Events and News From Borderlands Books
----------------------
Upcoming Events
----------------------
SF in SF with authors Rudy Rucker and Michael Blumlein (at the American Bookbinders Museum, 355 Clementina, San Francisco) on Sunday, June 12th at 6:30 pm
Brian Keene, PRESSURE (Thomas Dunne Books, Hardcover, $25.99) on Friday, July 1st at 6:00 pm
Sarah Kuhn, HEROINE COMPLEX (DAW, Trade Paperback, $15.00); Mira Grant, RISE (ORBIT, Hardcover, $25.00); and Amber Benson, THE LAST DREAM KEEPER (ACE, Trade Paperback, $15.00) on Saturday, July 9th at 6:00 pm
Charles Stross, THE NIGHTMARE STACKS (Ace, Hardcover, $27.00) on Sunday, July 10th at 3:00 pm
SF in SF with authors Richard Kadrey and Thomas Olde Heuvelt (at the American Bookbinders Museum, 355 Clementina, San Francisco) on Sunday, July 17th at 6:30 pm
Daniel O'Malley, STILETTO (Little, Brown and Company, Hardcover, $26.00) on Saturday, July 23rd at 3:00 pm
(for more information check the end of this newsletter)
And, coming up later this year, we're delighted to host Todd Lockwood, Eliot Fintushel, Seth Harwood, Grania Davis, Donald Sidney-Fryer, Curtis Chen and Patrick Swenson, and many, many, more!
-------
News
-------
* Overheard in the store:
"They're publishing a 'Classroom Edition' of THE MARTIAN in the fall."
"Of course they are; it's made of Science!"
"Coffee -- because adulting is hard."
* One year ago Ursula K. LeGuin urged people to stop using Amazon. Her reasoning is still sound. http://electricliterature.com/ursula-k-le-guin-i-keep-asking-you-not-to-buy-books-from-amazon/
* Speaking of alternatives to Amazon, we're happy to announce that our neighbor Dog Eared Books has opened up another store on Castro Street! They're having a gala opening party on June 20th from 6 pm - 10 pm with so many wonderful local authors: Armistead Maupin, Rebecca Solnit, Peter Orner, Brontez Purnell, Alejandro Murguía, Katrina Dodson, and Amy Berkowitz, along with their MC, Baruch Porras-Hernandez! Come down to mix 'n' mingle with their staff, drink swanky cocktails, eat fancy hors d'oeuvres, and listen to brief readings! http://www.dogearedbooks.com/castro.html
* Bookriot suggests 100 science fiction and fantasy novels by women that you should read. There are a few surprises on the list, but overall it’s a great selection. Organized, somewhat oddly, (mostly) alphabetical by title. http://bookriot.com/2016/05/02/100-must-read-sci-fi-fantasy-novels-by-female-authors/
* Bids for NASFiC 2017 and bids for WorldCon 2018: since WorldCon 2017 will be held outside the U.S. (in Helsinki), NASFiC will be running in North America. There are currently two bids for it: San Juan, PR (http://www.sanjuan2017.org/) and Valley Forge, PA (http://www.valleyforge2017.org/). (We know which place we'd rather vacation.)
* As for WorldCon 2018, the bids are coming in from New Orleans, LA (http://neworleansin2018.org/wp2018/) and San Jose, CA (http://www.sjin2018.org/). We'd love for it to be local to the Bay Area again, but. . . we also know where we'd rather go for a weekend. Head over to the websites to check out the bids.
* SFWA elections have been finished and winners have been announced. http://www.locusmag.com/News/2016/05/2016-sfwa-election-results/
* Katherine Dunn, the author most well-known for her novel GEEK LOVE, has passed away from complications related to lung cancer. An innovative writer, her voice will be missed. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/15/books/katherine-dunn-author-of-geek-love-dies-at-70.html
* Rolling Stone has come up with their list of the 40 Best Science Fiction Shows of all time. It’s a pretty thorough list with some cult classics that usually get ignored making the cut -- like Aeon Flux (the cartoon series, not the horrible movie). http://www.rollingstone.com/tv/lists/40-best-science-fiction-tv-shows-20160526/aeon-flux-1991-20160524
* An interesting article by IGN, on the seven science-fiction technologies that are poised to become science-fact. The tech is pretty "Star Trek" heavy, but when you think of time-frame and the number of years since the first series premiered, it makes sense. http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/05/31/7-ways-science-fiction-is-becoming-science-fact
* For a biological take on technology gone amok, take a look at these six current genetic manipulations that sound like science-fiction but have already happened, or are in process. Making micro-pigs, beagles with twice their normal strength, and cross-species transplants are just the beginning. http://fusion.net/story/305317/genetic-experiments-that-sound-like-science-fiction/
* Fandom darling, and all around amazing guy John Boyega has just made a deal to star in "Pacific Rim 2", which should stir interesting reactions in both fans of the first film and its ardent critics. http://deadline.com/2016/06/john-boyega-pacific-rim-sequel-star-wars-the-force-awakens-1201767756/
* Speaking of the "Star Wars" franchise, at least tangentially, here are some facts to calm down the massive fan panic that erupted when re-shoots were announced for Rogue One. http://sciencefiction.com/2016/06/06/setting-record-straight-rogue-one-reshoots/
* Looking for a vacation idea this summer that tie into your geeky nature? Here are seven suggestions from conventions to museums to theme parks to nature to start you off. http://www.space.com/32883-best-summer-vacations-for-science-fiction-lovers.html
* An inside look at novels and crowdsourcing: "4 Lessons I Learned Crowdsourcing a Science-Fiction Novel" is a surprisingly insightful look into work-sharing and the potential for the internet: http://www.cnet.com/news/4-lessons-i-learned-crowdsourcing-a-science-fiction-novel/
* An interesting take from Robert Kirkman, (creator of "The Walking Dead") on George R.R. Martin revealing his novel storyline to the producers of the television show. http://sciencefiction.com/2016/06/05/robert-kirkman-disappointed-george-r-r-martin/
* Annalee Newitz gives us a list of the 100 best stories from the early 20th century Radium Age of Sci-Fi over at Ars Technica. http://arstechnica.com/the-multiverse/2016/05/recapture-the-glory-of-radium-age-sci-fi-from-a-century-ago-with-these-books/
* A list of a few horror and science fiction film festivals happening around the US; submit a film or just kick back and and enjoy a massive media binge. http://metro.co.uk/2016/05/28/these-horror-and-science-fiction-film-festivals-will-give-you-the-chills-5908512/
* Over at io9, props are given to the thirty-year old film "Space Camp," which we'd barely heard of but seems like it should have some sort of cult status alongside other children/tech films like "The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes" or "Flight of the Navigator". . . we hope it's available at Lost Weekend Video < http://www.lostweekendvideo.com/#/new-page/ >! http://io9.gizmodo.com/30-years-later-the-space-camp-movie-is-still-fantastic-1780460215
* Geek Dad gives us a list of the top 10 mothers in science-fiction & fantasy, covering well-known territory like Martha Kent to more interesting choices like Lady Jessica from Dune: https://geekdad.com/2016/05/10-mothers-science-fiction-fantasy/
* Kotaku Australia has given us a list of awesome new science-fiction comics to check out. Na'amen can personally vouch for "ODY-C" & "Kaptara", both of which are interesting blends of science fiction with fantasy elements. The rest are going on the to-read list immediately. http://www.kotaku.com.au/2016/05/12-new-science-fiction-comics-you-absolutely-need-to-be-reading/
* Rumors about the third "Thor" film, "Thor: Ragnarok", hint at the possibility of Planet Hulk elements. If this is so? We're really excited and a canon Marvel Universe "Hulk" film with Mark Ruffalo can’t be that far behind. http://sciencefiction.com/2016/06/02/thor-ragnarok-rumored-include-planet-hulk-elements/
------------------
Award News
------------------
* The finalists for the 2016 Mythopoeic Awards have been announced! Winners will be announced at MythCon 47 in August. http://www.mythsoc.org/news/2016-mythopoeic-awards-finalists-announced/
* The winner of the 2016 Compton Crook award has been announced as Fran Wilde’s UDRAFT. http://file770.com/?p=29023
* The winners of the 2015 Nebula Awards were just announced in Chicago. http://www.sfwa.org/nebula-awards/
* The winners of the 2015 Bram Stoker Awards were announced by the Horror Writers Association. http://horror.org/2015-bram-stoker-award-winners/
* New Awards Alert:
(1) Eugie Foster, a hugely talented short fiction author, was taken from us too soon and so an award has been set up in her memory. For eligibility requirements and other information head to this website: http://www.eugiefoster.com/eugieaward
(2) It looks like the Chinese government will be setting up their own major science fiction award. http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2016/06/the-chinese-government-is-setting-up-its-own-major-science-fiction-award/
----------------
Best Sellers
----------------
Borderlands Best-Selling Titles for May, 2016
Hardcovers
1. VELVETEEN VS. THE SEASONS by Seanan McGuire
2. THE CHILDREN OF EARTH AND SKY by Guy Gavriel Kay
3. ALL THE BIRDS IN THE SKY by Charlie Jane Anders
4. EVERY HEART A DOORWAY by Seanan McGuire
5. SHARP ENDS by Joe Abercrombie
6. WAR FACTORY by Neal Asher
7. THE FIREMAN by Joe Hill
8. A BLADE OF BLACK STEEL by Alex Marshall
9. SLEEPING GIANTS by Sylvain Neuvel
10. KING OF THE WORLDS by M. Thomas Gammarino
Mass Market Paperbacks
1. AURORA by Kim Stanley Robinson
2. AMERICAN GODS by Neil Gaiman
3. CHAOS CHOREOGRAPHY by Seanan McGuire
4. THE ETERNA FILES by Leanna Renee Hieber
5. THE SILKWORM by Robert Galbraith
6. DEAD ICE by Laurell K. Hamilton
7. STRAITS OF HELL by Taylor Anderson
8. ULTIMA by Stephen Baxter
9. ZERO WORLD by Jason Hough
10. ALPHA by Greg Rucka
Trade Paperbacks
1. SEVENEVES by Neal Stephenson
2. THE ROOT by Na’amen Gobert Tilahun
3. NEMESIS GAMES by James S.A. Corey
4. CENTRAL STATION by Lavie Tidhar
5. THE FOREST OF MEMORY by Mary Robinette Kowal
6. THE BALLAD OF BLACK TOM by Victor LaVelle
7. THE GHOST BRIDE by Yangsze Choo
8. SECONDHAND SOULS by Christopher Moore
9. THE GUNSLINGER by Stephen King
10. ARMADA by Ernest Cline
------------------------------
Book Club Information
------------------------------
The QSF&F Book Club will meet on Sunday, June 12th, at 5 pm to discuss THE GREAT ZOO OF CHINA by Matthew Reilly. 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 17th, at 6 pm to discuss SINGULARITY SKY by Charles Stross. The book for the following month will be ALTERED CARBON by Richard K. Morgan. Please contact bookclub@borderlands-books.com for more information.
------------------------------
Upcoming Event Details
------------------------------
SF in SF with authors Rudy Rucker and Michael Blumlein (at the American Bookbinders Museum, 355 Clementina, San Francisco) on Sunday, June 12th at 6:30 pm - (Suggested donation $10, no one turned away for lack of funds.) Doors and bar at 5:30 pm, event begins at 6:30 pm. We're so happy to celebrate the return of SF in SF, at a lovely new venue! Each author will read a selection from their work, followed by Q&A from the audience moderated by author Terry Bisson. Authors will schmooze & sign books after. Books available for sale courtesy of Borderlands Books. Seating is limited, so first come, first seated. Bar proceeds benefit the American Bookbinders Museum. Phone (night of event) 415-572-1015. Questions? Email sfinsfevents@gmail.com.
Brian Keene, PRESSURE (Thomas Dunne Books, Hardcover, $25.99) on Friday July 1st at 6:00 pm - It's been years since we've seen Brian Keene at Borderlands, and now he's back with a high-profile ecological thriller, PRESSURE! From Macmillan's website: "Off the coast of tropical Mauritius, an ecological catastrophe with global implications is occurring. The ocean's floor is collapsing at a rapid rate. World-champion free diver and marine biologist Carrie Anderson joins a scientific expedition determined to discover the cause - and how to stop it. But what they uncover is even more horrific. Deep beneath the surface, something is awake. Something hungry. Something. . . . cold. Now, the pressure builds as Carrie and her colleagues must contend with the murderous operatives of a corrupt corporation, an unnatural disaster that grows bigger by the day, and a monstrous predator that may spell the extinction of all mankind. PRESSURE is this summer's hot new thriller from bestselling author and World Horror Grandmaster Award winner Brian Keene."
Sarah Kuhn, HEROINE COMPLEX (DAW, Trade Paperback, $15.00); Mira Grant, RISE (Orbit, Hardcover, $25.00); and Amber Benson, THE LAST DREAM KEEPER (Ace, Trade Paperback, $15.00) on Saturday, July 9th at 6:00 pm - We couldn't be happier to welcome this trio of fabulous authors to Borderlands!
Sarah Kuhn's new novel is a sensational, fast-moving, super-fun super heroine story set in San Francisco! The book introduces Evie Tanaka, the tremendously put-upon personal assistant to Aveda Jupiter, Evie's childhood best friend and San Francisco's most beloved super heroine. But everything changes when Evie's forced to impersonate Aveda for an evening and Evie's own powers make their very dramatic appearance.
Mira Grant really needs no introduction, but we do love this line from her website: "Mira Grant was born and raised in Northern California, where she has made a lifelong study of horror movies, horrible viruses, and the inevitable threat of the living dead." She's also the author of The Newsflesh and Parasitology Trilogies; RISE is a collection of short stories in the Newsflesh universe, including the ever-popular "San Diego 2014: The Last Stand of the California Browncoats".
Amber Benson is the talented and versatile author of more than a dozen novels, including the Calliope Reaper-Jones series, the Ghosts of Albion books with Christopher Golden, and now a new urban fantasy series that began with THE WITCHES OF ECHO PARK. THE LAST DREAM KEEPER continues the adventures of Lyse MacAllister, who has stepped into a very difficult role as master of the Echo Park coven of witches following her great-aunt's death -- and now there's a new threat, a group of fanatics intent on bringing about the end of times. . . . You won't want to miss this high-energy, awesome event!
Charles Stross, THE NIGHTMARE STACKS (ACE, Hardcover, $27.00) on Sunday, July 10th at 3:00 pm - We're thrilled to host Charles Stross, who only very infrequently makes it across the Atlantic to hang out with us! Charles will be showing off the newest in the always-fun Laundry Files novels, THE NIGHTMARE STACKS! From the publisher's website: "Alex Schwartz had a promising future -- until he contracted an unfortunate bout of vampirism, and agreed (on pain of death) to join the Laundry, Britain's only counter-occult secret agency. His first assignment is in Leeds - his old hometown. The thought of telling his parents that he's lost his old job, let alone them finding out about his 'condition', is causing Alex more anxiety than learning how to live as a vampire secret agent preparing to confront multiple apocalypses. His only saving grace is Cassie Brewer, a student appearing in the local Goth Festival, who flirts with him despite his awkward personality and massive amounts of sunblock. But Cassie has secrets of her own - secrets that make Alex's night life seem positively normal . . ." You can check out the covers (both US and UK) of THE NIGHTMARE STACKS, as well as a Q&A about the book here: http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2015/11/cover-reveal-the-nightmare-sta.html .
SF in SF with authors Richard Kadrey and Thomas Olde Heuvelt (at the American Bookbinders Museum, 355 Clementina, San Francisco) on Sunday, July 17th at 6:30 pm - (Suggested donation $10, no one turned away for lack of funds.) Doors and bar at 5:30 pm, event begins at 6:30 pm. We're so happy to participate in the marvelous work of SF in SF! Each author will read a selection from their work, followed by Q&A from the audience moderated by author Terry Bisson. Authors will schmooze & sign books after. Books available for sale courtesy of Borderlands Books. Seating is limited, so first come, first seated. Bar proceeds benefit the American Bookbinders Museum. Phone (night of event) 415-572-1015. Questions? Email sfinsfevents@gmail.com.
Daniel O'Malley, STILETTO (Little, Brown and Company, Hardcover, $26.00) on Saturday, July 23rd at 3:00 pm - We're very excited to welcome Daniel O'Malley, author of the wildly popular novel THE ROOK, to Borderlands, for the next book in the The Rook Files, STILETTO! Daniel lives in Australia, so it is a special treat to host him. And STILETTO sounds fantastic! From the publisher's website: "When secret organizations are forced to merge after years of enmity and bloodshed, only one person has the fearsome powers -- and the bureaucratic finesse -- to get the job done. Facing her greatest challenge yet, Rook Myfanwy Thomas must broker a deal between two bitter adversaries: The Checquy -- the centuries-old covert British organization that protects society from supernatural threats, and. . . The Grafters -- a centuries-old supernatural threat. But as bizarre attacks sweep London, threatening to sabotage negotiations, old hatreds flare. Surrounded by spies, only the Rook and two women who absolutely hate each other, can seek out the culprits before they trigger a devastating otherworldly war." We hope you'll join us to meet Daniel O'Malley!
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 - Na'amen Tilahun
Assistant Editor - Jude Feldman
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
*******
