Earthling Publications 19th Annual Halloween Volume

 

Now Available for Preorder:

Our 19th Annual Halloween Series Book!

Order FAMILY Here!

The debut novel from Ian Rogers, who Sam Raimi calls "a fantastic storyteller of horror." Introduction by S. P. Miskowski; dustjacket and interior artwork by Chris Nurse. 500 numbered, offset printed, Smyth-sewn, cloth-covered hardcovers, signed by the author. "A haunted house story with a twist that keeps on twisting until it wrings the blood out of its subjects." –David Demchuk "A little bit POLTERGEIST, a little bit US, a lot of HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE. Not for the faint of heart." –Glen Hirshberg RESERVE YOUR COPY NOW! Note: I'm happy to match your number for last year's MIDAS – email me at earthlingpub@yahoo.com after purchasing your copy.

 

SARAFINA by Philip Fracassi

 

SARAFINA by Philip Fracassi, Earthling Publications, Signed Limited, $85, September 2024 release.

For those of you who have read Fracassi's Boys in the Valley, be prepared to continue on an adventure of a very talented author as he continues to amaze and entrance readers. This volume will only add to his reader base.

The year is 1862, the place is the battle of Shiloh - one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War, and the youngest of three brothers is hoping to survive long enough to see his brothers again. After surviving a cannonade, Ethan - the youngest - is discovered by his older brothers - Mason and Archie - and they decide to desert and return home.

During their trip home, they must out-think the Union Army, out-run the Homeland Guard, and not die from hunger. In their escape, they have to cross a dismal swamp. On the far side, Ethan discovers a clear, untainted stream, a fruit bearing orchard, and a young boy who waves to him.

The brothers are invited into the home of Titus, the young boy, and Sarafina along with her large protecting dogs. Archie, who is almost at death from a bullet wound, is treated by Sarafina and the brothers are treated as guests and fed well. Mason and Ethan do chores to help around the house as Archie mends.

As Ethan tries to learn as much as he can about their surroundings, Archie takes a turn for the worse and Ethan vows to Sarafina he will do anything for Archie not to die; he soon discovers that death might have been better.

This is a story of magic and as Fracassi spins his web over the reader, the magic comes alive and the writing is crisp and enthralling. He has the talent to make you want to keep reading until suddenly it's 2:00am and you have to finish the last ten pages before you can go to bed. But you might not fall asleep, or if you do, there are strange dreams awaiting you.

I found this to be a very enjoyable read and engaging and on a higher level than Boys in the Valley; Fracassi has grown as a writer, and I as a reader am very happy and impressed. He is definitely on pace to become one of the top writers in the field. He is definitely on my Must Read list.

Pick this up while it is still available from earthlingpub.com. You won't regret it.

 

Reprinted from File 770

 

Last Dangerous Visions Table of Contents

Posted on July 1, 2024 by Mike Glyer, Copyright 2024

Advance reading copies of Harlan Ellison’s The Last Dangerous Visions anthology are going out and book marketing platform Edelweiss has posted screenshots of the table of contents:

The book goes on sale October 1, 2024 from Blackstone Publishers. The marketing copy says:

An anthology more than half a century in the making, The Last Dangerous Visions is the third and final installment of the legendary science fiction anthology series.

In 1973 celebrated writer and editor Harlan Ellison announced the third and final volume of his unprecedented anthology series, which began with Dangerous Visions and continued with Again, Dangerous Visions. But for reasons undisclosed, The Last Dangerous Visions was never completed.

Now, six years after Ellison’s passing, science fiction’s most famous unpublished book is here. And with it, the heartbreaking true story of the troubled genius behind it.

Provocative and controversial, socially conscious and politically charged, wildly imaginative yet deeply grounded, the thirty-two never-before-published stories, essays, and poems in The Last Dangerous Visions stand as a testament to Ellison’s lifelong pursuit of art, uniting a diverse range of science fiction writers both famous and newly minted, including Max Brooks, Edward Bryant, Cecil Castellucci, James S. A. Corey, Howard Fast, Patricia Hodgell, Dan Simmons, Robert Sheckley, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Mildred Downey Broxon, and Cory Doctorow, among others.

The historic publication of The Last Dangerous Visions completes the long-awaited final chapter in an incredible literary legacy.

J. Michael Straczynski’s vision for The Last Dangerous Visions set in 2021 explains the book that now exists:

…There was no one thing that stands as Harlan’s version of TLDV. It never existed because it was always in a state of flux. It was going to be whatever it was on the day when he finally finished with it. THAT was to be TLDV, not something frozen in amber that only reflected the70s. Which is why he continued buying stories all through the 80s and into the 90s (including from folks like Stephen Dedman) because he saw the book as a living document that would have to grow and change to stay relevant with changing times. It wasn’t supposed to be static until it actually came out…and he was the first to say that some stories would have to be trimmed to make room for ones that were more current.

Further to the point: no publisher in their right mind is going to put out a 700,000 word anthology that follows on books that came out in the 70s. The risk is too great. A reasonable sized book, yes. A behemoth, no. And the whole point of the exercise is to put the work of the best of the original DV writers, and those new voices Harlan wanted to continue to see, out where the mainstream world could see it…not as a limited edition sold to the already-faithful, not as an Ebook or a print-on-demand…but something to be published from a major company that would receive the kind of critical attention in the press that these stories and Harlan’s work deserve….

To carry out his vision Straczysnki pursued new stories by contemporary and marketable authors. James S. A. Corey, Max Brooks, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Cecil Castellucci and Cory Doctorow are in the new book. There is also a story by Kayo Hartenbaum, the winner of a competition Straczynski ran to fill one slot.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST. That said, fans still want to know how the Blackstone anthology resembles the version Ellison projected in the 1970s?

Locus reported in 1979 that Last Dangerous Visions had been sold to Berkley Books and ran a table of contents listing 113 stories. (However, Ellison would acquire several more in the 1980s.[*])

As of mid-2023, at least forty stories purchased for Last Dangerous Visions have been published elsewhere (Wikipedia list).

The Blackstone anthology contains 13 stories that definitely were on the 1979 table of contents. Whether to count two more authors’ work is unclear. D.M. Rowles, who has eight “Intermezzos” in the Blackstone version had a single story by another title on the 1979 table of contents. Also, Howard Fast had a story announced in 1979 but the one in Blackstone has a different title [**]. Fast died in 2003, so whether or not it’s the same story, it would not be one of those commissioned by Straczysnki.  

The following titles in red from Blackstone’s table of contents were on the list announced in 1979:

Last Dangerous Visions – stories per digital ARC:

• “Assignment No. 1” by Stephen Robinett
• “Hunger” by Max Brooks
• “Intermezzo 1: Broken, Beautiful Body on Beach” by D. M. Rowles
• “None So Deaf” by Richard E. Peck
• “War Stories” by Edward Bryant
• “Intermezzo 2: Bedtime Story” by D. M. Rowles
• “The Great Forest Lawn Clearance Sale—Hurry, Last Days!!” by Stephen Dedman  [*]
• “Intermezzo 3: Even Beyond Olympus” by D. M. Rowles
• “After Taste” by Cecil Castellucci
• “Leveled Best” by Steve Herbst
• “The Time of the Skin” by A. E. van Vogt
• “Rundown” by John Morressy
• “Intermezzo 4: Elemental” by D. M. Rowles
• “The Weight of a Feather (The Weight of a Heart)” by Cory Doctorow
• “The Malibu Fault” by Jonathan Fast
• “The Size of the Problem” by Howard Fast [**]
• “Intermezzo 5: First Contact” by D. M. Rowles
• “A Night at the Opera” by Robert Wissner
• “Goodbye” by Steven Utley
• “Primordial Follies” by Robert Sheckley
• “Men in White” by David Brin
• “Intermezzo 6: Continuity” by D. M. Rowles
• “The Final Pogrom” by Dan Simmons
• “Intermezzo 7: The Space Behind the Obvious” by D. M. Rowles
• “Falling from Grace” by Ward Moore
• “First Sight” by Adrian Tchaikovsky
• “Intermezzo 8: Proof” by D. M. Rowles
• “Binary System” by Kayo Hartenbaum
• “Dark Threshold” by P. C. Hodgell
• “The Danann Children Laugh” by Mildred Downey Broxon
• “Judas Iscariot Didn’t Kill Himself: A Story in Fragments” by James S. A. Corey

Preorder Now: Barsoom® Saga Books #1–3

 

Tuesday, June 11, 2024 (Tarzana, California) Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc., the company founded by the creator of Tarzan of the Apes® and John Carter of Mars®, is pleased to announce preorders for the first three volumes of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ original Barsoom® Saga in handsome ERB Authorized Library editions, sporting brand-new epic cover art and interior frontispieces by legendary artist Joe Jusko. For a limited time, preorder all three standard hardcover editions and get 20% off, or preorder the new Joe Jusko Legend Editions (see below for more details) from the individual product pages for A Princess of Mars, The Gods of Mars, and The Warlord of Mars. (Please note: The "Buy 3 Books and Get 20% Off" sale does not apply to the Joe Jusko Legend Editions.) Although Mr. Burroughs is best known for creating his world-famous ape-man, he launched his renowned writing career with the serialization of “Under the Moons of Mars” in the pages of The All-Story magazine from February–July 1912, and many fans of his books consider the Barsoom series to be among his finest and most enduring works. “Under the Moons of Mars” was first published in hardcover in 1917 by A. C. McClurg & Co. under the title A Princess of Mars, and was followed by The Gods of Mars and The Warlord of Mars, both of which first appeared in The All-Story in 1913–14. The three novels make up one of the most highly influential and celebrated trilogies in the history of science fiction, and have left a permanent stamp on popular culture, influencing and inspiring the most prominent figures around the world, including Ray Bradbury, Carl Sagan, Jerry Seigel, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and James Cameron, to name just a few. In the words of Ray Bradbury, “Burroughs is probably the most influential writer in the entire history of the world.” Without Edgar Rice Burroughs’ John Carter of Mars, it is doubtful that Superman, Star Wars, or Avatar would exist for audiences to enjoy, at least not in their recognizable forms. These stunning hardcover editions feature gorgeous new cover art and frontispieces by Joe Jusko; forewords by venerated fantasy author and SFWA Grand Master Michael Moorcock (Elric, Hawkmoon, The Eternal Champion), bestselling science fiction and fantasy author Kevin J. Anderson (Dune, Star Wars, The X-Files), and NASA astronaut Terrence W. Wilcutt (veteran of four Space Shuttle missions); afterwords by noted ERB scholar Henry G. Franke III; and a bounty of rare and previously unpublished archival materials. The first three volumes of the Barsoom Saga are expected to ship Early Fall 2024. Buy All Three Books and Get 20% Off!* For a limited time, buy all three standard hardcover editions of A Princess of Mars, The Gods of Mars, and The Warlord of Mars and get 20%! Just click here to take advantage of this special offer. * This special discount does not apply to the Joe Jusko Legend Editions. Standard Hardcover Edition Dust Jacket Announcing the Joe Jusko Legend Edition We have had a lot of requests to offer Collector’s Editions of our ERB Authorized Library titles, and we’re listening! Beginning with the Barsoom Saga books #1–3, we will be offering a special Joe Jusko Legend Edition for each title in the ERB Authorized Library. Each Joe Jusko Legend Edition will be limited to only 300 copies and will feature: A dust jacket highlighting the virgin cover art (no text will be printed over the artwork) Wraparound illustrated exterior boards A collectible Joe Jusko Legend Edition trading card featuring the book’s cover art by Joe Jusko A bookplate signed by renowned fantasy artist Joe Jusko, along with a facsimile signature of Edgar Rice Burroughs Joe Jusko Legend Edition Dust Jacket with Virgin Artwork Joe Jusko Legend Edition Illustrated Exterior Boards Joe Jusko Legend Edition Trading Card And in case you’re wondering if you’ll miss out on the archival photographs of Edgar Rice Burroughs that appear on the rear dust jackets of our standard hardcover ERB Authorized Library editions, there’s no need to worry! We will be printing each photograph on an interior page of the respective Joe Jusko Legend Edition volume. How to Purchase the Joe Jusko Legend Editions: To purchase the Joe Jusko Legend Editions, simply visit the product page for each book (A Princess of Mars, The Gods of Mars, and The Warlord of Mars), under “Format” select the option for “Hardcover Joe Jusko Legend Edition” from the drop-down menu, and add the item to your cart. Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library™ The Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library presents for the first time ever the complete literary works of the Master of Adventure in uniform hardcover editions. Published by the company founded by Mr. Burroughs in 1923, each volume of the Authorized Library is packed with extras and rarities not to be found in any other edition. From cover art and frontispieces by legendary artist Joe Jusko to forewords and afterwords by today’s authorities and luminaries to a treasure trove of bonus materials mined from the company’s extensive archives in Tarzana, California, the Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library will take you on a journey of wonder and imagination you will never forget. About Edgar Rice Burroughs: Master of Adventure™ The creator of the immortal characters Tarzan of the Apes® and John Carter of Mars®, Edgar Rice Burroughs is one of the world’s most popular authors. Mr. Burroughs’ timeless tales of heroes and heroines transport readers from the jungles of Africa and the dead sea bottoms of Barsoom® to the miles-high forests of Amtor™ and the savage inner world of Pellucidar®, and even to alien civilizations Beyond the Farthest Star™. Mr. Burroughs’ books are estimated to have sold hundreds of millions of copies, and they have spawned 60 films and 250 television episodes. About Joe Jusko: Visionary Artist Joe Jusko is among today’s most acclaimed fantasy, pin-up, and comic artists. His work has been featured on book and comic posters, and on the much-praised 1992 Marvel Masterpieces trading cards. Jusko is a recipient of myriad industry honors, including a Certificate of Merit from the Society of Illustrators and a 2001 Chesley Award nomination. Fittingly, he was born on September 1, sharing his birthday with Edgar Rice Burroughs. Jusko’s longtime love of Burroughs’ work continues to inspire him in illustrating the Authorized Library and bringing the author’s creative vision to life. Copyright © Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Trademarks including Edgar Rice Burroughs®, Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library™, ERB Authorized Library™, John Carter®, John Carter of Mars®, A Princess of Mars®, Barsoom®, Tarzan®, Tarzan of the Apes®, Lord of the Jungle®, Pellucidar®, Amtor™, Beyond the Farthest Star™, and Master of Adventure™ owned by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. All logos, characters, names, and the distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks or registered trademarks of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. Best Regards, The Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc., Team James Sullos / President   Cathy Wilbanks / Vice President of Operations Christopher Paul Carey / Vice President of Publishing Charlotte Wilbanks / Operations Manager PO Box 570277 | Tarzana CA 91357 | 818.344.0181 www.edgarriceburroughs.com © 2024 Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. PO Box 570277 Tarzana, CA 91357 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? 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L. Ron Hubbard Presents WRITERS OF THE FUTURE, Vol 40

 

L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future VOLUME 40, Edited by Jody Lynn Nye, $22.95, also available for Kindle and Audiobook, Galaxy Press, May 2024.

This year I decided to try something different with this years annual volume of the best new WOTF volume. I have been driving to Atlanta a lot for VA appointments and picked up the Audiobook to keep me company.

This is a multi-cast recording and it keeps the audio interesting as the stories flow from one to the other and the different readers add a voice to the story that you would not necessarily find in the reading of the stories.

“ Life and Death and Love in the Bayou” by Stephannie Tallent is one of my favorites of this years crop of new writers. A young girl who thinks of herself as a witch goes into the swamp to create a spell to protect her mother from a violent suitor. It is a well done story with a very descriptive attention paid to the landscape of the bayou.

“Da-ko-ta” by Amir Agoora combines the story of a young Native American taken from his tribe to be educated by his captors and befriended by President Teddy Roosevelt. Roosevelt's interest in the native story of the Wedigo, the boys knowledge of the legend, and a hunting trip add up to a very interesting story.

"The Wall Isn’t a Circle” by Rosalyn Robilliard is a novel tale of time travel. Now there is an app that lets you travel back in time and witness history through the eyes Henry the VIII or Genghis Khan or whomever you can think of. It is also the story of a young lawyer trying to prove her worth in finding the information to resolve another case.

There is plenty here to fill the needs of every type of reader. also included are stories by L. Ron Hubbard, Nancy Kress, and S.M. Stirling (his story based on the cover art). Also included are essays on writing and illustration by Gregory Benford, Bob Eggleton, L. Ron Hubbard, and Dean Wesley Smith.

As it has been over the last 39 volumes, this years anthology is filled with a very interesting variety of stories from various genres that will entertain and some to make you pause and think. Others will make you grin and snicker.

If you do a lot of traveling, go with the Audiobook for a different experience.

 








 

BLOODSTAINED NEVERLAND available for Pre-order

 

• Earthling Publications Newsletter The final book in the BLOODSTAINED trilogy is now available to pre-order! Click to RESERVE my copy of NEVERLAND It's the Summer Of Love and there's something in the air. Children are coming from the skies, carried on wooden ships and broken dreams. The vampires aren't done with Gayle; they've only just begun. The Emerald Heart of Oz isn't the only source of mystical power in the world, but the Wizard of Oz still wants it and he'll have it regardless of the cost. San Francisco is the final battlefield between innocence and violence, and blood will flow and be consumed as Lost Boys, mermaids, and stranger things gather in a final conflict to seize the power to change this world and realms beyond our imagination. 500 numbered, Smyth-sewn hardcovers, signed by Chris Golden, Jim Moore (facsimile signature), and Glenn Chadbourne, $40 If you want a specific number to match your copy of BLOODSTAINED WONDERLAND, please email me directly at earthlingpub@yahoo.com after you order. Click to RESERVE my copy of NEVERLAND Note: please do not reply to this email; to reach me, please email me at: earthlingpub@yahoo.com Thanks and all the best, Paul Miller, Publisher