My missing Introduction to *Welcome to Bordertown*

[ellenkushner]

They didn’t make me write an introduction to Welcome to Bordertown. My co-editor, Holly Black, wrote one, and Terri Windling, who invented Bordertown and edited 7 books about it, wrote the other (after we’d told her, “Terri, we’ll take care of everything, don’t worry! Well, maybe you can just write a short introduction . . . And by the way, could you check all the stories to make sure the street names are right? And what are the rules about getting to Bordertown, again? And we know you’re busy but . . . . ”). The idea was that Original Series Creator would talk about how it all started, and Next Generation Hot Young Writer would explain how Original Series had changed her life. Which left me happily sitting back and writing jacket copy.

But maybe I do owe some sort of introduction to the new volume. I was, after all, in every one of Terri’s Bordertown anthologies from 1986 – 1998. And I was the one who cornered Holly in a bar at the ALA in 2007 and said, “Wanna start the series up again, if I can get Terri to agree?”

So here it is:

My introduction to Welcome to Bordertown. 

* * * 
You don't have to haver read the previous books to enjoy the new one, I promise!  But if you want, 3 of the original stories are up on the BordertownSeries.com website here.

And don't forget to enter our Sweepstakes to win one of  3 amazingly magical Gift Boxes.  You've got til 11:59:59 p.m. this Tuesday, May 31st, to let the world know that Bordertown Lives!

Comments

[chaoticgoodnik.livejournal.com]

Ha, I just finished reading this book and had wondered if y'all decided two introductions was too much, or what. >.>

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

So glad we could clear things up for you! ;)

[pattytempleton.livejournal.com]

Awesome intro!

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I work best under pressure....

[wildwose.livejournal.com]

Excellent intro. I really enjoyed the history side of it. It's like you all started this story, or maybe just stepped in and kept telling it, and now a bunch of us, artists, performers, and others as well as writers, are still telling it. I wish I could send a message to the Ellen and Terri of then and say, "Hey, please, write, and talk, and inspire, because one day, lots of people, some may never know who you were, but they are still there, will be inspired by what you are doing now!"

So, you may remember that I said I had actually never read the series. Meant to all those years, but it never quite got out of the "to be read" stack. Well, I just was reminded by son, who maintains the Sci/Fi Fantasy library in the house, that we do indeed have a copy of the original paperback of Borderland. I am starting it tonight.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I wish I could go back there, too - but I remember there was a part of us that *hoped* it would be true: we were big dreamers & hopers, then, so it's good to know it was not for naught after all.

I'm impressed that your son found Borderland on your shelves! (I was that kind of kid, too - my parents used to ask me where books were in the house...) Hope you like it - and maybe you can sell it online to send the kid to college - I can't believe what those old volumes are going for, now!