Signed Books by Gaiman and Pratchett

Those of you who have been following Worldbuilders for a couple years will probably recognize this book.

It’s a book with a story behind it. And the story goes like this.

2008: A Gift from Gaiman.

In 2008 I was still a newbie author, hardly published for more than a year. On a whim, I decided to try raising money for Heifer International on my blog. Things quickly spiraled out of control as other authors pitched in, spreading the word about the fundraiser and donating books.

The pinnacle of the coolness/madness came when Neil Gaiman mentioned us to his vast legion of readers. He also donated a rare ARC of Stardust to the cause.

Unfortunately, mail was slow around the holidays, so we couldn’t use the book until….

2009: Stardust for the people.

We had this beautiful book. This beautiful, *rare* book. And I was having a hard time deciding how best to use it. I knew we could auction it off and raise at least a thousand dollars, maybe a couple thousand dollars, but that didn’t seem right somehow.

So I decided to put it into the lottery, that way anyone who donated to Heifer on our team page would have a chance at winning it. That seemed fair to me, more egalitarian.

At the end of the fundraiser someone wins the book. And in an amazing fit of generosity, they donate it back to Worldbuilders. Their one stipulation is that we auction it off next year, so it will bring in more money for Heifer.

2010: Stardust on the Auction Block.

During year three of Worldbuilders, we auctioned off all manner of things. And, as the previous winner requested, we put Gaiman’s copy of the Stardust ARC up on e-bay too.

After some fierce bidding it sold for over $2500 to a lovely guy named Dan. There were many high-fives in Worldbuilders central. We were sad to see the book go, but $2500 bucks buys a lot of goats.

But when I e-mailed Dan to arrange shipping, he said he wanted to donate the book back to Worldbuilders.

I asked Dan if he was sure. He said he was sure. I asked Dan how he got to be so cool, and he said he was inspired by the story of how last year’s winner re-donated the book.

But most of the credit, he said, should go to his mom. She always made a point of donating to charity even though she never had a lot of money. Not only that, but she was a died-in-the-wool geek like the rest of us: she read fantasy and sci-fi, she played Infocom games…

From everything I’ve heard, she sounds like my kind of lady.

Dan told me she had passed away recently, and that most of the money he inherited from her went into buying this book. He thinks she would be proud and happy to know that the money will go to helping as many people as possible through Heifer.

Dan also said that he was a big Gaiman fan, and that he hoped that this whole exchange didn’t give Gaiman a complex because nobody would keep his book….

His only stipulation was that we put the book back into the lottery next year, so anyone can win it….

2011: Full Circle.

 

We put the ARC back in the lottery to much cheering. After picking the prizes, I call the winner, Maayan, to set up shipping (because you don’t want something like this to be a surprise on a doorstep).

Maayan tells me no.  She wants it back in the fundraiser.  It’s sort of a thing now.

So I send her a box of books as a “Thanks for being cool” present.

And now we go back to our roots. It’s back in the lottery, where anyone can win it.

  • A rare, numbered ARC of Stardust.  Signed by Neil Gaiman.

This beautiful book comes with its own slipcase.  Numbered 28 out of 250.  Signed.

Rest assured that the book is in immaculate shape. It’s been cocooned in bubble wrap for years. If you win it, you can finally give it a loving home, and Neil can sleep a little sounder knowing that someone out there has finally claimed his book.

All it takes is a donation chance of winning it if you donate at least $10 to Heifer International on our team page by January 21st.

*     *     *

Only one person can win the Stardust ARC, so this year we’re putting in some extra Gaiman items to spread the joy around. Some are auctions, some are in the lottery.

We have some books and posters signed by Pratchett, too. And this seems like a good place to put them, given that we’ve got a copy of Good Omens signed by both Pratchett *and* Gaiman up for grabs too.

  • Stardust, Fragile Things, and Neverwhere audio books by Neil Gaiman.

If you haven’t ever heard Neil Gaiman read his own work, you owe it to yourself to make that happen. Someday I hope to be half the narrator he is.

How good is he? Well, we listened to Neverwhere on the drive back from ChiCon last summer, and it kept Oot transfixed and quiet for hours.  So it’s practically magic.

  • Telling Tales and Speaking in Tongues audio CDs by Neil Gaiman.

These are a bit more rare.  They were published Dreamhaven Books, which makes them extra cool, and also means that’s really the only place you can get them easily.

Or, you could donate some money to the Team Page and have a chance to win them while making the world suck less.

  • Auction: Warning: Contains Language audio CD.  Signed by Neil Gaiman.

This CD was also published by Dreamhaven. It’s got a bunch of stuff from his Angels & Visitations collection, with music provided by illustrator/director/all around renaissance man Dave McKean. There’s even a hidden track, but don’t worry. It’s not too hidden.

To bid on this auction, head over here.

“Set in ancient Japan, this story is a haunting fable of ill-fated love and dream-eating monsters, told in an illustrated text format, and painted by Japanese artist Yoshitaka Amano.”

  • Auction: An Evening with Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer poster.  Signed by Neil Gaiman.

(Lead weights not included.  Those are mine and I need them. Because.  Because reasons)

Here’s something cool.  It’s a promotional poster from the tour Neil and Amanda did. These weren’t easy to get at the time, and odds are if someone has one now, they’re probably going to keep it.

Added Bonus? It’s fuzzy.  I want to touch it, but Maria keeps slapping my hand away.

To bid, click here for the auction.

Gaiman has done some great kids books besides Coraline.  This is one of them.  It’s not quite as dark as Coraline, but Odd is no less clever.  Some day Oot will meat a bear, a fox and an eagle, and I know he’ll be prepared for his adventure because of this book.

“Using several figures from Norse mythology, Gaiman has written a thoughtful and quietly humorous fantasy that younger Percy Jackson fans will enjoy.” – Library Journal

  • The Day I Swapped my Dad for Two Goldfish.  Signed and doodled by Neil Gaiman.

Kids trade the darndest things. I only hope that if Oot trades me off for something that he’s savvy enough to get more than a couple goldfish.  I’d like to think I’m worth at least an iguana or two.  Or one of those brightly colored, poisonous frogs, the kind you use for lickin’.

“A bittersweet, guffaw-out-loud story from the most distinctive partnership in picture books today.” – The Guardian

 

Blueberry Girl is an awesome children’s book that encourages unconventional girls to keep it up.  As usual, Gaiman manages to be relentlessly inspiring without being saccharine.  If you know anybody who happens to have a daughter, be a daughter, or be at all human, you may need to get this for them.  Crazy Hair is goofy and weird and awesome.  It involves hair, something I’m pretty familiar with.  It also must be read out loud, even if you’re by yourself.

“Fans of Gaiman and Vess will pounce on this creation; so too will readers who seek for their daughters affirmation that sidesteps traditional spiritual conventions.” – Publishers Weekly

“Provoking questions about what it is to be free in thought and form, this is a work of unique luminescence that may well change the way hair is looked at forever” – The Bookseller

The auction for Blueberry Girl is here.  The auction for Crazy Hair is here.

Here we have a children’s book from Discworld that Pratchett references in the book Snuff. I honestly didn’t know it even existed until it showed up for the fundraiser. I guess that makes me a bad fan.

Given how much I liked his other discworld children’s book: “Where is my Cow?” I’m eager to read this one, too.

Click here and bid on it.

Some of y’all may not have seen what Terry Pratchett does when he signs books.  He’s got a stamp AND a cool foil sticker.  I wish I had thought of something like this.

(Click to Embiggen)

This book is super awesome.  It’s rare, first edition, and double signed.  And it’s in the lottery. Only donors can win it.

This, however, is not in the lottery.  We got some really cool Pratchett/Kidby art this year, and this print is one of the coolest.

To bid on the print, click here.

Discworld is something everyone needs to read at some point.  If not all of them, at least a few.

A good place to start is here, with the first one that was published.  It even has a decent mini-series you can watch as well.  Though, as always, the book is better.

This copy is even the UK edition.  It has a “u” in “colour” so you know it’s fancy.

And here it is.  The big one.  A double signed, UK edition of Good Omens.  This has a beautiful dust jacket that represents both the angel and demon characters. Signed by Pratchett and Gaiman both.

If you want to bid on it, you should click here.

*     *     *

You should make sure to make your donation on the Worldbuilders Team Page by January 21st. For every $10 you pitch in, you get another chance to win thousands of books and DVD’s.

You can view all of our current auctions over here to check on all of our last-minute awesome that needed to get out.

If you want to see the other items that have been donated to Worldbuilders, or learn more about the fundraiser itself, you can head over to our main page.

This entry was posted in Worldbuilders 2012By Pat37 Responses

37 Comments

  1. TheManiacWoodpecker
    Posted January 11, 2013 at 5:15 AM | Permalink

    I think it would be awesome if the ARC of Stardust would be won in the lottery, just to be given back for next years auctions. It is almost like a tradition and a running gag now :-)

    • Posted January 11, 2013 at 5:48 AM | Permalink

      It would be nice. But I won’t hold it against someone if they want to keep it.

      My assistant says if she wins it, she’s keeping it no matter what anyone thinks….

      • Dracc
        Posted January 11, 2013 at 6:41 AM | Permalink

        I seriously considered donating one of my NOTW ARCs to Worldbuilders this year, but I am just not sure I can part with it.

        Also, thanks for the AMA last night. I had fun reading all your responses in real time:)

        • Marcus Cox
          Posted January 11, 2013 at 10:02 AM | Permalink

          I also would like to thank you for the AMA. I didn’t have the chance to read it while it was going on, but I did later and it was very entertaining. Brings back memories of the Machine Gun Q&A’s you used to do here. I miss those.

          • Posted January 12, 2013 at 2:17 AM | Permalink

            I’ll be doing more in the future. It’s just a matter of time….

    • Posted January 11, 2013 at 9:15 AM | Permalink

      Yeah…I’m kind of torn on that subject.
      I’d feel like a dick if I kept it, but: OMG signed Stardust!
      And Wil Wheaton said not to be one…

      I’ve always imagined that I’d try to put awesome stuff I won on ebay and donate the proceeds myself…because I’d kinda want to see the stuff I won, whatever I’d do with it in the end.
      But then, if I finally had it, I’m not sure I’d be able to give it away.

  2. redwulf
    Posted January 11, 2013 at 7:18 AM | Permalink

    The E-Mail letting someone know they’ve won the Stardust ARC should just come with a pair of Mass Effect style Paragon/Renegade icons right in the body… :-)

    • Rahl
      Posted January 11, 2013 at 8:58 AM | Permalink

      You sir get a +1

      • Posted January 11, 2013 at 9:18 AM | Permalink

        Make that a +1, a like, a thumbs up, an upvote, a repost and a free limited edition of all Mass Effect things signed by the voice actor of the reaper and whoever just passes by the Bioware headquarters in that exact second.

        Also have some Pizza and Ice cream! :-)

        • MeganR
          Posted January 11, 2013 at 2:22 PM | Permalink

          Even know it was a paragon/ renegade choice, i may still renegade. Glowing red eyes AND a pretty signed stardust? Hard to resist.

  3. Posted January 11, 2013 at 7:20 AM | Permalink

    That is an awfully long history of awesomeness the copy of Stardust holds! I wouldn’t blame anyone for wanting to keep the copy if they win it, but I definitely think whoever gets it should continue the awesome trend and re-donate it for next year. Just because!

  4. Marcus Cox
    Posted January 11, 2013 at 8:46 AM | Permalink

    If I were to be lucky enough to win the Stardust ARC I would donate it back to Pat with the circumstance that at some point in the next eleven months I get to have lunch or coffee with Pat and actually get the chance to hold the book. After washing my hands, of course. I don’t care if I have to drive to Steven’s Point just so I don’t take up too much of Pat’s time. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve driven over four hours to meet Pat. Or the second. I may have a problem.

    • AlanAdams23
      Posted January 11, 2013 at 9:28 AM | Permalink

      You’ve taken the first step by admitting it. Be strong!

      I agree though…I’d re-donate it but would want to at least hold it for a minute.

  5. Posted January 11, 2013 at 9:19 AM | Permalink

    All that awesomeness…I need to step away from the internet so I don’t donate more everytime a new blog appears… O.o

    • MeganR
      Posted January 11, 2013 at 2:24 PM | Permalink

      I KNOW! I’ve started thinking how much ppl need more goats, and I need more chances to win fun books!

      • Posted January 11, 2013 at 3:16 PM | Permalink

        are you stalking me? *giggles*

        But yeah…it’s not even about the chances, because my mere 10 tickets vs. the 28.000 out there…it’s not like I could “ensure” winning something without going broke, but everytime I see authors, publishers or Pat himself add something so awesome that I myself would have a really tough time to give away, I feel compelled to contribute some more. And since I’m currently not in financial trouble (worldbuilders could change that *lol*), I guess that’s a good thing. :)

        • MeganR
          Posted January 11, 2013 at 3:23 PM | Permalink

          ha ha, yes. YES I AM STALKING YOU, but only on pat’s blog.

          • Posted January 13, 2013 at 7:27 AM | Permalink

            Oh! Well, we can always change that. My name links to some place that I am pretty sure has ways of contacting me on it. if not, it’s olli(at)thatsitesdomain. :-D

  6. jpylus
    Posted January 11, 2013 at 10:21 AM | Permalink

    I’ve been interested in reading the Discworld books for a while now. Does anyone know of a good suggested reading order?

    • tanis0
      Posted January 11, 2013 at 12:12 PM | Permalink

      I read them in the order in which they were published. I personally recommend this since time passes in the world linearly between books (excluding the time monks of course) plus you get to watch Pratchett’s writing style change over time. If you prefer to focus on one group of characters at a time though, you could try this: http://www.lspace.org/books/reading-order-guides/the-discworld-reading-order-guide-1-5.pdf

      • jpylus
        Posted January 14, 2013 at 3:07 PM | Permalink

        Thank you! I just finished the Wheel of Time and need some new material to dig into and obsess over.

    • MeganR
      Posted January 11, 2013 at 3:00 PM | Permalink

      I like to jump around so I read all the same character books in a row. So choose your characters and get started. The tone of the books really change with which characters are involved, so if you don’t like one book, don’t give up, just try another character group. Rincewind and the wizards are really silly. The witches are fairytale meets Macbeth and have a lot of references in them. The death books are a crazy mix of weird scenarios and dry humor. The watch books are like detective novels with fantasy craziness. Right now I’m addicted to the watch books, the audiobooks esp. are hilarious.

      • MeganR
        Posted January 11, 2013 at 3:29 PM | Permalink

        Ok, I’m gonna reply to myself to add that I have read a lot of the books out of order too, and Terry P. does a good job of making it easy to read out of order. You just may get introduced to a lot of characters all at once. Feet of clay, the fifth elephant, hogfather, wyrd sisters are awesome places to start too. :)

  7. Posted January 11, 2013 at 12:08 PM | Permalink

    I love the Stardust Arc story. It’s like a tradition now.

    So….sorry Amanda, but I hope you don’t win this particular book :)

    That was really cool of you to send Maayan some extra stuff since she donated the book back too.

    • Amanda
      Posted January 11, 2013 at 1:11 PM | Permalink

      But… but it’s so pretty…
      Yeah, I secretly hope I don’t win it, too.

  8. Slamadoca
    Posted January 11, 2013 at 12:54 PM | Permalink

    I think that if I were to win Stardust, I’d have to at least see it for myself. I mean, who says it has to stay on Pat’s shelf waiting for next year. I think I would want to put it on my shelf for a few months.

    Though it’s possible that I would end up re-donating it at the end of the year anyway.

  9. bluezone
    Posted January 11, 2013 at 1:07 PM | Permalink

    Hm, I think I have a better solution for this problem.
    Let’s convince Mr Gaiman to donate ALL 250 ARC prints of Stardust to Worldbuilders but only show one on the blog.
    Then, when it is won, we send it away to someone who really wants to keep it and put another one up for the lottery/auction for the next year.

    This way everyone should be fine and without conflict until Year 2263 :)
    And when that year comes, I am sure Mr Gaiman will have written another 1000 books of which rare ARC prints exist and/or Africa may be poverty free.

    m

  10. bluezone
    Posted January 11, 2013 at 1:20 PM | Permalink

    Obviously, we would have to make sure Amanda and her ancestors don’t win all 25o of them :)

    m

  11. NAMDORG
    Posted January 12, 2013 at 1:27 AM | Permalink

    Ugh, if I win any of the books in the lottery please let it be one of these ones! I love all of these books! Huge Pratchett fan, and Good Omens was one of my favorites.

  12. toniphotog
    Posted January 12, 2013 at 11:19 AM | Permalink

    This is such a great story of human kindness! I fell all inspired!
    When we hear of the way the world is today, greedy and selfish , you have a story with so many heros, giving to help others without reward. ( not material rewards anyway) . I love the feeling I get helping others, but so many times I am guestioned what is the catch? Other people have made their own conclusions to why would she do that and ask nothing in return. I know what the saying, ” to road to hell is paved…” . Anyway, I do love a good story with a happy ending, so keep us posted on the sister/brotherhood of the book!
    Have a great day y’all !

  13. niall
    Posted January 12, 2013 at 10:16 PM | Permalink

    I’m trying to donate, but on the form it doesn’t seem to allow me to select a country other than the US. Are we unable to donate to Heifer? I’m sorry if this question has already been answered somewhere.

  14. shadow_sniper
    Posted January 15, 2013 at 1:55 PM | Permalink

    I have that version of The Dream Hunters, the illustrations are gorgeous and strange :)

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