New York: Basic Books), (2002). First edition - A book which explores the underside of American entertainment. "Carnival sideshows, train robbers and mummies all have an inevitable draw. But in this thoughtful account of one iconic American outlaw, journalist and poet Svenvold uses these topics to examine a deeper issue: the origin of American entertainment obsessions. . . Elmer McCurdy, was a 'screw-up and ne'er-do-well bandit bungler who had accidentally achieved fame long after death.' His 'pathetic, nine-month crime spree' of attempted train robberies - long after the end of the great era of train robbers - opens this story, which focuses more on McCurdy's afterlife, when his mummified body was passed from traveling circus to wax museum to its final resting place, a graveyard in Oklahoma." (Publishers Weekly) Notes. 302 pp.

Plymouth, Michigan: Land of Enchantment, Christopher Zavisa, Publisher, (1985) dj. SIGNED hardcover first edition - A beautiful copy of this horror novel in a carnival setting, the story of a 17 year old boy who discovers, along with the carnies who befriended him, that the earth is shared by something more deadly than humankind. Illustrated throughout in both full color, full page paintings and soft black and white drawings by Phil Parks. Full color double title page. #217 from the Signature Edition (out of a total of 250 copies), individually numbered and SIGNED by Dean Koontz and illustrator Phil Parks on the colophon page. While this is not one of the 50 copies Collector's Edition which featured a special inscription by Koontz, this copy does have personalized SIGNED INSCRIPTIONS by both Koontz and Parks on the verso of the front free endpaper - the inscription from Koontz is great: "This tale of darkness from a guy who's really a pussycat!" Large format, bound in black leatherette with a gilt carousel horse on the front cover, gilt lettering on the spine. Illustrated endpapers. 263 pp plus colophon. ISBN: 0-960382836.