Phoenix, Arizona apparently has quite a few used book stores. On a recent visit I hit up a trio of these stores. If I’m ever back I hope to visit more. On this trip I went to a Bookmans, a Half Price Books, and one of the Book Gallery locations. Along with a handful of nice-to-haves, I came away with some neat books.
Winterwood and other hauntings, by Keith Roberts, Morrigan (1989). Bought for the reduced price of $15 (down from $30) from Half Price Books. A collection of short stories, with a neat introduction by Robert Holdstock. I had no idea that Roberts used to live in Henley, a small town near Reading. I’m sure Henley’s changed a great deal since his time there, although the regatta still runs every year along the Thames. Then again, in the introduction to his 1988 collection, Anita, his location was Amesbury, Wiltshire, so maybe he moved around a bit. Roberts died in 2000.
Tales of the Lovecraft Mythos, edited by Robert M Price, Fedogan & Bremer (1992). An anthology of tales set in Lovecraft’s fictional world, many from Lovecraft’s contemporaries. Only my fifth books by this publisher, and third acquired this year. I’m not usually a fan of Lovecraft’s works, but some of the authors in this book are of interest.
Not Less Than Gods, by Kage Baker, Subterranean Press (2010). A limited edition of only 474 copies, signed by Baker. Illustrated by J. K. Potter. Bought for almost half the $60 cover price. I passed on quite a few books that I wanted, as the prices seemed random in many cases and higher than I wanted to spend at times. I’ve read Baker’s stories in the Golden Gryphon edition, Black Projects, White Knights. Baker died in 2010 from cancer.
Earthquake Weather, by Tim Powers, Subterranean Press (2008). The deluxe limited edition, signed by Powers and the illustrator, J. K. Potter. Bought for a bit less than the cover price of $75. I’d read the Tor Books edition years ago; my copy is inscribed to me by Powers with the message, “This love-letter to wine.” I won’t give up that edition. Meeting Powers meant a lot to me, as I’m a huge fan. I debated whether or not to get the Sub Press edition of book, but after some indecision, I decided I had to have it. The store also had the NESFA edition of An Epitaph in Rust, but I skipped it for now. However, I do know that finding Sub Press editions of Expiration Date and Last Call, both set in the same universe as Earthquake Weather, will be pricy at best. So, call this an impulse buy.
Second Chance, by Chet Williamson, Cemetery Dance (1994). I almost put this one back on the shelf, as there are three nasty tears in the dust jacket. Still, it’s a limited edition, signed by Williamson, and limited to 400 copies. Given the state of the dust jacket, or some obscure reason, it was priced at $11.24, a strange and almost random figure. Maybe one day I’ll be able to find a nice cover to replace this one. Williamson is still writing fiction, and I’ve read a couple of his books. They’re hard to find, at least in person, but worth it.
Muse and Reverie, by Charles de Lint, Tor Books (2009). A collection of stories set in de Lint’s fictional town of Newford. Despite having 33 of his books, I still lack a fair amount of de Lint’s nearly 60 published books, so I was happy to find this one.
The Trade of Queens, by Charles Stross, Tor Books (2010). This is book six in Stross’ Merchant Princes series. I don’t really read SF any more, nor really buy any new Stross books, but as I have the first five, I supposed I had to get this one. I think I’ve only read the first two, or maybe three, books in the series.
