by Alan Beatts
Since April of last year, when it started looking likely that a higher minimum wage ordinance would pass in San Francisco, I've been thinking (racking my brain, actually) about ways to keep the store open in the face of a 39% increase in wages. I'm going to start with what was my final conclusion and then I'm going to go back and touch on several of the other things that I considered.
First though, the basic facts:
1) The bookselling side of Borderlands has never been terribly profitable.
2) Based on current business, the new minimum wage, once fully in effect ($15 per hour in 2018) would move the bookstore from being modestly profitable (roughly $3000 in 2013 before depreciation) to showing a yearly loss of roughly $25,000.
3) It is reasonable to expect that the best-case, long term sales trend for a brick-and-mortar bookstore is relatively flat.
4) Making 50-60 hours of work, per week, with no real holidays on my part an intrinsic part of our business plan is neither viable long-term nor something I am going to do.
5) Any solution would need to have a very good chance of working. Closing now is a straightforward process and doesn't require any money and a limited amount of frantic work. Pouring money and / or time into a solution that might work is not something that I'm willing to do at this point in my life.
The only solution that I can see would be to reduce expenses by an amount at least equal to our projected yearly loss. The only expense that is large enough to reduce by that much is our rent. So, the only viable solution I can see would be to substantially reduce or eliminate the amount we pay to house the store. The problem is that I can't see any realistic way to achieve that. If I had the money, I would buy a building, move the store there and stop paying rent. It would be a terrible investment, since I'd be losing out on the income from that money, but if I were driven by profits or money, I wouldn't be running a bookstore to start with. On the other hand, I would own a building that would appreciate over time, even in the current over-heated real estate market in SF, so it wouldn't be a total loss.
However, I don't have even a fraction of the money that would be required for that. Based on the current market and the sort of building we would need, the price tag would probably be somewhere between 1.5 and 3 million dollars. So, what it gets down to is -- if someone (or a group of someones) out there wants to buy us a building, I'll be happy to move the store and stay in business. But, otherwise, I cannot see any solution that will allow us an even half-way reasonable chance to make the business work at a minimum wage of $15 an hour.
Do I seriously think that someone will buy us a permanent home for the store? Not at all. I would do it for my store, but I don't think I'd do it for anybody else's. On the other hand, if I had as much cash as Ron Conway, Mark Zuckerberg or Elon Musk, I guess I might do something like that. But, realistically, it's not going to happen.
But, if it did, I would keep running Borderlands 'til someone carried me out feet first. I really don't want to close. But I can't see any real, sane alternative.
Here's the list of the not-completely-insane things that I considered (I'm leaving out the old-school-bus-as-bookmobile and other, crazier things). I'll also going to give a thumbnail sketch of the reasons they won't work.
Increase Income
Obviously if we could sell enough books to make up for the higher wages we were paying, that would fix the problem. My math says we would need to increase sales by a minimum of 20%. We could increase sales in a couple of ways -
1) Sell a broader range of books
2) Sell more of the books we already carry
3) Sell items other than books, with a higher profit margin
4) Increase the price of the books we are selling now
5) Raise prices at the cafe to make up the short-fall
Selling a broader range of books is a problem because; first, we'd have to put a lot of money into inventory. Adding our mystery section meant spending around $8,000 on inventory and we didn't finish the job. Since there isn't another genre of books that would be a good, logical fit with what we sell now, I think we would need to turn ourselves into a general interest shop. That would probably cost about $25,000 to $40,000 and we don't have the money (plus I'd be hesitant to risk that much on a less-than-pretty-sure thing). Second, we don't know the field. We're excellent at SF and fantasy as well as being damn good at horror and mystery. But other stuff? Nope. As a result, we wouldn't be very good at selling those books, which is a big problem. Finally, we don't have room. The store is pretty full now. Granted we could cut out some of the stuff that doesn't sell so well but we don't have the 20% extra room to increase our sales by 20%.
Selling 20% more of the books we already carry is completely beyond reach. We do a good job at what we do (wouldn't still be in business if we didn't). Adding our mystery section gave our sales a nice boost because we actually added customers, but otherwise our sales have been pretty steady for years (economic crash in 2009 aside). Based on everyone I've talked to, increasing sales by 20% without changing locations, adding inventory, or making some other sort of big change just doesn't happen in the book world (or most any other retail business).
Selling things other than books is tricky for several reasons. First, what sort of stuff would we sell, exactly? It would need to be something that goes, in some way, with books -- otherwise it would just be weird. It would have to be simple so as not to add much to our existing workload. We already carry things like journals, bookmarks, postcards, and so forth. We've tried selling DVDs (back when people bought such things) and also jewelry. Neither of those things were much of a success at all. Second, I'm not sure that idea really works very well for bookstores -- it certainly didn't work for Borders Books. One of their last-gasp attempts to recover their business involved selling all sorts of crap other than books. Finally, we got into this business to be booksellers. Moving a fifth of our sales to something else isn't something anyone here is very enthusiastic about. Also, like moving towards becoming a more general interest store, there is the problem of tying up a lot of money in inventory that might or might not sell.
All that I'll say about increasing our prices is that it's already hard to get people to pay the publisher's list price for a book. How often have I heard people say, "I'll just get it cheaper on Amazon"? I don't think that enough people to keep us in business would pay a 10 or 15% surcharge to buy books at Borderlands. Of course, we could increase the prices on our used books, but they only represent about 7.3% of our sales, so that could never be enough.
I did spend a fair amount of time thinking about increasing the prices at the cafe to make up for the increased wages at the bookstore. But the math said no. The problem is that I'm going to have to increase the prices at the cafe to make up for the higher payroll at the cafe. It's not possible to raise the prices enough to accomplish that as well as raising them enough to cover the bookstore. We'd price ourselves out of business that way.
Reduce Expenses
OK, so if we can't get more money coming in, what about reducing the money going out? The catch is that, other than payroll and rent, the bookstore has almost no expenses. Other than credit card processing (where we have quite a good rate), our highest expense is our PG&E bill . . . which is only about $2000 a year. In fact, rent, payroll, and credit card processing represent 68% of all our expenses. There isn't anything left that we could cut to make up $25,000 a year.
As a result, the only thing we could cut would be payroll. Most of the people who work at Borderlands are part-time, so cutting any single employee doesn't make much of a dent. Based (once again) on ugly math, to get the store on a balanced financial footing, I'd have to lay off almost everyone on staff. Jude Feldman, the general manager, would remain along with one part-time employee. Jude would need to work the counter from noon to eight, five or six days a week, while I did all the back office work. In other words, I would continue doing the job I do now along with taking on about half of the job that Jude does.
That option was one that Jude and I discussed a great deal. In fact, we went around and around about it. And finally we decided that it wasn't something either of us wanted to do. When it gets down to it, as much as we both love bookselling, it's more important to us to have reasonably sane, healthy lives. We have both worked the sort of hours that I just described. In fact, we've done it many times over the past 15 years. However, all the times in the past we did it to accomplish a specific goal. Neither of us are willing to plan on working those hours as a matter of course, just to keep the store open.
Other Ideas
We could, of course, move the store out of San Francisco to someplace that doesn't have as high a minimum wage. But, I suspect that the sales we would lose because of moving somewhere with a less dense population and fewer visitors would create a financial problem almost as bad as what we're facing. On top of that, no-one on the staff here (yours truly included) wants to commute a long way to work. Last but not least, Borderlands is a San Francisco sort of shop. I don't think it would flourish in deeply alien soil.
I considered selling (or closing) the cafe and sub-leasing that storefront. In this market, it would probably rent for more than I'm paying right now. Of course, it would have to rent for $2000 more a month than I'm paying right now, but even that isn't out of the question. However, currently my pay comes from the cafe's income, not the bookstore's. So, if I did something with the cafe, I'd have to figure out how to get my pay from the bookstore's income. I don't make much money ($28,000 gross last year), but that's still a big chunk of money and there is no way that selling the cafe or sub-leasing it could produce enough to make up for the added payroll at the bookstore and my salary.
That thought led me, for about ten seconds, to the thought that I could go get a job elsewhere that would pay me enough to support myself. In that case, my salary from the cafe could go to the bookstore and it would cover the payroll costs. But, of course, the two problems there are that I would be working one job while still needing to do my job at the bookstore. The burn-out there would be something to behold. Besides, do I really want to work some other job just so I can keep owning a bookstore where I never have time to be a bookseller? Dumb idea.
Without going even further down into crazy-land, there is only one other thought that I had. We could sell memberships to the store, ask for donations to keep running, or in some other way offset the added payroll by relying on the kindness, generosity and support of our customers. I have two problems with that idea. First, Borderlands is a for-profit business that I started with the intention of making money. I don't think that it's right to ask our customers and community to give me their hard-earned dollars so that I can continue to support myself. If I had made the store a non-profit whose purpose was to promote genre fiction, that would be a different matter but -- that's not what I did. And so I don't think that it's right for me to ask for continual hand-outs so that I can stay in business. The second problem that I have is that it wouldn't work. Over the years I've seen many stores try many things to remain in business. Asking your customers and community for support works wonderfully -- as long as it is to accomplish a specific goal. But I have never seen a success come from counting on that sort of support to maintain a functioning business over the long term.
The last thing I should address is the possibility of selling the store to someone who either has more money to put into it than I or is willing to work the sort of crazy hours I did when I opened. Or, I suppose, the possibility of turning it into a non-profit by creating a suitable entity, raising money for that entity, and then selling the store to it.
Not going to happen.
There is a very fine and chilling SF story by Tom Godwin called "The Cold Equations". If you're not familiar with it, you should read it (despite the arguably fair complaint that it depends on good physics and lousy engineering). The core of the story is that math leads to conclusions that cannot be argued with, regardless of what seems right, fair or just. And the math about Borderlands says that what we've been doing won't work anymore.
Everyone at Borderlands has seen a slow, sad spiral that a bookstore goes through when the money just doesn't work out anymore. I'll bet that many of the people reading this have seen it too. It's heart-breaking and, perhaps worse, it creates a set of memories that overlay the good ones of the store in its prime.
It may be hugely arrogant, but I don't believe that any owner can beat the cold equations that we're facing. When I first discussed our situation with the staff the feeling was unanimous (and, in a couple of cases, very emphatic) that we wanted to close the store with all the care, class and consideration for our customers with which we had run it. That is both the reason that the store is not for sale, and also the reason that we're closing now, long before higher wages drag us down the drain.
One footnote before I end this. It might seem that my suggestion at the beginning of this essay, that the only real solution to the problem is for someone to give us a building, doesn't really match up with my opposition to asking for a hand-out so that I can keep running my business. Let me clarify that -- if someone wanted to give Borderlands a building to operate out of, I would actually say no because it would be a hand-out.
My counter-offer would be that I would be thrilled to set up (or help set up) a non-profit foundation to own and manage a building with the express purpose of housing a bookstore (or bookstores) as a literary and community resource. Of course, I'd be thrilled if Borderlands was the first tenant. The beautiful thing about that idea is that, regardless of Borderlands' financial health (or mine), a place like that could serve as a permanent support for bookselling, no matter how much the world and San Francisco changes. As I said at the beginning of this post, I don't think that there is a snowball's chance in hell that it will happen. However, I'm likely to have more spare time on my hands in six months to a year. Starting that foundation and seeing if it's possible to make it happen for some other store might be a good way to spend some time.
February 03, 2015
February 01, 2015
Borderlands Books to Close in March
Updated 2/1/15 at 1:16 pm
In 18 years of business, Borderlands has faced a number of challenges. The first and clearest was in 2000, when our landlord increased our rent by 100% and we had to move to our current location on Valencia Street. All of the subsequent ones have been less clear-cut but more difficult. The steady movement towards online shopping, mostly with Amazon, has taken a steady toll on bookstores throughout the world and Borderlands was no exception. After that and related to it, has been the shift towards ebooks and electronic reading devices. And finally the Great Recession of 2009 hit us very hard, especially since we had just opened a new aspect to the business in the form of our cafe.
But, through all those challenges, we've managed to find a way forward and 2014 was the best year we've ever had. The credit for that achievement goes to the fine and extraordinary group of people who have come together to work here. Their hard work, combined with the flawless execution and attention to detail provided by Jude Feldman, Borderlands' General Manager, is the reason we've succeeded for these past 18 years.
Throughout the years we've managed to plan for the problems that we could predict and, when we couldn't plan for them, we've just worked our asses off to get through. Overall, Borderlands has managed to defeat every problem that has come our way. At the beginning of 2014, the future of the business looked, if not rosy, at least stable and very positive. We were not in debt, sales were meeting expenses and even allowing a small profit, and, perhaps most importantly, the staff and procedures at both the bookstore and the cafe were well established and working smoothly.
So it fills us with sorrow and horror to say that we will be closing very soon.
In November, San Francisco voters overwhelmingly passed a measure that will increase the minimum wage within the city to $15 per hour by 2018. Although all of us at Borderlands support the concept of a living wage in principal and we believe that it's possible that the new law will be good for San Francisco -- Borderlands Books as it exists is not a financially viable business if subject to that minimum wage. Consequently we will be closing our doors no later than March 31st. The cafe will continue to operate until at least the end of this year.
In 18 years of business, Borderlands has faced a number of challenges. The first and clearest was in 2000, when our landlord increased our rent by 100% and we had to move to our current location on Valencia Street. All of the subsequent ones have been less clear-cut but more difficult. The steady movement towards online shopping, mostly with Amazon, has taken a steady toll on bookstores throughout the world and Borderlands was no exception. After that and related to it, has been the shift towards ebooks and electronic reading devices. And finally the Great Recession of 2009 hit us very hard, especially since we had just opened a new aspect to the business in the form of our cafe.
But, through all those challenges, we've managed to find a way forward and 2014 was the best year we've ever had. The credit for that achievement goes to the fine and extraordinary group of people who have come together to work here. Their hard work, combined with the flawless execution and attention to detail provided by Jude Feldman, Borderlands' General Manager, is the reason we've succeeded for these past 18 years.
Throughout the years we've managed to plan for the problems that we could predict and, when we couldn't plan for them, we've just worked our asses off to get through. Overall, Borderlands has managed to defeat every problem that has come our way. At the beginning of 2014, the future of the business looked, if not rosy, at least stable and very positive. We were not in debt, sales were meeting expenses and even allowing a small profit, and, perhaps most importantly, the staff and procedures at both the bookstore and the cafe were well established and working smoothly.
So it fills us with sorrow and horror to say that we will be closing very soon.
In November, San Francisco voters overwhelmingly passed a measure that will increase the minimum wage within the city to $15 per hour by 2018. Although all of us at Borderlands support the concept of a living wage in principal and we believe that it's possible that the new law will be good for San Francisco -- Borderlands Books as it exists is not a financially viable business if subject to that minimum wage. Consequently we will be closing our doors no later than March 31st. The cafe will continue to operate until at least the end of this year.
January 13, 2015
December Bestsellers
Hardcovers
1. THE SLOW REGARD OF SILENT THINGS by Patrick Rothfuss
2. THE PERIPHERAL by William Gibson
3. WHAT IF? by Randall Munroe
4. LOCK IN by John Scalzi
5. CLARIEL by Garth Nix
6. WAISTCOATS AND WEAPONRY by Gail Carriger
7. SYMBIONT by Mira Grant
8. THE THREE BODY PROBLEM by Cixin Liu
9. VELVETEEN VS. THE MULTIVERSE by Seanan McGuire
10. WILLFUL CHILD by Steven Erikson
Mass Market Paperbacks
1. THE NAME OF THE WIND by Patrick Rothfuss
2. THE WINTER LONG by Seanan McGuire
3. KEEPER OF THE CASTLE by Juliet Blackwell
4. DANGEROUS WOMEN VOL. 2 edited by Geroge R.R. Martin & Gardner Dozois
5. THE BULLET CATCHER'S DAUGHTER by Rod Duncan
6. WISE MAN'S FEAR by Patrick Rothfuss
7. DANCE WITH DRAGONS by George R.R. Martin
8. GAME OF THRONES by George R.R. Martin
9. 2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson
10. REPUBLIC OF THIEVES by Scott Lynch
Trade Paperbacks
1. ANCILLARY JUSTICE by Ann Leckie
2. THE MARTIAN by Andy Weir
3. ANCILLARY SWORD by Ann Leckie
4. THE DARK DEFILES by Richard K. Morgan
5. UNNATURAL CREATURES edited by Neil Gaiman
1. THE SLOW REGARD OF SILENT THINGS by Patrick Rothfuss
2. THE PERIPHERAL by William Gibson
3. WHAT IF? by Randall Munroe
4. LOCK IN by John Scalzi
5. CLARIEL by Garth Nix
6. WAISTCOATS AND WEAPONRY by Gail Carriger
7. SYMBIONT by Mira Grant
8. THE THREE BODY PROBLEM by Cixin Liu
9. VELVETEEN VS. THE MULTIVERSE by Seanan McGuire
10. WILLFUL CHILD by Steven Erikson
Mass Market Paperbacks
1. THE NAME OF THE WIND by Patrick Rothfuss
2. THE WINTER LONG by Seanan McGuire
3. KEEPER OF THE CASTLE by Juliet Blackwell
4. DANGEROUS WOMEN VOL. 2 edited by Geroge R.R. Martin & Gardner Dozois
5. THE BULLET CATCHER'S DAUGHTER by Rod Duncan
6. WISE MAN'S FEAR by Patrick Rothfuss
7. DANCE WITH DRAGONS by George R.R. Martin
8. GAME OF THRONES by George R.R. Martin
9. 2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson
10. REPUBLIC OF THIEVES by Scott Lynch
Trade Paperbacks
1. ANCILLARY JUSTICE by Ann Leckie
2. THE MARTIAN by Andy Weir
3. ANCILLARY SWORD by Ann Leckie
4. THE DARK DEFILES by Richard K. Morgan
5. UNNATURAL CREATURES edited by Neil Gaiman
January News Roundup
*Overheard in the Store:
"What were you going to DO with the Azerbaijan Long-Snouted Parrot when you got to the top of the clock tower?"
"Am I only person in the world who hates eggnog? I think it's like snot, with brandy."
"Of course they were more prolific back then - they didn't have to tear themselves away from 'Breaking Bad' like the rest of us."
* Phillip K Dick Award nominees have been announced: http://www.philipkdickaward.org/
* Over at io9.com Charlie Anders and Diana Biller list the top ten design flaws for the USS Enterprise. So Borg take note: http://io9.com/top-10-biggest-design-flaws-in-the-u-s-s-enterprise-1678274241
* A new award from Baen has been announced: http://www.baen.com/baenfantasyaward.asp
* Prolific alternate history author Robert Conroy has died at the age of 76, following a battle with cancer: http://www.locusmag.com/News/2015/01/robert-conroy-1938-2014/
* The 2014 Rhysling Winners, for excellence in speculative poetry, have been announced: http://sfpoetry.com/ra/pages/14rhysling.html
* The Horror Writers Association announces a new scholarship in honor of their late President Rocky Wood, who died in early December, 2014: http://www.prlog.org/12401115-horror-writers-association-announces-rocky-wood-memorial-scholarship-names-new-president-and-vice-president.html
* The World Fantasy Convention 2015 website is open! The GoHs are Steven Erikson & Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, along with Special Guests Glen Cook & David Drake: http://www.wfc2015.org/
* The design competition for the 2015 Hugo Base is now on! Be a part of history and have your work sit on an author's mantle forever: http://sasquan.org/hugo-base-competition/
* James Patterson has given away over $1m of his personal cash to independent bookstores over the last year in his Saving Bookstores, Saving Lives campaign: http://www.jamespatterson.com/booksellers/#.VK7gqdLF831
* Marvel's limited series "Agent Carter" has finally premiered, and it looks like it might be everything we hoped for: http://sciencefiction.com/2015/01/08/tv-review-agent-carter-now-endbridge-tunneltv-review-agent-carter-now-endbridge-tunnel/
* James Whitbrook breaks down the history of Ant-Man over at Toybox (and does a solid job of giving us some good points but also not shying away from why, for many of us, this is the first MCU movie we're a bit unsure about): http://toybox.io9.com/your-guide-to-ant-man-the-newest-and-smallest-marvel-1678249880
* In more awesome superhero news, there is a new Power Girl, and not only is she a super-intelligent young woman of color but also PG's traditional infamous "boob window" is GONE! http://www.themarysue.com/new-power-girl-rad-as-heck/
* The 2014 Ignotus (the Spanish language equivalent of the Hugos) winners have been announced! Congratulations to all the winners. We can only hope some of these great stories get translated soon. http://scifiportal.eu/2014-spanish-sff-ignotus-domingo-santos-awards/
* Ever wondered what "Ghostbusters" would look like done as an anime series in the 80s? Well, wonder no more! http://nerdapproved.com/misc-weirdness/what-if-ghostbusters-was-an-80s-anime-video/
* Over at io9.com, George Dvorsky has listed all the science stories that are set to dominate headlines in 2015: http://io9.com/these-are-the-science-stories-that-will-be-making-news-1678208928
* Take a look at all the characters that James Gunn wanted to include in "Guardians of the Galaxy" and couldn't because of ownership issue: http://sciencefiction.com/2015/01/08/want-know-cosmic-characters-james-gunn-wasnt-able-use-guardians-galaxy/
* "Frozen" was the biggest animated movie of last year and while we've moved on, the good land of Arendelle is not forgotten. Check here for the three "Frozen" easter eggs in "Big Hero 6":
http://www.cinemablend.com/new/See-3-Frozen-References-You-Missed-Big-Hero-6-69021.html
* We're most excited for the second Marvel Netflix series "AKA Jessica Jones," but even the "Daredevil" series looks like it could be really good (or might at least wipe the memory of Affleck-as-Daredevil from our collective memory): http://www.cinemablend.com/television/Marvel-Daredevil-Series-Premiere-Netflix-Sooner-Than-We-Thought-69321.html
* RiffTrax has put up their list of the worst movies of 2014 as voted by fans. A lot of them are speculative and all of them are painful. http://www.rifftrax.com/the-worst-movies-of-2014
"What were you going to DO with the Azerbaijan Long-Snouted Parrot when you got to the top of the clock tower?"
"Am I only person in the world who hates eggnog? I think it's like snot, with brandy."
"Of course they were more prolific back then - they didn't have to tear themselves away from 'Breaking Bad' like the rest of us."
* Phillip K Dick Award nominees have been announced: http://www.philipkdickaward.org/
* Over at io9.com Charlie Anders and Diana Biller list the top ten design flaws for the USS Enterprise. So Borg take note: http://io9.com/top-10-biggest-design-flaws-in-the-u-s-s-enterprise-1678274241
* A new award from Baen has been announced: http://www.baen.com/baenfantasyaward.asp
* Prolific alternate history author Robert Conroy has died at the age of 76, following a battle with cancer: http://www.locusmag.com/News/2015/01/robert-conroy-1938-2014/
* The 2014 Rhysling Winners, for excellence in speculative poetry, have been announced: http://sfpoetry.com/ra/pages/14rhysling.html
* The Horror Writers Association announces a new scholarship in honor of their late President Rocky Wood, who died in early December, 2014: http://www.prlog.org/12401115-horror-writers-association-announces-rocky-wood-memorial-scholarship-names-new-president-and-vice-president.html
* The World Fantasy Convention 2015 website is open! The GoHs are Steven Erikson & Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, along with Special Guests Glen Cook & David Drake: http://www.wfc2015.org/
* The design competition for the 2015 Hugo Base is now on! Be a part of history and have your work sit on an author's mantle forever: http://sasquan.org/hugo-base-competition/
* James Patterson has given away over $1m of his personal cash to independent bookstores over the last year in his Saving Bookstores, Saving Lives campaign: http://www.jamespatterson.com/booksellers/#.VK7gqdLF831
* Marvel's limited series "Agent Carter" has finally premiered, and it looks like it might be everything we hoped for: http://sciencefiction.com/2015/01/08/tv-review-agent-carter-now-endbridge-tunneltv-review-agent-carter-now-endbridge-tunnel/
* James Whitbrook breaks down the history of Ant-Man over at Toybox (and does a solid job of giving us some good points but also not shying away from why, for many of us, this is the first MCU movie we're a bit unsure about): http://toybox.io9.com/your-guide-to-ant-man-the-newest-and-smallest-marvel-1678249880
* In more awesome superhero news, there is a new Power Girl, and not only is she a super-intelligent young woman of color but also PG's traditional infamous "boob window" is GONE! http://www.themarysue.com/new-power-girl-rad-as-heck/
* The 2014 Ignotus (the Spanish language equivalent of the Hugos) winners have been announced! Congratulations to all the winners. We can only hope some of these great stories get translated soon. http://scifiportal.eu/2014-spanish-sff-ignotus-domingo-santos-awards/
* Ever wondered what "Ghostbusters" would look like done as an anime series in the 80s? Well, wonder no more! http://nerdapproved.com/misc-weirdness/what-if-ghostbusters-was-an-80s-anime-video/
* Over at io9.com, George Dvorsky has listed all the science stories that are set to dominate headlines in 2015: http://io9.com/these-are-the-science-stories-that-will-be-making-news-1678208928
* Take a look at all the characters that James Gunn wanted to include in "Guardians of the Galaxy" and couldn't because of ownership issue: http://sciencefiction.com/2015/01/08/want-know-cosmic-characters-james-gunn-wasnt-able-use-guardians-galaxy/
* "Frozen" was the biggest animated movie of last year and while we've moved on, the good land of Arendelle is not forgotten. Check here for the three "Frozen" easter eggs in "Big Hero 6":
http://www.cinemablend.com/new/See-3-Frozen-References-You-Missed-Big-Hero-6-69021.html
* We're most excited for the second Marvel Netflix series "AKA Jessica Jones," but even the "Daredevil" series looks like it could be really good (or might at least wipe the memory of Affleck-as-Daredevil from our collective memory): http://www.cinemablend.com/television/Marvel-Daredevil-Series-Premiere-Netflix-Sooner-Than-We-Thought-69321.html
* RiffTrax has put up their list of the worst movies of 2014 as voted by fans. A lot of them are speculative and all of them are painful. http://www.rifftrax.com/the-worst-movies-of-2014
Upcoming Events
Shannon Page, OUR LADY OF THE ISLANDS (Per Aspera Press, Hardcover, $26.99) Saturday, January 17th at 3:00 pm
The triumphant return of SF in SF with authors Cecilia Holland and Kim Stanley Robinson, at The Book Club of California, 312 Sutter Street Suite 500, Thursday, January 22nd
Samantha Shannon, THE MIME ORDER (Bloomsbury, Hardcover, $25.00) Saturday, February 14th at 3:00 pm
The triumphant return of SF in SF with authors Cecilia Holland and Kim Stanley Robinson, at The Book Club of California, 312 Sutter Street Suite 500, Thursday, January 22nd
Samantha Shannon, THE MIME ORDER (Bloomsbury, Hardcover, $25.00) Saturday, February 14th at 3:00 pm
Dispatches From the Border: January 2015
Events and News From Borderlands Books
----------------------
Upcoming Events
----------------------
Shannon Page, OUR LADY OF THE ISLANDS (Per Aspera Press, Hardcover, $26.99) Saturday, January 17th at 3:00 pm
The triumphant return of SF in SF with authors Cecilia Holland and Kim Stanley Robinson, at The Book Club of California, 312 Sutter Street Suite 500, Thursday, January 22nd
Samantha Shannon, THE MIME ORDER (Bloomsbury, Hardcover, $25.00) Saturday, February 14th at 3:00 pm
(for more information check the end of this newsletter)
-------
News
-------
*Overheard in the Store:
"What were you going to DO with the Azerbaijan Long-Snouted Parrot when you got to the top of the clock tower?"
"Am I only person in the world who hates eggnog? I think it's like snot, with brandy."
"Of course they were more prolific back then - they didn't have to tear themselves away from 'Breaking Bad' like the rest of us."
* Phillip K Dick Award nominees have been announced: http://www.philipkdickaward.org/
* Over at io9.com Charlie Anders and Diana Biller list the top ten design flaws for the USS Enterprise. So Borg take note: http://io9.com/top-10-biggest-design-flaws-in-the-u-s-s-enterprise-1678274241
* A new award from Baen has been announced: http://www.baen.com/baenfantasyaward.asp
* Prolific alternate history author Robert Conroy has died at the age of 76, following a battle with cancer: http://www.locusmag.com/News/2015/01/robert-conroy-1938-2014/
* The 2014 Rhysling Winners, for excellence in speculative poetry, have been announced: http://sfpoetry.com/ra/pages/14rhysling.html
* The Horror Writers Association announces a new scholarship in honor of their late President Rocky Wood, who died in early December, 2014: http://www.prlog.org/12401115-horror-writers-association-announces-rocky-wood-memorial-scholarship-names-new-president-and-vice-president.html
* The World Fantasy Convention 2015 website is open! The GoHs are Steven Erikson & Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, along with Special Guests Glen Cook & David Drake: http://www.wfc2015.org/
* The design competition for the 2015 Hugo Base is now on! Be a part of history and have your work sit on an author's mantle forever: http://sasquan.org/hugo-base-competition/
* James Patterson has given away over $1m of his personal cash to independent bookstores over the last year in his Saving Bookstores, Saving Lives campaign: http://www.jamespatterson.com/booksellers/#.VK7gqdLF831
* Marvel's limited series "Agent Carter" has finally premiered, and it looks like it might be everything we hoped for: http://sciencefiction.com/2015/01/08/tv-review-agent-carter-now-endbridge-tunneltv-review-agent-carter-now-endbridge-tunnel/
* James Whitbrook breaks down the history of Ant-Man over at Toybox (and does a solid job of giving us some good points but also not shying away from why, for many of us, this is the first MCU movie we're a bit unsure about): http://toybox.io9.com/your-guide-to-ant-man-the-newest-and-smallest-marvel-1678249880
* In more awesome superhero news, there is a new Power Girl, and not only is she a super-intelligent young woman of color but also PG's traditional infamous "boob window" is GONE! http://www.themarysue.com/new-power-girl-rad-as-heck/
* The 2014 Ignotus (the Spanish language equivalent of the Hugos) winners have been announced! Congratulations to all the winners. We can only hope some of these great stories get translated soon. http://scifiportal.eu/2014-spanish-sff-ignotus-domingo-santos-awards/
* Ever wondered what "Ghostbusters" would look like done as an anime series in the 80s? Well, wonder no more! http://nerdapproved.com/misc-weirdness/what-if-ghostbusters-was-an-80s-anime-video/
* Over at io9.com, George Dvorsky has listed all the science stories that are set to dominate headlines in 2015: http://io9.com/these-are-the-science-stories-that-will-be-making-news-1678208928
* Take a look at all the characters that James Gunn wanted to include in "Guardians of the Galaxy" and couldn't because of ownership issue: http://sciencefiction.com/2015/01/08/want-know-cosmic-characters-james-gunn-wasnt-able-use-guardians-galaxy/
* "Frozen" was the biggest animated movie of last year and while we've moved on, the good land of Arendelle is not forgotten. Check here for the three "Frozen" easter eggs in "Big Hero 6":
http://www.cinemablend.com/new/See-3-Frozen-References-You-Missed-Big-Hero-6-69021.html
* We're most excited for the second Marvel Netflix series "AKA Jessica Jones," but even the "Daredevil" series looks like it could be really good (or might at least wipe the memory of Affleck-as-Daredevil from our collective memory): http://www.cinemablend.com/television/Marvel-Daredevil-Series-Premiere-Netflix-Sooner-Than-We-Thought-69321.html
* RiffTrax has put up their list of the worst movies of 2014 as voted by fans. A lot of them are speculative and all of them are painful. http://www.rifftrax.com/the-worst-movies-of-2014
--------------------
From The Office
--------------------
Will return next month.
----------------
Best Sellers
----------------
Borderlands Best-Selling Titles for December, 2014:
Hardcovers
1. THE SLOW REGARD OF SILENT THINGS by Patrick Rothfuss
2. THE PERIPHERAL by William Gibson
3. WHAT IF? by Randall Munroe
4. LOCK IN by John Scalzi
5. CLARIEL by Garth Nix
6. WAISTCOATS AND WEAPONRY by Gail Carriger
7. SYMBIONT by Mira Grant
8. THE THREE BODY PROBLEM by Cixin Liu
9. VELVETEEN VS. THE MULTIVERSE by Seanan McGuire
10. WILLFUL CHILD by Steven Erikson
Mass Market Paperbacks
1. THE NAME OF THE WIND by Patrick Rothfuss
2. THE WINTER LONG by Seanan McGuire
3. KEEPER OF THE CASTLE by Juliet Blackwell
4. DANGEROUS WOMEN VOL. 2 edited by Geroge R.R. Martin & Gardner Dozois
5. THE BULLET CATCHER'S DAUGHTER by Rod Duncan
6. WISE MAN'S FEAR by Patrick Rothfuss
7. DANCE WITH DRAGONS by George R.R. Martin
8. GAME OF THRONES by George R.R. Martin
9. 2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson
10. REPUBLIC OF THIEVES by Scott Lynch
Trade Paperbacks
1. ANCILLARY JUSTICE by Ann Leckie
2. THE MARTIAN by Andy Weir
3. ANCILLARY SWORD by Ann Leckie
4. THE DARK DEFILES by Richard K. Morgan
5. UNNATURAL CREATURES edited by Neil Gaiman
------------------------------
Book Club Information
------------------------------
The QSF&F Book Club will meet on Sunday, February 8th, at 5 pm to discuss LOVE MINUS EIGHTY by Will McIntosh. 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, January 18th, at 6 pm to discuss RAISING STEAM by Terry Pratchett. Please contact bookclub@borderlands-books.com for more information.
------------------------------
Upcoming Event Details
------------------------------
Shannon Page, OUR LADY OF THE ISLANDS (Per Aspera Press, Hardcover, $26.99) Saturday, January 17th at 3:00 pm - We are happy to welcome Shannon Page, co-author (with Jay Lake) of OUR LADY OF THE ISLANDS to Borderlands! Sadly, Jay passed away in 2014, but the publisher believes he would be very proud of the presentation of this book. "It is a powerful tale of political intrigue, divine mystery, and swashbuckling naval battles. Graced with splashes of humor, this novel is full of cliffhangers that will keep you turning pages. Sian Katte is a successful middle-aged businesswoman in the tropical island nation of Alizar. Her life seems comfortable and well-arranged . . . until a violent encounter one evening leaves her with an unwanted magical power. Arian des Chances is the wife of Alizar's ruler, with vast wealth and political influence. Yet for all her resources, she can only watch helplessly as her son draws nearer to death. When crisis thrusts these two women together, they learn some surprising truths: about themselves, their loved ones, and Alizar itself. Because beneath a seemingly calm facade, Alizar's people -- and a dead god -- are stirring. . . ." Join us to meet Shannon and check out the novel that Publishers Weekly called one of the Best Books of 2014! http://best-books.publishersweekly.com/pw/best-books/2014/sf-fantasy-horror#book/book-6
The triumphant return of SF in SF with authors Cecilia Holland and Kim Stanley Robinson, at The Book Club of California, 312 Sutter Street Suite 500, Thursday, January 22nd - SF in SF returns with Kim Stanley Robinson and Cecelia Holland, in conversation with Terry Bisson! Each author will read a selection from their work (15-20 mins.), followed by an intermission, Q&A with Terry Bisson, and then book signing. Books for sale courtesy of Borderlands Books. $8 at the door for Book Club of California Members, reserved seating; RSVP to jennifer@bccbooks.org. $10 at the door for the general public, general seating. Cash or charge at the door, refreshments at the bar. All admission costs, donations and tips benefit the Book Club of California. (The Book Club of California is a nonprofit membership organization founded in 1912. It supports the art of fine printing related to the history and literature of California and the western states of America through research, publishing, public programs, and exhibitions.)
Samantha Shannon, THE MIME ORDER (Bloomsbury, Hardcover, $25.00) Saturday, February 14th at 3:00 pm - Join us to meet Samantha Shannon and check out the thrilling followup to THE BONE SEASON! From the book description: "Paige Mahoney has escaped the brutal penal colony of Sheol I, but her problems have only just begun: many of the fugitives are still missing and she is the most wanted person in London. As Scion turns its all-seeing eye on Paige, the mime-lords and mime-queens of the city’s gangs are invited to a rare meeting of the Unnatural Assembly. Jaxon Hall and his Seven Seals prepare to take center stage, but there are bitter fault lines running through the clairvoyant community and dark secrets around every corner. Then the Rephaim begin crawling out from the shadows. But where is Warden? Paige must keep moving, from Seven Dials to Grub Street to the secret catacombs of Camden, until the fate of the underworld can be decided. Will Paige know who to trust? The hunt for the dreamwalker is on."
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.
----------------------
Upcoming Events
----------------------
Shannon Page, OUR LADY OF THE ISLANDS (Per Aspera Press, Hardcover, $26.99) Saturday, January 17th at 3:00 pm
The triumphant return of SF in SF with authors Cecilia Holland and Kim Stanley Robinson, at The Book Club of California, 312 Sutter Street Suite 500, Thursday, January 22nd
Samantha Shannon, THE MIME ORDER (Bloomsbury, Hardcover, $25.00) Saturday, February 14th at 3:00 pm
(for more information check the end of this newsletter)
-------
News
-------
*Overheard in the Store:
"What were you going to DO with the Azerbaijan Long-Snouted Parrot when you got to the top of the clock tower?"
"Am I only person in the world who hates eggnog? I think it's like snot, with brandy."
"Of course they were more prolific back then - they didn't have to tear themselves away from 'Breaking Bad' like the rest of us."
* Phillip K Dick Award nominees have been announced: http://www.philipkdickaward.org/
* Over at io9.com Charlie Anders and Diana Biller list the top ten design flaws for the USS Enterprise. So Borg take note: http://io9.com/top-10-biggest-design-flaws-in-the-u-s-s-enterprise-1678274241
* A new award from Baen has been announced: http://www.baen.com/baenfantasyaward.asp
* Prolific alternate history author Robert Conroy has died at the age of 76, following a battle with cancer: http://www.locusmag.com/News/2015/01/robert-conroy-1938-2014/
* The 2014 Rhysling Winners, for excellence in speculative poetry, have been announced: http://sfpoetry.com/ra/pages/14rhysling.html
* The Horror Writers Association announces a new scholarship in honor of their late President Rocky Wood, who died in early December, 2014: http://www.prlog.org/12401115-horror-writers-association-announces-rocky-wood-memorial-scholarship-names-new-president-and-vice-president.html
* The World Fantasy Convention 2015 website is open! The GoHs are Steven Erikson & Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, along with Special Guests Glen Cook & David Drake: http://www.wfc2015.org/
* The design competition for the 2015 Hugo Base is now on! Be a part of history and have your work sit on an author's mantle forever: http://sasquan.org/hugo-base-competition/
* James Patterson has given away over $1m of his personal cash to independent bookstores over the last year in his Saving Bookstores, Saving Lives campaign: http://www.jamespatterson.com/booksellers/#.VK7gqdLF831
* Marvel's limited series "Agent Carter" has finally premiered, and it looks like it might be everything we hoped for: http://sciencefiction.com/2015/01/08/tv-review-agent-carter-now-endbridge-tunneltv-review-agent-carter-now-endbridge-tunnel/
* James Whitbrook breaks down the history of Ant-Man over at Toybox (and does a solid job of giving us some good points but also not shying away from why, for many of us, this is the first MCU movie we're a bit unsure about): http://toybox.io9.com/your-guide-to-ant-man-the-newest-and-smallest-marvel-1678249880
* In more awesome superhero news, there is a new Power Girl, and not only is she a super-intelligent young woman of color but also PG's traditional infamous "boob window" is GONE! http://www.themarysue.com/new-power-girl-rad-as-heck/
* The 2014 Ignotus (the Spanish language equivalent of the Hugos) winners have been announced! Congratulations to all the winners. We can only hope some of these great stories get translated soon. http://scifiportal.eu/2014-spanish-sff-ignotus-domingo-santos-awards/
* Ever wondered what "Ghostbusters" would look like done as an anime series in the 80s? Well, wonder no more! http://nerdapproved.com/misc-weirdness/what-if-ghostbusters-was-an-80s-anime-video/
* Over at io9.com, George Dvorsky has listed all the science stories that are set to dominate headlines in 2015: http://io9.com/these-are-the-science-stories-that-will-be-making-news-1678208928
* Take a look at all the characters that James Gunn wanted to include in "Guardians of the Galaxy" and couldn't because of ownership issue: http://sciencefiction.com/2015/01/08/want-know-cosmic-characters-james-gunn-wasnt-able-use-guardians-galaxy/
* "Frozen" was the biggest animated movie of last year and while we've moved on, the good land of Arendelle is not forgotten. Check here for the three "Frozen" easter eggs in "Big Hero 6":
http://www.cinemablend.com/new/See-3-Frozen-References-You-Missed-Big-Hero-6-69021.html
* We're most excited for the second Marvel Netflix series "AKA Jessica Jones," but even the "Daredevil" series looks like it could be really good (or might at least wipe the memory of Affleck-as-Daredevil from our collective memory): http://www.cinemablend.com/television/Marvel-Daredevil-Series-Premiere-Netflix-Sooner-Than-We-Thought-69321.html
* RiffTrax has put up their list of the worst movies of 2014 as voted by fans. A lot of them are speculative and all of them are painful. http://www.rifftrax.com/the-worst-movies-of-2014
--------------------
From The Office
--------------------
Will return next month.
----------------
Best Sellers
----------------
Borderlands Best-Selling Titles for December, 2014:
Hardcovers
1. THE SLOW REGARD OF SILENT THINGS by Patrick Rothfuss
2. THE PERIPHERAL by William Gibson
3. WHAT IF? by Randall Munroe
4. LOCK IN by John Scalzi
5. CLARIEL by Garth Nix
6. WAISTCOATS AND WEAPONRY by Gail Carriger
7. SYMBIONT by Mira Grant
8. THE THREE BODY PROBLEM by Cixin Liu
9. VELVETEEN VS. THE MULTIVERSE by Seanan McGuire
10. WILLFUL CHILD by Steven Erikson
Mass Market Paperbacks
1. THE NAME OF THE WIND by Patrick Rothfuss
2. THE WINTER LONG by Seanan McGuire
3. KEEPER OF THE CASTLE by Juliet Blackwell
4. DANGEROUS WOMEN VOL. 2 edited by Geroge R.R. Martin & Gardner Dozois
5. THE BULLET CATCHER'S DAUGHTER by Rod Duncan
6. WISE MAN'S FEAR by Patrick Rothfuss
7. DANCE WITH DRAGONS by George R.R. Martin
8. GAME OF THRONES by George R.R. Martin
9. 2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson
10. REPUBLIC OF THIEVES by Scott Lynch
Trade Paperbacks
1. ANCILLARY JUSTICE by Ann Leckie
2. THE MARTIAN by Andy Weir
3. ANCILLARY SWORD by Ann Leckie
4. THE DARK DEFILES by Richard K. Morgan
5. UNNATURAL CREATURES edited by Neil Gaiman
------------------------------
Book Club Information
------------------------------
The QSF&F Book Club will meet on Sunday, February 8th, at 5 pm to discuss LOVE MINUS EIGHTY by Will McIntosh. 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, January 18th, at 6 pm to discuss RAISING STEAM by Terry Pratchett. Please contact bookclub@borderlands-books.com for more information.
------------------------------
Upcoming Event Details
------------------------------
Shannon Page, OUR LADY OF THE ISLANDS (Per Aspera Press, Hardcover, $26.99) Saturday, January 17th at 3:00 pm - We are happy to welcome Shannon Page, co-author (with Jay Lake) of OUR LADY OF THE ISLANDS to Borderlands! Sadly, Jay passed away in 2014, but the publisher believes he would be very proud of the presentation of this book. "It is a powerful tale of political intrigue, divine mystery, and swashbuckling naval battles. Graced with splashes of humor, this novel is full of cliffhangers that will keep you turning pages. Sian Katte is a successful middle-aged businesswoman in the tropical island nation of Alizar. Her life seems comfortable and well-arranged . . . until a violent encounter one evening leaves her with an unwanted magical power. Arian des Chances is the wife of Alizar's ruler, with vast wealth and political influence. Yet for all her resources, she can only watch helplessly as her son draws nearer to death. When crisis thrusts these two women together, they learn some surprising truths: about themselves, their loved ones, and Alizar itself. Because beneath a seemingly calm facade, Alizar's people -- and a dead god -- are stirring. . . ." Join us to meet Shannon and check out the novel that Publishers Weekly called one of the Best Books of 2014! http://best-books.publishersweekly.com/pw/best-books/2014/sf-fantasy-horror#book/book-6
The triumphant return of SF in SF with authors Cecilia Holland and Kim Stanley Robinson, at The Book Club of California, 312 Sutter Street Suite 500, Thursday, January 22nd - SF in SF returns with Kim Stanley Robinson and Cecelia Holland, in conversation with Terry Bisson! Each author will read a selection from their work (15-20 mins.), followed by an intermission, Q&A with Terry Bisson, and then book signing. Books for sale courtesy of Borderlands Books. $8 at the door for Book Club of California Members, reserved seating; RSVP to jennifer@bccbooks.org. $10 at the door for the general public, general seating. Cash or charge at the door, refreshments at the bar. All admission costs, donations and tips benefit the Book Club of California. (The Book Club of California is a nonprofit membership organization founded in 1912. It supports the art of fine printing related to the history and literature of California and the western states of America through research, publishing, public programs, and exhibitions.)
Samantha Shannon, THE MIME ORDER (Bloomsbury, Hardcover, $25.00) Saturday, February 14th at 3:00 pm - Join us to meet Samantha Shannon and check out the thrilling followup to THE BONE SEASON! From the book description: "Paige Mahoney has escaped the brutal penal colony of Sheol I, but her problems have only just begun: many of the fugitives are still missing and she is the most wanted person in London. As Scion turns its all-seeing eye on Paige, the mime-lords and mime-queens of the city’s gangs are invited to a rare meeting of the Unnatural Assembly. Jaxon Hall and his Seven Seals prepare to take center stage, but there are bitter fault lines running through the clairvoyant community and dark secrets around every corner. Then the Rephaim begin crawling out from the shadows. But where is Warden? Paige must keep moving, from Seven Dials to Grub Street to the secret catacombs of Camden, until the fate of the underworld can be decided. Will Paige know who to trust? The hunt for the dreamwalker is on."
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.
December 13, 2014
Holiday Gift Guide
It's December again! The perfect time for curling up with hot cocoa and a good book, and for picking up some great books for holiday gifts. Here as usual is our Opinionated Gift Guide to help you out. However, 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 happy 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 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.)
All of us at Borderlands wish you a peaceful and comfortable holiday season, and an absolutely brilliant new year in 2015.
- Jude Feldman
All of us at Borderlands wish you a peaceful and comfortable holiday season, and an absolutely brilliant new year in 2015.
- Jude Feldman
November Bestsellers
Hardcovers
1. THE SLOW REGARD OF SILENT THINGS by Patrick Rothfuss
2. THE PERIPHERAL by William Gibson
3. SYMBIONT by Mira Grant
4. HARVEST SEASON edited by Bill Roper
5. WAISTCOATS AND WEAPONRY by Gail Carriger
6. WILLFUL CHILD by Steven Erikson
7. FEAR CITY by F. Paul Wilson
8. CLARIEL by Garth Nix
9. REVIVAL by Stephen King
10. PRINCE LESTAT by Anne Rice
Mass Market Paperbacks
1. THE WINTER LONG by Seanan McGuire
2. DANGEROUS WOMEN VOL. 1 edited by Geroge R.R. Martin & Gardner Dozois
3. REPUBLIC OF THIEVES by Scott Lynch
4. DANGEROUS WOMEN VOL. 2 edited by Geroge R.R. Martin & Gardner Dozois
5. THE BULLET CATCHER'S DAUGHTER by Rod Duncan
6. EMPIRE OF DUST by Jacey Bedford
7. DARK CITY by F. Paul Wilson
8. HUMAN DIVISION by John Scalzi
9. HEIRS AND GRACES by Rhys Bowen
10. STARHAWK by Jack McDevitt
Trade Paperbacks
1. ANCILLARY JUSTICE by Ann Leckie
2. THE DARK DEFILES by Richard K. Morgan
3. ANCILLARY SWORD by Ann Leckie
4. HILD by Nicola Griffith
5. THE MARTIAN by Andy Weir
1. THE SLOW REGARD OF SILENT THINGS by Patrick Rothfuss
2. THE PERIPHERAL by William Gibson
3. SYMBIONT by Mira Grant
4. HARVEST SEASON edited by Bill Roper
5. WAISTCOATS AND WEAPONRY by Gail Carriger
6. WILLFUL CHILD by Steven Erikson
7. FEAR CITY by F. Paul Wilson
8. CLARIEL by Garth Nix
9. REVIVAL by Stephen King
10. PRINCE LESTAT by Anne Rice
Mass Market Paperbacks
1. THE WINTER LONG by Seanan McGuire
2. DANGEROUS WOMEN VOL. 1 edited by Geroge R.R. Martin & Gardner Dozois
3. REPUBLIC OF THIEVES by Scott Lynch
4. DANGEROUS WOMEN VOL. 2 edited by Geroge R.R. Martin & Gardner Dozois
5. THE BULLET CATCHER'S DAUGHTER by Rod Duncan
6. EMPIRE OF DUST by Jacey Bedford
7. DARK CITY by F. Paul Wilson
8. HUMAN DIVISION by John Scalzi
9. HEIRS AND GRACES by Rhys Bowen
10. STARHAWK by Jack McDevitt
Trade Paperbacks
1. ANCILLARY JUSTICE by Ann Leckie
2. THE DARK DEFILES by Richard K. Morgan
3. ANCILLARY SWORD by Ann Leckie
4. HILD by Nicola Griffith
5. THE MARTIAN by Andy Weir
December News Roundup
* Whatever Comics in the Castro could use some support to recover from sales lost during the street "improvements" over the summer. Like many businesses, their sales suffered considerably during the six months that the street and sidewalks were torn up and they could really use a boost this holiday season. It's a great shop with lovely owners and well worth our help. http://hoodline.com/2014/11/whatever-comics-hosts-sale-to-stay-in-business
* Overheard in the Store:
"How San Francisco! Don't get a stripper to show up; you get a nude unicyclist to ride around the living room. 'Glad yer gettin' hitched Amy!'"
* Spider Robinson, who lost his beloved wife Jeanne to cancer in 2010, is now on the verge of losing his daughter to the same disease. If you can spare anything to help with the medical costs, please donate: http://boingboing.net/2014/11/27/help-spider-robinsons-daught.html
* LunaCon, New York's longest running science fiction and fantasy convention, has been canceled for 2015. They plan to return in 2016. http://2015.lunacon.org/
* io9 reports that J.K. Rowling will be releasing twelve Harry Potter short stories during the month of December. Not much is known of the stories except that one is supposed to center on Draco Malfoy. http://io9.com/j-k-rowling-to-release-12-new-harry-potter-short-stori-1667496900
* The 2014 World Fantasy Awards were announced at the World Fantasy Convention, and store friends Sofia Samatar and Ellen Klages were among the winners. Congratulations to them and to all the winners! http://worldfantasy2014.org/awards4.php
* Ursula LeGuin was awarded a medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters by the National Book Awards. Watch her lovely speech here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Et9Nf-rsALk
* Congratulations to science fiction writer and critic John Clute, who was named an Honorary Visiting Fellow at Anglia Ruskin University. http://www.locusmag.com/News/2014/11/clute-named-fellow-at-anglia-ruskin/
* Noted popular mystery writer and author of the science fiction novel CHILDREN OF MEN, PD James passed away recently at the age of 94. Here are five of her novels to check out: http://mashable.com/2014/11/27/four-pd-james-books-to-read/
* Vice has launched a weekly online science fiction magazine, Terraform, which has already published pieces by Bruce Sterling, Claire L. Evans, Cory Doctorow, Alison Wilgus, Paul Ford and others. http://motherboard.vice.com/read/terraform-home-online-fiction
* Ryan Reynolds has closed a deal for a "Deadpool" film. We can only hope it will be a better representation of the "Merc with a Mouth" than the first time Reynolds played Deadpool. http://deadline.com/2014/12/ryan-reynolds-deadpool-fox-x-men-1201309406/
* Hachette has finally won its battle with Amazon and are going to set their own prices for their e-books. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/14/technology/amazon-hachette-ebook-dispute.html?_r=1
* Yahoo reports that Ridley Scott may actually return to direct "Blade Runner 2," mostly because he thinks the script is that good. We can only hope he didn't think the same about the "Prometheus" script . . . . https://uk.yahoo.com/movies/ridley-scott-i-could-still-direct-blade-runner-104242760001.html
* Check out a sneak peek of the newest Avenger to get a solo book, the fantastic Squirrel Girl! The first issue of Unbeatable Squirrel Girl will be out next month. http://sciencefiction.com/2014/12/04/kraven-hunter-vs-squirrels-first-look-unbeatable-squirrel-girl-1/
* That season is almost upon us when Netflix offloads a bunch of its titles and picks up some new ones, and Slice of SciFi gave us a list of the titles we'll be gaining and losing. http://www.sliceofscifi.com/2014/11/28/goodbye-hello-from-netflix/
* Veronique Greenwood publishes a piece in the NY Times about her Great-Great-Aunt who worked with the Curies and discovered Francium. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/07/magazine/my-great-great-aunt-discovered-francium-and-it-killed-her.html?_r=1
* Peter Jackson explains why, without some sort of deal with the Tolkien estate, the third "Hobbit" movie will be the final film in Tolkien's world. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/peter-jackson-tolkien-estate-rights-753368
* Congratulations to Madhvi Ramani, who won both the inaugural Diverse Writers and the inaugural Diverse Worlds grants from the Speculative Literature Foundation. http://www.locusmag.com/News/2014/11/slf-grants/
* The Guardian has listed some of the Science Fiction and Fantasy books they consider to be the best of 2014. http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/dec/05/best-science-fiction-books-2014
* We may finally have a Jessica Jones for Marvel's Netflix original series. Apparently the role has been offered to Krysten Ritter. As long-time Jessica Jones fans, we're nervous about the choice, having never seen Ritter in a non-party-girl, high-fashion role, which is the polar opposite of the gritty, practical and street-smart Jones. However, Marvel has done well with its casting so far, so Ritter could end up being awesome, if she takes the role. http://sciencefiction.com/2014/12/04/found-jessica-jones-leads/
* Flavorwire has a list of 25 genre novels that they believe should be classics: http://flavorwire.com/492187/25-genre-novels-that-should-be-classics/view-all
* "Star Trek 3" is again without a director. Robert Orci, who stepped in after J.J. Abrams left to work on the new "Star Wars" film, is now out and no one seems to know why yet. http://sciencefiction.com/2014/12/05/breaking-roberto-orci-beamed-star-trek-3/
* Two online petitions are floating about to rename the bay bridge after Emperor Norton, though neither seems to have much momentum: http://sfist.com/2013/08/06/effort_to_rename_bay_bridge_after_e.php
* Dean Devlin explains why his plans to film "Independence Day" 2 and 3 simultaneously have now changed and what sort of delay this puts on the reboot of the "Stargate" film franchise in a new interview. http://www.nerdreport.com/2014/12/04/independence-day-2-exclusive-why-theyre-not-doing-2-sequels-at-once/
* With as much as we think we know about the Marquis de Sade, Jonathon Sturgeon points out that we don't actually know that much. http://flavorwire.com/491906/200-years-later-we-still-do-not-know-the-marquis-de-sade
* Cheryl Eddy over at io9 explores the history and the myths of the famous ghost ship the Mary Celeste: http://io9.com/what-happened-aboard-historys-most-baffling-ghost-ship-1667518366
* Kickstarter to fund a full-length documentary about San Francisco's own beloved Emperor Norton! Some of the interviews were filmed here at Borderlands; kick in a few dollars if you can: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2072206954/norton-the-first-americas-emperor
* Lastly, Patrick Rothfuss' charity Worldbuilders can use your support. http://www.worldbuilders.org/ Pat says he'll probably kiss a llama for the charity: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/14/books/review/inside-the-list.html?ref=books&_r=1
* Overheard in the Store:
"How San Francisco! Don't get a stripper to show up; you get a nude unicyclist to ride around the living room. 'Glad yer gettin' hitched Amy!'"
* Spider Robinson, who lost his beloved wife Jeanne to cancer in 2010, is now on the verge of losing his daughter to the same disease. If you can spare anything to help with the medical costs, please donate: http://boingboing.net/2014/11/27/help-spider-robinsons-daught.html
* LunaCon, New York's longest running science fiction and fantasy convention, has been canceled for 2015. They plan to return in 2016. http://2015.lunacon.org/
* io9 reports that J.K. Rowling will be releasing twelve Harry Potter short stories during the month of December. Not much is known of the stories except that one is supposed to center on Draco Malfoy. http://io9.com/j-k-rowling-to-release-12-new-harry-potter-short-stori-1667496900
* The 2014 World Fantasy Awards were announced at the World Fantasy Convention, and store friends Sofia Samatar and Ellen Klages were among the winners. Congratulations to them and to all the winners! http://worldfantasy2014.org/awards4.php
* Ursula LeGuin was awarded a medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters by the National Book Awards. Watch her lovely speech here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Et9Nf-rsALk
* Congratulations to science fiction writer and critic John Clute, who was named an Honorary Visiting Fellow at Anglia Ruskin University. http://www.locusmag.com/News/2014/11/clute-named-fellow-at-anglia-ruskin/
* Noted popular mystery writer and author of the science fiction novel CHILDREN OF MEN, PD James passed away recently at the age of 94. Here are five of her novels to check out: http://mashable.com/2014/11/27/four-pd-james-books-to-read/
* Vice has launched a weekly online science fiction magazine, Terraform, which has already published pieces by Bruce Sterling, Claire L. Evans, Cory Doctorow, Alison Wilgus, Paul Ford and others. http://motherboard.vice.com/read/terraform-home-online-fiction
* Ryan Reynolds has closed a deal for a "Deadpool" film. We can only hope it will be a better representation of the "Merc with a Mouth" than the first time Reynolds played Deadpool. http://deadline.com/2014/12/ryan-reynolds-deadpool-fox-x-men-1201309406/
* Hachette has finally won its battle with Amazon and are going to set their own prices for their e-books. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/14/technology/amazon-hachette-ebook-dispute.html?_r=1
* Yahoo reports that Ridley Scott may actually return to direct "Blade Runner 2," mostly because he thinks the script is that good. We can only hope he didn't think the same about the "Prometheus" script . . . . https://uk.yahoo.com/movies/ridley-scott-i-could-still-direct-blade-runner-104242760001.html
* Check out a sneak peek of the newest Avenger to get a solo book, the fantastic Squirrel Girl! The first issue of Unbeatable Squirrel Girl will be out next month. http://sciencefiction.com/2014/12/04/kraven-hunter-vs-squirrels-first-look-unbeatable-squirrel-girl-1/
* That season is almost upon us when Netflix offloads a bunch of its titles and picks up some new ones, and Slice of SciFi gave us a list of the titles we'll be gaining and losing. http://www.sliceofscifi.com/2014/11/28/goodbye-hello-from-netflix/
* Veronique Greenwood publishes a piece in the NY Times about her Great-Great-Aunt who worked with the Curies and discovered Francium. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/07/magazine/my-great-great-aunt-discovered-francium-and-it-killed-her.html?_r=1
* Peter Jackson explains why, without some sort of deal with the Tolkien estate, the third "Hobbit" movie will be the final film in Tolkien's world. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/peter-jackson-tolkien-estate-rights-753368
* Congratulations to Madhvi Ramani, who won both the inaugural Diverse Writers and the inaugural Diverse Worlds grants from the Speculative Literature Foundation. http://www.locusmag.com/News/2014/11/slf-grants/
* The Guardian has listed some of the Science Fiction and Fantasy books they consider to be the best of 2014. http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/dec/05/best-science-fiction-books-2014
* We may finally have a Jessica Jones for Marvel's Netflix original series. Apparently the role has been offered to Krysten Ritter. As long-time Jessica Jones fans, we're nervous about the choice, having never seen Ritter in a non-party-girl, high-fashion role, which is the polar opposite of the gritty, practical and street-smart Jones. However, Marvel has done well with its casting so far, so Ritter could end up being awesome, if she takes the role. http://sciencefiction.com/2014/12/04/found-jessica-jones-leads/
* Flavorwire has a list of 25 genre novels that they believe should be classics: http://flavorwire.com/492187/25-genre-novels-that-should-be-classics/view-all
* "Star Trek 3" is again without a director. Robert Orci, who stepped in after J.J. Abrams left to work on the new "Star Wars" film, is now out and no one seems to know why yet. http://sciencefiction.com/2014/12/05/breaking-roberto-orci-beamed-star-trek-3/
* Two online petitions are floating about to rename the bay bridge after Emperor Norton, though neither seems to have much momentum: http://sfist.com/2013/08/06/effort_to_rename_bay_bridge_after_e.php
* Dean Devlin explains why his plans to film "Independence Day" 2 and 3 simultaneously have now changed and what sort of delay this puts on the reboot of the "Stargate" film franchise in a new interview. http://www.nerdreport.com/2014/12/04/independence-day-2-exclusive-why-theyre-not-doing-2-sequels-at-once/
* With as much as we think we know about the Marquis de Sade, Jonathon Sturgeon points out that we don't actually know that much. http://flavorwire.com/491906/200-years-later-we-still-do-not-know-the-marquis-de-sade
* Cheryl Eddy over at io9 explores the history and the myths of the famous ghost ship the Mary Celeste: http://io9.com/what-happened-aboard-historys-most-baffling-ghost-ship-1667518366
* Kickstarter to fund a full-length documentary about San Francisco's own beloved Emperor Norton! Some of the interviews were filmed here at Borderlands; kick in a few dollars if you can: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2072206954/norton-the-first-americas-emperor
* Lastly, Patrick Rothfuss' charity Worldbuilders can use your support. http://www.worldbuilders.org/ Pat says he'll probably kiss a llama for the charity: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/14/books/review/inside-the-list.html?ref=books&_r=1
Upcoming Events
Amber Benson, THE WITCHES OF ECHO PARK (Ace, Trade Paperback, $15.00) Friday, January 9th at 7:00 pm
Shannon Page, OUR LADY OF THE ISLANDS (Per Aspera Press, Hardcover, $26.99) Saturday, January 17th at 3:00 pm
The triumphant return of SF in SF with authors Cecilia Holland and Kim Stanley Robinson, at The Book Club of California, 312 Sutter Street Suite 500, Thursday, January 22nd
Shannon Page, OUR LADY OF THE ISLANDS (Per Aspera Press, Hardcover, $26.99) Saturday, January 17th at 3:00 pm
The triumphant return of SF in SF with authors Cecilia Holland and Kim Stanley Robinson, at The Book Club of California, 312 Sutter Street Suite 500, Thursday, January 22nd
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