Harlan Ellison
Report of the 35th Annual LA Vintage Paperback Show and Sale on March 16, 2014
By John King Tarpinian: Based on how my feet were yelling at me the morning after it was a good show. We were at a new venue this year. Everybody appeared pleased with the new location, The Glendale Civic Auditorium, a 1938 WPA project. Attendance was almost double that of last year. We were conservative in the number of vendor tables that were sold, 101, and could have sold a couple dozen more. The vendors I talked to said they had the best sales in years. Some that only had one table this year already said they’d be adding tables next year.
We are proud of our list of authors who come to sign: Karen Anderson, Peter Atkins, Ann Bannon, Stephen Blackmoore, James Blaylock, Jason V. Brock, Louis Charbonneau, John DeChancie, Dennis Etchison, Christa Faust, Mel Gilden, Donald Glut, Cody Goodfellow, Scott Tracy Griffin, Barbara Hambly, Denise Hamilton, Earl Hamner, Jr., Odie Hawkins, Glen Hirshberg, Stephen Jared, George Clayton Johnson, Earl Kemp, Bruce Kimmel, Tim Kirk,,Dani & Etan Kollin, Michael Kurland, Terrill Langford, Rick Lenz, Richard Lupoff, Michael Mallory, Ib Melchior, Lisa Morton, Larry Niven, William F. Nolan, Charles Nuetzel, Gary Phillips, Felice Picano, Jerry Pournelle, Tim Powers, John Skipp, Harry Turtledove, Len Wein and Stephen Woodworth.
Our special guest this year was Harlan Ellison, always irascible and entertaining. His signing line did not move as quickly as would have liked. To that end Harlan stayed hours after the show was over and signed books for those who chose to stay. A table was setup outside the hall even after the doors were officially locked. Say what you may, I believe that was a class act!
One sad note, this is now the only show of its type in the world. It used to be just the largest in the world now it is alone unto itself. London is no more, New York announced that last year was its last year, others had already fallen by the wayside. Not sure if the attendees are aging out or people are no longer picking up a real book to read. Yes, eBooks have their benefit but can you imagine these authors signing iPADs or Kindles all day long?
All uncredited photos by John King Tarpinian.
The hall at 9:15 a.m.
Hall at 10:30 a.m. Photo by John Sasser.
Harlan Ellison holding court.
Harlan Ellison and Len Wein. Photo by John Sasser.
Classic Twilight Zone writer Earl Hamner Jr. meets new Twilight Zone writer Dennis Etchison. Photo by John Sasser.
Logan’s Run collaborators William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson with heads bowed, signing.