W-1

NEW!!
BREAK WRITER'S BLOCK NOW!

I normally offer only my own work here, but I've made an exception for one of the most useful books ever written for writers. Jerrold Mundis's 90-page hardcover book, out of print since its 1991 publication, offers a system for ending writer's block that, remarkably enough, actually works. I bought the publisher's overstock, and can supply these as long as they last. For anyone who ever has trouble putting words on the page---professional writers, wannabes, and everyone in between, along with grad students who can't get their theses written, execs who get bogged down in corporate reports, lawyers who get stalled writing briefs, and
. . .well, you know who you are.

W-2

TELLING LIES FOR FUN & PROFIT

The most popular of my writing books, published by Arbor House in 1981. The book's still in print in a $12 trade paperback edition from Morrow Quill, with a new introduction by Sue Grafton, and that's the one to buy if you need a reading copy. But if what you want is the hardcover first edition, well, this is it. I think it's a genuinely scarce book---I rarely see it on dealers' lists, and hardly ever at signings---but I have a pretty good supply, and can offer signed firsts at $60.

1

THE SPECIALISTS

Originally published as a Gold Medal pb in 1969, this book was very deliberately designed to be the first in an action-adventure series. The heroes are five former Green Berets who pull military-style capers in aid of Truth, Justice, and the American Way. I wrote the one book and found out that, though this is a kind of book I like to read, it wasn't one I liked to write. So I pulled the plug on the enterprise, much to the surprise of my agent, who kept saying he thought this was going to be the first of a series. (I finally told him I didn't see any reason why he and I couldn't think of it as a one-book series. I don't know that that made him happy, but it kept him quiet.) The book had a couple of paperback editions, but never appeared in hardcover in the US until 1996, when James Cahill brought it out with art by Phil Parks, along with a new afterword. He had distribution problems, however, and wound up paying me off in copies. I thought I'd own the little darlings forever, but they got such a warm reception on tour that I sold out all I had and wound up buying the publisher's entire remaining stock. The books are in mint condition. The original retail price is $25, and I've seen the book on E-bay for twice that, but we're able to offer them for $20. And for that price you're not merely getting an autographed copy of a hardcover first edition---you're getting a complete series! And, if you can use five or more copies, see "Dealer Discounts" below for an even better deal.

2

TANNER ON ICE

This book, the eighth Evan Tanner novel (and the first in 28 years), is now out of print. I have first editions in stock for $30.

3

ARIEL

Set in Charleston, South Carolina, this novel about a spooky adopted child was first published in 1980 by Arbor House. In 1996, G&G Books brought out a limited edition under the imprint of The Lawrence Block Library. The total press run ran to 500 signed and numbered copies, 26 lettered copies, and a dozen A/P author's copies. While it's not the first hardcover edition (the Arbor House book was hardcover) it's nicely printed and bound, and includes an author's afterword written especially for this edition. And, obviously, there aren't too many of them around. I have a fairly good supply of signed and numbered copies at $50.

4

IN THE MIDST OF DEATH

This is the third title in the Matthew Scudder series. Like the first two, it was originally published as a Dell paperback in 1976. In the early 90's, Dark Harvest published hardcover first editions of The Sins of the Fathers and Time to Murder and Create, but went belly-up before they could do the same for In the Midst of Death. In 1995, G&G did the honors, again under the Lawrence Block Library imprint. (This book, and Ariel, constitute the entire Lawrence Block Library. Make of that what you will.) As with Ariel, the book's nicely produced and the edition is small---500 signed and numbered copies, 26 lettered, and a dozen author's copies---but in this case the book is the first US hardcover edition. Only a handful left; they're one to a customer, and while they last, they're $100.

5

THE BURGLAR WHO PAINTED LIKE MONDRIAN

The fifth Bernie Rhodenbarr mystery. The Dutton hardcover reissue came out this past December or January, and should still be available through booksellers. The Signet paperback is due in December or January. But what we've got for sale is the true first edition, the hardcover book published by Arbor House in 1983. These are new copies, bought up when the book was remaindered in 1985 and warehoused ever since. I've seen much higher prices on this title, but I have a good stock and am pricing the book for the time being at $80.

6

A LONG LINE OF DEAD MEN

The twelfth Matthew Scudder novel, published by Morrow in 1994. These are nice new first edition copies, signed, and our price is $30.

7

THE COLLECTED MYSTERY STORIES

The Orion hardcover first edition mentioned above. Most of the small printing went to libraries. I don't have many copies, and have priced them accordingly. Look around---you may be able to get the book cheaper elsewhere. If not, my price is $70, and only one to a customer .

8

THE THIEF WHO COULDN'T SLEEP and THE CANCELED CZECH

Hardcover first editions of the first two Tanner novels, published in 1993 and 1994 by Otto Penzler under his Armchair Detective imprint. I bought up the overstock and now they're almost gone. As the quantity on hand shrinks, the price goes up. $50 each, and no more than one of each to a customer.

THE THIEF WHO COULDN'T SLEEP
SORRY---SOLD OUT

9

THE CANCELED CZECH
Price: $50

10

THE BURGLAR IN THE RYE

Still in print, and not hard to find, but you might have trouble locating a first edition. I have them for $30.

11

EVERYBODY DIES

Out of print in hardcover. I have signed first editions for $30.

12

THE BURGLAR WHO LIKED TO QUOTE KIPLING

Signed firsts of the Dutton reissue. Not too many left---$30 while they last.

13

THE SCORELESS THAI

Just out from Subterranean Press, this is the fourth Evan Tanner novel, it's original title restored at last. Never before published in hardcover, and fitted out with Phil Parks cover art and an afterword by the author. Autographed copies are $30; if you can use five or more of these, see "Dealer Discounts" below.

14

RONALD RABBIT IS A DIRTY OLD MAN

The Subterranean Press trade paperback. Autographed copies are $16 while they last

15

BURGLARS CAN'T BE CHOOSERS

A first edition of the Dutton reissue, now out-of-print in all editions.

16

THE BURGLAR IN THE CLOSET

A first edition of the Dutton reissue, out of print in hardcover.

17

THE BURGLAR WHO STUDIED SPINOZA

A first edition of the Dutton reissue, out of print in hardcover.

18

THE BURGLAR WHO PAINTED LIKE MONDRIAN

We have the Arbor House first listed above for $80; this is the more recent Dutton first edition.

19

THE BURGLAR WHO TRADED TED WILLIAMS

The first edition, and getting scarce.

20

THE BURGLAR WHO THOUGHT HE WAS BOGART

First editions.

21

THE BURGLAR IN THE LIBRARY

First edition copies.

22

OUT ON THE CUTTING EDGE

Scudder #7, hardcover firsts.

23

A TICKET TO THE BONEYARD

Scudder #8, hardcover first editions.

24

A DANCE AT THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE

Scudder #9, hardcover firsts.

25

A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES

Scudder #10, hardcover first editions.

26

THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD

Scudder #11, hardcover first editions.

27

EVEN THE WICKED

Scudder #13, hardcover firsts.

A-1

 BURGLARS CAN'T BE CHOOSERS*

A-2

THE BURGLAR IN THE CLOSET*

A-3

THE BURGLAR WHO LIKED TO QUOTE KIPLING*

A-4

THE BURGLAR WHO TRADED TED WILLIAMS

A-5

THE BURGLAR WHO THOUGHT HE WAS BOGART*

A-6

A TICKET TO THE BONEYARD

A-7

A DANCE AT THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE

A-8

 A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES

A-9

THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD

A10

A LONG LINE OF DEAD MEN

T

LB IN TRANSLATION

I find it particularly gratifying that so many of my books are translated into other languages and published abroad. With the assistance of those unsung heroes, my translators, Matthew Scudder and Bernie Rhodenbarr have had their adventures recounted all over the globe. (And many of those translators are diligent and perceptive indeed, sending me lengthy e-mail queries to decipher the word play and Americanisms that make some of my sentences damn near untranslatable. Robert Pépin's French translations are sprinkled with footnotes that might be useful in the US editions as well, and Toshiko Taguchi, my indefatigible Japanese translator, has at least twice caught me in inconsistencies and errors that sailed right past every American reader, including the copy editors.)I cherish the copies of foreign-language editions I receive---but I don't really need to cherish more than one of each. Accordingly, I have books I'm willing to part with. If you're reading this, you'd probably just as soon read my books in English, so why should you be interested? Well, I've learned not to try to predict what a collector would or would not want to add to a collection; I doubt anyone would attempt to be a completist with foreign editions, but I know some collectors who try to acquire one book per language. Or you might want an autographed copy as a gift for a friend overseas. Or---and this is where some of my copies have gone---you may know someone who lives in the US but who is more comfortable reading books in his/her native language. I've passed on copies of the appropriate editions to a Dominican doorman, a Russian physiotherapist, a Korean greengrocer, and a Chinese restauranteur, all of whom appreciated far beyond their literary merit. The opportunity to read books set here, where they live, but printed in their first language, is evidently to be treasured.
WHAT'S AVAILABLE: I can't list individual titles, as I only have two or three of each. If you pick a language, I'll supply it while supplies last. (I have a good stock of the following: Japanese, French, Spanish, Italian, German, and Turkish, and a scattering of a dozen other languages; name it, and I'll see if I have it.) Most books will be paperbacks---in much of the world, that's all they publish. All books will be autographed (but not personally inscribed). Prices: $10 each plus postage. Or this special deal: 7 books, 7 different languages (my choice) for $50 plus postage.