Miscellany: Some of the Best for Last….

Well folks, the fundraiser is almost over.

As I write this, Worldbuilders has raised $570,000 for Heifer International. Geeks of all creeds and nations have come together to make the world a better place. I am stunned and humbled and ever so slightly tingly at how supportive the community has been.

Today we have our last donation blog, and, according to tradition, it’s a miscellaneous blog. We’ve got signed books, weaponry, and other esoterica that didn’t have a tidy place anywhere else.

Believe me when I say, we’ve saved some of the best for last.

Keep in mind that while a *few* of these items are up for auction on E-Bay, the vast majority of these items, especially the books, are going into our prize lottery:

2013 Book Wall 03

We have more than $70,000 worth of books we’re giving away this year. Signed books. Rare books. First edition books. Books you simply cannot get anywhere else.

Remember, for every 10 bucks you donate on the Worldbuilders Team Page you get another chance to win.

Serpent of Venice

Y’all know who Christopher Moore is, right? He wrote Lamb, You Suck, Sacre Bleu….

The truth is, if you aren’t reading Christopher Moore, you’re missing out on one of the most brilliant, diverse, genuinely humorous storytellers in existence.

Here we have a signed Advance Reading Copy of his upcoming book: Serpent of Venice.

We’re putting this book in our prize lottery, where anyone can win it if they make a donation to Heifer International on the Worldbuilders Team Page.

That’s right, you have a chance to read it before it even hits the shelves. You can taunt your friends. You can be smug on Goodreads.

At least that’s what I’m planning on doing if I win it…

  • First Edition copies of Island of the Sequined Love Nun and Fool. Signed by Christopher Moore.
Fool and Island of

“[Island of the Sequined Love Nun has] humor that seamlessly blends lunacy with larceny … habit-forming zaniness ….” – USA Today

These are both are first editions that Christopher signed and sent to us. They are lovely, rare books, and I covet them. I desire them with a terrible desire.

Fool is my favorite of Moore’s books. And the staff here at Worldbuilders have deliberately put these books into the lottery, knowing that if they were in an auction, I’d bid a crazy amount of money to win them, potentially bankrupting myself and endangering their jobs.

That shows what they know. If I cannot bid on an auction, I’m going to donate on the team page instead with the desperate hope of winning them for myself.

(If you end up being the person that wins them, send me an e-mail. I’ll trade you some ridiculous things in exchange. Seriously.)

  • Sets of Galactic Football League: The Rookie and The Starter by Scott Sigler.

IMG_20140127_141716

Here we have a fantasy series based in a world where pro football is a lethal sport played by humans and aliens, and financed and run by organized crime. Being the bookish geeks we are, we assumed it was already like this.

“In the Galactic Football League, wars are no longer fought in space, but on the gridiron. If you like aliens and football then I suspect you’re unlikely to find a better combination than THE ROOKIE. –Phil Plait, Discover Magazine

  • Auction: A set of The Twelve Fingered Boy and The Shibboleth.  Signed by John Horner Jacobs.  The Shibboleth will be released in March.

twelve fingered boy

We’ve got a few sets of this in the lottery already, but we thought we’d auction a set off, as well, since The Shibboleth won’t be released until early March.

If you want to get your hands on this sweet pre-release, bid here.

  • The Full Geek A Week Card Sets 2, 3, 4, and a Special MythBusters Set.

COLLECTION

The awesome Len Peralta thought it was high time to put geek heroes on trading cards. Len interviews an awesome geek, draws them, and then turns them into a trading cards, with the write ups on the back written by Storm (of Paul & Storm).  In this prize there’s seasons 2, 3, and 4, as well as two special MythBusters sets created for Discovery Channel and San Diego Comic Con in 2012, and they’re signed by Adam and Jamie.

We’re putting one of these in the lottery where anyone can win it, and another in an auction….

  • AuctionThe Full Geek A Week Card Sets 2, 3, 4, and a Special MythBusters Set.

ERNIE_F

Len does great work.  I was on an episode of NSFW Show with him a couple of weeks ago, and it was hilarious to watch him whip something together while everyone talked.  In case you couldn’t guess by the title of the show, this may not be safe for work (depending on where you work).

If you’d like to grab this yourself, you can bid on it in an auction over here.

(And if you’d like to get in on Len’s current Kickstarter, where I’m doing a guest appearance, you can find it over here.)

P1060071

The guys over at Esoteric Garage have been donating to Worldbuilders for a while now, and this is their epic donation for this year.

Here we have a warded axe and a pair of warded arrowheads, based on Peter V. Brett’s books. These sort of weapons are how people fight the demons that take over at night, and would scare off any demon threatening your homestead.

If you want them, you should really bid over here.

P1060078

Esoteric Garage actually sent along four warded arrowheads, so we thought we’d spread the love around a bit by offering up two of them separately, for those of you who live in small appartments with limited room for axe storage, but still would like to protect yourselves from demons.

They’re up for auction over here.

  • A set of the Miriam Black series. Signed and inscribed by Chuck Wendig.

Miriam Black series

“If you’re looking for a sassy, hard-boiled thriller with a paranormal slant, Wendig has established himself as the go-to man.” – Keith Brooke, The Guardian

So if you can tell when someone is going to die just by touching them, you just don’t touch people, right? Easy! As it turns out, no. So say you touch someone–just ignore it, right? Well, you’re a good person, so that’s not an option. So how much trouble can you get into by helping the nearly-deceased? As it turns out, all of it.

Dinocalypse

“A raging flood of heroic pulp action!” – GeekDad

Psychic dinosaurs attack Manhattan. With those four words, we have triggered much want within you.

  • Unclean Spirits and a first edition of Under the Empyrean Sky. Signed by Chuck Wendig.

Chuck Wendig set

“This story is just plain fun. Dark, sometimes horribly creepy, but fun.” – Fantasy Book Critic

  • Auction: A copy of The Kick-Ass Writer.  Signed by Chuck Wendig

Kickass cover

This book is filled with tips and tricks for the aspiring author who hopes to be published.  If that describes you pretty well, be sure to go over here and bid.

  • Auction: Comedy musician Mike Phirman will write a ringtone for you.

Mike-Phirman-Red-Wall-sm

This is another one of those auctions where we’re amazed at the sorts of things people are willing to do to help us out here at Worldbuilders.

Mike has, among other things, worked on Learning Town with Paul and Storm, and is willing to write you your own personalized ringtone, and then record it and send it to you.

For more information, and to bid, go over here.

  • Auction: A consultation with professional animal trainer Laura VanArendonk.

laura-laev-laugh-crop

Laura is a really cool person.  She donated one of these last year, and it went over really well, so she’s doing it again.

The consultation will be via video  or phone, and she’ll include a signed copy of her bestselling training book, Fired Up, Frantic, and Freaked Out: Training Crazy Dogs from Over-The-Top to Under Control.

To bond better with your dog, go here and bid.

  • A copy of Practical Demon Keeping.  First edition, signed by Chistopher Moore.

Practical Demon Keeping

“Practical Deemonkeeping is practically perfect!  It’s one of the few and special novels that conveys a sense that the author had as much fun writing it as his audience will have in reading it.  Can hardly wait for the next one – the Moore, the merrier!” – Robert Bloch

(Again the Worldbuilders staff taunts me.)

Moon and the Sun

“Drawing on deep research (detailed in an afterword), McIntyre vividly re-creates a Versailles poised on the cusp between alchemy and modern science. Her imaginings enliven her history with wonder, but, as in the best fantasy, they serve less to dazzle by their inventiveness than to illuminate brilliantly real-world truths about humanity’s responses, base and noble, when confronting the unknown.” – Publishers Weekly

This swirling tale won a little thing called the Nebula Award for the best novel of 1997. And if that doesn’t entice you, there’s a sea monster in it. Can’t resist sea monsters. Also, this might be the first blog post to feature two different sea monsters, so how can you say no?

Peters Epic Dinner

Peter Orullian set up a great little event for the fantasy geek in all of us.  He’ll coordinate with you on a date, and (so long as you can get yourself to Seattle) you’ll all go out to dinner, tour the Fantasy exhibit at the EMP Museum and have an all-around great time.

To be the coolest of the cool, go over here and bid.

  • AuctionLock In and (Not) Lock In – the novel and the seven chapters cut from it.  Signed by John Scalzi.

nlicovers

John Scalzi has sent along a signed copy of his novel, Lock In, which we thought was pretty cool.

He also sent along seven chapters he had to cut from the finished novel, printed and bound into a paperback book. We thought that was seriously awesome because he only made four for himself. This is one of those four. Of course he will sign and personalize it to the winner.

If you’ve ever wondered what gets cut from some novels, you can see if you just bid on this right over here.

  • The Tinker’s Packs: Cunning Knit Hats in various styles

Cunning Hats

It’s become something of a tradition at this point for someone to knit us some cunning hats for the fundraiser, and this year is no different.

Even cooler, we have regular hats for folks to wear, as well as some adorable, tiny hats, which are on keychains, pins, and loose. Clementines not included.

If you want to buy one all for yourself, go over here and grab them before they’re gone.

*     *     *

Keep in mind that our auctions and the fundraiser itself are ending soon. So if you’ve been waiting to donate, now is the time.

Consider this fair warning: if you end up getting distracted by Superbowl commercials tomorrow and miss your chance, you’ll end up kicking yourself. Trust me on this.

Thanks for helping to spread the word, everyone.

pat

This entry was posted in miscelany, The Tinker's Packs, Worldbuilders 2013. By Pat30 Responses

30 Comments

  1. Posted February 1, 2014 at 3:12 PM | Permalink

    I only wish I’d gotten on the train a bit earlier and had time to do more promoting from my end. Someone feel free to contact me if there are any tedious administrative tasks I could help with from home.

    It was very exciting to be even a tiny part of this and I would love to help out.

  2. Posted February 1, 2014 at 3:52 PM | Permalink

    If I win one of those Christopher Moore books, I’m going to trade them to Pat in exchange for me getting to Beta Read his Auri story….

    • Posted February 1, 2014 at 3:55 PM | Permalink

      Heh. For those books, I’d probably take you up on it…

      • Posted February 1, 2014 at 4:01 PM | Permalink

        Aaaand I’m off to buy another set of honeybees.

        Maybe I’ll donate 33.33 just for good luck….

      • Kthaeh
        Posted February 1, 2014 at 4:55 PM | Permalink

        Pat, are you at all serious? I will trade you ANYthing I win in the lottery to be a beta reader. Do you hear me? ANY.THING. I will trade you any multiple groupings of things I win in the lottery for such a privilege. Or put them back in the pool for next year’s lottery. Or whatever. You could throw any of my numbers back in the pool if they’re pulled for anything other than beta reader, and I would count it a fair deal.

        • SilverTpt
          Posted February 1, 2014 at 5:39 PM | Permalink

          But would Pat (or any reasonable being) accept such gifts from that username…

          Nice try Cthaeh. Nice try.

        • Posted February 1, 2014 at 6:11 PM | Permalink

          It’s a trap!

          • Kthaeh
            Posted February 3, 2014 at 7:36 AM | Permalink

            I’m just misunderstood.

  3. Hibs
    Posted February 1, 2014 at 4:07 PM | Permalink

    Dear Pat and The Worldbuilders Team,

    If a picture is worth a 1000 words then how many words is a gif. worth?
    http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view1/1958963/you-re-awesome-o.gif

    Awesome?
    Yes, you are.

    • Posted February 1, 2014 at 4:10 PM | Permalink

      Wow. That actually made me laugh. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed at a gif before…

      • Hibs
        Posted February 1, 2014 at 7:11 PM | Permalink

        Patrick Rothfuss laughed at a gif I posted.

        Too many feelings…http://www.reactiongifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/too_many_feels.gif
        ——————————————————————–
        There’s a whole world of gifs out there that can brighten up a person’s day and I like making people smile so I’m glad it worked. :)

        • isaiasw
          Posted February 1, 2014 at 10:04 PM | Permalink

          Hibs, I imagine you must be like this:

          http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view4/3659009/carlton-dance-o.gif

          :P

          • Posted February 1, 2014 at 10:12 PM | Permalink

            <3 Carlton being Carlton <3

          • Hibs
            Posted February 2, 2014 at 2:37 PM | Permalink

            Oh, absolutely. That’s exactly what I did!

            It was a little hard translating it into a gif which would still allow me a little respect and dignity in society. But when you’re fangirling that hard, those are the least of your concerns. (:

  4. Posted February 1, 2014 at 4:16 PM | Permalink

    I can’t believe all of the donations, both merchandise for the lottery & auctions and all the dough for Heifer. I’m kind of hoping someone(s) will swoop in at the last minute and bump the total to $1 million.

  5. Taravangian
    Posted February 1, 2014 at 4:22 PM | Permalink

    Wow, there’s some really awesome stuff here. It’s so great seeing the type of things people are willing to offer to help those in need.

    And seeing those arrowheads makes me realize that I still haven’t read the Daylight War. Has that really been out for more than a year now?!

  6. Joseph Bates
    Posted February 1, 2014 at 4:26 PM | Permalink

    Pat,

    I just want to say thank you. I have read and followed your stuff for a couple of years now. My wife and I are avid readers and I can’t tell you how many of your recommendations on books we have read since we found you. You are amazing.

    My wife and I have donated to the cause and are thankful that there are such amazing people as yourself that get involved even when you clearly have SO much going on. Keep being awesome. And again, Thank YOU!!

    Joe B.

  7. isaiasw
    Posted February 1, 2014 at 6:09 PM | Permalink

    I got a REALLY silly question. But I am curious. Pat, I noticed you always pay attention to the grammar rules when you write. Your texts are always correct and neat. BUT, on your signature, instead of a capital “P” for “Pat”, you always sign as “pat” (not that this isn’t neat or anything).
    Is that a old habit or something like that? I’m not criticizing nor am I complaining…just a very silly curiosity.

    Congratulations on World Builders achivements. You guys rock. You guys mineral! (Breaking Bad much?)

    • Posted February 1, 2014 at 7:31 PM | Permalink

      At this point, it’s as much habit as anything else….

      • isaiasw
        Posted February 1, 2014 at 9:57 PM | Permalink

        I see, as I suspected. Thank you so much for replying even to a silly question such as mine, Pat. You made my day :)

      • Brady Dill
        Posted February 2, 2014 at 1:55 PM | Permalink

        I get deep enjoyment out of doing editing for grammar and spelling. Would it be annoying or helpful if I were to post a comment on each blog post from now on noting typos so that you or your assistants could fix them? I’d be happy to do so, your posts would be error-free, and you could delete my comment immediately afterward. What say you?

  8. Posted February 1, 2014 at 6:38 PM | Permalink

    Pat, would you be disappointed if the person who ends up being your beta reader has no experience in learning how to properly analyze a work of fiction? Like, if they have never taken a creative writing class or anything before.

    • Posted February 1, 2014 at 7:32 PM | Permalink

      Not at all. Most of my beta readers are just that: readers.

      Writers tend to give advice, which can be good or bad.

      Readers just tend to tell you what they think. And what someone thinks about a story is never wrong….

      • Posted February 1, 2014 at 8:44 PM | Permalink

        Okay. And thanks for responding! :)

      • Sandhya
        Posted February 1, 2014 at 10:36 PM | Permalink

        Oh good! Then I am worthy! Oh dear now I am going to stress that I won’t win it!

  9. D_
    Posted February 1, 2014 at 8:43 PM | Permalink

    So close to $600,000! Must give… more…!

    Every year you get me. :)

  10. triteconfessions
    Posted February 2, 2014 at 1:09 AM | Permalink

    Funny! I never expected to see Vonda McIntyre’s The Moon & the Sun here. I was around 14y/o when the book came out and was reading it during phys ed. Got to a word that I didn’t understand so I asked the teacher what it was. He got a little flustered and finally said it means sex out of wedlock. And that is how I learned the word “fornication”.

    The end.

  11. simcha
    Posted February 2, 2014 at 4:05 PM | Permalink

    Public radio should take a cue from Worldbuilders and offer cool videos, lottery prizes, etc. I think they’d do a hell of a lot better and be much less annoying. Congrats on raising so much this year!

  12. Posted February 2, 2014 at 6:28 PM | Permalink

    I’m sorry, Pat. I’m so, so sorry. It appears you will be watching The Hobbit again. =D

  13. Barb Lawrence
    Posted February 28, 2014 at 8:01 PM | Permalink

    Honestly, Patrick, I believe most men will eat pretty much anything that requires nothing more than hot water to prepare.

    Disclaimer: My apologies to any male chefs out there, but you are in the minority.

Post a Reply to Pat Cancel reply

Your email is never published nor shared. Required fields are marked *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • RSS info

  • Visit Worldbuilders!

  • Our Store

  • Previous Posts

  • Archives



  • Bookmark this Blog!

    (IE and Firefox users only - Safari users, click Command-D)