The great paperback giveaway, part 1
So, I have 12 boxes of paperback books in my back room, that I haven’t unpacked in the six years since the move. The primary reason here is that I’ve never built enough shelving to catch up to my hardcover books, and thus have never had shelving for the paperbacks. Well, OK, the primary reason is that I am World Class Lazy, but let’s not get into that.
After this much time I occasionally worry that some terrible thing might have happened to the books I haven’t unpacked. So I’ve recently decided to buy some plastic packing cases, and move the books from the cardboard UHaul 2-cubes they’ve been in for six year into the plastic cases. I’ll be less worried with the books in the plastic, and it will give me a chance to reorganize the back room, so I can get around to putting some shelves in there.
So last night I moved over 4 of the boxes. It was an interesting experience. I have a few paperbacks I had forgotten I owned, but many, many more that each brought back very powerful memories of where and when I got them or read them, etc.
I also found that there were a large number of paperbacks that I didn’t need to keep anymore, for one reason or another. In the vast majority of cases the reason was “I’ve added a hardcover/trade paper copy to my collection in the intervening years”, but sometimes it’s just “I don’t want this anymore”.
So, while I was repacking these four boxes I culled these books from the boxes, as I don’t need them in the collection anymore:
Most of those are in perfect condition, the ones I bought new, with 8 or 10 exceptions; the ones I didn’t buy new. I figure I’ll probably get two more sets this size that I can also get rid of when I get around to moving over the rest of the books.
So, the question is: what do I do with these?
I could just take them to a used shop and get money or credit, but I figure before I do that I should give my friends, and online acquaintances, a shot at them.
So here’s the deal: if you want any of the items on the list below, post a comment saying which item or items (note to George: don’t say “I’ll take them all”) and why you want them. If your why is more interesting than “hey, free book”, I send them to you. I’ll keep the lists updated as items are claimed. For people in North America, I’ll eat the cost of mailing them. If anyone further distant wants some, you can PayPal me the postage costs. I will email you at the address you use to comment to get your physical address if I don’t already have it. Post your requests, don’t email me–that way I won’t forget what you wanted and everyone can see what’s already gone.
Whatever doesn’t get claimed by the end of June will go to the local used book shop.
Here’s the list:
The first four Leo Waterman mysteries by G. M. Ford– nice, light mysteriesThe Name Of The Rose by Umberto Eco– brilliant- The first two Cliff Janeway mysteries by John Dunning – as a book guy, I really liked these mysteries centering on a cop-turned-bookseller
- Two of the D’Artagnan Romances from Dumas Pere
- The first Goodfellowe book by Michael Dobbs
Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick– the novel that Blade Runner was based on- Two early Childe Cycle books by Gordon Dickson
- The first three Elvis Cole mysteries by Robert Crais – these are lighter, occasionally zany, books compared to the more noirish (and frankly better) stuff that Crais later settles into
Tom DeHaven’s Chronicles Of The King’s TrampThe Element Of Fire by Martha WellsTwo early Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich– while I know a lot of people like these, they just didn’t work for meThe first fiveBooks 3-5 in the Harry Bosch mysteries by Michael Connelly – you can’t say you know anything about the modern mystery genre if you haven’t read Connelly- Books 4-9 of Glen Cook‘s Garret, P.I. series – I really enjoyed this fantasy/PI/Viet Nam mashup, at least I did until the UFOs showed up
The Black Company Books Of The North series, The Black Company Books Of The South series, and The Silver Spike, all by Glen Cook– a fantasy series where the mercenaries felt like mercernaries even while the epic stuff was happening around themFour Orson Scott Card short story collectionsBooks 2-7 of Steven Brust‘s Vlad Taltos novels– I’m glad to finally have all of these in hardcover, and even after many years of Vlad I’m still looking forward to the next oneBrokedown Palace, Cowboy Feng’s Space Bar And Grill, andTo Reign In Hell, all by Steven Brust – I just talked about To Reign In Hell a while back.Two John Carter of Mars books by Edgar Rice BurroughsSeventh Son by Orson Scott Card- The first two Changewinds books by Jack Chalker
- Tai Pan by James Clavell
- Two Evan Tanner novels by Lawrence Block
- Four Bernie Rhodenbarr novels by Lawrence Block
Realware by Rudy Rucker- Straight No Chaser by Jack Batten – At the time I bought this, I believe I was just fascinated with the notion of a mystery set in Toronto. This was the first time I’d seen that. Now that there’s a whole series set in my little home town, and I’ve seen lots more Toronto fiction, that seems a lot less fascinating.
- Two Dominic Flandry novels by Poul Anderson
- Tim Allen’s autobiography – I don’t know what I was thinking
Two short story collections by Lawrence BlockWhen The Sacred Ginmill Closes by Lawrence Block– probably my favourite of Block’s Matthew Scudder novels, this also got me to buy Dave Van Ronk discs- Two Myth books by Robert Asprin – comic fantasy (it’s pretty broad comedy, descending to puns on occasion)
Foundation And Earth by Isaac Asimov– It’s been a long time since I read this, but I remember the distinct impression that bringing the Robots and Foundation series together was a big mistake
John Miner
Jaime Usal
Pat Kittle
Gary Gray
Vaughn
Zail
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I’ll take them a….dammit. Actually, I’m currently out of shelf space in the library, so if two boxes of books show up again then I think my wife would have words with me (although I suppose I could counter with the number of canoes stacked in the garage).
But I would like “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep” (because I’ve never read the book), “The Element of Fire” (because I quite enjoy Wells), and “Foundation and Earth” (because I think that’s one of the one’s I’m missing from my Asimov collection because they’re out of print). Although, now I’m going to have to go home and make sure I don’t already have the Wells and Asimov books.
I don’t know…there’s a lot of books on the list that look interesting, but nothing I desperately want, or feel like I need to own. Unlike you, I think, I’m quite content to rely on my local library for a lot of the books I read, especially when I haven’t read anything by that author before. And I already have a fair number of un-read paperbacks lying around.
But still, The Name of the Rose and Brokedown Palace look interesting…even if my reason for wanting them isn’t much more interesting than “hey, free book”…
I don’t know…there’s a lot of books on the list that look interesting, but nothing I desperately want, or feel like I need to own. Unlike you, I think, I’m quite content to rely on my local library for a lot of the books I read, especially when I haven’t read anything by that author before. And I already have a fair number of un-read paperbacks lying around.
But still, The Name of the Rose and Brokedown Palace look interesting…even if my reason for wanting them isn’t much more interesting than “hey, free book”…
Fred, I’ll send you those books even though you didn’t really exert yourself on a reason, if you agree to blog about what you thought of them whenever you do get around to reading them. Deal?
Deal. I really could not say when that will be — 2009, maybe? I’ve got a to-read list that just gets longer every day — but I’ll aim for sooner. I’ll send you the mailing address by e-mail. Thanks.
Found your site after following the pingback to my DeHaven review. Thanks for the link!
If you don’t mind, I’d be happy to take the Orson Scott Card short story collections off your hands. It will help me polish and hone my own skills in writing short stories, I’m thinking. I even promise to do a review of them. Pretty, pretty please?
Sure. I’ll email you for address info.
I’m assuming you’re U.S.ian, but I guess I’ll find out.
I am interested in the Chronicles of the King’s Tramp, because I really want it to be about a woman of loose virtue who hangs out with kings. Even if that’s not what it really is about, I’d like to read it. Also The Black Company Books Of The North series, The Black Company Books Of The South series, and The Silver Spike, because they sound good and fun.
Oh! Also, Seventh Son, because I read it once a long time ago and bits of it lurk in my brain and I never could recall the name of the book or the author, and it’s hard to ask after a book saying “You know, the one with the creepy old lady and the birth caul thing.”
You got it. The last address I have for you is from the 2005 MLF DC, so I’ll email you to make sure it’s still current.
Oh, and my friend Matt, who apparently doesn’t know how to use the comments is taking the Ford’s and the first two Connelly Bosch books. The remaining ones are quite readable without reading the first two.
[...] rules as last time (and some of those are still available for another week as well). Whatever is not claimed by [...]
Sigh. Guess I have to ask for the Rucker as well. Two disparate people have been pushing me to read him for a while.
My friend EBOC, who doesn’t know how to read, has claimed the Brust Taltos books. One wonders what he plans to do with them…
Hi Chris,
I’d like to take you on your offer on:
1. Steven Brust’s “To Reign In Hell”
-Reason: I love stories about Lucifer’s fall, and your review really sold me that this was one of the better ones out there. It’ll certainly be better than Anne Rice’s “Memnoch the Devil.”
2. “Isle of the Dead,” by Roger Zelany
-Reason: I hunted down “Lords of Light” for ages before I found a copy, and I was afraid to continue reading Zelany for fear that his other works might disappoint. If you’re recommending “Isle of the Dead,” I’d like to sample it.
3. The John Carter books by Edgar Rice Burroughs
-Reason: I read Howard Chaykin and Mike Mignola’s “Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser” last night, and Chaykin mentions in the introduction that the John Carter books are the ancestors of high adventure. And I love fantasies about Mars, and since I’ve never read a ERB book, this might be the best place to start.
4. Bruce Sterling’s “Distraction.”
-Reason: Again, I’ve never sampled Bruce Sterling’s work, and I’d like to take your recommendation on it.
5. The Lawrence Block short stories collections
-Reason: I’ve read Spillane and Marlowe, but I’ve shied away from trying the new noir like Block and Leonard. I find that noir stories fit best as short stories, so I’m interested in the Block short stories.
You can have all of those except the Zelazny, which has already gone to someone else.
You are snatching the Carter books out from under someone who emailed me instead of posting here!
PM me a mailing address over on the VHive (if it ever works for more than a minute).
This is a great giveaway! I’ll take the Plum books! Zany as they are, they’re just right for light beach reading! Fun in the sun, ya know. If they’re gone, then Books 3-5 in the Harry Bosch mysteries by Michael Connelly, please. Comedy first, but a murder mystery is a murder mystery, especially one written by Connelly!