I'm confused...

[Zephik]

http://www.amazon.com/Lord-Rings-J-R-R-Tolkien/dp/0618260587/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276136487&sr=1-2

Affordable. Great review rating. Then...

http://www.amazon.com/review/R1BKTVH30LU67D/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm

That... is confusing. So it has a great review rating, yet most reviewers agreed with this guy. How then does it have a good review rating unless most were satisfactory? Yet MORE people than the overall rating voted that this guy was right. Lol?

343 Thought it was awesome. Yet 473 agreed that it wasn't, in the form of voting that comment correct. Yet the rating is a 4.5/5 star rating.

This math does not compute. Please enter more variables. Source? = TBCS. Submit? Y/N? Y. Computing...

(I turn into a computer when I get confused, btw. Surprise! And here I'm sure most of you thought I was just coming out of the closet or something.)

[Mach]

Two different versions, amazon apparently merges the reviews tho.

Good

Hardcover: 1216 pages
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin; 1 edition (November 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0618260587
ISBN-13: 978-0618260584Bad

Hardcover: 1214 pages
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Co; 1 edition (March 1988 )
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0395489326
ISBN-13: 978-0395489321

[Zephik]

I was... just testing you. Congrats! You passed! Here's... er... your reward.

http://img816.imageshack.us/img816/9787/kittenposter.jpg

[Zephik]

Actually, I think I'm going to go with this version...

http://www.amazon.com/Lord-Rings-50th-Anniversary/dp/0618517650/ref=tmm_hrd_title_2

[dr.walrus]

It's all opinion (:p) but I would go for this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rings-millennium-J-R-R-Tolkien-Excerpts/dp/0261103873

On the simple basis it's the only edition published to my knowledge in 6 volumes, as it was written, and how Tolkein wanted it published.

That said, my brother owns the version you like (and he paid a lot more for it) and it's BEAUTIFUL, you'll really like it. The page edges are all gilt and everything and it feels - sumptuous...

[x88x]

Mmmm, I love a good, well made book. :D IDK, there's just something about them that gives me a warm fuzzy feeling. Especially old books, but new well made ones are different..far fewer printers care enough to make a really high quality product anymore, so it's wonderful to find one that you can tell really cares.

As a side note, anyone Folio Society members here?


On the simple basis it's the only edition published to my knowledge in 6 volumes, as it was written, and how Tolkein wanted it published.

I thought he wrote it as a single volume. I know it was written in six different logical segments, but I thought he originally wanted it published as a single volume but his publisher didn't think anyone would buy a book that huge.

[artoodeeto]

I have, I'm assuming, the "good" Houghton Mifflin edition. It is a VERY nice set, but I do have to say, that negative reviewer who complained about the map has a point. For some reason unbeknownst to smarter people, they printed the map on normal pages instead of doing a foldout, which makes middle areas impossible to see. Now, back when I got this set I "gave" my girlfriend my previous set; while as an edition it's not quite as nice, the maps are better. But I already have everything memorized anyway :P Viva la Tolkein!

@ X88X - dunno what Folio Society is, but I'm a card-carrying member of the Fool-io Society :D

[Zephik]

Mmmm, I love a good, well made book. :D IDK, there's just something about them that gives me a warm fuzzy feeling. Especially old books, but new well made ones are different..far fewer printers care enough to make a really high quality product anymore, so it's wonderful to find one that you can tell really cares.

I thought he wrote it as a single volume. I know it was written in six different logical segments, but I thought he originally wanted it published as a single volume but his publisher didn't think anyone would buy a book that huge.

I've fallen asleep cuddling books before. It's ridiculous. And my family apparently thought it would be funny to take pictures. lol

What do you call a person who doesn't just love to read, but loves books as well? Is it still just bibliophile?

I suppose I fit under that category though. I read about two books a week on average, or a book every two weeks on my not enough time to read days.

I only buy hardcover or digital though. Not a fan of paperbacks. Hardcover... well my collection is just starting. But digitally, I have more than 1500 books spread across roughly 300 authors. It. Is. Awesome. It only takes up 5GB's too. lol

[dr.walrus]

I thought he wrote it as a single volume. I know it was written in six different logical segments, but I thought he originally wanted it published as a single volume but his publisher didn't think anyone would buy a book that huge.

It was written as six books that he wanted either printed as a single volume or individually. What he didn't want is three books, that was forced upon him by his publisher, among with a whole lot of linguistic changes (he was an english professor at oxford so he wasn't happy about that!)

Most modern prints have been revised to match his original manuscripts now.

[Luthien]

I've fallen asleep cuddling books before. It's ridiculous. And my family apparently thought it would be funny to take pictures. lol

What do you call a person who doesn't just love to read, but loves books as well? Is it still just bibliophile?

I suppose I fit under that category though. I read about two books a week on average, or a book every two weeks on my not enough time to read days.

I only buy hardcover or digital though. Not a fan of paperbacks. Hardcover... well my collection is just starting. But digitally, I have more than 1500 books spread across roughly 300 authors. It. Is. Awesome. It only takes up 5GB's too. lol

I love books, too. I will buy softcover, mostly because I can't always afford the hardcover. I don't have any digital books yet. I want to start buying them. Where's the best place (best prices & selection)?

[Zephik]

I always buy used. The one's I got from Hastings online came in mint condition and I paid like $7 + $5 S&H for two of Terry Goodkind's novels. (Soul of the fire and Faith of the Fallen. I had already read the previous ones.)

I also like seeing where the book has been before, what it's gone through. Something about seeing wear and tear or little things like that gives the book some depth and personality along with a bit of history.

But I either buy from Amazon or Hastings. Amazon for Digital, as they have many different formats usually. But the used books are usually the same price as the digital ones in my experience so far. What we need is a place that sell's the digital along with the physical. That'd rock. I mean we already paid for it, why do we have to pay for it again? Perhaps just pay for the storage fee, which is like... probably less than a dollar considering the largest copies are only like a couple megabytes. lol

[artoodeeto]

I got the whole Goodkind series for my girlfriend for her birthday on Amazon. They were all discounted, brand new, mostly boxed sets, I think I spent just under $100. buying all the mass markets separately would have run me something like $50 or $60 more...good books too! could be better written/edited (he seems a bit like Ken Follett - seems to find it necessary to be slightly repetitive), but I enjoy the story.

[x88x]

I also like seeing where the book has been before, what it's gone through. Something about seeing wear and tear or little things like that gives the book some depth and personality along with a bit of history.

Definitely. One of my favorite places in the world are second hand book stores. :D Not only can you get great deals, but just the atmosphere is wonderful. :D Any Doctor Who fans remember the library planet? Yeah, that's one of my dream homes... :whistler:

[Zephik]

I got the whole Goodkind series for my girlfriend for her birthday on Amazon. They were all discounted, brand new, mostly boxed sets, I think I spent just under $100. buying all the mass markets separately would have run me something like $50 or $60 more...good books too! could be better written/edited (he seems a bit like Ken Follett - seems to find it necessary to be slightly repetitive), but I enjoy the story.

That's a pretty great deal for brand new. Did you get Debt of Bones too? That's 11 books without, or 12 with. Meaning that you paid less than $10 per book. Nice...

By the way...

NEW BOOK COMING OUT EARLY 2011!!! I haven't even finished Faith of the Fallen yet though, I better get reading. lol

I thought the first couple books were much better than the one's I've been reading lately, though. Wizards First Rule was AWESOME. Stone of Tears was also pretty good. Blood of the Fold is when it got a little boring for me. Temple of the Winds was the same. Soul of the Fire I just nearly hated, to be honest. Although, like always, I love the parts with Zed. Bags! haha But now I'm on Faith of the Fallen. It's pretty good so far, but maybe that's because I took about.. 6 months off from reading the series. lol

The dude is an excellent writer though. The only books that have actually made me feel lust, love, hatred, sadness and even disgust (torture and battle scenes, for example. Fascinating but yucky. haha)... He's incredibly good at being as realistic as possible. lol


Definitely. One of my favorite places in the world are second hand book stores. :D Not only can you get great deals, but just the atmosphere is wonderful. :D Any Doctor Who fans remember the library planet? Yeah, that's one of my dream homes... :whistler:

*internet high five*

I haven't read Doctor Who. I didn't even know they were books. I love the TV series though. David Tennant is going to be hard to best. But, that's how I always feel. lol

[x88x]

I haven't read Doctor Who. I didn't even know they were books.

They aren't, as far as I know. I was referencing the TV episode.

[Zephik]

They aren't, as far as I know. I was referencing the TV episode.

Ah okay. Yeah I remember that one. With the shadow monster things and the child for a computer. Like most Doctor Who episodes, it was a nice mix of awesome and creepy/scary. lol

[artoodeeto]

That's a pretty great deal for brand new. Did you get Debt of Bones too? That's 11 books without, or 12 with. Meaning that you paid less than $10 per book. Nice...

By the way...

NEW BOOK COMING OUT EARLY 2011!!! I haven't even finished Faith of the Fallen yet though, I better get reading. lol

I thought the first couple books were much better than the one's I've been reading lately, though. Wizards First Rule was AWESOME. Stone of Tears was also pretty good. Blood of the Fold is when it got a little boring for me. Temple of the Winds was the same. Soul of the Fire I just nearly hated, to be honest. Although, like always, I love the parts with Zed. Bags! haha But now I'm on Faith of the Fallen. It's pretty good so far, but maybe that's because I took about.. 6 months off from reading the series. lol

Yep, got Debt of Bones too. It was, all in all, a screamin' good deal. Awesome news on the new one, I'll look forward to reading it!
I just finished Blood and enjoyed it. I think his writing style improves as the books progress, or maybe I'm just getting used to it. I hold pretty high standards though.

And I can't let this thread go any further without mentioning Pat Rothfuss and his book The Name of the Wind. Absolute masterpiece, and it's only the first of a trilogy. The next one's coming out I think March 2011. His blog is here:
http://www.patrickrothfuss.com/blog/blog.html
He's fun to read in the blog, very very different than how he writes books, but I put him on the same quality level as Tolkien. Excellent writer and tells a VERY good story.

[Zephik]

The dude looks awesome, now I'm going to HAVE to read his books. lol

Edit: I read the first page. It already seems awesome...

[x88x]

Kinda a break from the mentioned genres, but as long as we're recommending books... ;)

I recently finally got around to reading Cory Doctorow's Makers (http://craphound.com/makers/buy/). Great book about possible near-future maker culture that I think most of the people around here would enjoy. I highly recommend it. Also, great thing about Cory Doctorow is that he releases all his books under a Creative Commons license, so you can download it for free (from his own website (http://craphound.com/makers/download/), no less).

[Luthien]

Definitely. One of my favorite places in the world are second hand book stores. :D Not only can you get great deals, but just the atmosphere is wonderful. :D Any Doctor Who fans remember the library planet? Yeah, that's one of my dream homes... :whistler:

I love second hand book stores. There's only one in town (small town) but there's a thrift store, too. I can sometimes find good hard cover books at one place or the other. The problem is, even the used places most often get soft covers. I guess it's what the people around here buy most.

I remember the library planet episode. I wish I had that many books, minus all the creepiness, of course.

[diluzio91]

@luthien, for digital books ive been taking the same approach as i do with movies. If i own an original copy then im entitled to a digital copy... But ive herd that amazon is still pretty reasonable for digital books too.

[Luthien]

Thanks. I've heard Amazon is pretty good. When I get a little extra money, I'll probably buy some.