For Your Shopping Pleasure

Today is, according to popular wisdom (or perhaps delusion), the busiest day of the year for shopping. Well, let me get all promotional for a moment and tell you that you -- yes, you friend! -- can avoid the madness of crowds thanks to the interventions of the good people at Night Shade Books, who have announced another in their generous series of sales.

Go to Night Shade Books at their online storefront (no three-card monte players to dodge outside!) and order three or more books and you'll get 50% off your order. The best thing about it is that it includes forthcoming books as well as the stuff gathering dust on warehouse shelves!

May I suggest M. John Harrison's The Course of the Heart? That may be a bit strong for you at this time of year, however, so there's always the various Collected Jorkens volumes from Lord Dunsany -- you can get the three-volume set for a little over $50 in this sale. Or you could get something from Liz Williams or Lucius Shepard or, if you're feeling adventurous, Leviathan 4, which contains an absolutely magnificent story by Stepan Chapman and some other good ones as well (and a couple stories that, frankly, completely and totally baffled me, which may be an attraction for you in and of itself).

Perhaps you're skeptical. Perhaps you're wondering why Night Shade Books, a reputable small press, would join the bargain-basement crowd. Well, as with everything in life, it all goes back to Nick Mamatas, who once pointed out that his book, Move Under Ground, was selling at Wal-Mart for 42% off. A few days later, Night Shade offers their sale. Coincidence? You decide.

The Night Shade sale lasts until Tuesday at midnight (PST), so you can still buy nothing today (or this weekend or next week) if you're an anti-American atheistic hippie weirdo. Night Shade caters to all kinds. How much more convenient can life get?

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