When American Psycho was released in Australia, it set off the obligatory moral panic, with all the usual nonsense pouring out of talkback and the tabloids about its capacity to incite violence. It was the habit of the press at the time to list violent works found in the book and video collections of prominent killers, and so they practically jumped for joy when a copy of AP was found amongst the bedside reading of Strathfield massacre gunman Wade Frankum. As a result Australian bookstores kept their display copies of the book carefully wrapped in plastic so that unsuspecting browsers wouldn't suddenly be turned into slavering beasts throught the influence of Ellis' grotesqueries, which habit most retailers follow to this day. I still snicker when I see the book so sealed, sitting on the shelves of the Horror section at Galaxy Bookstore, nestled against unsealed copies of the Splatterpunk anthology or Clive Barker's Books of Blood, and more, all brimful with the kind of mind-bending grue that makes Ellis' pretentious little tome look like a Kenneth Graham novel.

hmm... know what you mean, ... I wonder if the same applies for "The Rules of Attraction"?

The real sad part about my story, however, was the fact that the English version was on the (so called) index and the German translation wasn't. Which becomes more obivous once you read a book in it's 'German' and 'English' version ... not that I have done that often, I hate the comcept of translation, it is like rewritting the story, which ruins alot of the original flair, ... but then, unfortionatly, I can not read every language ever written, and more often then I wish, depend on translations.
But back to the sad part, it seems like the Germans use the tool of translation as a tool for censorship. The German version of Neuromancer is rather good, but even doe seem to miss some details. Other Example: when Jennifer takes a bath in the German version of Sidney Sheldon's Rage of Angels, she only takes an relaxing bath.
Same seemed to have happen to political content once or twice too often. But it's usually done very good ... you could argue about a missinterpretation, ... seldom that it disapears, usually it's played down a bit ... using just slightly different vocables can have such an effect.

And just to get back on topic - i'm very proud of my Paul di Filippo collection. I have them all including five in hardback - and these three are exceptionally gorgeous:

Those are lovely, RobW. I should really read Ribofunk. I get the feeling from what people have said around here that I would love it. Is that stuff difficult to find? I'll check the little scifi bookstore tomorrow.

His books are a sod to find in my part of the world, but that goes for a lot of authors. I'd imagine they should be easier to find where you are.

As much as I like Di Filippo, I'm conscious he's a very YMMV writer (although I have no difficulty recommending Ribofunk to anyone who reads SF). So - here's some reviews.

YMMV ?

Your Mileage May Vary. a disclaimer.

>>including Forerunner Foray.
Nice link. I'd never thought to search for it online. (I mean, I have it, so .. yeah.) Hmm. *is off to see what the net has on Andre Norton*

good thread...

Most of my books are in Greek, obviously, but also have many in English as it is better to try and read the book in it's original form. So:
besides some items I love for no obvious reason, I also have (and care for)
a first edition hardback of Jeff Noon's Pixel Juice, in which there are some of the best short stories I have ever read,
a commemorative, kind of a box-set, edition of the complete five-book trilogy of Douglas Adams' The Hitchhicker's Guide To The Galaxy,
WG first edition hardcovers of Pattern Recognition, All Tomorrow's Parties and Idoru, with the last being signedwhen he was in Forbidden Planet in London (had to stay two more days than schedulled to be able to stand in the line for two hours to get the signature and the nail),
the first edition of Stephen King's The Green Mile, in it's original six-parts form, although I seem to have lost part 2
and last but not least, and not sure it counts anyway, an audio tape of Philip K Dick speaking his mind, that I have no idea if rare or not but extremly happy I have.

king_and_dick.jpg (79 Kb, 81 downloads)

The real collector is my brother, with his obsession for the XVI and XVIIth centuries, specially Spanish and Dutch sources. Most of what I have is not really old, as can be seen in the general view, and mostly science books from the XIXth century:



The star of the set is the Curia Philippica, the whole set of laws valid in Spain, published in 1609 (Philippica as they are for Philip III), as can be seen in the title page:



And the inside text, with sidebars already. (The text is a personal favourite, as it equals Doctors and Graduates with the Nobility in terms of most special rights, and specially for Debt Prison).



Another of my favourites is a pocket version of St. Benedict's Rule, for monk reference, from 1863. Real pocketbook:



And here you can see both together:



There are others, and an ancestor's hand written diary, as well as some documents inside the books, but these are my favourites, and the ones I have also read.

José

José, your brothers collection Rocks!

____________


Here is a picture of my copy from American Psycho.

After JRE's post, everything is doomed to look boring.

I bought this book in San Francisco ...

... actually because i loved the Binding and allways wanted to read Iliads Odyssey.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Newromancer:
José, your brothers collection Rocks!

---

Actually what you saw is mine. His is full of original memories of unknown French courtiers and generals, Dutch accounts of the 80 year's war, Danish contemporary books on the first and second Scandinavian wars, a couple of original XVIth century Routers, and a dozen facsimiles, Samuel Pepys first print memories (six or eight volumes, I do not remember, that I checked out while reading the Baroque Cycle. Boring, boring, boring). You know, books. He is thinking on moving because after shelving his whole appartment and the ceilings, he has not enough place, as well as the floor has trouble with close to two tons of books.

I may try to get some photos, but when I go visit I usually focus more on the swords.

Most of the old books I own have the imprint M.E., from my grandfather, a Science (he never had to specify what branch, he only taught Science) Professor at Salamanca University.

José

Jose,
I'm terribly impressed; by both the book collections and the family history!

Ask your brother if we can see pics of the swords too.

Slightly relevant: The Physicality of Books

Beautiful thread. Some amazing treasures and very cool books.

I'm afraid my 'pearls' are rather lustreless in terms of collectibility. They're all art and photography books, many of which are out of print but can be purchased used from Amazon. Here are 3 that have a SF/Fantasy flavour and have been inspirational in one way or another:

The Silver Arm by Jim Fitzpatrick


Each page of this book is beautiful, with ornate runework and a story based on Celtic legends.


Views by Roger Dean

pre-cyberpunk image from the book:


Flights of Icarus - numerous SF artists are featured in this one.

Example:

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DIT,

As featured in the love thread ...


Machiavelli - Der Fürst (The Prince)
Sun Tzu - The Art of War
Adolph Freiherr Knigge - über den Umgang mit Menschen (The original Version from 1788 - not compareable to the new Knigge)
Thomas Schafer Elmayer - Der Elmayer (This book is what most people think the Knigge is.)

Nice thread. I have quite a lot of books, a few are valuable but for the most part I kind of just like having many than having rare ones. And the books I treasure the most are the ones that have some personal meaning to me, battered old paperbacks given to me by a girlfriend or my friends, inscribed with words that take you back.
Over the years I've managed to get hold of a few rarities though, all bargains when I got them. Here are a few pearls:

F. Scott Fitzgerald: "The Great Gatsby" and "Tales of the Jazz Age". First editions, first printings. No DJ:s unfortunately...

Samuel Beckett: "Imagination Dead Imagine" (London, Calder and Boyars, 1965). First edition in slipcase, one of 100 numbered copies printed on handmade paper and signed by the author.

Iain Banks: "The Wasp Factory" (Macmillan, London. 1984) First edition. Mint condition. Signed by the author.

Paul Auster: "Ghosts". (Sun and Moon Press, 1986). Book two of the New York Trilogy. First edition, first printing. Signed by the author (who actually asked "Where did you find this one?").

Neil Gaiman: "Angels and Visitations" (Dream Haven, Minneapolis, 1993) , first edition, first printing. Signed by the author with a beautiful drawing of an angel.


I'll post some pics if i can get a hold of a digital camera..

quote:

Originally posted by striv:
Jose,
I'm terribly impressed; by both the book collections and the family history!

Ask your brother if we can see pics of the swords too.

It took a while, but here are a few photos:

The main corridor, with books on one side and shelves in the ceiling, as well as serving as sword holders...



Now what is overhead on the arched access to that corridor, 1796 British Light Sword, my favorite chopping weapon, in quite good condition.



Now this is a partial view of the bedroom...



Part of the living room (there are more books on that shelf overhead)...



The other side of the living room, including morion and target.



Now, this is a bibliophilia thread, and this is one of his rare book closed shelves, mostly XVI and XVII centuries, as well as some assistant equipment and references.



He also loves maps, and ships (I helped him lug that bronze thing up to his appartment, 62 steps...).



There are more, including close ups of books and swords, but seldom together.

José

José you are beyond the greatest and so is your brother.
All these swords and the books and the maps and drawings on the wall.... wow doesn't even cover it.

!Muchisimas Gracias!

I have a leather bound, gilded, first edition book of H.P. Lovecraft stories. The most amusing thing is that somebody seems to have bled on several of the pages