Photo Credit: Magius and David)
Time for my Monday morning confessional, the place where I admit that yes, doctor, I do have a problem. My name is Carl. And I love to acquire books.
Recent too-good-to-pass-up coupons and online sales and a post-dentist visit to to a tiny used bookstore in town means that the recently cleared shelf space in my basement is about to be filled again.
My comfort comes from the fact that I am not alone.
Okay, lets be honest, my comfort comes from the fact that I do so enjoy adding books to my collection.
I mentioned in my last book acquisitions post that I had snagged a few books by Keith Laumer. I declared myself a fan after reading his first collection of Bolo stories earlier this year. I can’t describe to you just how thrilled I was to find this practically new copy of his Bolo novel, Rogue Bolo, in the miniscule science fiction section in my local used bookstore.
I haven’t read anything by John Barnes, but when I found this copy (mine has slightly different design arrangement but the same cover image) that was in great shape with a John Harris cover on it I was intrigued. The back cover copy of the book sounded really interesting too so I decided to bring it home. Over the weekend I was perusing author Jo Walton’s excellent reviews over on the Tor website and came across her glowing review of this novel. That made me even more thrilled that I brought the book home with me.
Those of you who’ve known me for a long time know that my youthful love of science fiction was fed by my uncle’s small collection of SF paperbacks which he generously let me borrow. Although I cannot recall every book that he had on those few shelves, I do remember those that I read and a handful of others which I did not. This book by James Hogan was one that I did not read. One of my goals is to eventually read all of the books that I remember being there but didn’t take the time to read as a young man. A few years ago I acquired a battered copy of this book and the novel that goes before it, Inherit the Stars. As this copy was much, much nicer I decided to bring it home to replace my battered copy.
There was a lot of positive buzz about this book co-authored by Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck when it came out earlier in the year and I resisted buying it at the time in large part because it is a monster of a book. Every time I am in the store my eyes manage to linger on the cover longingly and a recent BN coupon coupled with finding a copy of this trade paperback that wasn’t damaged meant that the longing turned into possessing. With the sequel rapidly approaching it would be wise of me to start this one to see if I am among those who love this first outing or if the hype is much ado about nothing.
The latest Flavia de Luce novel is a no-brainer for me. I rushed out to pick up a copy when it was released last Tuesday. Though my urge was to fling aside all current reading so that I could dive right in, I decided that the Christmas setting of this book would be more fun to read over Thanksgiving weekend, at the earliest. While I am always eager to embrace the Christmas spirit early, and despite being inundated with Christmas commercials all day Sunday during NFL games, I am not quite ready for jingle bells. Are any of you planning to read this one soon?
Jeff recently spotted the release of this issue of Subterranean magazine, with its inclusion of the John Scalzi short story, Questions for a Soldier. The story is part of Scalzi’s Old Man’s War universe, something we are both incredibly fond of. While I would like to think I could hold off reading this until the Sci Fi Experience, I have severe doubts that my resolve will last that long.
And finally some online sales were too good to resist and thus I was able to add a few more of the Bond books to my collection. I am now lacking just four books from this batch of releases to have the entire set.
I am not the only one acquiring books though. Andrea posted her latest treasures, which are cool in and of themselves, but this is a must check out post because of the drool-worthy used bookstore she visited. And Richard had a productive week of book acquiring as well.
How about the rest of you? Any new friends come home with you of late? Feel free to post about it, including links if you have them, in the comments section.
Nice haul of books! I’m a huge Keith Laumer fan. WORLDS OF THE IMPERIUM, ENVOY TO NEW WORLDS, and a couple dozen other Laumer classics sit proudly on my shelves. Sadly, Laumer’s later work suffered from his Alzheimer’s disease. But the early work is priceless.
Laumer getting Alzheimer’s sounds vaguely familiar to me. My friend Jerry is a Laumer fan and I imagine he must have mentioned that at one point. That is sad. I know I was really impressed with The Annals of the Dinochrome Brigade collection and I’ve read a few stories out of the 9 by Laumer paperback I picked up last month and they were very good.
oh wow too funny… i do believe I mentioned 4 used books that came to my home in todays post.. which is not just about those books!
you aquire books like a stray dog aquires fleas! You and Chris both! lol I do love reading when either of you get a bunch of books though.. you are always so happy , as they say: like a kid in a candystore!
Yes I do, Deslily. A perfect analogy. They just come to me. I have no control over it! I like that excuse, it absolves me of all responsibility!!!
And I’m not as bad as Chris!!! LOL!
you’re not as bad as Chris? Hmmmm, I wonder if Mary would agree??? *snort*
Did you see Chris’ latest list? I think I’m pretty safe. Ha!
my dear fellow addict:
nice collection, but admittedly I did gasp quite loudly in envy as the latest Flavia De Luce came into view. such restraint, but I do agree, the release of this is perfect as it should be fantastic holiday read. and maybe this will give me a chance to get my hands on a copy as well. looking forward to your thoughts/response.
congrats. and enjoy.
~from a friendly neighborhood enabler.
I’m really happy that it is out and can’t wait to read it. But wait I will, at least until closer to Thanksgiving. I am leaning towards taking it with me on our birthday weekend camping (in a cabin) trip coming up the weekend of Nov. 19th. It would be a fun book to read on that trip.
Hope you get your hands on a copy soon so we can compare notes.
I’ll be reading the Flavia de Luce once my library gets it to me! I was so excited that we get 2 this year.
Me too Melanie! And hopefully we’ll get another one later next year.
I’ll be surprised if you don’t at least like LEVIATHAN WAKES. (Then again, I also said I’d be surprised if you didn’t like THE MAGICIANS, so perhaps that isn’t worth much.) Is it your first brush with Daniel Abraham? He’s quickly become one of my favourite authors, despite my lacklustre reaction to this offering.
I haven’t bought anything lately, but I did get a copy of THE KINGDOM OF GODS by N.K. Jemisin from my library the other day, and I recently received ARCs of RISE OF EMPIRE by Michael J. Sullivan, THE FALLEN QUEEN by Jane Kindred and THE WOLF GIFT by Anne Rice. I’m wicked excited about all of them.
I’ve just added I AM HALF-SICK OF SHADOWS to my library requests list, too. Thanks for the reminder that it’s now available!
I’ve read Hunter’s Run, which was an excellent collaboration between George RR Martin, Daniel Abraham, and Gardner Dozois. I haven’t read any of Abraham’s fantasy fiction, however. Leviathan Wakes certainly has the elements that I like in space opera, but like anything else it will remain to be seen if they collaborative effort strikes a cord or not.
I’ve heard really good things about Jemisin and Jane Kindred. I haven’t read an Anne Rice book in forever. I keep saying I’m going to re-read The Mummy, which I like very much, but I never get around to it.
And you are welcome for the reminder. Look forward to your thoughts as well.
Looks like somebody might be getting ready for an upcoming Fantasy/Sci-fi Challenge?! Love the acquisitions, Carl, and I’m glad you have cleared a space for them. I just keep adding to my nook, which helps shelf space but not wallet space.
Yes, I’ve been in a huge SF mood for about a month now and have been nursing it along with a book here or there, not willing to give in totally to it because I have other reading that I want to get done first.
I’m trying to clear away a few books once or twice a year, culling the collection down to what I truly want and not just what I have and am just hanging on to.
The Laumer should be terrific, I’ve not read any John Barnes, I did read INHERIT THE STARS, a long time ago, but honestly don’t remember anything about it other than I think I liked it. Have not read this sequel.
I bought all the Fleming books when I was in my mid twenties, and then bought an omnibus of them, but that didn’t include the later books nor any of those by Gardner, nor any of the novelizations of the later films. Those Penguin editions have sexy covers and look like they’d be a great set to complete.
I bought LEVIATHAN at the beginning of summer, and even started it, but then set it aside as I wanted to finish a batch of other books that were partially read. I have now done that, but got diverted with other things, so I’ll read it one of these days… What I read of it was great, but it was less than 30 pages.
I have yet to find a really good used book store here, other than Powells, which is nice depending on what is wanted, but the cool older stuff is scarce.
That’s right, I remember you buying Leviathan Wakes. Glad to hear that it was at least grabbing you right from the start.
The Penguin covers are fun. A bit cheese-cake-y, but fun nonetheless. And they are a really nice size too. I’ve read the first 5 of them and have enjoyed every one.
I started the Barnes tonight just because I couldn’t take staring at it anymore. So far, so good.
There aren’t a lot of great used bookstores here either. It is pretty safe to say that the three books I just bought from our tiny one here might be the only books I find that I want for a long time, unless they get a regular shipment in or something, and I somehow doubt that.
Did you check out the used bookstore that Andrea (Little Red Reviewer) visited? Now that place sounds amazing.
Yes, I saw those posts, amazing – and what a firetrap – but too far away for me.
Me too, but I would certainly like to make a book pilgrimage one day to a number of places, and that one would be on my list.
I didn’t realise the new Flavia book was a Christmas one. I have book three to read and now that I know will try to get book four in time for Christmas. Love the classic sci fi you find, Carl. The covers are always so cool. I’m waiting on the arrival of one book and then I’ll be doing a recent buys post too.
Please come back and let me know when your post is up, Cath and leave us a link.
Yes, the new Flavia book is perfectly timed. Book Three was great, I hope you enjoy it and hope we all enjoy this new one.
Ahh Carl, I knew we were kindred spirits! Or is the proper term fellow addicts?
and the first step of the twelve step program. . . is to buy a book. but I can’t ever buy just one!!
I like kindred spirits better. It has a nice enabling ring to it. 🙂
I can sometimes buy just one…a day…
I thought I had made a breakthrough when I went on a short holiday and came home with no new books. Spoiled it two days later by bringing home twenty from the library book sale. They looked at me with sad, puppy eyes, and I couldn’t leave them there to be dumped.
That cracks me up as I can so see myself in that same place Morag! Moments of restraint followed by binges. Ah, the life of a book lover.
I’m glad I have more “self control” than you. I have not bought any books since last night when I picked up 2 old Ace paperback printings of “Catseye” and “Lord of Thunder” by Andre Norton. I think you are like me in that I have never met a used book store/library sale that I didn’t like. There are many things worse than giving an old book a new home. Enjoy your new editions.
I am exactly that way, Jim. And if it wasn’t for my work hours I would be even worse as I generally miss some of the bigger library sales where a friend of mine always picks up a chunk of science fiction.
I put myself on a book buying hiatus but then B&N had to give out a 50% off coupon and I just had to buy a newer book I’ve been eyeing. It came down to 3 choices: Zone One, the John Lithgow book and Snuff. I went with Snuff by Terry Pratchett. I’ve only read Good Omens, which he wrote with Neil Gaiman so to be fair, after all the Neil Gaiman reading I’ve done I had to give Terry his turn.
Those covers on the Ian Flemming’s are awesome. I kick myself for passing up two Flemming’s I saw at a Goodwill used book store.
I used that 50% off coupon to buy a gift for someone for Christmas, so that worked out great, especially since I decided to spend just a little bit more (on me) to get the free shipping! 🙂
I have only read Good Omens as well but I have a copy of Pratchett’s book Thud! that someone gave me a few years ago for the blogger Christmas exchange that I really need to get to. I suspect I will really like Terry’s work.
Books are fun and this is a fun collection
Some great finds my friend. I want to read some BOLO adventures as well. I broke down and added Levithan Wakes to my amazon wishlist so I can read it to in the future. I need to get caught up on the Flavia books as I LOVE the red cover on book 4. The Fleming books look great as well. I need to get more of those myself. I have the first 3 so far I believe or maybe 4. That’s one reason I’m organizinf all my books because I want everything were I can see them all easily, hopefully. 🙂 Cool finds.
They were, I was really pleased. I think you would enjoy that Bolo book, which you are welcome to borrow anytime.
Don’t be gazing too intently at your Wishlist or you might be noticing things that are missing. Don’t want you peeking into your Christmas gifts early.
Book 4 of Flavia annoyed me yet again because it has the printed on cover like the first and third book have. So we have this stupid dust jacket only on the second book. I have no idea why (okay, yes I do, money) they screwed up the collection this way. I love the printed on covers, just wish book two would have followed suit.
I wonder if book 2 reprints will not have the dust jacket to match the other books.
I would like to borrow the Bolo book. Will you set it out for me to snag if I make it over this week please?
As for the wishlist… ok… 🙁
I’ve been trying very hard not to go on book-buying binges, but I still managed to somehow acquire three new ones this week. =D
Funny how that manages to happen, isn’t it? 🙂