YA Hypermodern Collectible: I Am Number Four

Published August 3rd, 2010 in the U.S. and August 26th, 2010 in the U.K., I Am Number Four quickly sold out of first run prints. Of course, it didn't hurt that Steven Spielberg is already filming the movie (due out in February 2011).


Written by Pittacus Lore (a.k.a. James Frey of A Million Little Pieces fame) whom the books states is "a Loric Elder, from the Planet Lorien, which is three hundred million miles away. He is approximately ten thousand years old. He has been to earth hundreds of times, and he is here now."


Oddly enough, this title was also released in an "Adult version" and a "Young Adult version."

Product Description: In the beginning we were nine. We left when we were very young, almost too young to remember. Almost. And now . . . Three are gone. We are here to keep our race alive, which was almost entirely obliterated. We’re just trying to survive. Six are left. But we are hunted, and the hunters won’t stop until they’ve killed us all. They caught Number One in Malaysia. Number Two in England. And Number Three in Kenya. I am Number Four. I know that I am next.

• A limited edition of 500 (with slipcase) was published by Michael Joseph/Penguin, London, 2010.  Those copies are listing for $100+ at AbeBooks.com.
• Advanced Reading Copies/Uncorrected Proofs of this title are listing for $90ish.
• First U.K. editions are listing for $65 (unsigned).
• Unfortunately, I've not been able to find any U.S. first editions listed.

I Am Number Four, Pittacus Lore

• Reading level: Young Adult

• Hardcover: 448 pages

• U.S. Publisher: Harper; First edition (August 3, 2010)

• U.K. Publisher (Adult version): 

Michael Joseph (August 26, 2010)

U.K. Publisher (Young Adult version): Puffin (August 26, 2010)

slip case

Limited edition

Adult U.K. edition

Young Adult U.K. edition

Hypermodern Collectible Book of the Week: The Windup Girl

The Windup Girl, Paolo Bacigalupi
Hardcover: 361 pages
Publisher: Night Shade Books; 1st edition (September 15, 2009)


I realize it's a bit late in the game to introduce this title as a Book of the Week, but it's an important title for collectors - especially Sci-Fi & Fantasy collectors.  This is Bacigalupi's first novel and winner of the Hugo, Nebula, & Locus awards. The first print run for this title was only 5,000 copies, so if you managed to lay your hands on a first edition you lucked into quite an investment.


Where copies can be found online:

• There are four copies currently listed at AbeBooks.com, none for less than $600 (three of which are signed). An interesting note on one of the listings states, "Point of issue: this true first printing lacks the Acknowledgment Page of subsequent printings."
• There is a signed 2d printing available at Amazon.com for $125, and an unsigned first printing for $685.  I'm not certain how many books were published in the second printing, but a signed copy of an early edition might well be worth the $125 price tag.
• eBay will occasionally have listings, currently (& unbelievably) there is a set of first edition/first printings of The Windup Girl AND The City & the City being auctioned for the 'buy it now' price of $319.95! I don't normally trust eBay, but this is enticing enough that even I may jump into the ring. Even at the total cost, The Windup Girl alone would double your investment. The City & the City, will eventually be a good investment, although you can still find unsigned first printings for less than $50 (signed editions of that title currently list for $85 - $120). *note, if you're new to eBay, do your research before you bid*

And on a similar note:
Two days ago, I posted that Subterranean Press is offering a signed limited edition of Paolo Bacigalupi's novella The Alchemist, to be published January 2011.  If $300+ is a bit too rich for your pocket book, you might be interested in this offering for $45 for the leather-bound, signed limited edition (already sold out, sorry), or $20 for the cloth bound (unsigned) limited edition.

World Fantasy Awards Shortlist, What's Collectible?

Earlier last month, the World Fantasy Awards ballot was released, revealing the shortlist for best Fantasy novel. I thought it would be good to expound upon my earlier post and go over the collectibility of these authors & titles.


Blood of Ambrose, James Enge (Pyr, 2008; paperback)

James Enge is the author of three books: Blood of Ambrose (2009), This Crooked Way (2009), and The Wolf Age (released Oct. 2010). Blood of Ambrose has gotten mixed reviews and first editions are listing for less than $20 on Abebooks.com. Still, fans seem to quite enjoy his work.  You can visit his blog here.

The Red Tree, Caitlín R. Kiernan (Roc/Penguin Putnam, 2009)

Kiernan is the author of eight novels and numerous short stories. She has been nominated for the World Fantasy and Locus awards (among others) numerous times. She is also frequently featured among Subterranean Press's limited edition prints. Her signed first editions list on average in the $250+ range. Unsigned editions usually run in the $50 range. I would list her as a definite collectible author. Visit her Web site here.

The City & The City, China Miéville (Macmillan UK/ Del Rey)

Miéville is a Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, & Locus award winner & nominee (to name a few). He as written nine novels/novellas and numerous short stories. The City & The City won the 2010 Hugo award. Signed first editions of this book list in the $100 - $200 range. Unsigned first editions of his second novel, Perdido Street Station (Mcmillian, London, 2000) list in the $300 range. I would list him as a highly collectible author. You can visit his Web site here.

Finch, Jeff VanderMeer (Underland, Portland, 2009)

VanderMeer is the author of six novels and two non-fiction books. He won the 2000 World Fantasy awards for The Transformation of Martin Lake. Signed first editions of Finch are listing for between $60 - $100. Signed editions of some of his other titles list between $100 - $200. Unsigned editions of his books list for around the cover price. Even so, I would list this author as collectible with the emphasis on acquiring his signed works. You can visit his Web site here.

In Great Waters, Kit Whitfield (Jonathan Cape UK/Del Rey, 2008/2009)

This is Whitfield's second novel. Her first, titled Bareback in the U.K. and Benighted in the U.S., is currently being adapted as a film. Signed firsts of In Great Waters are listing for $40 on Abebooks.com, with unsigned editions listing at around the cover price. Signed firsts of Bareback list in the $90+ range, while unsigned editions list around $45. Because Whitfield is a new writer and this is only her second novel, I would highly suggest finding first edition/first printings of both of her books. You can visit her blog here.

The full ballot for the World Fantasy Awards can be found here [PDF]. Winners will be announced Sunday October 31, 2010.

Subterranean to Print Signed Limited Edition Bacigalupi Novella

Paolo Bacigalupi, Nebula and Hugo award winning author, will be publishing a novella, titled The Alchemist, with Subterranean Press - to be out in January. 300 leather bound, signed limited edition copies are available through the Subterranean Press Web site (for $45 each). Also available is the cloth bound (not so limited) edition for $20. 


This will be Bacigalupi's fourth published book behind Pump Six (short stories), Windup Girl (Locus, Hugo, & Nebula award winner), and Ship Breaker (his first Young Adult book). 

Synopsis: Magic has a price. But someone else will pay.

Every time a spell is cast, a bit of bramble sprouts, sending up tangling vines, bloody thorns, and threatening a poisonous sleep. It sprouts in tilled fields and in neighbors’ roof beams, thrusts up from between street cobbles, and bursts forth from sacks of powdered spice. A bit of magic, and bramble follows. A little at first, and then more— until whole cities are dragged down under tangling vines and empires lie dead, ruins choked by bramble forest. Monuments to people who loved magic too much.

• First editions of Windup Girl list for $350 (unsigned) to $1300+ (signed); 
• First edtions of Pump Six list for $200 - $250 (unsigned) 
• First edtions of Ship Breaker list for $30+ (unsigned) to $60+ (signed);

Considering this is a limited edition and his signed editions sell for $200 and up (excluding Ship Breaker), $45 (if you have it) is a no brainer. If not, even the $20 Cloth bound edition will most likely double in price. AND, at the very least, you'll have a new story by an excellent (new) writer.


Subterranean also has a slew of projects on the horizon. Things to keep your eyes peeled for:

The following titles will be published by Subterranean Press in the near future:

• THE COLLECTED STORIES OF PHILIP K. DICK, VOLUME ONE: THE KING OF THE ELVES
• THE WOLF'S HOUR by Robert McCammon
• HELLCATS AND HONEYGIRLS by Lawrence Block and Donald E. Westlake
• THE BEST OF LARRY NIVEN
• THE PALACE AT MIDNIGHT by Robert Silverberg
• DEADMAN'S ROAD by Joe R. Lansdale
• THE NEUTRONIUM ALCHEMIST by Peter F. Hamilton
• THE LAST SONG OF ORPHEUS by Robert Silverberg
• THE HORROR STORIES OF ROBERT E. HOWARD
• NELL GWYNNE'S SCARLET SPY by Kage Baker
• STRANGE WONDERS by Fritz Leiber
• KRAKEN by China Mieville
• THE BLADE ITSELF by Joe Abercrombie
• SUMMER MORNING, SUMMER NIGHT by Ray Bradbury
• ZODIAC: AN ECO-THRILLER by Neal Stephenson
• COUNTERFEIT MAGIC by Kelley Armstrong
  
  
  
  

Banned Book Week Begins

I found some amazing statistics over at the American Library Association Web site:

Over the past nine years, American libraries were faced with 4,312 challenges.

• 1,413 challenges due to “sexually explicit” material;
• 1,125 challenges due to “offensive language”;
• 897challenges due to material deemed “unsuited to age group”;
• 514 challenges due to “violence”
• 344 challenges due to “homosexuality”; 

Further, 109 materials were challenged because they were “anti-family,” and an additional 269 were challenged because of their “religious viewpoints.”

1,502 of these challenges (approximately 34%) were in classrooms; 33% were in school libraries; 23% (or 1,032) took place in public libraries.  There were 100 challenges to college classes; and only 29 to academic libraries.  There are isolated cases of challenges to materials made available in or by prisons, special libraries, community groups, and student groups.  The majority of challenges were initiated by parents (almost exactly 48%), while patrons and administrators followed behind (10% each).

Find out if your favorite book has been banned or challenged by exploring the top ten lists of the 21st century.

Top 10 11 most challenged books this decade: (and a good reading list for Banned Books Week)

1. The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier  [6 years on top 10]
2. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky [5 years on top 10]
3. And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell  [4 years on top 10]
   
4. Alice (series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor  [4 years on top 10]
5. TTYL; TTFN; L8R, G8R (series), by Lauren Myracle  [3 years on top 10]
6. The Catcher in the Rye, by J. D. Salinger  [3 years on top 10]
7. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou [3 years on top 10]
8. Captain Underpants (Series), by Dav Pilkey [3 years on top 10]
9. Harry Potter, by J.K. Rowling  [3 years on top 10]
10. Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Meyers  [3 years on top 10]
11. Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck  [3 years on top 10]

Top 10 most challenged books of 2009:

1. TTYL; TTFN; L8R, G8R (series), by Lauren Myracle
2. And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson 
3. The Perks of Being A Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky  
4. To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee 
5. Twilight (series) by Stephenie Meyer 
6. Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger 
7. My Sister’s Keeper, by Jodi Picoult 
8. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things, by Carolyn Mackler 
9. The Color Purple, Alice Walker 
10. The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier 

2008:

1. And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell 
2. His Dark Materials trilogy, by Philip Pullman 
3. TTYL; TTFN; L8R, G8R (series), by Lauren Myracle 
4. Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz 
5. Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya 
6. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky 
7. Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily von Ziegesar 
8. Uncle Bobby's Wedding, by Sarah S. Brannen 
9. The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini 
10. Flashcards of My Life, by Charise Mericle Harper 

2007:

1. And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell 
2. The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier 
3. Olive’s Ocean, by Kevin Henkes 
4. The Golden Compass, by Philip Pullman 
5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain 
6. The Color Purple, by Alice Walker 
7. TTYL, by Lauren Myracle 
8. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou 
9. It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris 
10. The Perks of Being A Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky 

2006: (Toni Morrison made the list twice in one year!)

1. And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell 
2. Gossip Girls (series), by Cecily Von Ziegesar 
3. Alice (series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor 
4. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things, by Carolyn Mackler 
5. The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison 
6. Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz 
7. Athletic Shorts, by Chris Crutcher 
8. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky 
9. Beloved, by Toni Morrison 
10. The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier 

2005: (clearly the year of sex-education & I love that Captain Underpants made the list!)

1. It’s Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health, by Robie H. Harris 
2. Forever, by Judy Blume 
3. The Catcher in the Rye, by J. D. Salinger 
4. The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier 
5. Whale Talk, by Chris Crutcher 
6. Detour for Emmy, by Marilyn Reynolds 
7. What My Mother Doesn’t Know, by Sonya Sones 
8. Captain Underpants (Series), by Dav Pilkey 
9. Crazy Lady!, by Jane Leslie Conly 
10. It’s So Amazing! A Book about Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Families, by Robie H. Harris 

For more lists and statistics on banned or challenged books, and to see why these books were banned, visit the ALA Web site, and challenge yourself to read a banned book.