This is a feature that appears periodically, 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 in San Jose, where trying (or trying not to) fill in the blanks on overheard conversations made us laugh so much that we made it a tradition. However, we didn't overhear much that was both memorable _and_ repeatable in polite company at the World Fantasy Convention this year in Austin!
"I don't care how many books he's written -- if he won't sign these he's dead to me."
"And of course a White Russian is a solid, blue-collar workingman's drink."
"Riding down the elevator, three girls asked me what convention I was part of. When I said, 'The World Fantasy Convention,' one girl excitedly asked 'Does that mean there are porn stars here?!!'"
November 01, 2006
Notes from a DVD Geek
by Jeremy Lassen
Another month has flown by. Have you watched all those movies you had intended to watch? I know I didn’t. But I do have a few that I can recommend to you. First up is a Lovecraftian horror film shot in the Ukraine, directed by Mariano Baino. This is NOT a J-horror movie of similar name, and this is not your average DVD release. The 2 disk special edition from Indy DVD label No Shame features a replica Cthulhu amulet, 48-page booklet, commentary, documentary, deleted scenes, director's intro, several short films and a bunch more. If you don’t want to throw down for the expensive set, there’s a single disk version of the movie as well. But it doesn’t have a Cthulhu Amulet, so you know which one you should be getting, right?
Speaking of crazy super special editions from No Shame, don’t miss The Emilio Miraglia Killer Queen Box Set. This set features a Miraglia double feature – The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave, and The Red Queen Kills Seven Times. Both of these rare giallo films feature scores by Bruno Nicolai and have never been available in the US in widescreen or uncut editions. To add to the sheer craziness of this set, No Shame has packaged this up with a Red Queen action figure. Fun stuff for the whole family!
Another month has flown by. Have you watched all those movies you had intended to watch? I know I didn’t. But I do have a few that I can recommend to you. First up is a Lovecraftian horror film shot in the Ukraine, directed by Mariano Baino. This is NOT a J-horror movie of similar name, and this is not your average DVD release. The 2 disk special edition from Indy DVD label No Shame features a replica Cthulhu amulet, 48-page booklet, commentary, documentary, deleted scenes, director's intro, several short films and a bunch more. If you don’t want to throw down for the expensive set, there’s a single disk version of the movie as well. But it doesn’t have a Cthulhu Amulet, so you know which one you should be getting, right?
Speaking of crazy super special editions from No Shame, don’t miss The Emilio Miraglia Killer Queen Box Set. This set features a Miraglia double feature – The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave, and The Red Queen Kills Seven Times. Both of these rare giallo films feature scores by Bruno Nicolai and have never been available in the US in widescreen or uncut editions. To add to the sheer craziness of this set, No Shame has packaged this up with a Red Queen action figure. Fun stuff for the whole family!
October Bestsellers
Hardcovers
1) Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett
2) Blindsight by Peter Watts
tie with
The Machine's Child by Kage Baker
3) Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman
4) Spellbinder by Melanie Rawn
5) Cruel Wind by Glen Cook
6) The Spirit Gate by Kate Elliot
tie with
World War Z by Max Brooks
7) Hunters of Dune by Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson
8) Sharing Knife by Lois McMaster Bujold
9) Zima Blue and Other Stories by Alastair Reynolds
10) Ladies of Grace Adieu by Susanna Clarke
tie with
American Morons by Glen Hirshberg
tie with
Grave Surprise by Charlaine Harris
Paperbacks
1) Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
2) Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin
3) The City, Not Long After by Pat Murphy
4) Paloma by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
tie with
Glass Houses by Rachel Caine
5) Shadowmarch by Tad Williams
6) Protector's War by S.M. Stirling
7) Learning the World by Ken Macleod
tie with
Matriarch by Karen Traviss
8) Wizard of London by Mercedes Lackey
9) Witchling by Yasmine Galenom
10) Singer of Souls by Adam Stemple
tie with
Runner by William C. Dietz
Trade Paperbacks
1) Snake Agent by Liz Williams
2) Catalyst by Nina Kiriki Hoffman
3) Privilege of the Sword by Ellen Kushner
4) Trial of Flowers by Jay Lake
5) Tough Guide to Fantasyland by Diana Wynne Jones
tie with
Salon Fantastique, edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling
1) Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett
2) Blindsight by Peter Watts
tie with
The Machine's Child by Kage Baker
3) Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman
4) Spellbinder by Melanie Rawn
5) Cruel Wind by Glen Cook
6) The Spirit Gate by Kate Elliot
tie with
World War Z by Max Brooks
7) Hunters of Dune by Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson
8) Sharing Knife by Lois McMaster Bujold
9) Zima Blue and Other Stories by Alastair Reynolds
10) Ladies of Grace Adieu by Susanna Clarke
tie with
American Morons by Glen Hirshberg
tie with
Grave Surprise by Charlaine Harris
Paperbacks
1) Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
2) Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin
3) The City, Not Long After by Pat Murphy
4) Paloma by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
tie with
Glass Houses by Rachel Caine
5) Shadowmarch by Tad Williams
6) Protector's War by S.M. Stirling
7) Learning the World by Ken Macleod
tie with
Matriarch by Karen Traviss
8) Wizard of London by Mercedes Lackey
9) Witchling by Yasmine Galenom
10) Singer of Souls by Adam Stemple
tie with
Runner by William C. Dietz
Trade Paperbacks
1) Snake Agent by Liz Williams
2) Catalyst by Nina Kiriki Hoffman
3) Privilege of the Sword by Ellen Kushner
4) Trial of Flowers by Jay Lake
5) Tough Guide to Fantasyland by Diana Wynne Jones
tie with
Salon Fantastique, edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling
Origin of the Bookstore, Part the First - Captain Jack's Tale
For the next twelve 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.
Captain Jack's was the funky used clothing store that occupied 866 Valencia Street from 1994 until 2001. The store's owner, a Mr. Hale, was also operating a massage therapy studio in the back of the store. Conveniently, Mr. Hale was looking for someone to take over his lease. (He'd had enough of the used clothing business, he told us, and wanted to move to the Santa Monica beach, live in his van, and become a stand-up comedian.) Hale was uninterested in the used clothing inventory he was leaving and just wanted to go. So Borderlands took over the lease and began excavating 7 years worth of used clothes in preparation for turning the place into a bookstore. A frantic month of progressive mark-down sales and kind-intentioned booksellers (who had never in their lives sold clothes) lying through their teeth to shoppers, ("Does this look good on me?,"; "Um, I suppose so . . . uh, sure, lime green with aqua polka dots really suits you!") followed. Finally, all of the old suits and the cool Che Guevara t-shirts and the feather boas and the fearsome 70's polyester cut-to-the-navel shirts and the size 12 high heels and especially the lime-green-and-aqua-polka-dotted monstrosities were sold, or given away, or snuck into customers' bags when they weren't looking.
Captain Jack's was the funky used clothing store that occupied 866 Valencia Street from 1994 until 2001. The store's owner, a Mr. Hale, was also operating a massage therapy studio in the back of the store. Conveniently, Mr. Hale was looking for someone to take over his lease. (He'd had enough of the used clothing business, he told us, and wanted to move to the Santa Monica beach, live in his van, and become a stand-up comedian.) Hale was uninterested in the used clothing inventory he was leaving and just wanted to go. So Borderlands took over the lease and began excavating 7 years worth of used clothes in preparation for turning the place into a bookstore. A frantic month of progressive mark-down sales and kind-intentioned booksellers (who had never in their lives sold clothes) lying through their teeth to shoppers, ("Does this look good on me?,"; "Um, I suppose so . . . uh, sure, lime green with aqua polka dots really suits you!") followed. Finally, all of the old suits and the cool Che Guevara t-shirts and the feather boas and the fearsome 70's polyester cut-to-the-navel shirts and the size 12 high heels and especially the lime-green-and-aqua-polka-dotted monstrosities were sold, or given away, or snuck into customers' bags when they weren't looking.
October 01, 2006
Halloween Thrills
by Jeremy Lassen
Hello movie fans. It’s October! Time to get your Halloween on! Leading the pack are several new episodes of Showtime's Masters of Horror. Jenifer, directed by Dario Argento is a fun little bit of twisted Italian horror cinema. But the real piece de resistance from Masters of Horror is the episode that Showtime refused to air. It was directed by Takashi Miike, and called Imprint. Remember when I mentioned him last month? Well, this episode was a bit too controversial for Showtime, so it never aired, but it is here now on DVD, and it is really pretty intense, and at the same time smart and engaging.
Other films to fill out your October chills include the just-arrived Lady Vengeance, from Korea. It’s the final movie in the “Vengeance” trilogy from South Korean maestro Park Chan-wook (Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Old Boy). Another trilogy of hardcore terror from Asia which has just arrived as a three disk set is the “All Night Long” collection. Japanese grindhouse-esque films reached a peak with this series of films, including the title movie, Atrocity, and The Final Chapter. Rape, revenge, mutilation, etc.
Hello movie fans. It’s October! Time to get your Halloween on! Leading the pack are several new episodes of Showtime's Masters of Horror. Jenifer, directed by Dario Argento is a fun little bit of twisted Italian horror cinema. But the real piece de resistance from Masters of Horror is the episode that Showtime refused to air. It was directed by Takashi Miike, and called Imprint. Remember when I mentioned him last month? Well, this episode was a bit too controversial for Showtime, so it never aired, but it is here now on DVD, and it is really pretty intense, and at the same time smart and engaging.
Other films to fill out your October chills include the just-arrived Lady Vengeance, from Korea. It’s the final movie in the “Vengeance” trilogy from South Korean maestro Park Chan-wook (Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Old Boy). Another trilogy of hardcore terror from Asia which has just arrived as a three disk set is the “All Night Long” collection. Japanese grindhouse-esque films reached a peak with this series of films, including the title movie, Atrocity, and The Final Chapter. Rape, revenge, mutilation, etc.
September Bestsellers
Hardcovers
1) Forest Mage by Robin Hobb
2) Hunters of Dune by Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert
3) The Machine's Child by Kage Baker
tie
Demon and the City by Liz Williams
4) Glasshouse by Charles Stross
5) The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi
6) A Cruel Wind by Glen Cook
7) Dark Mondays by Kage Baker
8) Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman
9) Alabaster by Caitlin Kiernan
10) World War Z by Max Barry
tie
Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett
Paperbacks
1) Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
2) The Dark Tower by Stephen King
3) Thud! by Terry Pratchett
4) The Protector's War by S.M. Stirling
5) Shaman's Crossing by Robin Hobb
6) The Children of the Company by Kage Baker
7) Shadowmarch by Tad Williams
8) The City, Not Long After by Pat Murphy
9) The Keeper by Sarah Langan
tie
Recursion by Tony Ballantyne
10) Firestorm by Rachel Caine
Trade Paperbacks
1) The Line Between by Peter S. Beagle
2) Snake Agent by Liz Williams
3) Prador Moon by Neal Asher
tie
The Algebraist by Iain M. Banks
4) Twenty Epics edited by Susan Marie Groppi and David Moles
tie
Old Man's War by John Scalzi
5) Year's Best Fantasy 6 edited by David Hartwell and Kathryn Cramer
1) Forest Mage by Robin Hobb
2) Hunters of Dune by Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert
3) The Machine's Child by Kage Baker
tie
Demon and the City by Liz Williams
4) Glasshouse by Charles Stross
5) The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi
6) A Cruel Wind by Glen Cook
7) Dark Mondays by Kage Baker
8) Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman
9) Alabaster by Caitlin Kiernan
10) World War Z by Max Barry
tie
Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett
Paperbacks
1) Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
2) The Dark Tower by Stephen King
3) Thud! by Terry Pratchett
4) The Protector's War by S.M. Stirling
5) Shaman's Crossing by Robin Hobb
6) The Children of the Company by Kage Baker
7) Shadowmarch by Tad Williams
8) The City, Not Long After by Pat Murphy
9) The Keeper by Sarah Langan
tie
Recursion by Tony Ballantyne
10) Firestorm by Rachel Caine
Trade Paperbacks
1) The Line Between by Peter S. Beagle
2) Snake Agent by Liz Williams
3) Prador Moon by Neal Asher
tie
The Algebraist by Iain M. Banks
4) Twenty Epics edited by Susan Marie Groppi and David Moles
tie
Old Man's War by John Scalzi
5) Year's Best Fantasy 6 edited by David Hartwell and Kathryn Cramer
Television Substitues and the Role of Genre Fiction
by Alan Beatts
I don't watch TV. Haven't for years. Not that I really have anything against it but my life tends to be busy enough that I can't manage to be near a TV at the same time each week so following series or having a favorite show is pretty much out. It's pretty funny, really, since my parents used to worry about me watching too much TV when I was a kid (which is a concern that seems to have gone sadly out of fashion, oh well). Granted, there are things like TiVo and, even using a VCR (which I can program, thank you very much) but it never seemed worth the trouble just to be able follow a series.
There have been some series that I thought were well worth watching. I came very late to Buffy the Vampire Slayer but I own all the DVDs (I think it was Peter Beagle talking about how much he had wanted to write for that show that might have tipped me over the edge and made me start watching the DVDs -- thanks, Peter). Right now I'm starting to get sadly hooked on Deadwood though I did dodge the bullet on Battlestar Galactica (there were just too many holes in the plot of the pilot for me).
But the point is, I don't watch TV. I read instead. But not because I think it's "better" or "more meaningful" or in any way superior to TV. I just like it better (and I can do it just about anywhere).
I don't watch TV. Haven't for years. Not that I really have anything against it but my life tends to be busy enough that I can't manage to be near a TV at the same time each week so following series or having a favorite show is pretty much out. It's pretty funny, really, since my parents used to worry about me watching too much TV when I was a kid (which is a concern that seems to have gone sadly out of fashion, oh well). Granted, there are things like TiVo and, even using a VCR (which I can program, thank you very much) but it never seemed worth the trouble just to be able follow a series.
There have been some series that I thought were well worth watching. I came very late to Buffy the Vampire Slayer but I own all the DVDs (I think it was Peter Beagle talking about how much he had wanted to write for that show that might have tipped me over the edge and made me start watching the DVDs -- thanks, Peter). Right now I'm starting to get sadly hooked on Deadwood though I did dodge the bullet on Battlestar Galactica (there were just too many holes in the plot of the pilot for me).
But the point is, I don't watch TV. I read instead. But not because I think it's "better" or "more meaningful" or in any way superior to TV. I just like it better (and I can do it just about anywhere).
September 01, 2006
Notes from a DVD Geek
by Jeremy Lassen
It’s a new month and we’ve got plenty of great new DVD’s coming in. The first one I wanted to bring to your attention is the totally over-the-top Bio-zombie thriller called Sars Wars. It’s a Thai production, and is funny as hell and way too enjoyable for its own good.
On the Anime side of the house, we’ve just got in Cowboy BeBop #1. This is the beginning of one of the landmarks of modern serial Anime and should not be missed.
From Korea, we have Forbidden Warrior, which is a costume/period/fantasy piece that delivers the goods. Epic battles between good and evil, crazy wire stunts and a solid story.
From Japan, we have Godzilla, Final Wars, which is a must-see for any monster movie fan, as it is the latest Japanese installment (from 2004) of the series that started it all. Also not to be missed is the new US disk: Godzilla - Gojira Deluxe Collector's Edition, which features the original Japanese version of the first Godzilla movie, side by side with the bastardized, re-cut US version of the 1956 classic. This one is a really nice package and it features a ton of extras.
It’s a new month and we’ve got plenty of great new DVD’s coming in. The first one I wanted to bring to your attention is the totally over-the-top Bio-zombie thriller called Sars Wars. It’s a Thai production, and is funny as hell and way too enjoyable for its own good.
On the Anime side of the house, we’ve just got in Cowboy BeBop #1. This is the beginning of one of the landmarks of modern serial Anime and should not be missed.
From Korea, we have Forbidden Warrior, which is a costume/period/fantasy piece that delivers the goods. Epic battles between good and evil, crazy wire stunts and a solid story.
From Japan, we have Godzilla, Final Wars, which is a must-see for any monster movie fan, as it is the latest Japanese installment (from 2004) of the series that started it all. Also not to be missed is the new US disk: Godzilla - Gojira Deluxe Collector's Edition, which features the original Japanese version of the first Godzilla movie, side by side with the bastardized, re-cut US version of the 1956 classic. This one is a really nice package and it features a ton of extras.
August Bestsellers
Hardcovers
1) Dzur by Steven Brust
2) Hunters of Dune by Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert
3) Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
4) Three Days to Never by Tim Powers
5) Blood Knight by Greg Keyes
6) James Tiptree, Jr.: The Double Life of Alice B. Sheldon by Julie Phillips
7) Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town by Cory Doctorow
8) Bonehunters by Steven Erikson (UK Import)
9) The Line Between by Peter S. Beagle (Limited Ed., Tachyon Publications)
10) 20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill (PS Publishing)
Paperbacks
1) Princess of Roumania by Paul Park
2) Idolon by Mark Budz
3) Lady of Mazes by Karl Schroeder
4) Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
5) Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
6) Johnathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
7) The City, Not Long After by Pat Murphy
8) Olympos by Dan Simmons
9) Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson
10) Pretties by Scott Westerfeld
Trade Paperbacks
1) The Line Between by Peter S. Beagle (Tachyon Publications)
tie
Snake Agent by Liz Williams (Nightshade Books)
2) The Privilege of the Sword by Ellen Kushner
3) Nightwatch by Sergei Lukyanenko
4) Prador Moon by Neal Asher
5) Confessions of a Virgin Sacrifice by Adrianne Ambrose
1) Dzur by Steven Brust
2) Hunters of Dune by Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert
3) Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
4) Three Days to Never by Tim Powers
5) Blood Knight by Greg Keyes
6) James Tiptree, Jr.: The Double Life of Alice B. Sheldon by Julie Phillips
7) Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town by Cory Doctorow
8) Bonehunters by Steven Erikson (UK Import)
9) The Line Between by Peter S. Beagle (Limited Ed., Tachyon Publications)
10) 20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill (PS Publishing)
Paperbacks
1) Princess of Roumania by Paul Park
2) Idolon by Mark Budz
3) Lady of Mazes by Karl Schroeder
4) Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
5) Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
6) Johnathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
7) The City, Not Long After by Pat Murphy
8) Olympos by Dan Simmons
9) Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson
10) Pretties by Scott Westerfeld
Trade Paperbacks
1) The Line Between by Peter S. Beagle (Tachyon Publications)
tie
Snake Agent by Liz Williams (Nightshade Books)
2) The Privilege of the Sword by Ellen Kushner
3) Nightwatch by Sergei Lukyanenko
4) Prador Moon by Neal Asher
5) Confessions of a Virgin Sacrifice by Adrianne Ambrose
Recent Reading
by Alan Beatts
I've been reading quite a bit lately. Not quite sure how that worked out since I've also been very busy with World Con and all and yet . . . it happened. Not that I'm complaining. Since I opened Borderlands I've probably had less time to read than any other time in my life. That's what happens when you make a hobby into a business.
One of the standout novels I read was NIGHTWATCH by Sergei Lukyanenko. This is the novel that was the basis for the film. The translation from Russian is excellent, so good in fact that it almost reads like it was originally written in English. When I started it (partly on the advice of my daughter) I was pretty doubtful but within the first chapter or two I was hooked. As usual, I'm not going to waste time with a synopsis but I will say that it is probably the best novel of its type that I've _ever_ read. I should probably explain what its "type" is -- a story of secret warfare between the supernatural forces of light and darkness set in modern times. Think of Green's Nightside novels, Leiber's Conjure Wife, Butcher's Dresden Files, Lackey's Diana Trigarde or about half of Tim Powers' work.
I've been reading quite a bit lately. Not quite sure how that worked out since I've also been very busy with World Con and all and yet . . . it happened. Not that I'm complaining. Since I opened Borderlands I've probably had less time to read than any other time in my life. That's what happens when you make a hobby into a business.
One of the standout novels I read was NIGHTWATCH by Sergei Lukyanenko. This is the novel that was the basis for the film. The translation from Russian is excellent, so good in fact that it almost reads like it was originally written in English. When I started it (partly on the advice of my daughter) I was pretty doubtful but within the first chapter or two I was hooked. As usual, I'm not going to waste time with a synopsis but I will say that it is probably the best novel of its type that I've _ever_ read. I should probably explain what its "type" is -- a story of secret warfare between the supernatural forces of light and darkness set in modern times. Think of Green's Nightside novels, Leiber's Conjure Wife, Butcher's Dresden Files, Lackey's Diana Trigarde or about half of Tim Powers' work.
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