

Wednesday, January 6, 2010
A Veritable Cornucopia of Signed Books





This is a Worldbuilders blog.




Here's some more books, folks. And as you can see, we've been saving some of the best for last.

Also, in the interest of complete honesty, I'm over-tired and over-caffeinated right now. This makes me punchy, which means I probably shouldn't be doing anything delicate like writing book descriptions.

Still, the fundraiser ends on January 15th, which means I really need to get these posted sooner rather than later. So I'm going to apologize in advance for anything bizarre or inappropriate I might say below.

Sorry.

  • An Advance Reading Copy of Neil Gaiman's American Gods. Signed by the author.

A great book, and I'm not just saying that because a chunk of it is set in Wisconsin. I'm saying that because I'm a complete geek for Neil Gaiman *and* a big chunk of it is set in Wisconsin.

"Original, engrossing, and endlessly inventive; a picaresque journey across America where the travelers are even stranger than the roadside attractions." - George R. R. Martin

  • A hardcover copy of Small Favor - a Novel of the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. Signed by the author.

Jim Butcher is another one of my favorite authors. In fact, he was one of the first authors I wrote about on the blog a long while back. I continue to love him despite the fact that writes two extremely well-crafted novels every year, thereby making me look like a chump.

From Publishers Weekly, "Butcher smoothly manages a sizable cast of allies and adversaries, doles out needed backstory with crisp efficiency and sustains just the right balance of hair's-breadth tension and comic relief."


"Crystal Rain is refreshing and imaginative, an exotic stew of cultures, myths, and technology." --Kevin J. Anderson


Anyone who's read the acknowledgments in NOTW knows I owe Kevin Anderson a great debt of thanks, as he helped get me started in the publishing world. On top of that, I now owe him even *more* thanks for donating this lovely ARC...

Publisher's Weekly says, "Anderson's sizzling sci-fi thriller resurrects the technology of miniaturization introduced in the 1966 film Fantastic Voyage. [...] Casual sci-fi fans as well as newcomers to the genre will enjoy this well-paced, energetic narrative."

  • A set of Jonathan Green's Pax Britannia: Unnatural History, Leviathan Rising and Human Nature. Unnatural History and Leviathan Rising are signed by the author.

From the back of the book: In two scant months the nation, and all her colonies, will celebrate 160 years of Queen Victoria's glorious reign. But all is not well at the heart of the empire of Magna Britannia. A chain of events is about to be set in motion that, if not stopped, could lead to a world-shattering conclusion. It begins with a break-in at the Natural History Museum. A night watchman is murdered. An eminent Professor of Evolutionary Biology goes missing. Then a catastrophic Overground rail-crash unleashes the dinosaurs of London Zoo!

  • A copy of Just Desserts by Simon Haynes. Signed by the author.

Signed by the author, the merest touch of this book will cure scrofula. At least that's what the promotional blurb says.

The Specusphere urges readers to "enjoy another fast and furious ride with the zap-happy, zany rapscallions."

  • A copy of Space Magic, stories by David D. Levine. This special signed hardcover edition is limited to 100 numbered copies; this book is copy number AC-6.

Like Nnedi, David Levine is one of the folks I met when we got published in Writers of the Future Volume 18 together. David writes short stories like I'll never be able to, and over the years his advice about how the publishing world works has been invaluable to me.

Space Magic is his first short story collection. His "Tk'Tk'Tk" won the 2006 Hugo Award for Best Short Story and "The Tail of the Golden Eagle" was a previous Hugo nominee; it also appeared on the Nebula preliminary ballot and was a finalist for the Sturgeon Award and Locus Award.

It's also important to note that this limited edition harcover of the book is numbered AC-6. Which means that it's harder to hit than AC-10.

  • A copy of Saundra Mitchell's debut novel, Shadowed Summer. Signed by the author.

Booklist says that Shadowed Summer is, "Highly atmospheric, with pulse-pounding suspense and an elegiac ending."

You hear that? Elegiac. How come nobody calls my book elegiac? I'm all kinds of elegiac.

  • A copy of The Six Sacred Stones by Matthew Reilly. Signed by the author.

"The wildly imaginative Reilly has taken inspiration from comics, video games, thrillers and Code-style puzzle novels to create this rocket-fueled sequel to his 7 Deadly Wonders [...] A tongue-in-cheek quality will help readers find this outlandish adventure thrilling." -- Publishers Weekly


"Wilson's fantasy debut recalls the complexity of classic epic fantasy in the tradition of Robert Jordan. Combining adventure with mystery and memorable characters, this is a good choice for committed fantasy fans." —Jackie Cassada, Library Journal

  • Two hardcover copies of To Ride Hell's Chasm by Janny Wurts. Signed by the author.

"Janny Wurts writes with astonishing energy... it outght to be illegal for one person to have so much talent." - Stephen R. Donaldson

  • One set of Webmage, Cybermancy, CodeSpell and MythOS by Kelly McCullough. All signed by the author.

"The most enjoyable science fantasy book I've read in the last four years." - Christopher Stasheff

  • A set of Naked and Barrel Fever: Stories and Essays by David Sedaris. Both signed by the author.

David Sedaris is a brilliant author I only discovered a couple years ago when someone advised me to listen to his short piece "6-8 Black Men" on Youtube.

After less than a minute, Sedaris had a fan for life.

I've been meaning to post a blog recommending Sedaris' books for almost a year. But something always seems to get in the way. For example, the last time I sat down to write a post about it, I got hung up about whether or not I wanted to use the word "boner" in the blog. Then I started to write a blog about how avoiding the use of the word "boner" revealed a lot about my revision process. Then I stopped writing that blog and did something else. True story.

Anyway, a couple months ago, I found out that David Sedaris was on tour here in the US. What's more, I found out that he was making at stop Stevens Point. I still can't imagine why he was here in Podunk, WI. His tour schedule was literally something like this: San Diego > San Francisco > Los Angeles > Salt Lake City > Stevens Point > New York. My suspicion is that he lost a bet with God.

Sedaris gave a great performance and was incredibly gracious in person, though I'm pretty sure I made a bit of an ass of myself when I got to the front of the signing line. I bought a couple of his books and rather than have him sign them to me, I had him just sign his name so I could use them for this fundraiser. Also a true story.

Washington Post Book World describes Sedaris as "Shrewd, wickedly funny [...] one of America's most prickly, and most delicious, young comic talents."


There we go. Now I can go to sleep. Hopefully I didn't say anything too awful.... If I did, enjoy it while it lasts, because I'll probably just delete it when I wake up later today...

Remember folks, for every 10 dollars you donate to Heifer International, you get a chance to win these books and hundreds of others like them. Plus there's the whole helping make the world a better place thing. That's nice too.

And don't forget, I'm matching 50% of all donations made. So why not head over to my page at Team Heifer and chip in. Trust me. You'll feel great afterward.

Or, if you want to go back to the main page for Worldbuilders, you can click HERE.



With thanks to our sponsor, Subterranean Press.


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posted by Pat at

19 Comments:

Blogger Amanda said...

I'm pumped about American Gods and the Sedaris books especially. As soon as this next paycheck comes in....

Go to sleep now, before you say something to embarrass yourself :)

January 6, 2010 8:52 AM  
Anonymous rain said...

Hard as I looked, I couldn't find anythin offending or unappropriate on that post. Just the rothfuss-humor we all love.
At the moment though I'm a bit desperate cuz I don't have a credit card or anything to donate. D: Shouldn't have procastinated my making-the-world-a-better-place and just donated via paypal on the name raffle. Even though I didn't have a clue what name to put in...

January 6, 2010 8:54 AM  
Blogger wirelessrobin said...

I think it's hilarious when you are "bizarre or inappropriate" That's what I look forward to the most when I read your blogs! I can't wait till pay day so I can donate last minute!!! It's going to be my birthday present to myself.

As always I love you Pat! Best wishes to you and yours!

January 6, 2010 9:03 AM  
Anonymous faevii said...

"For example, the last time I sat down to write a post about it, I got hung up about whether or not I wanted to use the word "boner" in the blog. Then I started to write a blog about how avoiding the use of the word "boner" revealed a lot about my revision process. Then I stopped writing that blog and did something else. True story."

Hee hee, I know the feeling. :D

January 6, 2010 9:38 AM  
Blogger Zafri Mollon said...

Simon Haynes writes some funny stuff! You can find the full version of his first book on his website to check it out too :)

January 6, 2010 10:10 AM  
Blogger Hex said...

Oh, goodness! Neil Gaiman AND David Sedaris?? Beautiful. I love both authors dearly. Sedaris in insanely funny and beyond witty. Listening to his read his books makes them that much better. His comic timing is impeccable. Still kicking myself for missing a book signing that he was doing near me.

Looks like another great collection! I hope my new goat and I get picked for something!

January 6, 2010 11:02 AM  
Blogger Vulpes Fulva said...

"It's also important to note that this limited edition harcover of the book is numbered AC-6. Which means that it's harder to hit than AC-10."

Oh my freaking God. This is the reason I stalk your blog. I now know what I would wish of you with a Golden Ticket. You, Me, and DnD (and maybe a couple of my friends).

January 6, 2010 12:48 PM  
OpenID kateness said...

Damn, I wish I wasn't so poor :(

January 6, 2010 1:22 PM  
Blogger parents said...

Have you really read all these books and if so how do you have time to do anything else??

January 6, 2010 6:31 PM  
Blogger D said...

Love Sedaris. And I waaaaant American Gods. Truly, I waaaant quite a few things, like everything, and I would be thrilled to receive any of the fabulous door prizes we get for being part of the coolest club ever.
Pat, you are loved by friends and strangers alike. You are that wonderful. I'm sure Sarah and Oot tell you, but it's nice to have corroboration.

January 6, 2010 6:35 PM  
Blogger Slappy Jones said...

I about crapped myself when I saw David Sedaris books. If he's going to go podunk, why not stop in Spokane? I mean, we have an "International Airport" with no international flights. I want them. I need them.

January 6, 2010 9:43 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Gaiman AND Sedaris?? I'm so donating again!

January 7, 2010 1:20 AM  
OpenID karena said...

o help out and spread the honeybees around...

January 7, 2010 9:22 AM  
OpenID karena said...

"Thrilled to help out..." was what was deleted ^^^^ :)

January 7, 2010 9:24 AM  
Anonymous J K the Lawyer said...

kevin j. anderson is a fucking hack and the fact that you have him on your site diminishes you.  HOWEVER, Kevin J. Anderson actually WRITES THE FUCKING BOOKS HE'S PAID TO WRITE.  And he's a retard.  What's your excuse, asshole

January 7, 2010 9:59 PM  
Blogger Pat said...

J K - I think you might have stumbled onto the wrong page. I'm guessing the information you were looking for is somewhere on one of the following sites:

http://www.impotence-guide.com/

http://www.ehow.com/how_2158482_deal-tourettes-syndrome.html

http://www.a1b2c3.com/suilodge/metfun1.htm

January 7, 2010 11:02 PM  
Blogger wirelessrobin said...

That's why you're awesome Pat. Dump out those cherios and pour a drag bowl.



Love!!!!

January 8, 2010 3:51 AM  
Blogger wirelessrobin said...

Pour a new bowl...... Is totally what I meant to type. Stupid phone and tiny writing. I'm going back to bed! Hahahah

January 8, 2010 3:56 AM  
Anonymous Sven said...

Dear Pat,

The best audiobook I ever heard was "A Song of Ice and Fire" read by Roy Dotrice. Not only because (as I am quite sure you know) it is one of the best Fantasy Series ever but because Roy Dotrice is an amazing narrator. I read the books before I herard the audiobooks but it was still worth it.
Beware of "A Feast od Crows" though. It is read by someone else and he sucks.

Greetings from Germany

Sven

March 16, 2010 3:42 PM  

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