During the recent Lumlian social event (debauched drinking binge) me Tops and DC had a discussion about books, and they were telling me how they had that version of such and such a book and this version of the same book and so on and so forth.

 

Now I know I’ve only been collecting books for a few years now, but what I don’t get is that once you own a book and have read it what in the hell do you want another copy for?

Just because it’s got a different cover, is buy a different publisher or it’s a hard back as opposed to a paper back, I just don’t get it what a waste of money.

 

Tops and DC promised me I’d get a hard time off them and most others if I posted this but me not being afraid of a little verbal abuse I thought I’d post it anyway

 

So what do you think guy’s is it madness to buy copies of a book you already own just because there’s a slight difference or is there something I’m not getting, and I’m just a big old grumpy bugger?

Oh LP!!! You'll get some grief with this one matey.

 

You really do need to have as many copies, in as many different format, covers as possible ... Why .. just because -- is that not a good enough reason?

 

Its good to have them in hardback 'cos they last longer .. in paperback there easier to carry on the bus/train.... the signed collectable and olde Arkham are just great to have and look at....

 

I can see a major debate/discussion at KC3

I think it depends on whether you collect the books or just read them.

 

I count myself as a collector of books, (not just Brian Lumley). This to me, means I should have a copy of every book printed (Almost there as well), by the author.

 

I havn't even started on the foreign language versions yet so I expect my collection to grow over the coming months.

 

I suppose it's a matter of personal preference really. You only need 1 copy of a book to read and be a fan. If you want to collect the books, you try and get as many as you can.

 

I'm sure others will agree/disagree with this and this may be a cause for future debate at KC3.

 

And YUP, you are just a big old grumpy bugger

 

 

[ September 15, 2003, 07:58 AM: Message edited by: DC ]

For me, I need a new copy of every Brian Lumley book I owned, as they are so well read half of them are falling apart.

 

But apart from replacing tatty ones I don't think I'd buy them just for different covers, or different publications. Though I have an exception to this rule, I'll buy an extra few new ones for Brian to sign, but yeah as DC said some people are collectors, some people aren't.

 

I want all the necroscope in hard back... hmmm nice,

 

Sophie

Yeh I reckon these are good points ... it depends if your a book collector or just a reader.

 

I see myself as a reader first and a collector second .... with most of my collectable and expensive books been Brians ....

I try to refrain from collecting every version of every Lumley book... I have a compulsive nature so if I started collecting, the mortgage payments would start to suffer!

 

However... (!), I am trying to get all in hard backs, as they last longer... I only really read my paperbacks as the hardbacks weigh too much to carry around on the Tube every day!

 

Does this Peter, if you win any books in the KC3 raffle that you already have, that you'll be giving them away...?! I doubt you'll want for takers!

I have all the Necroscopes (with the exception of Deadspawn, but that'll soon be rectified) in Tor hardcover. I also have all the hardcover UK editions from The Lost Years on... then I have a complete set of the thirteen in each version in paperback for loaning out to friends. I didn't intend to aquire all these, but through friends here and finding copies here and there at used bookstores, it's just kinda happened.

 

The only reason I've collected multiple copies of the other stuff (Dreamlands, Crow, etc.) is because I wanted the hardcovers. I originally bought them in paperback as that was the only way I thought I could get them.

I am also a collector, but for different reasons than a usual collector, I never intend to sell/give away my books, they are for me.

My main reason for getting multiples of the same book are because my first copies of Brians work, were Ganleys and hard backs, and because I usually read at work, they tended to get dirty and fall apart quicker. So i decided to buy the Ganleys/hardbacks and keep them in mint condition and then buy the paper backs for work.

Then i noticed some of the old paperbacks were also quite expensive and sort after, so i had to save them as well

 

I suppose I should blame local book shops, because they only stock a few of Brians books, therefor making his older books more valuable and collectable......Okay i'm starting to ramble now so I'll end by agreeing with an earlier post...because I want to

Originally posted by Goth Girl:

Does this Peter, if you win any books in the KC3 raffle that you already have, that you'll be giving them away...?! I doubt you'll want for takers!

Debs, Tops and DC came back at me with this very thing, now admittedly had I won anything on the raffle I of course would have kept it but as a matter of pride I came up with the swapsies solution were if I win books I already own I’ll swap them with people in a similar position making everybody happy

 

 

Got…got…got…got…swap yah…got…got…got…swap

It’ll be just like being back at school with me footy stickers

I started by just being a reader, most of my Necroscope's are second hand. I'd like to be a collector and I do have some rare or limited editions but money prevents me from being a proper collector.

 

There are still so many Lumley books that I don't have and feel I need to get before I start buying the books I have all over again in different formats, though I don't think I'd start with all the publications and foreign editions. I would like a full set of Grafton's though as I like the covers best!

 

I'd also like the hard back's as they do last and look great on the bookshelf!

Money is the major problem ... or lack of it!!

 

I love the Ganley publications and the early Arkham books.

Suppose it depends on if you count yourself as a fan or a fanatic.

if I like a book, I really only get another copy to support the author. I get a different cover, not that big a deal to me, but I know, even if it's only a little bit, I helped to line the pockets of the guy/girl that wrote the book so maybe they'll be able to write another good one.

 

jogonza

The way I have done it is this....

 

I started with paperback for the Necroscope series 1-10, bought the final 3 in hardback and then everything else Lumlian in hardback too.

 

I'd like to get round to the first 10 Necroscope's in Hardback eventually.

 

I'll not buy more than one hardback of any book though unless it takes my fancy for whatever reason. I like to collect books but I don't see myself as a fanatic about it (no offence intended towards you fanatics out there).

I'm not as huge a collector as some here but there are some of the more curious ones I have and would like to have on my shelves... The Alun Hood Covers before they were removed, forgeign hardbacks when they were only printed in paperback in the UK (more for lifespan considerations there) and collections the with rarer tales in...

Having a dull lunch hour, and have just been gripped by book madnesssssssssssss!

 

Went to the German Amazon website, and ordered one of the German edition books (Vampirblut). They have really cool covers, and... ummm, I have no other reason for ordering it than that! I do intend to learn a little German before I go back next year, but this will be wayyyyyyyyy beyond my capabilities methinks!

 

Was easy to order though, as the site is laid out in the same way as all other Amazon sites. Well, let's see if it shows up any time soon, LOL!!

 

I think that it’s hard to say that it is a waste of money. My point being that I’ve always felt food was a huge waste of money, by the end of the night I feel as if I’ve just thrown my money down the toilet! After all is said and done you have nothing to show for it, except maybe the whole still living thing. I’ve always liked having an asset after I’ve spent money, some people don’t care about that. So what may seem a waste to me you may think is pivotal to life.

 

I say this since I am one of those people, who try to get every different edition of something I love, be it a movie, book, or etc. To me those differences are enough to warrant getting another thing that is almost similar. My wife in no way understands this, but then again she has no trouble spending money for food. It comes down to what a person’s priorities are, admittedly mine are probably messed up, but it makes for interesting conversation.

 

And finally I’ll close by adding that it’s also impossible to say what degree of difference is important. My brothers are identical twins that share the exact DNA with the exception of one chromosome; this has made them completely different people. For me the covers being different make it something worth getting, obviously it’s not going to be the same for everyone.

not only do i have a copy of all the necroscope books US and UK, i have doubles and triples and more.

also the US and UK house of doors.

the different editions of titus crow and primal land.

i have both editions,limited and lettered, or will have, of freaks, house of the temple and the new necroscope.

I'm a collector

I too am a collector for all of the reasons you guys have listed above. I enjoy being one of a small number of people that possess a rare book of my favorite authors. Brian Lumley is my favorite author, therefore I have (or have ordered) as many of the limited books that I can find (or afford).

The funny thing about this topic is it started with me and Tom ribbing the Helm about collecting books.

 

Since this was started, I do believe he is now a collector with a few books on the shelf.

 

Could he make the same statement now I wonder