Until november 1996, no sfbc editions were ever identified as being published by the science fiction book club. Twentyfive more science fiction and fantasy book club. Doubleday and the science fiction book club sfbc have never formally acknowledged their existence. Ill met in lankhmar by fritz leiber is the first known publication to credit the sfbc as the publisher. Far from onedimensional, asimovs interests extended to religion asimovs guide to the bible, literature asimovs guide to shakespeare. You have no friends in the scifi and fantasy ebook club group. Scifi books often abbreviated as sf arent only portals to different worldsall books can do thatbut also timetraveling excursions into the past, allowing us to see how the greatest visionaries of the day imagined the future. The science fiction book club london, united kingdom meetup.
It is the first installment of the dune saga, and in 2003 was cited as the worlds bestselling science fiction novel. A book club copy will always be a book club copy, even though it states first edition. You may use the search feature to view the great science fiction books the science fiction book club has to offer. Science fiction book club editions jedi council forums.
The science fiction book club in particular did a lot in its time to popularize and increase the readership of sciencefiction. The letter indicates the year and the two digits are the week of the year. Sep 24, 2019 even in its modern form, oprahs book club 2. As these books were never available for sale in conventional bookstores. Then from wonderworlds november 1977 a science fiction book club logo appears on the upper front dj of each issue until tin woodmanoctober 1980 when it disappears. Newbies can certainly be forgiven for not automatically recognizing all of the clues. A monthly ya fantasy bookclub that includes quote prints, bookmarks, teas, candles, and more. They do make great reading copies since they are often available used and in good condition. The sciencefiction book club offers two major benefits. Gnome was one of the most eminent of the fan publishers of sf, producing 86 titles in its lifespan many considered classic works of sf and fantasy today. Identifying book club editions one girl collecting. Twentyfive more science fiction and fantasy book club editions, including. Six bulky classics delivered by the science fiction book club. Mystery guild clue in to todays best mysteries, thrillers and true crime books, at a steal.
Other than a few special cases, such as ray bradburys the martian chronicles and isaac asimovs i, robot, they generally cost only a few pounds each, so are very collectable, even for those on a budget. Book clubs frequently neglect to remove edition indicators from the plates before printing their copies. First established in 1953, the sfbc originally offered one title per month, which members received and could return if not wanted. Founded in the early 1950s, the mail order science fiction book club was a godsend for isolated readers like myself. Identifying book club editions book club editions frequently can drive very experienced dealers and collectors to distraction. I was impressed with dawn the first book in the liliths brood or xenogenesis trilogy. The science fiction book club is one of the bestknown resources for science fiction and fantasy books. Science fiction book club books may differ in certain respects from publishers editions. The books were available to the public as well, but members enjoyed a discount off the cover price, and received the fulllength, unabridged version just the same. Welcome to hyraxia books, leading sellers of rare speculative fiction. Currey, a leading authority in science fiction and fantasy bibliography, documents numerous examples of first hardback as well as true first editions from the sfbc science fiction and fantasy authors a bibliography of first printings of their fiction.
Over time, the number of titles offered and the number that could be purchased per month increased by the 1980s, five or six titles were available per month. The bookofthemonth club, fireside book club, history book club, the literary guild, doubleday book club, mystery guild, and science fiction book club, quality paperback book club, money book club, readers digest condensed books, heritage press, and hundreds more. Summer knight and death masks are in wizard by trade. Identifying book club edition books a guide to identify. Dune is a 1965 science fiction novel by american author frank herbert, originally published as two separate serials in analog magazine. The book of the month club is an extremely popular book club with a vast selection of fiction, nonfiction and classics on topics such as biography, business and career, cooking, history, health and fitness, humor, and much more. It tied with roger zelaznys this immortal for the hugo award in 1966, and it won the inaugural nebula award for best novel. Richard mathesons i am legend a field guide to the science. The science fiction book club 1998present at the end 1996 and the first months of 1997, the sfbc sold a series of six novellalength publications called the science fiction book club collection, offering one volume for each selection period. Which some collectors appreciate, as all the books are produced at a uniform trim size, making for a tidy display when shelved together.
Feb 15, 2010 the limited editions club was a book club. Offering incredibly low prices, the science fiction book club selection not only carries all the popular titles and authors, but does so for considerably less than what youd pay in a bookstore or elsewhere on the internet. Ill dive in and share some of the reasons why this was ultimately such a powerful book for many of us in my club. Save over 20% credits will not expire, so you can use them at any time. A book club edition bce or book of the month club edition bomc refers to a book printed by a book club with cheaper materials than the original publishing house, and is generally not worth much to the serious collector. Storm front, fool moon, and grave peril are collected in wizard for hire. Second, some bces are the first appearance of a book in hardback form a common occurrence in the science fiction and mystery genres. We sell and buy hardback first editions, limited editions, manuscripts, archives and proof copies. From time to time, science fiction book club provides its members with special promotional offers.
The science fiction book club edition has been the source of much confusion throughout the years. Library of science go beyond the cutting edge of science. Great science fiction and fantasy books straight to your door every month. The publisher as stated in the book was always the original publisher of the title. We provide a broad range of rare first editions in the fields of science fiction, fantasy and horror weird. Reproduction of book descriptions in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. All promotional offers are subject to specific rules and regulations, which will be clearly explained via a link on the site. Anne mccaffrey science fiction books for sale in stock.
The gutter code is usually a letter followed by two digits. Our client base is wider than the speculative fiction genre, so. Gnome was important in the transitional period between genre sf as a magazine phenomenon and its arrival in mass. There are major differences between the large book club groups, both in the physical quality of the books they distribute and in the manner in which they identify their books. First off, its dated 1954, the year the gold medal paperback original was released, and the publisher is listed as nelson doubleday. In the 1960s, they began publishing hardcover editions of books that had originally been paperback originals. For book collectors, vintage sciencefiction titles hold a special appeal. The good cook savor and save on cookbooks by tv chefs and others, for gourmets and beginners. If you collect books by authors that were active in the 1950s and 60s, you will inevitably encounter editions that were issued by the science fiction book club sfbc.
The science fiction book club or sfbc began publishing in 1953. Book club editions for the most part see the end of this writeup for the exceptions are not of collectible value and cause a lot of confusion for many book collectors. The science fiction book club in particular did a lot in its time to popularize and increase the readership of science fiction. Anne mccaffrey science fiction books for sale in stock ebay. The new series volume and issue numbering first appears with the avatar poul anderson autumn 1980. Exceptions to the rule the science fiction book club, part. He wrote from a scientific perspective both in his nonfiction he penned many essays and articles for periodicals such as the magazine of fantasy and science fiction and his fiction.
The scientific book club was a monthly publication that brought its readers tales from the world of modern science. I read a book way back when i was a kid and want to reread it. Isaac asimovs fascination with science shone clearly in his writing. Gnome press was an american smallpress publishing company primarily known for publishing many science fiction classics. Make offer powers that be petaybee, book 1 science fiction mass market mccaffrey, anne. Sometimes that view was thrilling, as with the youngadult novel enders. In most cases, books released through bookofthemonth club bomc are much nicer than book club editions bce released by the doubleday book clubs. For two good articles on this subject, see the bookthink article on book club editions and the tom folio article on identifying book club editions. The science fiction book club london, united kingdom. If you check the lw curreys science fiction and fantasy authors. Coincidentally or synchronously, if you will when i read this post from woodtek books, i was in the middle of researching this column, in which i present a number of science fiction book club editions all of which have good to excellent resale value. Discussion in literature started by joncrites, sep 9, 2009.
Please note that gutter code is an informal name used by book collectors. The science fiction book club has gathered many of the dresden books into hardcover omnibuses. He wrote from a scientific perspective both in his non fiction he penned many essays and articles for periodicals such as the magazine of fantasy and science fiction and his fiction. In general, book club editions are more cheaply printed than the trade editions. The sfbc is primarily a reprint press, and as a rule the books are not considered collectible except by completists of a particular author. I read it for my science fiction book club, and i have to say that we ended up having some really good discussion about the book. Science fiction book club explore outofthisworld science fiction and fantasy.
Mar 21, 2019 founded in the early 1950s, the mail order science fiction book club was a godsend for isolated readers like myself. Please note we rarely buy paperbacks apart from science fiction fantasy, reprint editions, large coffee table books, readers digest, mills and boon etc as theyre generally not worth much. I remember it was about a man who was taken prisoner and made to learn math the. Also, and more often, they may be in demand as reading copies because collectible paperbacks. Though not first editions, these are sometimes marginally collectible notwithstanding. The science fiction book club offers two major benefits. Leading specialists in science fiction, fantasy, horror, literary first editions, popular fiction and vintage science fiction magazines and pulps. Discover something new to you with our beautiful vintage paperbacks. We are interested in antiquarian rare books or first editions too, but advise that people just contact us. The science fiction book club is a subscriptionbased book club. Many paperback originals pbos exist in hardcover only in a book club edition. The book of the month club is an extremely popular book club with a vast selection of fiction, nonfiction and classics on topics such as biography, business and career, cooking.
Not only did they automatically send out books until actively stopped a. Some book club editions actually are first editions or at least first hardcovers. At first glance, oprahs book club doesnt seem to have much love for scifi and fantasy, favoring. At first glance, oprahs book club doesnt seem to have much love for scifi and fantasy, favoring realistic literary dramas and classics above all else. I know, i know, in the book world the lec is considered a fine press and not a book club. Other than a few special cases, such as ray bradburys the martian chronicles and isaac asimovs i, robot, they generally cost only a few pounds each, so are very collectable, even for those on a. Lucky for you, fiction podcasting is years ahead of your needs, with independent creators crafting science fiction, fantasy, and horror universes in which to set their heartening, actionpacked. Science fiction book club editions are often smaller than the trade hardcovers. In the old days, book clubs were informal gatherings where people got together to discuss a common book they. Of course, theres always the exception to help prove the rule.
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