1961-2019
Cary Heater passed away at San Francisco General Hospital in the early morning of Thursday, January 31st as a result of complications following a fall and severe head injury on the night of Wednesday, January 16th.
Cary was a Bay Area native, born and raised in San Jose. She moved to San Francisco in the 80's, in part to escape the South Bay's heat (which she despised). Throughout much of her time in SF she worked as an accountant, ultimately heading the accounting department of a major downtown firm. In the early 2000's she left that field and went looking for something else. She found bookselling and never looked back.
She started working with us at Borderlands in 2002. Initially she was very worried that she wouldn't be a good bookseller because she didn't read widely enough in the field to make good recommendations. But, with a little encouragement, she quickly grew into the role. Over time, Cary took over many of the administrative duties at the store and was an absolutely vital part of Borderlands' success.
On a personal level, Cary and I were friends for 27 years. We meet dancing in nightclubs around town and became close friends. Our friendship persisted and grew through multiple career changes, life crises, triumphs and defeats. She was my oldest friend.
She also counted among her friends many fellow booksellers, authors, artists and, above all, customers. We will be gathering to celebrate her life on Friday, February 8th, from 7 pm to 11 pm at Borderlands Books. We hope that you will be able to join us.
It was her wish that she be cremated and there will be no service. If you wish to make a donation to charity in Cary's name, I'd like to suggest the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (https://www.bincfoundation.org/donate/). Had Cary survived her injury, that organization's support would have been crucial to helping her manage the financial consequences.
Cary had no surviving family but I don't think she ever felt alone in the world. She had a family that she chose in the staff and customers of Borderlands. There had never been anything in her life that she loved more than bookselling. We are all grateful that she chose us.
- Alan Beatts
March 06, 2019
The Library of Cary Heater
When visiting someone's home for the first time, it's a habit among book people to take a careful look at what is on the shelves. It always gives a remarkably detailed insight to their personality and character. I can't show you Cary's bookself but I can do something close. Below you'll find a list of the books that Cary loved and reccomended over the years. Jude compiled it and I've sorted them by author. In the case of series, I've only listed the first novel but, generally, Cary tended to only suggest series titles that held up through their run. I hope that you enjoy this peek into Cary's personality.
All Best,
Alan
All Best,
Alan
Upcoming Events
Writers With Drinks (at The Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd Street, San Francisco) with authors Charlie Jane Anders, Gayle Brandeis, Chris Denson, Laleh Khadivi, and Lisa Margonelli, Saturday, February 9th at 7:30 pm
SF in SF (at The American Bookbinder's Museum, 355 Clementina Street, San Francisco) with authors Nick Mamatas and Anya Martin, hosted by Terry Bisson, Sunday, February 24th at 6:30 pm
CANCELED Ann Leckie, THE RAVEN TOWER (Orbit, Hardcover, $26.00) Thursday, February 28th at 6:00 pm
Writers With Drinks (at The Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd Street, San Francisco), Saturday, March 9th at 7:30 pm
SF in SF (at The American Bookbinder's Museum, 355 Clementina Street, San Francisco) with authors Nick Mamatas and Anya Martin, hosted by Terry Bisson, Sunday, February 24th at 6:30 pm
CANCELED Ann Leckie, THE RAVEN TOWER (Orbit, Hardcover, $26.00) Thursday, February 28th at 6:00 pm
Writers With Drinks (at The Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd Street, San Francisco), Saturday, March 9th at 7:30 pm
January Bestsellers
Hardcovers
1. In an Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire
2. How Long 'Til Black Future Month? by N.K. Jemisin
3. Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee
4. Kingdom of Copper by S.A. Chakraborty
5. Fire and Blood by George R.R. Martin
6. Rejoice, A Knife to the Heart by Steven Erickson
7. Red Moon by Kim Stanley Robinson
8. Though Fiery Trials by David Weber
9. Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells
10. Thin Air by Richard Morgan
Trade Paperbacks
1. The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin
2. The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin, trans. by Ken Liu
3. The Power by Naomi Alderman
4. Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal
5. Autonomous by Annalee Newitz
6. Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin
7. Freeze-Frame Revolution by Peter Watts
8. All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders
9. Hannah Green and Her Unfeasibly Mundane Existence by Michael Marshall Smith
10. The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin
Mass Market Paperbacks
1. Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson
2. Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin
3. The Dispossessed by Ursula K. LeGuin
4. Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
5. Who Fears Death? by Nnedi Okorafor
6. Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss
7. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
8. Old Man's War by John Scalzi
9. Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi
10. The Brightest Fell by Seanan McGuire
1. In an Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire
2. How Long 'Til Black Future Month? by N.K. Jemisin
3. Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee
4. Kingdom of Copper by S.A. Chakraborty
5. Fire and Blood by George R.R. Martin
6. Rejoice, A Knife to the Heart by Steven Erickson
7. Red Moon by Kim Stanley Robinson
8. Though Fiery Trials by David Weber
9. Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells
10. Thin Air by Richard Morgan
Trade Paperbacks
1. The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin
2. The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin, trans. by Ken Liu
3. The Power by Naomi Alderman
4. Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal
5. Autonomous by Annalee Newitz
6. Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin
7. Freeze-Frame Revolution by Peter Watts
8. All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders
9. Hannah Green and Her Unfeasibly Mundane Existence by Michael Marshall Smith
10. The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin
Mass Market Paperbacks
1. Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson
2. Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin
3. The Dispossessed by Ursula K. LeGuin
4. Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
5. Who Fears Death? by Nnedi Okorafor
6. Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss
7. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
8. Old Man's War by John Scalzi
9. Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi
10. The Brightest Fell by Seanan McGuire
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
Sponsorships and Building News
by Alan Beatts
Welcome to 2019 Everyone!
As you can tell, this newsletter is _horribly_ late. And it's all my fault. January is usually a bit busy and crazy but this one has been a record-breaker. I've been trying to write something articulate for the past two weeks and all that has come out was "mumble, sponsorships, mumble, new roof, mumble, mumble, mumble". So, I'm not going to be articulate very much at all (I'll try that next month, which will be here in . . . six days!?!!).
It's a new year and so, once again, we're soliciting sponsorships for 2019. We do this every year so we can stay open. We need to have 300 sponsors (at $100 each) by March 31st or we'll close. Full story here - http://borderlands-sponsors.blogspot.com/p/why-sponsorships.html . Benefits here - http://borderlands-sponsors.blogspot.com/p/sponsor-benefits-and-privilidges.html . On-line signup here - https://borderlands-books.com/buysponsorship19.html . Or you can sign up by mail, or in person at the shop.
We've been working on the building at Haight Street a lot. We've got a new roof, some big structural work almost complete (last bits to do in the basement and ground floor structural work 50% done), the garden is looking great (pictures up at the blog soon), and we're just about to start the new electrical service installation. It continues to go slow but very well.
And that's all I've got right now. I hope that 2019 is treating you better than it's treating me (insert wry smile here) and I hope to see you around the shop sometime soon.
Welcome to 2019 Everyone!
As you can tell, this newsletter is _horribly_ late. And it's all my fault. January is usually a bit busy and crazy but this one has been a record-breaker. I've been trying to write something articulate for the past two weeks and all that has come out was "mumble, sponsorships, mumble, new roof, mumble, mumble, mumble". So, I'm not going to be articulate very much at all (I'll try that next month, which will be here in . . . six days!?!!).
It's a new year and so, once again, we're soliciting sponsorships for 2019. We do this every year so we can stay open. We need to have 300 sponsors (at $100 each) by March 31st or we'll close. Full story here - http://borderlands-sponsors.blogspot.com/p/why-sponsorships.html . Benefits here - http://borderlands-sponsors.blogspot.com/p/sponsor-benefits-and-privilidges.html . On-line signup here - https://borderlands-books.com/buysponsorship19.html . Or you can sign up by mail, or in person at the shop.
We've been working on the building at Haight Street a lot. We've got a new roof, some big structural work almost complete (last bits to do in the basement and ground floor structural work 50% done), the garden is looking great (pictures up at the blog soon), and we're just about to start the new electrical service installation. It continues to go slow but very well.
And that's all I've got right now. I hope that 2019 is treating you better than it's treating me (insert wry smile here) and I hope to see you around the shop sometime soon.
Upcoming Events
Rudy Rucker, RETURN TO THE HOLLOW EARTH (Transreal Books, Trade Paperback, $13.95 and Hardcover, $22.95) and others, and art show premiere! Saturday, January 26th at 3:00 pm
Writers With Drinks (at The Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd Street, San Francisco) with authors Charlie Jane Anders, Gayle Brandeis, Chris Denson, Laleh Khadivi, and Lisa Margonelli, Saturday, February 9th at 7:30 pm
SF in SF (at The American Bookbinder's Museum, 355 Clementina Street, San Francisco) with authors Nick Mamatas and Anya Martin, hosted by Terry Bisson, Sunday, February 24th at 6:30 pm
CANCELLED - Ann Leckie, THE RAVEN TOWER (Orbit, Hardcover, $26.00) - CANCELLED
Writers With Drinks (at The Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd Street, San Francisco) with authors Charlie Jane Anders, Gayle Brandeis, Chris Denson, Laleh Khadivi, and Lisa Margonelli, Saturday, February 9th at 7:30 pm
SF in SF (at The American Bookbinder's Museum, 355 Clementina Street, San Francisco) with authors Nick Mamatas and Anya Martin, hosted by Terry Bisson, Sunday, February 24th at 6:30 pm
CANCELLED - Ann Leckie, THE RAVEN TOWER (Orbit, Hardcover, $26.00) - CANCELLED
December Bestsellers
Hard Cover
1) Fire & Blood by George R.R. Martin
2) How Long 'Til Black Future Month? by N.K. Jemisin
3) The Consuming Fire by John Scalzi
4) Rejoice, a Knife to the Heart by Steven Erikson
5) Artificial Condition by Martha Wells
6) Thin Air by Richard Morgan
7) Worlds Seen in Passing edited by Irene Gallo
8) Exit Strategy by Martha Wells
9) Red Moon by Kim Stanley Robinson
10) So Far, So Good: Final Poems by Ursula K. Le Guin
Trade Paperbacks
1) The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
2) The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal
3) The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu, trans by Ken Liu
4) Autonomous by Annalee Newitz
5) All Systems Red by Martha Wells
6) All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders
7) The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin
8) Freeze-Frame Revolution by Peter Watts
9) Hannah Green and Her Unfeasibly Mundane Existence by Michael Marshall Smith
10) Space Opera by Cat Valente
Mass Market Paperbacks
1) Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
2) The Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi
3) Old Man's War by John Scalzi
4) Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
5) Who Fears Death? by Nnedi Okorafor
6) Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
7) Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson
8) Rosemary & Rue by Seanan McGuire
9) The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin
10) Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
1) Fire & Blood by George R.R. Martin
2) How Long 'Til Black Future Month? by N.K. Jemisin
3) The Consuming Fire by John Scalzi
4) Rejoice, a Knife to the Heart by Steven Erikson
5) Artificial Condition by Martha Wells
6) Thin Air by Richard Morgan
7) Worlds Seen in Passing edited by Irene Gallo
8) Exit Strategy by Martha Wells
9) Red Moon by Kim Stanley Robinson
10) So Far, So Good: Final Poems by Ursula K. Le Guin
Trade Paperbacks
1) The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
2) The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal
3) The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu, trans by Ken Liu
4) Autonomous by Annalee Newitz
5) All Systems Red by Martha Wells
6) All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders
7) The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin
8) Freeze-Frame Revolution by Peter Watts
9) Hannah Green and Her Unfeasibly Mundane Existence by Michael Marshall Smith
10) Space Opera by Cat Valente
Mass Market Paperbacks
1) Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
2) The Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi
3) Old Man's War by John Scalzi
4) Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
5) Who Fears Death? by Nnedi Okorafor
6) Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
7) Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson
8) Rosemary & Rue by Seanan McGuire
9) The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin
10) Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
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
December 12, 2018
Holiday Gift Guide
by Jude Feldman
Hello All and Sundry!
This year seems to have flown by. The explanation I've heard for the seeming acceleration of time I'm experiencing is that as we age, time seems to go by faster, because any given amount of time is a smaller fraction than it used to be of your life overall (i.e. when you're five years old, one year is one-fifth of your life, but when you're thirty-five, one year is a thirty-fifth of your life, so it is comparatively a much shorter time). Regardless of why it happens, recognizing this disconcerting speeding up is a reminder to me to enjoy all the time we've got as best we can. I'm working on it, and in that spirit -- I wish you all the very best, and hope that this season and next year both treat you all very well, and that you have much to celebrate both now and in the future!
As we hurtle seemingly increasingly quickly toward this gift-giving season, we here present our usual Opinionated (and Digression-Filled) Gift Guide to help you out. However, if you don't see something appropriate here, we're always happy to make custom suggestions for you or anyone in your life. We'll even wrap 'em for you! (A special note to those of you purchasing presents: we're glad to gift wrap upon request, although our typical caveats apply: first, if we're busy, you may have to wait a bit to have things wrapped, and, second, some staff members are MUCH better than others at it. It is possible that your package may resemble a brightly wrapped Lovecraft-ian, batrachian, rugose, Thing of No Human Shape. For some customers, this is not a problem . . ."better than I can do!," they say. However, if you are concerned about our, ahem, abilities, we're also happy to just hand you the gift wrap, scissors and tape.)
Onward!
Hello All and Sundry!
This year seems to have flown by. The explanation I've heard for the seeming acceleration of time I'm experiencing is that as we age, time seems to go by faster, because any given amount of time is a smaller fraction than it used to be of your life overall (i.e. when you're five years old, one year is one-fifth of your life, but when you're thirty-five, one year is a thirty-fifth of your life, so it is comparatively a much shorter time). Regardless of why it happens, recognizing this disconcerting speeding up is a reminder to me to enjoy all the time we've got as best we can. I'm working on it, and in that spirit -- I wish you all the very best, and hope that this season and next year both treat you all very well, and that you have much to celebrate both now and in the future!
As we hurtle seemingly increasingly quickly toward this gift-giving season, we here present our usual Opinionated (and Digression-Filled) Gift Guide to help you out. However, if you don't see something appropriate here, we're always happy to make custom suggestions for you or anyone in your life. We'll even wrap 'em for you! (A special note to those of you purchasing presents: we're glad to gift wrap upon request, although our typical caveats apply: first, if we're busy, you may have to wait a bit to have things wrapped, and, second, some staff members are MUCH better than others at it. It is possible that your package may resemble a brightly wrapped Lovecraft-ian, batrachian, rugose, Thing of No Human Shape. For some customers, this is not a problem . . ."better than I can do!," they say. However, if you are concerned about our, ahem, abilities, we're also happy to just hand you the gift wrap, scissors and tape.)
Onward!
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