Thursday, July 18, 2019

Dispatches from the Border, July 2019

Welcome David Fitzgerald!

Hiring staff for Borderlands Books is something we do far less often then once in a blue moon!  So we’re happy to mark this rare occurrence and welcome our newest employee, David Fitzgerald, to the party.  David is an author, editor, animal lover and sword fighter, among other esoteric talents, and so he’s a great fit for Borderlands.  He’s written everything from nonfiction to science fiction to erotica & more under a few different pen names, so in addition to his solid “book knowledge”, is a great resource for aspiring writers.  David was a Borderlands sponsor for years, and also volunteered doing construction work at the Haight Street building (before he started working Sundays on Valencia!)  Please give him a warm hello when you’re next in the store (and ask him for a book recommendation).

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Upcoming Events
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Writers With Drinks (The Make Out Room, 3225 22nd St, San Francisco) with authors Natasha Dennerstein, Sarah Gailey, Helen Phillips, Troy Jollimore, Grace Lavery, and Gabby Rivera, hosted by Charlie Jane Anders, Saturday, July 13th at 7:30 pm

LitCrawl Junior with authors Kalyn Josephson, Katy Rose Pool, and Shannon Price, Sunday, July 14th at 3:30 pm

SF in SF (at the American Bookbinders Museum, 355 Clementina St. San Francisco) with authors Vy Kaftan and Megan E. O'Keefe, moderated by Terry Bisson, Sunday, July 21st at 6:30 pm

Charlie Jane Anders, Meg Elison, Shaenon K. Garrity, and Richard Kadrey, WASTELANDS: THE NEW APOCALYPSE (Titan Books, Trade Paperback, $14.95) Saturday, August 3rd at 3:00 pm

Gail Carriger, RETICENCE (Orbit, Hardcover, $26.00) Tuesday, August 6th at 6:00 pm

Michael Blumlein, LONGER (Tor.com, Trade Paperback, $15.99) and Paul Park, A CITY MADE OF WORDS, (PM Press, Trade Paperback, $14.00) Saturday, August 10th at 3:00 pm

Seanan McGuire, THE UNKINDEST TIDE (DAW, Hardcover, $26.00) Saturday, September 7th at 5:00 pm

(for more information check the end of this newsletter)

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News
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* Overheard in the store:

"I love the smell of books. It smells so good in here! I want to bottle it and wear it as a perfume."

"I've only met one person ever who didn't like GOOD OMENS, and I didn't trust them."
"It's like people who never say the f-word, or who dislike dogs!"

"She said that worrying was like praying for something you don't want."

"She sold her soul for a toaster oven."
"So... what I'm hearing is that Wiccans shouldn't drink."

"Repeatedly forgetting your PIN is an excellent way to save money."

"I'm turning my life in a new direction: Horizontal."

"You can't discriminate against someone based on their Hogwarts' House!"

* Locus Magazine is hosting a Writing Master Class with author Andy Duncan!  July 21, 2019, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Locus Magazine HQ in downtown Oakland.  The cost is $150.00.  Details and sign up here: https://locusmag.com/locus-bay-area-writers-workshop-writing-master-class-with-andy-duncan-july-2019/

* Local author (and Borderlands sponsor) Charlie Jane Anders did a marvelous interview with the Huffington Post: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/charlie-jane-anders-crosses-the-divide_n_5cdc281ae4b0437438c5290e

* Congratulations to Irene Gallo, who has been promoted to Vice President, Publisher of Tor.com! https://www.tor.com/2019/06/20/irene-gallo-promoted-to-vice-president-publisher-of-tor-com/

* Author Richard Kadrey on the Cool Tools Podcast: https://kk.org/cooltools/richard-kadrey-nyt-bestselling-author-of-the-sandman-slim-series/

* HBO is turning Philip Pullman's HIS DARK MATERIALS into a series, and the trailer looks awesome: https://youtu.be/0Qz8L4KaTss

* This annotated list of the books that author & scholar Jo Walton read in June is really fascinating. https://www.tor.com/2019/07/05/jo-waltons-reading-list-june-2019/

* Daniel O'Malley's supernatural spy novel THE ROOK has been made into a series on Starz.  Check out the trailer here! https://www.tvguide.com/news/starz-the-rook-trailer/

* A list of the 100 most commonly mentioned fantasy books on Reddit, 2018 - 2019: https://topredditbooks.com/c/genre/fantasy .  No real surprises but it interesting to skim.

* Nanoprobes are in the works: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/07/190703121358.htm

* Quantum leaps are real?  https://www.newscientist.com/article/2205089-quantum-leaps-are-real-and-now-we-can-control-them/

* An interesting podcast on converting carbon dioxide to fuel, and autofocal glasses: https://www.sciencemag.org/podcast/converting-carbon-dioxide-gasoline-and-autofocal-glasses-lenses-change-shape-fly

* Telepathic Tetris, anyone?: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/07/190701163827.htm

* The first trailer for Disney's live-action "Mulan" is here, and it's beautiful: https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-first-mulan-trailer-teases-a-sweeping-warriors-adve-1836166020

* Author Gillian Flynn is "sickened" by a defense attorney's suggestion that a missing woman (whose husband, along with his girlfriend, have been charged with evidence tampering and hindering prosecution) has staged her own disappearance a la GONE GIRL: https://www.wtnh.com/news/connecticut/author-of-gone-girl-issues-statement-regarding-jennifer-dulos-disappearance/

* Did you know there was a celebrity cruise that included authors Ben Bova and Issac Asimov to commemorate the launch of Apollo 17 in December 1972?  Neither did we.  https://www.fastcompany.com/90372061/the-weird-space-themed-caribbean-cruise-that-celebrated-the-last-trip-to-the-moon

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From The Office
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Haight Street Update

Things are going well with the construction at the new building.  At the beginning of the month, PG&E hooked up the new electrical service.  Despite all the delays and torturous steps to get there, the actual hook-up went very smoothly.  We started at nine and were done by noon.  The PG&E crew were very pleasant and professional.  We shared a couple of jokes at the expense of office and engineering staff, mostly along the lines of, "They don't get it, don't get it right, and waste time.  Thank goodness there are people like us doing the actual work who have a clue."

We've still got two long days ahead switching out the panels for each of the apartments upstairs but, once that's done, the big electrical work is finished. We'll still need to do the wiring for the bookstore but that's a quite simple job.  This week I put in four extra temporary circuits (so we can run a saw and the compressor at the same time without tripping a breaker) and it took me all of about two hours to do.  The final wiring will be a bit more time-consuming but not by much.

Since that work was done, last Sunday we were able to finally tear out the big post in the middle of the store that used to hold the old service.  Having that gone really opened up the space a lot and now I can actually see what it's going to look like.  It's going to be awfully good.  Despite being a tiny bit smaller than our current space, I think it's going to _look_ bigger.

I've got several meetings next week that will move us even further forward.  First I'm meeting on Monday with an asbestos abatement specialist.  I'll get a quote from him to pull all the old floor and tiles that are a problem.  I'm hopeful that the price will be within reach because, after looking over the place, really the best solution is to remove the entire floor and replace it.  With the asbestos out of the way, that's not actually a very hard job and it'll give us a beautiful, strong floor that will last for decades to come.

I'm also meeting with our plumber, Brian Fusco, to get the bathroom work scheduled.  He's a referral from my buddy Bruno, a general contractor here in town who has never steered me wrong.  I'm looking forward to meeting Brian.  Based on our email conversations, he's definitely our sort of people.

The rest of this month will be mostly filled up with completing the framing for the bathroom and, if all goes well, getting a start on framing the new front of the building.

All Best,
Alan

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Best Sellers
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Borderlands Best-Selling Titles for June, 2019

Hardcovers
1. Fall; or, Dodge in Hell by Neal Stephenson
2. Exhalation by Ted Chiang
3. Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey
4. The Grand Dark by Richard Kadrey
5. The City in the Middle of the Night by Charlie Jane Anders
6. Tiamat's Wrath by James S.A. Corey
7. Lent by Jo Walton
8. A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine
9. Stealing Worlds by Karl Schroeder
10. A Brightness Long Ago by Guy Gavriel Kay

Trade Paperbacks
1. The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
2. The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin, translated by Ken Liu
3. The Sol Majestic by Ferrett Steinmetz
4. A People's Future of the United States edited by Victor LaValle and John Joseph Adams
5. All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders
6. The Power by Naomi Alderman
7. Empress of Forever by Max Gladstone
8. Children of Ruin by Adrian Tchaikovsky
9. All Systems Red by Martha Wells
10. The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin

Mass Market Paperbacks
1. Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson
2. Dune by Frank Herbert
3. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
4. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
5. The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
6. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
7. Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch
8. Salvation by Peter F. Hamilton
9. Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
10. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

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Book Club Information
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The QSF&F Book Club will meet on Sunday, July 14th, at 5 pm to discuss AUTONOMOUS by Annalee Newitz.  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, July 21st, at 6 pm to discuss KINGS OF THE WYLD by Nicholas Eames.  The book for August is SHARDS OF HONOR by Lois McMaster Bujold.  Please contact bookclub@borderlands-books.com for more information.

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Upcoming Event Details
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Writers With Drinks (at The Make Out Room, 3225 22nd St, San Francisco) with authors Natasha Dennerstein, Sarah Gailey, Helen Phillips, Troy Jollimore, Grace Lavery, and Gabby Rivera, hosted by Charlie Jane Anders, Saturday, July 13th 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 for July includes authors Natasha Dennerstein, Sarah Gailey, Helen Phillips, Troy Jollimore, Grace Lavery, and Gabby Rivera. 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.

LitCrawl Junior with authors Kalyn Josephson, Katy Rose Pool, and Shannon Price, Sunday, July 14th at 3:30 pm - Thanks to Litquake for the following write-up!: "Litquake's Lit Crawl Junior is excited to welcome THREE debut YA authors to Borderlands, each with a brand-new or upcoming novel: Kalyn Josephson (THE STORM CROW), Katy Rose Pool (THERE WILL COME A DARKNESS) and Shannon Price (A THOUSAND FIRES). There will be readings and a panel about publishing.

Kalyn Josephson's brand-new fantasy novel, THE STORM CROWN (July 9, Sourcebooks) has been called ERAGON meets AND I DARKEN, and takes place in the tropical kingdom of Rhodaire, where magical crows are part of every aspect of life until they are invaded and the crows are destroyed. That terrible night throws Princess Anthia into a deep depression. Her sister Caliza is busy running the kingdom after their mother's death, but all Thia can do is think of all she has lost. But when Caliza is forced to agree to a marriage between Thia and the crown prince of Illucia, Thia is finally spurred into action. Kalyn lives in the Bay Area and loves books, cats, books with cats, and making up other worlds to live in for a while.

Katy Rose Pool's debut fantasy novel, THERE WILL COME A DARKNESS (Sept. 3, Henry Holt) has been described as SIX OF CROWS meets GRACELING. For generations, the Seven Prophets guided humanity. Using their visions of the future, they ended wars and united nations -- until the day, one hundred years ago, when the Prophets disappeared. All they left behind was one final, secret prophecy, foretelling an Age of Darkness and the birth of a new Prophet who could be the world's salvation . . . or the cause of its destruction. With chaos on the horizon, five souls are set on a collision course. Katy graduated from UC Berkeley and resides in the Bay Area, where she can be found eating breakfast sandwiches, rooting for the Golden State Warriors, and reading books that set her on fire.

Shannon Price's A THOUSAND FIRES (Nov. 5, Tor Teen) is a dystopian novel where gangs rule, and has been described as THE OUTSIDERS meets THE ILLIAD, perfect for fans of Courtney Summers and Veronica Roth. Valerie Simons knows the Wars are dangerous -- her little brother was killed by the Boars two years ago. But nothing will sway Valerie from joining the elite Herons with her boyfriend Matthew to avenge her brother. But when Jax, the volatile and charismatic leader of the Stags, promises her revenge, Valerie is torn between old love and new loyalty. Shannon is a self-described proud Filipina-American. When not writing, she can be found watching baking shows, exploring old bookstores, going to the beach as often as she can, and working when she must in Silicon Valley."

SF in SF (at the American Bookbinders Museum, 355 Clementina St. San Francisco) with authors Vy Kaftan and Megan E. O'Keefe, moderated by Terry Bisson, Sunday, July 21st 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 local authors Vy Kaftan and Megan E. O'Keefe.  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. www.sfinsf.org

Charlie Jane Anders, Meg Elison, Shaenon K. Garrity, and Richard Kadrey, WASTELANDS: THE NEW APOCALYPSE (Titan Books, Trade Paperback, $14.95) Saturday, August 3rd at 3:00 pm - From editor John Joseph Adam's site: "In WASTELANDS: THE NEW APOCALYPSE, veteran anthology editor John Joseph Adams is once again our guide through the wastelands using his genre and editorial expertise to curate his finest collection of post-apocalyptic short fiction yet.  Whether the end comes via nuclear war, pandemic, climate change, or cosmological disaster, these stories explore the extraordinary trials and tribulations of those who survive." We're delighted to welcome four fabulous local authors who contributed to the anthology!  Charlie Jane and Shaenon have amazing reprints, and Richard and Meg's stories are original to this collection.  Don't miss this event; we know it's going to be magnificently apocalyptic!

Gail Carriger, RETICENCE (Orbit, Hardcover, $26.00) Tuesday, August 6th at 6:00 pm - Join us in welcoming author Gail Carriger back to Borderlands! This event, which celebrates the final book in the Custard Protocol series, is a touch bittersweet and also a bit mind-boggling, because TEN YEARS ago Gail did her first signing for SOULLESS here. Where does the time go? What is the meaning of it all? Is Percy really, finally done with hats? The answers to these and so many other questions can be found at the store on August 6th. We hope to see you here! https://gailcarriger.com/books/reticence/

Michael Blumlein, LONGER (Tor.com, Trade Paperback, $15.99) and Paul Park, A CITY MADE OF WORDS, (PM Press, Trade Paperback, $14.00) Saturday, August 10th at 3:00 pm - We're very happy to host authors Michael Blumlein and Paul Park! Michael's gorgeous new novel LONGER is a science fiction study on mortality, consciousness and intimacy, and Paul's work is described by the publisher thus: "[w]ith exotic settings and characters truly alien and disturbingly normal, his novels and stories explore the shifting interface between traditional narrative and luminous dream, all in the service of a deeper humanism." Join us to meet these two fascinating authors and have the best time you've ever had gaining a deeper understanding of humanity!

Seanan McGuire, THE UNKINDEST TIDE (DAW, Hardcover, $26.00) Saturday, September 7th at 5:00 pm - Details TK!

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