Signal Boost and a Question

[rolanni]

Signal boost first.

Emma Bull, author of one of my favorite books ever, War for the Oaks, and many other fine novels, is preparing for surgery on her thyroid.  Steve Brust, author of the Vlad Taltos novels, among other fine work, is about to go into the hospital to have a defibrilator installed. 

Scott Lynch has the details, and he's being pro-active in fundraising.  Go here; read all about it.  Please do what you can.  

Thanks.

* * *

The Question has to do with interest in a potential auction item.  I have here in my hand, having ferreted it out of the file cabinet, a green expanding file with a Laurel Burch sticky note slapped to the front.  On the sticky note in my hand is:  "notes -- mouse & dragon."

The material in this folder is unique.  Those who were following along for the writing of Mouse and Dragon will recall my saying that this was a book that wanted to be written out by hand first.  There's more than a legal pad of handwritten notes in this file.  There are typed out notes by chapter, and by concept. There is a draft manuscript, the original pitch document, chapters that took wrong turns, and several sheets of brightly colored paper.  No, I don't know why.

If there is any interest in this this one of a kind collection of papers, I'll put it up on eBay.  If there's no interest, I'll stick it back in the file cabinet until things get tight, and then (as I have in the past with similar items) throw it away.

Let me know, 'k?

Comments

[ariaflame.livejournal.com]

Bull and Brust together wrote one of my favourite books. Donated.

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

Thank you for donating.

Want to share the title of that book, so other people can enjoy it, too?

[ariaflame.livejournal.com]

Silly me. Freedom and Necessity (http://www.amazon.com/Freedom-Necessity-Steven-Brust/dp/0812562615). While it can take a little while to get into, since it's written as an epistolary novel, it's a really good read. Slight genre influences but hard to categorise. Set in Victorian England 1850s. Intrigue, romance, politics, philosophy, and really enjoyable characters.

Was written back in 1997 and my paperback copy is kind of worn now, I am a little sad that there doesn't seem to be an ebook version that I can buy, but I'm definitely not going to be bugging the authors about that any time soon.

Freedom & Necessity

[laurie russell (from livejournal.com)]

Was there ever a sequel to this planned/done? While it isn't one of my re-re-re-re-reads, I did find it very interesting and somehow thought there was going to be a follow-up story.

Re: Freedom & Necessity

[ariaflame.livejournal.com]

I'd never gotten that impression myself, it felt reasonably finished at the end. Of course if there ever was one I'd be happy to get it. But it wouldn't be the same sense of urgency that the first one had. Transatlantic mail being what it was.

[orlacarey.livejournal.com]

I think the file would be interesting to read but money is currently tight enough that I probably wouldn't be very active in an auction for it...

[bridget a wheeler-gehrling (from livejournal.com)]

Thank you for the heads up on Bull & Brust! I am not at all familiar with their works, but that joint effort sounds interesting. We are well aware of the financial difficulties that medical procedures can cause so we made a donation. They will also be held up in my prayers. Please keep us posted as you can.

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

You would love War for the Oaks. I've got a lending copy -- should I mail?

[bridget a wheeler-gehrling (from livejournal.com)]

as for the folder, Frank and I are down-sizing the household, but it seems to both of us that some fan-collector would be generously happy to acquire it.

[marniferous.livejournal.com]

I'm very interested in the folder - that would be an absolute treasure!

Ebay

[doccolt.livejournal.com]

I Can promise at least $50 bid. Probably more. Sam

[kalilama.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the headsup of Bull and Brust. War for the Oaks is one of my all time favorite books. Her desciptions in that book of what it feels like to play music with other people were stunning. Plus it is just a great tale. Heading over to donate....

[drammar.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the signal boost. Will hie myself over there directly.

Also -- very definitely would have an interest in the mounse & dragon files. I imagine that there are many of us who would bid if the opportunity presented itself.

Ebay, of course

[(Anonymous)]

It makes me cringe to think you would throw away such treasure for a fan or maybe later someone interested in doing research/encyclopedia Liaden/ etc. So, send it to auction please, I would bid. Oddly, I have been reading Mouse and Dragon over the last few days, about 1/2 read now, liking it.
Your fan,
Dave G. in Chesterfield VA

[saraidh.livejournal.com]

Signal boosted, and also donated.

And yes, I'd be interested in the folder.

Sharon from Barry Hackner

[(Anonymous)]

I would be very interested, but Sharon this is sooooooooooooooooo precious. It must be worth far more than $50.00 a ton. I would love to bid for it. It is unique. I'm sure Steve told you about my 1st Ed I discovered PB last week. I was so excited to find it. This pales in comparison. I'm certainly not wealthy or ever rich. But I will clearly bid for it.
Barry

[attilathepbnun.livejournal.com]

*makes note to donate when gets paid Friday*
Int-erested?! Weeeel, just a tad ....*starts counting*

[bercilakslady.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the signal boost on the fundraising. I'd known Emma's situation from her LJ, but not this.

Please Ebay. I'll bid.

Green file

[catherine ives (from livejournal.com)]

Seems a shame to sell such an item. Is there a chance that you would need those notes.

[the wol (from livejournal.com)]

Freedom and Necessity is available from Amazon, but only in the dead tree editions. I've got it but haven't started it yet -- several books ahead of it in the queue (SMBSLT!). Emma did a novel called "Territory" which I thoroughly enjoyed. Several of her works are available on Kindle. A lot of Steve Brust's novels are available on Kindle, too. I'm not familiar with Brust's work, but I've read everything of Emma's I can get my hands on and long for more. She and Will Shetterly started the Bordertown shared universe, some of which are tricky to find, but all are very good reads. Emma, Will, Terry Windling and Charles de Lint pioneered the urban fantasy genre.

On the Liaden front: Devoured "Crystal Variations" in about 2 days. You don't have to have read anything else Liaden to "get" any of the three books it comprises, but having read the "Agent of Change" arc puts added breadth and depth to the two "Crystal" stories, which are both rip snorters, BTW. Just finished "Fledgling" and am halfway through "Saltation." -- Finished Fledgling in one sitting -- just could not put it down! I'm off to Amazon to write some reviews.