alecholland

Yep, our office had become a bit of an obstacle course.

Weekend home office project. Set up my new Billy Bookcase with glass doors. I really like it. Only made it halfway through H's though going alphabetical by author. My wife said, "I told you that you needed two!" She's buying a second one for me right now. Going through my books, I found a copy of Jack Vance's The Dying Earth ( Pocket Books version) that has been on my Ebay watch list for at least a year. I never could find a nice copy, but it turns out I already own it. Lol.

Just finished reading Ray Russell's Haunted Castles which includes the Sardonicus novella. I just feel like the back cover photo needs a Real Men of Genius song, so I wrote one. I hope you will forgive me, I just wanted to share it. ANNOUNCER: Bud Light Presents: Real Men of Genius SINGER: Real Men of Genius A: Today we salute you: Mr. Scary Story Writer (Mr. Scary Story Writer) A: You know that a menacing, steely eyed back cover photo is more important than a good book title. (Ooh…Haunted Castles) A: The pen may be mightier than the sword, but it will never slay the ladies like a well-manicured beard and mustache. (Fear the beard) A: Should you have a forward or a preface? That’s a joke, right? You’re Ray F’n Russell (Man needs no introductions) A: While we’re sleeping, you’re typing tales that keep us sitting in our living room at 3 in the morning with all the lights on. (It’s the only time I can watch Match Game reruns) So crack open a nice cold Bud Light Master of gothic horror. Because you put the creep in creepy. (His eyes keep following me) A: Bud Light Beer Anheuser Busch St. Louis, MO

SOLD! Thank you!

All books on hold pending pm reply.

That's it! I would take $70.00 shipped CONUS for both lots if someone is interested. I am also always open to reasonable offers. Thanks for looking!

Green Lantern lot - issues 80 & 89 - SOLD! Asking $40.00 shipped CONUS for the lot Grades are as follows: issue 80 - 7.5/8.0 - OW issue 89 - 5.5 - OW to Cream - has thumb crease/crunch top middle front cover, otherwise nicer.

Mister Miracle lot - issues 6, 8, 11, 12, & 13 - SOLD! Asking $45.00 shipped CONUS for the lot Just scanning the front of each book, but if someone would like a scan of the back cover, let me know. Grades are as follows: issue 6 - 7.0/7.5 - OW to Cream issue 8 - 7.0/7.5 - OW to Cream issue 11 - 6.5 - OW - has two horizontal printers creases top 1/3 of back cover. issue 12 - 7.5 - White to OW issue 13 - 7.0 - Cream

Both lots are SOLD! Mister Miracle lot - issues 6, 8, 11, 12, & 13 Green Lantern lot - issues 80 & 89 First in the thread wins. Please do not edit your post after posting PAYMENT Paypal only. Payments should be made within three days of receiving invoice from me. SHIPPING These will be shipped via USPS Ground in a Gemini comic mailer. Shipping is included in the lot prices. I love our Canadian and overseas members, but will only ship CONUS right now. I typically ship within 3 days of payment. If I am unable to ship in that time frame, I will notify you promptly. I will not sell to any H.O.S. Members or anyone currently on the probation list. Although I've never had any issues, full or partial refunds available if you contact me within 10 days of receiving your purchase. I do not offer refunds on CGC graded books. I think that covers it. Here's the books!

They are supposed to be very good, but I haven't read either of them yet. They are in my TBR stack but I think I have 5 books ahead of them. I'm not a fast reader (mostly due to work & family schedule), so I'll probably get to them in about 6 weeks. I wish I could afford the DAW Imaro III book, but it's a bit more than I want to spend on a single paperback right now. I could live in Half-price books, but they won't let me. I've asked.

I don't buy only sci-fi books. Here's a few recent non sci-fi purchases.

All of the Ace Science Fiction Special's are at the top of my want list. I currently have none. Some of them, like Left Hand of Darkness might be a bit out of my price range, but I hope to own them all at some point. These and original 21 Ballantine (Del Rey) Single-Author BEST OF Classic Science Fiction Series are what I'm working to complete right now.

I'm in! Eyesight has been a bit of an issue after a couple retinal surgeries, which is why I didn't participate in the last couple, but it's getting better. Still have 20/20 in one eye, so let's do this!

I realized a couple sales threads ago that Goldust never sleeps.

I didn't know about this one either. It's now added to my want list.

Just FYI for my fellow board members. I can't afford them, but a bookseller I have bought from several times and can recommend highly has all four of these currently for sale on his website. He does take offers as well, but he might be pretty firm on these. I thought about buying them myself, but financially the timing is bad for me right now. I'd be really happy if one of my fellow board members was able to grab these. The Hobbit looks like it has a few condition issues (I'd probably pass on that one), but the Lord of the Rings trilogy looks pretty nice. Here are the links for anyone interested: Lord of the Rings trilogy The Hobbit

Check out the photos from Surfing Alien and OtherEric in the "Have Paperbacks become the “next big thing”? thread. I put all my paperbacks in acid-free plastic paperback sleeves and try to have them all standing upright/vertical on my bookshelves. Stacking books horizontally can place undue pressure on book spines, so I try to avoid doing that. I usually have a few of my favorites facing out like Surfing Alien does in his photo so I can see them when I'm sitting at my desk or in my reading chair in my home office.

The joke about a follow up book is just sitting there, but I don't want to go there.

You're on a roll John. That's one that I've been planning on getting. Nice copy!

I think paperback collecting is a very niche market but I'm not entirely sure it is only comprised of white males over 55 (although I am a 57 year old white male ). I watch a guy called Bookpilled on Youtube and although he is white, he is probably in his mid 30s. He has over 38,000 followers and I'm sure many if not most of them are probably in his same age group. Personally, I don't think paperback collecting will ever be the "next big thing", or at least I hope not. Comic collecting has for the most part become cost prohibitive for me over the last half dozen years or so. I do still collect a couple titles, but these days every time I consider spending more than $100 on a comic, I think about how many cool paperback books I could buy instead. I think the paperback thread here and some of the recent sales threads have simply unveiled several board members who, in addition to collecting comics and/or pulps, also collect books. I've been buying paperbacks for about the last 12 years, ever since a Half Price Books store opened near where I used to work. I went there on my lunch hour at least once a week and would buy half a dozen old sci-fi paperbacks and spend maybe $15 total. It was awesome. I didn't think of myself as a paperback collector though until the last couple years when I realized I had about 500 paperbacks and I said to my wife, "I think I collect paperbacks." She was like, "duh." Anyway, I think we have just uncovered several board members whose tastes/preferences either for financial reasons or just for a change of pace have switched to book collecting. Perhaps comic and/or pulp collecting has also lost some of it's appeal because the "thrill of the hunt" isn't there as much anymore as well. When I first started collecting comics again 20+ years ago, there were quite a few comics that I thought were rare or at least hard to find. However, I've since realized almost everything I want really isn't that tough to find anymore. Plus, the comics that are actually rare, I can no longer afford. So, paperback book collecting presents a new and exciting challenge for me and I think many other board members feel the same. It has much of the same appeal to me as comic collecting did when I first started - there is some fantastic cover art, some true rarities, and I enjoy kicking back on a lazy Sunday morning with a cup of coffee and reading for an hour or two. I also don't worry as much about accidentally chipping or bending the corner of a $20 paperback as much as I do a $200 comic if I decide to read it. Anyhow, that's my . I rambled, sorry.

Been on a book buying tear the last couple months. I think I've added about 50 new books. Didn't take October Country out of the bag because it's pretty snug in there. I don't have any of the larger sleeves, so waiting until I get some to move that one into a new sleeve.

I'm almost 60 and I work for the government. I couldn't be more out of touch.

Or maybe a phone booth. 'Cause...you know... we're super cool.

Good luck with the sale! I've been selling (or giving away) my comics on and off for the last couple years so I could focus on my paperback collection. I'm keeping some of the stuff, but would like to eventually get rid of 90% of my comic collection. Also, I highly recommend John. Most (if not all) of the comics I bought from him in the past are in my 10% keeper collection.

I had the day off today and finished it this evening. Definitely a classic in every sense of the word and one that will stick with me. Thanks for the recommendation!!