Catalog 161, R
133. RANKIN, Ian. John Rebus. (NY): Mysterious Press (2007). A 36-page chapbook in which Rankin delves into the making and the mind of the protagonist of his bestselling mystery series, which has now also been the basis for a U.K. television series and a Hollywood movie. Fine in wrappers.
134. (RANKIN, Ian). Criminal Minded. (Edinburgh): Canongate (2000). Rankin provides the introduction to this collection of crime fiction by five other writers: Anthony Bourdain, Jon A. Jackson, James Sallis, Andrew Vachss and Douglas E. Winter. Signed by Rankin. Three of the stories are original publications; the other two had appeared elsewhere previously. Only issued in wrappers; fine.
135. (RANKIN, Ian). "Billy Bone" in Finish This...End of Story. (Glasgow): BBC Scotland (2004). A contest book, printing partial stories by eight authors, issued in an edition of 20,000 copies and hidden about the United Kingdom, where those who found them could finish one of the stories for a chance to become part of a televised writing contest. 17,000 entries were received, which were narrowed to a shortlist of a half dozen stories per author, with the author choosing the best ending to his or her story. The eight authors included are Rankin, Joanne Harris, Alexei Sayle, Sue Townsend, Fay Weldon, Shaun Hutson, Marian Keyes and Ed McBain. Fine in wrappers.
136. (RANKIN, Ian). One City. (Edinburgh): Polygon (2005). Stories by Ian Rankin, Irvine Welsh, and Alexander McCall Smith, based in Edinburgh, Scotland; introduced by J.K. Rowling, who moved to Edinburgh and comments on her life there. A benefit book for Edinburgh's OneCity Trust. Signed by Rankin, Welsh and Smith. Fine in wrappers. Together with a program for a reading by the three; the program is fine in stapled wrappers and is also signed by Smith. For both:
137. RILEY, Stephen T. Archive of Artwork, Fanzines and Correspondence (late 1960s - early 1980s). A substantial archive of work by a young, gifted fantasy artist, who had just begun to appear in the professional magazines and had begun an apprenticeship with a master etcher when he died at a young age. Riley had been a contributor to a number of small fanzines, and editor for a time of two different zines. Included are copies of the zines he edited and others he collected or traded for; original artwork, pasteups and manuscripts for zines he edited; other printed materials and others' original artwork; plus a large body of correspondence related to the zines and to fantasy and science fiction in general. Included in the lot are more than 40 different fanzine titles, many of which do not appear on Locus Magazine's online checklist of "Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Weird Fiction Magazine Index: 1890-2006+." Of these 40+ titles there are over 95 different issues, plus an extensive folder pertaining to artist Kenneth Smith's publication Phantasmagoria, which includes prints, original artwork, PR materials, etc. Some notable highlights include:
- two sketchbooks of Riley's artwork;
- a complete run (Issues 1-9) of Return to Wonder, plus manuscripts and artwork for Return to Wonder #6-9;
- correspondence from authors such as Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, L. Sprague De Camp, Philip Jose Farmer, Norman Rockwell, Ben Bova, and others;
- a 3-page original typescript by science fiction writer Edmond Hamilton, "Look Forward, Look Back," and a copy of the issue of Return to Wonder that was devoted to Hamilton's work, inscribed by Hamilton and by his wife, science fiction author Leigh Brackett;
- a typescript of an original piece by Brackett that was published in RTW about becoming a writer, which mentions her collaboration with William Faulkner on the screenplay of The Big Sleep;
- a large file of correspondence from artist Kenneth Smith, including artwork, photographs, an "Autobiography" typescript and interview typescript;
- a large file of correspondence from Jim Smith, a writer and college roommate of author Stephen King, with many letters, anecdotes, etc., about King as well as short story and poetry typescripts by Smith, 1975-1982 (i.e., preceding King's commercial breakthroughs);
- a large file of correspondence with SF/Fantasy publisher Donald Grant, 1971-1980, including a 33-page corrected typescript of an interview with Riley dated June 26, 1976;
- a file of correspondence with the literary agent and Robert E. Howard scholar Glenn Lord re Robert E. Howard, to whom one issue of Return to Wonder was devoted;
- an extensive file (approximately 120 items) of correspondence from Michael Taylor, co-author and co-editor of Return to Wonder for part of its duration, including a typescript of a co-authored story and a second, extensively corrected typescript.
This is a significant archive that adds to the body of knowledge of 1970s science fiction fanzines; restores and enhances the limited record of one of the fine artists of the genre; and puts the fanzines of that period into historical context. A more detailed inventory is available on request.
138. ROBBINS, Tom. Even Cowgirls Get the Blues. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1976. The uncorrected proof copy of his irrepressible second novel. Exuberantly inscribed by the author to his jeweler. One small spot to flyleaf; fine in wrappers. One of the high spots of the literature that came out of the counterculture of the 1960s and early 1970s, and especially uncommon in proof form and signed.
139. ROCK BOTTOM REMAINDERS. Signed Poster. (n.p.):(n.p.)(n.d.). A limited edition group caricature of the literary band: the Rock Bottom Remainders were a rock band made up of a group of bestselling writers, who performed on occasion for charitable purposes. Over the years their performances raised over $2 million for various charities. The most famous of the band members was doubtless Stephen King, but the group also included celebrity writers such as humorist Dave Barry, novelist Amy Tan, Matt Groening (creator of The Simpsons), and others. The band's lineup changed from event to event, partly due to the availability of the various individuals; a total of 16 authors were part of the band's lineup at one time or another. They formed in 1992, an idea of publicist Kathi Kamen Goldmark, and performed their final show in 2012, shortly after Goldmark died of cancer. This is a promotional poster, #182 of 270 copies and is signed by the eleven members pictured: Stephen King, Amy Tan, Matt Groening, Scott Turow, Mitch Albom, Dave Barry, Greg Iles, Ridley Pearson, Roy Blount, Jr., James McBride, and Kathi Kamen Goldmark. Also signed by Sam Barry, a sometime harmonica player in the band, but not pictured in the illustration. 14" x 17". Fine.
140. ROTH, Philip. Operation Shylock. NY: Simon & Schuster (1993). Later printing. Inscribed by Roth to author Robert Stone, "with deep admiration." Winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award and Time magazine's Book of the Year; also voted one of the best works of American fiction of the last quarter of the 20th century in a New York Times Book Review survey. Fine in a fine dust jacket. A wonderful association copy between two of the great writers of their generation.
141. RUSSELL, Bertrand. Power. A New Social Analysis. NY: Norton (1938). A book of social philosophy by Russell, who later won the Nobel Prize for Literature. This book is an attempt to analyze society through the lenses of different types of power -- economic, military, cultural, etc. Signed by the author. Small paint drip to rear board, foxing to top edge, fading to text block; a read copy and used, with occasional pencil check marks in the margins. Very good, lacking the dust jacket.