Books Books Books

My book collection rises and falls. At present I am waiting on lock down easing so libraries open up again and I can donate about fifty or so books I haven’t read –  and which there’s zero chance of me ever reading. There was a little rise with the purchase of a couple of cheap Bob Shaw completion items; different editions of books I already own, bought off ebay for pennies plus postage.

I’ve also ordered a couple of expensive Robert E Howard books from the Robert E Howard Foundation. I was browsing their site and noticed that a few of their books were now out of print. I, ahem, paused purchasing the books when they first came out due to costs. Not the costs of the books themselves – which are reasonable for the good quality limited editions they produce – but the postage to Europe which doubled the price. Back in 2015 was the last purchase.

Looking at the books available there are a couple that I would like to have but are gone now, so I took the chance to some ensure that others I would like to have are bought before they too are gone. I note that The Early Adventures of El Borak isn’t even listed on their site any more. Another one I would have liked to own. Online searches show that copies go – if they are available as it’s pretty rare they pop up for sale – for up to £400. I’m just going to have to hope and keep fingers crossed that those I didn’t purchase but still want remain available.

Book wise Robert E Howard is still way ahead but Bob Shaw is catching up on him. Philip K Dick is pretty far behind in third place.