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July 27 , 2005 BEST-EST That's right, we bagged another one. Check out today's issue of the SF Bay Guardian (p. 170) to see our Best of the Bay Award for "Best Window Display in Favor of Keeping the Indie Press Scene Alive." Our Indie Press of the Month series began back in 1999 as a way to highlight independent publishers. We figured it would run for a year or two, but here it is 2005 and still going strong. Hurray for independent presses and long live indie bookstores! posted by Brenda top of page

July 26 , 2005 BAY DAY                 Saturday heralded not only unbelievably summer-like weather, but also Books By the Bay, a convergence of independent booksellers that takes place each year at Yerba Buena Gardens. Observe the fine handiwork of Modern Times employees Annie and Liz. Thanks to their display skills our booth looked superfine this year, particularly in the use of vertical space and things that dangle. The most popular item of the day was D. Scott Miller's "Danger: Bush" shirt. Pick one up at Modern Times (available in red and olive) and you too can become a walking warning! posted by Amanda top of page

July 18 , 2005 BLOOD LETTER Look out for this: Fledgling, Octavia Butler's new novel (the first in seven years), due out in October from 7 Stories Press. I don't want to give away too much, because the page-turning quality is key (I stayed up reading Fledgling until 3 am a few nights in a row) but here's a sneak preview: amnesia, bisexual vampires, genetic engineering, confrontation of racism in the vampire community, the sword (or fang?) of justice. The heroine emerges with courage, intelligence, and an erotic life to boot--the book makes having one's blood drunk sound like one of life's unparalleled pleasures. And I'm not even inclined toward the gothic. posted by Amanda top of page

July 04 , 2005 READ YOUR HEART OUT It's that time again, when nothing satisfies body and mind more than lying in the dog pee scented grass of Dolores Park reading. But what to read? I mean let's face it, you're never going to read all the books out there that you want, but there's no harm in trying! Don't be choosy, or even afraid to re-read those moldy paperbacks in the living room. So far this summer I've read (in the grass and otherwise situated): -The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman -Simulacra and Simulation by Jean Beaudrillard -Ice Haven by Dan Clowes -The History of Sexuality V. 1 by Michael Foucault -the last three Harry Potter novels to prepare myself for #6 on July 16 -the excellent recent three-part series in The New Yorker on global warming (take that Exxon/Mobil!) -a new graphic novel called Pyongyang about a French illustrator's experience in North Korea -Stray Toasters by Bill Sienkiewicz (incredible artwork, totally surreal and over-the-top Freudian storyline) What's that, you say? Of course I have a social life! All the best people can be found in books. They're never late for an appointment and rarely forget to do their dishes. And don't give me that tripe about having to work all the time. You can read on the BART, you can read on the bus, you can read yourself to sleep at night, you can play hooky and read all day long. Bring a book of philosophy to that first Thursday art opening and instantly become a Mysterious Artiste in the eyes of others! Read while you walk to the park to read. Just watch out for your fellow pedestrians and red lights at street corners. So enjoy the sunshine and turn those pages. posted by Nick Ott top of page