The fact that I’m a big fan of Ann Leckie’s book ‘Ancillary Justice’ is not likely to come as a surprise to anyone who’s been paying any attention to the store for the last six months. Judging from customer responses, I am definitely not the only one.

What you may not know is that we’re approaching a milestone. After I first read ‘Ancillary Justice’ I knew it was a book I wanted to support and promote. I set it as the February book-club book and we got one of our best ever turn outs because so many people enjoyed it and wanted to talk about it.

Awards judges have also recognised the book, and among the awards it has won are the Nebula, Arthur C Clarke and British Science Fiction Association. Naturally, as each of these were announced it served as an excuse to further promote the book in the store.

I’m not sure when the idea popped into my head, but I think it was when I heard that Ann’s second book ‘Ancillary Sword’ is due out in October that I decided to put a number to my enthusiasm for her work. I set myself the target of selling 100 copies of ‘Ancillary Justice’ before Ancillary Sword was released.

Because we don’t just do the hard sell here at the store this set up quite a challenge. Store part timer Tim was just as passionate about the book as I was and is also a committed bookseller. Both of us understood that we did not just have to sell 100 copies, but sell them to people we knew would enjoy them.

Which brings us to today. I won’t tell you what our total is, for reasons that will become clear, but we’re very close! I think 100 copies is a pretty big deal and as it happens my friends at Hachette Australia, who distribute Ann’s book, think so too.

So..

With the help of the nice folks at Hachette Australia I’ve put together a bit of a prize for the 100th person to buy a copy of ‘Ancillary Justice’. Five books by other award winning women, from Gollancz’s SF Masterworks range.

Sarah Canary by Karen Joy Fowler

Ammonite by Nicola Griffith

The Female Man by Joanna Russ

The Gate to Women’s Country by Sherri S Tepper

Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang by Kate Wilhelm

There is no time limit on this, the prize goes to whomever buys the 100th copy. Based on recent performance though, that’s not likely to be very long.