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. This issue we share some highlights from this year's World Science Fiction Convention in Anaheim:
"Just remember how much I love you and disregard how bitchy I'm going to be for the next few days."
"We are two men very pleased with our meat."
"When there are five Australians at the table, it is inevitable that one will try to set the dessert afire."
"You're not going to catch me molesting the bronze giraffe!"
"I'm sorry, have we met?"
"Um, yeah. I helped you move."
"I've become the Harlan Ellison of porn."
"Something that eats steel has no place in my body."
"I finally realized what the chunks in my beer were -- stucco!"
(Discussing fear of Disneyland) "I refuse to be cowed by a mouse!"
"After the wasabi vodka last night, I've taken up breath mints for the weekend."
"I'm really pleased with my Borderlands t-shirt, 'cause now I can take a snake on the plane!"
September 01, 2006
August 01, 2006
Notes from a DVD Geek
by Jeremy Lassen
Welcome once again the wonderful world of cool movies. This month I'll be talking about some of my all-time favorite weird gems of genre cinema. First up is Cemetery Man, starring Rupert Everett. (Yes, that Rupert Everett.) He got his start in an Italian zombie movie. He tends to keep Cemetery Man (AKA Dellamorte Dellamore) off of his resume. Which is kind of silly, because its easily one of the best existential zombie love stories every told.
Cemetery Man is directed by Italian Michele Soavi, who got his start being a second unit and assistant director for such greats as Argento, Fulchi, Umberto Bava, and Terry Gilliam. Soavi's singular and unique vision reached its apogee in Cemetery Man, but you can catch flashes of brilliance in some of his earlier work, such as The Church, The Sect, and Stagefright. Soavi retreated from the film industry in the mid 1990s to care for his ailing son, but, in recent years, he has begun working once more in Italian television (Una Bianca was a TV-miniseries/cop/crime thriller that is now on DVD), and he was the second unit director on Terry Gilliam's flawed, yet strangely interesting film, The Brothers Grimm.
Welcome once again the wonderful world of cool movies. This month I'll be talking about some of my all-time favorite weird gems of genre cinema. First up is Cemetery Man, starring Rupert Everett. (Yes, that Rupert Everett.) He got his start in an Italian zombie movie. He tends to keep Cemetery Man (AKA Dellamorte Dellamore) off of his resume. Which is kind of silly, because its easily one of the best existential zombie love stories every told.
Cemetery Man is directed by Italian Michele Soavi, who got his start being a second unit and assistant director for such greats as Argento, Fulchi, Umberto Bava, and Terry Gilliam. Soavi's singular and unique vision reached its apogee in Cemetery Man, but you can catch flashes of brilliance in some of his earlier work, such as The Church, The Sect, and Stagefright. Soavi retreated from the film industry in the mid 1990s to care for his ailing son, but, in recent years, he has begun working once more in Italian television (Una Bianca was a TV-miniseries/cop/crime thriller that is now on DVD), and he was the second unit director on Terry Gilliam's flawed, yet strangely interesting film, The Brothers Grimm.
July Bestsellers
Hardcovers
1) Kushiel's Scion by Jacqueline Carey
2) Gold Falcon by Katharine Kerr
3) Rainbow's End by Vernor Vinge
4) Glasshouse by Charles Stross
5) Dark Mondays by Kage Baker
6) Widdershins by Charles de Lint
7) River of Gods by Ian McDonald
8) Take the Long Way Home by Brian Keene
9) How We Got Insipid by Johnathan Lethem
10) Sense of the Past: The Ghostly Stories of Henry James by Henry James
Paperbacks
1) A Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison
2) The Oracle's Queen by Lynn Flewelling
3) Brass Man by Neal Asher
4) Melusine by Sarah Monette
5) Accelerando by Charles Stross
6) Lady of Mazes by Karl Schroeder
7) Olympos by Dan Simmons
8) Century Rain by Alastair Reynolds
9) Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
10) Crimson Sword by Eldon Thompson
Trade Paperbacks
1) The Algebraist by Iain M. Banks
2) Prador Moon by Neal Asher
3) A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick
4) The Engineer Reconditioned by Neal Asher
5) Nightwatch by Sergei Lukyanenko
tie
The Year's Best Science Fiction vol. 23, edited by Gardner Dozois
1) Kushiel's Scion by Jacqueline Carey
2) Gold Falcon by Katharine Kerr
3) Rainbow's End by Vernor Vinge
4) Glasshouse by Charles Stross
5) Dark Mondays by Kage Baker
6) Widdershins by Charles de Lint
7) River of Gods by Ian McDonald
8) Take the Long Way Home by Brian Keene
9) How We Got Insipid by Johnathan Lethem
10) Sense of the Past: The Ghostly Stories of Henry James by Henry James
Paperbacks
1) A Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison
2) The Oracle's Queen by Lynn Flewelling
3) Brass Man by Neal Asher
4) Melusine by Sarah Monette
5) Accelerando by Charles Stross
6) Lady of Mazes by Karl Schroeder
7) Olympos by Dan Simmons
8) Century Rain by Alastair Reynolds
9) Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
10) Crimson Sword by Eldon Thompson
Trade Paperbacks
1) The Algebraist by Iain M. Banks
2) Prador Moon by Neal Asher
3) A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick
4) The Engineer Reconditioned by Neal Asher
5) Nightwatch by Sergei Lukyanenko
tie
The Year's Best Science Fiction vol. 23, edited by Gardner Dozois
What's in a Name?
by Alan Beatts
Horror is typically considered a genre of fiction in much the same way as science fiction or mystery. At Borderlands Books we describe our stock as "science fiction, fantasy and horror," a decision that I made over nine years ago when the store opened. It was based on the way that I perceived the position of horror relative to other fiction genres.
However, while considering the horror genre for this article I looked at some phenomena that caused me to question my definition of horror and its place relative to other fiction genres. A common (and wildly inaccurate) way that we explain our sections at Borderlands is thus, "If the story takes place on a space ship, it's SF. If it's about a vampire, it's horror. And if there's a vampire on a space ship, it's still horror." But vampires are no longer the sole property of horror. They appear in fantasy, paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and other less defined genres and sub-genres. Granted, some of these genres and sub-genres are merely the creation of marketing departments. But, the fact remains that there are plenty of works that feature vampires but which really don't fall within what could even be loosely called "horror".
July 01, 2006
Notes from a DVD Geek
by Jeremy Lassen
Hello to all you movie fans out there. Sorry I missed you last month. There’s a couple of months worth of DVD’s to get caught up on, and a few specific things I want to point out to you.
First up, if you were anywhere in the US in June, the 6.6.06 ad campaign for the new Omen remake was everywhere. Oddly enough, just as that cynical exercise in numerology was in the theaters, the original Omen was nowhere to be found on video store shelves. The studios, in their infinite wisdom re-released a “special edition” version of the classic movie, and of course, it didn’t come out until June 26th, so when everyone was scrambling around to get a copy of the original, it wasn’t anywhere to be found. I don’t know if this so that people couldn’t compare the turgid remake to the original, or if they simply didn’t realize that when remakes come out, sizable number of people beat the bush looking for the original. Anyway, the original Omen movie was a classic of the horror genre, and an incredibly good piece of film making, with an A-list cast, and a score that is absolutely brilliant. If you haven’t seen it in a while, be sure to check out the new Special Edition DVD, which is available now.
Hello to all you movie fans out there. Sorry I missed you last month. There’s a couple of months worth of DVD’s to get caught up on, and a few specific things I want to point out to you.
First up, if you were anywhere in the US in June, the 6.6.06 ad campaign for the new Omen remake was everywhere. Oddly enough, just as that cynical exercise in numerology was in the theaters, the original Omen was nowhere to be found on video store shelves. The studios, in their infinite wisdom re-released a “special edition” version of the classic movie, and of course, it didn’t come out until June 26th, so when everyone was scrambling around to get a copy of the original, it wasn’t anywhere to be found. I don’t know if this so that people couldn’t compare the turgid remake to the original, or if they simply didn’t realize that when remakes come out, sizable number of people beat the bush looking for the original. Anyway, the original Omen movie was a classic of the horror genre, and an incredibly good piece of film making, with an A-list cast, and a score that is absolutely brilliant. If you haven’t seen it in a while, be sure to check out the new Special Edition DVD, which is available now.
June Bestsellers
Hardcovers
1) Kushiel's Scion by Jacqueline Carey
2) Judas Unchained by Peter F. Hamilton
3) Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey
4) Rainbow's End by Vernor Vinge
5) The Clan Corporate by Charles Stross
6) Glasshouse by Charles Stross
7) Giant Lizards From Another Star by Ken MacLeod (NESFA)
8) Crystal Dragon by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
9) Danse Macabre by Laurell K. Hamilton
10) Conflagration by Mick Farren
tie
Magic for Beginners by Kelly Link
Paperbacks
1) A Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison
2) Accelerando by Charles Stross
3) Child of a Rainless Year by Jane Lindskold
4) Mammoth by John Varley
5) The Oracle's Queen by Lynn Flewelling
6) Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
7) Century Rain by Alastair Reynolds
8) Brass Man by Neal Asher (UK Import)
9) Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
10) A Princess of Roumania by Paul Parks
Trade Paperbacks
1) The Algebraist by Iain M. Banks
2) Prador Moon by Neal Asher
3) Maul by Tricia Sullivan
4) Shadow at the Bottom of the World by Thomas Ligotti
5) Chains That You Refuse by Elizabeth Bear
tie
A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick
1) Kushiel's Scion by Jacqueline Carey
2) Judas Unchained by Peter F. Hamilton
3) Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey
4) Rainbow's End by Vernor Vinge
5) The Clan Corporate by Charles Stross
6) Glasshouse by Charles Stross
7) Giant Lizards From Another Star by Ken MacLeod (NESFA)
8) Crystal Dragon by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
9) Danse Macabre by Laurell K. Hamilton
10) Conflagration by Mick Farren
tie
Magic for Beginners by Kelly Link
Paperbacks
1) A Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison
2) Accelerando by Charles Stross
3) Child of a Rainless Year by Jane Lindskold
4) Mammoth by John Varley
5) The Oracle's Queen by Lynn Flewelling
6) Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
7) Century Rain by Alastair Reynolds
8) Brass Man by Neal Asher (UK Import)
9) Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
10) A Princess of Roumania by Paul Parks
Trade Paperbacks
1) The Algebraist by Iain M. Banks
2) Prador Moon by Neal Asher
3) Maul by Tricia Sullivan
4) Shadow at the Bottom of the World by Thomas Ligotti
5) Chains That You Refuse by Elizabeth Bear
tie
A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick
June 01, 2006
May Bestsellers
Hardcovers
1) PLUCKER by Brom
2) COVER STORY: THE ART OF JOHN PICACIO by John Picacio (MonkeyBrain Books)
3) THE RING by Koji Suzuki
4) RAINBOW'S END by Vernor Vinge
5) THE CLAN CORPORATE by Charles Stross
6) FIREBIRDS RISING edited by Sharyn November
7) THE VOYAGE OF THE SABLE KEECH by Neal Asher (UK Import)
8) THE BONEHUNTERS by Steven Erikson
9) BLOODSTAINED OZ by Christopher Golden and James A. Moore
10) SNAKE MOON by Ray Manzerek (NightShade Books)
Paperbacks
1) CONQUEROR WORMS by Brian Keene
2) THE CITY, NOT LONG AFTER by Pat Murphy
3) BRASS MAN by Neal Asher (UK Import)
4) GARDENS OF THE MOON by Steven Erikson
5) ALTERED CARBON by Richard Morgan
6) THE FAMILY TRADE by Charles Stross
7) THRONE OF JADE by Naomi Novik
8) DEAD BEAT by Jim Butcher
9) GRIDLINKED by Neal Asher
10) LOST AND FOUND by Alan Dean Foster
Trade Paperbacks
1) THE RING by Koji Suzuki
2) THE MAN FROM THE DIOGENES CLUB by Kim Newman (MonkeyBrain Books)
3) THE JAMES TIPTREE AWARD ANTHOLOGY VOLUME 2, edited by Karen Joy Fowler, Pat Murphy, Debbie Notkin and Jeffrey D. Smith (Tachyon Publications)
4) MAUL by Tricia Sullivan (Nightshade Books) tied with ON STRANGER TIDES by Tim Powers
5) THE BONEHUNTERS by Steven Erikson
1) PLUCKER by Brom
2) COVER STORY: THE ART OF JOHN PICACIO by John Picacio (MonkeyBrain Books)
3) THE RING by Koji Suzuki
4) RAINBOW'S END by Vernor Vinge
5) THE CLAN CORPORATE by Charles Stross
6) FIREBIRDS RISING edited by Sharyn November
7) THE VOYAGE OF THE SABLE KEECH by Neal Asher (UK Import)
8) THE BONEHUNTERS by Steven Erikson
9) BLOODSTAINED OZ by Christopher Golden and James A. Moore
10) SNAKE MOON by Ray Manzerek (NightShade Books)
Paperbacks
1) CONQUEROR WORMS by Brian Keene
2) THE CITY, NOT LONG AFTER by Pat Murphy
3) BRASS MAN by Neal Asher (UK Import)
4) GARDENS OF THE MOON by Steven Erikson
5) ALTERED CARBON by Richard Morgan
6) THE FAMILY TRADE by Charles Stross
7) THRONE OF JADE by Naomi Novik
8) DEAD BEAT by Jim Butcher
9) GRIDLINKED by Neal Asher
10) LOST AND FOUND by Alan Dean Foster
Trade Paperbacks
1) THE RING by Koji Suzuki
2) THE MAN FROM THE DIOGENES CLUB by Kim Newman (MonkeyBrain Books)
3) THE JAMES TIPTREE AWARD ANTHOLOGY VOLUME 2, edited by Karen Joy Fowler, Pat Murphy, Debbie Notkin and Jeffrey D. Smith (Tachyon Publications)
4) MAUL by Tricia Sullivan (Nightshade Books) tied with ON STRANGER TIDES by Tim Powers
5) THE BONEHUNTERS by Steven Erikson
Overheard at The World Horror Convention
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. This issue we thought we'd share some highlights from this year's World Horror Convention and Baycon. Thanks to Rina Elson for her sharp ears:
"They changed my dosage, so I can't do that anymore."
"I don't think the alcohol is really affecting me, although I AM pretty talkative!"
"Who the hell are you people, and how do you know me?"
"You know you're at a Horror Convention when you ask the bartender for a knife and he says 'Who you gonna kill?'"
"The Art Show was. . .cat-heavy."
"You have them in your brain, you have them in your ears, and you have them on Old-Fashioned donuts."
"Sweetheart, at some point it ceases to be a dress and becomes a shirt."
The best t-shirt was:
"Morale will decline until the floggings improve." (in response to the Uber-common "The floggings will continue until morale improves.")
And the worst t-shirt was:
"I [Heart] Hot Moms"
"They changed my dosage, so I can't do that anymore."
"I don't think the alcohol is really affecting me, although I AM pretty talkative!"
"Who the hell are you people, and how do you know me?"
"You know you're at a Horror Convention when you ask the bartender for a knife and he says 'Who you gonna kill?'"
"The Art Show was. . .cat-heavy."
"You have them in your brain, you have them in your ears, and you have them on Old-Fashioned donuts."
"Sweetheart, at some point it ceases to be a dress and becomes a shirt."
The best t-shirt was:
"Morale will decline until the floggings improve." (in response to the Uber-common "The floggings will continue until morale improves.")
And the worst t-shirt was:
"I [Heart] Hot Moms"
May 01, 2006
Notes from a DVD Geek
by Jeremy Lassen
It’s a busy month at Borderlands, with World Horror swinging into town. Koji Suzuki is one of the Guests of Honor. . . so be sure to check out the original Ringu, Ringu 2, and Ringu 0 movies, which were based on his novels. The Ringu Anthology has all three films in one package.
Other Asian horror films that should not be missed: the Korean horror trilogy is now complete: Whispering Corridors, Memento Mori, and Wishing Stairs are all out on DVD in the States; three movies concerning a cursed boarding school. Creepy, ghostly, and filled with nasty murders. Excellent stuff.
Moving back to Japan, the director of The Grudge tackles a reversal of H. P. Lovecraft’s The Outsider, in the movie Marebito.
Touching on some Italian horror. . . be sure to check out Dario Argento’s The Card Player. . .his most recent Giallo flick, and stack it up against his first movie, The Bird With the Crystal Plumage, which recently had a super-califragalistic-extra-special DVD release. If Argento doesn’t do it for you, be sure to check out some Fulci and Bava films!
And if you want to take it back to the old school, be sure to check out Robert Wise’s classic haunted house movie, The Haunting, based on Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House. This was an excellent, bigger budget, bigger cast homage to his early work with Val Lewton.
Another Lewton alumnus, Jacques Tourneur, turned in a Lewton throwback in 1957: Night of the Demon, (AKA Curse of the Demon) which was an adaptation of M. R. James’s “Casting the Runes.” The DVD features both the original British version of the film (Night of the Demon), and the shorter US version, (Curse of the Demon). Very effective, and highly underrated.
We are starting to carry more anime in our DVD section, as well. In addition to all the Miazaki films, we are carrying a wide selection of feature-length movies and TV material. One Hentai-ish horror feature from the producers of Legend of the Overfiend is Mystery of the Necronomicon. Not many tentacles in this one, and the Lovecraft connections are tenuous at best, but there is some over-the-top sex, and lots of murders, and some eyeball scooping. Silly fun.
Another, less risqué anime title is Le Portrait De Petite Cossette, which is a surreal little story of the ghost of a girl trapped in an antique crystal goblet, who can be seen by the young proprietor of an antique store, who inevitably becomes obsessed with her. Strange things ensue. This one was weirdly haunting.
We are slowly expanding our anime section, with an emphasis on quality over quantity, and also with an emphasis on original video animations and feature-length movies. If you have any suggestions of anime titles that we should be stocking, or that I should be watching, please drop me a line.
Until next month (which I hope proves to be much less hectic then this month), keep flipping those disks.
It’s a busy month at Borderlands, with World Horror swinging into town. Koji Suzuki is one of the Guests of Honor. . . so be sure to check out the original Ringu, Ringu 2, and Ringu 0 movies, which were based on his novels. The Ringu Anthology has all three films in one package.
Other Asian horror films that should not be missed: the Korean horror trilogy is now complete: Whispering Corridors, Memento Mori, and Wishing Stairs are all out on DVD in the States; three movies concerning a cursed boarding school. Creepy, ghostly, and filled with nasty murders. Excellent stuff.
Moving back to Japan, the director of The Grudge tackles a reversal of H. P. Lovecraft’s The Outsider, in the movie Marebito.
Touching on some Italian horror. . . be sure to check out Dario Argento’s The Card Player. . .his most recent Giallo flick, and stack it up against his first movie, The Bird With the Crystal Plumage, which recently had a super-califragalistic-extra-special DVD release. If Argento doesn’t do it for you, be sure to check out some Fulci and Bava films!
And if you want to take it back to the old school, be sure to check out Robert Wise’s classic haunted house movie, The Haunting, based on Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House. This was an excellent, bigger budget, bigger cast homage to his early work with Val Lewton.
Another Lewton alumnus, Jacques Tourneur, turned in a Lewton throwback in 1957: Night of the Demon, (AKA Curse of the Demon) which was an adaptation of M. R. James’s “Casting the Runes.” The DVD features both the original British version of the film (Night of the Demon), and the shorter US version, (Curse of the Demon). Very effective, and highly underrated.
We are starting to carry more anime in our DVD section, as well. In addition to all the Miazaki films, we are carrying a wide selection of feature-length movies and TV material. One Hentai-ish horror feature from the producers of Legend of the Overfiend is Mystery of the Necronomicon. Not many tentacles in this one, and the Lovecraft connections are tenuous at best, but there is some over-the-top sex, and lots of murders, and some eyeball scooping. Silly fun.
Another, less risqué anime title is Le Portrait De Petite Cossette, which is a surreal little story of the ghost of a girl trapped in an antique crystal goblet, who can be seen by the young proprietor of an antique store, who inevitably becomes obsessed with her. Strange things ensue. This one was weirdly haunting.
We are slowly expanding our anime section, with an emphasis on quality over quantity, and also with an emphasis on original video animations and feature-length movies. If you have any suggestions of anime titles that we should be stocking, or that I should be watching, please drop me a line.
Until next month (which I hope proves to be much less hectic then this month), keep flipping those disks.
April Bestsellers
Hardcovers
1) The Bonehunters by Steven Erikson (UK Import)
2) Firebirds Rising edited by Sharyn November
3) A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore
4) The Voyage of the Sable Keech by Neal Asher (UK Import)
5) Pretender by C.J. Cherryh
6) Dance of Time by David Drake and Eric Flint
7) Learning the World by Ken MacLeod
8) 1634: The Ram Rebellion by Eric Flint and Virginia DeMarce
9) Pushing Ice by Alastair Reynolds (UK Import)
10) Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin
Paperbacks
1) The City, Not Long After by Pat Murphy
2) Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
3) Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
4) Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
5) Brass Man by Neal Asher (UK Import)
6) Shadow of the Giant by Orson Scott Card
7) Cusp by Robert A. Metzger
8) Cowl by Neal Asher
9) Dates From Hell by Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Kelley Armstrong and Lori Handeland
10) Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik
Trade Paperbacks
1) The Bonehunters by Steven Erikson (UK Import)
2) Earthcore by Scott Sigler
3) The Blue Girl by Charles de Lint
4) Old Man's War by John Scalzi
5) Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross
1) The Bonehunters by Steven Erikson (UK Import)
2) Firebirds Rising edited by Sharyn November
3) A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore
4) The Voyage of the Sable Keech by Neal Asher (UK Import)
5) Pretender by C.J. Cherryh
6) Dance of Time by David Drake and Eric Flint
7) Learning the World by Ken MacLeod
8) 1634: The Ram Rebellion by Eric Flint and Virginia DeMarce
9) Pushing Ice by Alastair Reynolds (UK Import)
10) Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin
Paperbacks
1) The City, Not Long After by Pat Murphy
2) Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
3) Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
4) Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
5) Brass Man by Neal Asher (UK Import)
6) Shadow of the Giant by Orson Scott Card
7) Cusp by Robert A. Metzger
8) Cowl by Neal Asher
9) Dates From Hell by Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Kelley Armstrong and Lori Handeland
10) Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik
Trade Paperbacks
1) The Bonehunters by Steven Erikson (UK Import)
2) Earthcore by Scott Sigler
3) The Blue Girl by Charles de Lint
4) Old Man's War by John Scalzi
5) Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross
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