Descriptions of Books from Bob Gaines

Page 1

(in the order they appear)

Annotated Dracula: Dracula by Bram Stoker, The, Introduction, Notes, and Bibliography by Leonard Wolf. Art by Sätty. Ballantine Books, New York. October 1976. Trade paperback. 362 pages. (8½ X 11). The annotation by Leonard Wolf is sometimes very brief and at other times quite extensive. There are many photos and illustrations throughout the many pages to show certain book scenes. The appendices have maps, a calendar of events, the number of pages that Dracula is on stage, a selected filmography, and a listing of English-language and foreign editions of Dracula.

Annotated Sherlock Holmes Volume I: The Four Novels and the Fifty-Six Short Stories Complete by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The, edited, with an introduction, notes, and bibliography by William S. Baring-Gould. Clarkson N. Potter, Inc./Publisher, New York. December 1974 (Second Edition, Eleventh Printing). Hardcover in dust jacket. 691 pages. (8¾ X 11¼).

Annotated Sherlock Holmes Volume II: The Four Novels and the Fifty-Six Short Stories Complete by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The, edited, with an introduction, notes, and bibliography by William S. Baring-Gould. Clarkson N. Potter, Inc./Publisher, New York. May 1975 (Second Edition, Twelfth Printing). Hardcover in dust jacket. 824 pages. (8¾ X 11¼).

Annotated Jules Verne Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, The, edited by Walter James Miller. A Meridian Book/New American Library, New York. October 1977. Trade paperback. 362 pages. (7¼ X 10¼). Foreword: A New Look at Jules Verne by Walter James Miller. The foreword gives a long introduction to Verne and the book, with much discussion on the many bad translations of Verne’s books. I think they’ve used the Mercier Lewis translation for this edition and tried to correct his mistakes. The manuscript is well-annotated with many small drawings for illustration.

Armed and Dangerous: A Writer’s Guide to Weapons, by Michael Newton. Writer’s Digest Books, Cincinnati, OH. 1990. Trade paperback. 186 pages. (6 X 9). This one helps you write about weapons correctly, so that your characters use the weapons properly. This book tells about the different weapons used in films and television.

From Baker Street to Binary: An Introduction to Computers and Computer Programming with Sherlock Holmes, by Henry Ledgard, E. Patrick McQuaid, and Andrew Singer. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York. 1983. Trade paperback. 277 pages. (6 X 9). Preface by the authors. This book is a combination of Holmes and computers. The authors imagine that Holmes has an example of a computer and uses it to solve his cases. Many Sherlock Holmes adventures are presented as he uses Babbage’s Analytic Engine. Much of the material is actual early computer technology dealing with programming. Recommended as an unusual Sherlock Holmes item.

Baker Street Companion, The, by Paul Lipari. Ariel Books/Andrews and McMeel, Kansas City, MO. 1996. Hardcover with dust jacket. 128 pages. (1 X 2¼). Introduction by the author. Possibly, the smallest Sherlock Holmes book that you will ever find; at least from a major publisher. Each page of print has between 35 and 40 words. The contents have a Watson and Holmes chronology, answers to a quiz, favorite Sherlock Holmes stories of Doyle and the readers, and a note on Sherlockians. A clever little collectible.

Bedside, Bathtub & Armchair Companion to Sherlock Holmes, The, by Dick Riley & Pam McAllister. The Continuum Publishing Company, New York. 1999. Trade paperback. 216 pages. (6¼ X 9¼). Preface by the authors. The authors also did a similar book on Agatha Christie. Many articles on Doyle and his creation are included. Many photos and drawings are included showing scenes from the stories.

How to Write Best Selling Fiction, by Dean R. Koontz. Writer’s Digest Books, Cincinnati, OH. 1981. Hardcover with dust jacket. 309 pages. (5½ X 8¼). Koontz gives much valuable information on writing and how to become a best selling author. He provides a chapter on other writers that he believes everyone should read for inspiration.

Bored of the Rings: A Parody of J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, by Henry N. Beard and Douglas C. Kenney of The Harvard Lampoon. Signet Books, New York. September 1969. Mass Market Paperback. 160 pages. (4¼ X 7).

Case Book of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The. Quality Paperback Book Club, New York. 1994. Trade paperback. 72 pages. (5½ X 8¼). Introduction by ? A chapter entitled “Statistics,” tells about Doyle’s writings, including his Sherlock Holmes stories and his other works. The Sherlock Holmes stories were evidently only a small part of his literary output. There is a very nice article on how the stories were written. There are critical pieces by G. K. Chesterton, Dorothy L. Sayers, and A. E. Murch.

Agatha Christie Crossword Puzzle Book, The, compiled by Randall Toye & Judith Hawkins Gaffney. An Owl Book/Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New York. 1981. Trade paperback. 131 pages. (6 X 9). Introduction by the authors. Each crossword puzzle has a connection with a Christie novel. The remaining section of the book covers other types of puzzles connected to Christie.

Complete Guide to Sherlock Holmes, The, by Michael Hardwick. Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London. 1986. Hardcover in dust jacket. 255 pages. (6½ X 9½). Preface by the author. Hardwick examines all of the Holmes stories and includes a number of quotations of the characters to show certain plot points. The volume is well illustrated with many drawings from The Strand Magazine. There is a short section of Who’s Who of Characters. Hardwick provides a listing of the cases mentioned by Holmes but unchronicled.

Complete Guide to Sherlock Holmes, The, by Michael Hardwick. St. Martin’s Press, New York. 1987. Hardcover in dust jacket. 255 pages. (6½ X 9½). This appears to be an exact copy of the Weidenfeld and Nicolson edition.

Conan Doyle: Portrait of an Artist, by Julian Symons. The Mysterious Press, New York. November 1988. Trade paperback. 137 pages. (5½ X 8¼). Symons does a good job in examining Doyle’s private life. This volume does not dwell on the Sherlock Holmes stories, but tries to show that Doyle had other interests and accomplishments. This biography does present many rare photos of Doyle and his family. A bibliography lists his Holmes stories and his other works. A chronology of his life from 1859 to 1930, along with the dates of his publications, is presented. A list of illustrations refers to the hardcover from the first British edition.

Confession Writer’s Handbook, by Florence K. Palmer/revised and updated by Marguerite McClain. Writer’s Digest Books, Cincinnati, OH. 1980. Hardcover with dust jacket. 173 pages. (5½ X 8¼). Foreword by Henry Malmgreen. Acknowledgments by the author. This title apparently covers the confession magazines rather than romance novels. The author provides an example of confession writing and does an analysis of its development.

Continental Op: Dashiell Hammett, The, edited and with an Introduction by Steven Marcus. Vintage Books, New York. November 1975. Trade paperback. 319 pages. (4¼ X 7). Pulp mystery fiction from the 1920s.

Craft of Science Fiction: A Symposium on Writing Science Fiction and Science Fantasy, edited by Reginald Bretnor. Barnes & Noble Books, New York. 1977. Trade paperback. 321 pages. (5¼ X 8¼). Foreword by the editor. There are many essays on how to write science fiction. Poul Anderson, Hal Clement, Theodore Sturgeon, Jack Williamson, and Harlan Ellison are some of the authors who show you how to write successful science fiction.

Creating Short Fiction, by Damon Knight. Writer’s Digest Books, Cincinnati, OH. 1981 (Revised Edition). Trade paperback. 212 pages. (5¼ X 8). Introduction: Three Reasons Why I Should Not Have Written This Book by the author. Knight was one of the leading critics and editors of science fiction.

Creating Short Fiction, by Damon Knight. St. Martin’s Griffin, New York. April 1997 (Newly Revised and Expanded Third Edition). Trade paperback. 209 pages. (5½ X 8¼). Introduction: Three Reasons Why I Should Not Have Written This Book by the author. There seem to be a few minor changes from the previous edition

Case of the Crimson Kiss: A Perry Mason Novelette and Other Stories, The, by Erle Stanley Gardner. Pocket Books, New York. April 1972. Mass market paperback. 176 pages. (4¼ X 7).

Critical Edition of The War of the Worlds: H. G. Wells’s Scientific Romance., A, introduction and notes by David Y. Hughes and Harry M. Geduld. Indiana University Press, Bloomington & Indianapolis, IN. 1993. Hardcover in dust jacket. 319 pages. (6¼ X 9½). Preface by the authors. There is a long introduction with notes by Hughes and Geduld. The War of the Worlds with notes is printed in full. The authors present a large amount of research on the title, with information on radio and film adaptations. A number of photos of phonograph record jacket, paperback, and items are shown. Appendices examine the text of the different editions in detail.

Sherlock Holmes Crossword Puzzle Book, The, by Ruth Lake Tepper. Clarkson N. Potter, Inc., New York. August 1978 (Fourth Printing). Trade paperback. 160 pages. (6 X 8¾). Introduction by Robert Leslie Hirtle, J., J.D. This title is more than just a series of crossword puzzles. Each crossword is preceded by a condensation of one of Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories. By solving the crossword you will be able answer a series of questions. A number of illustrations appear throughout the volume.

Sherlock Holmes Crossword Puzzle Book II: Famous Adventures Fascinating Features Including The Hound of the Baskervilles (told in10 puzzles), The, by Ruth Lake Tepper. Original illustrations by Sidney Paget. W. W. Norton & Company, New York. 1979. Trade paperback. 160 pages. (6 X 9¼). As in the first volume, the author presents condensed versions of Sherlock Holmes stories and asks questions that are answered by solving a series of crossword puzzles. The author provides many interesting asides about Holmes and the canon.

Case of the Crying Swallow: A Perry Mason Novelette and Other Stories, The, by Erle Stanley Gardner. Pocket Books, New York. April 1972. Mass market paperback. 160 pages. (4¼ X 7).

Stephen King’s Danse Macabre. Everest House, New York. 1981. Hardcover with no dust jacket. 400 pages. (6¼ X 9½). (Blank Cover) (OUT)

Deadly Doses: A Writer’s Guide to Poisons, by Serita Deborah Stevens, R.N., B.S.N. with Anne Klarner. Writer’s Digest Books, Cincinnati, OH. 1990. Trade paperback. 298 pages. (6 X 9). Part of the Howdunit Series. Introduction by the authors. The authors tell how to use poisons in your stories, so that you will be aware of the symptoms and be able to tell your story realistically. All types of poisons are examined, including the toxicity level, effects and symptoms, reaction time, and antidotes and treatments. A very interesting book.

Doctor Enjoys Sherlock Holmes, A, by Edward J. Van Liere. Vantage Press, New York. 1959. Hardcover in dust jacket. 141 pages. (5½ X 8¼). The author, a doctor, examines the medical and biological aspects of the stories. For the Holmes fan.

Dragonlover’s Guide to Pern, The, Jody Lynn Nye with Anne McCaffrey. Illustrated by Todd Cameron Hamilton. Maps and additional illustrations by James Clouse. A Del Rey Book/Ballantine Books. 1989. Hardcover in dust jacket. 178 pages. (8½ X 11½). An encyclopedia of all things having to do with McCaffrey’s Pern. Many of the characters, artifacts, and locations are illustrated.

Elementary Basic, as chronicled by John H. Watson. edited with commentaries by Henry Ledgard and Andrew Singer. Random House, New York. 1982. Trade paperback. 264 pages. (6¼ X 9¼). Preface by the authors. Holmes solves his cases by using the Analytical Engine. A section on Basic programming follows each story.

Elementary Pascal, as chronicled by John H. Watson. edited with commentaries by Henry Ledgard and Andrew Singer. Vintage Books, New York. February 1982. Trade paperback. 266 pages. (6¼ X 9¼). Preface by the authors. Holmes uses the Analytical Engine to solve crimes. The authors provide a number of stories with Holmes and Watson and then a section on Pascal programming is presented.

Mystery - Elementary My Dear Watson: Sherlock Holmes Centenary: His Life & Times, by Graham Nown. Salem House Publishers, Topsfield, MA. 1986. Hardcover with dust jacket. 143 pages. (8 X 10½). This volume tells the initial story of Doyle and the creation of Sherlock Holmes. The book has many photos and drawings in black-and-white and color of magazines, individuals and locations. The appearance of Holmes is shown by many artists of the day. There is much discussion on the way Holmes works and how he solves his cases. Interesting.

Essential Frankenstein, The, written and edited by Leonard Wolf. A Byron Preiss Book/A Plume Book, New York. October 1993. Trade paperback. 357 pages. (6 X 9). Introduction by the editor. This is an annotated version of Mar Shelley’s Frankenstein, using the 1818 version of the text. A number of authors have comments interspersed throughout the book. There are a number of appendices, including Mary Shelley’s introduction of the 1831 edition and contemporary reviews of Frankenstein. This was a companion book to Wolf’s annotation on Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde.

Essential Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, The, written and edited by Leonard Wolf. Illustrations by Michael Lark. A Byron Preiss Book/A Plume Book, New York. September 1995. Trade paperback. 297 pages. (6 X 9). Acknowledgments and Introduction by the author. This is an annotated version of Stevenson’s famous story of horror. Four more Stevenson stories are also annotated after an afterword by Wolf. A number of writers offer comments on the story and are found throughout the book. The appendices provide many more facts about the author and his book. A companion volume by the editor was one on Frankenstein.

Faces of Fear: Encounters With the Creators of Modern Horror, by Douglas E. Winter. Berkley Books, New York. November 1985. Trade paperback. 277 pages. (5¼ X 8¼). Introduction: Who Writes This Stuff? by the editor. Winter interviews many well-known writers of modern horror. Most of the chapters are done in a conversational form, without a lot a brief questions and answers. The editor allows the person being interviewed much room to discuss different subjects. A photo of the subject is provided at the beginning of each interview. Stanley Wiater has done a book very similar to this one.

Farthest Shores of Ursula K. Le Guin, The, by George Edgar Slusser. The Borgo Press, San Bernardino, CA. September 1976. Booklet. 60 pages. (5½ X 8¼).

Writing Science Fiction That Sells, by Harvey L. Bilker & Audrey L. Bilker. Contemporary Books, Inc., Chicago, IL. 1982. Trade paperback. 159 pages. (6 X 9). Introduction by the authors. The editors provide a lot of basic information for the writer trying to break into the field. Much of the information on magazines and book publishers is very out-of-date.

In the Footsteps of Sherlock Holmes, by Michael Harrison. A Berkley Windhover Book/Berkley Publishing Corporation, New York. February 1976. Trade paperback. 292 pages. (5¼ X 7¾). Foreword and Foreword to the Revised Edition by the author. Harrison tries to examine London in the time of the Sherlock Holmes stories. He goes into much detail about the look and customs and people of the place and period of Holmes’ cases. There are a number of illustrations and photos of London and other subjects.

Good News From Tolkien’s Middle Earth, by Gracia Fay Ellwood. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, MI. 1970. Trade paperback. 160 pages. (5¼ X 8½). Preface and introduction by the author. The author tries to draw connections between Tolkien’s trilogy and real life events, religion, and psychical research. 

Guide Through Narnia, A, by Martha C. Sammons. Harold Shaw Publishers, Wheaton, IL. 1979 (Second Printing). Trade paperback. 165 pages. (5¼ X 8¼). Introduction by the author. The author covers all of the Narnia books. An academic study of the series of books by Lewis, explaining the themes and religious contexts of the stories.

Science Fiction Handbook, Revised: A Guide to Writing Imaginative Literature, by L. Sprague de Camp and Catherine Crook de Camp. Owlswick Press, Philadelphia Press. 1975. Hardcover in dust jacket. 220 pages. (5¾ X 8¾). Preface by the authors. A number of famous science fiction artists contribute small pieces of artwork that appear at the beginning of each chapter. The de Camp’s provided one of the earliest books on how to write science fiction. This volume was an update of one originally published in 1953. Notes are provided for each chapter. A bibliography lists novels, single-author collections, and non-fiction reference works.

Science Fiction Handbook, Revised: A Guide to Writing Imaginative Literature, by L. Sprague de Camp and Catherine Crook de Camp. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York. 1977. Trade paperback. 220 pages. (5¼ X 8). Reprint of the Owlswick Press edition. 

Life and Times of Hercule Poirot, The, by Anne Hart. Berkley Books, New York. September 1990. Trade paperback. 286 pages. (5 X 8). Preface by the author. Hart tells the”biography” of Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot. She uses many quotes from the novels and short stories to bring out many of Poirot’s eccentricities and working methods. This is an affectionate look at Christie’s great creation. There is a long section of bibliography on Poirot. It covers the novels, short stories, films, and television.

Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street: A Life of the World’s First Consulting Detective, by William S. Baring-Gould. Bramhall House, New York. 1962. Hardcover in dust jacket. 336 pages. (5¾ X 8¼). Baring-Gould, the author of the annotated Sherlock Holmes volumes, does his own story of Doyle’s creation. Much of the material is presented like a novel and with Holmes as a real human. The appendices have much interesting material on Holmes; some of it that I had not seen before. Recommended.

Sherlock Holmes Compendium, A, edited by Peter Haining. Castle Books/Book Sales Inc., Secaucus, NJ. January 1981. Hardcover in dust jacket. 216 pages. (7¾ X 9½). Introduction by the editor. This is an anthology of assorted essays on Sherlock Holmes. One interesting chapter covers the rivals of Sherlock Holmes; that is, the other fictional detectives of his day. Haining includes many other interesting articles for the reader.

Sherlock Holmes Encyclopedia, The, by Orlando Park, Avenel Books, New York. 1985. Hardcover in dust jacket. 205 pages. (5½ X 8¼). Preface by the author. Similar to the Bullard and Collins book, but also including towns, streets, estates, etc.

Sherlock Holmes: Fact or Fiction? by T. S. Blakeney. Otto Penzler Books, New York. 1993. Trade paperback. 134 pages. (4¼ X 7). Preface by T. S. Blakeney. Yet another study on Sherlock Holmes. Appendices cover Watson’s second marriage and the idea that Holmes and Moriarty were the same character.

Sherlock Holmes in Portrait and Profile, by Walter Klinefelter. Schocken Books, New York. 1975 (Second Printing). Trade paperback. 104 pages. (7¾ X 10¾). Introduction by Vincent Starrett. A number of the Holmes stories are examined and many original depictions of Sherlock Holmes are interspersed throughout the book. Several pages of notes and an index follows the text.

Sherlock Holmes IQ Book, The, by Eamonn Butler and Madsen Pirie. Puzzles supplied by Mensa. Carroll & Graf Publishers, Inc., New York. 1996. Trade paperback. 193 pages. (5½ X 8¼). Foreword by Dr. Eamonn Butler. Preface: How This Book Works by John H. Watson, M.D. This is a series of puzzles presented to the reader by Holmes in conversation with Watson and others. Each puzzle has some relationship with a Sherlock Holmes story.

Sherlock Holmes: The Great Detective in Paperback, by Gary Lovisi. Gryphon Books, Brooklyn, New York. June 1990. Trade paperback. 151 pages. (5½ X 8½). Introduction by John Bennett Shaw. Preface by the author. Lovisi does a fine job in covering the many printings of the Sherlock Holmes stories from around the world. You could fill a room with the many Sherlock Holmes books by Doyle and others. Lovisi could expand this with the many new editions published since 1990.

Sherlock Holmes Quizbook, The, by Albert J. Menendez. Drake Publishers Inc., New York. 1975. Hardcover in dust jacket. 127 pages. (6½ X 9½). Introduction by the author. This is a simple question and answer, fill-in, and match one with the other quiz. The author provides a chart to show the reader how smart he or she might be.

Holmes & Watson: A Miscellany, by S. C. Roberts. Otto Penzler Books, New York. 1994. Trade paperback. 137 pages. (4¼ X 7). Preface by S. C. R. The author provides some essays on Holmes, and also, a play and a short story.

How to Write Horror and Get It Published, edited by Marc A. Cerasini. Romantic Times, Inc., Brooklyn Heights, New York. October 1989. Trade paperback. 210 pages. (5 X 8¼). Volume 1 in the Fiction Writers Magazette Series. Introduction by the editor. This volume provides a short history of horror fiction and has many articles by genre writers on the field. Lovecraft and the weird menace pulps are briefly discussed. A number of famous horror authors are interviewed, with talks with Ramsey Campbell, Dean Koontz, Robert McCammon, James Herbert, and F. Paul Wilson. There is a nice section on vampire novels, werewolves, and Lovecraftian horror.

Irish Leprechaun’s Kingdom, The, by Peter Haining. A Panther Book/Granada, London. 1981. Trade paperback. 128 pages. (8½ X 10½). Introduction by the author. There are many drawings and illustrations of leprechauns and lots of other creatures depicted, with brief writings by contemporary authors. Haining has produced many volumes of this type.

Life and Times of Miss Jane Marple, The, by Anne Hart. Berkley Books, New York. April 1987. Mass market paperback. 161 pages. (4¼ X 7). Preface by the author. A biography of Miss Jane Maple with many quotes and references to the stories and novels. A Marple bibliography is provided with the different editions noted.

Stephen King’s Danse Macabre. Everest House, New York. 1981. Hardcover with no dust jacket. 400 pages. (6¼ X 9½). (Blank Cover) (OUT)