Of Course It Is One Of The Earlier Books

I decided to finally take a friend’s recommendation on a high fantasy series that involves ten books. Part of that decision involved finding trade paperback copies of the first two books for fifty cents each at Goodwill. However, things got complicated from there.

I kept looking at Goodwill for more volumes in the series, but after a year I had to accept that I wasn’t going to. Then I started looking at purchase.

I could get the whole series new for $90 or so on Ebay. However, I already had the first two books so those would be wasted, making the remaining eight cost me about $12 each. Individually they were going for about $14-17 new. Used tended to be at least $8 for bad condition mass market paperback due to shipping, and I would have to go through the hassle of 8 individual order hunts and such. I also really don’t prefer mass market paperback, particularly for books of this size.

One of the whole series new on Ebay for $90 had a best offer. Turned out, they wouldn’t accept any offer lower than full, even if I said they could keep the first two books to sell individually.

Finally, I found a used set of mixed format in really good condition for $70. I could just donate the first two books, whichever of the copies were in worse shape. Fine. I ordered. Turns out, that seller sends books from multiple warehouses across the country media mail. They are copies in good shape and a mix of mass market and paperback, but over the course of two weeks I’ve received six shipments and am still waiting on one more book.

Of course, two of the first two books to arrive were the first two (worse than my copies). Didn’t need them, but whatever.

I started reading. I figured it’d take me long enough to get through the books that things would arrive in time for me not to run dry. Was that correct?

Well, we’ll see. I’m about halfway through the second book now. Book three has arrived. The others I’ve received? Three and five through ten. That’s right, I have all but the one I would need second out of the entire shipment. Figures.

Hopefully four arrives before I get through three.