We seem to have a "cost of books" theme going with a previous tidbit ("Literary Kicks says Books are Too Damn Expensive") and the recent post The Most Expensive Science Fiction & Fantasy Books Sold by AbeBooks in 2006. I thought you, dear, dear reader, might want to weigh in on the highest price you ever paid for a single science fiction or fantasy novel.
Me? I'm a biblioholic as opposed to a collector, so most of my book-buying dollar goes towards used science fiction, not collectibles. But back before I discovered the plethora of used bookstores in Houston, I did pick up a new (gasp!) copy of David Brin's Foundation's Triumph for around $24 in order to complete my pre-2000 Asimov Robots/Foundation reading project. There have been times when I thought about paying more for a book (a $300 set of sf reference books, a copy of the hard-to-find Year's Best Science Fiction #1 by Gardner Dozois) but I could never bring myself to do it.
What's the most you ever paid?
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| Posted by John on Wednesday January 31, 2007 - 5:44 PM
| Category: Books
| © 2007 SF Signal

An online version of Graham Sleight's "Yesterday's Tomorrows" from the June 2006 issue of Locus has been posted online. Sleight looks at two classic novels by Alfred Bester: The Demolished Man and The Stars My Destination.
I recently read The Stars My Destination. This, my friends, is the differene difference between a professional review and an amateur review. (That and running a spell check.)
There are books you admire and books you love. Ulysses is easy to admire; Pride and Prejudice is easy to love. I think that when you love a book, it's almost always because of voice, because you want to know the person telling you the story. These two novels by Bester are both admired and loved in the SF field, I think rightly. Re-reading them as an adult is, inevitably, not the same as when you first encounter them (as almost everyone seems to have) at the age of 14. But Bester's ceaseless tug of story remains unstoppable, a force of nature; and unlike with many books, you can see that he had reasons to write these two. They weren't just stopping-posts or contractual obligations partway through a career. You sense, more than anything, how thrilling it would have been to know the man who wrote them at the time he wrote them. Streamers and confetti burst from him, still.
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| Posted by John on Wednesday January 31, 2007 - 12:18 AM
| Category: Books
| © 2007 SF Signal
Abe Books has announced new Science Fiction and Fantasy book rooms which focus on their respective genres. The rooms offer a link to this interesting list. Check the page for details about each volume.
The Most Expensive Science Fiction & Fantasy Books Sold by AbeBooks in 2006
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| Posted by John on Wednesday January 31, 2007 - 12:12 AM
| Category: Books
| © 2007 SF Signal

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| Posted by John on Wednesday January 31, 2007 - 12:03 AM
| Category: Tidbits
| © 2007 SF Signal
REVIEW SUMMARY: How can you not watch Elvis and JFK fight a mummy?
MY RATING: ![]()
BRIEF SYNOPSIS: Elvis and JFK fight a soul-eating Egyptian mummy in a nursing home.
MY REVIEW:
PROS: Campbell as Elvis; witty dialog; social commentary on the elderly gives the story some depth;
CONS: Stretches some limits of believability, but only if you look at this as a horror film.
BOTTOM LINE: A quiet, subtly insightful drama. With a mummy.
Back when I was a teenager, I subconsciously swore off horror movies. This was around the umpteenth version of A Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th and other horror movies. Worse, some movies (My Boyfriend is a Psychotic Mutilator with a Hook for a Hand Who Lives in a Secluded Forest Preying on Horny Teenagers, or some such) seemed to be more about the gore than the scare. At any rate, I generally lost interest in horror movies or, more accurately, a horror movie had to offer something extra to pique my interest. (Like Shaun of the Dead.)
So I missed Bubba Ho-Tepยทยทยทยท when it was released in 2002. No mere horror movie was enough to drag me to a movie theater. But the idea of a Bruce Campbell as Elvis fighting a mummy did sound interesting and I thought I'd just check it out on DVD. Years went by and I still hadn't seen it. Recently, a cable movie channel aired a late-night showing of it and I figured I'd at least record it and watch it later. Finally I'd be able to put this puppy to bed.
Bubba Ho-Tep is based on a short story native Texan Joe R. Lansdale. The setting for this low-key film is a nursing home in east Texas where the real Elvis now resides. Yep, Elvis. It turns out that Elvis, tired of his fame and seeking some peace, had switched places with an Elvis impersonator shortly before the impersonator dies of the famed overdose. Now the real Elvis lives in the nursing home after suffering a hip injury from an unplanned stage-dive. Nobody believes he is the real Elvis, thinking they are hearing the delusions of an aged Elvis impersonator. Nobody except another resident named Jack (black actor Ossie Davis). Jack thinks he's JFK, who was sequestered away after his assassination "attempt" after having his skin dyed. Even "Elvis" rolls his eyes at that one. Life is quiet at the nursing home until an en-route museum exhibit falls into the lake near the nursing home. The exhibit happens to be an Egyptian mummy, now resurrected, who feeds on the souls of the people at the nursing home. That is, at least until Elvis and JFK decide to team up and kick some Egyptian mummy a$$.
Despite this far-out horror-like premise, Bubba Ho-Tep is not really a horror movie. Nor is it a comedy despite some humorous moments. If either of those is what you're looking for, reset your expectations and watch this movie. It's a well-acted, well-scripted drama that just happens to have Elvis, JFK and a mummy. The film subtly shows the plight of the aged - forgotten or ignored by the young and nothing to look forward to except their turn with the Grim Reaper. This is not the kind of thoughtful commentary you'd get from some cheap horror flick, is it?
The one thing I wondered going in was how Bruce Campbell was going to do as Elvis. Campbell makes an excellent Elvis, thank you. He wonderfully captures the voice, the looks (minus a few too-obvious make-up jobs) and the stage mannerisms of Elvis. Some final scenes that show Campbell using his Elvis arm-windmill move as some sort of Karate maneuver were funny. Note that it really doesn't matter if the character is really Elvis or deluded impersonator Sebastian Haff; that's not the point. The point is that the character is an elderly man with not much left to live for who finds reason to do so by becoming the self-appointed hero of his fellow residents. Ossie Davis also does a good turn as the wheelchair-bound JFK character. Both characters are endearing in their own way; Elvis in his curmudgeon-iness and JFK for his level-headed examination of Egyptian lore and spunk. They are characters you root for. Given their physical limitations, though, just don't expect a superhuman mummy as the bad guy. Besides, do you know how embarrassing it would be to break a hip when you're fighting a mummy?
See also: Kevin's review.
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| Posted by John on Tuesday January 30, 2007 - 12:21 AM
| Category: Movies
| © 2007 SF Signal

REVIEW SUMMARY: Continuing the quality of effort from the previous book, Birmingham delivers on a quality ending to a complicated trilogy.
MY RATING: ![]()
BRIEF SYNOPSIS: The task force from the future introduced in the work Weapons of Choice, continues to deal with the impact of its arrival and, most importantly, the continuation of the fight against Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. The politics of nations takes center stage here as the planet deals with the new ending to WW2 and the significantly different history of the Soviet Union.
MY REVIEW:
PROS: Excellent thoughts on the behavior of Stalin, Yamamoto, Roosevelt, and others when confronted with the major changes in the world brought about by the technology of the future.
CONS: Perhaps a bit gratuitous in parts - but war is hell.
BOTTOM LINE: The final 2 books in this trilogy make it overall very solid and worth your time if you are interested in military fiction of this type.
I particularly enjoyed seeing how Birmingham has grown as a writer during this series. His characters go through a tremendous transformation from the first to the last book. For example, the character of Julia Duffy who was once just a 'tough bitch' of a reporter, opens up into a multi-dimensional persona involving regret, revenge, love, and other passions that make the character feel a lot more human. The black marine Colonel who struggles with the 40's racial tensions in the first book by just lashing out, is actively working to understand how he can change the system by the third. The same is true with others - they generally move away from stereotypes and into characters I actually saw as people (even if I wouldn't have them all over for dinner.)
His fictional changes to history and science are generally well thought out and plausible. The idea of a widely networked force (and the dependence on that network) is very in line with the US military of today and its near future. His culture shocks seem real and intelligent - the struggle with 1940's America's thinking on women and race seems real and reasonable. Some have challenged Birmingham for portraying the Allies as barely better than the Axis because of their prejudices. I fear those folks didn't realize how backward the US and other countries were at the time, and how far we've come.
Birmingham has given himself the ability to continue this story line if he wishes - the world he leaves us with is very different than that of the 1945 we're familiar with. Not only is the map different with the USSR in control of parts of western Europe, but the main characters all seem set for different roles (some in politics, some in the private sector.) I'd be interested in reading more fiction set in this world, however his characters have definately seem to have run their course (at least in their current roles.)
Note: this book was sent to me by the publisher to review.
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| Posted by scottsh on Tuesday January 30, 2007 - 12:15 AM
| Category: Book Review
| © 2007 SF Signal

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| Posted by John on Tuesday January 30, 2007 - 12:02 AM
| Category: Tidbits
| © 2007 SF Signal
From the Nevada Appeal:
Fantasy writer David Eddings, 75, said he was using water to flush out the gas tank of his broken-down Excalibur sports car, when some fluid leaked. In a lapse of judgment he readily admitted, Eddings lit a piece of paper and threw into the puddle to test if it was still flammable. The answer came in an orange torrent.[via Eternal Golden Braid]
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| Posted by John on Monday January 29, 2007 - 1:02 PM
| Category: Books
| © 2007 SF Signal

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| Posted by John on Monday January 29, 2007 - 12:05 AM
| Category: Tidbits
| © 2007 SF Signal
| (119 total votes) |
"I simply can't pick a favorite. Least favorite is A Feast For Crows, but only because I would have rather waited for the whole damn' book instead of getting half the story lines and having to wait at least as long again as for the second half. But I do understand Martin's desire to get _something_ in the readers' hands before fannish hit men began stalking him." - Tim MorrisBe sure to vote in this week's poll on Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels!
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| Posted by John on Monday January 29, 2007 - 12:00 AM
| Category: Polls
| © 2007 SF Signal
A new science fiction series and mobile video game called Ice Planet are only in co-development, but already has an "Unofficial" fan site. (Read: Official fan site meant to generate buzz.) Ice Planet, to be shot in High Definition video, involves aliens, alien artifacts and Armageddon and stars everyone's favorite bad guy, Michael Ironside (Scanners, Total Recall).
The series marks the second time a science fiction series will be shot in HD. (The first was The 4400.) This is good news. If anything deserves to be shot in high definition, it's science fiction. At least since Baywatch went off the air. Additionally, the producers plan to shoot the show as a five-season story arc.
More info on the story line comes from a press release:
Rear Admiral Noah Trager (Michael Ironside) leads an international team of military and scientific personnel in the recovery of an ancient alien artifact. This sentient alien structure seems to draw on the memories of its human explorers as it grows.[via Hollywood North Report]Trager, who dotes on his 10 year old daughter, must also contend with another mystery in his life, the unsolved murder of his wife. This is his obsession.
As they explore the artefact, Earth is devastated by a massive asteroid strike. At that very moment, the Artifact rips Trager and his crew through space-time to a mysterious Ice Planet at the edge of an ancient galaxy. Their only shelter is the damaged alien vessel.
The survivors soon discover that they have been dropped in the midst of an ancient alien war. They must now face a journey of evolution and self-discovery in order to fulfill their destinies.
The battle often plays out as personal challenges that originate from the past of the survivors themselves. Cyphers of the dead will haunt our crew such as the replicant of Trager's daughter - through which the aliens communicate. It cannot be her, but she seems real, and a force of great danger and great hope.
These are the survivors' stories
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| Posted by John on Sunday January 28, 2007 - 12:12 AM
| Category: Games, TV
| © 2007 SF Signal

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| Posted by John on Sunday January 28, 2007 - 12:04 AM
| Category: Tidbits
| © 2007 SF Signal
Talking Squid is reporting (via Jonathan Strahan) that the winners of the 2006 Aurealis Awards are as follows:
GOLDEN AUREALIS
NOVEL: The Pilo Family Circus by Will Elliott
SHORT STORY: "The Arrival" by Shaun Tan
SCIENCE FICTION
NOVEL: K-Machines by Damien Broderick
SHORT STORY: "The Seventh Letter" by Sean Williams
HORROR
NOVEL (split): The Pilo Family Circus by Will Elliott and Prismatic by Edwina Grey
SHORT STORY: "Dead of Winter", Stephen Dedman
FANTASY
NOVEL: Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier
SHORT STORY: "A Fine Magic" by Margo Lanagan
YOUNG ADULT
NOVEL: Monster Blood Tattoo: Book One. Foundling by D.M. Cornish
SHORT STORY: "The Arrival" by Shaun Tan
CHILDREN'S
NOVEL: Melissa Queen of Evil by Mardi McConnochie
SHORT FICTION (split): "The True Story of Mary Who Wanted to Stand on Her Head" by Jane Godwin and "Woolvs in the Sitee" by Margaret Wild and Anne Spudvilas
See also: this year's nominees and past winners.
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| Posted by John on Saturday January 27, 2007 - 10:26 PM
| Category: Awards
| © 2007 SF Signal
As mentioned last year, Prime Books is publishing a new annual anthology called Best American Fantasy guest-edited by Ann & Jeff VanderMeer with Matthew Cheney serving as series editor.
This week, Jeff VanderMeer offers up some more information. Initial story selections have been made and stories will be included by Elizabeth Hand, Kelly Link, Peter LaSalle, Brian Evenson, Sarah Monette and 20+ others.
We'll know more when the table of contents is finalized.
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| Posted by John on Saturday January 27, 2007 - 10:24 AM
| Category: Books
| © 2007 SF Signal
Issue #7 of Farmerphile: The Magazine of Philip José Farmer is now available with these offerings:
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| Posted by John on Saturday January 27, 2007 - 9:59 AM
| Category: Web Sites
| © 2007 SF Signal
Gardner Dozois has posted the table of contents for his annual Year's Best anthology:
The Year's Best Science Fiction, Twenty-Fourth Annual Collection
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| Posted by John on Friday January 26, 2007 - 12:16 AM
| Category: Books
| © 2007 SF Signal
Rich Horton has released the tables of contents for the three anthologies he's working on for Prime Books.
Science Fiction: The Best of the Year 2007 Edition
Fantasy: The Best of the Year 2007 Edition
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| Posted by John on Friday January 26, 2007 - 12:12 AM
| Category: Books
| © 2007 SF Signal

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| Posted by John on Friday January 26, 2007 - 12:05 AM
| Category: Tidbits
| © 2007 SF Signal