Editor's Note

by Jude Feldman

Well, welcome to 2021.  At this point, all I can say is that I'm fervently hoping that you're all doing and feeling as well as possible, and that the entirety of the rest of the year is extraordinarily boring.

A few quick reminders and updates for y'all -- first, we're currently open to the public from 11 am - 6 pm, seven days a week.  We have a maximum capacity of 10 people in the store at once, and masks are required for entry.  We'll also ask you to sanitize your hands on your way in.

If you'd rather not come into the store, there are other options.  We're always happy to do mail orders -- search our inventory online here: https://www.biblio.com/bookstore/borderlands-books-san-francisco or just call us directly and we'll be glad to send you whatever you'd like.

We're also doing curbside pickup, and we even have a specifically reserved parking space for it just outside the store -- call us and we'll work out the details and cheerfully bring your books out to you when you arrive.

As far as the new building on Haight Street -- as you can imagine, it's been pretty difficult to get anything substantial done.  We have made some progress on finishing the exterior of the bathroom (did I mention that, yay, we have a bathroom?!) and also gotten some planning work done, but concrete progress has been more elusive.  As with so much else right now, it's a matter of staying focused and doing the best we can.  We'll get there. We appreciate your support and faith.

Curb-Side Pickup Coming Soon

Hi Everyone,

As you've probably heard, both California and San Francisco are relaxing some of the restrictions on business operations.  Specifically, retail businesses like Borderlands will be allowed to start offering "curb-side pickups" to the public starting on Monday, the 18th.  We are, as you'd expect, very excited to start being able to handle business in a slightly more "normal" way.  It's also going to be really nice not to need to pack up every single book that we sell and send them by mail.

However, we aren't going to start immediately.

The guidance from the city Health Department has been a bit scant so far, and that is part of the reason that we're going to delay a little bit.  But, moreso, I want to have time to think through our procedures carefully and get the supplies and equipment that we'll need on hand before we start.  As I see it, there is no reason to rush headlong into this and, given the risks associated with making mistakes, there is a very good reason to move slowly and thoughtfully.

We will start a trial of doing curb-side sales on Wednesday, May 20th, from 11 am to 5 pm and we'll continue on Thursday and Friday, the 21st and 22nd.  Then we will close for the weekend, assess how it went and, assuming that we have a good system in place, we will start a regular schedule on Monday, May 25th.  For the first three days, Jude and I will be the only people working at the shop.  Starting on the 25th, I anticipate that we'll be bringing staff back to the store, opening for longer hours (probably 10 or 11 am to 6 or 7 pm), and be operating seven days per week.  Below you'll find an explanation from Jude about how the process will work.

It saddens me that we not be able to allow any customers into the store during this stage of reopening, and I also regret that we won't be able to spend much time at all socializing with you when you stop by.  But, this is much better than the circumstances that we've been working under and, although we'll only see you for a short time, it makes me very happy that we'll be able see our favorite people in the world -- you, our customers.

Warm Regards,
Alan


We're happy to be able to provide front-of-store ("curbside") pickup by appointment for your book orders!  In keeping with directives from San Francisco's Health Department, we've developed the following system to keep our customers and employees safe while getting you the books you need.

How it works: just call us (415 824-8203) or email orders@borderlands-books.com to place your order.  If you call us, we'll ask for your book selections and credit card info for payment, and we'll set up a time for to pick up your order.  If you email, please send us your book selections and your phone number; we'll call you to get payment information and set up an appointment for pickup --  please DON'T email us credit card info -- it's not secure.

Please arrive on-time for your pick up appointment, or call us and let us know if you need to reschedule.  Once you arrive, call the store to let us know you're here.  We'll bring your bag of books and receipt outside to you and wave cheerily.  (Cheer levels may vary by employee.)  Confirm that your order is correct and you're on your way!

All Best,
Jude

From the Editor

by Jude Feldman

I was already knee-deep in personal complications before March 16th, when San Francisco's shelter-in-place order came down. It's pretty exciting (read: harrowing) to move your 78-year-old father and his two cats from Los Angeles to an assisted living place in Northern California in the middle of a torrential rainstorm.  It's even more exciting when they announce a shelter-in-place order just after you've passed The Grapevine.  We had planned to overnight in San Francisco, and then drive the remaining 60 miles and move Dad, his cats Nicky and Parker, and all his stuff in the next day.  When we heard about the order, we determined we had to go straight through, lest we get stuck in an untenable situation in SF.  Sixteen absolutely exhausting hours after we left LA, he and the cats were both safely installed.  The next day, the assisted living place folks told me very politely I could finish moving him in and then I needed to leave as soon as possible and not come back, since they were no longer allowing any visitors, and closing to all non-essential personnel immediately.  Given the givens, everything is as good as it can be right now but everything's also REALLY complicated.

My collected complications are now feeling closer to neck-deep.  While I'm thrilled that we're going to be able to serve our customers, even in this quite limited capacity, I am way, way behind on everything.  So this is a little PS to let you know that I'm trying to catch up but it is super slow going.  Both Alan and I do read every single (non-spam) email we receive and we try to reply to all of them, but replies are going to be slower than usual while we both get ourselves unburied.

More generally, we look forward to providing you with great books during this bizarre and uncertain period.  I said earlier today that these are really strange times, but it's also fascinating to know you're living history as it happens, as opposed to recognizing it in hindsight as usual.  I feel like genre fiction readers are better equipped than the general population to handle it when things get Deeply Weird, and indeed they have.

We'll get through this together, even while we're at least six feet apart.

Holiday Gift Guide

by Jude Feldman

Welcome to December!  We've finally gotten our winter weather -- as a life-long, drought-hardened Californian, I have a superstitious aversion to _ever_ complaining about the rain -- and this is the perfect time to curl up with a good book yourself, or gift one to someone dear to you.  Personally this year has been a very difficult one, and I will be glad to see the back of it -- but that means it's even more important to celebrate the good things we have and the friends and family we love; hatch, and feather, as Becky Chambers would say.

Those of you who have been around a while know that I always do an opinionated and rambling gift guide for December, and this year is no exception.  I am excited to call your attention to just a few of the myriad cool and unexpected things we have in the store.  However, if you don't see something appropriate here, 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 glad 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 vaguely 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.)  Now, onward!

Holiday Gift Guide

by Jude Feldman

Hello All and Sundry!

This year seems to have flown by.  The explanation I've heard for the seeming acceleration of time I'm experiencing is that as we age, time seems to go by faster, because any given amount of time is a smaller fraction than it used to be of your life overall (i.e. when you're five years old, one year is one-fifth of your life, but when you're thirty-five, one year is a thirty-fifth of your life, so it is comparatively a much shorter time).  Regardless of why it happens, recognizing this disconcerting speeding up is a reminder to me to enjoy all the time we've got as best we can.  I'm working on it, and in that spirit -- I wish you all the very best, and hope that this season and next year both treat you all very well, and that you have much to celebrate both now and in the future!

As we hurtle seemingly increasingly quickly toward this gift-giving season, we here present our usual Opinionated (and Digression-Filled) Gift Guide to help you out.  However, if you don't see something appropriate here, 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 glad 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.)

Onward!

Overheard in August

by Jude Feldman

This is a feature that appears periodically, usually (but not always) as we attend conventions and overhear things.  The tradition of keeping track of anonymous overheard bits and bobs started for us at the 2002 ConJose, where trying (or trying not to) fill in the blanks on overheard conversations made us laugh so much that we made it a tradition.  (For those keeping track, the one that started it all was "Shelby, it's not okay to touch your sister's breast with the back of your hand, either!".)

This issue we share some highlights from the store, Writers With Drinks, and this year's World Science Fiction Convention in San Jose:

* Overheard at WorldCon:

"It's like rolling your tongue over a minefield."

"The place is _exceptionally_ slick and chrome.  It's like pooping in the future."

"Just say the word if you want 'Weird Japanese Snacks' on your name badge."

"I WASN'T lying.  I was just making sh*t up."

"I'm pretty sure no one's going to come up and say 'Please fix my Patrick Stewart!"

"I have baser instincts but very high restraint."

"That's why there's so much on the line; because it's entirely about ego."

Borderlands Opinionated Holiday Gift Guide

by Jude Feldman

I was delighted to see that most retailers this year actually waited until Thanksgiving was over before putting out their holiday decorations (or worse, turning up the holiday music)!  Last year, I swear, it seemed like a bunch of stores were moving in Christmas lights, menorahs, and New Year's noisemakers on July 5th, so I appreciate the restraint this time 'round.  However, winter is well and truly here now, and I'm personally thrilled that the gift-giving season has arrived, because there are just so many absolutely wonderful books to brighten the days of your friends and family.

We here present our usual Opinionated (and Digression-Filled) Gift Guide to help you out.  However, if you don't see something appropriate here, 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 glad 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.)

Now, onward!

Let's start with a huge selection of signed books.  We're quite spoiled with all the marvelous local authors who have dropped by to sign their work recently, and we currently have signed books from Charlie Jane Anders, S.G. Browne, Gail Carriger, Richard Kadrey, Ellen Klages, Nick Mamatas, Seanan McGuire (no longer local, but still in our hearts and willing to sign books on the tailgate of the store's truck in a random parking lot in San Lorenzo in a giant rush, which surely looked like the world's strangest drug deal),  Christopher Moore,  Annalee Newitz, and many, many more!   Also, Marie Brennan and Becky Chambers be around in the next week or so, so feel free to request personalized copies -- we'll make it happen if we possibly can.

Holiday Gift Guide

by Jude Feldman

Winter has well and truly come to San Francisco, which means that we're now hitting a (for the City) quite chilly 42 degrees at night.  Definitely the perfect time for curling up with hot cocoa and a good book, and for picking up some great books for holiday gifts.  We here present our usual 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.)

Let's start with some awesome signed books.  We have signed copies of brand-new ARCANUM UNBOUNDED and ELANTRIS, THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY EDITION by Brandon Sanderson, BABYLON'S ASHES by James S.A. Corey, FEEDBACK by Mira Grant, pretty much everything including all three of the VELVETEEN books by Seanan McGuire, GHOST TALKERS by Mary Robinette Kowal, most of the Sandman Slim books by Richard Kadrey, a handful of signed Dan Wells titles including the just-released EXREME MAKEOVER, BLOOD MIRROR by Brent Weeks, IMPRUDENCE by Gail Carriger, SNOWED by Maria Alexander, A BLADE OF BLACK STEEL by Alex Marshall, and so many, many more.

Holiday Gift Guide

Happy holidays, everyone!  The gift-giving season is quickly swooping down upon us with its great shadowy black wings, and Borderlands is here to help you find the perfect gift for every elf, shoggoth, and wizard on your list.  (And the plain-old human readers on that list will probably be happy, too.)

Let's start with some signed books.  We have signed copies of SHADOWS OF SELF and ELANTRIS, THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY EDITION by Brandon Sanderson, CHIMERA by Mira Grant, pretty much everything including the VELVETEEN books by Seanan McGuire, THE END OF ALL THINGS by John Scalzi, MANNERS & MUTINY by Gail Carriger, most of the Sandman Slim books by Richard Kadrey, BLACK WOLVES (first of a new series) by Kate Elliott, SILVER ON THE ROAD by Laura Anne Gilman, THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE by Neil Gaiman, and lots more!

If your gift-ee just has to have the newest and the latest, check out the anthology THE GODS OF H.P. LOVECRAFT edited by Aaron J. French, WARHEART by Terry Goodkind, THE BAZAAR OF BAD DREAMS by Stephen King, FUTURISTIC VIOLENCE & FANCY SUITS by David Wong, WORD PUPPETS by Mary Robinette Kowal, DREAMSEEKER by C.S. Friedman,  THE PROMISE OF THE CHILD by Tom Toner, or LATE IN THE DAY (a new collection of poems) by Ursula K. LeGuin.

Some other excellent new books we're recommending are CARTER & LOVECRAFT by Jonathan L. Howard, THE FIFTH HOUSE OF THE HEART by Ben Tripp (my favorite new novel of this week), FLUX (sequel to FLEX) by Ferrett Steinmetz, AURORA by Kim Stanley Robinson, THE WATCHMAKER OF FILIGREE STREET by Natasha Pulley, THE WATER KNIFE by Paolo Bacigalupi, AFTERPARTY by Daryl Gregory, and my favorite fantasy of the year, A CROWN FOR COLD SILVER by Alex Marshall.

For the George R.R. Martin fan in your life, we've got a gorgeous SONG OF ICE AND FIRE COLORING BOOK, A KNIGHT OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS (which collects the Dunk and Egg stories that have been so hard to find for years), and the GOT parody (but actual, real-life cookbook) A GAME OF SCONES: ALL MEN MUST DINE by Jammy Lannister.

For the kids in your life, may we suggest the empowering princess coloring/storybook HER HIGHNESS BUILDS ROBOTS by Laura Winters and Beth Winters?  (Sample pages: "Getting married was the happiest day of Princess Priya's life. . . Second only to getting her Ph.D. in chemical engineering!".)

We have 2016 calendars galore, with something for everyone, including Hyperbole and a Half, Views From the Hubble Telescope, Fractals, Dr. Suess,  Art of Luis Royo, and dozens of others!

As usual, we wish you a Gorey Christmas with a plethora of Edward Gorey-themed items.  From the classic Gashlycrumb Tinies to the Bibliophile With Cats Puzzle, to the massive collection AMPHIGOREY, we have a little bit of Gorey to suit anyone.  My personal favorite is the "Fruitcake" holiday card that shows the solemn ritual of everyone gathering after dark to throw their fruitcakes into a hole in the ice!

Classics that never go out of style are hardcovers of DUNE, GOOD OMENS, THE PRINCESS BRIDE, and THE HOBBIT.  Less traditional, but just as classic -- SLEIGHT OF HAND (short stories from Peter S. Beagle), MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN by Ransom Riggs, THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS by M.R. Carey, and LEVIATHAN WAKES by James S.A. Corey, (which has just been made into a tv series).

Two local artists have graced us with one-of-a-kind gifts: we've got lovely steampunk-influenced jewelry from Oakland's Fire Selkie creations, and gift boxes, hair clips, pins, and hand-made cards from San Francisco's Fly By Night Gifts!

As always, we're happy to make personalized recommendations and practice our Psychic Bookseller Skills when you're stumped.  If you just can't decide, we also offer gift certificates in any amount.

Happy holidays to all!  We wish you a safe, peaceful, and bright 2016.

- Jude Feldman

A Great Idea

by Jude Feldman

Customers frequently ask us how they can buy e-books, and still support Borderlands.  Now there's a way.  It's not precisely the way we would choose -- we'd rather you could purchase e-books directly from us -- but it's the best solution we've found so far, and it's really pretty smart.  There's an additional benefit, too: you can also get free or inexpensive digital versions of the paper books you already own!  BitLit <www.bitlit.com> is the company working on making this possible. 

Brandon Sanderson (many of whose books are available through the BitLit app) was the one who told us about this.  The basic idea is that you get the app, which is free for iOS and Android.  You snap a well-lighted picture of your bookshelf (cleverly called -- what else? -- a "Shelfie",) and the app will let you know which of your books are available for free (or pretty cheap) download.  Select the book(s) you want.  Sign & photograph the copyright page(s) (or take a pic of your bookplate) to easily prove it's actually your book.  Send BitLit the photos, and they'll email you the e-book, which you can read on your existing e-Reader: Kobo, Nook, Kindle, or just in .pdf on your computer or phone.  It doesn't matter where your purchased your books, how long you've owned them.

April Featured Title

by Jude Feldman

A CROWN FOR COLD SILVER by Alex Marshall (Orbit, Hardcover, $26.00) comes out April 14th.  This is my favorite new fantasy - a throughly enjoyable, entertainingly complex story that falls somewhere in between Patrick Rothfuss and Joe Abercrombie.  Fabulous characters, ethical ambiguity, and an author who trusts in his readers' ability to "get it" without being smacked over the head.

This book is noteworthy for several reasons, but two aspects I especially appreciated were the kick-ass middle-aged female protagonist and the casual lack of heteronormativity, both extremely unusual in fantasy novels.  The pacing, dry humor, and logical but unexpected plot twists are also reasons to love it.

This is going to be my next go-to novel for fans of George R.R. Martin, Scott Lynch, and of course Abercrombie and Rothfuss.  Alan and everyone else here who has read it recommend it, too.

From the Office

by Jude Feldman

Thank you, everyone, for your sponsorships, your kind words, and for your absolute conviction that we should remain open!  We've been totally overwhelmed at the amazing response from all of you.  I'm thrilled and excited and so, so grateful!

If you know us, you know that normally, we plan things carefully.  This whole sponsorship thing, not so much.  It all happened so quickly, and we've gone from closing to not closing in such a short time that we're way, way behind on everything.  We want to reply thoughtfully to your emails, and we are working on it, but my current count stands at 300+ behind, and I expect Alan's is about the same.  We are making slow progress towards getting everything answered.

The flood of reporters has thankfully abated, so we can hopefully get back to something resembling normal pretty fast.

So! here's what we're doing now: a bit of reorganizing and moving shelves while we have the opportunity.  The store hasn't been this empty since we moved to this location in 2001, so we're taking the chance to move some stuff around, get rid of the blind corner, and make a few other subtle moves prior to re-ordering books and getting sections re-filled.  I'll be meeting with all of our publishers' reps to order the forthcoming titles for the current season, and also the titles we missed while we weren't ordering things over the past few months.  If you notice that we're missing something we should have, please do bring it to my attention.

Getting the sponsor database set up & figuring out the sponsorship benefits is also high on our list of priorities.  There is an incredible list of possibilities already, and we're still thinking of ideas and getting great suggestions.  We will need to do all the sponsor data entry, and then we'll get an update email out to all of our awesome sponsors shortly.

The other things we're doing are putting back together all of the elements we had begun to disassemble, like scheduling author events.  We have some fantastic events coming up that I cannot mention yet since they're not specifically confirmed, but I certainly hope you'll be as excited as we are about them.  We're basically just trying to get caught up as fast as possible after this complete 180 degree turnaround.  We had the plan all in place to close, but now we have to make a brand-new plan to stay open!  Please be patient with us while we deal with this very sudden and completely wonderful turn of events.

Made It

by Jude Feldman

Hoo-kay.  Y'all are challenging my heavily-ingrained cynicism here, people.  And I have never, ever in my life been happier to have been dead wrong, so THANK YOU.

I don't even know where to start.  Since we came to the conclusion that we would not be able to keep the bookstore open last November, I have been through all the stages of grief, and I had finally hit acceptance.  And then, just three days ago, we thought that maybe, just maybe, if the stars were right and crazy miracles occurred, we might not have to close.  I didn't want to hope too hard and be disappointed; it would be too awful.  I have said before in my editorial pieces that this is the best job I have ever had and the best I could have hoped for.  The idea that I wouldn't be able to do it any more was frankly breaking my heart, but I'm a realist as well as a dreamer, and I do understand that when things are inevitable, it's better to just deal with them.  It's my mantra when stuck in traffic: "I can be late and upset, or I can just be late".

Still, I felt like a part of me was dying.  And on top of all of the other changes and losses in this city, I felt helpless and angry.  I moved here because San Francisco was WEIRD.  It's meant to be for the dreamers and the poets and the artists and the people who think it's a great idea to unicycle naked down the street, or dress up as foliage and scare the tourists.  It's meant to champion diversity and the little guy and the crazy people who have big ideas.  Emperor Norton's city -- that's MY San Francisco, and that's Borderlands' San Francisco. I felt like it was slipping away, and there wasn't anything I could do except try to remember the good times, accept it with grace, and to ensure that our employees landed on their feet.

And then all of you spoke up.  Borderlands has always been more than just a store, or just a job, for me; I've poured heart and soul and time and even a bit of blood into it - OF COURSE it's vital to me.  But I didn't understand how vital it was to other people, too.  I didn't understand that it represented the same (or similar) things to you.  And I apologize for underestimating you.

I'm a mess right now, in the best way I can be.  The last three weeks have been literally unbelievable - if you'd described them to me in advance, I would have laughed at you.  I am extremely under-slept and hyper-emotional and thoroughly dazed.  I was joking with Alan that "The next time we're going to hit the national media, let's not, okay?" (And I _wasn't_ the one who had to talk to all the reporters, and out-fence Fox News, who were asking "Have you stopped beating your wife?" - style questions.)

I'm having a tough time being linear, let alone eloquent, right now.  I'm crying all over the keyboard.  But thank you.  Thank you so much for letting me keep doing what I love best in the world; thank you for doing your part to help keep San Francisco weird; and thank you for helping to preserve space for the dreamers.  I have never before thought that loving something as hard as you could was enough to change anything -- that sounds like something that only happens in stories -- in fantasy.  But you proved me wrong.  So thank you for letting us continue to champion imagination, because as you've proved conclusively, it really can change the world.

(Note - As of approximately 2:30pm today we reached our goal of 300 sponsors.  Borderlands will remain open until at least March 31st, 2016.  Thank you all and please feel free to keep signing up for sponsorships - there is no maximum number of sponsors. -- A.B.)

Brief Note of Thanks

We'd like to extend our most sincere thanks to the hundreds of customers, authors, and friends who have sent us marvelous, touching, sweet, and supportive emails over the last week. We have read all of them, (and cried over a few) but haven't had time to respond to many of them in the fashion that they deserve.  We hope to be able to reply to you as thoughtfully as you have written to us, but it will take us a while to catch up.  We wanted you to know that we appreciate you more than we can say, and we're working to get personal replies to each of you.

Thank You,
Alan Beatts and Jude Feldman

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

2013 Holiday Gift Guide

Since Hanukkah being incredibly early basically caught me by surprise this year, we made gift recommendations in the store in person, in mid-November, A LOT.  This is helpful currently, as I am putting together the woefully-belated Gift Guide that really should have come out a month ago.  For those of you who give gifts later in the year, hopefully this will be of assistance.  (A 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.)

Gift-giving or not, we're always happy to make custom recommendations -- just ask us.

All of us at Borderlands wish you and your loved ones a terrific winter season and hope for a fantastic and peaceful new year!

- Jude Feldman, editor.

Holiday Gift Guide

by Jude Feldman

Happy holidays, everyone!  I'd like to start the annual Gift Guide with a big ol' THANK YOU to all of you who have kept us going 15 years and beyond.  We are grateful for your support, and humbled to be part of such a vibrant, cheerful, and important community.  So, thanks.

The gift-giving season is quickly swooping down upon us with its great shadowy black wings, and Borderlands is here to help you find the perfect gift for every elf, fairy, shoggoth, and wizard on your list.  (And the plain-old human readers on that list will probably be very happy, too.)

Let me first mention that we have a whole bunch of amazing local authors who are happy to personalize their books for your gift-giving pleasure. Terry Bisson, Chaz Brenchley, S.G. Browne, Gail Carriger, Richard Kadrey, Seanan McGuire, Rudy Rucker, and Scott Sigler have all volunteered to inscribe books.  You can purchase and pick up personalized books here,  or if the recipients are far away, we're happy to do mail orders, so consider which of the fans in your life would be most tickled by having their name actually written in a book by the author! The deadline to order inscribed books to be shipped in time for Christmas is December 14th; the deadline to request inscribed books for in-store pickup is December 19th.

The 2011 Gift Guide plus Editor Indulgence

Wow, December already.  I've heard there's a good reason that time seems to accelerate as you get older; it's said that since each progressive year is a smaller fraction of your life overall, of course each one seems shorter than the preceding.  Great, it's logical.  Unfortunately it's still really frustrating and a little scary to feel the time fly by.  I suppose it's just more incentive to enjoy each moment!  And things are really picking up around here -- look for lots of positive changes in the bookstore and the cafe coming very soon.

I refuse to get all sappy, but the holidays are a good time to reflect on all of the gifts that we've already been given, and the best of those aren't physical objects.  I am so grateful for having what I consider to be the very best job in the world, and for all of the wonderful friends and family I've found here at Borderlands, among the staff and the customers.  Especially in these days of faceless online transactions and galavanting chain-retail conformity, I treasure the individuality, the personality, and the energy of every one that makes this store special.  Thank you all so much for being an integral part of creating and maintaining this community.  None of us take it for granted.

Meanwhile, to assist you in this joyful season of present-presentation, we offer our usual Holiday Gift Guide.  And although we've got thousands of awesome new and shiny options, and some very pricey collectibles, books don't have to be expensive to be beloved.  A used paperback copy of your favorite book from childhood can mean more than the fanciest signed first edition.

As always, if the options below don't tickle your fancy, we're happy to make customized recommendations for the even the most difficult people on your list.  (Customized recommendations of _gifts_, that is.  I really can't help with your difficult Uncle Philip who keeps bringing his imaginary Lego friends to your holiday meals.)

Classics, that will work for almost anyone:

GOOD OMENS by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (Harper, Trade Paperback, $14.99 and Harper, Mass Market, $7.99) - The funniest book about Armageddon ever penned.

THE PRINCESS BRIDE by William Goldman (Harcourt, Hardcover, $25.00 or Harvest, Mass Market, $8.95) - The ultimate tale of true love, high adventure and Rodents of Unusual Size.

DUNE by Frank Herbert (Ace, Hardcover, $29.95 and Ace, Mass Market, $9.99) - Considered one of SF's all-time masterpieces.

Unexpected Treasures:

Don't know what to get the "Song of Ice and Fire" fan, since they've read all 5 books ten times already?  John Picacio's stunning 2012 "A Song of Ice and Fire Calendar" (Random House, Wall Calendar, $17.00) is my pick: I was completely blown away by his gorgeous, incredibly skilled, lush, detailed representations of all of my favorite characters, many of whom looked EXACTLY like that in my head.

Two webcomics become paper!  NARBONIC: THE PERFECT COLLECTION by Shaenon Garrity (Cous Cous Collective, Set of two paperbacks, $30.00) and SATURDAY MORNING BREAKFAST CEREAL: THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME (Breadpig, Trade Paperback, $18.00) are both tailor-made for the special geek in your life.  We have a few signed copies left of each, too!

For the science fiction fan:

SOFT APOCALYPSE by WIll McIntosh (Nightshade, Trade Paperback, $14.99) - I'll be surprised if this novel doesn't pick up a slew of awards next year.

THE QUANTUM THIEF by Hannu Rajaniemi (Tor, Hardcover, $24.99) - Mind-blowing new SF from a Finnish writer who keeps having to deny the rumor that he's Charles Stross writing under a pen name.  (He's NOT, really!)

REAMDE by Neal Stephenson (William Morrow, Hardcover, $35.00) - Okay, it's not really science fiction, but it's still a fantastic, funny thriller.

CHILDREN OF THE SKY by Vernor Vinge (Tor, Hardcover, $25.99)  - Sequel to the classic FIRE UPON THE DEEP.

SEED by Rob Ziegler (Nightshade Books, Hardcover, $24.99) - Jeremy says "It's amazing!  It's like THE WINDUP GIRL with more explosions and less rape." Ahem.  That's quite a recommendation!

Deeply Weird and Wonderful Things:

UNPOSSIBLE by Daryl Gregory (Fairwood Press, Trade Paperback, $16.99) - Brilliant, heart-rending, and sincerely messed up, in the best possible way.  My very favorite short story collection of last year, from the author of PANDEMONIUM, which I also highly recommend.  While we're talking short story collections,  I'd also like to call your attention to the magical SLEIGHT OF HAND by Peter S. Beagle (Tachyon Publications, Trade Paperback, $14.95) and the grim and exceptional AFTER THE APOCALYPSE: STORIES by Maureen McHugh (Small Beer Press, Trade Paperback, $16.00).  (AFTER THE APOCALYPSE was one of Publishers Weekly's Top 10 Best of the Year.)

THE SILENT LAND by Graham Joyce (Doubleday, Hardcover, $23.95)  - Graham Joyce is one of those authors who is frequently described as a "cult favorite".  I urge you all to join the cult of Graham Joyce, either with this haunting and dark page-turner about a couple trapped by an avalanche who emerges to discover a. . .wholly. . . silent. . .world, or my other favorite of his, HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS WITH DEMONS, a quirky masterpiece about a philanthropic book forger and the demons who may or may not actually be talking to him.

MORBID CURIOSITY CURES THE BLUES edited by Loren Rhoads (Scribner, Trade Paperback, $14.99) - A mind-blowing compendium of some of the best from the early (long unavailable) issues of the San Francisco-based 'zine "Morbid Curiosity," featuring true, first-person accounts of the unpleasant, unwise and unsavory.  Sometimes funny, sometimes devastating.

MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN by Ransom Riggs (Quirk, Hardcover, $17.99) - Sweet and touching and creepy novel lavishly illustrated with bizarre vintage photographs.  It's quite hard to describe but it was a great, super-fast read and I'm very excited about it.  It's young-adult appropriate, by the way.

Non-Concilatory Fantasy:

BEST SERVED COLD by Joe Abercrombie (Orbit, Mass Market, $7.99) - George R.R. Martin's gritty, bloody fantasy meets a Sergio Leone revenge Western.

The Malazan Books of the Fallen by Steven Erikson -  We've been ranting about Steven Erikson  (and the world's co-creator, Ian Cameron Esslemont) for years and years now, but all 10 books of Erikson's first cycle are complete now.  The most complex fantasy series I've ever seen.  We can't say enough good things about these books.

THE HUNDRED THOUSAND KINGDOMS trilogy by N. K. Jemisin - The first book in this trilogy was nominated for both the Hugo and Nebula Awards.  A really impressive new voice!

THE COLD COMMANDS by Richard Morgan (Del Rey, Hardcover, $26.00) - I am pretty much perpetually in awe of Richard Morgan.  This is the follow-up to THE STEEL REMAINS.

Steampunk, Biopunk, Urban Fantasy and Other Good Stuff That's Hard to Catagorize:

MIDNIGHT RIOT by Ben Aaronovitch (Ballantine, Mass Market, $7.99) - Experiencing withdrawal from Mike Carey's sardonic, impressive Felix Castor books?  Here's your methadone!

FEED (Orbit, Mass Market, $9.99) and DEADLINE by Mira Grant (Orbit, Mass Market, $9.99) - It's not really about the zombies accidently created by the well-intentioned bioterrorists; it's about the bloggers following the would-be Republican presidential candidate on the campaign trail.  So. Much. Fun!

SHELF LIFE: FANTASTIC STORIES SET IN BOOKSTORES edited by Greg Ketter (DreamHaven, Hardcover, $25.00) - Such an incredible collection, and not just for the obvious reasons. Introduction by Neil Gaiman, and stories from everyone and their aunt, including Ramsey Campbell, Charles De Lint, Marianne de Pierres, Harlan Ellison, Nina Kiriki Hoffman, Gene Wolfe, MANY others!  This book came out 6 years ago and it's overdue for a renaissance.

FIREBIRDS (Firebird, Trade Paperback, $9.99) FIREBIRDS RISING (Firebird, Trade Paperback, $9.99) and FIREBIRDS SOARING (Firebird, Hardcover, $19.99)  edited by Sharyn November - Fantastic original stories by writers from Penguin's Firebird imprint.  Some of my favorite anthologies; there's not a bad story in the bunch.

GANYMEDE by Cherie Priest (Tor, Trade Paperback, $14.99) - This novel of Priest's Clockwork Century world is set in New Orleans and stands alone just fine. My favorite thing about it is how small and focused the story is, and that's not a slight.  It's so rare to find a book where the stakes are not The End of the World As We Know It, but more concentrated and more human.  Sure, success or failure in this novel may impact history, but the real story is about the people at its heart.

THE PANAMA LAUGH by Thomas Roche (Nightshade, Trade Paperback, $14.99) - It's a darkly funny noir-crime zombie novel.  How does it get better?

Very Popular Stuff:

The HUNGER GAMES trilogy by Suzanne Collins - Soon to be a trilogy of major motion pictures.  Expect TWILIGHT-level fan reactions, I think.

11/22/63 by Stephen King - Alan really likes the new Stephen King, which he called "a straight-ahead science fiction book -- it's a basic time travel novel with King's typically addictive pacing".

THE NIGHT CIRCUS by Erin Morganstern (Doubleday, Hardcover, $26.95) - I'm skeptical that a novel this good can be a debut.  Maybe the author's been writing for years in some other dimension?

1Q84 by Haruki Murakami (Knopf, Hardcover, $30.50) - One of those rare New York Times Bestsellers that really deserves it.  My only complaint is the (admittedly lovely) onion-skin dust jacket is so fragile.

READY PLAYER ONE by Ernest Cline (Random House, Hardcover, $24.00) - We even have a few copies with bookplates signed by the author!

THE STRAIN, THE FALL and THE NIGHT ETERNAL by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan - A vampiric virus wipes out most of humankind and plucky survivors battle for the future of humanity.  Yes, you've read it before but it's still very entertaining.

Of course we have a whole store full of additional just-the-perfect things: pretty imported wooden boxes, calendars of every description from The Art of Heavy Metal to The Mutter Museum to Dr. Seuss, attractive journals for the writer in your life, Edward Gorey puzzles and so much more.  We also have gift certificates in any amount, or gift credits that your friends and family can use long-distance.  You can also pop in to the cafe next door for a perfect mocha, a spiced apple cider, or a fancy peppermint hot cocoa if you need a quick pick-me-up or a break from the chill!

Happy holidays, best wishes for 2012, and warm regards from all of us at Borderlands to you and your families, whatever you conceive them to be.

The 2010 Gift Guide

Ah, December!  A chill in the air, spiced cider at Borderlands Cafe, and cranky hairless cats who refuse to leave their comfy heating pads.  The time of year when one's thoughts often turn, somewhat frantically, to presents.  Well, we're here to help.  It's no secret that the economy's kind of, well, crappy, and so we'd like to mention that books are by far the very best entertainment value for your dollar.  Especially if your friends read sorta slowly.

At Borderlands we have presents for every budget and almost every taste. We're delighted to make suggestions, and we relish the challenges, so bring 'em on!  Meanwhile, here are our opinions on great gift options to delight those close to you.

Caveat: All reviews by Jude unless otherwise stated.

Brandy-New Shiny Hardcovers:

SURFACE DETAIL by Iain M. Banks (Orbit, Hardcover, $25.99) - The new Culture novel raises some heavy questions -- do cultures need religions?  Is the threat of punishment the only thing that keeps most people behaving in a societally acceptable fashion? If you lose the memories of your experiences and your suffering, are you still the same person?  -- in the most wild, adventurous, lots-of-stuff-still-blows-up way possible.  This book is packed to over-stuffed with likable (and thoroughly reprehensible) characters, witty dialogue and Big Ideas.

ALL CLEAR by Connie Willis (Spectra, Hardcover, $26.00) - The follow-up to last year's brilliant BLACKOUT, we finally get to find out what happens to several plucky 23rd century time-travelling graduate students stuck in London during the Blitz.  Willis' ability to get under her characters' skin and inside their heads is one of her most endearing strengths, and really shines in these novels. Also the sheer esteem in which she holds the stoic civilians -- the everyday heroes of World War II -- is touching and breathtaking, and she communicates her respect with an incredibly effective but still light touch.  Cary suggests getting both volumes and reading them straight through, since they were originally intended to be one novel.

FULL DARK, NO STARS by Stephen King (Scribner, Hardcover, $27.99) - From Alan: "King's newest collection contains four stories (two novellas and two short stories) with the thematic linkage of ordinary people in extra-ordinary situations.  Moreover, the theme gains greater depth when one reads in the afterward, 'Bad writing is more than a matter of shit syntax and faulty observation; bad writing usually arises from a stubborn refusal to tell stories about what people actually do -- to face the fact, let us say, that murderers sometimes help old ladies across the street.'  In this series of stories King presents us with people who don't act exactly the way we might _want_ them to but who do act the way this is consistent with their character -- be it making hard choices to avoid a horrible trap, as in 'A Good Marriage,' or by taking one inexorable step after another straight down into a personal hell, as in '1922'.  He also manages to create an original 'deal with the Devil' story in 'Fair Extension,' despite the degree to which that particular patch of ground has been planted and harvested by authors over the past three hundred years.  In short, FULL DARK, NO STARS is Stephen King is his more thoughtful form demonstrating a master's touch at pacing, voice and character.  If you like King, buy it.  If you're shopping for someone who likes King, buy it.  And you might even consider it for someone who thinks that King is all about gore, ghouls, and ghosts."

TOWERS OF MIDNIGHT by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson (Tor, Hardcover, $29.99) - Blessings upon the talented (and happily incredibly nice) Brandon Sanderson for easing the cravings of Jordan junkies by delivering the penultimate WHEEL OF TIME novel in a timely fashion.

ZERO HISTORY by William Gibson (Putnam, Hardcover, $26.95) - I'm excited about the return of Hollis Henry and several characters from SPOOK COUNTRY in this impressive, smart new Gibson novel.  This one, like SPOOK COUNTRY and PATTERN RECOGNITION, is more of a near-future thriller than a standard science fiction novel, but I love it for incorporating so many crazy elements, from high fashion to the military-industrial complex.  Additionally, it's funny.  Perfect for the Gibson fan in your life.

KRAKEN by China Mieville (Del Rey, Hardcover, $26.00) - I've said a bunch of times that this is like a China Mieville novel by way of Neil Gaiman.  I think it's the funniest thing that Mieville's written, despite the fact that it's about the impossible theft of a giant squid by a cult that wants to use it to end the world.  It's thoroughly improbable and I adored it, right down to the Warren Ellis-style digressions about random cool things found on the Internet.

If you'd like to give a signed book to that special someone, we have signed copies of KILL THE DEAD (Eos, Hardcover, $22.99) by Richard Kadrey (the follow-up to the incredibly popular SANDMAN SLIM); signed copies of THE FALL (sequel to THE STRAIN) by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan (William Morrow, Hardcover, $26.99); signed copies of OUT OF THE DARK by David Weber (Tor, Hardcover, $25.99); signed copies of ANCESTOR by Scott Sigler (Crown, Hardcover, $24.95) and many, many more choices!

Decorous Trade Paperbacks:

FLAMING ZEPPELINS by Joe R. Lansdale (Tachyon Publications, Trade Paperback, $14.95) FLAMING LONDON and ZEPPELINS WEST in one volume, or, the Adventures of Ned the Seal.  Lansdale was writing Steampunk before the term was even capitalized, certainly long before silly hipsters with goggles & Really Unfortunate Facial Hair wandered Valencia Street.  But to pigeonhole this volume as Steampunk is actually to do it a disservice, as cool as Steampunk is. . . because these books are completely wild, promiscuously multi-genre, over-the-top pulpy capers starring characters both real and fictional.  (Wild Bill Hickock, Annie Oakley, the Tin Man, Frankenstein's monster, Mark Twain & Jules Verne fighting Wells' Martian invasion. . . plus the unforgettable Ned the Seal!)  And there're zeppelins.  What more could you possibly want?

Speaking of Steampunk, if you're concerned that the Steampunk fan you're trying to find a gift for has read _everything_, I'll bet you a cup of coffee they haven't yet discovered BURTON & SWINBURNE IN THE STRANGE AFFAIR OF SPRING-HEELED JACK by Mark Hodder.  Set in London in 1861, it pairs a washed-up Sir Richard Francis Burton with Algernon Charles Swinburne, failed poet and worse.  They investigate the leaping boogeyman known as Spring-Heeled Jack in a wild adventure that defies easy description.  And since you can't have too much Steampunk, Tachyon's anthology STEAMPUNK II: STEAMPUNK RELOADED edited by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer  (Trade Paperback, $14.95) received a starred review from Publishers Weekly and will make the week of any fan.

Other fantastic anthologies abound this season as well: NightShade Books brings us THE LIVING DEAD 2 and BRAVE NEW WORLDS, both edited by John Joseph Adams (Trade Paperbacks, each $15.99).  LIVING DEAD 2 is even more splatter-y than its predecessor, and BRAVE NEW WORLDS is a kick-ass, thoroughly disquieting anthology of dystopian fiction including stories by luminaries like J.G. Ballard, Philip K. Dick, Ursula K. Le Guin, Kim Stanley Robinson and many, many more.  In case you missed them, NightShade also recently published THE IMPROBABLE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES (John Joseph Adams, ed, Trade Paperback, $15.95) WINGS OF FIRE, the ultimate dragon anthology, edited by Jonathan Strahan and Marianne S. Jablon (Trade Paperback, $15.95), and SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL edited by Tim Pratt (Trade Paperback, $15.95).

And more with the awesome: WILDCARDS VOL.1 edited by George R.R. Martin (Tor, Trade Paperback,$15.99) back in print after far, far too long, now with added original material (which I admittedly have not read yet, and about which I also admit to being a bit skeptical).  WILD CARDS is a shared-world series telling the secret history in which an unpredictable alien virus (The Wild Card Virus) struck the Earth in the aftermath of WWII; killing a large percentage of the population, giving some (the Aces) fabulous powers, and cursing others (the Jokers) with bizarre mental or physical disabilities.  Deep characters & amazing inventiveness by a stunning array of authors.

For the science fiction fan in your life, there's VIRGA: CITIES OF THE AIR by Karl Schroeder (Tor, Trade Paperback, $17.99) which contains the first two Virga books, SUN OF SUNS and QUEEN OF CANDESCE, in one omnibus edition.  Or you could offer DESOLATION ROAD and ARES EXPRESS, two mindblowing novels by Ian McDonald (Pyr, Trade Paperbacks, each $16.00).

Pocket-Sized Treasures:

BEST SERVED COLD by Joe Abercrombie (Orbit, Mass Market, $7.99) - I've gone on at length about this novel, which is essentially a George R.R. Martin fantasy crossed with a Sergio Leone revenge Western.  So good!  So violent!  So blackly comical!

SOULLESS by Gail Carriger (Orbit, Mass Market, $7.99) - It's a Steampunk Victorian comedy of manners with vampires and werewolves.  And tea and biscuits.  Charming, quirky, and full of snark and regrettable head-wear.  Beloved of all at Borderlands.

FEED by Mira Grant (Orbit, Mass Market, $9.99) - What do you get that friend who loved WORLD WAR Z?  FEED by Mira Grant.  FEED is a science fiction zombie story focused on the living: the group of bloggers following the would-be Republican Presidential candidate during the primaries.  Character-driven, powerful, and unexpected, FEED is one of my favorite books of the last year.

HUNDRED THOUSAND KINGDOMS by M.K. Jemisin (Orbit, Mass Market, $7.99) - Extraordinarily complex and exciting fantasy, this is one of the strongest debuts of the year.

BOOK OF SECRETS by Chris Roberson (Angry Robot, Mass Market, $7.99) - BOOK OF SECRETS is like a Tim Powers novel crossed with THE DA VINCI CODE if the THE DA VINCI CODE were a better book.  Twisty, unpredictable and lots of fun.

Other stuff:

We have a gorgeous selection of wooden boxes imported from India, pulp postcards of every stripe and level of outrageousness, and wow, A LOT of zombie calendars this year.

We're also overflowing with great used paperbacks right now, so for between $2 and $5 you can give the gift of a beloved, out-of-print favorite from your past.

The above list showcases some stuff that we're really excited about, but to reiterate, we're happy, nay, _delighted_ to make recommendations and suggestions.  The hard part is getting us to shut up, really.  Let us know if there's anything we can help you find.

Also, totally unrelated to the above gift suggestions:  we know 2010 was a hard year for a lot of people.  If the fancy strikes you, take 2 minutes during this build-up to the holiday craziness to just take deep breaths and reflect on the good things you have.  Where there's life, there's hope, and likely even some good cheer.  To that end, we wish you hope, peace and all the best in the New Year.

Origin of the Bookstore, Part the Ninth - Sidelines

For the next four 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

"How hard can it be to find a stupid bike messenger bag?!"  I threw up my hands in frustration.  I'd been looking for days; sending out email queries, flipping through catalogs, staring at low-resolution pictures on-line until my eyes stung and my contact lenses felt glued in place.  I felt like the Goldilocks of bike-messenger-bag seekers, except that there was no sign of the "Just Right" one yet, and there seemed to be about 48,000 bears' beds to choose from.  This bag was too large, and that one too small.  This one was made of cheap nylon and looked flimsy, that one appeared to be made of Kevlar and, if the cost was any indication, it darn well better have stopped bullets, too.  That type would be great, except it only came in an eye-offending orange or Army green, and all 53 of those looked too much like computer bags.  And I still had to find pens, and pint glasses, and coffee mugs and stickers.

Welcome to the wonderful world of sidelines.  What's a sideline, anyway?  Other than someplace in sports where you sit when you're not in the game?  A sideline, in retail-speak, is a line of products that you sell in your store that is outside your main purview.  So Borderlands carries a handful of sidelines; essentially everything in the store that isn't a book.

So that covers greeting cards and Ripley postcards, our cool wooden boxes, all the dragon and skull tchotchke, blank books, jewelry, art prints, sculptures and our Borderlands branded gak.  Before starting my career in retail lo these many years ago, it never occurred to me to wonder where stores bought their stuff.   I never would have suspected that there were such things as "Gift Fairs," or that they could possibly fill the whole of Moscone Center.  (Google "San Francisco International Gift Fair" if you're interested.)  I just knew that Alan wanted the sideline items that Borderlands carries to fit with the feel and personality of the store.  Some of those items were no-brainers.  Cary and I both have a weakness for beautiful boxes, so those were easy, and we ended up with Ripley postcards by customer request.  Most of the other stuff we'd seen and admired elsewhere, and it fit right in to the store.