For the next eight months we'll be doing a special feature each month in honor of Borderlands' upcoming 10th Anniversary (November 3rd, 2007). We'll share some stories about what Borderlands is and how it got that way.
by Alan Beatts
People frequently comment on how nice Borderlands looks. Sometimes they seem a little surprised that the shop looks so good and their surprise often seems to be strangely amplified when they consider our specialty. It was probably best put by Terry Pratchett the first time he visited. He walked in, looked around and declared, "This can't be a Science Fiction shop, it hasn't sh*t all over the floor!"
Though I don't agree with Mr. Pratchett's assessment of Science Fiction shops in general, I do think Borderlands looks good. I'll even go so far as to say it looks better to me than most bookstores. But however nice it looks, the paint scheme, wooden fixtures and floors, oriental carpets, and "old fashioned" touches (like the lock on the bathroom door -- which I think is doing very well for its age, despite the occasional customer who worries about getting trapped in there. What's so complicated about "wiggle the key in, turn counter clockwise to unlock, now turn knob clockwise to open"? I should be so lucky as to be doing that well when I'm 100 years old!) Ummm, what was I saying? Right . . . .
March 01, 2007
Zombie Film
by Jeremy Lassen
In celebration of the release of "The Night of the Comet," March is All Zombie Month. I know next month would be a better fit, with the Easter Holiday, but I'm trying to avoid the ire of the Catholic-Anti-Defamation league.
"Night of the Comet" is a much-talked-about silly 80's comedy zombie film that has never been on DVD. It is a total artifact of its era, but is definitely worth seeing if you've never had the pleasure of watching it.
Forgive me for repeating myself, but in an all- zombie newsletter there's bound to be some repetition. "Return of the Living Dead" is the greatest comedic zombie film of all time, so you might consider watching "Return. . ." with "Night of the Comet". Another repeat recommendation is "Cemetery Man," which was finally released in the States on DVD last year. It is also known by its original title, "Dellamorte Dellamore," and is the best existential-zombie love story ever put to film. Another phenomenally successful comedic zombie film is of course "Shaun of the Dead". If you're living under a rock, and haven't heard of this one, go watch it. It's great.
In celebration of the release of "The Night of the Comet," March is All Zombie Month. I know next month would be a better fit, with the Easter Holiday, but I'm trying to avoid the ire of the Catholic-Anti-Defamation league.
"Night of the Comet" is a much-talked-about silly 80's comedy zombie film that has never been on DVD. It is a total artifact of its era, but is definitely worth seeing if you've never had the pleasure of watching it.
Forgive me for repeating myself, but in an all- zombie newsletter there's bound to be some repetition. "Return of the Living Dead" is the greatest comedic zombie film of all time, so you might consider watching "Return. . ." with "Night of the Comet". Another repeat recommendation is "Cemetery Man," which was finally released in the States on DVD last year. It is also known by its original title, "Dellamorte Dellamore," and is the best existential-zombie love story ever put to film. Another phenomenally successful comedic zombie film is of course "Shaun of the Dead". If you're living under a rock, and haven't heard of this one, go watch it. It's great.
February Bestsellers
Hardcovers:
1. Ysabel by Guy Gavriel Kay
2. Mathematicians in Love by Rudy Rucker
3. Un Lun Dun by China Mieville
4. You Suck by Christopher Moore
5. The Terror by Dan Simmons
6. Gods and Pawns by Kage Baker
7. Voices From the Street by Philip K. Dick
8. Off Armageddon Reef by David Weber
9. End of the Story: The Collected Fantasies of Clark Ashton Smith by Clark Ashton Smith, edited by Scott Conners and Ron Hilger
10. Lord of the Silent Isles by Glen Cook
Mass Market Paperbacks
1. Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
2. Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
3. Woken Furies by Richard Morgan (UK edition)
4. The Voyage of the Sable Keech by Neal Asher (UK edition)
5. Fifty Degrees Below by Kim Stanley Robinson
6. Old Man's War by John Scalzi
7. Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher
8. Tyranny of the Night by Glen Cook
9. Old Soldiers by David Weber tied with A Princess of Roumania by Paul Park
10. To Serve and Submit by Susan Wright
Trade Paperbacks
1. Hardwired by Walter John Williams
2. Grey by Jon Armstrong
3. The Armageddon Rag by George R.R. Martin
4. Final Impact (Axis of Time vol. 3) by John Birmingham
5. The James Tiptree Award Anthology vol. 3, edited by Karen Joy Folwer, Pat Murphy, Debbie Notkin and Jeffrey D. Smith
1. Ysabel by Guy Gavriel Kay
2. Mathematicians in Love by Rudy Rucker
3. Un Lun Dun by China Mieville
4. You Suck by Christopher Moore
5. The Terror by Dan Simmons
6. Gods and Pawns by Kage Baker
7. Voices From the Street by Philip K. Dick
8. Off Armageddon Reef by David Weber
9. End of the Story: The Collected Fantasies of Clark Ashton Smith by Clark Ashton Smith, edited by Scott Conners and Ron Hilger
10. Lord of the Silent Isles by Glen Cook
Mass Market Paperbacks
1. Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
2. Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
3. Woken Furies by Richard Morgan (UK edition)
4. The Voyage of the Sable Keech by Neal Asher (UK edition)
5. Fifty Degrees Below by Kim Stanley Robinson
6. Old Man's War by John Scalzi
7. Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher
8. Tyranny of the Night by Glen Cook
9. Old Soldiers by David Weber tied with A Princess of Roumania by Paul Park
10. To Serve and Submit by Susan Wright
Trade Paperbacks
1. Hardwired by Walter John Williams
2. Grey by Jon Armstrong
3. The Armageddon Rag by George R.R. Martin
4. Final Impact (Axis of Time vol. 3) by John Birmingham
5. The James Tiptree Award Anthology vol. 3, edited by Karen Joy Folwer, Pat Murphy, Debbie Notkin and Jeffrey D. Smith
February 01, 2007
Notes from a DVD Geek
by Jeremy Lassen
Hello DVD maniacs. This month we’ve got an Italian horror resurrection. Get ready!
The second season of Masters of Terror is hitting DVD, and Dario Argento’s episode, "Pelts," hits DVD this month. Some of you may remember his episode, "Jennifer," from the first season. Both are solid entries to the Argento canon. For more Argento love, be sure to note that cult film experts Blue Underground are re-releasing his sequel to Suspiria, Inferno. Inferno is a often-overlooked classic set in a monstrous old mansion in New York, and features a weird score by ELP. It further explores the “three sisters” mythology that began in Suspiria.
Next up on the Blue Underground list is Fulci’s classic of 80’s splatter-gore, zombies, and semi-incoherence, City of the Living Dead. This looks to be a full-features, anamorphic release, which is critical for enjoying the legendary “death by drill press” scene. A lesser Fulci effort, Don’t Torture a Duckling, is also being re-released this month by Blue Underground.
Hello DVD maniacs. This month we’ve got an Italian horror resurrection. Get ready!
The second season of Masters of Terror is hitting DVD, and Dario Argento’s episode, "Pelts," hits DVD this month. Some of you may remember his episode, "Jennifer," from the first season. Both are solid entries to the Argento canon. For more Argento love, be sure to note that cult film experts Blue Underground are re-releasing his sequel to Suspiria, Inferno. Inferno is a often-overlooked classic set in a monstrous old mansion in New York, and features a weird score by ELP. It further explores the “three sisters” mythology that began in Suspiria.
Next up on the Blue Underground list is Fulci’s classic of 80’s splatter-gore, zombies, and semi-incoherence, City of the Living Dead. This looks to be a full-features, anamorphic release, which is critical for enjoying the legendary “death by drill press” scene. A lesser Fulci effort, Don’t Torture a Duckling, is also being re-released this month by Blue Underground.
January Bestsellers
Hardcovers
1. Off Armageddon Reef by David Weber
2. You Suck: A Love Story by Christopher Moore
3. Jennifer Morgue by Charles Stross
4. Polity Agent by Neal Asher
5. Teatro Grottesco by Thomas Ligotti
6. The Android's Dream by John Scalzi
7. Unto the Breach by John Ringo
8. The Ladies of Grace Adieu by Susanna Clarke
9. The Demon and the City by Liz Williams
10. Gods And Pawns by Kage Baker
tie
Voices From The Street by Philip K. Dick
Paperbacks
1. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
2. Old Man's War by John Scalzi
3. Shadowmarch by Tad Williams
4. Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
5. Crown of Stars by Kate Elliott
6. Hell to Pay by Simon R. Green
7. Learning the World by Ken MacLeod
8. Protector's War by S.M. Stirling
9. Olympos by Dan Simmons
10. Accelerando by Charles Stross
Trade Paperbacks
1. Hardwired by Walter John Williams
2. Overclocked by Cory Doctorow
tie
Fledgling by Octavia Butler
3. Snake Agent by Liz Williams
4. Spin Control by Chris Moriarity
5. Market Forces by Richard Morgan
1. Off Armageddon Reef by David Weber
2. You Suck: A Love Story by Christopher Moore
3. Jennifer Morgue by Charles Stross
4. Polity Agent by Neal Asher
5. Teatro Grottesco by Thomas Ligotti
6. The Android's Dream by John Scalzi
7. Unto the Breach by John Ringo
8. The Ladies of Grace Adieu by Susanna Clarke
9. The Demon and the City by Liz Williams
10. Gods And Pawns by Kage Baker
tie
Voices From The Street by Philip K. Dick
Paperbacks
1. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
2. Old Man's War by John Scalzi
3. Shadowmarch by Tad Williams
4. Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
5. Crown of Stars by Kate Elliott
6. Hell to Pay by Simon R. Green
7. Learning the World by Ken MacLeod
8. Protector's War by S.M. Stirling
9. Olympos by Dan Simmons
10. Accelerando by Charles Stross
Trade Paperbacks
1. Hardwired by Walter John Williams
2. Overclocked by Cory Doctorow
tie
Fledgling by Octavia Butler
3. Snake Agent by Liz Williams
4. Spin Control by Chris Moriarity
5. Market Forces by Richard Morgan
Origin of the Bookstore, Part the Fourth - The Leak of the Week Pool
For the next nine months we'll be doing a special feature each month in honor of Borderlands' upcoming 10th Anniversary (November 3rd, 2007). We'll share some stories about what Borderlands is and how it got that way.
by Jude Feldman
As many of you know, Borderlands is housed in an old building. In fact, the building at 866 Valencia turns 100 this year. We like old buildings; their charms and quirks, their character and temperament. Something that we don't like quite as much, though, is their tendency to leak.
After fire and censorship, water is the third greatest danger to books. So when it comes pouring out of the ceiling unexpectedly, you get some pretty frantic booksellers, and for a while we were pretty frantic all the time. The store leaked when it rained, when the wet leaves on the roof above the skylight became too sodden and heavy, when the plumbing in various parts of the apartments upstairs developed problems, and sometimes for no discernible reason at all. The following are three selected episodes from the period in which the Borderlands employees enacted what we called "The Leak of the Week Pool," an unofficial betting pool where we wagered on what part of the store would leak next.
by Jude Feldman
As many of you know, Borderlands is housed in an old building. In fact, the building at 866 Valencia turns 100 this year. We like old buildings; their charms and quirks, their character and temperament. Something that we don't like quite as much, though, is their tendency to leak.
After fire and censorship, water is the third greatest danger to books. So when it comes pouring out of the ceiling unexpectedly, you get some pretty frantic booksellers, and for a while we were pretty frantic all the time. The store leaked when it rained, when the wet leaves on the roof above the skylight became too sodden and heavy, when the plumbing in various parts of the apartments upstairs developed problems, and sometimes for no discernible reason at all. The following are three selected episodes from the period in which the Borderlands employees enacted what we called "The Leak of the Week Pool," an unofficial betting pool where we wagered on what part of the store would leak next.
January 01, 2007
Notes from a DVD Geek
by Jeremy Lassen
Happy New Year, movie buffs. I hope you all spent a happy holiday season watching the creepy horror film known as IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE. Okay, maybe I’m the only one who thinks this “holiday classic” is really creepy. In any event, I hope you got to spend a lot of time with your family watching your favorite films. I’ve got some interesting recommendations for you this month.
First up is hands-down the best horror movie of the last year or so – THE DESCENT. Those of you who saw the Variety/Borderlands screening of this contemporary British masterpiece last April know what I’m talking about. For those of you who missed it in the theaters, it's now out on DVD. Even if you’re not normally a fan of horror movies, THIS is one you need to see.
Happy New Year, movie buffs. I hope you all spent a happy holiday season watching the creepy horror film known as IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE. Okay, maybe I’m the only one who thinks this “holiday classic” is really creepy. In any event, I hope you got to spend a lot of time with your family watching your favorite films. I’ve got some interesting recommendations for you this month.
First up is hands-down the best horror movie of the last year or so – THE DESCENT. Those of you who saw the Variety/Borderlands screening of this contemporary British masterpiece last April know what I’m talking about. For those of you who missed it in the theaters, it's now out on DVD. Even if you’re not normally a fan of horror movies, THIS is one you need to see.
Origin of the Bookstore, Part the Third - Ripley
For the next ten months we'll be doing a special feature each month in honor of Borderlands' upcoming 10th Anniversary (November 3rd, 2007). We'll share some stories about what Borderlands is and how it got that way.
by Jude Feldman
Possibly San Francisco's most famous cat, Ripley joined the Borderlands family in December of 2002. She was a gangly six month old Sphynx catling, selected for her winning personality, semi-hypo-allergenic-ness, and complete and utter lack of "show-cat" cred. Almost everyone knows Ripley, but few know the story of how Alan and I managed to misplace her on her very first night in the bookstore.
Flashback to that misty December eve not so long ago. Alan and I had driven out to fetch Ripley from the East Bay after spending the afternoon shopping for cat food bowls, litter, litter box, small feathered doo-dads, and all the other assorted stuff that you don't realize you need until you decide to get a cat.
by Jude Feldman
Possibly San Francisco's most famous cat, Ripley joined the Borderlands family in December of 2002. She was a gangly six month old Sphynx catling, selected for her winning personality, semi-hypo-allergenic-ness, and complete and utter lack of "show-cat" cred. Almost everyone knows Ripley, but few know the story of how Alan and I managed to misplace her on her very first night in the bookstore.
Flashback to that misty December eve not so long ago. Alan and I had driven out to fetch Ripley from the East Bay after spending the afternoon shopping for cat food bowls, litter, litter box, small feathered doo-dads, and all the other assorted stuff that you don't realize you need until you decide to get a cat.
December Bestsellers
Hardcovers
1. Polity Agent by Neal Asher
2. Jennifer Morgue by Charles Stross
3. A Cruel Wind by Glen Cook
4. The Android's Dream by John Scalzi
5. Teatro Grottesco by Thomas Ligotti
6. Soldier of Sidon by Gene Wolfe
7. Fugitives of Chaos by John C. Wright
tied with
The Sky People by S.M. Stirling
8. Odyssey by Jack McDevitt
9. 1824: The Arkansas War by Eric Flint
10. Sung in Blood by Glen Cook
tied with
Empire by Orson Scott Card
Paperbacks
1. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
2. Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan
3. Carnival by Elizabeth Bear
4. Draco Tavern by Larry Niven
5. Talyn by Holly Lisle
6. Dead Letters by Tom Piccirilli
tied with
Cell by Stephen King
7. 1812: The Rivers of War by Eric Flint
8. Orphans of Chaos by John C. Wright
9. Midshipwizard Halcyon Blithe by James M. Ward
10. Tyranny of the Night by Glen Cook
Trade Paperbacks
1. Hardwired by Walter John Williams
2. Voyage of the Sable Keech by Neal Asher
3. Nova Swing by M. John Harrison
4. Benighted by Kit Whitfield
5. Spears of God by Howard V. Hendrix
1. Polity Agent by Neal Asher
2. Jennifer Morgue by Charles Stross
3. A Cruel Wind by Glen Cook
4. The Android's Dream by John Scalzi
5. Teatro Grottesco by Thomas Ligotti
6. Soldier of Sidon by Gene Wolfe
7. Fugitives of Chaos by John C. Wright
tied with
The Sky People by S.M. Stirling
8. Odyssey by Jack McDevitt
9. 1824: The Arkansas War by Eric Flint
10. Sung in Blood by Glen Cook
tied with
Empire by Orson Scott Card
Paperbacks
1. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
2. Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan
3. Carnival by Elizabeth Bear
4. Draco Tavern by Larry Niven
5. Talyn by Holly Lisle
6. Dead Letters by Tom Piccirilli
tied with
Cell by Stephen King
7. 1812: The Rivers of War by Eric Flint
8. Orphans of Chaos by John C. Wright
9. Midshipwizard Halcyon Blithe by James M. Ward
10. Tyranny of the Night by Glen Cook
Trade Paperbacks
1. Hardwired by Walter John Williams
2. Voyage of the Sable Keech by Neal Asher
3. Nova Swing by M. John Harrison
4. Benighted by Kit Whitfield
5. Spears of God by Howard V. Hendrix
Happy New Year
by Alan Beatts
Happy New Year, everyone! I hope that 2007 has been treating you all very well thus far.
First off, I want to thank you, our customers, as well as the authors and publishers who have supported us through 2006. It was a good year for Borderlands (despite all the cafe delays). Probably the best proof of that is the following -
According to Shelf Awareness (Friday, Jan. 5th), a bookselling industry newsletter --
"Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million Have a Flat Holiday"
"Sales during the holiday period at both Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million were below expectations.
At B&N, sales during the nine weeks between October 29 and December 30 were $1.1 billion, up 2.6%, but sales at stores open at least a year were down 0.1%, lower than the company's prediction of a "flat to low single digit increase." By contrast, sales at B&N.com during the same period were up 2.7% to $108.5 million.
Happy New Year, everyone! I hope that 2007 has been treating you all very well thus far.
First off, I want to thank you, our customers, as well as the authors and publishers who have supported us through 2006. It was a good year for Borderlands (despite all the cafe delays). Probably the best proof of that is the following -
According to Shelf Awareness (Friday, Jan. 5th), a bookselling industry newsletter --
"Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million Have a Flat Holiday"
"Sales during the holiday period at both Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million were below expectations.
At B&N, sales during the nine weeks between October 29 and December 30 were $1.1 billion, up 2.6%, but sales at stores open at least a year were down 0.1%, lower than the company's prediction of a "flat to low single digit increase." By contrast, sales at B&N.com during the same period were up 2.7% to $108.5 million.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)