Book-Shopping: The Pwnage

[laceblade]

Last night, The Boyfriend and I went out for dinner and then to Half-Price Books, where I had a magnificent haul.

LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT IT, INTERNET.

I got Timothy Zahn's Heir to the Empire and Dark Force Rising for $1 each. Star Wars novels are what seriously got me into SF in the 5th grade (previously my plan had been: READ EVERYTHING). Lately I've been wanting to revisit them. I should also....probably take my Star Wars books out of my parent's house some day. WHEN I HAVE A HOUSE, I WILL DO IT.

I got three Animorphs books that I needed, one of which is a Tobias book! At this point, most of the ones I need are the later ones; that shit is hard to find.

I got a bunch of Strangers in Paradise tomes that I don't have yet, and they were only $3 a piece. That is the cheapest I have EVAR seen them!

--A DMZ volume.

--A Little House songbook (HATERS GONNA HATE) At first I ignored this on the shelf and then I was like, OMG BUT IT'S ACTUALLY SHEET MUSIC?! I always wanted to know how these songs actually went, even if I found the sounds to be the most tedious/boring parts as a child. (I still have this problem, actually - ask me if I've read a single song in a Tolkien book.)

--Volume one of a manga called 'Flower of the Deep Sleep.' I've never heard of this, and bought it because the art looks good. With manga, this is usually a dangerous thing to do.

I found so many good things that I had to put some stuff back because I didn't want to spend so much money! Left behind because I know they're at the library: Notsume Ono's Not Simple and Miyuki Miyabe's Brave Story.

Now to carefully peel the price stickers off of everything.

All this with a 10% off coupon! GLORY.

Comments

[littlebutfierce]

ask me if I've read a single song in a Tolkien book

Hahaha, me too! Usually I just skim them.

Although back in sparklepony days, not only did I (apparently) read all the songs in the Valdemar books, I HAD TWO TAPES OF THE SONGS. I, um, maybe still try to get the "silly sheep, go to sleep" one in my head when I am insomniac.

[owlectomy]

Did you know they're reprinting the Animorphs series? They just started last month, so it's going to take a while for them to get up to the later volumes, but I know SO many people who are nostalgic for them and can't find them at the bookstore/library! Also, hologram covers.

[starlady]

Timothy Zahn's Star Wars books are almost the only good ones. Have you read his other non-SW books? They're quite fun.

[jesse_the_k]

There was a clever duo named Flanders & Swann who were in a mid-60s British version of Peter & Lou Berryman. For once the Wikipedia article does a pretty good job explaining their places in the white male unit of culture last millenium.

Anyway, they put out a disc called "The Road Goes Ever Onward" which was musically settings (owing a lot to Gilbert & Sullivan) of many of the best Tolkein lyrics in the trilogy. I found them infinitely more interesting as songs.

Also: book shopping win!

[laceblade]

ZOMG, I think I did not know this. The covers look even creepier/uglier than the old ones! #win

ANIMORPHS RESURRECTION PANEL AT NEXT WISCON?!

[laceblade]

I haven't read any other ones by Zahn! I should get on that.

In middle school, I remember loving Michael Stackpole's X-Wing series (Aaron Alliston's were pretty derivative of his, unfortunately) and I, Jedi. I haven't reread them recently, though, and am afraid!

[laceblade]

BWAHAHAHA.

One day I'm going to make a post and list all of the SF authors I've never read (which will include Mercedes Lackey). IN FACT, PERHAPS I'LL DO THAT RIGHT NOW.

[starlady]

Zahn and Stackpole were the two best overall, I think. You should definitely read the other Zahn books, they were quite good, he even managed to make other writers' asshattery seem plausible in retrospect. I also enjoyed The Truce at Bakura and Shadows of the Empire.

[laceblade]

Yussss! I loved Shadows of the Empire, I think it was my first one.

I also kind of loved the Young Jedi Knights series, even though I was a little too old for it when I started reading it (I had already read a bunch of adult Star Wars novels, lol). But I really liked Jacen and Jaina, and I'm aware of some spoilers, but mostly I kind of want to read all the books to find out what Jaina's like (I think she becomes a Rogue Squadron pilot, along with other stuff).

[starlady]

I liked the YJA too! Those are the only Kevin J. Anderson books I've ever liked. But I think all the characters got shafted in the New Jedi Order hoohah, not gonna lie.

[bibliofile]

I think that Flanders & Swann might have made me read the songs -- if I'd heard the music at some point. I too tend to skip through the songs & poetry, as too often it seems like just an opportunity for the author to show off their poetry chops (and kinda sorta actually get PAID for it).

Man, I did not even KNOW that someone did a book of the LIttle House songs! That thing might sell really well today, with all the baby boomers' kids reading the things. Ah well.