*Overheard in the store:
"He's hardly some Svengali. I don't think he could mesmerize a Pet Rock."
"When I sit down to read a Terry Pratchett novel, I know that nothing can hurt me until after I'm done."
(Small Child, to stranger): "You look like a witch!"
(Guardian of Small Child, shocked): "[child's name], why would you say that? That's really not a nice thing to say!" (To Stranger) "I'm very sorry."
(Small Child, totally confused): "It IS a nice thing! Witches are pretty!"
#1: "Oh my gosh -- it's a wall of Tolkien!"
#2: "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
#1: "YES!"
* This was a tough month for literature lovers:
RIP Norton Juster: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/mar/09/norton-juster-author-of-the-phantom-tollbooth-dies-aged-91
Larry McMurtry passed away at age 84: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/mar/31/larry-mcmurtry-obituary
And we lost beloved "Ramona Quimby" author Beverly Cleary at age 104: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/beverly-cleary-obituary-cmwnfx38t
* Photosynthesis without sun! https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/deep-sea-bacteria-spurn-the-sun-instead-using-earths-internal-heat-for-photosynthesis
* This was completely amazing; the real life (and much better!) "Lord of the Flies" -- what actually happened when six schoolboys were shipwrecked for 15 months: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/may/09/the-real-lord-of-the-flies-what-happened-when-six-boys-were-shipwrecked-for-15-months
* Have you ever wondered how they did the special effects in that particularly gross scene in John Carpenter's movie "The Thing"?https://filmschoolrejects.com/the-thing-chest-chomp/
* We're all thrilled that brilliant fantasy author Peter S. Beagle has regained control of the rights to his work following a lengthy court battle with his criminal former manager Conor Cochran! Read the press release here, and if you'd like to follow him on Twitter (@Peterbeaglever1) or Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Peter-S-Beagle-107876501377186), please use the official links listed: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-last-unicorn-returns-home-renowned-fantasy-author--screenwriter-peter-s-beagle-prevails-after-multi-year-legal-battles-against-elder-abuse-and-to-regain-control-of-his-literary-legacy-301254107.html
* Esteemed science fiction author John Varley is recovering well from recent heart surgery, but could really use some financial help. Varley is a favorite writer of the staff not to mention being an all around lovely person. A Gofundme campaign has been started by Spider Robinson and Steph Herman -- https://www.gofundme.com/f/helpjohnvarley
Showing posts with label Overheard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Overheard. Show all posts
April 11, 2021
April News
April 04, 2020
April News
* Overheard in the Store/ at the Con/ at Writers With Drinks:
"It's a writing prompt: 'A lending library. . .*of* children. Maybe a Redbox too.'"
"Hey, have you heard of this Robert Heinlein guy?"
"Wasn't he the one who wrote TWILIGHT?"
"Sadly I've had to put the whole cannibal thing on hiatus indefinitely."
"People will totally pay double to get drunk in a collapsing multiverse."
"It's completely legal to ship axolotls in the US, so at one point I received a box that said 'Contains Live Salamanders -- Hopefully'."
"That's A LOT of finger food for a pandemic."
"Their first mistake was assuming I was a harmless old woman. They didn't get a chance at another mistake."
"Eeney, meeney, mine-y, . . . . Both!"
"A bunch of great people. . . great, supportive, and REALLY weird."
"We're vertical, on the right side of the sod, and sending telemetry. We're good!"
* Welcome to our new neighbors, indie comic shop Silver Sprocket! https://missionlocal.org/2020/02/sliver-sprocket-punk-rock-indie-comic-disneyland-opens-on-valencia-street/
* Meet the mad scientist who wrote the book on hunting hackers: https://www.wired.com/story/meet-the-mad-scientist-who-wrote-the-book-on-how-to-hunt-hackers/
* Black History Month is over, but these authors deserve to be read all year 'round: https://theportalist.com/black-science-fiction-and-fantasy-authors
* Beer in Space! Author Arkady Martine gives us the low-down on deep-space home brewing: https://www.tor.com/2020/01/24/how-to-brew-beer-in-the-confines-of-a-generation-ship/#more-544311
* A victim of the 79 A.D. volcanic blast at Herculaneum was found with an exploded skull and glass-like brain tissue . . . https://www.livescience.com/vitrified-brain-of-vesuvius-victim-found.html
* A gallery of Rod Serling's "Night Gallery" paintings: https://dangerousminds.net/comments/a_gallery_of_the_paintings_from_rod_serlings_night_gallery
* Riddle us this: What has the head of a vulture, the body of a parrot, is the size of a small child -- oh, and is TOTALLY REAL? This isn't a fantasy creature, this is the Dracula Parrot. https://mysticalraven.com/adventures/17554/the-dracula-parrot-is-scary-and-beautiful-all-at-once
* In today's real-life Lovecraftian-Horrors news: https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/stories/newly-discovered-underwater-volcanic-range-teeming-bizarre-tiny-fanged-fish
* From the Hogwarts school to the Wall in "Game of Thrones," here's how different buildings from fiction measure up: https://www.digg.com/video/comparison-sizes-of-fictional-buildings
* A 16th-century assassin's (or perhaps just an herbalist's?) cabinet discovered in a hollowed-out book: https://mymodernmet.com/poison-cabinet/
* Once again, reality and science fiction are neck and neck: scientists build "first living robots" from frog stem cells: "It's a new class of artifact: a living, programmable organism." https://futurism.com/scientists-worlds-first-living-robots-stem-cells
* What every mystery fan needs -- a thorough guide to not getting murdered in a quaint English village: https://crimereads.com/your-guide-to-not-getting-murdered-in-a-quaint-english-village/
* Is Belukha Mountain (Siberia's highest peak) haunted by the color out of space? https://mymodernmet.com/clouds-belukha-mountain-siberia/
* Forget chess - the real challenge is teaching AI to play D&D. Some artificial intelligence experts think role playing adventure games will help machines learn to be as clever as we are: https://www.wired.com/story/forget-chess-real-challenge-teaching-ai-play-dandd/
* The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is 42! https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2020/02/28/45518/the_hitchhiker%E2%80%99s_guide_to_the_galaxy_is_42%21
* It was just a matter of time. Creepy abandoned dollhouses for your inner demon child: https://www.messynessychic.com/2020/02/27/and-now-abandoned-dollhouses-for-your-inner-demon-child/
* Akira Kurosawa's spectacular hand-painted storyboards: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/akira-kurosawa-hand-painted-storyboards/
* "Medieval wall made of bones". How can you resist a phrase like that? https://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/medieval-wall-made-of-human-bones-discovered-in-belgium/
* NOT Dr. Seuss creations . . . 10 amazing and beautiful houseplants you never knew existed: https://mysticalraven.com/art/11803/top-10-amazing-but-also-beautiful-houseplants-you-never-knew-existed
* Metal, Dude! Astronomers have discovered a planet where it rains iron: https://www.cnet.com/news/astronomers-discovered-a-giant-planet-where-it-rains-iron/
* David insisted I HAD to include this in a newsletter ASAP -- detailed 3D illustrations of anatomically correct cartoon character skulls labeled as scientific specimens: https://laughingsquid.com/cartoon-skulls/
"It's a writing prompt: 'A lending library. . .*of* children. Maybe a Redbox too.'"
"Hey, have you heard of this Robert Heinlein guy?"
"Wasn't he the one who wrote TWILIGHT?"
"Sadly I've had to put the whole cannibal thing on hiatus indefinitely."
"People will totally pay double to get drunk in a collapsing multiverse."
"It's completely legal to ship axolotls in the US, so at one point I received a box that said 'Contains Live Salamanders -- Hopefully'."
"That's A LOT of finger food for a pandemic."
"Their first mistake was assuming I was a harmless old woman. They didn't get a chance at another mistake."
"Eeney, meeney, mine-y, . . . . Both!"
"A bunch of great people. . . great, supportive, and REALLY weird."
"We're vertical, on the right side of the sod, and sending telemetry. We're good!"
* Welcome to our new neighbors, indie comic shop Silver Sprocket! https://missionlocal.org/2020/02/sliver-sprocket-punk-rock-indie-comic-disneyland-opens-on-valencia-street/
* Meet the mad scientist who wrote the book on hunting hackers: https://www.wired.com/story/meet-the-mad-scientist-who-wrote-the-book-on-how-to-hunt-hackers/
* Black History Month is over, but these authors deserve to be read all year 'round: https://theportalist.com/black-science-fiction-and-fantasy-authors
* Beer in Space! Author Arkady Martine gives us the low-down on deep-space home brewing: https://www.tor.com/2020/01/24/how-to-brew-beer-in-the-confines-of-a-generation-ship/#more-544311
* A victim of the 79 A.D. volcanic blast at Herculaneum was found with an exploded skull and glass-like brain tissue . . . https://www.livescience.com/vitrified-brain-of-vesuvius-victim-found.html
* A gallery of Rod Serling's "Night Gallery" paintings: https://dangerousminds.net/comments/a_gallery_of_the_paintings_from_rod_serlings_night_gallery
* Riddle us this: What has the head of a vulture, the body of a parrot, is the size of a small child -- oh, and is TOTALLY REAL? This isn't a fantasy creature, this is the Dracula Parrot. https://mysticalraven.com/adventures/17554/the-dracula-parrot-is-scary-and-beautiful-all-at-once
* In today's real-life Lovecraftian-Horrors news: https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/stories/newly-discovered-underwater-volcanic-range-teeming-bizarre-tiny-fanged-fish
* From the Hogwarts school to the Wall in "Game of Thrones," here's how different buildings from fiction measure up: https://www.digg.com/video/comparison-sizes-of-fictional-buildings
* A 16th-century assassin's (or perhaps just an herbalist's?) cabinet discovered in a hollowed-out book: https://mymodernmet.com/poison-cabinet/
* Once again, reality and science fiction are neck and neck: scientists build "first living robots" from frog stem cells: "It's a new class of artifact: a living, programmable organism." https://futurism.com/scientists-worlds-first-living-robots-stem-cells
* What every mystery fan needs -- a thorough guide to not getting murdered in a quaint English village: https://crimereads.com/your-guide-to-not-getting-murdered-in-a-quaint-english-village/
* Is Belukha Mountain (Siberia's highest peak) haunted by the color out of space? https://mymodernmet.com/clouds-belukha-mountain-siberia/
* Forget chess - the real challenge is teaching AI to play D&D. Some artificial intelligence experts think role playing adventure games will help machines learn to be as clever as we are: https://www.wired.com/story/forget-chess-real-challenge-teaching-ai-play-dandd/
* The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is 42! https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2020/02/28/45518/the_hitchhiker%E2%80%99s_guide_to_the_galaxy_is_42%21
* It was just a matter of time. Creepy abandoned dollhouses for your inner demon child: https://www.messynessychic.com/2020/02/27/and-now-abandoned-dollhouses-for-your-inner-demon-child/
* Akira Kurosawa's spectacular hand-painted storyboards: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/akira-kurosawa-hand-painted-storyboards/
* "Medieval wall made of bones". How can you resist a phrase like that? https://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/medieval-wall-made-of-human-bones-discovered-in-belgium/
* NOT Dr. Seuss creations . . . 10 amazing and beautiful houseplants you never knew existed: https://mysticalraven.com/art/11803/top-10-amazing-but-also-beautiful-houseplants-you-never-knew-existed
* Metal, Dude! Astronomers have discovered a planet where it rains iron: https://www.cnet.com/news/astronomers-discovered-a-giant-planet-where-it-rains-iron/
* David insisted I HAD to include this in a newsletter ASAP -- detailed 3D illustrations of anatomically correct cartoon character skulls labeled as scientific specimens: https://laughingsquid.com/cartoon-skulls/
February 12, 2020
February News
* Overheard in the Store:
"Our benevolent, yet hapless, geek empire will span the galaxy."
"PLEASE go away. I am completely out of patience for mumbled glossolalia today."
"Thank you kindly, but I don't need anything else that could potentially cause awkward questions from the TSA."
"I don't need to watch the game. I can track it from the screaming outside."
"She kills all the plants, right?"
"Yeah, she's _definitely_ more of a mineral person."
[angrily, on the phone]: "Well obviously there's a ton of uncertainty here. We have no idea what we're doing, but that's never stopped us before!"
"Our team-building activity is to not talk to each other.”
"I told her that I REALLY needed a cocktail. Or a lobotomy."
"I like it when the aliens are weird enough to be recognizably alien but still human enough to be hot."
* "In partnership with SF in SF, Borderlands Books, Locus magazine, Tachyon Publications, Consonance and other organizations, SF by the Bay at the San Francisco Public Library, February 1 – April 30, presents over two dozen programs, including film screenings, author talks, live dramas, lectures, panel discussions, a filk music concert, book displays, a costume contest, and an exhibit of rare books, magazines and art drawn from the Main Library's J. Francis McComas Fantasy and Science Fiction Collection, a reference collection of more than 3000 books and magazines. With a focus on local authors and culture, the SF by the Bay exhibit and programs highlight the San Francisco Bay Area's important contributions to the history of fantasy and science fiction and celebrate this ongoing history in relation to its international and multimedia contexts." https://tachyonpublications.com/experience-sf-by-the-bay-a-grand-celebration-of-the-san-francisco-bay-area-science-fiction-and-fantasy/
"Our benevolent, yet hapless, geek empire will span the galaxy."
"PLEASE go away. I am completely out of patience for mumbled glossolalia today."
"Thank you kindly, but I don't need anything else that could potentially cause awkward questions from the TSA."
"I don't need to watch the game. I can track it from the screaming outside."
"She kills all the plants, right?"
"Yeah, she's _definitely_ more of a mineral person."
[angrily, on the phone]: "Well obviously there's a ton of uncertainty here. We have no idea what we're doing, but that's never stopped us before!"
"Our team-building activity is to not talk to each other.”
"I told her that I REALLY needed a cocktail. Or a lobotomy."
"I like it when the aliens are weird enough to be recognizably alien but still human enough to be hot."
* "In partnership with SF in SF, Borderlands Books, Locus magazine, Tachyon Publications, Consonance and other organizations, SF by the Bay at the San Francisco Public Library, February 1 – April 30, presents over two dozen programs, including film screenings, author talks, live dramas, lectures, panel discussions, a filk music concert, book displays, a costume contest, and an exhibit of rare books, magazines and art drawn from the Main Library's J. Francis McComas Fantasy and Science Fiction Collection, a reference collection of more than 3000 books and magazines. With a focus on local authors and culture, the SF by the Bay exhibit and programs highlight the San Francisco Bay Area's important contributions to the history of fantasy and science fiction and celebrate this ongoing history in relation to its international and multimedia contexts." https://tachyonpublications.com/experience-sf-by-the-bay-a-grand-celebration-of-the-san-francisco-bay-area-science-fiction-and-fantasy/
January 27, 2020
January News
* Overheard in the Store:
"We washed the rest of The Watcher. . . witched the rest of The Washer . . . DAMMIT. We WATCHED the rest of 'The WITCHER' last night!"
"I've never seen a 'Damn You, AutoCorrect' in real life before."
"When I worked for the hospital, I wrote, and then unfortunately lost, 'The Cat in the Hat Gets a Colonoscopy'."
"Ooh! An asexual tentacle monster! That's the closest thing to describing my actual gender."
"You can always tell the clouds that are hiding alien spacecraft behind them."
"This year EVERYONE is getting books!"
"Have YOU ever tried to wrap Z-Fold Mil Spec Combat Gauze to put in a Christmas stocking? I don't recommend it."
"I'll just let it live its Majestic Chicken Life."
"Everywhere I look -- tentacles!
"All I remember are bed shelves, clabbered milk, and people wandering off to die in the cold."
"It's THE CALL OF CTHULHU, done Dr. Seuss-style. There's no denying the world was waiting for that."
"The place is really called 'Normal, Illinois'? The city doth protest too much, methinks."
"You're right -- it's like calling a town 'Definitely Not Gay, Kansas'."
"Around here, I will tell you when to panic. You don't get to panic without authorization."
* The Bold Italic talked to Alan Beatts, Rudy Rucker, M. Luke McDonnell and Rina Weisman for this optimistic piece about science fiction in San Francisco! https://thebolditalic.com/san-franciscos-sci-fi-renaissance-95713a91171c
"We washed the rest of The Watcher. . . witched the rest of The Washer . . . DAMMIT. We WATCHED the rest of 'The WITCHER' last night!"
"I've never seen a 'Damn You, AutoCorrect' in real life before."
"When I worked for the hospital, I wrote, and then unfortunately lost, 'The Cat in the Hat Gets a Colonoscopy'."
"Ooh! An asexual tentacle monster! That's the closest thing to describing my actual gender."
"You can always tell the clouds that are hiding alien spacecraft behind them."
"This year EVERYONE is getting books!"
"Have YOU ever tried to wrap Z-Fold Mil Spec Combat Gauze to put in a Christmas stocking? I don't recommend it."
"I'll just let it live its Majestic Chicken Life."
"Everywhere I look -- tentacles!
"All I remember are bed shelves, clabbered milk, and people wandering off to die in the cold."
"It's THE CALL OF CTHULHU, done Dr. Seuss-style. There's no denying the world was waiting for that."
"The place is really called 'Normal, Illinois'? The city doth protest too much, methinks."
"You're right -- it's like calling a town 'Definitely Not Gay, Kansas'."
"Around here, I will tell you when to panic. You don't get to panic without authorization."
* The Bold Italic talked to Alan Beatts, Rudy Rucker, M. Luke McDonnell and Rina Weisman for this optimistic piece about science fiction in San Francisco! https://thebolditalic.com/san-franciscos-sci-fi-renaissance-95713a91171c
November 21, 2019
November News
* Overheard in the Store:
"Pokemon should not make you feel funny in your pants-parts."
"Finally, a bookstore with the _correct_ smell!"
"Some fungi are only edible once."
"If all else fails, use the parallel world."
"The highest villain in the book is a giant bagpipe. Nothing could be more evil than a bagpipe."
"I was ambushed, and she forcibly read her poetry at me."
"If you're not pissing someone off, you're probably in PR."
"Joel Selvin has covered pop music for the San Francisco Chronicle since shortly after the Civil War."
"It's a book title - 'Consensual Cannibalism: An Atheist's Primer for Surviving the Apocalypse'."
"Apparently it's the day of Hyper Aggressive Authors."
* Big congratulations to all the nominees and winners of this year's World Fantasy Awards! https://locusmag.com/2019/11/2019-world-fantasy-awards-winners/
* We are very sad to share news of the death of the incomparable Michael Blumlein. Michael was a Borderlands sponsor, a retired doctor, and an extremely talented genre author, but more importantly he was a brilliant, humorous, generous, and tremendously good human being with an enduring sense of wonder. He will be fiercely missed. https://www.tor.com/2019/10/28/michael-blumlein-1948-2019/
"Pokemon should not make you feel funny in your pants-parts."
"Finally, a bookstore with the _correct_ smell!"
"Some fungi are only edible once."
"If all else fails, use the parallel world."
"The highest villain in the book is a giant bagpipe. Nothing could be more evil than a bagpipe."
"I was ambushed, and she forcibly read her poetry at me."
"If you're not pissing someone off, you're probably in PR."
"Joel Selvin has covered pop music for the San Francisco Chronicle since shortly after the Civil War."
"It's a book title - 'Consensual Cannibalism: An Atheist's Primer for Surviving the Apocalypse'."
"Apparently it's the day of Hyper Aggressive Authors."
* Big congratulations to all the nominees and winners of this year's World Fantasy Awards! https://locusmag.com/2019/11/2019-world-fantasy-awards-winners/
* We are very sad to share news of the death of the incomparable Michael Blumlein. Michael was a Borderlands sponsor, a retired doctor, and an extremely talented genre author, but more importantly he was a brilliant, humorous, generous, and tremendously good human being with an enduring sense of wonder. He will be fiercely missed. https://www.tor.com/2019/10/28/michael-blumlein-1948-2019/
October 10, 2019
October News
* Overheard in the Store:
"At one point in history you could certainly read every science fiction & fantasy title that came out that year. Now you can't even read all the Seanan McGuire titles that come out in a year!"
"What house are you in? Gryffindor? Like everybody. I'm in Slytherin, obviously."
"It's low-level and hilarious vegan propaganda, TBH."
"I just need to find an ancient Babylonian oatmeal recipe RIGHT NOW!"
"I think it's really creative what this guy did with dried noodles."
"Please don't kill people. It would be rude."
"Tentacles are coming. Paint is drying."
"As a friend of mine once sniffed, 'Suburban bondage'."
"That's the name of my new punk band --'Stalin's Unicorns'."
"This is the sort of book you put on your coffee table to find out who your real friends are."
* Huge congratulations to Alex and JoAnne! Alex proposed to JoAnne at Borderlands on Tuesday, October 1st with a custom-made book that celebrates their story. We wish them a lifetime of happiness! You can see pictures of the happy couple (and that adorable book) on our Twitter feed, @borderlands_sf.
* Bay News Rising talked to Alan about Borderlands' new building and discussed the difficulties of small businesses purchasing them: https://baynewsrising.org/2019/08/19/small-business-survival-tactic-own-your-own-building/
"At one point in history you could certainly read every science fiction & fantasy title that came out that year. Now you can't even read all the Seanan McGuire titles that come out in a year!"
"What house are you in? Gryffindor? Like everybody. I'm in Slytherin, obviously."
"It's low-level and hilarious vegan propaganda, TBH."
"I just need to find an ancient Babylonian oatmeal recipe RIGHT NOW!"
"I think it's really creative what this guy did with dried noodles."
"Please don't kill people. It would be rude."
"Tentacles are coming. Paint is drying."
"As a friend of mine once sniffed, 'Suburban bondage'."
"That's the name of my new punk band --'Stalin's Unicorns'."
"This is the sort of book you put on your coffee table to find out who your real friends are."
* Huge congratulations to Alex and JoAnne! Alex proposed to JoAnne at Borderlands on Tuesday, October 1st with a custom-made book that celebrates their story. We wish them a lifetime of happiness! You can see pictures of the happy couple (and that adorable book) on our Twitter feed, @borderlands_sf.
* Bay News Rising talked to Alan about Borderlands' new building and discussed the difficulties of small businesses purchasing them: https://baynewsrising.org/2019/08/19/small-business-survival-tactic-own-your-own-building/
September 04, 2019
September News
* Overheard in the Store:
"Don't worry, it only _looks_ haunted."
"It didn't actually end, it just ran out of chapters.”
"Like I'd let some wimpy ghost best me in a fight. I will die by the hands of Al Capone's fat ghost or I will NEVER DIE."
"There are two kinds of people in the world: those who can extrapolate from incomplete data."
"I really wish there was someone smarter than me around to deal with it."
"I understand, but sometimes being a grownup means you're all the smart you’ve got, and you just have to do your best."
* Dell Magazines has elected to change the name of the John W. Campbell Award to The Astounding Award for Best New Writer, following Jeannette Ng's award acceptance speech at the Hugos, and much discussion in the field: https://theastoundinganalogcompanion.com/2019/08/27/a-statement-from-the-editor/ . (The full text of Ms. Ng's speech is here, if you missed it: https://medium.com/@nettlefish/john-w-campbell-for-whom-this-award-was-named-was-a-fascist-f693323d3293)
* Congratulations to all of the Hugo Award nominees and winners! http://www.thehugoawards.org/
* A crashed Israeli lunar lander accidentally scattered microscopic "water bears" on the moon: https://www.wired.com/story/a-crashed-israeli-lunar-lander-spilled-tardigrades-on-the-moon/
"Don't worry, it only _looks_ haunted."
"It didn't actually end, it just ran out of chapters.”
"Like I'd let some wimpy ghost best me in a fight. I will die by the hands of Al Capone's fat ghost or I will NEVER DIE."
"There are two kinds of people in the world: those who can extrapolate from incomplete data."
"I really wish there was someone smarter than me around to deal with it."
"I understand, but sometimes being a grownup means you're all the smart you’ve got, and you just have to do your best."
* Dell Magazines has elected to change the name of the John W. Campbell Award to The Astounding Award for Best New Writer, following Jeannette Ng's award acceptance speech at the Hugos, and much discussion in the field: https://theastoundinganalogcompanion.com/2019/08/27/a-statement-from-the-editor/ . (The full text of Ms. Ng's speech is here, if you missed it: https://medium.com/@nettlefish/john-w-campbell-for-whom-this-award-was-named-was-a-fascist-f693323d3293)
* Congratulations to all of the Hugo Award nominees and winners! http://www.thehugoawards.org/
* A crashed Israeli lunar lander accidentally scattered microscopic "water bears" on the moon: https://www.wired.com/story/a-crashed-israeli-lunar-lander-spilled-tardigrades-on-the-moon/
August 07, 2019
August News
* Overheard in the Bookstore:
"I'm sorry, but you need to leave RIGHT NOW, because you're not actually wearing pants."
"He looks like Arnold Schwarzenegger, as possessed by the spirit of Ernest Hemingway."
"She's a library."
"She works in a library?"
"No, she IS a library."
"What is the duck for?"
"I think it's just a Breast Cancer Awareness duck."
"You _can't_ just go to the bathroom at Jurassic Park in the rain."
"Schadenfreude isn't just a river in Egypt."
"Right. [pause] Wait; what?"
"It's the best pop-culture writing of the last 30 years -- it's got a zombie ska band!"
"Tom Waits is mid-life crisis music for goths."
* A decent article about the creative things San Francisco comic stores have done to survive, with a dire headline: https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/SF-comic-book-sellers-hang-on-hoping-each-laugh-14092674.php
* Speaking of doing creative things to survive. . . Probably because we had just announced that we were closing the Cafe and people were understandably distracted, a bunch of folks missed this link when we first posted it. Freethink Media created an awesome video on Borderlands' and Mission Comics and Arts' respective sponsorship programs and our survival models for unconventional retail! Watch it (among other excellent reasons) to see Alan looking Very Serious Indeed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=mQD1y2yORPQ
* A really lovely post by Jud Meyers (of North Hollywood's Blast Off Comics, which sadly closed at the end of July) about the rewards of being able to give the gift of books (and comic books), and secondarily about why there were never any posters obscuring Blast Off's windows: http://www.blastoffcomics.com/2019/07/four-letter-words/
* Beloved author James A. Moore could use some financial help for medical expenses, if you can assist: https://www.gofundme.com/f/please-help-author-james-a-moore
"I'm sorry, but you need to leave RIGHT NOW, because you're not actually wearing pants."
"He looks like Arnold Schwarzenegger, as possessed by the spirit of Ernest Hemingway."
"She's a library."
"She works in a library?"
"No, she IS a library."
"What is the duck for?"
"I think it's just a Breast Cancer Awareness duck."
"You _can't_ just go to the bathroom at Jurassic Park in the rain."
"Schadenfreude isn't just a river in Egypt."
"Right. [pause] Wait; what?"
"It's the best pop-culture writing of the last 30 years -- it's got a zombie ska band!"
"Tom Waits is mid-life crisis music for goths."
* A decent article about the creative things San Francisco comic stores have done to survive, with a dire headline: https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/SF-comic-book-sellers-hang-on-hoping-each-laugh-14092674.php
* Speaking of doing creative things to survive. . . Probably because we had just announced that we were closing the Cafe and people were understandably distracted, a bunch of folks missed this link when we first posted it. Freethink Media created an awesome video on Borderlands' and Mission Comics and Arts' respective sponsorship programs and our survival models for unconventional retail! Watch it (among other excellent reasons) to see Alan looking Very Serious Indeed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=mQD1y2yORPQ
* A really lovely post by Jud Meyers (of North Hollywood's Blast Off Comics, which sadly closed at the end of July) about the rewards of being able to give the gift of books (and comic books), and secondarily about why there were never any posters obscuring Blast Off's windows: http://www.blastoffcomics.com/2019/07/four-letter-words/
* Beloved author James A. Moore could use some financial help for medical expenses, if you can assist: https://www.gofundme.com/f/please-help-author-james-a-moore
July 18, 2019
July News
* Overheard in the store:
"I love the smell of books. It smells so good in here! I want to bottle it and wear it as a perfume."
"I've only met one person ever who didn't like GOOD OMENS, and I didn't trust them."
"It's like people who never say the f-word, or who dislike dogs!"
"She said that worrying was like praying for something you don't want."
"She sold her soul for a toaster oven."
"So... what I'm hearing is that Wiccans shouldn't drink."
"Repeatedly forgetting your PIN is an excellent way to save money."
"I'm turning my life in a new direction: Horizontal."
"You can't discriminate against someone based on their Hogwarts' House!"
* Locus Magazine is hosting a Writing Master Class with author Andy Duncan! July 21, 2019, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Locus Magazine HQ in downtown Oakland. The cost is $150.00. Details and sign up here: https://locusmag.com/locus-bay-area-writers-workshop-writing-master-class-with-andy-duncan-july-2019/
* Local author (and Borderlands sponsor) Charlie Jane Anders did a marvelous interview with the Huffington Post: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/charlie-jane-anders-crosses-the-divide_n_5cdc281ae4b0437438c5290e
* Congratulations to Irene Gallo, who has been promoted to Vice President, Publisher of Tor.com! https://www.tor.com/2019/06/20/irene-gallo-promoted-to-vice-president-publisher-of-tor-com/
"I love the smell of books. It smells so good in here! I want to bottle it and wear it as a perfume."
"I've only met one person ever who didn't like GOOD OMENS, and I didn't trust them."
"It's like people who never say the f-word, or who dislike dogs!"
"She said that worrying was like praying for something you don't want."
"She sold her soul for a toaster oven."
"So... what I'm hearing is that Wiccans shouldn't drink."
"Repeatedly forgetting your PIN is an excellent way to save money."
"I'm turning my life in a new direction: Horizontal."
"You can't discriminate against someone based on their Hogwarts' House!"
* Locus Magazine is hosting a Writing Master Class with author Andy Duncan! July 21, 2019, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Locus Magazine HQ in downtown Oakland. The cost is $150.00. Details and sign up here: https://locusmag.com/locus-bay-area-writers-workshop-writing-master-class-with-andy-duncan-july-2019/
* Local author (and Borderlands sponsor) Charlie Jane Anders did a marvelous interview with the Huffington Post: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/charlie-jane-anders-crosses-the-divide_n_5cdc281ae4b0437438c5290e
* Congratulations to Irene Gallo, who has been promoted to Vice President, Publisher of Tor.com! https://www.tor.com/2019/06/20/irene-gallo-promoted-to-vice-president-publisher-of-tor-com/
June News
*Overheard in the Store:
"You can't discriminate against someone based on their Hogwarts' House!"
"The clerks were whimsical and the customers were insane."
"You FOOL! We're all English teachers and there were BOOKS back there!"
"You care about something, and you're not an idiot."
"Well, when you put it THAT way, it is _definitely_ creepy."
* R.I.P. Dennis Etchison, acclaimed horror author and editor and recipient of the Bram Stoker Lifetime Achievement Award, who died at the end of May. https://locusmag.com/2019/05/dennis-etchison-1943-2019/
* Babylon 5 was one of the most innovative SF shows of its time, and here are 5 things that it did that changed science fiction forever. https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/5-things-babylon-5-did-that-changed-science-fiction-forever
"You can't discriminate against someone based on their Hogwarts' House!"
"The clerks were whimsical and the customers were insane."
"You FOOL! We're all English teachers and there were BOOKS back there!"
"You care about something, and you're not an idiot."
"Well, when you put it THAT way, it is _definitely_ creepy."
* R.I.P. Dennis Etchison, acclaimed horror author and editor and recipient of the Bram Stoker Lifetime Achievement Award, who died at the end of May. https://locusmag.com/2019/05/dennis-etchison-1943-2019/
* Babylon 5 was one of the most innovative SF shows of its time, and here are 5 things that it did that changed science fiction forever. https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/5-things-babylon-5-did-that-changed-science-fiction-forever
May 29, 2019
May News
* Overheard in the Store:
"Receipt? Oh, no, no, thank you. I don't want to be reminded how much I've spent on books."
"That’s adorable! The Prius had a bumper sticker that said 'Cool Prius! - Nobody'."
"But the paper ones are _meant_ to be edited"
"Space said 'we have black holes' and scientists just replied with, 'pics or it didn't happen'."
"You measure the cinnamon in parsecs?"
* ICYMI: Yes, we have permanently closed Borderlands Cafe (JUST THE CAFE), and we will be moving the bookstore (only) to the building that we purchased on Haight Street at some point in the future, when the construction work on the Haight Street building is complete. Alan Beatts, the business' owner, on closing the Cafe: http://borderlands-books.blogspot.com/2019/04/borderlands-cafe-to-close.html
* Because we've closed the Cafe, we'll be selling all the Cafe furniture, fixtures, and equipment, plus some extra bookshelves and other things while we're at it. The sale starts Sunday, May 19th at 12:00 pm. Come check out many tables, chairs, a variety of bookshelves, and a mind-boggling array of mugs, glasses, teapots, and such! We also have some really beautiful furniture -- would you like an amazing Chinese-style armoire, or a church pew for your place? This is a really cool opportunity to take home a little bit of Borderlands' history. We'd love to know that these items will live on with people who appreciate them. (Regrettably, it won't be possible for us to hold anything. And not to sound too salesman-y, but. . . prices will be dropping as we get closer to the cafe's must-be-vacant date of June 1st, but if you wait you'll risk missing out!)
* R.I.P. celebrated author and science fiction Grand Master Gene Wolfe: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/gene-wolfe-science-fiction-writer-with-a-literary-touch-dies-at-87/2019/04/28/9bf76226-69c1-11e9-a66d-a82d3f3d96d5_story.html
"Receipt? Oh, no, no, thank you. I don't want to be reminded how much I've spent on books."
"That’s adorable! The Prius had a bumper sticker that said 'Cool Prius! - Nobody'."
"But the paper ones are _meant_ to be edited"
"Space said 'we have black holes' and scientists just replied with, 'pics or it didn't happen'."
"You measure the cinnamon in parsecs?"
* ICYMI: Yes, we have permanently closed Borderlands Cafe (JUST THE CAFE), and we will be moving the bookstore (only) to the building that we purchased on Haight Street at some point in the future, when the construction work on the Haight Street building is complete. Alan Beatts, the business' owner, on closing the Cafe: http://borderlands-books.blogspot.com/2019/04/borderlands-cafe-to-close.html
* Because we've closed the Cafe, we'll be selling all the Cafe furniture, fixtures, and equipment, plus some extra bookshelves and other things while we're at it. The sale starts Sunday, May 19th at 12:00 pm. Come check out many tables, chairs, a variety of bookshelves, and a mind-boggling array of mugs, glasses, teapots, and such! We also have some really beautiful furniture -- would you like an amazing Chinese-style armoire, or a church pew for your place? This is a really cool opportunity to take home a little bit of Borderlands' history. We'd love to know that these items will live on with people who appreciate them. (Regrettably, it won't be possible for us to hold anything. And not to sound too salesman-y, but. . . prices will be dropping as we get closer to the cafe's must-be-vacant date of June 1st, but if you wait you'll risk missing out!)
* R.I.P. celebrated author and science fiction Grand Master Gene Wolfe: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/gene-wolfe-science-fiction-writer-with-a-literary-touch-dies-at-87/2019/04/28/9bf76226-69c1-11e9-a66d-a82d3f3d96d5_story.html
April 12, 2019
April News
* Overheard in the Store:
"I have done things with ladders that make bystanders shriek with horror."
"The last person not bleeding wins."
<shouting at repetitive busker outside> "Hey Joey Ramone! Pretty PLEASE learn another chord!"
"In general, I try not to microwave sour cream."
"Sometimes we bear seemingly unbearable things, because the alternative is so much worse."
"Does anything ever get described as a 'low-octane thriller'?"
"The fact that it's tactless doesn't make it untrue."
"I'd be a really Casual Assassin, like 'You're gonna die, no doubt about that, but meantime would you like a coffee or a soda?'"
"Someone had an Emotional Support chicken on the bus today."
"What I really thought was that I had ordered a goat when I was drunk and forgot."
“Trust me, absolutely nothing good starts with burned garlic.”
"Thanks, Car Insurance Company. There couldn't possibly be more perfect hold music than an endless instrumental loop of 'Danger Zone'."
"I don’t remember what I ate for lunch, but I remember the plot to every one of these books."
* R.I.P. to Vonda N. McIntyre, who passed away on April 1st from pancreatic cancer. McIntyre was a multiple award winner, brilliant author, one of the founders of the Clarion West Writers Workshop, founder of Book View Cafe, and the person who gave Hikaru Sulu his first name, among many other accomplishments. She managed to finish her final novel a few weeks before her death. https://www.geekwire.com/2019/vonda-n-mcintyre-1948-2019-seattle-science-fiction-star-dies-cancer/
* Freethink Media created an awesome video on Borderlands' and Mission Comics and Arts' respective sponsorship programs and our survival models for unconventional retail! https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=mQD1y2yORPQ
"I have done things with ladders that make bystanders shriek with horror."
"The last person not bleeding wins."
<shouting at repetitive busker outside> "Hey Joey Ramone! Pretty PLEASE learn another chord!"
"In general, I try not to microwave sour cream."
"Sometimes we bear seemingly unbearable things, because the alternative is so much worse."
"Does anything ever get described as a 'low-octane thriller'?"
"The fact that it's tactless doesn't make it untrue."
"I'd be a really Casual Assassin, like 'You're gonna die, no doubt about that, but meantime would you like a coffee or a soda?'"
"Someone had an Emotional Support chicken on the bus today."
"What I really thought was that I had ordered a goat when I was drunk and forgot."
“Trust me, absolutely nothing good starts with burned garlic.”
"Thanks, Car Insurance Company. There couldn't possibly be more perfect hold music than an endless instrumental loop of 'Danger Zone'."
"I don’t remember what I ate for lunch, but I remember the plot to every one of these books."
* R.I.P. to Vonda N. McIntyre, who passed away on April 1st from pancreatic cancer. McIntyre was a multiple award winner, brilliant author, one of the founders of the Clarion West Writers Workshop, founder of Book View Cafe, and the person who gave Hikaru Sulu his first name, among many other accomplishments. She managed to finish her final novel a few weeks before her death. https://www.geekwire.com/2019/vonda-n-mcintyre-1948-2019-seattle-science-fiction-star-dies-cancer/
* Freethink Media created an awesome video on Borderlands' and Mission Comics and Arts' respective sponsorship programs and our survival models for unconventional retail! https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=mQD1y2yORPQ
March 06, 2019
March News
* Overheard in the Store:
"I had a REALLY long week yesterday."
"My toast was 'To 2019 - may it be a great year for schadenfreude!'"
"I like your name!"
"Thanks, I got it for my birthday."
"It's one of those fundamental rules: if you're lit, don't light things."
* Overheard at Mission Police Station:
"I'm here to get my sh*t back."
"What sh*t is that, Sir?"
"My sh*t that got taken away from me."
"Under what circumstances was your sh*t taken away, Sir?"
"When I was arrested."
"Oh. Hang on for a minute."
* Octavia Butler's groundbreaking classic Parable duology is set to be reprinted with gorgeous new covers and a foreword from N.K. Jemisin, which you can read at the link below. Feel free to preorder by emailing office@borderlands-books.com! https://ew.com/books/2019/02/25/parable-octavia-butler-reissue/
* N.K. Jemisin also sat down with Studio 360, where she spoke about her new collection of short stories and her own approach to writing. Listen here: https://www.pri.org/stories/2019-02-28/nk-jemisin-and-unspoken-politics-speculative-fiction
"I had a REALLY long week yesterday."
"My toast was 'To 2019 - may it be a great year for schadenfreude!'"
"I like your name!"
"Thanks, I got it for my birthday."
"It's one of those fundamental rules: if you're lit, don't light things."
* Overheard at Mission Police Station:
"I'm here to get my sh*t back."
"What sh*t is that, Sir?"
"My sh*t that got taken away from me."
"Under what circumstances was your sh*t taken away, Sir?"
"When I was arrested."
"Oh. Hang on for a minute."
* Octavia Butler's groundbreaking classic Parable duology is set to be reprinted with gorgeous new covers and a foreword from N.K. Jemisin, which you can read at the link below. Feel free to preorder by emailing office@borderlands-books.com! https://ew.com/books/2019/02/25/parable-octavia-butler-reissue/
* N.K. Jemisin also sat down with Studio 360, where she spoke about her new collection of short stories and her own approach to writing. Listen here: https://www.pri.org/stories/2019-02-28/nk-jemisin-and-unspoken-politics-speculative-fiction
March 05, 2019
February News
* Overheard in the Store:
"Who, exactly, decided that this image of empowered femininity would be a completely naked woman chasing a playful mini T-Rex around a tree with a kitchen knife?"
"This seems like a good plan; I'll just pose in this hoodie on an emu!"
"I believe in role-playing games, & I believe in cosplay. I just don't believe they go great together."
"In my experience, LARP-ing is just sitting in 30 pounds of dress while my friends argue for hours."
"We never said it would be easy. We just said it'd be worth it."
"They may be coming here to leave their hearts in San Francisco, but they clearly left their brains in Dayton or Poughkeepsie or wherever it is they're from!"
* A 100 year-old Holocaust survivor talks about the importance of books. Her letter is included in an anthology of essays on books and reading. https://www.brainpickings.org/2018/12/18/a-velocity-of-being-helen-fagin/
* In extremely sad local news, Aardvark Books has closed after 40 years in San Francisco. https://hoodline.com/2019/01/final-chapter-aardvark-books-to-close-this-friday-after-40-years-in-business
"Who, exactly, decided that this image of empowered femininity would be a completely naked woman chasing a playful mini T-Rex around a tree with a kitchen knife?"
"This seems like a good plan; I'll just pose in this hoodie on an emu!"
"I believe in role-playing games, & I believe in cosplay. I just don't believe they go great together."
"In my experience, LARP-ing is just sitting in 30 pounds of dress while my friends argue for hours."
"We never said it would be easy. We just said it'd be worth it."
"They may be coming here to leave their hearts in San Francisco, but they clearly left their brains in Dayton or Poughkeepsie or wherever it is they're from!"
* A 100 year-old Holocaust survivor talks about the importance of books. Her letter is included in an anthology of essays on books and reading. https://www.brainpickings.org/2018/12/18/a-velocity-of-being-helen-fagin/
* In extremely sad local news, Aardvark Books has closed after 40 years in San Francisco. https://hoodline.com/2019/01/final-chapter-aardvark-books-to-close-this-friday-after-40-years-in-business
January 25, 2019
January News
* Overheard in the Store:
"The Pope's never seen _my_ meat!"
* Local author Nick Mamatas is teaching a Fabulist Fiction course at WeWork Golden Gate, 25 Taylor St., San Francisco. There are six sessions and it starts THIS Saturday, January 12th. The cost is $395. Details and sign up here: https://sfwriting.institute/portfolio/fabulist_fiction/
* A very interesting article on the way young Muslims are finding a sense of belonging in science fiction. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/12/28/young-muslims-find-meaning-and-inspiration-science-fiction-novels/2413653002/
* io9 has gotten together a list of the fictional people, shows and comics that we lost in 2018. R.I.P. https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-fictional-people-and-things-we-lost-in-2018-1831260333
* How many science fiction predictions for 2019 came true? How many didn't? (We will probably always be mad at the absence of flying cars and teleportation devices.) https://triblive.com/business/technology/14448704-74/science-fiction-predictions-right-and-wrong-about-2019
* A new science-fiction magazine, "Dreamforge", with a theme of optimism, survival and hope, will be coming out of Pittsburgh in 2019. https://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/news/2018/12/27/science-fiction-magazine-takes-off-in-pittsburgh.html
"The Pope's never seen _my_ meat!"
* Local author Nick Mamatas is teaching a Fabulist Fiction course at WeWork Golden Gate, 25 Taylor St., San Francisco. There are six sessions and it starts THIS Saturday, January 12th. The cost is $395. Details and sign up here: https://sfwriting.institute/portfolio/fabulist_fiction/
* A very interesting article on the way young Muslims are finding a sense of belonging in science fiction. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/12/28/young-muslims-find-meaning-and-inspiration-science-fiction-novels/2413653002/
* io9 has gotten together a list of the fictional people, shows and comics that we lost in 2018. R.I.P. https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-fictional-people-and-things-we-lost-in-2018-1831260333
* How many science fiction predictions for 2019 came true? How many didn't? (We will probably always be mad at the absence of flying cars and teleportation devices.) https://triblive.com/business/technology/14448704-74/science-fiction-predictions-right-and-wrong-about-2019
* A new science-fiction magazine, "Dreamforge", with a theme of optimism, survival and hope, will be coming out of Pittsburgh in 2019. https://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/news/2018/12/27/science-fiction-magazine-takes-off-in-pittsburgh.html
September 11, 2018
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."
August 09, 2018
August News
* Overheard in the Store:
"I keep forgetting that, in the Mission, Thursday is now Friday, and Friday is now Stupid."
* Borderlands' owner Alan Beatts will be interviewed by Matthew Felix on Facebook Live at 6:00 pm on Sunday, August 26th! Here's some information from the interviewer: "The Matthew Félix On Air video podcast features author Matthew Felix and guests discussing writing, travel, and whatever else piques Matthew's interest, from spirituality to cultural happenings to the outdoors to anything with a good story worth exploring. In this episode, Matthew talks with Borderlands Books' Alan Beatts about Borderlands' history, mission, and the current climate for indie bookstores -- and some of the innovative ways they're adapting for the future." Check it out here, and do remember it's live! https://www.facebook.com/authormatthewfelix/ You'll also be able to catch it later on YouTube https://bit.ly/1MoDsNS or iTunes: https://apple.co/2KAS0AP, or follow the link from Matthew's webpage: http://www.matthewfelix.com
* If you're visiting the Bay Area for the World Science Fiction Convention and will be in San Francisco either before Monday, August 13th or after Monday, August 20th, we'd be delighted to give you a tour of our location-to-be, which is still very much a work in progress. Just email Alan, abeatts@borderlands-books.com, to set up a time.
* Speaking of WorldCon: if you're an author attending the con and we've somehow missed having your books at our booths, we'd be happy to carry them on consignment at the con. We usually do a 60% / 40% split, with the author getting 60% of the cover price. Authors pick up any unsold copies near the end of the con, and we send you a check for sold copies around 30 days after the event. Just find the Borderlands booth at the convention and Jude should be able to assist you.
"I keep forgetting that, in the Mission, Thursday is now Friday, and Friday is now Stupid."
* Borderlands' owner Alan Beatts will be interviewed by Matthew Felix on Facebook Live at 6:00 pm on Sunday, August 26th! Here's some information from the interviewer: "The Matthew Félix On Air video podcast features author Matthew Felix and guests discussing writing, travel, and whatever else piques Matthew's interest, from spirituality to cultural happenings to the outdoors to anything with a good story worth exploring. In this episode, Matthew talks with Borderlands Books' Alan Beatts about Borderlands' history, mission, and the current climate for indie bookstores -- and some of the innovative ways they're adapting for the future." Check it out here, and do remember it's live! https://www.facebook.com/authormatthewfelix/ You'll also be able to catch it later on YouTube https://bit.ly/1MoDsNS or iTunes: https://apple.co/2KAS0AP, or follow the link from Matthew's webpage: http://www.matthewfelix.com
* If you're visiting the Bay Area for the World Science Fiction Convention and will be in San Francisco either before Monday, August 13th or after Monday, August 20th, we'd be delighted to give you a tour of our location-to-be, which is still very much a work in progress. Just email Alan, abeatts@borderlands-books.com, to set up a time.
* Speaking of WorldCon: if you're an author attending the con and we've somehow missed having your books at our booths, we'd be happy to carry them on consignment at the con. We usually do a 60% / 40% split, with the author getting 60% of the cover price. Authors pick up any unsold copies near the end of the con, and we send you a check for sold copies around 30 days after the event. Just find the Borderlands booth at the convention and Jude should be able to assist you.
July 11, 2018
July News
* Overheard in the Store:
"I've been seeing the saddest couples on BART [recently]...like if Sid & Nancy were American, 18 years old, and didn't know who Sid & Nancy were."
* Attention, Borderlands community! Do you work for Stripe or Square, or another mobile credit card service? We're looking for a contract-free mobile POS and credit card solution to try out while we're at WorldCon next month -- if it works well, it will likely become our in-store replacement for our cash register. Can you assist us, either directly or with advice? If so, please email Jude at jfeldman@borderlands-books.com. We need to have a service functional for WorldCon next month, so time is a bit of the essence, and your help is very appreciated!
* Over at Tor.com, Rebecca Roanhorse gives us a list of five Indigenous authors that we should be reading. https://www.tor.com/2018/06/27/five-indigenous-speculative-fiction-authors-you-should-be-reading/
* Speaking of Rebecca Roanhorse, here is an article about her award-winning new novel TRAIL OF LIGHTNING, and bringing Indigenous futurism to urban fantasy. http://www.denofgeek.com/us/books/books/274577/trail-of-lightning-rebecca-roanhorse-brings-indigenous-futurism-to-urban-fantasy
"I've been seeing the saddest couples on BART [recently]...like if Sid & Nancy were American, 18 years old, and didn't know who Sid & Nancy were."
* Attention, Borderlands community! Do you work for Stripe or Square, or another mobile credit card service? We're looking for a contract-free mobile POS and credit card solution to try out while we're at WorldCon next month -- if it works well, it will likely become our in-store replacement for our cash register. Can you assist us, either directly or with advice? If so, please email Jude at jfeldman@borderlands-books.com. We need to have a service functional for WorldCon next month, so time is a bit of the essence, and your help is very appreciated!
* Over at Tor.com, Rebecca Roanhorse gives us a list of five Indigenous authors that we should be reading. https://www.tor.com/2018/06/27/five-indigenous-speculative-fiction-authors-you-should-be-reading/
* Speaking of Rebecca Roanhorse, here is an article about her award-winning new novel TRAIL OF LIGHTNING, and bringing Indigenous futurism to urban fantasy. http://www.denofgeek.com/us/books/books/274577/trail-of-lightning-rebecca-roanhorse-brings-indigenous-futurism-to-urban-fantasy
June 07, 2018
June News
* Overheard in the Store:
"We tore down the ivy. Then we realized it was _structural_ ivy."
"Want to hold my baby while I get some vampire erotica?"
"Yes, I'm looking for J.R.R. Tolkien's 'Ring Cycle'."
"It will probably be an artisanal bag shop. We're in the Artisanal Bag Shop District, you know."
"I just hate my sneeze. It undermines my authority."
"I love lying to children."
* Are you attending Worldcon 76 in San Jose in August? Are you looking for a ride to, or a roommate for the con? If so, email scox@borderlands-books.com and let us know if we can put you in touch with other Borderlands customers who are seeking the same.
* Atlas Obscura made a list of 62 of the World's Best Independent Bookstores and we made the list! Check out all the other bookstores that you should visit: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/best-independent-bookstores
* Gardner Dozois, respected science fiction author and editor, has passed away at 70 years of age. The field has lost a giant. http://www.philly.com/philly/obituaries/gardner-dozois-70-acclaimed-science-fiction-editor-20180529.html
"We tore down the ivy. Then we realized it was _structural_ ivy."
"Want to hold my baby while I get some vampire erotica?"
"Yes, I'm looking for J.R.R. Tolkien's 'Ring Cycle'."
"It will probably be an artisanal bag shop. We're in the Artisanal Bag Shop District, you know."
"I just hate my sneeze. It undermines my authority."
"I love lying to children."
* Are you attending Worldcon 76 in San Jose in August? Are you looking for a ride to, or a roommate for the con? If so, email scox@borderlands-books.com and let us know if we can put you in touch with other Borderlands customers who are seeking the same.
* Atlas Obscura made a list of 62 of the World's Best Independent Bookstores and we made the list! Check out all the other bookstores that you should visit: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/best-independent-bookstores
* Gardner Dozois, respected science fiction author and editor, has passed away at 70 years of age. The field has lost a giant. http://www.philly.com/philly/obituaries/gardner-dozois-70-acclaimed-science-fiction-editor-20180529.html
May 09, 2018
May News
* Overheard in the Store:
"It will probably be an artisanal bag shop. We're in the Artisanal Bag Shop District, you know."
"This man approached me [at a convention] & introduced himself as 'a pre-published author', meaning it, I think, in the same way that I am 'pre-dead'."
"I don't believe that! How on Earth did you get THE MYSTIC ARTS OF ERASING ALL SIGNS OF DEATH [by Charlie Huston] from 'It had a yellow cover & it's about people who clean crime scenes.'!?"
"It was really saccharine; it said 'A year from now, what will you wish you had done today?', and I immediately thought 'Not have disrupted the space-time continuum, duh!'"
"You have not lived until you've heard Christopher Lee in the acoustics of a men's room." - Peter S. Beagle
"Nice to meet you; I need wear your bra for a sec.”
* Get ready for another book about Westeros, but not WINDS OF WINTER -- instead we are getting FIRE AND BLOOD, a history of the infighting that almost wiped out the Targaryen line. More info here: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/apr/25/george-rr-martin-winds-winter-not-coming-2018-sixth-volume-game-thrones-targaryen
"It will probably be an artisanal bag shop. We're in the Artisanal Bag Shop District, you know."
"This man approached me [at a convention] & introduced himself as 'a pre-published author', meaning it, I think, in the same way that I am 'pre-dead'."
"I don't believe that! How on Earth did you get THE MYSTIC ARTS OF ERASING ALL SIGNS OF DEATH [by Charlie Huston] from 'It had a yellow cover & it's about people who clean crime scenes.'!?"
"It was really saccharine; it said 'A year from now, what will you wish you had done today?', and I immediately thought 'Not have disrupted the space-time continuum, duh!'"
"You have not lived until you've heard Christopher Lee in the acoustics of a men's room." - Peter S. Beagle
"Nice to meet you; I need wear your bra for a sec.”
* Get ready for another book about Westeros, but not WINDS OF WINTER -- instead we are getting FIRE AND BLOOD, a history of the infighting that almost wiped out the Targaryen line. More info here: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/apr/25/george-rr-martin-winds-winter-not-coming-2018-sixth-volume-game-thrones-targaryen
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)