gizmodo.com/l-a-museum-opens-new-exhibit-of-dystopian-vehicles-fro-1834478920

* And lastly, speaking of dystopian vehicles, Tesla's recently-announced "Cyber Truck" has been receiving a lot of derision.  Here's a satirical video about Tesla's new Triangulator, which turns anything in a boxy, pointy copy of itself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StlhIiAgZIM

* Author Claire Legrand is drawn to books containing characters described by that horrible, overused phrase "unlikeable female protagonists" - a.k.a., complex, flawed, human characters. This is why she loves these fantasy novels featuring girls and young women who don't much care if they're "likeable" or not: https://www.tor.com/2019/11/15/5-books-about-girls-who-dont-care-what-you-think-of-them/

* Seasonally important news, just in case you need to know how to kill Krampus: https://nowthisnews.com/videos/nerd/how-to-kill-krampus

* Love Baby Yoda, you must! https://www.wired.com/story/baby-yoda-internet/

* Our RNA may have come from space! https://www.livescience.com/space-sugar-rode-rna-metoers.html

* Neil Gaiman shares some early details on the upcoming "Sandman" TV series.  Jude has been waiting for this to be turned into television since she was 15!  https://io9.gizmodo.com/neil-gaiman-shares-some-early-details-on-the-upcoming-s-1840022235

* The Flat Earth Society may have members all around the globe, but what is the Earth WAS flat?  We'd all be very dead; here's why: https://www.livescience.com/what-if-flat-earth.html

* A timely topic: immigration, migration, and the associated questions of belonging are rife in science fiction and fantasy, author Malka Older notes. Here are some of her favorites: https://www.tor.com/2019/11/20/6-speculative-fiction-books-about-migration/

* The current king of weird eco-fiction, Jeff Vandermeer talks DEAD ASTRONAUTS, cool animals and more: https://www.bookbub.com/blog/jeff-vandermeer-interview-dead-astronauts

* An amazing and heartwarming new documentary from Screen Junkies (the mad geniuses behind Honest Trailers) about the greatest I-can't-believe-it's-not-Star Trek movie, "Galaxy Quest". No geek should miss it: https://www.cnet.com/news/galaxy-quest-cast-warmly-recalls-1999-sci-fi-classic-in-new-documentary-never-surrender/

* Because you know you want it, here is "Let it Go" sung in Klingon: https://www.handitv.com/stories/let-it-go-sung-entirely-in-klingon

* Relatedly, "Frozen 2" now has the biggest global debut of any animated film, ever: https://io9.gizmodo.com/frozen-2-now-has-the-biggest-global-debut-of-any-animat-1840021985

* I think at one point or another, we've all asked ourselves: what if our planet suddenly turned into an Earth-size pile of blueberries?  This is science.  https://www.livescience.com/63224-blueberry-earth.html

* Leonardo Da Vinci's best ideas: https://www.livescience.com/11329-leonardo-da-vinci-10-ideas.html

* As if a single black hole the size of ninety millions suns wasn't mind-blowing enough, here's one colliding with two other black holes. . . . (!): https://news.yahoo.com/hidden-black-hole-the-size-of-90-million-suns-spotted-colliding-with-two-others-184611811.html

* File this under "We can't do this here, and that's okay" - hair freezing contests: https://www.buzznick.com/hair-freezing-contest/

* Richard Silver's panoramic photos turn cathedrals into beautiful, science-fictional, fractal works of art: https://themindcircle.com/vertical-panoramic-churches/

* The Saturday Evening Post lists their picks for the 7 Greatest American Horror Novels: https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2019/10/7-greatest-modern-american-horror-novels/

* H.R. Giger + Martha Stewart = Giant Gingerbread Xenomorph: https://www.geeksaresexy.net/2019/11/29/this-gigantic-gingerbread-alien-xenomorph-is-glorious-beyond-measure/

* Holy Cthulhu!  This new Lovecraft movie will be the first in a trilogy! https://www.horrornews.com/horror-news/holy-cthulu-new-lovecraft-movie-will-be-first-in-trilogy/

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Borderlands' Opinionated Holiday Gift Guide
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Welcome to December!  We've finally gotten our winter weather -- as a life-long, drought-hardened Californian, I have a superstitious aversion to _ever_ complaining about the rain -- and this is the perfect time to curl up with a good book yourself, or gift one to someone dear to you.  Personally this year has been a very difficult one, and I will be glad to see the back of it -- but that means it's even more important to celebrate the good things we have and the friends and family we love; hatch, and feather, as Becky Chambers would say.

Those of you who have been around a while know that I always do an opinionated and rambling gift guide for December, and this year is no exception.  I am excited to call your attention to just a few of the myriad cool and unexpected things we have in the store.  However, if you don't see something appropriate here, we're always happy to make custom suggestions for you or anyone in your life.  We'll even wrap 'em for you!  (A special note to those of you purchasing presents: we're glad to gift wrap upon request, although our typical caveats apply: first, if we're busy, you may have to wait a bit to have things wrapped, and, second, some staff members are MUCH better than others at it.  It is vaguely possible that your package may resemble a brightly wrapped Lovecraft-ian, batrachian, rugose, Thing of No Human Shape.  For some customers, this is not a problem . . ."better than I can do!," they say.  However, if you are concerned about our, ahem, abilities, we're also happy to just hand you the gift wrap, scissors and tape.)  Now, onward!

First, so many marvelous signed books!  Charlie Jane Anders, Gail Carriger, Becky Chambers, Richard Kadrey, Seanan McGuire, Christopher Moore, Annalee Newitz, Rudy Rucker, and Brent Weeks were all here recently, and we have lots of their signed stock for your gifting pleasure.  Additionally, we have signed copies of the exceptional short-story collection FULL THROTTLE by Joe Hill and A LITTLE HATRED by Joe Abercrombie (one of my favorite grim-dark fantasies of the last year, although truthfully not as dark as most of his earlier work). Lastly, we should shortly have copies of the absolutely stunning special signed leatherbound edition of Brandon Sanderson's WARBREAKER with tons of never-before-seen artwork.

You'd like a classic, you say?  No problem there -- there's a gorgeous new deluxe version of DUNE by Frank Herbert with the edges of the text block dyed a vivid blue, illustrated end papers and maps; two different lovely versions of THE PRINCESS BRIDE; an illustrated GOOD OMENS, and various hardcover classics like THE LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS by Ursula K. Le Guin, NEUROMANCER by William Gibson, STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND by Robert Heinlein, a new-to-us UK tenth anniversary (!) hardcover edition of THE NAME OF THE WIND by Patrick Rothfuss, and many other fancy selections.  Speaking of tenth anniversary editions (!), we also have the new hardcover ROSEMARY AND RUE anniversary edition by Seanan McGuire, and the illustrated anniversary edition of SOULLESS by Gail Carriger.

Some of the staff's recent favorites are THE WANDERERS by Chuck Wendig, (an unusual and amazing story about an apocalyptic, mysterious phenomenon); THE SOL MAJESTIC by Ferrett Steinmetz, (a touching and tremendously sweet novel for the science-fiction-loving foodie in your life); THE IMAGINARY CORPSE by Tyler Hayes, (the very best book about a cuddly triceratops detective who solves crimes in a land of sort-of imaginary friends I've ever read, which is NOT damning with faint praise!), Sarah Kuhn's absolutely adorable Heroine Trilogy (starring some marvelous Asian-American superheroines in San Francisco) and REJOICE, A KNIFE TO THE HEART by Steven Erikson, (sort of like the most extraordinary, most intelligent take on "The Day the Earth Stood Still" you can possibly imagine).

Some unexpected treasures for those folks who have read everything: IRONTOWN BLUES by John Varley; IN OTHER LANDS by Sarah Rees Brennan; HANNAH GREEN AND HER UNFEASIBLY MUNDANE EXISTENCE by Michael Marshall Smith, WINTER TIDE by Ruthann Emrys (this, along with Matt Ruff's LOVECRAFT COUNTRY, THE BALLAD OF BLACK TOM by Victor La Valle, and CARTER AND LOVECRAFT are my favorite recent extremely-unconventional takes on Lovecraft), and the Axiom Trilogy (THE WRONG STARS; THE DREAMING STARS; and THE FORBIDDEN STARS) by Tim Pratt, (my pick for fans of Becky Chambers).

Creepy choices to keep you up at night: THE TWISTED ONES by T. Kingfisher, BEDFELLOW by Jeremy C. Shipp, THE FIFTH HOUSE OF THE HEART by Ben Tripp, SOMEONE LIKE ME by M.R. Carey, and PEACEABLE KINGDOM by Jack Ketchum.

Absolutely kick-ass anthologies: A PEOPLE'S FUTURE OF THE UNITED STATES edited by John Joseph Adams and Victor La Valle; Hugo-award-winning WORLDS SEEN IN PASSING edited by Irene Gallo; THE MYTHIC DREAM edited by Dominik Parisien and Navah Wolfe; REDISCOVERY: SCIENCE FICTION BY WOMEN (1958 TO 1963) edited by Gideon Marcus; and LOST TRANSMISSIONS: THE SECRET HISTORY OF SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY edited by Desirina Boskovich.

For the mystery lover in your life: THE CORONER'S LUNCH by Colin Cotterill (Alan and I both LOVE this series!); the Charles Lenox mysteries by Charles Finch that begin with A BEAUTIFUL BLUE DEATH; SECONDHAND SPIRITS, which begins Juliet Blackwell's sweetly cozy just-a-bit-paranormal series; classic DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS by Walter Mosley; Barbara Hambly's excellent Benjamin January mysteries, which begin with A FREE MAN OF COLOR (you will fall in love with her characters); the suffocatingly dark LAST GOOD KISS by James Crumley; and Christopher Fowler's Peculiar Crimes mysteries, a series of funny, wonderful impossible-crime books starring two elderly detectives in London.

Not brand-new but great and absolutely worth another look: PASSING STRANGE by Ellen Klages; SWORDSPOINT by Ellen Kushner; PANDEMONIUM by Daryl Gregory; WOMEN UP TO NO GOOD by Pat Murphy; ZOO CITY by Lauren Beukes; THE STEEL REMAINS by Richard Morgan.

Not genre at all but we love 'em anyway: DIARY OF A BOOKSELLER by Shaun Bythell (side-splittingly hilarious; Alan and I both heartily recommend this one), THE YELLOW-LIGHTED BOOKSHOP by Lewis Buzbee (absolutely charming & perfect for any Bay Area book lover), THE SECRET HISTORIAN by Justin Spring (you will be stunned when you learn about the life of Samuel Steward, the most famous professor, Oakland tattoo artist, Kinsey test-subject, and sexual renegade you've never heard of), and CAPTIVE OF THE LABYRINTH by Mary Jo Ignoffo, (the captivating true story of Sarah Winchester, heiress to the rifle fortune who was falsely accused of madness, and architect of the famous Winchester House in San Jose).

Other fun stuff: we just got in Nathan Pyle's adorable book of cartoons STRANGE PLANET (our bestselling hardcover last month!).  We have creepy key tags for places like The Bates Motel, The Hotel California, The Overlook Hotel from THE SHINING, The Hotel Cortez from "American Horror Story", Cyberdyne Systems, and many others.  New to us and oh-so-cool are little enamel pins for book lovers from Rather Keen <https://ratherkeen.com/collections/bookish-pins>: they say things like "The Book Was Better", "Sorry, I'm Booked", "I Like Big Books". . . and some that are "Star Wars"-inspired -- "One With the Force", "Fly Casual", and "I Have a Bad Feeling About This".  We've recently gotten a new selection of fantastic blank journals, too -- everything from Cthuluhu to antique map images to beautiful Tiffany glass to The Unicorn Tapestry to pulp movie covers like "Attack of the 50 Foot Woman" <https://monkeyupatree.com/> to clever ones that say things on the covers like "Strange Ideas and Impure Thoughts", "I Regret Nothing", "Creative Ramblings of a Restless Mind", and many more.

As always, we're happy to make personalized recommendations and practice our Psychic Bookseller Skills when you're stumped.  If you just can't decide, we also offer gift certificates in any amount.

Here's wishing you a happy, hopeful, and peaceful holiday season, and all the best for next year.

- Jude Feldman

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From The Office
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After a monograph like Jude's Gift Guide, there doesn't seem to be much need for me to add a lot of extra verbiage here.  Just two things to pass along.

First, work continues at the new building.  It's been slow going, mostly because some personal stuff had me in LA for about half of the last month.  But . . . it is moving along.  Rough electrical for the bathroom is done and will be inspected (and passed, I'm sure) on the 10th.  Rough framing for the front passed inspection week before last and now we're working to get the surface finish done outside and the electrical done inside.  Rough electrical for the main floor will probably happen this month and, because our electrician is great, should pass inspection this month as well.  Once that's done there'll be a few other things to take care of in the ceiling (Cat 6 network cabling, audio cabling, and the lifting point of the trap door for the basement shop) and then I can get the sheetrock crew in to close it up.  So, we're plugging right along.

Second, this has been a rough year personally and, I think, a rough year for most Americans.  For me, December is when it's easiest to get stressed out, feel rushed, and generally lose my sense of calm.  Further, for many people, it's a month when it's easy to feel worried and, perhaps worst of all, isolated.

This month, despite everything that is going on, I try to slow down, breathe and keep clear in my mind what is actually important.  Most of all, I try to remember that the things that are getting my attention -- nasty weather, flashing lights, bad drivers, and the constant refrain of "Buy, buy, buy!" -- really aren't that significant at all.

At the risk of sounding like a Hallmark card, what matters this month is exactly the same as every other month -- our friends, our family (whether by blood or by choice), our principals, and our dreams & goals.  So, as we head into the end of 2019 and the end of the second decade of the 21st century; take care of yourselves, take care of your people, find calm within the noise and haste, and have a peaceful and happy holiday followed by a joyous New Year.

Warmest Regards,
Alan

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Best Sellers
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Borderlands Best-Selling Titles for November, 2019

Hardcovers

1. Strange Planet by Nathan Pyle
2. Rosemary and Rue 10th Anniversary Edition by Seanan McGuire
3. The Future of Another Timeline by Annalee Newitz
4. The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
5. Burning White by Brent Weeks
6. A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie
7. The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman
8. Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
9.  Dune: Deluxe Edition by Frank Herbert
10. Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

Trade Paperbacks

1. The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
2. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
3. The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin
4. To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers
5. How Long 'Til Black Future Month? by N.K. Jemisin
6. The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin
7. Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers
8. The Ninja Daughter by Tori Eldridge
9. The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin, translated by Ken Liu
10. Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Mass Market Paperbacks

1. Dune by Frank Herbert
2. The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
3. Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
4. Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
5. The Consuming Fire by John Scalzi
6. Lies Sleeping by Ben Aaronovitch
7. Old Man's War by John Scalzi
8. Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire
9. The Forbidden Stars by Tim Pratt
10. Neuromancer by William Gibson

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Book Club Information
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The QSF&F Book Club will meet on Sunday, November 8th, at 5 pm to discuss BATTLEFIELD EARTH by L. Ron Hubbard.  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, December 15th, at 6 pm to discuss SHARDS OF HONOR by Lois McMaster Bujold.  The book for January 19th is LA BELLE SAUVAGE -THE BOOK OF DUST VOL. 1 by Philip Pullman. Please contact bookclub@borderlands-books.com for more information.

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Upcoming Event Details
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Sisters in Crime / Mystery Writers' of America Annual Holiday Party, Saturday December 7th from 2:00 - 4:00 pm - Join us and more than two dozen fabulous local mystery writers for a fun holiday party!  There will be light refreshments and the chance to mingle with, and get books signed by, fantastic authors, including Susan Bickford, Cara Black, Dana Fredsti, Heather Haven, Gigi Pandian, Susan Shea, Kelli Stanley, Nancy Tingley, CJ Verburg & many others!  Don't miss this opportunity to meet so many authors all at the same time in an informal setting, and enjoy a rousing kick-off to the party season!

Writers With Drinks (at The Make Out Room, 3225 22nd Street, San Francisco) with authors Meg Elison, Megan E. O'Keefe, Alvin Orloff, Amanda Rosenberg, Zoe Young, Olga Zilberbourg and fabulous guest host Maggie Tokuda-Hall! Saturday December 14th at 7:30 pm - Writers With Drinks is the most awesome spoken-word variety show in the world, hosted this month by Maggie Tokuda-Hall, and we're always happy to participate!  The amazing lineup this time includes Meg Elison, Megan E. O'Keefe, Alvin Orloff, Amanda Rosenberg, Zoe Young, and Olga Zilberbourg!  Cost: $5 to $20, no-one turned away for lack of funds.  All proceeds benefit local non-profits.  Doors open at 7:00 and Borderlands will be on hand to sell books.

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


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

Dispatches from the Border
Editor - Jude Feldman
Assistant Editor - Alan Beatts
Special thanks to contributors David Fitzgerald and Madeleine Hubbert, who tracked down lots of December news!

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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Thursday, November 21, 2019

Dispatches from the Border, November 2019

DISPATCHES FROM THE BORDER
Events and News From Borderlands Books
NOVEMBER, 2019

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Upcoming Events
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Tori Eldridge, NINJA DAUGHTER (Agora Books, Trade Paperback, $16.95) Sunday, November 24th at 3:00 pm

Sisters in Crime / Mystery Writers' of America Holiday Party, Saturday, December 7th from 2:00 - 4:00 pm

Writers With Drinks with authors Megan E. O'Keefe, Alvin Orloff, and Olga Zilberbourg, and fabulous guest host Maggie Tokuda-Hall! (At the Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd Street, San Francisco)  Saturday, December 14th at 7:30 pm

(for more information check the end of this newsletter)

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News
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* Overheard in the Store:

"Pokemon should not make you feel funny in your pants-parts."

"Finally, a bookstore with the _correct_ smell!"

"Some fungi are only edible once."

"If all else fails, use the parallel world."

"The highest villain in the book is a giant bagpipe. Nothing could be more evil than a bagpipe."

"I was ambushed, and she forcibly read her poetry at me."

"If you're not pissing someone off, you're probably in PR."

"Joel Selvin has covered pop music for the San Francisco Chronicle since shortly after the Civil War."

"It's a book title - 'Consensual Cannibalism: An Atheist's Primer for Surviving the Apocalypse'."

"Apparently it's the day of Hyper Aggressive Authors."

* Big congratulations to all the nominees and winners of this year's World Fantasy Awards!  https://locusmag.com/2019/11/2019-world-fantasy-awards-winners/

* We are very sad to share news of the death of the incomparable Michael Blumlein.  Michael was a Borderlands sponsor, a retired doctor, and an extremely talented genre author, but more importantly he was a brilliant, humorous, generous, and tremendously good human being with an enduring sense of wonder.  He will be fiercely missed. https://www.tor.com/2019/10/28/michael-blumlein-1948-2019/

* You can hear a podcast of Rudy Rucker's October 26th, 2019 event at Borderlands (including his touching tribute to Michael Blumlein) here: http://www.rudyrucker.com/blog/2019/10/28/podcast-110-million-mile-road-trip-memories-of-michael-blumein/

* A lengthy article on how the amazing author John M. Ford fell into obscurity after his death.  And guess what?  His books are going to be reprinted!: https://slate.com/culture/2019/11/john-ford-science-fiction-fantasy-books.html

* John Varley's alien sex chart in WIZARD changed Annalee Newitz's life: https://www.tor.com/2019/11/20/the-sex-chart-that-changed-my-life-spectrums-of-sexuality-in-john-varleys-wizard/

* Say, how big ARE Supermassive Black Holes?  Big enough to crush our puny human brains: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgNDao7m41M

* Golden Gate Bridge vs. asteroid?  Florida vs. the Death Star?  See who wins: https://mymodernmet.com/kevin-wisbith-a-quick-perspective

* A real-life Iron Man breaks a powered suit aerial speed record: https://nerdist.com/article/irl-iron-man-sets-jet-engine-powered-suit-speed-record/

* Listen to a new, free China Mieville horror story on audiobook, "The Design": https://www.tor.com/2019/10/29/listen-to-china-mievilles-the-design-a-free-audiobook-horror-story/

* Creepy tunnels under San Francisco: https://www.kqed.org/news/11782405/tunnels-under-san-francisco-inside-the-dark-dangerous-world-of-the-sewers

* Your moment of quasicrystalline mind-wreckery for the day: https://laughingsquid.com/quasicrystal-hypnotic-animation/

* Wisdom for aspiring artists from Moebius: http://www.openculture.com/2015/03/moebius-gives-18-wisdom-filled-tips-to-aspiring-artists-1996.html

* An interesting article on "last words" -- what people actually say before they die: https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2019/01/how-do-people-communicate-before-death/580303/

* They look like scenes from an ancient tomb, but they aren't. . . . they're macro shots taken inside instruments: https://arthusiast.art/amazing-macro-shots-taken-inside-instruments-by-adrian-borda/

* An entertaining article on Charles Adams from The Long Island Press: https://www.longislandpress.com/2018/10/29/charles-addams-the-long-island-macabre-master-who-created-the-addams-family/

* A haunting Ted-Ed lesson written by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and animated by Jorge Jaramillo, explains how H.P. Lovecraft turned scientific discoveries of his time into the creepy fear of the unknown: https://laughingsquid.com/hp-lovecraft-fictional-terror/

* A new study shows what people from one of the earliest civilizations on Earth may have looked like: https://weather.com/en-IN/india/science/news/2019-10-10-study-people-indus-valley-civilisation-faces-looked-like

* We're sorry to report the death of Alexei Leonov, the first person to walk in space.  Read a bit about that terrifying & history-making first spacewalk here: https://gizmodo.com/how-alexei-leonov-survived-the-harrowing-first-spacewal-1838980458

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From The Office
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November Building Update

The last month has been a good one for the construction but not particularly exciting, so this update is going to be kind of short.  The rough plumbing is completed and passed inspection. Other than some less-than-esthetically-pleasing work in the lightwell, it's a really nice, clean job.  And, it'll be easy enough for me to re-route the stuff in the lightwell so that it's not quite so . . . industrial . . . looking.  Granted, I can understand why a plumber would want to run all the piping between waist and shoulder height -- it's easy to work at that level.  But it doesn't really make for the best look, if you know what I mean.

Antonius and Juan, our electricians, were in last week and the rough electrical for the bathroom is finished.  We just need to get that inspected and then we can get to closing up the walls. With a little luck, I hope to have the bathroom completed by the end of next month.

The framing for the front wall is also finished (big thanks to Zach for getting the last bits completed) and it passed inspection yesterday.  We need to put a little bit of electrical in that wall and then we can start closing it as well.  That job is going to be a bit long because of the complexity.  Instead of just simple sheetrock like the bathroom, there's tile on the outside to do, plus an awful lot of windows to build.  On the other hand, because that wall is mostly windows, once they are built and installed, most of the wall will be completed, both outside and in.

Regarding that wall, I did some research about what sort of wood to use for the trim, casing, and other parts of the window frames and trim-work outside.  I was looking for something that was hard (because of the wear and tear that a storefront gets on a busy street) and also rot resistant (because of the outside exposure).  I was surprised to find that white oak is very resistant to rot and insects.  It's right up there with redwood and is much, much harder.  I was astonished to find the results of a test conducted by the USDA Forest Service in which they left completely untreated (i.e. no paint or sealer) wood samples outside in Wisconsin for 22 years.  Over that time not one sample of white oak showed decay or fungal infection (https://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/bridges/documents/tdbp/decayres.pdf).  Of course, white oak is expensive and hard to work but, if we can afford it, I hope to use that for the exterior woodwork for the front of the shop.  It's sort of a shame to hide such a nice looking wood but, with a proper coat of primer and paint, I'm confident it'll last for at least 100 years.

Finally, I met with Kevin Short, our architect, yesterday as well and we came up with the lighting plan for the main section of the store.  After having guessed at that for both the current store and the cafe, it was really nice to work with someone who actually knew what they were doing.  I think it's going to look great and give us plenty of light.  The added plus is that, with that plan in hand, I can turn the electricians loose on that job.  Once it's completed, we can get the ceiling closed, which is going to make the place look completely different.

Bottom line, we're still plugging along and getting there, it's just been a little s-l-o-w this month.

All Best,
Alan

----------------
Best Sellers
----------------
Borderlands Best-Selling Titles for October, 2019

Hardcovers

1. Burning White by Brent Weeks
2. Angel Mage by Garth Nix
3. The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman
4. The Future of Another Timeline by Annalee Newitz
5. Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
6. Turning Darkness Into Light by Marie Brennan
7. A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie
8. The Institute by Stephen King
9. Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
10. The Grand Dark by Richard Kadrey

Trade Paperbacks

1. To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers
2. The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
3. The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin, translated by Ken Liu
4. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
5. Perfect Specimen by M. Luke McDonell
6. Million Mile Road Trip by Rudy Rucker
7. Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin
8. Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
9. A People's Future of the United States edited by Victor LaValle and John Joseph Adams
10. In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan

Mass Market Paperbacks

1. The Consuming Fire by John Scalzi
2. Dune by Frank Herbert
3. Fallen by Benedict Jacka
4. The Forbidden Stars by Tim Pratt
5. The Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi
6. The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
7. Old Man's War by John Scalzi
8. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
9. Neuromancer by William Gibson
10. Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio

------------------------------
Book Club Information
------------------------------

The QSF&F Book Club will meet on Sunday, December 8th, at 5 pm to discuss BATTLEFIELD EARTH by L. Ron Hubbard.  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, Decmeber, at 6 pm to discuss SHARDS OF HONOR by Lois McMaster Bujold.  Please contact bookclub@borderlands-books.com for more information.

------------------------------
Upcoming Event Details
------------------------------

Tori Eldridge, NINJA DAUGHTER (Agora Books, Trade Paperback, $16.95) Sunday, November 24th at 3:00 pm - We're happy to welcome author Tori Eldridge to Borderlands for her debut novel!  "THE NINJA DAUGHTER is an action-packed thriller about a Chinese-Norwegian modern-day ninja with Joy Luck Club family issues who fights the Los Angeles Ukrainian mob, sex traffickers, and her own family to save two desperate women and an innocent child."  Tori's own history is fascinating . . . from her bio, she is "a Honolulu-born thriller writer who challenges perspective and empowers the spirit. She holds a fifth-degree black belt in To-Shin Do Ninjutsu and has traveled the USA teaching seminars on the ninja arts, weapons, and women's self-protection."  We hope you'll join us to meet Tori and check out this new thriller!

Sisters in Crime / Mystery Writers' of America Holiday Party, Saturday, December 7th from 2:00 - 4:00 pm - Join us and more than two dozen fabulous local mystery writers for a fun holiday party!  There will be light refreshments and the chance to mingle with, and get books signed by, fantastic authors!  Don't miss this opportunity to meet so many authors all at the same time in an informal setting, and enjoy a rousing kick-off to the party season.

Writers With Drinks with authors Megan E. O'Keefe, Alvin Orloff, and Olga Zilberbourg, and fabulous guest host Maggie Tokuda-Hall! (At the Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd Street, San Francisco)  Saturday, December 14th at 7:30 pm  - Writers With Drinks is the most awesome spoken-word variety show in the world, hosted this month by Maggie Tokuda-Hall, and we're always happy to participate!  The amazing lineup this month incldes Megan E. O'Keefe, Alvin Orloff, and Olga Zilberbourg!  Cost: $5 to $20, no-one turned away for lack of funds.  All proceeds benefit local non-profits.  Doors open at 7:00 and Borderlands will be on hand to sell books.  http://www.writerswithdrinks.com/

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

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

Dispatches from the Border
Editor - Jude Feldman
Assistant Editor - Alan Beatts
(And big thanks to guest contributors David Fitzgerald and Madeleine Hubbard, who tracked down a bunch of news this month!)

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

*******

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Dispatches from the Border, October 2019

DISPATCHES FROM THE BORDER
Events and News From Borderlands Books
OCTOBER, 2019

----------------------
Upcoming Events
----------------------

Writers With Drinks with authors Marta Acosta, Imani Gandy, Dr. Jen Gunter, Vivian Ho, Nazelah Jamison, and Michelle Ruiz Keil (at the Make Out Room, The Make Out Room, 3225 22nd St, San Francisco), Saturday, October 12th at 7:30 pm

Litquake Litcrawl Phase 2, SF in SF Presents: Women Imagine Different Worlds with authors Lisa Goldstein, M. Luke McDonell, Pat Murphy, Madeleine Robins, and Maggie Tokuda-Hall, Saturday, October 19th at 6:30 pm

Litquake Litcrawl Phase 3, Adventures in Crime and Time with authors Mark Coggins, Paul Drexler, Richard Kadrey, and Annalee Newitz Saturday, October 19th at 8:00 pm

Brent Weeks, THE BURNING WHITE (Orbit, Hardcover, $30.00) Thursday, October 24th at 6:00 pm

Rudy Rucker, THE MILLION MILE ROAD TRIP (Nightshade Books, Trade Paperback, $14.99) Saturday, October 26th at 3:00 pm

JUST ADDED!  An Afternoon with N.K. Jemisin, Sunday, November 3rd at 3:00 pm 

SF in SF (at the American Bookbinders Museum, 355 Clementina St. San Francisco) with authors Charlie Jane Anders and Annalee Newitz, Sunday, November 10th at 6:30 pm

An Evening with Seanan McGuire, Saturday, November 16th at 6:00 pm

Tori Eldridge, NINJA DAUGHTER (Agora Books, Trade Paperback, $16.95) Sunday, November 24th at 3:00  pm

(for more information check the end of this newsletter)

-------
News
-------

* Overheard in the Store:

"At one point in history you could certainly read every science fiction & fantasy title that came out that year. Now you can't even read all the Seanan McGuire titles that come out in a year!"

"What house are you in?  Gryffindor?  Like everybody.  I'm in Slytherin, obviously."

"It's low-level and hilarious vegan propaganda, TBH."

"I just need to find an ancient Babylonian oatmeal recipe RIGHT NOW!"

"I think it's really creative what this guy did with dried noodles."

"Please don't kill people.  It would be rude."

"Tentacles are coming.  Paint is drying."

"As a friend of mine once sniffed, 'Suburban bondage'."

"That's the name of my new punk band --'Stalin's Unicorns'."

"This is the sort of book you put on your coffee table to find out who your real friends are."

* Huge congratulations to Alex and JoAnne!  Alex proposed to JoAnne at Borderlands on Tuesday, October 1st with a custom-made book that celebrates their story.  We wish them a lifetime of happiness!  You can see pictures of the happy couple (and that adorable book) on our Twitter feed, @borderlands_sf.

* Bay News Rising talked to Alan about Borderlands' new building and discussed the difficulties of small businesses purchasing them: https://baynewsrising.org/2019/08/19/small-business-survival-tactic-own-your-own-building/

* Author Tananarive Due discusses Octavia Butler: https://www.essence.com/entertainment/only-essence/octavia-butler-interview/ (And if you haven't read Due's story "Attachment Disorder" from A PEOPLE'S FUTURE OF THE UNITED STATES, you should do so as soon as possible. It's wonderful.)

* Margaret Atwood reads: https://www.npr.org/2019/09/04/754859270/first-read-hear-margaret-atwood-tell-the-tale-of-the-testaments

* Protect your books as folks did in the past: with horrifying curses!  https://getpocket.com/explore/item/how-to-protect-your-library-with-medieval-book-curses

* Daniel Henney will play al'Lan Mandragoran in the upcoming "Wheel of Time" tv show: https://www.tor.com/2019/09/04/the-wheel-of-time-tv-show-daniel-henney-will-play-allan-mandragoran/

* Cory Doctorow on "The Cold Equations" and Moral Hazard: https://locusmag.com/2014/03/cory-doctorow-cold-equations-and-moral-hazard/

* Shamelessly using the Loch Ness Monster to interest people in biodiversity research: https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2019/09/06/loch-ness-monster-is-still-mystery-scientists-have-some-new-evidence-theory/

* How did we miss this?!  Jonesy, the cat from "Alien", has his own book!  Call or email if you'd like us to reserve or send you a copy. https://www.nme.com/news/cat-alien-getting-spin-off-jonesy-2392038

* Check out this trailer for the new dystopian drama "See", with Jason Momoa.  I'm not too sure about this one: https://www.tvguide.com/news/see-apple-tv-trailer-jason-momoa/

* Richard Dormer will play Sam Vimes in "The Watch", based on Terry Practhett's books! https://www.tor.com/2019/09/11/vimes-bbc-america-casts-richard-dormer-in-terry-pratchett-series-the-watch/

* A thoughtful & entertaining article from The Smithsonian about how how the Rocky & Bullwinkle Show taught kids sophisticated political satire: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/how-bullwinkle-taught-kids-sophisticated-political-satire-180964803/

* Employee Maddy told me about this amazing WPA program I'd never heard of; kick-ass female librarians on horseback! https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/horse-riding-librarians-were-great-depression-bookmobiles-180963786/

* Green Apple has bought Browser Books: https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=3576#m45794

* A fascinating introduction to Elizabeth Friedman, cryptography pioneer: https://www.brainpickings.org/2018/09/06/the-woman-who-smashed-codes-elizebeth-friedman/

* Once we stopping gasping & choking over the fact that the "Scooby-Doo" cartoon is FIFTY YEARS OLD, this was a really interesting article: https://crimereads.com/50-years-ago-scooby-doo-was-the-perfect-weird-hopeful-mystery-series-1969-needed/

* Manuscript critique from Mary Robinette Kowal: https://www.patreon.com/posts/manuscript-arent-11552026

* Our friends Gavin Grant & Kelly Link, who also happen to be the publishers of Small Beer Press, are opening a bookstore! Huge congratulations to them! https://www.bookweb.org/news/author-kelly-link-gavin-j-grant-open-book-moon-easthampton-massachusetts-574432

* Check out the chapter icons from the new Robert Jordan book: https://www.tor.com/2019/09/25/get-a-detailed-look-at-the-chapter-icons-in-robert-jordans-new-book-warrior-of-the-altaii/

* A warm welcome to the Mission's newest comic shop, Hella Novella!  https://missionlocal.org/2019/09/comically-tiny-comic-book-shop-opening-up-in-the-mission/

* An old (2013) but still fascinating article written by undertaker, about changing trends in funeral customs  and how the actual dead bodies are disappearing from funerals: https://aeon.co/essays/a-funeral-without-a-body-is-no-way-to-mourn

* The BBC presents former cult books that have fallen out of favor: http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20190920-the-cult-books-that-lost-their-cool

* Scientists are finally starting to understand "ballooning" -- the way in which spiders can kinda-sorta fly: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/07/the-electric-flight-of-spiders/564437/

* In this article from last year, Fast Company speculates on the future of food.  I don't know about you, but most of this sounds pretty dystopian to me: https://www.fastcompany.com/90222618/what-the-future-of-food-will-look-like-in-2038?cid=search

* Artist Banksy has "opened" a dystopian housewares store (actually a temporary installation) called "Gross Domestic Product": https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2019/10/gross-domestic-product/

* Leigh Bardugo shares the cast list and first cast photo from the upcoming "Shadow and Bone" adaptation: https://www.tor.com/2019/10/02/leigh-bardugo-shares-cast-list-and-first-cast-photo-of-netflixs-upcoming-shadow-and-bone-adaptation/

* Find your necromancy family among the houses of GIDEON THE NINTH!  https://www.tor.com/2019/09/20/find-your-necromancy-family-among-the-houses-of-gideon-the-ninth/

* The secret meanings behind the beasts in a medieval menagerie from Atlas Obscura: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/medieval-bestiary-allegories

--------------------
From The Office
--------------------

It's been a very busy month at the new building on Haight St.  I'll get to all the details in a second but I've got a bigger piece of news.  I finally decided when (roughly) we're going to move.

I'm aiming to have us up and running at the new building by Spring of next year.  Specifically, by May.  That is, granted, a long way off from now but at least there's a date.  Or, at least a month.

Why so long?  Well, here's the thing -- we need to get the two big jobs finished (the bathroom and the new front wall).  Both are pretty far along but, once that's done, there's still quite a lot to do.  I'd like to get the basement office in reasonable shape because trying to do that after we've moved would just be a whole lot of not-fun.  Also, there are some bits and pieces of work that will also need doing (reworking the stairway to the basement, getting the final electrical in place, and so on).  But the big one is building the shelves.  There are quite a lot of them to build and, speaking from experience, that's a time-consuming process.  Plus, there are bound to be delays as we go.  So yeah, I think that May is about right.  We'll see if that lasts, eh?

In terms of what's been done since you last heard from me:

The electrical overhaul is complete.  Last week the electricians replaced the two breaker panels for the upstairs apartments and so that job is complete, pending inspections.  That also means that the old, might-burn-the-building-down breakers are gone, gone, gone.  In addition to my feeling of relief about that, it should mean we can get an insurance policy for the building that will be a good deal cheaper than what we have now.

The rough plumbing is nearly complete.  This isn't just the new plumbing for the bathroom: since we had time and opportunity, we also replaced all the 100+ year-old drain pipes.  They were in surprisingly good shape, considering, but there were still a number of places where half the thickness of the pipe walls had rusted away.  So, probably good to have that done.  We also replaced and rerouted all the gas lines and the water lines.  In fact, since the sidewalk replacement schedule worked out (more about that in a moment), we were able to upgrade both services.  The original water supplies were 3/4" for the store and 1" for the apartments.  They're now 1" and 1 1/2" respectively.  The gas lines were similarly sized, but we stepped all three of them up to 1 1/4".  That means there is sufficient gas supply to run on-demand water heaters for both apartments and plenty of gas for out-door heaters for the garden.  Bottom line, all the important plumbing services for the whole building are brand new, stem to stern.  When you add in the electrical upgrades, new roof,  and the structural work that we've done, pretty much all the fundamental systems in the building are in top shape and should be trouble-free for decades to come.

Speaking of fundamental stuff.  The sidewalk replacement was completed last week as well.  It looks really great and, because we got the work on the front of the building completed (just in time, as it turns out), the sidewalk comes right up to the front framing and matches the level of the entry just about perfectly.  It was really hard to get all the scheduling to work out, but the product is excellent.

Finally, since the plumbers needed to do work in the lightwell area, those walls have been almost completely closed and should be finished this week.  I'll also be completing the roof over the bathroom extension so the whole place with be sealed up against weather and rain, just in time for winter.

After the lightwell walls are completed, the next steps will be to finish the final bits of framing on the front (it's only three pieces of wood, actually, but I just have not had time to put them in) and then get the framing inspection for that.  Also, once the rough plumbing is finished, there will be a little bit of electrical work to do in the bathroom and then it'll be time to close those walls, lay the tile, and then get the final plumbing and electrical work done.

It's going to be another busy month, but I think we'll be getting a lot done.

- Alan Beatts

----------------
Best Sellers
----------------
Borderlands Best-Selling Titles for September, 2019

Hardcovers

1. The Future of Another Timeline by Annalee Newitz
2. Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
3. The Unkindest Tide by Seanan McGuire
4. The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
5. A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie
6. Jade War by Fonda Lee
7. This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone
8.  The Institute by Stephen King
9. The City in the Middle of the Night by Charlie Jane Anders
10. Wanderers by Chuck Wendig

Trade Paperbacks

1. To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers
2. The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
3. Time Shards: Shatter War by Dana Fredsti and David Fitzgerald
4. The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin, translated by Ken Liu
5. Velocity Weapon by Megan E. O'Keefe
6. All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders
7. A People's Future of the United States edited by Victor LaValle and John Joseph Adams
8. Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
9. How Long 'Til Black Future Month? by N.K. Jemisin
10. The Dark Forest by Liu Cixin, translated by Joel Martinsen

Mass Market Paperbacks

1. The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
2. Dune by Frank Herbert
3. Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
4. Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio
5. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
6. Old Man's War by John Scalzi
7. Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss
8. Neuromancer by William Gibson
9. Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
10. Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch

------------------------------
Book Club Information
------------------------------

The QSF&F Book Club will meet on Sunday, October 13th, at 5 pm to discuss THE COLLAPSING EMPIRE by John Scalzi.  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 20th, at 6 pm to discuss HOMINIDS by Robert Sawyer.  Please contact bookclub@borderlands-books.com for more information.

------------------------------
Upcoming Event Details
------------------------------

Writers With Drinks with authors Marta Acosta, Imani Gandy, Dr. Jen Gunter, Vivian Ho, Nazelah Jamison, and Michelle Ruiz Keil (at the Make Out Room, The Make Out Room, 3225 22nd St, San Francisco), Saturday, October 12th at 7:30 pm - Writers With Drinks is the most awesome spoken-word variety show in the world, hosted by Charlie Jane Anders, and we're always happy to participate!  The amazing lineup this month includes Marta Acosta, Imani Gandy, Dr. Jen Gunter, Vivian Ho, Nazelah Jamison, and Michelle Ruiz Keil.  Cost: $5 to $20, no-one turned away for lack of funds.  All proceeds benefit local non-profits.  Doors open at 7:00 and Borderlands will be on hand to sell books.

Litquake LitCrawl Phase 2, SF in SF Presents: Women Imagine Different Worlds with authors Lisa Goldstein, M. Luke McDonell, Pat Murphy, Madeleine Robins, and Maggie Tokuda-Hall, Saturday, October 19th at 6:30 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.  In the past we've had events in both the bookstore and the cafe, but this year (lacking the Cafe) we're doing back-to-back bookstore events! Phase 2: "For over a decade SF in SF has offered readings, films, and special events in the Bay Area for readers of science fiction, fantasy, and speculative fiction. Usually hosted by Terry Bisson, past guests have included Connie Willis, George R. R. Martin, Jeffrey Ford, Daryl Gregory, Cecil Castellucci, Ben Loory, Gene Wolfe, Laurie King, Nancy Kress, Lev Grossman, Samuel R. Delany, Carol Emshwiller, Charlie Jane Anders, Patrick Rothfuss, Gail Carriger, Cory Doctorow, Peter S. Beagle, and many others." This event will feature women authors from the event series.

Litquake LitCrawl Phase 3, Adventures in Crime and Time with authors Mark Coggins, Paul Drexler, Richard Kadrey, and Annalee Newitz Saturday, October 19th at 8:00 pm - We're happy to host four fantastic authors whose work will range from noir science fiction to true & fictional crime to time travel escapades!

Brent Weeks, THE BURNING WHITE (Orbit, Hardcover, $30.00) Thursday, October 24th at 6:00 pm - We're are always excited to welcome the delightful Brent Weeks back to Borderlands, and particularly this time -- for the long-awaited fifth and final volume of the Lightbringer sequence, THE BURNING WHITE! We hope you'll join us to meet Brent and celebrate the last installment of this epic series!

Rudy Rucker, THE SECRET OF LIFE (Nightshade Books, Trade Paperback, $14.99) Saturday, October 26th at 3:00 pm - It's always a treat to welcome the quirky and irrepressible genius Rudy Rucker to the store!  Rudy is an author, artist, mathematician and one of the godfathers of Cyberpunk.  Join us to check out the release of his new novel THE MILLION MILE ROAD TRIP, and celebrate the reprints of a few other titles!  Meantime, definitely read this fabulously fun NPR review for the new book: https://www.npr.org/2019/05/19/724130325/buckle-up-for-this-million-mile-road-trip

JUST ADDED!  An Afternoon with N.K. Jemisin, Sunday, November 3rd at 3:00 pm - Borderlands Books is absolutely thrilled to present "An Afternoon with N.K. Jemisin"!  Join us for the rare opportunity to hear this historic, multiple-Hugo-Award-winner as she shares her talent, wit and wisdom with fans old and new, and get your books signed.  As always, you may call ahead to reserve a copy of any of her in-print books including the recently-released trade paperback version of her short story collection HOW LONG ‘TIL BLACK FUTURE MONTH?  You don't want to miss this one! Because a lot of people may want to attend, we can't promise that we'll be able to accommodate everyone inside the store.  Entry and seating will be ticketed and on a first-come, first-served basis.  You'll be able to pick up a ticket (maximum of two per person) starting at noon on the day of the event. There is no charge and no purchase required for a ticket.  The store will be emptied one hour before the event to allow for us to set up.  Once we're set up, we'll let people back in based on their ticket number.  Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee seats.

In case you don't get here early enough to get into the event, we are hoping that Ms. Jemisin will be able to stay long enough to get everyone's books signed after she speaks.  We should be able to confirm this by Saturday.

If you won't be able to attend the event but would still like to get a signed or inscribed copy of one of Ms. Jemisin's books, just drop us an email or give a call and we'll take care of it for you.  You can pick up your book(s) at the store after the event or we can mail them to you.


 SF in SF (at the American Bookbinders Museum, 355 Clementina St. San Francisco) with authors Charlie Jane Anders and Annalee Newitz, Sunday, November 10th at 6:30 pm - (Suggested donation $10.)  (Doors and bar at 6:00 pm, event begins at 6:30 pm.)  We're so happy to participate in the Science Fiction in San Francisco reading series!  This month we're joined by fabulous authors Charlie Jane Anders and Annalee Newitz!  The authors will read a selection from their work, followed by Q&A from the audience moderated by Terry Bisson.  Authors will schmooze & sign books after.  Books will be available for sale.  Seating is limited, so first come, first seated.  Bar proceeds benefit the American Bookbinders Museum. Questions? Email sfinsfevents@gmail.com.

An Evening with Seanan McGuire, Saturday, November 16th at 6:00 pm - We're always thrilled to welcome formerly-local author Seanan McGuire to Borderlands! The astonishingly prolific Seanan has FOUR recent books out -- IN THE SHADOW OF SPINDRIFT HOUSE (as Mira Grant); THE UNKINDEST TIDE (the newest October Daye book); the fancy tenth anniversary (!) hardcover edition of ROSEMARY AND RUE; and the incredible new short story collection LAUGHTER AT THE ACADEMY.  Join us to meet Seanan, have books signed, and be regaled with tales funny, strange, and distressing.  Feel free to bring baked goods to share if you like!

Tori Eldridge, NINJA DAUGHTER (Agora Books, Trade Paperback, $16.95) Sunday, November 24th at 3:00  pm - We're happy to welcome author Tori Eldridge to Borderlands for her debut novel!  "THE NINJA DAUGHTER is an action-packed thriller about a Chinese-Norwegian modern-day ninja with Joy Luck Club family issues who fights the Los Angeles Ukrainian mob, sex traffickers, and her own family to save two desperate women and an innocent child."  Tori's own history is fascinating. . . from her bio, she is "a Honolulu-born thriller writer who challenges perspective and empowers the spirit. She holds a fifth-degree black belt in To-Shin Do Ninjutsu and has traveled the USA teaching seminars on the ninja arts, weapons, and women's self-protection."  We hope you'll join us to meet Tori and check out this new thriller!

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

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

Dispatches from the Border
Editor - Jude Feldman
Assistant Editor - Alan Beatts

All contents unless otherwise noted are the property of Borderlands Books, 866 Valencia St.
San Francisco CA 94110
415 824-8203
http://www.borderlands-books.com
Comments and suggestions should be directed to editor@borderlands-books.com

*******

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Dispatches from the Border, September 2019

DISPATCHES FROM THE BORDER
Events and News From Borderlands Books
SEPTEMBER, 2019

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Upcoming Events
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Tyler Hayes, THE IMAGINARY CORPSE (Angry Robot, Trade Paperback, $12.99) Tuesday, September 10th at 6:00 pm

Informal signing with D.J. Butler (WITCHY KINGDOM, Baen, Hardcover, $25.00) Christopher Husberg (FEAR THE STARS, Titan Books, Trade Paperback, $14.95) and Christopher Ruocchio (THE HOWLING DARK, DAW, Hardcover, $27.00) Thursday, September 12th at 6:00 pm

Fonda Lee, JADE WAR (Orbit, Hardcover, $26.00) with Megan E. O'Keefe (VELOCITY WEAPON, Orbit, Trade Paperback, $15.99) Saturday, September 14th at 3:00 pm

Chad Stroup, SEXY LEPER (Bizarro Pulp Press, Trade Paperback, $13.95) Sunday, September 15th at 3:00 pm

SF in SF (at the American Bookbinders Museum, 355 Clementina, San Francisco) with authors Christopher Brown and Hannu Rajaniemi, Sunday, September 15th at 6:30 pm

Dana Fredsti & David Fitzgerald, TIME SHARDS: SHATTER WAR (Titan Books, Trade Paperback, $14.95) Saturday, September 28th at 3:00 pm

Annalee Newitz, THE FUTURE OF ANOTHER TIMELINE (Tor Books, Hardcover, $26.99) Sunday, September 29th at 3:00 pm

SF in SF (at the American Bookbinders Museum, 355 Clementina, San Francisco) with author Garth Nix, Wednesday, October 2nd at 6:30 pm

Marie Brennan, TURNING DARKNESS INTO LIGHT (Tor Books, Hardcover, $27.99) Saturday, October 5th at 3:00 pm

(for more information check the end of this newsletter)

And coming up in the Fall, stay turned for more Writers With Drinks, the fabulous Litquake Lit Crawl, Rudy Rucker, Brent Weeks, and many more excellent authors!

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News
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* Overheard in the Store:

"Don't worry, it only _looks_ haunted."

"It didn't actually end, it just ran out of chapters.”

"Like I'd let some wimpy ghost best me in a fight. I will die by the hands of Al Capone's fat ghost or I will NEVER DIE."

"There are two kinds of people in the world: those who can extrapolate from incomplete data."

"I really wish there was someone smarter than me around to deal with it."
"I understand, but sometimes being a grownup means you're all the smart you’ve got, and you just have to do your best."

* Dell Magazines has elected to change the name of the John W. Campbell Award to The Astounding Award for Best New Writer, following Jeannette Ng's award acceptance speech at the Hugos, and much discussion in the field: https://theastoundinganalogcompanion.com/2019/08/27/a-statement-from-the-editor/ .  (The full text of Ms. Ng's speech is here, if you missed it: https://medium.com/@nettlefish/john-w-campbell-for-whom-this-award-was-named-was-a-fascist-f693323d3293)

* Congratulations to all of the Hugo Award nominees and winners! http://www.thehugoawards.org/

* A crashed Israeli lunar lander accidentally scattered microscopic "water bears" on the moon: https://www.wired.com/story/a-crashed-israeli-lunar-lander-spilled-tardigrades-on-the-moon/

* Thanks to sponsor Gary C. for sending the link to this fascinating article about feminism in the 1905 science fiction short story "Sultana's Dream": https://www.ladyscience.com/features/feminist-visions-science-fiction-utopia-rokeya-hossain

* Last month we asked if you have suggestions for science fiction television shows to watch since "Westworld" is drawing to an end.  Reader AL responds: "I would suggest DARK, having recently finished watching its second season. It pushes all of my Twin Peaks/X-Files/Lost/Fringe/Westworld/The OA buttons, but does a better job than any of those, I feel, at answering the questions it poses. (But it still keeps asking more, which is all to the good.)"

* If you happen to be in Boston and can splurge a bit for a good cause and a fascinating evening, Maggie Schpak -- emeritus Star Trek jeweler and prop-maker -- will be making a rare public appearance discussing her career and telling stories.  Proceeds benefit Artisan's Asylum.  The event will be followed by a reception and raffle for Star Trek collectibles! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/talk-alien-adornment-50-years-of-star-trek-jewelry-tickets-67601284261

* Bookselling This Week reported that N.K. Jemisin will be the spokesperson this year for Indies First, the campaign supporting independent bookstores that takes place on Small Business Saturday (November 30th, 2019): http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/uz3508467Biz41565009

* While we're discussing the fabulous Ms. Jemisin, check out an early peek at her new novel THE CITY WE BECAME: https://www.tor.com/2019/08/29/heres-a-first-look-at-n-k-jemisins-new-novel-the-city-we-became/

* All the states of matter we didn't know existed, according to Popular Mechanics: https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/g28728445/other-states-of-matter/

* The magical phone of the future that never was, or, a cautionary tale about crowdfunding: https://www.theverge.com/2019/8/13/20758599/idealfuture-dragonfly-futurefon-indiegogo-crowdfunding-phone-scam-fraud-case

* Bookstores to visit on your next road trip: https://www.outsideonline.com/2344391/adventure-town-bookstores

* Living longer, and possibly forever: https://www.technologyreview.com/s/614078/transhumanists-live-forever/

* Do your books spark joy? (Gosh, we hope so!) https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/marie-kondo-bibliophiles-books-decluttering-tidying-a8864926.html

* Zeppelins! https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/zeppelins-stopped-flying-after-hindenburg-disaster-now-scientists-want-bring-ncna1043911

* Developing technology for older people that's not "beige and boring": https://www.technologyreview.com/s/614167/why-are-products-for-older-people-so-ugly/

* An interesting article from The Guardian on social media, attention, and addiction: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/aug/23/social-media-addiction-gambling

* The future of AI & the importance of storytelling: http://nautil.us/issue/75/story/the-storytelling-computer

* Perhaps tangentially related; universities are using science fiction to teach ethics to computer scientists and engineers:  https://www.wired.com/story/how-we-learn-computer-science-ethics/

* Another trailer from "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker"! - https://www.wired.com/story/star-wars-rise-of-skywalker-trailer-d23/

* Good news: there's a release date for Black Panther II!  Bad news: it's really, really far away!  https://www.inverse.com/article/54692-black-panther-2-release-date-trailer-cast-plot

* A brief interview with Alan Bradley (author of the beloved Flavia de Luce mysteries): https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/2019/01/25/to-alan-bradley-flavia-is-very-much-real.html

* An article on the comfort of reading the same book (or watching the same media) repeatedly: https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/8/22/20826617/harry-potter-the-office-netflix-rewatching-binge-comfort-show

* NASA is investigating allegations of the first crime in space: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-49457912

* Potential life on Proxima B (and similar planets) -- spoiler: it might glow!: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2019/08/alien-corals-exoplanet-stars/596854/

* Gizmodo asks experts which animal they believe most likely to develop human-level intelligence: https://gizmodo.com/which-animal-will-develop-human-level-intelligence-in-t-1837573694

* The Mandelorian Trailer and details! https://www.cnet.com/news/star-wars-the-mandalorian-release-date-plot-cast-disney-plus-pedro-pascal-jon-favreau/

* Just when we thought it was over, there's more American Horror Story! Check out the trailer and details for American Horror Story: 1984 - https://io9.gizmodo.com/a-maniac-heads-to-summer-camp-in-the-screamingly-great-1837586511

* Astrophysicists are still trying to figure out what's going on with these weird gravitational waves: https://gizmodo.com/mystery-deepens-around-newly-detected-ripples-in-space-1837581646

* Kit Harrington will play Marvel's Black Knight: https://www.denofgeek.com/us/movies/marvel/283025/eternals-who-is-black-knight

--------------------
From The Office
--------------------

Building Update

Big news, in several ways, this month.  First off, not only is the framing for the bathroom completed but, yesterday, I met with our structural engineer and he signed off on his final inspection.  Which means that the whole, big, complicated structural job that we started over a year ago in the basement is completed, from an engineering standpoint.  He said that it was a very nice job and that everything looked great.

This is a big milestone not just for the obvious reasons but also because it marks the end of the section of the job that I had no experience doing.  The blessedly innocent Alan of 2018 knew nothing of I-beams, steel-reinforced foundations, engineered lumber, or how to get a 400 lb. beam 13 feet in the air.  He also never considered that he would not only be intimately familiar with the Simpson Company catalog, but that he would own his own dog-eared copy of it!

So, at least for that job, we're out of my particular patch of woods.  Now it's just coordinating the plumber and electrician (did that and got the T-shirt when we built out the cafe), hanging sheet-rock (which I hate exactly because I've done it so many damn times), finish carpentry (can do it in my sleep and, in fact, I have), and tile (which I don't do but . . . I know people -- Jim, I'm looking at you).  It'll take time but it should be clear, easy, and straightforward work.

The other piece of big news is that the other, how-the-hell-do-I-do-this? job -- putting in the beams and posts to frame the new front of the building -- is done as of Sunday.  That job has a few wrinkles to smooth out still, but it should be pretty simple as well.  That was just in time because, on Friday, I discovered that they are going to be replacing the sidewalk all along Haight Street over the next month.  Since the current temporary wall that closes up the front of the building is built on top of the sidewalk they're going to replace, it's a very good thing that building the new front is moving along.  Thankfully they're not going to get to our building 'til near the end of the process, so we've got about three weeks to have the new front built up enough that we can remove the temporary one.  I'm pretty sure we can make it but it's going to be a long month for me until we're done.

So, that's were we stand.  There are many possible next steps, several of which can happen at the same time; get the rough plumbing done, get the front built, and, as soon as I'm cleared by the city inspector, start closing up the outside walls of the bathroom (inside walls will have to wait 'til the plumber is done with his work).  I think that next month I'll have even more news of work completed.  And, just possibly, an actual, informed guess about when we'll be moving.

And how damn exciting is _that_?

All Best,
Alan

----------------
Best Sellers
----------------
Borderlands Best-Selling Titles for August, 2019

Hardcovers
1. Reticence by Gail Carriger
2. Exhalation by Ted Chiang
3. Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton
4. Fall; or, Dodge in Hell by Neal Stephenson
5. Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey
6. This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone
7. The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang
8. The City in the Middle of the Night by Charlie Jane Anders
9. Dark Age by Pierce Brown
10. Wanderers by Chuck Wendig

Trade Paperbacks
1. The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin, translated by Ken Liu
2. The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
3. All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders
4. Velocity Weapon by Megan E. O'Keefe
5. A People's Future of the United States edited by Victor LaValle and John Joseph Adams
6. The Dark Forest by Liu Cixin, translated by Joel Martinsen
7. The Power by Naomi Alderman
8. How Long 'Til Black Future Month? By N.K. Jemisin
9. Children of Ruin by Adrian Tchaikovsky
10. The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin

 Mass Market Paperbacks
1. Dune by Frank Herbert
2. The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
3. Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
4. Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
5. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
6. Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch
7. Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss
8. Neuromancer by William Gibson
9. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
10. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

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Book Club Information
------------------------------

The QSF&F Book Club will meet on Sunday, September 8th, at 5 pm to discuss VICIOUS by V.E. Schwab.  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, September 15th at 6 pm to discuss THE TRAITOR BARU COMORANT by Seth Dickinson.  The book for October is HOMINIDS by Robert J. Sawyer.  Please contact bookclub@borderlands-books.com for more information.

------------------------------
Upcoming Event Details
------------------------------

Tyler Hayes, THE IMAGINARY CORPSE (Angry Robot, Trade Paperback, $12.99) Tuesday, September 10th at 6:00 pm - We're delighted to host the launch party for local author Tyler Hayes' debut, THE IMAGINARY CORPSE! Just check out the irresistible summary from the book: "A dinosaur detective in the land of unwanted ideas battles trauma, anxiety, and the first serial killer of imaginary friends.  Most ideas fade away when we’re done with them. Some we love enough to become Real. But what about the ones we love, and walk away from?  Tippy the triceratops was once a little girl’s imaginary friend, a dinosaur detective who could help her make sense of the world. But when her father died, Tippy fell into the Stillreal, the underbelly of the Imagination, where discarded ideas go when they’re too Real to disappear. Now, he passes time doing detective work for other unwanted ideas -- until Tippy runs into The Man in the Coat, a nightmare monster who can do the impossible: kill an idea permanently.  Now Tippy must overcome his own trauma and solve the case, before there’s nothing left but imaginary corpses."  Tyler will be in conversation with Leslie Light of Black Nerd Problems, and there will be cake and a raffle for an adorable plush Tippy!  You REALLY don't want to miss this one.

Informal signing with D.J. Butler (WITCHY KINGDOM, Baen, Hardcover, $25.00) Christopher Husberg (FEAR THE STARS, Titan Books, Trade Paperback, $14.95) and Christopher Ruocchio (THE HOWLING DARK, DAW, Hardcover, $27.00) Thursday, September 12th at 6:00 pm - Join us for a meet-and-greet signing with three fantastic up and coming authors!

Fonda Lee, JADE WAR (Orbit, Hardcover, $26.00) with Megan E. O'Keefe (VELOCITY WEAPON, Orbit, Trade Paperback, $15.99) Saturday, September 14th at 3:00 pm - We're happy to welcome World Fantasy Award winner Fonda Lee to Borderlands! Ms. Lee will be presenting JADE WAR, the second novel in the Green Bone Series. (The first book in the series, JADE CITY, won that World Fantasy Award, and "was nominated for the Nebula Award and the Locus Award, and was named a Best Book of 2017 by NPR, Syfy Wire, and others".) Ms. Lee will be in conversation with fabulous local author Megan E. O'Keefe (VELOCITY WEAPON).  We hope you'll join us to meet both authors and explore this epic and magical fantasy series!

Chad Stroup, SEXY LEPER (Bizarro Pulp Press, Trade Paperback, $13.95) Sunday, September 15th at 3:00 pm - Join us for a pre-Halloween bizarro book event with Chad Stroup!  From the book description: "It's Halloween in the Hollywood Hills, and Kat Dyer's going to have the sexiest costume for a night of shameless debauchery.  However, Kat's plan is derailed when the costume shop screws up her order and gives her a costume that is the polar-opposite of sexy.  Deciding it's better to be temporarily ugly and seen than beautiful and quickly forgotten, Kat attends the biggest party of the year, only to awaken with the strangest post-Halloween hangover ever: partygoers are transforming into the likenesses of the costumes they wore the night before.  Meanwhile, a mysterious force begins to stalk and pick them off on by one. Kat and her friends must discover the cause of the horror, and what they find will haunt them forever."

SF in SF (at the American Bookbinders Museum, 355 Clementina, San Francisco) with authors Christopher Brown and Hannu Rajaniemi, Sunday, September 15th at 6:30 pm - (Suggested donation $10.)  Doors and bar at 6:00 pm, event begins at 6:30 pm.  We're so happy to participate in the Science Fiction in San Francisco reading series!  This month we're joined by fabulous authors Christopher Brown and Hannu Rajaniemi.  The authors will read a selection from their work, followed by Q&A from the audience moderated by Terry Bisson.  Authors will schmooze & sign books after.  Books will be available for sale.  Seating is limited, so first come, first seated.  Bar proceeds benefit the American Bookbinders Museum. Questions? Email sfinsfevents@gmail.com.

Dana Fredsti & David Fitzgerald, TIME SHARDS: SHATTER WAR (Titan Books, Trade Paperback, $14.95) Saturday, September 28th at 3:00 pm - Hometown favorites Dana Fredsti & David Fitzgerald present: SHATTER WAR, the thrilling sequel to TIME SHARDS!  Earth's past, present, and future have shattered in "the Event," yielding a terrifying new world of prehistoric monsters, lost cultures, strange technologies, and displaced armies.  Coming from different points throughout history, a desperate band of survivors join "Merlin," a mysterious figure who may be their only hope to save the world -- if he can be trusted.  When their twenty-third-century ship the Vanuatu is sabotaged by an unknown enemy and thrown far off its course, the team must discover who is responsible, even as they are split apart and fight to survive in the war-torn Shard world. . . .

Annalee Newitz, THE FUTURE OF ANOTHER TIMELINE (Tor Books, Hardcover, $26.99) Sunday, September 29th at 3:00 pm - We're always thrilled to welcome local author Annalee Newitz to the store! Here's some info about the new novel from the publisher: "In a modern-day United States just a step away from our own, time travel is possible -- in fact, it has existed for as long as humanity itself. Jumping into the past is simple, and scientists say that altering the timeline is almost impossible. But Tess, an idealistic geology professor, has figured out how to use time travel to try to undo a horrible injustice in the past whose effects are still being felt in her own time. Meanwhile, in 1992, teenage riot grrl Beth's ordinary life is about to become a tangle of toxic friendship and murder. And across the timeline, a secret war is brewing as a group of men attempt to destroy time travel. If they succeed, only a small elite will have the power to shape past, present, and future. Tess and Beth are part of this hidden war that stretches back millions of years. But with the help of unlikely allies from times past and times yet to come, they may be able to save each other -- and build a different future." We do hope you'll join us to meet Annalee and check out this awesome book!

SF in SF (at the American Bookbinders Museum, 355 Clementina, San Francisco) with author Garth Nix, Wednesday, October 2nd at 6:30 pm - (Suggested donation $10.)  Doors and bar at 6:00 pm, event begins at 6:30 pm.  A special mid-week SF in SF!  We're so happy to participate in the Science Fiction in San Francisco reading series!  This time we're thrilled to welcome Garth Nix!  The author will read a selection from his work, followed by Q&A from the audience moderated by Terry Bisson. Author will schmooze & sign books after.  Books will be available for sale.  Seating is limited, so first come, first seated.  Bar proceeds benefit the American Bookbinders Museum. Questions? Email sfinsfevents@gmail.com.

Marie Brennan, TURNING DARKNESS INTO LIGHT (Tor Books, Hardcover, $27.99) Saturday, October 5th at 3:00 pm - We're always happy to welcome local author Marie Brennan to Borderlands!  Here's the cover copy from her new  novel (featuring Lady Trent's granddaughter!), which she'll be showing off October 5th: "As the renowned granddaughter of Isabella Camherst (Lady Trent, of the riveting and daring Draconic adventure memoirs) Audrey Camherst has always known she, too, would want to make her scholarly mark upon a chosen field of study.  When Lord Gleinleigh recruits Audrey to decipher a series of ancient tablets holding the secrets of the ancient Draconean civilization, she has no idea that her research will plunge her into an intricate conspiracy, one meant to incite rebellion and invoke war. Alongside dearest childhood friend and fellow archeologist Kudshayn, she must find proof of the conspiracy before it's too late.  TURNING DARKNESS INTO LIGHT is a delightful fantasy of manners, the heir to the award-winning Natural History of Dragons series, a perfect stepping stone into an alternate Victorian-esque fantasy landscape."


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

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Featured Upcoming Titles
-----------------------------

(These titles have not arrived yet.  You may pre-order most of these books by calling or emailing us.  Prices may be subject to change.  Of course, we have many more titles arriving each week . . . call or email us if you're curious about a particular upcoming title not listed here. This list is tentative and subject to change by publishers. Unless otherwise noted, books are originals.)

NINA ALLAN *  The Dollmaker *  Penguin Random House/Other Press, Oct 2019 (1st US, tp, eb)
MIKE ASHLEY, ed. *  Beyond Time: Classic Tales of Time Unwound *  The British Library, Oct 2019 (tp)
LEIGH BARDUGO *  Ninth House *  Macmillan/Flatiron, Oct 2019 (hc, eb)
HAROLD BLOOM *  The American Canon: Literary Genius from Ralph Waldo Emerson to Ursula K. Le Guin *  Library of America, Oct 2019 (nf, hc)
RAMSEY CAMPBELL *  Phantasmagorical Stories, Book One *  PS Publishing, Oct 2019 (c, tp)
GAIL CARRIGER *  Fan Service *  Subterranean Press, Oct 2019 (c, hc)
DELILAH S. DAWSON & KEVIN HEARNE *  The Princess Beard *  Penguin Random House/Del Rey, Oct 2019 (hc, eb)
SEBASTIEN DE CASTELL *  Crownbreaker *  Hot Key Books, Oct 2019 (ya, hc)
PAUL DI FILIPPO *  Plumes of Pegasus *  WordFire Press, Oct 2019 (c, tp, eb)
NICKY DRAYDEN *  Escaping Exodus *  Harper Voyager US, Oct 2019 (tp, eb)
DAVE DUNCAN *  Merlin Redux *  Skyhorse/Night Shade Books, Oct 2019 (tp, hc, eb)
GREG EGAN *  The Best of Greg Egan *  Subterranean Press, Oct 2019 (c, hc, eb)
CHRISTOPHER FOWLER *  Bryant & May: England’s Finest *  Transworld/Doubleday UK, Oct 2019 (c, eb, tp)
LISA GOLDSTEIN *  Ivory Apples *  Tachyon Publications, Oct 2019 (tp, eb)
THEODORA GOSS *  The Sinister Mystery of the Mesmerizing Girl *  Simon & Schuster/Saga Press, Oct 2019 (hc, eb)
PETER F. HAMILTON *  Salvation Lost *  Penguin Random House/Del Rey, Oct 2019 (hc, eb)
FRANCES HARDINGE *  Deeplight *  Macmillan Children’s Books, Oct 2019 (ya, hc)
HEIDI HEILIG *  A Kingdom for a Stage *  HarperCollins/Greenwillow, Oct 2019 (ya, hc, eb)
JOE HILL *  Full Throttle *  HarperCollins/Morrow, Oct 2019 (c, h, hc, eb)
 JOHN HORNOR JACOBS *  A Lush and Seething Hell *  Harper Voyager US, Oct 2019 (c, hc, eb)
ROBERT JORDAN *  Warrior of the Altaii *  Tor, Oct 2019 (hc, eb)
S.T. JOSHI, ed. *  Apostles of the Weird *  PS Publishing, Oct 2019 (hc)
S.T. JOSHI, ed. *  The Best of Black Wings *  PS Publishing, Oct 2019 (hc)
T. KINGFISHER *  The Twisted Ones *  Simon & Schuster/Saga Press, Oct 2019 (h, tp, hc, eb)
DEREK KÜNSKEN *  The Quantum Garden *  Rebellion/Solaris US, Oct 2019 (tp, eb)
MERCEDES LACKEY & ROSEMARY EDGHILL *  The Waters and the Wild *  Baen, Oct 2019 (hc, eb)
STEPHANIE PUI-MUN LAW *  Dreamscapes: Magical Fantasy Art *  F+W Media/Impact, Oct 2019 (art, tp)
CIXIN LIU *  Supernova Era *  Tor, Oct 2019 (hc, eb)
JENN LYONS *  The Name of All Things *  Macmillan/Tor UK, Oct 2019 (eb, hc)
CARMEN MARÍA MACHADO *  In the Dream House *  Graywolf Press, Oct 2019 (nf, b, tp, eb)
CARMEN MARÍA MACHADO & JOHN JOSEPH ADAMS, EDS. *  The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2019 *  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Mariner, Oct 2019 (an, tp, eb)
JOHNNY MAINS, ed. *  Best British Horror 2018 *  NewCon Press, Oct 2019 (hc, eb, tp)
MARSHALL RYAN MARESCA *  Shield of the People *  DAW, Oct 2019 (pb, eb)
WIL MCCARTHY *  Antediluvian *  Baen, Oct 2019 (hc, eb)
SEANAN MCGUIRE *  Laughter at the Academy *  Subterranean Press, Oct 2019 (c, hc, eb)
JAMES A. MOORE *  Bloodlines *  Earthling Publications, Oct 2019 (h, hc)
KIM NEWMAN *  Anno Dracula 1999: Daikaiju *  Titan US, Oct 2019 (tp, eb)
GARTH NIX *  Angel Mage *  HarperCollins/Tegen Books, Oct 2019 (ya, hc, eb)
TIM PRATT *  The Forbidden Stars *  Angry Robot US, Oct 2019 (pb, eb)
PHILIP PULLMAN *  The Book of Dust, Volume Two: The Secret Commonwealth *  Penguin Random House/Knopf, Oct 2019 (ya, hc, eb)
VERONICA ROTH *  The End and Other Beginnings: Stories from the Future *  HarperCollins/Tegen Books, Oct 2019 (c, ya, hc, tp, eb)
BOGI TAKÁCS *  The Trans Space Octopus Congregation *  Lethe Press, Oct 2019 (c, tp, eb)
BOGI TAKÁCS, ED. *  Transcendent 4: The Year’s Best Transgender Speculative Fiction *  Lethe Press, Oct 2019 (an, tp, eb)
JODI TAYLOR *  Doing Time *  Headline, Oct 2019 (hc)
TADE THOMPSON *  The Rosewater Redemption *  Orbit US, Oct 2019 (tp, eb)
GREG VAN EEKHOUT *  Cog *  HarperCollins, Oct 2019 (ya, hc, eb)
BRENT WEEKS *  The Burning White *  Orbit US, Oct 2019 (hc, eb)
GARY WESTFAHL *  The Rise and Fall of American Science Fiction, from the 1920 to the 1960s *  McFarland, Oct 2019 (nf, tp, eb)
JEANETTE WINTERSON *  Frankissstein *  Grove Atlantic/Atlantic, Oct 2019 (1st US, hc, eb)

Abbreviations indicate: (r) reprint, (h) horror, (ya) young adult, (nf) non-fiction, (c) collection, (oc) original collection, (na) novella, (a) associational, (om) omnibus, (eb) e-book, (an) anthology, (pi) pictoral and other, (art) art and others, (gn) graphic novel, (x) media tie-in, (nv) novelette, (ss) short story, (hc) hardcover, (tp) trade paperback, (ph) pamphlet, (pb) paperback, (oa) original anthology, (b) biography, (v) paranormal romance, (pm) poetry.

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

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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