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 Bestsellers

Hardcover
1) Competence by Gail Carrgier
2) Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells
3) Hollywood Dead by Richard Kadrey
4) Ball Lightning by Cixin Liu trans. by Joel Martinsen
5) Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett
6) Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
7) Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
8) Alternate Routes by Tim Powers
9) Summerland by Hannu Ranjaniemi
10) Binti by Nnedi Okorafor

Trade Paperbacks
1) The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
2) The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal
3) Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu, trans by Ken Liu
4) Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers
5) Freeze-Frame Revolution by Peter Watts
6) All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders
7) Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
8) The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin
9) Walkaway by Cory Doctorow
10) The Girl in the Green Silk Gown by Seanan McGuire

Mass Market Paperbacks
1) Who Fears Death? by Nnedi Okorafor
2) Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
3) Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin
4) Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
5) The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
6) Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
7) Old Man's War by John Scalzi
8) American Gods by Neil Gaiman
9) Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss
10) Tricks for Free by Seanan McGuire

September News

* Podcaster Matthew Felix interviewed Borderlands owner Alan Beatts on his show!  Matthew says: "On my last episode, I had a wide-ranging talk with Borderlands Books' owner and founder Alan Beatts. We discussed Borderlands' history -- including the controversy that garnered it unexpected national attention in 2015, landing Alan everywhere, from the pages of the New Yorker to on camera with Fox and other news outlets. We also talked about what the climate is like today for indie bookstores, both how they've dealt with Amazon and some of the innovative ways they continue to adapt to the future."  You can watch the show on YouTube: https://youtu.be/1NA3DNB8ZXM or Facebook: https://buff.ly/2LWIokz, or you can listen on iTunes: https://apple.co/2N9OC5p or Google Play: https://buff.ly/2Q4jjYo .

* Celebrated actor Burt Reynolds died recently, and while he didn't act in many science fiction films (famously turning down the role of Han Solo!) here are four movies & TV episodes where Mr. Reynolds experimented with genre.  https://www.inverse.com/article/48749-burt-reynolds-best-roles-in-science-fiction-tv-or-movies

* If you happen to be in the UK in November, why not stop by SFX BookCon 2?  Plenty of amazing authors will be there including Pat Cadigan, MR Carey, Rebecca Kuang, Tade Thompson, Sarah Lotz, Richard Morgan and more!  Check out all the details here: http://www.foyles.co.uk/SFX-Book-Con-2?aCode=AFW&awc=1414_1536332121_5a259d21238595760a04c3abfefd50f2

Upcoming Events

Writers With Drinks (at The Make Out Room, Make Out Room, 3225 22nd St, San Francisco) with authors Laura Antoniou, S.L. Huang, Jack Kaulfus, Hannah Pittard, Margaret Wilkerson Sexton, and Marlee Jane Ward, hosted by Charlie Jane Anders!  Saturday, August 11th at 7:30 pm


Seanan McGuire, NIGHT AND SILENCE (DAW, Hardcover, $26.00) Saturday, September 8th at 5:00 pm


Rachel Fellman, THE BREATH OF THE SUN (Aqueduct Press, Trade Paperback, $19.00) Sunday, September 9th at 1:00 pm


Nick Mamatas, THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF EVERYTHING (Tachyon Publication, Trade Paperback, $15.95), with guests Meg Elison, Tim Pratt, and Jason Ridler, Sunday, September 9th at 3:00 pm

SANTA CRUZ NOIR (Akashic Books, Trade Paperback, $15.95) event with contributors Susie Bright, Jon Bailiff, Seana Graham, Vinnie Hansen, Dillon Kaiser, Liza Monroy, Micah Perks, & Jill Wolfson, Saturday, September 15th at 1:00 pm

SF in SF (at The American Bookbinders' Museum, 355 Clementina) with authors Sheila Finch, David D. Levine, moderated by Terry Bisson, Sunday, September 16th at 6:30 pm

July Bestsellers

Hardcovers
1) Competence by Gail Carrgier
2) Noir by Christopher Moore
3) Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
4) Summerland by Hannu Rajaniemi
5) Space Opera by Cat Valente
6) Starless by Jacqueline Carey
7) Artificial Condition by Martha Wells
8) Deep Roots by Ruthanna Emerys
9) Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
10) The Cabin at the End of the Woods by Paul Tremblay

Trade Paperbacks
1) Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu, trans by Ken Liu
2) The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
3) Revenant Gun by Yoon Ha Lee
4) All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders
5) Freeze-Frame Revolution by Peter Watts
6) Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers
7) Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
8) Walkaway by Cory Doctorow
9) Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant
10) Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero

Mass Market Paperbacks
1) Who Fears Death? by Nnedi Okorafor
2) American Gods by Neil Gaiman
3) Old Man's War by John Scalzi
4) Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin
5) Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
6) Marked by Bendict Jacka
7) Heroine Worship by Sarah Kuhn
8) Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi
9) Lock In by John Scalzi
10) Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson

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.

Upcoming Events

SF in SF (at The American Bookbinders Museum, 355 Clementina Street) with authors Terry Bisson & Paul Park, moderated by guest Cliff Winnig, Sunday, July 22nd at 6:30 pm

B Catling, THE CLOVEN (Vintage, Trade Paperback, $16.95) Wednesday, July 25th at 6:00 pm

Open House at Borderlands West, 1377 Haight St, Saturday, July 28th from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Borderlands Sponsors' Open Mic, Sunday, August 5th at 5:00 pm

Writers With Drinks (at The Make Out Room, 3225 22nd St.) with authors S.L. Huang, Jack Kaulfus, Cassandra Khaw, Hannah Pittard, Margaret Wilkerson Sexton, and Marlee Jane Ward, Saturday, August 11th at 7:30 pm

SF in SF presents: George R.R. Martin in conversation with John Picacio! (A fundraiser for The Locus Science Fiction Foundation, at the Fox Theatre, Redwood City) Tuesday, August 14th at 7:30 pm

July Building News

by Alan Beatts

Hi Everybody,

So, remember last month when I said that the work on the building had been pretty slow and irritating in May but that June was going to be better?  Whelp, thankfully that was true.  Much was accomplished, most notably getting the I-beam fixed, then up and shored in place; pulling out several of the old posts (they were in the way of the excavations for the new foundations); cutting the concrete floor of the basement for the new foundations; and, a bit over a week ago Sunday, getting all the excavation work done.

That Sunday, the 1st, was a truly Borderlands kind of day.  Based on some rough calculations by my friend Zach, it seems we shifted more than 3 tons of dirt up a flight of stairs and then 80 feet into the garden.  There were five of us moving the buckets of dirt and, most of the time, one of us digging and filling the buckets.

It took three hours.

June Bestsellers

Hardcovers
1) Starless by Jacqueline Carey
2) Brief Cases by Jim Butcher
3) Head On by John Scalzi
4) Noir by Christopher Moore
5) Artificial Condtion by Martha Wells
6) Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
7) The Oracle Year by Charles Soule
8) Autonomous by Annalee Newitz
9) Clockwork Dynasty by Daniel H. Wilson
10) Summerland by Hannu Rajaniemi

Trade Paperbacks
1) Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu, trans by Ken Liu
2) How to Marry a Werewolf by Gail Carriger
3) Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
4) Revenant Gun by Yoon Ha Lee
5) The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
6) Freeze-Frame Revolution by Peter Watts
7) All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders
8) The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
9) Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant
10) Walkaway by Cory Doctorow

Mass Market Paperbacks
1) Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K LeGuin
2) Old Man's War by John Scalzi
3) Who Fears Death? by Nnedi Okorafor
4) Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
5) American Gods by Neil Gaiman
6) Sea Peoples by S.M. Stirling
7) Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
8) God Save the Queen by Kate Locke
9) Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey
10) Lock In by John Scalzi

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