Originally published in Welcome to Dystopia. Copyright © 2017

Newsletter

Dear Loyal Patrons,

Usually in this newsletter I would be telling you about the latest event we were planning or the next author who would be reading with us. I would list the books that sold the best this month or an upcoming title that we recommend that you read, and sometimes a tale of the latest antics of our store kitty. But today I want to talk you about something else. Something that I technically am not supposed to talk about but I feel as the owner of this community bookstore I should share with you.

I received a letter the other day from an organization that I belong to but cannot name warning me that my special orders list may be requested by the state at any time and that I have no right to refuse this request or even the right to contact an attorney—this is now the law. They wanted me to know that if the occasion should arise that I receive such a request that I should get in touch with my lawyer anyway and that they would pay for my representation. I’m telling you this because I believe you deserve to know why I and many other booksellers have not been fulfilling your special orders of late. You should also know that your electronic orders through the net are being monitored as well.

The words are disappearing. Books on my selves are being bought and not replaced. When I try to replace them, they have either been priced prohibitively or they are simply not available from the distributors anymore. My shelves are emptying and all I can do is watch it happen. As your local bookstore owner and your friend I feel that I have to at least warn you that the books you’ve been reading and have in your possession are not safe anymore. I’ve been running this bookstore for many years and I’ve never thought I would see this day. The books I sell—the physical paper ones, electronic ones, and the ones I’ve downloaded to your mind—have all been hand chosen by me. And these words are in danger. They can be retrieved from you at any time. If any of you have the following books in your possession, I would highly recommend that you secure them in a safe place:

The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

The People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

The Plutonium Files by Eileen Welsome

Fortunate Son by Gary Webb

Letter from a Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King, Jr.

I say this because I have noticed men in the store that I’ve never seen before. New people come in off the street all the time that I don’t know, but these men feel different. They hang around and seem more interested in my customers than my books. I have no proof of it, but I think they are watching me and the activities in my store. I first noticed them after the last author reading we had here a few weeks ago where we discussed the implications of the latest election and the new laws that have been quickly passed. So many of you turned out and asked such poignant questions that even the author himself found it difficult to answer some of them. His spouse came by today and asked me if I had heard from him. That he never came home and that he thought that he gone out of town for a meeting but no one has seen or heard from him since that night. Maybe he has simply gone away somewhere and will return soon, but I must admit that I’m a bit scared.

I feel now that I have no choice but to close the store until further notice. I’m sorry for anyone who is inconvenienced by this. I wish there was another way. I know that some of you think that this store is simply a business, but trust me when I say that what I’ve been doing here did not make me in any shape, way, or form wealthy. I barely made a living. Actually, most months I was lucky if I broke even. I did this because I love words and the work of the men and women who dare to write them. I did this for the ideas and the knowledge and the courage to think new and different thoughts. So for the next twenty-four hours, I’m making every book in my mind-database available for free. Download all you can while you can. Words are the weapons of the future. Your ability to know is under attack and I plead with you to protect the words.

I wish all of you well.

Stay safe,

Your Former Local Bookstore Owner