SEARCH THIS SITE:
© 1998 - 2010 by
Zacharias L.A. Nuninga
(Netherlands)
Online since 12/1998
Download and use
for free:

"The Freshman" in Spain
8 February 2010
 

Farmer's story "The Freshman" was published for the first time in May 1979  in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. In 1990 editor James Turner included the story in his Chtulhu anthology, Tales of the Cthulhy Mythos, published by Arkham House.
This anthology was translated and published in Spain in 2001 by Valdemar. Years later the Spanish edition has been published again, now in two parts, by the same publisher. In 2007 appeared the second half of the book as Cuentos de los Mitos de Cthulhu: 2. El legado, with Farmers story "Matriculado en primero".
I discovered this publication only recently and had ordered a copy in Spain, which arrived last week.
 


click to enlarge
Burroughs Bulletin #81
5 February 2010
 

It was announced last year (see here) that issue #81 of the Burroughs Bulletin will be dedicated in tribute to Philip José Farmer. This issue has now been published by the Burroughs Bibliophiles. A copy of this issue is on its way to me, so I haven't seen it yet.
The website of  the Burrouhs Bibliophiles does not show yet the contents of issue #81, but you can see it on the site of Christopher Paul Carey. Chris also noted that the numbering on the cover is wrong —it says New Series #80 where it should say New Series #81— and he corrected the numbering on the cover scan on his site.
If you want to order a copy of the special Farmer issue of the Burroughs Bulletin be sure to order issue #81!
 


click to enlarge
2010, a dull or exciting year?
4 February 2010
 

In my contact with Christopher Paul Carey I did 'complain' somewhat about 2010 becoming a bit of a dull year for Farmer fans, compared to the last few years. No new books announced and no Farmerphiles anymore. There are plans for a Farmercon this year, but that will not be like the ones we had in Peoria, with Phil and Bette.
On this Chris said: "By sometime later this year I expect to be able to announce some exciting news for Philip José Farmer fans."
He would not tell me anything more. I wonder, do you think Chris is talking about The Song of Kwasin? Or about a new start of Farmerphile? It seems we will have to wait till later this year for the answer.

Regarding Farmercon, this is from Mike Croteau in the PJF Newsletter of January 2010: "In the spirit of keeping Phil in our hearts and our minds, and perhaps in the public eye, we believe we have settled on the time and location of Farmercon V. This year's event will move from Peoria to Seattle, the weekend of June 26th. Also in Seattle that weekend, is the Hall of Fame induction at the Science Fiction Museum. NO, Phil is not being inducted this year."
Watch the Official Philip José Farmer Home Page for more news about Farmercon V.
 


click to enlarge
Review of The Other in the Mirror
1 February 2010
 

Robert M. Tilendis wrote last month a review of the omnibus The Other in the Mirror, which has been edited by Christopher Paul Carey.
The review has been published online with The Green Man Review: "...It contains three short novels that contain some of Farmer's most probing examinations of character.
Carey, in his Introduction, frames his discussion of these three novels within Hegel's concept of the Other —that which is different than us— as a means of addressing Farmer's approach. In Hegel's sense, we achieve a state of self-aware freedom by coming to understand the Other and incorporating it within ourselves. In Farmer's hands this becomes a multi-layered phenomenon as identity —a key element of this idea— moves from the individual to the group to the Other and back again.
But what Farmer is describing in these novels is not the realization of self, but the breakdown of the boundary between self and other..."

Telendis concludes his review as follows: "Philip José Farmer was throughout his career an iconoclast, tackling subjects within the framework of science fiction that other writers in the field avoided. (Remember, he's the man who brought sex into science fiction —in 1952, when sex was seldom discussed publicly— even post-Kinsey.) In these three novels he's done it again. And being by Farmer, of course, they are eminently readable, seductive and rewarding."
Read the full review here.

Copies of the omnibus The Other in the Mirror can still be bought from its publisher Subterranean Press, or from any of the online book shops.
 


click to enlarge
Obituary: Ernesto Vegetti (1943-2010)
29 January 2010
 

Today I received the very sad news that Italian fan Ernesto Vegetti died on January 16. He had been in hospital this month, seemed to recover from the operation, but died suddenly of a heart attack. He was 66 years.
Ernesto was a  major figure in the Italian science fiction world. He loved science fiction, wrote many articles and reviews, helped organizing conventions, and kept promoting the science fiction story in his country, Italy
He was maybe best known as the webmaster and bibliographer of the index of all Italian science fiction, the Catalogo SF, Fantasy e Horror.
But Ernesto was not only known in Italy however. He also helped many other science fiction fans and bibliographers around the world, with information on Italian publications. He helped me in the early days of this bibliography and stayed a regular contributor. He also contributed for instance a lot of information in The Internet Speculative Fiction Database (ISFDB).
Grazie e addio Ernesto!
 


Ernesto Vegetti
Mexican story publication in 1957
26 January 2010
 

Farmer's story "The Night of Light" was published for the first time in June 1957 in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. Only a few months later, in October 1957, appeared the Spanish translation, "Noche de luz", in the magazine Ciencia y Fantasia. Farmer's name was misspelled on the cover as José Philip Farmer.

Till now I had assumed that the magazine had been published in Spain. I had no copy to verify the data. It is evident now that I was wrong. The magazine had been printed in Mexico.
This is the first Mexican Farmer publication in the bibliography, no other publication is known from this country. I have corrected the data on the story page, and on the Translated Stories index page. There is no publication of the story "Noche de luz" in Spain, that I know of. But there is a Spanish publication of the expanded story, the novel Noche de luz.
 


click to enlarge
Second Italian printing of Pianeta d'aria
20 January 2010
 

Unknowingly I had mixed up some data of the first and second printing of an Italian edition of The Wind Whales of Ishmael (Pianeta d'aria). Fanucci published the first one in June 1988 and the second one in July 1988. I didn't even know there were two printings!
Fred Fischer (Houston, US) observed on the book page, with his first printing at hand, the mix up of data. Because of his email I discovered I only have the second printing in my collection.
Now both printings are mentioned on the book page, with the correct data. Thanks Fred!
 


click to enlarge
The Evil in Pemberley House: 50% Off
18 January 2010
 

Subterranean Press in their latest newsletter: "With all of our new releases, we need to clear some space at the warehouse, so we're going to be running some Ebay auctions over the next few weeks...".
One of the books on eBay is the limited edition of The Evil in Pemberley House, written by Philip José Farmer and Win Scott Eckert. This edition is numbered, signed by Win Eckert and comes with a chapbook. Normal price is $60, on eBay now for $30.
So, if you want a copy of the limited edition, now is the time to buy one!
 


click to enlarge
Another book of reference
14 January 2010
 

Libraries Unlimited published last year the book Science Fiction Authors: A Research Guide by Maura Heaphy. One hundred authors were selected for this guide, and each entry contains a brief biography, a list of major works and a list with research sources.

You already guessed it, there is also an entry on Philip José Farmer. For visitors of this website there is nothing new with Farmer's entry in Science Fiction Authors: A Research Guide, or it must be that The Gate of Time is now part of the Dayworld series (it's not!) or that the novel The Lovers is "an extended fix-up" of "The Lovers" and "Moth and Rust" (also not true!).
Otherwise it is a handsome and affordable resource. And another good thing is that this website is mentioned in the book with the Farmer bibliograhies.
 


click to enlarge
More Flesh publications in Russia
11 January 2010
 

Just discovered are two Russian publications of the novel Flesh (Плоть). The books were published several years ago, in 1992 by The Soviet Composer in an omnibus, together with a detective by a Russian author.
And in 1994 by publisher Al-Fa in an omnibus, together with science fiction novels by Robert Silverberg and Edmond M. Hamilton.
Both publications and covers have been added on the book page.
 


click to enlarge
Kickaha's World
10 January 2010
 

According to Phil himself: "A Private Cosmos was not my title. An Ace Books editor changed Kickaha's World to the present title for some reason I've not been able to figure out." This comes from Farmer's foreword in the 1981 Phantasia Press edition of A Private Cosmos.
Because his original title hadn't been used with this novel Farmer planned to use it for the sixth World of Tiers novel, but that one got published as More Than Fire.

Farmer, in the above mentioned foreword: "Kickaha (a.k.a Paul Janus Finnegan) was a major but not lead character in the first in the series, Maker of Universes. He was not in the second, Gates of Creation. But by the time I wrote A Private Cosmos it was evident, to me at least, that Kickaha had displaced Wolff as the main character. The wild Hoosier trickster had taken over, and I did not object at all. The irrational, the true author, my unconscious, had dictated the choice of protagonist and the course of events."

Earl Evers in his 1968 review: "It is almost impossible to criticize any reasonably well done adventure fantasy of the ERB school—you either like it or you don't. If you don't, then you can put down the characteristics of the school itself. If you do, you can defend them. But there isn't much you can say about an individual book except to point out how well the author operated within the rather restrictive format..."
"...the whole series is worth reading. If you are an ERB fan, though, maybe you'd better not read it—"The World of Tiers" is Farmer's attempt to write swashbuckling adventure fantasy in the ERB vein, and he shows Burroughs up just about any way you judge the stories..."
"...The story line of A Private Cosmos isn't particularly believable in summary, (and I'm not going to summarize it) but the action keeps your eye moving fast enough so you don't notice. The details of background keep the inquiring part of your mind busy, so reader identification is almost total, which is about the best the writer of adventure fiction can hope to achieve. "All three "World of Tiers" books are a hell of a lot of fun to read, and I'll even recommend them to more "serious" sf readers who don't usually go for ERB-type adventure fantasy...".

The book page of this novel has been updated and restyled, with more publications, from 45 to 54, and lots more cover scans, from 20 to 52 covers.
  


click to enlarge
Russian World of Tiers omnibus
5 January 2010
 

A new publication in Russia of the first two novels in the World of Tiers series. These novels, The Maker of Universes and The Gates of Creation, have been published by Eksmo (Эксмо) in a paperback omnibus, Создатель Вселенных.
Eksmo, then together with Domino, published the complete series in two hardcover volumes in 2005 and 2006, and once again in 2008 with all seven novels in one large hardcover.
 


click to enlarge
2009 - The Year in Review
5 January 2010
 

Last year was an unlucky year. 2009 didn't bring us much happiness, to make an understatement.
We lost Phil Farmer in February at the age of 91. Many pieces have been written about this loss, on paper and on the web. His passing away was much grieved at. Thinking about this still hurts. We lost a great man and a wonderful and very gifted writer.
Only a few months later another loss, with the death of Phil's wife Bette. She passed away in June at the age of 86. Both Phil and Bette were, and still are, greatly missed by many of their friends and family.
I sure hope they do enjoy their stay on the Riverworld, and that they did find one another on the endless river banks of that world.

But we lost even more.
No new issues of Farmerphile after the fifteenth and final issue in January 2009. It makes my life as a bibliographer much easier, I still haven't had the time to completely index the last four issues, but as a Farmerphile I miss the quarterly publications. It has brought us lots of interesting pieces by and about Phil. Thanks Mike, Win, Paul and Chris for publishing and editing Farmerphile!
In June 2009 was the last and maybe final Farmercon, the Philip José Farmer Memorial Gathering. Phil and especially Bette loved these little conventions, and invited many of those present at their house after the convention. These special meetings will be missed dearly by many of us Farmerphiles.

The year 2009 brought eight new book publications, and one chapbook. Also one magazine, the before mentioned final issue of Farmerphile. Biggest new publication in 2009 will be the novel The Evil in Pemberley House, by Philip José Farmer & Win Scott Eckert. The novel was well received with positive reviews.

The new Riverworld mini series has been filmed in 2009. It will be aired in 2010 by Syfy.

The restyling of the book pages on this website, and rechecking every book publication at the same time, is in its final stage. Only the pages of A Private Cosmos, which will be ready any day now, and The Lavalite World have to be done. And then on with the story pages, eBooks, Audio Books, Works About pages and the other plans I have.
 


click to enlarge


click to enlarge



click to enlarge
The Other Log in Brazil
30 December 2009
 

Only five different Farmer novels have been published in Brazil (index). Maybe because the Portuguese books were imported and sold in Brazil also, that no other books were published.
One of Brazilian publications is the translation of the novel The Other Log of Phileas Fogg, which has been published by two different publishers. As O Outro Diário de Phileas Fogg by Editora Global (1974) and as O Diário de Bordo de Phileas Fogg by Francisco Alves (1987)..

None of the other Brazilian books have had the honor of being published twice or even even being reprinted. Not even the in 1988 Nova Award winning O Planeta do Rio (To Your Scattered Bodies Go).
Not only did The Other Log of Phileas Fogg have two editions, but also a reprint of one of them. I just discovered that Editora Global reprinted their publication O Outro Diário de Phileas Fogg in 1980 with a different cover.
 


click to enlarge
German omnibus Bizarre Beziehungen
26 December 2009
 

A copy of the second printing of the German omnibus Bizarre Beziehungen (Strange Relations) from the publisher Heyne (1993) has been found. We already had the information about the third printing, but the second one was until now missing in the bibliography.
The omnibus contains the novels Die Liebenden (The Lovers) and Eine Frau pro Tag (A Woman a Day), with the story collection Bizarre Beziehungen (Strange Relations).
 


click to enlarge
More of The Lovers
16 December 2009
 

Thanks to Fred Fischer (US) two more publications of the novel The Lovers are known now, which brings the total amount of publications of this book to 50.
Fred emailed me the information about the second printing of the Ballantine/Del Rey paperback, of March 1981. And also about the second printing of the Spanish publication, Los Amantes, from publisher Orbis, 1986.
Strangest thing is, that I discovered that I do own a copy of the second printing of the Orbis publication. It seems I had totally forgotten to check the book and include the information in the bibliography. This has been corrected with the updated information.
 


click to enlarge
The Dark Design from Tor in 2010
13 December 2009
 

You already could pre-order Riverworld from Amazon, a book that will be published in March 2010 by Tor. This omnibus includes the first two Riverworld novels, To Your Scattered Bodies Go and The Fabulous Riverboat.
See also Forthcoming Books.

Now you also can pre-order the third Riverworld novel, The Dark Design, from Amazon. Tor will publish this one in June 2010. List price is $17.99.

According to the list "Forthcoming Books through September 2010" in the December 2009 issue of Locus, issue 587, which also shows the above mentioned books, no more Riverworld titles are planned till that month. We will have to wait if and when they will be published by Tor.
 


click to enlarge
Story publication added
13 December 2009
 

From France I received three anthologies and three magazines, all with stories by Phil. Five of these story publications were already known in the bibliography, but the sixth is new. The story "Attitudes" (the same title in French) has been published in the anthology Histoires de planètes, which has had three printings. The one of March 1976 is new on these pages.

When I'm finished restyling the book pages I will start redoing the story pages. More information and more scans will be added on those pages.
First I have to finish the last two book pages. Right now I am working on the page of A Private Cosmos and then at last on The Lavalite World.
Before I start on the story pages I will add a new page with eBooks and Audio Books. Lots of work to do for me also.
 


click to enlarge
Philip José Farmer estate sale: 20-40% off
10 December 2009
 

Just for the month December only the Official PJF Home Page has a 20% discount on all books that are for sale from Philip José Farmer's Estate Sale. If you buy several books the discount can go up to 40%.
Take a look at all those wonderful editions, many of which are signed by Farmer. Now is the time to buy some of these books. So, if you want the very rare hardcover edition of A Feast Unknown (The Fokker D-LXIX Press, 1975) or the first hardcover edition of To Your Scattered Bodies Go (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1971), or any of the other books for reasonable prices, now is the time!
 


click to enlarge
New audio books
1 December 2009
 

Recorded Books (search for 'author': Philip Jose Farmer) brought in 2000 the first complete audio version of the novel To Your Scattered Bodies Go. It was then taped on six audio cassettes.
That version has been republished in March 2008 on seven CDs. The price is $44.95 for nearly eight hours recording.

In June 2009 Recorded Books published the second Riverworld novel, The Fabulous Riverboat, on eight CDs. This recording of nine hours will also cost you $44.95.

Both recordings can be downloaded from the website of www.audible.com (search for Philip Jose Farmer) and will cost you $27.97 for the first, and $24.49 for the second novel..

Recorded Books will bring the third Riverworld novel, The Dark Design, as an Audio Book in March 2010. Narrator of all recordings is Paul Hecht.

I have announced it before this year, that maybe I should make a new page with Audio Books and eBooks. I didn't know where to put all the new audio and e-publications. This page is now in progress of becoming real. Very soon I hope.
 



Earlier news

 
Phil and Bette
Farmer -
a remembrance
 
New Publications
In 2009

December



Создатель Вселенных
(The Maker of Universes
and The Gates of Creation
in an omnibus)
 

October



"They Twinkled Like
Jewels"
 

October



The Other in the Mirror
(lettered in traycase)
 

October



El fabuloso barco fluvial
(The Fabulous Riverboat)
 

September



The Evil in Pemberley House
(trade and limited)
 

July



Two Hawks from Earth
 

June



The Other in the Mirror
(numbered in slipcase)
 

June



Dare
 

June



The Other in the Mirror
 

January



Farmerphile No.15
 

All New Publications
In 2008
In 2007
In 2006


Forthcoming Books

More novels in the Riverworld series in Spain.

The fourth and fifth novels in the Riverworld series in Poland.

All five Riverworld books will have new editions in the US.

 
TOP