(Some items will go to SFWA Emergency Medical Fund auction, some to the BWB fund-raising drive to pay for their party, some to the worldcon's own charity).
Unfortunately, there are a couple items that won't be auctioned at worldcon. We had hoped to bring a couple of signed scripts from the first season of the HBO series GAME OF THRONES with us, and the good folks in Belfast were kind enough to donate them. Dan Weiss sent them across the pond (registered and priority, signature required).
All that arrived was a battered envelope and Dan's cover letter.
The US post office delivered the envelope in a plastic baggie with a pre-printed note apologizing for the "damage." But this was no error in handling. The envelope was torn open at one end, and both scripts were gone, though Dan's letter remained.
I am convinced the scripts were stolen.
Last year we donated a signed STAR TREK script to a charity auction and it brought $1200. These two scripts may not have gone for quite that much, but they would have brought home some significant bucks. Someone in the US Post Office (we believe the package made it across from Belfast relatively unscathed) recognized their value and removed them.
So... I am putting out the word to all my fans and readers. Whoever sold these scripts will presumably try to cash in at some point. So if any of you ever see scripts fitting this description turn up on ebay, one of its competitors, or on some dealer's table -- notify me at once, and report the stolen property to whatever local authorities are appropriate.
Here's what was taken: two teleplays, final shooting scripts for episodes nine and ten of season one, "Baelor" and "Fire and Blood," autographed by writers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss and director Alan Taylor, printed on white paper.
Like Bloodraven, I have a thousand eyes and one. So let's keep 'em all peeled, boys and girls.
- Current Location:santa fe
- Current Mood:
pissed off
Comments
Makes me sick. Use UPS.
At such times, a Dothraki threat seems most appropriate:
Goshas, zhey filkak: Anha vezak yera. Anha arissak foth ma vidrik qoraes anhoon memras ma vassok ven yera ven yallish. (Me vemma anna, jini.) Majin anha vanneva khadokh she sorfosor majin jano laz vosti chenoon ma jadro laz anasi tihoa. Yer otihi Rhaeshis Ajjalani avvos! Anha astak asqoy ki jini. Hethkas!
Which is roughly:
"Be certain, coward: I will find you. A will slice your throat and shove my hand inside it and make you talk like a small child. (This will amuse me.) And then I leave your corpse on the ground and the dogs will bite at your liver and the vultures will peck at your eyes. You will never see the Night Lands! I swear this. Be prepared!"
Though, I promise I keep my eyes on the every corner of the web.
Some says I am pretty good as a web-spy.
So, sorry that happened.
If you witnessed or are currently witnessing a postal employee discarding or destroying mail, immediately contact the Office of Inspector General (OIG) at:
1-866-644-5696 (available 24 hours a day)
I'd also write to the postmaster general and CC the equivalent office on the other side of the pond (which I could not find quickly on the website, but hopefully the folks in Belfast can get that info easily.)
Postmaster General
Pat Donahoe
475 L’Enfant Plaza SW
Washington DC 20260-0010
Luckily it was insured, and the day after she filed an insurance claim it *magically* appeared in my mail box.
Next time have them insured for their value. Once you file a claim, the scripts may *magically appear* next time. Also a claim like that gets the post master looking within the post office for thievery.
You should have someone post notice to some of the big memorabilia web sites and brick & mortars of the theft.
Sucks to hear about the theft. Maybe you can paint the postal system/messengers as thieving scum in your next book.
Was there insurance on the package? *hope*
UPS and FedEx are NOT any better. The USPS has 1/9 the theft rate of the private carriers due to the fact that penalties are much higher for stealing mail. I've alerted FedEx to a package being stolen as I watched and they just told me to put in a claim. The post office will actually do an investigation.