signed by 3(ed,art,KEW),The Complete John the Balladeer,Manly Wade Wellman+bonus

Description: The Complete John the Balladeer Volumes One and Two plus Bonus Chapbook Not All a Dream by Manly Wade Wellman Introductions by Stephen Jones Patrick J. LoBrutto Essays by Hedges Capers) Karl Edward Wagner (signed label) Edited by Stephen Haffner (signed) Cover by Raymond Swanland Interior Art by Tim Kirk (signed) Haffner Press First Editions Description: This item is for one set (of 20 sets available for sale) of two thick heavy hardback books published by the Haffner Press in 2023 plus a bonus chapbook. The copyright pages state 'First edition'. Inscribed 'MEOW!' by editor/publisher Stephen Haffner on the title pages by the cat that is part of his imprint logo at the 2024 LA Vintage Paperback Book Show without personalization. Signed by interior artist Tim Kirk on the title pages without inscription or personalization, also at the LA Vintage Paperback Show. One slip of paper signed by Karl Edward Wagner without inscription or personalization laid in to Volume 2. Notes: Two high quality hardback books on paper that will not turn brown with boards covered in buckram material (not paper!), sewn signatures, head and foot bands. Pictorial endpapers reproducing the dust jacket art minus lettering - volume one's endpapers have the art for the dust jacket of volume two and volume two's endpaper art is the dust jacket art for volume one. Tim Kirk did the ornate first letter art for the story/essay headings, as well as quite a few full-page black and white illustrations. This edition was limited to 1500 copies plus an additional 100 copies were produced for the deluxe limited edition. The bonus chapbook (stapled trade paperback) contains a previously unpublished short story by Wellman that was going to be included in the never produced Last Dangerous Visions from Harlan Ellison (not a John the Balladeer story). This story will not, apparently, be included in the book that will finally be produced with that name. From Wikipedia: Silver John is a fictional character from a series of fantasy stories (1963–84) by American author Manly Wade Wellman (1903–1986). Though fans refer to him as Silver John or as John the Balladeer, the stories simply call him John. He is an example of the loner hero. The stories are set in the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina. The historical period is never explicitly indicated, but appears to be mid 20th century. John, whose last name is never revealed, is a wandering singer who carries a guitar strung with strings of pure silver. He is a veteran of the Korean War and served in the U.S. Army as a sharpshooter (in the novel After Dark, he mentions that his highest rank was PFC). In his travels, he frequently encounters creatures and superstitions from the folk tales and superstitions of the mountain people. Though John has no formal education, he is self-taught, highly intelligent and widely read; it is implied that his knowledge of occult and folk legendarium is of PhD level (in the novel The Hanging Stones, he receives word that Flornoy College is awarding him an honorary doctorate for contributions to folklore and folk music). This knowledge has granted him competent use of white magic, which he has used on occasion to overcome enemies or obstacles, but it is primarily his courage, wit and essential goodness that always enables him to triumph over supernatural evils (although the silver strings of his guitar and his possession of a copy of The Long Lost Friend are also powerful tools in fighting evil magic), while basic Army training allows him to physically deal with human foes. He has an implied mystic link of some sort to John the Baptist, and much of his personal philosophy can be traced to a "primitive" Gospel-based Christianity. On one occasion, he is "employed" by the State Department to investigate on their behalf a possible instance of Satanism (see the novel The Lost and Lurking for full details). The stories are rich in the customs and lore of the region and many of the folk songs John sings are authentic as well. Wellman did introduce some original songs and legends but his creations blend seamlessly with the traditional material. Whereas Tolkien integrated Northern mythology into his mythos, and C.S. Lewis the European Fairy Tales of yore, Wellman's stories are drenched in the folktales and songs of old Americana; the haunting stories of the slaves and the tall tales of the Revolution, strange beasts, witch-women, and dark apparitions. Wellman's friend, the author Karl Edward Wagner, wrote: "These stories are chilling and enchanting, magical and down-to-earth, full of wonder and humanity. They are fun. They are like nothing else you’ve read before." Also included is a bonus chapbook: Haffner Press is pleased to announce the upcoming release of an unpublished story by Manly Wade Wellman. "Not All a Dream" opens with poet/politician Lord Byron (1788-1824) musing over the status of his literary canon in years to come. Admiring the lasting legacy of John Milton, Byron accepts an offer to learn the true place of his works in centuries hence — a nightmare vision gained by traveling into a dangerous future ... Table of Contents (Volume One): • Manly Wade Wellman: The Voice of the Mountains • essay by Stephen Jones • O Ugly Bird! • (1951) • short story by Manly Wade Wellman • The Desrick on Yandro • (1952) • short story by Manly Wade Wellman • Vandy, Vandy • (1953) • short story by Manly Wade Wellman • One Other • (1953) • short story by Manly Wade Wellman • Call Me from the Valley • (1954) • short story by Manly Wade Wellman (variant of Dumb Supper) • The Little Black Train • (1954) • short story by Manly Wade Wellman • Shiver in the Pines • (1955) • short story by Manly Wade Wellman • Walk Like a Mountain • (1955) • short story by Manly Wade Wellman • On the Hills and Everywhere • (1956) • short story by Manly Wade Wellman • Old Devlins Was A-Waiting • (1956) • short story by Manly Wade Wellman • Nine Yards of Other Cloth • (1958) • short story by Manly Wade Wellman • Then I Wasn't Alone • (1962) • short fiction by Manly Wade Wellman • You Know the Tale of Hoph • (1962) • short fiction by Manly Wade Wellman • Blue Monkey • (1962) • short fiction by Manly Wade Wellman • The Stars Down There • (1962) • short fiction by Manly Wade Wellman • Find the Place Yourself • (1962) • short fiction by Manly Wade Wellman • I Can't Claim That • (1962) • short fiction by Manly Wade Wellman • Who Else Could I Count On • (1962) • short story by Manly Wade Wellman • John's My Name • (1963) • short fiction by Manly Wade Wellman • Why They're Named That • (1963) • short fiction by Manly Wade Wellman • None Wiser for the Trip • (1963) • short fiction by Manly Wade Wellman • Nary Spell • (1963) • short fiction by Manly Wade Wellman • Trill Coster's Burden • (1979) • short story by Manly Wade Wellman • The Spring • (1979) • short story by Manly Wade Wellman • The Old Gods Waken • (1979) • novel by Manly Wade Wellman • Owls Hoot in the Daytime • (1980) • short story by Manly Wade Wellman • After Dark • (1980) • novel by Manly Wade Wellman • Afterword (The Complete John the Balladeer) • essay by Hedges Capers Table of Contents (Volume Two): • They Say He Walks the Mountains Even Now • essay by Patrick J. LoBrutto • Can These Bones Live? • (1981) • short story by Manly Wade Wellman • Nobody Ever Goes There • (1981) • short story by Manly Wade Wellman • The Lost and the Lurking • • (1981) • novel by Manly Wade Wellman • The Hanging Stones • 1982) • novel by Manly Wade Wellman • The Voice of the Mountain • (1984) • novel by Manly Wade Wellman • "Where Did She Wander?" • (1987) • short story by Manly Wade Wellman • Outline: The Valley So Low • short fiction by Manly Wade Wellman • Interview with Manly Wade Wellman • (1977) • interview by Karl Edward Wagner • The Old Captain Goes Home • (1986) • essay by Karl Edward Wagner Condition: Bindings - fine, new and unread, only removed from the shrinkwrap to get them autographed. Dust jackets - fine, new, not price clipped, in dust jacket protector. Chapbook - fine, new and unread, in archival plastic bag. 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Price: 180 USD

Location: Fresno, California

End Time: 2024-08-07T20:58:49.000Z

Shipping Cost: 9.56 USD