Clearance Section and Sidewalk Sale

I mentioned previously that we had made part of the space for our mystery section by sorting through our horror and used paperback sections.  As a result, we came across quite a few books that we either had more copies of than we needed or that had been sitting on our shelves for too long.  Right now they are all in a clearance section at the right rear of the store and they're half-price.  That discount will be increasing as we get closer to May 11th, which is the date of the big Valencia St. sidewalk sale.  At noon on that day we're going to be putting all the clearance books out for _crazy_ low prices.  But for now, come on by and take a look at what you can pick-up for a discount.  And, I should point out, these are not "bad" books . . . well, some of them are . . . but many of them are books that, for whatever reason, just didn't sell quickly enough.  There are quite a few titles from small presses like Ash-Tree, Delirium, Cemetery Dance and Subterranean as well as a huge assortment of SF and fantasy paperbacks.

Mysterious Borderlands

by Alan Beatts

Given some of my recent comments here and elsewhere, it will probably come as no surprise that we're opening a mystery section at Borderlands.  What might be a surprise, however, is how fast we're doing it.  As of today, we've got 144 feet of shelves set aside for hardcovers and large format paperbacks as well as 94 feet for small format (i.e. "mass market") paperbacks.  That works out as room for, roughly, 1700 hardcovers and 1500 paperbacks.

Of course, the shelves aren't quite full yet but we've already got almost 1000 individual titles in stock and there are more coming in almost every day.  By the end of the month, I expect to have more than 1500 on hand and the section will continue to grow from there.  My goal is to have as good a selection of mysteries, thrillers, and similar titles as we do of SF and fantasy by the end of the summer.

March Bestsellers

Hardcovers
1. Memory of Light by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
2. Fragments by Dan Wells
3. Shadow of Freedom by David Weber
4. Velveteen vs. the Junior Super Patriots by Seanan McGuire
5. Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger
6. Homeland by Cory Doctorow
7. Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs
8. Bloodfire Quest by Terry Brooks
9. Great North Road by Peter F. Hamilton
10. Gun Machine by Warren Ellis

Mass Market Paperbacks
1. Midnight Blue Light Special by Seanan McGuire
2. Discount Armageddon by Seanan McGuire
3. Existence by David Brin
4. The Golden Age of Death by Amber Benson
5. A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin
6. The Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King
7. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
8. Secrets of the Fire Sea by Stephen Hunt
9. Feed by Mira Grant tied with Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
10. Slashback by Rob Thurman

Trade Paperbacks
1. Little Brother by Cory Doctorow tied with Partials by Dan Wells
2. Lunatic Fringe by Allison Moon
3. Hungry Ghost by Allison Moon
4. Wool by Hugh Howey
5. Nexus by Ramez Naam

March News Roundup

* We're happy to announce that Borderlands Cafe will be hosting another free class from the University of the Commons.  The topic this time is Zombie Apocalypse and the Utopian Tradition, which sounds completely fascinating.  The class will meet each Thursday from 6:30 p m - 8:00 pm, beginning May 2nd, 2013 and ending June 20th.  For more details, see http://www.uotc.org/wordpress/ .

* Thanks to Candi for pointing out this wonderful interview with the always-eloquent Ursula K. Le Guin from Berkeley's "California" Magazine: http://alumni.berkeley.edu/news/california-magazine/spring-2013-growing/song-herself.  And, if you missed Ms. Le Guin's recent talk at the Townsend Center, you can watch it here: http://townsendcenter.berkeley.edu/media/ursula-k-le-guin-writer .

* GOBLINPROOFING ONE'S CHICKEN COOP wins Diagram Prize for Oddest Book Title of the Year: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2013/mar/22/diagram-prize-oddest-book-title-goblins

* Want to watch an alien being born?  This giant, nearly-extinct "tree lobster" may be as close as you can get.  (Squick warning for those sensitive to enormous bugs.)  http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2012/02/24/147367644/six-legged-giant-finds-secret-hideaway-hides-for-80-years?sc=fb&cc=fp

* Wanted: volunteers for a one-way trip to Mars.  Must be dependable, good in groups, uninterested in returning to Earth: http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2013/03/16/mars-one-live-die-mars.html?cmp=rss

* LOST EVERYTHING by Brian Francis Slattery has won the 2013 Philip K. Dick Award.  Special citation was given to LOVESTAR by Andri Snaer Magnason.  For more details, see http://www.philipkdickaward.org/

* The cursed Roman ring that may have inspired Tolkien's One Ring is put on display: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2013/apr/02/hobbit-tolkien-ring-exhibition

* Oooh!  io9.com has published an exclusive full chapter from the (eagerly awaited) forthcoming REPUBLIC OF THIEVES by Scott Lynch: http://io9.com/an-exclusive-chapter-from-republic-of-thieves-by-lies-468507382

* Thanks, Amanda -- "Tiny Octopus-Like Microorganisms Named After Science Fiction Monsters": http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/04/130403092702.htm

* I don't know exactly what to say about this.  It's a recipe for "R’leh Easy Cthulhu Pot Pies": http://kitchenoverlord.com/2013/04/08/edible-art-cthulhu-pot-pies/

* Thanks to 7x7 SF for this really nice Borderlands mention in their article "Seven Two-in-One Coffee Shops to Give Your Caffeine Routine a Jolt": http://www.7x7.com/eat-drink/seven-two-one-coffee-shops-give-your-caffeine-routine-jolt

* We regret to report the death of author Basil Copper at the age of 89. http://www.locusmag.com/News/2013/04/basil-copper-1924-2013/

* We are tremendously sorry to re-post this bad news about one of our favorites, author Iain M.Banks: http://friends.banksophilia.com/

April Upcoming Events

Dana Fredsti, PLAGUE NATION (Titan Books, Mass Market, $7.99) Saturday, April 20th at 3:00 pm

SF in SF featuring Rick Klaw and Mary Robinette Kowal, at the Variety Preview Room in the Hobart Building, 582 Market Street, Saturday, April 20th at 7:00 pm

Rick Klaw and Pat Murphy, THE APES OF WRATH (Tachyon, Trade Paperback, $15.95) Sunday, April 21st at 3:00 pm

Mark Oshiro, MARK READS HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS (Mark Does Stuff, Trade Paperback, $15.00) Sunday, April 21st at 5:00 pm

Nova Albion Steampunk Convention at the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara, Friday April 26th - Sunday April 28th

Ian Tregillis, NECESSARY EVIL (Tor, Hardcover, $25.99) Sunday, May 5th at 3:00 pm

Valencia Corridor Sidewalk Sale - Saturday, May 11th from 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm

The Pub From Another World Preview, Sunday, May 12th at 3:00 pm

John Scalzi, THE HUMAN DIVISION (Tor, Hardcover, $25.99) Wednesday, May 15th at 7:00 pm

SF in SF featuring Connie Willis and Gene Wolfe, at the Variety Preview Room in the Hobart Building, 582 Market Street, Thursday, May 16th at 7:00 pm

Mary Robinette Kowal, WITHOUT A SUMMER (Tor, Hardcover, $24.99 ) and Susan Palwick, MENDING THE MOON (Tor, Hardcover, $24.99) Monday, May 20th at 7:00 pm

Event details after the break