Category Archives: Worldbuilders 2011

Miscellaneous Auctions

This is a Worldbuilders blog.

Okay. Today we’ve got stuff up for auction that, doesn’t really fit into any of the other blogs.

Among other things, we’ve got limited edition art from Neil Gaiman and Vincent Chong, signed bookplates from Pratchett and Robert Jordan, and the Arkenstone.

Yeah. Seriously. The Arkenstone.

The folks at Badali Jewelry, the folks that created the Eolian’s talent pipes for me, have been officially licensed by Middle-earth Enterprises to create a replica of the Arkenstone of Thrain.

Your Akenstone replica is made of fine K9 Crystal treated with an Aurora Borealis plating to give the stone a magical glow. The stone is nestled on a black velvet pillow inside a Dwarven crafted chest. The runes on the outside of the chest read Arkenstone, written in the same Dwarvish runes found on Thorin’s Map.

Many thanks to Badali Jewelry for this cool donation.

You can bid on this Arkenstone replica here.

  • AUCTION: Miss Austen Literary Pin-up Giclee by Lee Moyer.

In this numbered giclee print, (#2 of 4) by Lee Moyer we have the early version of the art that eventually became November’s pin-up in the  calendar we printed up for this year’s fundraiser.

For more details or to bid on the auction you can click over here.

  • AUCTION: Signed bookplate by Robert Jordan.

This bookplate bears the signature of Robert Jordan, the late author of the Wheel of Time series as well as many other books.

Rare for obvious reasons, this Wheel of Time bookplate was donated to Worldbuilders by a long-time Robert Jordan fan.

Bonus! This bookplate includes Brandon Sanderson’s signature. He is authoring the remainder of Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series.

You can bid on this over here.

  • AUCTION: Signed bookplate by Sir Terry Prachett, OBE.

This is a signed bookplate by Sir Terry Prachett, OBE. It bears a black and white copy of Terry Prachett’s coat of arms, granted to him by the College of Arms in 2010 when he was knighted.

The motto means “Do not fear the Reaper.”

You can bid on this cool Prachett bookplate over here.

  • AUCTION: One 35mm Vintage Film Cell from The Last Unicorn film.

This is a vintage film cell from the classic animated movie, The Last Unicorn, animated by Rankin/Bass, the same production company that produced the original animated Hobbit.

Donated by Conlan Press, this unmounted film cell comes packaged in a clear envelope signed by Peter S. Beagle, who wrote both the novel and the screenplay for the movie.

You can find more information about the film cells on Peter Beagle’s web page and newsletter.

You can bid on this auction over here.

In keeping with our Last Unicorn theme, we have one 5ml bottle of Touched Twice, a perfume created by Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab to commemorate the Saturday, August 6th screening of The Last Unicorn/signing with author Peter S. Beagle.

This scent was only available during the signing for four hours. It will never be available again.

This was the very last bottle of the scent Black Phoenix had, and they were nice enough to give it to us for our fundraiser.

For more details, or to bid on this auction, click here.

  • AUCTION: The Damnation Game Limited Edition Bookmark by Vincent Chong.

Only 150 of these limited edition bookmarks were made. Cast in sterling silver, it is from Vincent Chong’s Illustrated Design Collection.

This special edition bookmark is smithed by Goldsmith Master Dougal Hazel, based on the artwork originally created by Vincent Chong for the Polish edition of Clive Barker’s first novel, The Damnation Game. It comes with a Damnation Game card that is autographed by Vincent Chong.

We got this gorgeous donation from Worldbuilder supporters Vincent Chong, Keith Brunkard, and Doug Hazel. Thanks much!

For more details, or to bid on this auction, click here.

  • AUCTION: A signed print of Thackery Lane by award-winning artist Vincent Chong.

Vincent Chong, five-time recipient of the British Fantasy Award for Best Artist, has sent Worldbuilders this gorgeous print of Thackery Lane. The original commission for this piece was as book cover art for The Grin of the Dark by Ramsey Campbell.

This print measures 11 ¾ inches by 16 ½ inches and is signed by Vincent Chong.

You may learn more about Vincent and view his work by visiting his website or his blog.

To bid on this print, click here.

  • AUCTION: A signed print of The Devil’s Tune by award-winning artist Vincent Chong.

Here we have a signed print of The Devil’s Tune by Vincent Chong. This print measures 11 ¾ inches by 16 ½ inches. The original commission for this piece was as book endpaper art for Horns by Joe Hill.

To bid on this print, click here.

  • AUCTION: Limited Neil Gaiman print: “How to Talk to Girls at Parties.”

This limited edition, 12″ x 18″ print by Camilla d’Errico shows us a dreamy interpretation of the otherworldly “girls” from Neil Gaimain’s Hugo nominated short story How to Talk to Girls at Parties. If you’d like, you can read the story here.

The print run on these was limited, and the few that remain are only being sold for charity.

This work of art measures 12″ x 18″ and was graciously donated by Neil Gaiman and Neverwear.

You can bid over here.

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If you’d like to see all the auctions Worldbuilders is currently running, you can find them over here.

Or, if you want to see all the other items that have been donated to Worldbuilders, or just learn more about the fundraiser itself, you head over to the main page.

Posted in Worldbuilders 2011 | By Pat16 Responses

Webcomics Galore!

This is Worldbuilders blog.

Today we have a great delicious slurry of donated cool from the webcomic community.

Most of these goodies are going into the general lottery, but we’ve got a good number of auctions, too. We’ve got guest appearances in various comics, some signed art, a few cool collections, and a frikkin Dr. Who scarf that will be going to the highest bidder.

First we’ve got some stuff from Blind Ferret Entertainment

There is a place, set in a reality and time unlike our own, where the eating of small children is not necessarily frowned upon; where beings of extraordinary power can destroy entire villages with only “because I could” as an excuse; where families are comically torn apart and sold into slavery in exchange for powerful weapons or a really nice hat; where prophecy, magic, and adventure is as common place as setting fire to and then re-animating a chipmunk into a skeletal minion (it happens more than you’d think); and where an epic journey can begin by an accident of fate. This is the world of Looking For Group.

The winner of this auction will work with webcomic writer Ryan Sohmer, on making a guest appearance in Looking for Group. The guest appearance will happen sometime in February. It will be a one-time event with the possibility of a few pages. The winner of the auction will be put in touch with Ryan.

You can bid on this auction over here.

Least I Could Do is what comics should be. It makes you laugh, sometimes it makes you a little sad, but more often than not it makes you think, about who you are, and where you are going. Perhaps if everyone had just a little tiny spark of Rayne in them (and I do mean tiny. Dear God, too much Rayne would make for a terrifying world), perhaps our world would be a better, more honest place… If you aren’t reading Least I Could Do yet, then click your browser over there and get started. Believe me, you’ll be glad you did.” – Geek-life.com

  • AUCTION: Signed Hardcover of The Absolute Ultimate Gutters Omnibus Volume 1 by Ryan Sohmer

Pat’s Note: I didn’t know about this project by Ryan Sohmer until the book showed up for the fundraiser. I like to think that I’m pretty on top of the good comics that are out there, but the fact that I didn’t know about Gutters proves that I’m desperately out of touch. It’s really clever stuff.

The Absolute Ultimate Gutters Omnibus Volume 1 is the first printed collection of the wildly popular Gutters comic. Written by Ryan Sohmer (Least I Could Do, Looking For Group), Gutters is a series of standalone pages that parody the comic book industry and the heroes and characters that dwell within. Each page is penciled, inked and colored by a different artist, varying from the industry veteran to the newcomer.

Volume 1 is an over-sized full color (and glossy) printed book. With a cover by Darick Robertson (The Boys, Transmetropolitan) and a forward by Daniel Way (Deadpool, Wolverine), you won’t want to miss this.

You can bid on this giant book over here.

Pat’s Note: Okay. Fine. This isn’t a webcomic. But the lovely Jim Zub donated these books after we’d posted up the list of graphic novel donations. Rather than save these for next year, we decided to tuck them in here…

Two nameless mercenaries are mashing monsters and making a name for themselves. Image’s new hit fantasy action-comedy series has gone through multiple printings of each issue released so far and is getting rave reviews from readers and critics alike. Pick up the first collection and find out what all the excitement is about. Collects Skullkickers #1-5 and the short stories from Popgun Volumes 2 & 3.

Pat’s Note: XKCD is one of my favorite comics. Smart, funny, plus extra smart and extra funny.

Randall Munroe describes xkcd as a webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language. While it’s practically required reading in the geek community, xkcd fans are as varied as the comic’s subject matter. This book creates laughs from science jokes on one page to relationship humor on another.

Pat’s note: I can’t remember when I first stumbled onto Biff, but these comics are like little zen stories. They’re little haiku of bizarre misery. Fun stuff.

“R. K. Milholland has created one of the most entertaining web comics online right now. He has done this through excellent character development, precise comedic timing, a cynical attitude and a craftsman’s attention to detail in his art. The strip is not for everyone. It can be offensive, cynical, and textually graphic. Language is not filtered at all, and so the strip is not suitable for children. If you enjoy cynicism, dislike stupidity or self-righteousness, or if you simply wish you could express yourself with a baseball bat rather than a snarky letter to the editor, you’ll enjoy this.” – A.G. Hopkins at The Webcomics Examiner

  • One set of Hijinks Ensue Volume 1 and 2: Godspeed, You Fancy Bastard and My Heart Is A Hate-filled Pineapple by Joel Watson. Signed by Joel Watson.

“Watson’s account on the origins of his webcomic is a fascinating read on how he came to the decision to quit his job and do HijiNKS Ensue full time. It’s a nice testimonial on the values of following your dreams and leaving a legacy. Watson doesn’t hide the fears he has of failure. I appreciate the sometimes uncomfortable honesty of a man who’s willing to risk it all on a crazy dream.” – TheWebcomicOverlook.com

“When Willis flexes his crazy, nerdy sense of humor, he can squeeze out classics. And while the content is catered toward basement dwellers, Willis does possess a sense of comedic timing that makes the strip funny for everyone, even if you have no idea what a KISS Player Transformer is. (Philistine.)” -TheWebcomicOverlook.com

The winner of this auction will collaborate with webcomic artist Greg Dean, on making a guest appearance in a Real Life comic. While only one comic is guaranteed, the guest appearance may span more than one strip if the character becomes entangled in a longer storyline. And while the nature of the strip will be collaborative, the final call on content does belong to Greg. The winner of the auction will be put in touch with Greg.

You can bid to be in the Real Life world here.

  • Auction: Fourth Docter Who Scarf donated by Greg Dean.

Proving just how cool and talented he is, Greg Dean of Real Life Comics fame, has donated this amazing reproduction of the Fourth Doctor’s famous scarf. What makes this total win? Greg Dean spent around 70 hours knitting this beauty on his own. A month of toil led to the creation of 13 feet of woolen Doctor Who splendor. Just to make sure it was up to snuff, Greg wore the scarf a bit this winter before sending it to Worldbuilders. He also wore it in Real Life as well. So not only are you getting this neat Doctor Who inspired swag, but the creator of Real Life Comics made and briefly wore it.

You can bid here for this delicious scarf.

“Questionable Content is kind of like if the guy from Office Space turned into a disaffected twenty-something year old with a pet robot who spent his off work hours hanging out with baristas and discussing indie-rock, poop, relationships, and ladies’ bottoms.” – Examiner.com

Gaming fans will appreciate this awesome imagined scene that Jeph Jacques has created featuring the cool characters from his quirky webcomic Questionable Content.

This print measures 11 inches by 17 inches and is signed by the man himself.

You can view and bid on the auction here.

  • AUCTION: Signed & Numbered The Complete Collection of Girly by Josh Lesnick.

The super sexy Complete Collection of Girly by Josh Lesnick. Pat is donating this signed and numbered collection, 270 of 500. Josh Lesnick’s cool comic was published at girlyyy.com from 2003 to 2010 and now this auction winner can get one of the few copies of the Complete Collection of Girly.

This auction also comes with a signed illustration from Josh Lesnick.

To view and bid on this auction, click here.

“For more than 20 years, various cartoonists have jostled for the title of spiritual heir to Gary Larson, the famously weird creator of the groundbreaking strip The Far Side. Web cartoonist Gurewitch is a solid contender for the title. His preferred subject matter certainly tracks Larson: murderous mimes, vengeful T. Rexes and adulterous rolls of coins all make appearances… Subtle, sly and deeply, deeply weird, The Perry Bible Fellowship is one of the best comics out there.” – Publishers Weekly

AUCTION: A full set of the signed Girl Genius softcover collections AND your name will appear in Girl Genius in 2012.

That’s right, a full set of the Girl Genius softcover collections (That’s 10 books, each with a cover price of $22.95) mailed to you or to that special friend who once saved your life. They will all be signed by Kaja and Phil, AND- The high bidder will see their name appear within Girl Genius sometime in the next calendar year. Maybe you will just run a shop in Mechanicsburg. Maybe you will be a walk–on character with lines. Maybe you will become a recurring major villain with your own mini-series and sexy minions and an action figure and underoos and everything (this is extremely unlikely, but in an infinite universe, anything can happen).

You may recall a certain Doctor Rothfuss who made his own appearance in the Girl Genius world…

We love Kaja and Phil. They are awesome clever folks. Check them out on their webpage.

And check out this tempting auction here.

  • One copy of The Splendid Magic of Penny Arcade: The 11 1/2 Anniversary Edition by Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik. Signed by Gabe and Tyco.

Pat’s Note: If you’re interested, last year I did a fun interview with Jerry.

“If you’ve been living under a rock for the last ten years or so, you might not have heard of the web comic Penny Arcade. Produced by Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins, the comic, featuring two cameo characters called Tycho and Gabe, covers not only the ins and outs of the latest news and releases from the video game industry, but geekdom in general. Well-known SFF figures such as John Scalzi and Wil Wheaton are staunch fans of the comic and well acquainted with the authors in real life; the foreword of this book is written lovingly by Scalzi himself… The book is an easy, often hilarious read, and an absolute must-have for fans of the comic and newcomers alike.” – SFSite.com

  • Three copies of Penny Arcade Volume 7: Be Good, Little Puppy by Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik. Signed by Gabe and Tyco. Introduction by Pat Rothfuss.

Pat’s Note: I got to write the intro to this book. Which makes me feel like a big man…

“Do not be deceived by this cutesy cover of Tycho and Gabe having fun with a puppy and butterflies, for within these pages lies tales of damnation and lust; whatever you do, don’t let a child get ahold of this book… and for those who are already familiar with the unforgettable and endlessly entertaining comic know as Penny Arcade, then this cover works as an excellent camouflage for the sordid-laughter-inducing artwork within its pages…” – Bookbanter

  • One set of Penny Arcade Volumes 1-7 by Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik. Signed by Gabe and Tyco.

“Forget your warm and fuzzy newspaper strips. Penny Arcade is a scathing send-up of geek culture with jokes sharp enough to injure an eye… To say that Tycho and Gabe, its, uh, heroes, are video-game enthusiasts would be like saying that Anakin Skywalker has issues.” – Booklist

  • AUCTION: Penny Arcade Signed Print of When Larry Met Mary.

Pat’s Note: Can I be honest here? Having Kvothe make a cameo appearance in a PA comic might be the biggest geek-out moment of my life. Seriously. I love Mike and Jerry with the nerdy passion of a thousand white-hot suns.

This signed print comes right from the fine folks at Penny Arcade. Pat’s mentioned this particular treat in his blog last spring. Starting as a Penny Arcade strip, this clever 12” x 18” print is signed by Gabe and Tycho.

Shouldn’t you have a visual of Kvothe and his prowess hanging from your bedroom wall?

Place your bids for this beautiful print here.

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Remember, for every 10 dollars you donate on our Team Page, you get a chance to win these books and thousands of others. 

For a list of all the auctions Worldbuilders is currently running, you can head over here.

If you want to see all the other items that have been donated to Worldbuilders, or just learn more about the fundraiser itself, you head over to the main page.

Also posted in cool things, geeking out, Webcomics | By Pat13 Responses

Still More Signed Books

This is a Worldbuilders blog.

Today we have another batch of books donated by the authors themselves.

Most of them, as always, are going into the general lottery. But we’re auctioning off a few treasures at the bottom of the list as well… So make sure to check those out, too.

  • One first edition hardcover set of Tome of the Undergates and Black Halo by Sam Sykes. Signed by the author.

Pat’s Note: I met Sam Sykes at Worldcon this year, and we spent the better part of two hours having an in-depth conversation about… things. Things which I realize now I really shouldn’t mention in a charity blog.

Suffice to say that it was a refreshingly deviant conversation. I had a great time, though we probably really freaked out the people sitting nearby….

“Sam Sykes is the Hot Young Turk of fantastic fiction.” – James A. Owen

  • One set of Shadowmarch: Shadowmarch, Shadowplay, Shadowrise, and Shadowheart and The War of the Flowers by Tad Williams. All books signed by the author.

“Packed with mind-blowing surprises… a brilliantly engaging fantasy.” – SFX

One set of 100 Stories for Haiti and 100 Stories for Queensland by Robert J. McCarter. Signed by Robert J. McCarter.

“One hundred beautiful stories. Our stories. When so much was lost or destroyed, this was created. That’s something that can never recede or wash away.” Kate Eltham, CEO of The Queensland Writers Centre

  • Two sets of Signing Their Lives Away: The Fame and Misfortune of the Men Who Signed The United States Constitution and The Fame and Misfortune of the Men Who Signed The Declaration of Independence by Denise Kiernan and Joseph D’Agnese. Signed by the authors.

“Readers will delight as they discover just which signer “was the first to die,” “slept in caves,” “had the worst penmanship,” and “went broke on shady land deals.” School Library Journal Starred Review

  • Two hardcover copies of Blockhead: the Life of Fibonacci by Joseph D’Agnese. Signed by the author.

“This lighthearted introduction to Fibonacci’s ideas will inspire young math lovers and perhaps point them toward more scholarly explorations.” – School Library Journal.

  • One set of The Iron Druid Chronicles: Hounded, Hexed and Hammered by Kevin Hearne. Signed by the author.

“A page-turning and often laugh-out-loud funny caper through a mix of the modern and the mythic.” – Ari Marmell

“It’s the best kind of story… and Susan M. MacDonald is the best kind of writer… You can hardly stand to put the book aside until you’ve finished.” – Orson Scott Card, author of Ender’s Game

  • One set of ARCS of The Adamantine Palace, The King of the Crags and The Order of the Scales by Stephen Deas. Includes signed postcard from the author.

“A fast, sharp, ruthless read.” – Joe Abercrombie

  • Two copies of Shuffled Off: A Ghost’s Memoir by Robert J McCarter. Signed by the author.

Shuffled Off is a first-person ghost story that follows JJ into the afterlife. As one reviewer put it: ” A fast paced enjoyable reading experience that held my attention to the very end and left me hoping for a sequel. Highly recommended!”

  • Two copies of Geek Dad by Ken Denmead. Signed by the author.

Pat’s Note: I really love this book. I’ve already ordered myself a copy, as I’m hoping to bring up Oot so he’s a proper Geek.

Supergeek and father of two, Ken Denmead is an engineer and editor of the incredibly popular GeekDad blog on wired.com.  Ken has created the ultimate, idea-packed guide guaranteed to help dads and kids alike enjoy the magic of playtime together and tap into the infinite possibility of their imagination.

Pat’s Note: If you click to embiggen the above picture, you will see that the blurb on the front of the book is mine. Go on. Click it and take a look.

I have to tell y’all, having my blurb on the front of this book is probably one of the cooler things that’s ever happened to me as a published author.

It’s also rather baffling though. Helping promote The Last Unicorn is like being asked to act as a character reference for St. Francis Assisi….

The Last Unicorn is the best I have ever read. You need to read it. If you’ve already read it, you need to it again.” – Patrick Rothfuss

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And now the auctions:

  • AUCTION: Signed First Edition hardcover of The Wooden Man by Harry Connolly. Includes ghost knife from the author.

Pat’s Note: Harry Connolly sent us two books, and several people e-mailed us, pleading that we put one of them up in an auction. Apparently he doesn’t do many appearances, so it’s really hard to get hold of his signature.

So we’re auctioning one off. Never let it be said that we ignored the will of the people.

“Excellent reading… a truly dark and sinister world, delicious tension and suspense, violence so gritty you’ll get something in your eye just reading it.” – Jim Butcher

You can bid on this book over here.

  • AUCTION: Signed hardcover of The Onion: Our Front Page 1988 – 2008. Signed by the Onion Staff.

Pat’s Note: I was a fan of the Onion back before any of you even knew who they were. Because I grew up in Madison, where the Onion got its start.

About a year back, I met up with some of the Onion staff at a convention in Madison, and I had a good old fashioned geek out, because I’ve been reading their stuff since high school. It turns out they’d read my book, and we quickly decided to be Best Friends Forever.

This book is signed by a ton of the lovely folks on the Onion staff. Not just one or two of them, either. Check it out:

That’s a lot of satirical mojo right there….

You can check out the option and place your bids over here.

  • AUCTION: signed, leather-bound copies of The Gathering Storm and Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson with Wheel of Time jewelry.

These gorgeous gold-lettered books are leather-bound and designated “S” out of 26 lettered copies. The books come in their own matching leather slipcase, feature a facimilie of Robert Jordan’s signature, and are signed by Brandon Sanderson.

In addition to these stunning best-selling books, this auction includes three lovely pieces of jewelry inspired by Jordan’s series: an Asha’man Dragon Pin, a Dedicated Sword Pin, and a Great Serpent Ring.

We are very grateful to Brandon Sanderson for his donation of these rare books, and to the folks at Badali  for makinc things even sweeter with the addition of the jewelry.

To see more pictures of these gorgeous books, or to place a bid on the auction, click here.

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Remember, for every 10 dollars you donate on our Team Page, you get a chance to win these books and many, many more.

Even better, if you chip in before February 7th of 2012, Worldbuilders will match 50% of your donation. So you’re making the world a better place by half again as much.

To see all the auctions Worldbuilders is currently running click over here.

If you want to see the other donations and learn more about the fundraiser itself you can head over to the main Worldbuilders page.

Later space cowboys,

pat

Posted in Worldbuilders 2011 | By Pat14 Responses

Graphic Novels

This is a Worldbuilders blog.

Today we’ve got graphic novels donated by bookstores, comic publishers, and the authors themselves.

These first ones are from Dreamhaven.

  • Five hardcover graphic novel copies of Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.

“Fifteen men on the dead man’s chest – Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum!” With this sinister snatch of piratical song echoing along the English coast, the mysterious Billy Bones ushers young Jim Hawkins into an undreamed-of world of danger and adventure on the far-flung, mist-shrouded Treasure Island… the excitement is all here, in words and pictures of vibrant color – skillfully adapted by award-winning writer Roy Thomas and artist Mario Gully.

“These are all-ages comics: simple enough to be enjoyed by kids, yet with enough philosophical depth to keep adults interested as well.” – Popmatters

Donated by IDW Publishing.

Pat’s Note: this is a really great series that pretty much defies description. It’s sort of like a more surreal version of a Lovecraft story. Less existential horror, more creepy mystery.

“Novelist Hill, author of Heart-Shaped Box, crafts a gripping account of the shattered Locke family’s attempt to rebuild after the father/husband is murdered by a deranged high school student and the family subsequently moving in with the deceased father’s brother at the family homestead in Maine. But as anyone who has read horror fiction in the past 70-odd years will tell you, it’s a bad idea to try to leave behind the gruesome goings-on in your life by moving to an island named Lovecraft… ” – Publisher’s Weekly

  • One hardcover copy of Dave Stevens: Complete Sketches & Studies.

Dave Stevens self-published four sketchbooks to sell at the San Diego Comic Con. These were very limited editions and are now highly sought-after collectibles. This volume collects the entire contents of those four sketchbooks, plus approximately 100 additional pieces that have never before been published.

  • One numbered hardcover graphic novel copy of Bloom County The Complete Library Volume Four: 1986 – 1987 by Berkeley Breathed. Signed by the artist and numbered 441/500.

This is Book Four of Berkeley Breathed’s Eisner Award-winning series. It features some of the most fondly remembered Bloom County cartoons, both from a humor standpoint and from a biting, political one. This is the period for which Breathed won a Pulitzer Prize, the highest award in journalism, for editorial cartooning. Breathed is one of only two cartoonists to win a Pulitzer for editorial cartooning.

  • One hardcover copy of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: the Ultimate Collection, Volume 1.

Rediscover the underground roots of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, starting with this special edition hardcover collection of Mirage Studios” issues #1-7 along with the Raphael one-shot by creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird! With over 300 pages of mutated-martial arts action, this volume is perfect for fans to relive the glorious days of the Turtles” origins as well as an excellent place for new readers to see where the TMNT phenomena began.

  • One hardcover copy of The Rocketeer The Complete Adventures by Dave Stevens.

“Speeding across the sky like a jet-propelled dream, Stevens’s Rocketeer is one of the most enduring and endearing images of ’80s comics. Set in the ’30s, these tales follow Cliff Secord, an impulsive young stunt pilot who finds a mysterious jetpack that enables him to fly. And then his troubles—and the fun—begin….” – Publishers Weekly

A special adaptation of the big-screen retelling of the ancient myth from filmmakers Neil Gaiman, Roger Avary and Robert Zemeckis! In the sixth century, the warrior Beowulf must do battle with the monster Grendel as well as Grendel’s mother and a dragon who has a personal connection to the Scandanavian warrior. Adapted by Chris Ryall and Gabriel Rodriguez.

From Sea Lion Books.

“Knaak carves deep into the cornerstones of fantasy bringing forth darkness and horror while weaving subterfuges of a long-lived magic destined to wreak havoc on a world that thought war and bloodshed was a thing of the past.” – Chris Evans

  • Six graphic novels of Dark Swan: Storm Born Volume 1 by Richelle Mead.

Eugenie Markham never asked for any of this. Until now, she”s been content with her job as a freelance shaman, battling and banishing Otherworldly creatures. When a prophecy suddenly makes her the Otherworld”s most popular bachelorette, Eugenie finds herself fighting off unwanted supernatural suitors, as well as the evils that begin emerging from her past…

From Dynamite.

  • Five graphic novels of Fear Nothing: Volume One by Dean Koontz.

“Dean Koontz is not just a master of our darkest dreams, but also a literary juggler.” – The Times (London)

“There is plenty to like in this comic. Fans can revel in the careful realizations of familiar characters. Newcomers can delight in high quality, evocatively colored art, including numerous two-page spreads. The story feels like it was intended for the comic book medium . . . due in no small way to Chuck Dixon’s hand in this. Top flight.” – ComicCritique.com

Acclaimed New York Times Bestselling author Charlaine Harris, the writer of the Sookie Stackhouse series, has joined the Dynamite Entertainment family with the first book of her hit Harper Connelly series, Grave Sight. For the past five years, readers have been thrilled by the Harper Connelly series which follows a woman who has what you might call a strange job: she finds dead people!

  • Three graphic novels of The Dresden Files – Stormfront by Jim Butcher.

“The Dresden novels are already New York Times bestsellers, and this comic looks like another winner.” – Publishers Weekly

  • Six graphic novels of Wild Cards – The Hard Call by Daniel Abraham.

“Set in the world of the novels edited by George R.R. Martin and featuring a brand-new set of characters, as well as appearances from many old favorites, “Wild Cards: The Hard Call” is an original story written specifically for comics that will enchant new readers and old fans alike.”

Pat’s Note: This book is huge. Perfectly in keeping with a collection featuring the god of thunder.

Thanks to IDW for this gorgeous hardcover collection of Walter Simonson’s The Mighty Thor. Scanning from Simonson’s original art has ensured that all the pages of this masterpiece are reproduced with the highest possible quality.

Interested? You can bid on this book over here.

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Remember, for every 10 dollars you donate on our Team Page, you get a chance to win these books and over a thousand others.

Even better, if you chip in before February 7th of 2012, Worldbuilders will match 50% of your donation. So you’re making the world a better place by half again as much.

If you’d like to see all the auctions Worldbuilders is currently running, you can find them over here.

To see the other books we’re giving away, you can head over to our main page HERE.

Posted in Worldbuilders 2011 | By Pat25 Responses

Auctions: Critiques and Other Assorted Cool

This is a Worldbuilders blog.

First, a quick announcement. We’re extending the end date of Worldbuilders to February 7th. I looked at all the donations we still haven’t listed and realized we needed a little extra time to fit them all in.

Second, today I get to introduce you to several delightful human beings who have generously generously offered their time and talent to Worldbuilders, so we can auction them off.

We have authors, editors, and agents offering to read and critique unpublished manuscripts, a tuckerization, and a bookbinding that I myself am currently resisting the urge to bid on.

All auctions are starting at one (1) penny. And remember, proceeds go to improving people’s lives all over the world though Heifer International,  so bid lavishly and spread the word.

  • A read-and-critique of the first 20,000 words of your manuscript by agent Matt Bialer.

Pat’s Note: Matt is my agent, and I wouldn’t trade him for his weight in gold. He helped me revise my book several times before we landed a publisher, and his help has been invaluable in revising my second book. He’s all kinds of smart, understands stories, and I can honestly say that if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

You can get more of his professional information HERE.

Matt Bialer (literary agent) will read and evaluate the opening chapters of one manuscript (up to 20,000 words) within three months of submission, not including the last few weeks of December. He will read and critique, and help the author think about the issues that could be raised by editors at publishing houses. He will write a general evaluation of the book, both strengths and weaknesses, but line editing is NOT included. If the book is fantastic or has the potential to be fantastic then offering representation is not out of the question — but representation is not a guarantee.

Mailing details and contact with Matt will be set up following the auction

Interested? You can bid on this critique from Matt Bialer over here.

  • A read-and-critique of your short story of 7,500 words by Jennifer Brozek .

Jennifer Brozek (DAW Books Human for a Day Editor, Editor Assistant Editor Apex Publications) will read and evaluate your short story (up to 7,500 words) within six weeks of submission. She will write a general evaluation of the story and mark up the manuscript using comments and track changes in the document itself. With seven anthologies, two writing awards and one editing award under her belt, she has the experience and skills to help your story be the best it can be. The bulk of her experience is in horror, science fiction, and urban fantasy. Also, the winner will receive two signed anthologies edited by Jennifer Brozek: Human for a Day, published by DAW and the award winning Grants Pass, published by Morrigan Books.

In addition to a manuscript review, Jennifer will be providing the winner with two anthologies that she has edited, Human for a Day and Grants Pass. Grants Pass won the 2010 Australian Shadows Award for best edited publication. She will personalize and sign each book and send them to the winner.

You may learn more about Jennifer at her website.

Mailing details and contact with Jennifer Brozek will be set up following the auction.

Interested? You can bid on Jennifer’s critique over here.

  • A read-and-critique of your manuscript up to 10,000 words by Kat Howard.

Pat’s Note: Kat once saved my life by lifting a burning SUV off my shattered body, and carrying me three miles to a hospital on her back. True story.

Kat Howard is a writer of speculative fiction and an academic, teaching English literature at Stony Brook University. She is a 2008 graduate of Clarion (UCSD). Kat has short fiction that has appeared in the anthology Stories, in Weird Tales, and is forthcoming in Lightspeed and Subterranean. One of her short stories, “Choose Your Own Adventure,” was just chosen for Rich Horton’s Year’s Best Science Fiction and Fantasy, 2012.

Kat will review one piece of writing, up to 10,000 words. Whether that is in the form of one short story, or a section of a novel is up to the winner (She just ask that it not be something like ten one thousand word short stories, please.) She would like the work to be double-spaced in a standard, readable font. It will probably about two weeks, so long as she does not have any other deadlines in that period of time. Kat will provide an overall response to the story or novel excerpt, including what she feels are the strengths and weaknesses of the piece as a whole. She’ll talk about character, plot, language, theme, all the storytelling and craft kinds of details. What she will not do is a line or copy edit.

Learn more about Kat on her blog.

Mailing details and contact with Kat Howard will be set up following the auction.

Interested? You can bid on Kat’s critique over here.

  • A read-and-critique of the first 100 pages of your manuscript by David Pomerico.

Pat’s Note: David is the sort of editor I would have loved to have read my manuscript and give me a few pointers back during the long years of rejection before my book was published. What’s more, he’s an absolute prince for donating his time and energy to Worldbuilders even though I don’t have the least bit of blackmail evidence to use against him.

The official description:

David Pomerico is an Associate Editor at Del Rey Spectra, where he focuses primarily on traditional fantasy, urban fantasy, and dystopian and post-apocalyptic literature. That’s not to say that he doesn’t know other genres (he claims to be something known as “well-read”), but that’s definitely where his interests lie. He’s worked with a variety of authors, including Felix Gilman, Sarah Zettel, David J. Williams, Chris Wooding, Darin Bradley, and Ari Marmell, as well as being a part of the Star Wars publishing program at Del Rey. He’s offering a detailed critique and commentary (but not a line edit) for the first 100 pages or so of your manuscript (double-spaced, please—and no margin shenanigans!), which he will get back to you within three months of receiving the manuscript. While he could possibly be blown away and want to make an offer on your book, this isn’t guaranteed (otherwise this might be a really pricey auction!).

Mailing details and contact with David will be set up following the auction.

Interested? You can bid on David’s critique over here.

  • A read-and-critique of first 100 pages of your manuscript by Adrienne Lombardo.

Adrienne Lombardo started at Trident Media Group in the winter 2009 as the assistant to Ellen Levine and later to Don Fehr as well. Before being promoted to Audio Rights Agent in January 2011, she was instrumental in managing Ellen Levine’s extensive backlist, helping to find new clients and handling various subrights sales. She holds an MS in Publishing from New York University.

Her interests include general commercial, sci-fi/fantasy, paranormal, horror and historical fiction, graphic novels, YA, narrative nonfiction and memoir. “My main focus is science fiction, fantasy and horror, genres I’ve been reading all my life, and I’m interested in authors who know how to create worlds of their own.”

She will provide a detailed critique of the first 100 pages of your manuscript and an opinion on the book’s saleability. She is already going blind (probably from reading too much), so she would appreciate a double-spaced submission. She will get back to you within two months of 2012. If she likes your book enough, she may decide she wants to represent you.

Mailing details and contact with Adrienne Lombardo will be set up following the auction.

Interested? You can bid on Adrienne’s critique over here.

Bradley P. Beaulieu is the author of The Winds of Khalakovo, the first of three planned books in The Lays of Anuskaya series. In addition to being an L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Award winner, Brad’s stories have appeared in various other publications, including Realms of Fantasy Magazine, Orson Scott Card’s Intergalactic Medicine Show, Writers of the Future 20, and several anthologies from DAW Books. His story, “In the Eyes of the Empress’s Cat,” was voted a Notable Story of 2006 in the Million Writers Award.

Bradley P. Beaulieu is pleased to offer one story or chapter critique of up to 7,500 words. Brad will draft a formal review that will cover such things as how well the story opens, complicates, and closes, how well the characterization works, dialogue, tone, pacing, tension, and a host of other issues. Essentially, he’ll provide a formal review on the positives and negatives found in the story. For these and many more details, including Brad’s bona fides, please visit his Worldbuilders 2011 Auctions page.

Mailing details and contact with Bradley will be set up following the auction

Interested? You can bid on Bradley’s critique over here.

  • Tuckerization to appear in book by Bradley P. Beaulieu

Tuckerize: The use of a person’s name or description in an original story. Term is derived from Wilson Tucker who made a practice of using his friends’ names for minor characters in the stories.

Bradley P. Beaulieu is pleased to offer one Tuckerization for inclusion in the third and final novel of his critically acclaimed Lays of Anuskaya trilogy. All proceeds from the auctions will benefit the 2012 Worldbuilders fundraiser. For the details, please visit Brad’s Worldbuilders 2011 Auctions page.

Contact details with Bradley will be set up following the auction

Interested? You can bid on Bradley’s tuckerization over here.

My name is Gerald and I have been working as a professional bookbinder and conservator for a little over a decade. I am originally from Charleston, South Carolina, though I now work and live in Northern Indiana with my wife, daughter, a disinterested cat named Rudy, and an obscenely large book collection. My specialties in bookbinding are 15th – 19th century style reproductions in leather. You may view my work at here.

The bookbinding process typically takes 4-6 weeks depending on the complexity. I am offering to rebind one book of the winner’s choice in leather (either calfskin or goatskin) and tooled on the spine and boards. I will work with the winner in regards to leather type and color, what kind of marbled endpapers they would prefer, and design suggestions…I have quite a few images and scans that I can provide. The winner will pay to ship the book to me, and I will pay shipping for the return of the completed book.

Mailing details and contact with Gerald Ward will be set up following the auction.

Interested? You can bid on Gerald’s bookbinding over here.

  • A read-and-critique of your entire manuscript by Pat Rothfuss.

(Me.)

I’ll read and critique your whole book. Though I should put some sort of reasonable limit on it, I suppose. How about this: I’ll read your book, anything up to 200,000 words.

What else should I say about myself? It’s hard for me to do these promotional write-ups for myself. Let’s see…

Before I became a published writer, I was a teacher for five years. Before that, I was a writing tutor for nine years. So I know something about giving productive feedback on a piece of writing. I’ve read roughly ten thousand novels, mostly sci-fi and fantasy.

I think about stories all the time and am obsessive about revision. I also have a soothing baritone voice, an IQ in the 160s, and the ability to steal any other mutant’s power just by touching them.

Ah hell… See? I can never take these things seriously. Just read the official description below for the details:

Patrick Rothfuss (international bestselling author, lover of women, and hirsute iconoclast) will read your manuscript and give you critical feedback. We’ll schedule this based on when your manuscript will be ready and my own schedular constraints.

I’ll read through your manuscript, scrawling notes and dirty words in the margins, then I’ll call you on the phone and we can discuss it. I won’t write you up a detailed critique because that’s not how I roll. But we’ll probably chat on the phone for a couple of hours discussing the various strengths and weaknesses of the book, your writing craft, and I’ll offer any suggestions I might have.

If I think your book is super-awesome, I might be willing to pass it along to someone. But be very aware that what you’re buying here is a critique, not a blurb or an introduction to the publishing world. A critique.

You can bid on the critique by Pat Rothfuss over here.

*     *     *

Obviously, these auctions are only going to be running for a limited time. So if you know of someone who might be interested, I’d take it as a kindness if you let them know.

If you’d like to see all the auctions Worldbuilders is currently running, you can find them over here.

Or, if you want to see all the other items that have been donated to Worldbuilders, or just learn more about the fundraiser itself, you head over to the main page.

Posted in Worldbuilders 2011 | By Pat34 Responses

Books from Various Publishers

This is a Worldbuilders blog.

Today we have more books for the lottery. All of these were donated by their respective publishers, proving they are delightful, thoughtful folks, who will be spared when the revolution comes….

First some books from Del Rey and Bantam.

  • One hardcover set of A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin: A Game of Thrones, A Storm of Swords, A Clash of Kings, and A Dance with Dragons. A Storm of Swords is signed by the author.

C’mon. It’s George Martin. I really don’t need to tell you why these books are cool, do I?

  • One first edition hardcover copy of In His Majesty’s Service by Naomi Novik . Signed by the author.

Pat’s note: This is actually collection of three different Temeraire novels. It’s like a hat trick of good bookness.

Temeraire is a terrifically entertaining fantasy novel. Is it hard to imagine a cross between Susanna Clarke, of Norrell and Strange fame, and the late Patrick O’Brian? Not if you’ve read this wonderful, arresting novel.” – Stephen King

  • Three hardcover copies of Star Wars: Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn.

“This collectible hardcover contains numerous new features, including an introduction and annotations by author Zahn; exclusive commentary from LucasFilm and Del Rey books; and, not least, a new novella featuring Grand Admiral Thrawn himself. One of the most exciting Star Wars epics of all.” – Barnes and Noble

*     *     *

We have some cool BBC audio productions from AudioGO:

  • Three BBC Box sets: Doctor Who: The BBC Radio Episodes, Classic Radio Sci-F:i The John Wyndham Collection and Classic Radio Sci-Fi: 5 Full Cast Radio Dramatizations.

Pat’s Note: Over the last few years, as I keep getting busier, I listen to more and more audiobooks. Unfortunately, here in the US, radio drama is a largely lost art. But the BBC has a fine tradition of turning out brilliant productions.

Needless to say, I covet these to a ridiculous degree. I was tempted not to put them in the fundraiser at all and just keep them for myself.

Doctor Who: A special slipcase edition containing full-cast BBC radio adventures: “The Paradise of Death,” “The Ghosts of N-Space,” “Exploration Earth – The Time Machine,” and “Slipback.” Also included is the 1975 made-for-LP audio adventure “Doctor Who and the Pescatons” and the 1994 spoof “Whatever Happened To…Susan?”

The John Wyndham Collection includes the acclaimed BBC Radio dramatizations of seven different Wyndham novels. With detailed sleeve notes written by Andrew Pixley recounting the making of the radio adaptations, and Radio Times billings for the original radio broadcasts, this box set is guaranteed to appeal to all fans of radio drama.

The collection of classic dramatizations includes five seminal science fiction classics brought vividly to life with casts including Robert Glenister, William Gaunt, Carleton Hobbs and Gerald Harper. The stories include: Frankenstein, The Time Machine, The Lost World, R.U.R., and Solaris.

*     *     *

Some lovely books from Tachyon Publications:

  • Five copies of The Bible Repairman by Tim Powers.

Pat’s Note: Tim Powers is one of my favorite authors. He’s a brilliant writer and a hell of a nice guy. Not to mention that he really helped me out when I was a helpless newbie author. He taught me a lot about how the publishing world works, and saved me from making a bunch of terrible mistakes.

If you haven’t read his stuff yet, you’re really missing out.

“One of the most original and innovative writers… the quality of Powers prose never falters… His writing defies characterization and he never repeats himself.” – Washington Post Book World

  • One copy of The Secret History of Fantasy edited by Peter S. Beagle. Signed by Peter S. Beagle and Gregory Maguire.

Pat’s Note: I wasn’t aware of this anthology until it showed up for the fundraiser. Now I’m going to have to go buy a copy. If you embiggen the above photo, you can see the all-star cast of authors in this book.

“…set[s] out to rewrite our concept of fantasy, and with the help of some of the world’s best writers, succeeds admirably.” – The Agony Column

“This entrancing book perfectly captures the subconscious logic of fairy tales—you’ll find yourself believing it all, and wishing you could go to these places yourself, with all their wonders and perils.” – Tim Powers

*     *     *

Some from Consortium Books

  • Three copies of Taming Fire by Aaron Pogue. Signed by the author.

“Daven Carrickson grew up as a beggar in the filthy alleys beneath the shadows of the palace. He’s the son of a known thief, disgraced and despised. His only real talent is his ability with a sword. Then Daven receives a new future when Master Claighan invites him to study magic at the Academy, offering to make him into a new kind of soldier….”

  • One set of Gods Tomorrow, Expectation and Restraint by Aaron Pogue. Signed by the author.

“We abandoned privacy and turned databases into something like gods. They listened to our prayers. They met our needs and blessed us with new riches. They watched over us, protected us, and punished the wicked among us. We almost made a paradise. But there were those who tried to hide from the databases’ all-seeing eye….” – From back cover

  • One set of Colors of Deception and Shadows After Midnight by Courtney Cantrell. Signed by the author.

Blood in the shower. Worms in the food. And friends who keep too many secrets.” – From back cover

*     *     *

And last but not least, some novels from Night Shade Books:

  • Five hardcover copies of Agatha H and the Airship City: A Girl Genius Novel by Phil and Kaja Foglio. Signed by the authors.

I’ve talked about my love for Girl Genuis on the blog before. So if you want to see my full gush about the authors, head over there.

Here, let me simply say that this novelization of the comic continues the Foglio’s fine tradition of mad science. Plus there are hunky guys with their shirts off, and zombies, and ladies running about in the scantiest of Victorian underwear (which, admittedly, is more than your average college student wears to class these days.)  Plus there’s more more mad science, and cleverness, and funny, and awesome, and a talking cat.

Seriously. Read Girl Genius.

“A tense adventure fantasy, with magic, intrigue, and engaging characters in a desperate race to cross a deadly mountain range… an exciting original read.” – Martha Wells, Author of The Cloud Roads

“Paolo Bacigalupi is clearly the fifth rider of the Apocalypse-you know, the one who writes science fiction in his spare time.” – Kelly Link, author of Magic for Beginners and Pretty Monsters

*     *     *

Remember, for every 10 dollars you donate on our Team Page, you get a chance to win these books and over a thousand others.

Even better, if you chip in before January 31st of 2012, Worldbuilders will match 50% of your donation. So you’re making the world a better place by half again as much.

To see the other books we’re giving away, as well as our current auctions, and the items we’re selling in the store, you can head over to our main page HERE.

Posted in Worldbuilders 2011 | By Pat25 Responses

New Posters, Foreign books, and Sale Pricing on Calendars

This is a Worldbuilders blog.

Okay. It’s a bright, shiny new year and we just got some stuff back from the printer. That means it’s time to do a blog about the store.

Remember, all money spent in The Tinker’s Packs goes directly to Worldbuilders.

  • New Year Discount on the 2012 Literary Pin-Up Calendars

We’ve sold quite a few of the calendars since we announced them on the blog a couple months back. And so far people have been liking them fairly well.

That said, we’ve still got a bunch left.

And, unlike books, calendars have a limited shelf life. That means if we don’t sell these soon, they’re going to be pretty useless and we’ll end up having to recycle them.

So. Since we’re already into 2012, we’re going to be discounting the calendars. Right now if you buy anything in the store, you can get a calendar for half price, (just 10 bucks.) Since we’d really rather see these find loving homes, we’ll throw in free US shipping on the calendar, too. (Or $4 off international shipping.)

That means, for example, if you were to buy a signed copy of the princess and Mr. Whiffle,  you could add a calendar to your order for just ten bucks with no additional shipping cost. Or you could buy TWO calendars and it would just cost you thirty bucks total.

Just use the discount code: NEWYEAR when you check out. It’s easy.

Here’s a link to calendars in the store.

This poster was created by Gailivro (my Portuguese publisher) as a promotion for their translation of The Wise Man’s Fear. The art was done by Andreas Rocha.

They’ve graciously allowed us to reprint it sell copies here for Worldbuilders. They’re cool folks.

These posters are 24″x18″ and printed on the same high-quality paper as the Draccus Posters and the Four Corners Map. You can buy signed or unsigned copies, depending on what flips your switch.

Here’s the link to the posters in the store.

  • Foreign translations of many books from various authors.

I’ve been selling signed copies of my foreign editions in The Tinker’s Packs for a while now. The main reason I do it is to raise money for Wordbuilders, of course.

But I do have ulterior motives…

For one thing, it frees up some much-needed shelf space in my house. I have over thirty foreign editions of The Name of the Wind so far, and none of them are tiny. And while my vanity shelf is kinda cool to show off to people, there’s really only so many Serbian copies of my own book I can personally put to good use.

But the main reason I decided to put them in the store is that people kept e-mailing me, asking where they could buy a copy of the Korean translation of The Name of the Wind. Because they were trying to learn Korean. Or because they have a Korean exchange student living with them. Or because their grandparents are better with Korean than with English.

I did some looking around and discovered it’s really *really* hard to get foreign translations of good fantasy and sci-fi books here in the US. If nothing else, the shipping fees are insane. And getting *signed* foreign copies, for, say, a gift? Forget about it.

So this year I decided to try something new. When I went around asking some of my author friends for book donations, I asked if they had any foreign editions they’d be willing to donate. Not only would they get some shelf space back, but it would make those books available to their fans…

To date we’ve had about a dozen authors take us up on the offer, giving us a nice collection of books in all sorts of languages.

You can look them over here in the store.

We’ll be adding more books as they continue to come in from various donors. It’s my hope that eventually the Tinker’s Packs will become the place that all authors send their lonely, unloved foreign editions. I’d love to be the go-to place for folks looking for foreign translations of their favorite fantasy and Sci-Fi books.

[If you’re an author and you have books you’d like to send us, drop us a line at Worldbuilders2011 [squigly atsign] gmail.com]

To learn more about the authors who donated foreign books to Worldbuilders, you can visit them at their home pages and maybe let them know how much you appreciate them helping us out.

Carol Berg

Anne Bishop

Peter V. Brett

Stephen Deas

Laura Anne Gilman

Katharine Kerr

Scott Lynch

Martha Wells

Garth Nix

*     *     *

Keep in mind that we have limited numbers of most of these books. It’s strictly first-come, first serve.

To see the other books folks have donated, auctions and other coolness, you can head over to the main Worldbuilders page HERE.

Posted in Worldbuilders 2011 | By Pat17 Responses
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