56 thoughts on “Beat the Summer Heat Tip #317”

1. and now you’re paying me back for the t-shirts. Have got the first 2 books of the ST: Vanguard series requested from PBSwap and the others wishlisted. Just what I need…MORE Star Trek! 😀

   also a sucker for thieves, i’ve also got both of Jon Sprunks books wishlisted. I’ve been a sucker for a good thief ever since the Merovingian Nights series.

   1. sgist: I’m trying! 🙂

      I saw that the second Sprunk book is out. I need to read this soon so that I can see if I like it before I pick up the equally temptingly covered second book.

      Kvothe in The Name of the Wind kind of started rekindling my feelings about this type of character. I wish that all the Thief games were on XBox because I would love to play them again, and I don’t have a PC that will run them as the games are just too old.

      I’ve been in a Star Trek mood ever since reading the Wil Wheaton book, and now that we are watching the digitally enhanced original series on Netflix it is making it harder to resist diving back into this series.

2. Trust me Carl moaned more than a little when he found that copy of Rule 34.

   We do have a ton of fun book shopping and I do love spending his money. 🙂 Usually I pick up something as well on our book buying binges but I was unusally restrained a few weeks back and picked up nothing. Now a week later I wasn’t so good when I visited a local Friends of the Library bookstore with my daughter. There I picked up a copy of Elantris by Brandon Sanderson and Interworld by Neil Gaiman and Michael Reeves.

   I can’t wait to find time to read some more of the ST Vanguard series as well. Watching ST:TOS reruns on Netflix is really getting me in the mode Trek especially old school Trek like Vanguard.

   I have to admit I have started Way of Kings early and I’m digging it. I’m a very slow reader and it’s a 1,000 page book so I have to start early especially with ADWD from GRRM coming out tomorrow.

   I need to find time to read some Tanya Huff this fall/winter as well. It’s too hot to read any Scifi but Dune right now. 🙂

   1. Jeff: I feel like I’m living on Arrakis when I step outside today. Yuck!

      My science fiction mood has stretched out this year. I just finished re-reading A World Out of Time recently, which was fantastic, and as well as Dune I am enjoying reading Rule 34. It is more tech-heavy as far as ‘science fiction’ goes. More like the film version of Minority Report than like anything space oriented.

      Yes, you were way too restrained that day. Although I guess you were getting your shopping vibe met by finding books for me to buy! I could have just given you my money and stayed in the car.

      Hope you get a chance to snag a copy of the new Martin asap tomorrow.

      1. It’s killing me I have to work all day and I wo’t be able to make it to the book store until almost 7 pm most likely. ARGH!. Well I’ve waited 6 years since the last book to read this one so I guess it’s only fitting I will have to wait a little more. 🙂

         A World Out of Time! Yet another cool Scifi book I need to read. I do own a copy of it already atleast.

3. sgist – What is the Merovingian Nights series? I’ve never heard of that series. Also whose the author?

   1. It started with one book then expanded into a shared universe, sorta like Wild Cards. Can’t remember the author off of the top of my head, but, i’ll look tonight and get you a list. 😀

      It’s sad when you can visualize the covers so clearly but can’t remember the author 🙁

      1. ah, the miracle of the internet! Merovingen Nights!
         sorry for the misspelling.
         Book 1 Angel with the Sword by C.J. Cherryh.
         Then there were at least 6 more with her as editor.

         1. Thanks sgist!

         2. C.J. Cherryh. That’s cool. I read some her books growing up. I remember reading some the DAW versions I believe with the yellow spined covers.

            I will have to look for the series.

            I read a shared world series growing up as well called Thieves World which was edited by Lynn Abbey and Robert Aspirin I belive. I remember really loving those books back in the 80’s. I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for thieves as well.

            1. Another really good thief book/character is “The Legend of Nightfall” by Mickey Zucker Reichert. LOVED IT!!! have got the sequel “The Return of Nightfall” but it’s one that’s gotten shuffled away somewhere, need to find!

               P.C. Hodgell’s Godstalk / Dark Moon / Seeker’s Mask / To Ride a Rathorn / Bound in Blood are excellent books also!!

               see Carl! I’m TRYING to make him spend money! 😀

               1. Yes, good!

                  1. LOL! I see how you both are! Both conspiring to empty my wallet.

                     Serioulsy though thanks for the suggestions. The next time Carl and I are out on a used bookstore walkabout I will look the Reichert and Hodgell books you have suggested. THANKS!

                     1. And then he’ll hand them to me and suggest I buy them! Especially if the covers look cool. 😉

                        1. You knew mw some well… :0

                           1. You KNOW ME SO WELL. I think I’m typing under the influence today. 🙂

                     2. You’re very welcome always happy to spend someone elses money for a change! The SFBC has collected the first of the Hodgell books into a compilation volume: Chronicles of the Kencyrath, may be the easiest way to find them. She had a SERIOUS hiatus between book 2 and all the rest of them!

                        1. Thanks again!

4. OMG, you are the best at rationalizing!!! (bows down chanting…i’m not worthy, i’m not worthy) lol 😉
   I loved The Enchantment Emporium by Tanya Huff. I find it’s one of those people either love…or hate. Not a lot of grey…lol
   The cover on Shadow’s Son in pretty darn wonderful, I concur 😀

   1. Its easy for me, I have learned to embrace my delusions. 🙂

      I will have to read some of Huff’s fantasy at some point. The first books in this series were my first exposure to her work and I liked it.

5. Love that photograph, the covers, and the tip. Great post and a really good suggestion, thanks!

   1. L: Isn’t it great? Wish I had taken it myself. Someday that will be the case with the images on my site.

      It is a great tip, and I’m not even getting a kick back from the book publishing industry! 🙂

6. wow you sure are getting a lot of the original Star Trek!! books and tv series!!.. i will never forget the time I was on the set of one of their movies.. I was standing around talking with De, Walter and Jimmy when Nick Meyer called them to get ready.THey were shooting the scene where kirk and mccoy are beamed up from Rura Pentha. De said to enjoy myself.. the next moment Nick called “action”.. the doors to the elevator in the enterprise opened and out walked Kirk and McCoy… “De” was no where in sight! The most amazing transformation I ever witnessed!!.. But even with all my love for De and the original cast I never could read the Star Trek books..and I even knew some of the authors back then! Go figure!.. I am soooooooooooo glad though that there are people like you Carl who still enjoy the Original cast. The only book I have is one of the Star Trek Reader II and more than one was put out having all the episodes in them. Someday I will find the other one! (or two?)

   1. What a fun memory! And I love Star Trek VI: Undiscovered Country. That, Wrath of Kahn and the new one are my favs.

      I thought about you the other night when we started rewatching the original series and Bones showed up for the first time on screen. You have had some amazing experiences in your life and I’ve enjoyed getting little glimpses into the person behind the character as you share your memories.

      I remember the first time I ever read a Star Trek book. I was working at Waldenbooks in my early 20’s and kept shelving these book and finally decided to give one a try. It was Prime Directive by Judith and Garfield Reeves Stevens. It remains a favorite science fiction novel in general and showed me just how easy it was for me to imagine these beloved characters in new adventures because I had seen them in the shows for so many years. Its nice to be getting back to that world again.

   2. Deslily you will be happy to know that as I have started rewatching the Remastered ST: Original Series episodes on Netflix I have hooked my 14 year old daughter and 11 son on them. At first they were like it doesn’t look like the movie. They have seen only the recent JJ Abrams Star Trek movie from 2009 and they loved that movie. So when I started watching the first original series episodes they made fun of the old special effects but guess what as they started to pay attention they started to enjoy the stories and fell for the characters like I did as a youth.

      Now this is the kicker we had watched up to episode twelve and it came upon them taking a trip to Chicago for a week to visit relatives. They suddenly asked Dad NOT to watch any episodes while they were gone. LOL! So now here I wait to watch more Trek until my return.

      By the way they are each big Spock fans. I always like Bones best myself.

      Great talking Trek with you deslily. 🙂

      1. “fascinating”.. lol your kids, obviously, have excellent taste!! lol(and so does dad).. I have such heart-aches when I get into it too much what with DeForest and Carolyn being gone and Jimmy Doohan..that it’s hard for me to even watch old episodes. It’s easier for me to see them in other things they did before Trek… have you even seen a trek convention?? I wish Dragon Con was closer it’s in Atlanta and besides many authors being there Shatner and Nimoy will be there ! http://www.dragoncon.org/ Just in case you want to check it out :o)

         I truly don’t know what it is about the ST fanchise.. but it never really seems to go away.. :o)

         1. Yes. I was able to attend some Trek conventions years ago. Dave Scott of the now defunct Slanted Fedora company lived in Kansas City so he used to host one or two conventions a year here before his company went under.

            I was never able to pay the high cost to meet any of original series stars except for Walter Keoing once. I did see Montgomery Scott at one convention. I was very close to him so I waved to him and he smiled back at me. I didn’t get to actually meet him but it was a nice experience. A very good friend later gave me an autograph from him which I treasure. I wish now I would have paid the money to hear him speak.

            I have met the actress who played Beverly Crusher from TNG, the lady who played the Borg Queen in the First contact movie ( she was wonderful ), and Lt Tom Paris Robert Duncan McNeil ( he was great as well ). I did meet the actors who played Garak and Quark and saw Rom and Leeta. Garak was my favorite DS9 character so I was thrilled to meet Andrew Robinson.

            Everytime Nimoy and Shatner have come to town it’s been atleast $ 150 or more just to get there autograph. I’ve never been able to pull the trigger at that price. I would love just to hear them give a talk though.

            I wouuld love to go to Dragon Con. My wife went down there about 15 years ago and met the author Terry Brooks at that convention. He’s a wonderful person.

            1. I have went to several Star Trek conventions in Tulsa, OK. They still host a fairly good sized con annually but its been a long time since I have been able to attend.

               Early on there was no cost other than buying a picture from the star to get their autograph, and if you already had something with you they were more than willing to sign it. As the cons have changed I think the pay given to the actors has decreased with the idea that they need to make their money from the signatures, so you end up having to pay to have anything at all signed.

               I’ve gotten several autographs over the years. I was able to get Shatner’s because I paid for really good seats for the whole con weekend which came with ‘free’ autographs from everyone at the show. Actually my wife got the autograph because I was a good husband and took her along on that day and let her have the front row seat.

               I too have met and talked with Alice Krige (Borg Queen) and I concur, she is a delight. One of my more recent favorite films is the BBC version of Persuasion and it is always fun to see her in it and know that I’ve spoken with her.

               I was really into Voyager when I was at the height of my con attendance so I mostly went to see them. I have autographs from several of the cast members.

               The most interesting speakers though were always those from DS9 and I’m sorry I didn’t see the show when I was seeing them. I loved listening to them talk but had no connection to them like I do now.

               In addition to the great DS9 cast talks (Avery Brooks, Rene Auberjonois, Armin Shimerman, and Chase Masterson) some other really entertaining Star Trek cast members were Marina Sirtis (Deanna Troi) and Garrett Wang (Harry Kim).

               One of these days I would like to return to the Tulsa convention, and of course I want to go to San Diego ComicCon at some point as well.

               1. We are SO going to the San Diego ComicCon one day my friend. It would be fun to go to a Tulsa Trek convention to as well. We need to look into that.
                  I really would like to meet Avery Brooks.

                  1. This year’s Trek Expo was the last weekend in June. I was tempted to go just because Jewel Staite was one of the guests.

7. Great to see what you’re buying and reading, Carl.

   I’ll tell you a sad story.

   I was trying to make space and get rid of some things I didn’t think it likely I’d be re-reading. I had the first 61 of the STNG paperbacks, bought new, and had read all but a few of them but they were all in PERFECT condition. So I boxed them up into a large cardboard box and took them to a guy I knew who often sold stuff on eBay, and he said okay, he’d sell them for me. About a week later he emailed me to say the auction would begin the next day and run 5 days. The next day I looked in and sure enough there they were.

   There was one photograph of the cardboard box, open so you could see the top few books. He had posted the list I’d given him, but the text was tiny and not very sharp. The only description was “box of star trek paperbacks”. There was no reserve or any other info except that the buyer would have to pay shipping. The box sold for ….. wait for it ….. five dollars. After his cut I got $2.50. Lesson learned.

   1. It is funny that you tell that story, Richard, because Jeff and I were just talking the other day about how Star Trek books, even the hardcovers, lose their value so quickly, regardless of what kind of shape they are in. I imagine that has part to do with the large print runs they used to have and partially because they are seen as just novelizations of a television show vs. novels in their own right. Which is sad. I’ve read some ST books that are just as good as most anything I’ve read and others that were just so-so. Same as any other books.

      $5.00. Hardly worth the effort to ship them out to the winner. The sad thing is that same sort of thing happens when you take a box of books to a place like Half Price Books. You just have to decide that in the end what you are doing is trying to clear space and not have a bunch of value placed on them otherwise you just end up disappointed.

   2. I feel your pain Richard! I’ve got ALL of the original Star Trek paperbacks from the 12 novelizations of the original series up into the 200’s where I finally gave up and the majority of the hardcovers. They’re all in good shape considering some of them are almost 40 years old, the earliest paperbacks i’m sorta scared to try to open and re-read. 😀

      I’ve actually got the ones Deslily’s needing, if I had duplicates I’d send them to her!

      1. I only have a handful of Star Trek paperbacks now. I kept the ones I really liked and sold (cheaply) the others back when I first started this debt elimination plan. At some point I would like to go back and read some of the earlier novels.

8. Don’t give me any ideas! If buying book alleviates the heat I will find myself doing that… I did buy the new James Rollins book, though, today. 🙂

   1. Sorry K! This needs to be my big spending spree for the summer too, as I need to use the rest of my budgeted money for other things. It was a fun week though!

9. You are right; buying books does help to beat the summer heat. I am trying to be good though, and use my library more. Still, I have three books to purchase, just trying to decide how I want to go about the purchases. I still need to buy Outlander 20th anniversary edition. Can you believe I have not bought it yet??? My gosh, that is a sign that I am trying to not buy books. I also have A Dance with Dragons on my radar and American Gods. But, thanks to your brainwashing with constant talk about your need for the mmpb of The Way of Kings – I now think I may need the mmpb for the same purpose as you stated! Thanks Carl! Like I really needed another book on my list and one that I already own. 😉 If I do buy the mmpb then I think I will give it away to someone who wants to read the story because I will not need two books of the same title sitting on my shelf.

   Holy criminy..I just realized that tomorrow is the 12th. My gosh, that means GRRM’s book is out! What do I do…amazon or store??? I don’t the copy in my hands tomorrow but I want it bought. hmmm…

   1. Ibeeeg: I’m trying to be good now as well. You would probably be surprised to know that I haven’t bought the 10th Anniversary edition of American Gods yet either. I’m sure I’ll get it soon. I’ve been using the library a bunch more these last few months as well, particularly to get books that I am iffy about or that I know for sure I’ll only read once. I’ve got a ridiculous pile of library books right now. Wish I could read them all.

      As for Way of Kings, you need to decide if you want it to be a part of your exercise program or not. LOL! If you read the hardcover only just think of the muscles you’ll build.

      And yes, today is GRRM’s new release day. I imagine he’ll sell a lot of copies today. I certainly wish that for him.

10. T-T Why, Carl? WHY do you want me to buy more books? This post is such an tempting, taunting post. (Even though our tastes are different and so I’m at least safe from wanting to buy all of the books you mention.)

    It does look like a wonderful trip to the bookstore, though. I hope you’ll enjoy all of the books! ^-^

    1. I’m just a bad man, Shanra. That is all the excuse I can offer. And I’m not even sorry so that makes me worse! 🙂

       Thanks, I hope I enjoy them as well. And stay out of the bookstore!!!

       1. *laughs* You’re not as bad as all that, Carl, or you’d have claimed innocence and said it was all the books’ fault. Instead, there you are, taking the fall for them.

          No worries, my book- No, wait. You’re hoping you‘ll stay out of bookstores. You should move over here! I guarantee you that you will avoid the temptation of going into bookstores. ^-^ (Or at least ensure that you’ll leave them without books nine point nine times out of ten. On account of them being in Dutch and you presumably not being able to read them and all.)

          I’m glad to read about your library excursions, though. ^-^ One day, I will live near a library I can actually use because it has books I like… That sounds so wonderful… I envy all you library-capable people. (But ienvy n a nice way!) Which books are you looking forward to the most?

          1. That is because I am merely their puppet, and they are the Puppet Masters. (cue scary music here)

             No worries about your presumptions, you are indeed quite correct. The Dutch would be all Greek to me.

             Thanks, I plan on making one of those excursions this very day. I have lovely books waiting for me to pick them up and a reluctant return. Reluctant because the book, Junk Beautiful, is one I love and frequently check out. I need to just buy myself a copy of that one at some point.

             1. Nah, it wouldn’t be that bad. For one, we use the same letters as English. ^-~

                It does sound like treating yourself to that book at some point is a good idea. Although if you borrow it long enough the library might give you a copy just to make you stop borrowing their copy. ^-~ Which books do you have waiting for you?

                1. I wish they would do that!

                   I have (either checked out or in my library queue):

                   Kracken ~China Mieville

                   St. Lucy’s Home for Girl’s Raised by Wolves ~Karen Russell

                   The Complete Works of T.S. Spivet ~Rief Larson

                   Kat, Incorrigible ~Stephanie Burgis

                   Robopocalypse ~Daniel Wilson (audio)

                   First Light ~Rebecca Stead (audio)

                   Blackout ~Connie Willis

                   Dusty Diablos ~Michael de Meng

                   It’s a Book ~Lane Smith

                   Leviathan Wakes ~James Corey

                   Love is a Mix-tape ~Rob Sheffield

                   The Most Beautiful Walk in the World ~John Baxter

                   The Reading Promise ~Alice Ozma

                   Needless to say, there is no way I’ll be reading all these my first time removing them from the library. LOL!

11. Enjoy! You might be worse than me when I comes to buying books.

    1. I certainly have my moments! I hadn’t been too bad this year (after the first few weeks) until lately. Gonna have to stay away from the bookstore now for a time.

       1. That is so hard though. Lately I have been trying to curb my addiction, passion, love, bad habit, indulgence…choose whatever word works for you. I’ll behave for a few weeks and then I cave. Right not I am in the behaving stage.

          1. Ever since I began my debt reduction plan I’ve been SOOOO much better with my book buying habit. I occasionally go through these splurges, but they are more rare and I go through long stretches where I don’t even darken the doorstep of my local booksellers.

             I have also drastically increased my library usage. For example I have 18 books that I have holds on and a half dozen more currently checked out, all of which I would have been tempted to just buy in the past.

             1. I have also started to use the library on a regular basis. I’m at the point when I walk in they all know my name and I don’t have to give them my card since as soon as they see me they pull up my account and grab my requested items off of the shelf. I request a lot of books and movies from them. Sometimes I am embarrassed to pick them up since there will be so many, but they always tell me that I am keeping their circulation numbers up. I can’t tell if they are just being polite 🙂

                1. I love that our local library branches, while staffed by a fairly large number of workers and volunteers, has installed an automated check out system and have moved the holds shelf out where you can grab your own stuff. I love being able to walk in, grab my goodies off the shelf, and quickly check them out through the machine. I still occasionally use the librarians for check out, but I like having this option.

                   1. That is a nice option. We have that at the main branch but not the one I walk by each day on my way home from work. Does the check out system work? From what I’ve experienced at the main branch, half the time they don’t work and people have to find someone to either check them out or fix the machine. That would irritate me if it happened all of the time. Hopefully you don’t have any issues with yours.

12. By the way I was just thinking since this tip # 317, which I found very useful, where might I find tips 1 through 316. 😉

    1. Can’t reveal all my trade secrets now, Jeff. If I did then what would you have to look forward to?

13. Well, we’d have # 318 to look forward to.

    1. Oh, you know me better than to think I’d be that organized. 🙂

14. great tip, i think i may bpick up a few of those titles and relax in the shade !

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