All Works
Binary Star #5 — Nightflyers / True Names
U.S., New York: Dell, 1981
by David “Lodengarl” McCaman
Overview:
Fifth in the Binary Stars series, #5 presents two outstanding novellas, Nightflyers (GRRM) and True Names (Vernor Vinge) with specially commissioned illustrations by Hugo award-winning artist Jack Gaughan. Each author has also contributed an Afterword about his fellow-writer's work. The volume is introduced by series editor James R. Frenkel. Written in November 1978 while George was in Dubuque, Iowa, Nightflyers was nominated for the 1981 Hugo, and took home awards in the 1980 Analog, and 1981 Locus award. Nightflyers was first published in Analog in April 1980, and appeared in GRRM's collections, Nightflyers (1985/1987) and Songs the Dead Men Sing (1983/1986). Nightflyers has also appeared in the following editions: Annual World's Best SF (1981), Best SF Stories of the Year: Tenth Annual Collection (1981), Best SF of the Year 10 (1981), Best Science Fiction Stories of the Year - 1980 (1981), The 1981 Annual World's Best SF (1981), 13 Short Horror Novels (1987), and The Reel Stuff (1998).
Description:
Small mass market paperback. No dustjacket. 239 pages.
Estimated Cost or Value:
$40 - $100 - Fine
$10 - $40 - VG
$5 - $29 - G
Collector's Caution:
This is truly a mass-market paperback, meant for full-contact reading, and was not published to be an integral piece of one's collection. The paperback is very susceptible to flared pages, nicked corners, cover fading, and broken spine.
Collector's Angle:
What makes this paperback such a great piece, is that it contains the full extended story of Nightflyers - the story included is the most robust and a fair bit longer than the Nightflyers story published in Analog in 1980. Finding a fine copy of this paperback is a real challenge, but once found, makes an amazing edition to a GRRM collection. Most nice copies are found near-fine or very good, with usually one or two minor problems.
The Pear-Shaped Man — Signed Limited edition
U.S., Eugene, Oregon: Short Story Hardback #24, Pulphouse Publishing, 1991
by David “Lodengarl” McCaman
Overview:
First published in Omni in October 1987, and nominated in the 1988 Locus awards, The Pear-Shaped Man won the 1987 Bram Stoker for Best Achievement in Long Fiction. The story was presented by Pulphouse Publishing in their Short Story Hardback series - signed, numbered, and limited to 100 total copies. The 46-page story features a first-page autograph by GRRM, and the back of the book contains the limited number and statement of limitation. The Pear-Shaped Man has also appeared in the following editions: The Pear-Shaped Man Pulphouse Short Story Paperbacks #37, The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror: First Annual Collection (1988), Demons and Dreams (1989), OMNI Best Science Fiction Two (1992), The Horror Hall of Fame: The Stoker Winners (2002), and Cemetery Dance.
Description:
Small hardcover, brown leather with gold stamping. No dustjacket. 46 pages.
Estimated Cost or Value:
$100 - $200 - Fine
Collector's Caution:
Since The Pear-Shaped Man is also published by Pulphouse in a softcover edition, it may be easier to get confused if trying to procure a copy of this collectible. Make sure what you are purchasing is a hardcover, and has a limited number.
Collector's Angle:
A fantastic tale, adding this very limited edition book to your collection will not be easy, given that these go on sale so rarely. With patience you may find a copy under $100. Almost all of these 100 copies are in fine condition, so there is no reason to purchase one that is less than fine. This edition is very easy to keep in pristine condition, with tight spine, crackling pages, and shiny leather. It is not very often you find a limited edition hardback containing one novelette.
Portraits of His Children — Signed, Slipcased, Limited Edition
U.S., Arlington Heights, Illinois: Dark Harvest, 1987
by David “Lodengarl” McCaman
Overview:
52 lettered copies of this beautiful special edition are available for your collecting desire.
With an introduction by Roger Zelazny, and signatures of GRRM, Roger, and the artists, Ron and
Val Lindahn, Portraits of His Children contains 11 short stories by GRRM: With Morning Comes Mistfall,
The Second Kind of Loneliness, The Last Super Bowl, The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr, The Ice Dragon,
In the Lost Lands, Unsound Variations, Closing Time, Under Siege, The Glass Flower, and
Portraits of His Children, with 6 accompanying black and white illustrations. This collection
was also published in a signed, limited numbered edition, as well as a trade edition by
Dark Harvest. The collection was later published in mass market paperback format by Baen Books
in 1992. Portraits of His Children the novelette, was nominated for the 1986 Hugo and
Locus awards, and was both the 1985 Nebula and 1986 SF Chronicle award winner. The story was first
published in Asimov's in November 1985. With Morning Comes Mistfall was nominated for
the 1973 Nebula and 1974 Locus and Hugo, and first appeared in Analog in May 1973.
The Second Kind of Loneliness was a 1973 Locus nominee, and first appeared in Analog
in December 1972. The Last Super Bowl was first published in Gallery in February 1975.
The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr was first published in Fantastic in May 1976. The
Ice Dragon was first published in Dragons of Light (1980). In the Lost Lands was
first published in Amazons II (1982). Unsound Variations was a 1982 Nebula and 1983
Hugo and Locus nominee and was first published in Amazing in January 1982. Closing Time
was first published in Asimov's in November 1982. Under Siege was a 1986 Locus
nominee and was first published in October 1985's Omni. The Glass Flower was a 1987
Asimov's Reader Poll and Locus nominee and was first published in Asimov's in September 1986.
This collection features George's one deliberately comedic short story, Closing Time,
and also his largest array of "fantasy" stories: The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr, The Ice Dragon,
and In the Lost Lands.
Description:
6" x 9" hardback with white leather and gold stamping on front cover and spine in an oak slipcase. No dustjacket. 263 pages.
Estimated Cost or Value:
$125 - $450 - Fine
$75 - $125 - NF, VG+
Collector's Caution:
With only 52 lettered copies available, this edition should not be confused with the signed, limited numbered edition (450) - which does not have a slipcase or the leather binding.
Collector's Angle:
The only GRRM limited edition with a wooden slipcase - this edition is lovely with stark white leather, gold stamping, and the oak slipcase. The white leather cover is easy to mark up and the wooden slipcases have been known to split or crack over time. Given the great friendship between GRRM and Roger Zelazny, it is great to have an edition with both of their signatures (as well as the wonderful artists) in addition to his introduction. Whether you have copy A or copy ZZ, this is one of the best GRRM collectibles around.
Quartet — Signed, Slipcased, Limited Edition
U.S., Framingham, Massachusetts: NESFA Press, 2001
by David “Lodengarl” McCaman
Overview:
Quartet - four tales from the crossroads, is edited by Christine Carpenito and was published in a signed, slipcased, limited editions (A-J lettered and 190 numbered) and trade hardcover (1,200) in February 2001, and in trade paperback in September 2001.
The cover features an unrelated painting by Charles Vess called "Unquiet Grave." Quartet features
a wonderful introduction by George's friend and colleague Melinda Snodgrass. Quartet was
published by NESFA Press for Boskone 38 in 2001 to celebrate George R. R. Martin, the
Guest of Honor and Charles Vess, the Official Artist. The book itself features four amazing
pieces to come together in a single collection, each with a separate introduction by
George R. R. Martin. In Black and White and Red All Over the reader is presented
with the exact manuscript of George's supposed fifth novel - a historical fantasy
about three yellow journalists chasing Jack the Ripper. George never finished the
novel, and his fifth would go on to be A Game of Thrones, but he gives fans the
only glimpse of his progress in 1995-1996 and the story literally ends mid-page
without resolution. Skin Trade, the second piece in this collection, was
written in 1988, and was nominated for the 1988 Bram Stoker, 1989 Locus, and won
the 1989 World Fantasy award. The story was first published in Night Visions 5
(1988). Starport is a script written in 1993-1994 for a two-hour TV
movie that never made it to the screen and was George's last TV pilot.
He presents his script in his favorite format instead of one of the many cut-scripts
he was forced to work on. Blood of the Dragon is a collection of all of the
Daenerys chapters from A Game of Thrones, presented as a stand-alone novella.
While there is no new content from the original book, the novella was nominated for
the 1996 Nebula and HOMer, the 1997 Asimov's Reader Poll, Locus, and World Fantasy awards,
and won the 1997 Hugo for Best Novella.
Description:
5 ½" x 8 ½" hardback with dustjacket in blue cloth slipcase. There is no writing on the slipcase itself. 429 pages.
Estimated Cost or Value:
$60 - $200 - Signed, Slipcased, Limited Edition (A-J / 190) - Fine / NF
$30 - $100 - Limited edition (1,200) - Fine / NF
$15 - $45 - Trade edition - Fine / NF
Collector's Angle:
Any GRRM collector or ASOIAF-only GRRM collector will want to make sure to have a copy of Quartet around. Not only do you get two previously unreleased works in Black and White and Red All Over and Starport, but you get introductions on each piece of work and a great introduction by Melinda Snodgrass. This book is well put together, and the limited slipcased edition is beautiful with signatures from both George R. R. Martin and Charles Vess - who are teaming up in Subterranean Press' A Storm of Swords special limited edition. Advanced reader copies and galleys are also floating around for this title, and make excellent complementary collectibles.
Songs the Dead Men Sing — Signed, Slipcased, Limited Edition
U.S., Arlington Heights, Illinois: Dark Harvest, 1983
by David “Lodengarl” McCaman
Overview:
500 numbered copies of this collection, with black and white illustrations (and color cover art) by Paul Sonju, were produced by Dark Harvest in 1983.
Signed by George R. R. Martin and numbered in beautiful silver pen on the opening purple page, Algis Budrys provides a nice five-page introduction. Songs the Dead Men Sing contains 9 short stories by GRRM: The Monkey Treatment, …for a single yesterday, In the House of the Worm, The Needle Men, Meathouse Man, Sandkings, This Tower of Ashes, Nightflyers, and Remembering Melody.
This collection was not published in a trade or lettered edition by Dark Harvest. This collection was later published in a much-sought-after hardback format and paperback by Sphere (U.K.) in 1986 (but did not include In the House of the Worm and This Tower of Ashes). The Monkey Treatment was nominated for the 1983 Nebula and 1984 Hugo, and won the 1984 Locus.
The story first appeared in Fantasy & Science Fiction in July 1983. …for a single yesterday
received nomination for the Locus in 1976 and first appeared in Songs of Stars and Shadows. In the House of the Worm
first appeared in The Ides of Tomorrow (1976). The Needle Men was nominated for the 1982 Locus and first appeared in Fantasy & Science Fiction in October 1981.
Meathouse Man was nominated for the 1977 Locus and first appeared in Orbit 18 (1976). Sandkings was nominated
for the 1980 Balrog and won the 1979 Nebula and 1980 Hugo. Sandkings first appeared in Omni in August 1979.
This Tower of Ashes was a 1977 Locus nominee and first appeared in Analog Annual (1976). Nightflyers was
nominated in 1981 for the Hugo, and took home the 1980 Analog and 1981 Locus awards. Nightflyers first appeared in Analog in April 1980.
Remembering Melody was nominated for the 1982 Locus and first appeared in Twilight Zone in April 1981. This collection features most of George’s darkest stories — stories of bitter lost love and how tough life can be trying to deal with it.
Description:
6 ¼" x 9 ¾" hardback with dustjacket. Book is tan cloth with stamped GRRM on bottom of front cover – blue stamping on spine. Slipcase is purple cloth board with no writing or stamping. 291 pages.
Estimated Cost or Value:
$150 - $500 - Fine
$100 - $200 - NF, VG+
Collector's Caution:
Many of these editions are sold with sun-faded slipcases, or even without slipcases. The dark purple slipcase is very prone to slight or severe fading, and having been published so long ago, in 1983, it may be marketed as a fine copy with fine dustjacket but no details on the slipcase may be mentioned.
Collector's Angle:
This is the first special edition of George R. R. Martin’s – and the only edition of Songs the Dead Men Sing that have 9 short stories instead of 7. The great news is that there are no other versions of this edition and if you can get your hands on #1 or #500 of this edition, you can check this off your collections list. It is not easy to find a copy in fine condition all the way around – book/dustjacket/slipcase, but they do exist. Take your time and keep an eye out on abebooks or eBay for a really nice copy. You can always throw down $350 - $500 and get one now, but doing some hunting should reveal one just as nice for half the price.
Under Siege — Audio Cassette
Infinivox – Great Science Fiction Stories, 1998
by David “Lodengarl” McCaman
Overview:
Does your big GRRM collection include audio-cassettes as well? What about short stories?
What about short story cassettes? A very cool collectible, this single cassette tape is a
reading of one GRRM’s more interesting history-meets-science-fiction stories. Read by
Pat Bottino in 92 minutes, the story unfolds around one of six “geeks” sent back to a critical
point in history, to not let Sveaborg surrender to the Russians, in order to win the war or
“maybe just save ourselves from the plagues and bombs and the poisoned winds.” This story
was first published in Omni magazine in October 1985, and appears in two collections:
Portraits of His Children (1987) and The Year’s Best Science Fiction, Third Annual Collection (1986).
Description:
White snapcase, with no interior booklet or insert. 1 cassette.
Estimated Cost or Value:
$5.99 – $11.99
Good for a couple listens in the car (or wherever you have access to play cassettes), this fast-paced,
intrigue-filled time travel story delivers and the reading is energetic and exciting as well.
To listen to an excerpt, go here.
To order, and add this to your “obscure GRRM” collectible section, grab it
here.
The short story was also made available on two CDs in 2005 for $29.98.
