20th Century Books

04/13/2026

I have a lot of autographed mysteries in stock. A friend and customer of mine collected these books for years. He traveled for work, so was able to attend book store events all over the country. He also regularly attended the mystery fiction convention Bouchercon. Well, like all of us, there came a time when he had to downsize, so he has been carrying boxes of those books up the steps into my store. I picked this example because I enjoy Joe Hensley's mysteries, and he also wrote science fiction. I got to know him while attending a science fiction convention in Cincinnati, Midwestcon. This was in the late 60s. and I appreciated that he was willing to chat with me, a teenager.

1st printing hardcover with dust jacket. autographed by author on title page...

01/04/2026

To follow up on my earlier post on laser discs, I expect to get a really diverse assortment . . .!

12/31/2025

Anyone still have a laserdisc player? I ask because one of my customers is downsizing his large collection of these, er, obsolete artifacts. I've seen evidence that people still sometimes buy these, mostly for modest prices, though that does vary. They were quite expensive when new, of course.

107 minute Japanese anime, with the original Japanese on the digital soundtrack, and Carl Macek's English language version on the analogue track.

12/03/2025

This is a book which must have caused some confusion. It has nothing to do with the old TV series of the same name. Murray Leinster was an interesting writer. A prolific and popular writer of science fiction, he also wrote westerns under his real name, Will F Jenkins. And he was an inventor! He won an Academy Award for an optical special effects system he developed. I thought I remembered reading somewhere that he became wealthy, but I was unable to fact check that just now. If this is true, I doubt that his wealth was because of his writing. While popular, he was never best selling. His inventions, however, might have been very lucrative.

Find the best prices on Time Tunnel by Murray Leinster at Biblio | | 1965 | Pyramid

11/30/2025

I don't visit airports often, so I've never been here. I used to visit what was the flagship store when it was located in downtown Milwaukee. It was an adventure!

11/10/2025

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09/06/2025

Just learned 20th Century Books has a new neighbor!. Looks really interesting. Located in what I think of as the old Thorstad Building, but most folks don't seem to know what I'm talking about when I say that. Anyway, just south of Wingra Creek, a few blocks from here.

Join us for fiber art fun in our new home on September 7, 1-4pm Learn Tenango and Purepecha embroidery September 13 & 20 Intro classes this fall include sewing, quilting, knitting, and crochet! The Textile Arts Center of Madison is a hub for the fiber arts community, offering classes and workshops,....

07/07/2025

Oh boy!

Another chance to find the books that will change your life (or at least make it a lot more enjoyable)! There will be a sidewalk book sale at the Goodman South Madison Library on Saturday, July 26th from 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. This sale is all freshly stocked -- No leftover items from the big sale in June. This event is in conjunction with the Urban League's Black Hub Unity Picnic.

06/24/2025

Debra and I will be there.

06/17/2025

Here is a link to the Archon website. This link will take you to a page that has a link to the Dealers' Room directory, but you can easily browse the whole site from there. https://archonstl.org/

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