Vintage Paperback Science Fiction Mega Book Haul: Return To Zardoz

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

...and if you've not seen Jules Burts' version of events, you can watch it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6aYlo2Eg7-Fhrs

[@vintagesf]

Just added to my bucket list shopping for vintage books with Stephen and Jules. Happy to tag along in this video!

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Richard, if you ever get over to the South West of England, we would be delighted to have you along for bookshopping and SF talk- just let us know when you're coming!

[@JulesBurt]

Absolutely 🙂

[@vintagesf]

@@JulesBurt Thank you gentlemen! May be a couple of years but I just might take you up on the kind offer.

[@JulesBurt]

Wonderful and insightful Steve, great pick ups yet again👍

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Cheers Jules, it was a great day, part two of my video will be on friday and looking forward to your closer look at your haul that day. Onwards!

[@thereadingcornerau1]

I'm glad I've stumbled upon your channel. Ive been binging your videos the past few days. You're quite informative and i'm thoroughly enjoying the education on the genre. I'd love to watch a sit down with you and Graham and just talk about your favourite authors, books, cover arts, your opinions on the genre, influences etc. That'd make a fantastic video.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Well, that would be a whole series in itself- and it may happen! Glad you're enjoying the channel, stick with me, I reach the parts other SF booktubers do not reach...

[@rickkearn7100]

You got that right my friend. Stephen is the Dean.

[@SciFiScavenger]

i think if i ever got my foot in the door at Maurice's cave of books there I might never leave. Or i'd be financially compromised. or both. quality haul Steve.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Thanks mate. Part 2 later this week: anthologies and upgrades, with edition comparisons.

[@unstopitable]

America's passenger train system is outrageously abysmal. I enjoyed the tiny sliver of the station and the ride that you showed just as much as the books.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

In some parts of the UK it is terrible due to being privatised decades ago, but our rail unions are being very defiant and working to keep the standards up.

[@salty-walt]

I appreciate your continued use of Un-Haul with tongue planted firmly in cheek! If only your wisdom would spread throughout book tube. . .

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

For that to take place, people would need to stop relying on BT for information and start reading decent reference and critical books, which seems to be the last thing they turn to now. Thanks as ever, my friend!

[@glockensig]

Absolutely fantastic....

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Thanks, fervent one!

[@anthonyparkinson4517]

The slipcased Pelham Ballard box recently sold on eBay for @£210. Amazing when you think the box accounts for most of that sum.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Yeah, that's true. The books themselves in Very Fine usually fetch between £30 and £50 and the slipcase is uncommon (I've never seen one) so I'm not surprised. Ballard prices are very high now, which is understandable given his canonic status, which is only growing over time. Check out the Ballard playlist on the channel, as I go through my collection and review/overview 'Deep Ends', the annual Ballardian anthology I sometimes write for. There'll be a new Ballard video here mid November, as I'm attending two Bllard events -one public, one private - that month.

[@anthonyparkinson4517]

Ballard is as a God to me so there can never be too much about the great man as far as I'm concerned. Do you have the Dragon's Dream Drowned World? Rather fine IMO and usually cheap as chips. Working on completing a run of Deep Ends.@@outlawbookselleroriginal

[@luiznogueira1579]

Darn! I bought that ages ago, but unfortunately the case itself sort of fell apart with the years. Who knew It would be valuable in the future...?

[@SFVintageCollector]

Love these type of videos - a day out with a book haul - eye spy Rogue Ship by A.E. van Voigt in Panther I also recently had on my channel. Nice pickup

[@sciencefictionreads]

I wasn't aware there was a prequel to Bracketts short story. That was the first of hers I read. Very cool!

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

I have read it, I realised, but a very long time ago. The Tor Doubles are quite interesting, with recent sequels by other hands to Golden Age classics.

[@GypsyRoSesx]

Zardoz of my dreamz (You picked up some lovely books!)

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Part 2 on friday.

[@GardnerGoldsmith]

This was a blast! From my fave train station to a great book shop! Thank you!! (BTW, my friend and I flew to the UK from Boston to see the return of Red Dwarf in 2008, and watched in a bar in Bath, then up the hill at a friend's place... Easter weekend, lots of fun! Take care! Hope to visit the area again, soon!

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Part 2 on friday. There are MANY more videos like this here if you page back through the videos over the last 18 months, another 3 at Zardoz, more at Dorset Bobs' and the Hay-on-Wye playlist has at least 4 or 5. Thanks!

[@jbrichardson8891]

excellent video I always like a poke around book crammed shelves and the resultant Book Haul. I'm reading and thoroughly enjoying the Best of Leigh Brackett (recommended on Science Fiction Reads) at the moment and the first story was the Jewel of Bas hope to read more things by her in the future.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

I've been a Brackett fan for many years and have been encouraging Matt at SF Reads to go deeper, which he's been loving. I've also recommended C L Moore to him and again, he's delving in -there will be a video on the channel soon about Moore.

[@rickkearn7100]

Stephen I saw several SF novels mentioned/highlighted here, that I either own or have read. So, I consider myself in good company! I really enjoy these tours of bookshops and your thinking laid bare, on your methodology in choosing books during your book hauls. Very revealing. Great post, as usual. You're the only one doing what you do, all the more reason to appreciate the effort you put in, it has a profound, positive effect on the many, many enthusiasts out there, myself included. Rock on sir. Cheers!

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

As always, Rick, you are a tower of strength and support for me, I'm always very touched by your enthusiasm for what I do.

[@waltera13]

This is an amazing comment & I must make a point to look for your comments in the future.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

@@waltera13 I assume you're talking to Rick: he's been the most generous and supportive of subscribers and that's saying something, given the large number of new friends I consider I've made here-yourself included.

[@rickkearn7100]

Very magnanimous of you to say so, old chap. I hope you make many comments supportive of Stephen in the future, he deserves the appreciation IMHO, and you seem like an appreciative bloke. God bless. Cheers. @@waltera13

[@waltera13]

@@outlawbookselleroriginal Yes, I was talking to Rick, but as always , I am touched by your appreciation. 😎

[@anthonyparkinson4517]

Light sanding with a fine grade sandpaper will minimise/eliminate page-edge browning on all but the worst. Nice haircut Steve - Are the Rotwang days gone for good?? 😃

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

No, the immense variation in hair lengths will doubtless continue.

[@forenichtreader]

I saw copies of the Penguin Pelham editions of Ballard's The Drought and The Terminal Beach in a shop recently, but sadly their condition was just too poor to buy. They had lots of scuffed white patches on the covers, and the edges of the covers had been eaten by an insect. They were both gone when I re-visited the shop a couple of weeks later though, which shows how high the demand is for them.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Yes, people are pretty desperate for them. They are out there, but not cheap in good condition.

[@andrewb.3076]

Catching up on some of your video's, nice haul you've got yourself there. "Brain Wave" is one of Anderson I've listened to on audio a while back when I still needed to drive great distances for work... probably should read it again some time as I didn't connect to it that well at the time eventhough I do enjoy Anderson. Leigh Brackett I've read two shorts of recently and enjoyed it a lot so when I ran into "Martian Quest" for a friendly price (often quite pricey) I got myself a copy which still has to arrive with the mail.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Yes, it was a good one, but being well connected with some of the UK's best dealers does have its advantages. Do watch my Collector Diary series and Hay-On-Wye Playlist, many more cracking SF hauls here. Leigh Brackett is great, so little in print now, sad.

[@OXyShow]

I did just read The Best of Leigh Brackett and i did love it, also did read The Best of L. Sprague de Camp but didnt quite made it for me

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Brackett is superior to De Camp- the latter was at his best when o-authoring with Fletcher Pratt. If you enjoyed LB, you'll lover C L Moore, there will be a video on her coming up here soon.

[@chocolatemonk]

Good day from my roadtrip across the US. I live in AZ, have family and friends in DC / Maryland. Just listened to We are Legion, We are Bob. I can't wait to raid my Parents local book store in Frederick MD Wonder Book

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

You won't find 'We Are Legion (We Are Bob)' covered here, I'm afraid, but you will see some material about it on the channel of my friend Richard -Vintage SF.

[@koolaidimmunity4032]

If only Herbert would have named his book ‘Lord of the Dragon in the Sea’ 😂.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Yeah, it would be more famous and in print. I'm still rooting for 'Under Pressure' myself.

[@leakybootpress9699]

I'm in wholehearted agreement with you when it comes to Roger Zelazny, a tremendous talent in his early years ad a writer, who then decided to be lazy and ambered himself. Despite that, there are three or four novels deserving of classic status and the Collected short fiction published by NESFA Press is an impressive boy of work. If you want Watson hardcovers in Gollancz editions, and you should want them, AR at CT has quite a few, many signed, at fairly modest prices.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Yeah, Andy's IWs have long been on my radar, he mostly has stuff I already own and as you say, decent prices from him as ever. I

[@disconnected22]

Deathbird Stories destroyed me when I was 19! I have that copy of The Drought, too.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

'Deathbird' remains a key book for me too- I was around the same age when I read it first.

[@sciencefictionreads]

Did I miss you talking about 'From the legend of biel'? Looks like you grabbed it. I saw the spine in Jules video and looked it up and it sounded interesting.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

It's mentioned in my Ace Science Fiction Specials Series Two video from around a month back- I've not read it yet, though.

[@tragicslip]

Heinlein's juveniles are better on average than the rest of his work, but they have a weekend cartoon feel. Herbert's Dosadi Experiment is much tighter story than Dune, in a world that isn't fantasy and covers the same themes.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Yes, his juveniles have long been amongst his most highly rated works.

[@joebrooks4448]

"Amazing" online bookseller(updated). What a tremendous resource for folks to enjoy. I have been fortunate to live within a few miles of several such bookshops! Well, The Players/Pawns of Null A is OK, van Vogt/Van Vogt (changed his spelling later) unravels some of the symbology of The World of Null A through a plain enough analogy to his target. I like the book OK, but it's not as good as the first book. Rogue Ship is OK, Mission To The Stars/The Mixed Men is better, and known as a pioneer in the hardcover market. I have the Gnome Press original, the jacket illustration is great. The Weapon Shops of Isher is a classic. You may really like Citizen Of The Galaxy. The title is what the book is about. I feel it is one of RAH' best works. Have Spacesuit Will Travel, Starman Jones, Coventry, etc. are great, but Citizen edges them out. Of course, Starship Troopers is probably his best novel. I read The Complete Venus Equilateral 45 years ago and thought it was very good.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Well, Zardoz/Allyouneedisbooks is an online dealership, not a bookshop, but as it says in the video, you can visit the first site by appointment once it is fully set up. Part 2 will follow on friday and there are many more videos here of my dealership visits. My expectation of sequels is that they are always minor compared to first volumes. I love the Weapon Shops series, my favourite Van Vogts. I agree re Heinlein- I'm not a massive fan of his work, but I do think 'Starship Troopers' is among his best- I see it as a thought experiment and don't get hung up on the silly "He's right wing so you must be too if you like his work,". It's one of the three or four books by him I've enjoyed- after that, his work descends into overly didactic housebricks I think.

[@joebrooks4448]

@outlawbookselleroriginal Agreed, I pretend everything RAH wrote after 1960 does not exist! There is a large online Bookseller 3 miles from our house, but they are also open 6 hours a day for shoppers. They are located in Tipp City, Ohio. Browse Awhile Books. They come up with some great finds in good condition. I have never figured out how to keep my books in pristine condition, compared to my copy of the same printing. They have been in a controlled environment, low humidity, etc. for decades. They are reread, some 10 times or so. I have replaced about 100 in the last year.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

@@joebrooks4448 I'm a big fan of re-reading. Keeping books in a minimum of Very Fine condition is a skill learned over time and with some effort, but as I handle hundreds of books daily and have done for almost forty years, it comes easily to me, like breathing.

[@joelstainer65]

I've got My name is Legion and Eye of Cat in those editions. I DNF'ed Eye of Cat but enjoyed My Name is Legion as a sort of episodic fix up of a few stories. I have a stack of Zelazny that needs my attention at some point.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

I find RZ hit and miss, especially the later stuff as I think I said, but I am returning to him soon as it's been a while....

[@highwaystar4931]

I know Jules from long ago. He used to work at Purple Haze in Plymouth.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

That's right. Jules and I worked together a decade or so ago and got on famously, he's a great guy.

[@GypsyRoSesx]

100 Must-Read… projects… I don’t know if I mentioned already but I have a side project (main project being the Western Canon reading) where I’m reading the novels you selected for your book, “100 Must-Read Science Fiction Novels”. I’m reading in chronological order for historical context*. I just came out of 1947’s “Fury” by Henry Kuttner (fantastic novel!) and will move to 1949’s “Earth Abides” for my next science fiction read. *For the time being I’m skipping books I’m having difficulty finding and will come back to them in future. So far I’ve had to skip “Legions of Time,” and my next skip is “Voyage of the Space Beagle” (rather unfortunate I haven’t come across this one yet because I’m very curious to read the progenitor of Star Trek and Alien!!). I’m doing the same project with “100 Must-Read Fantasy Novels” though there I’m all the way back in 1887 for H. Rider Haggard’s “She.”

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

You will end up being one of the best-read people of your era. I'm glad you enjoyed 'Fury' (which I'll be talking about on the channel soon) so try and get hold of its prequel 'Clash By Night' (which is even better). You'll love 'Earth Abides', I think- Matt Dafoe at SF Reads has said how it lingers in his mind. I'm wondering why you skipped the Williamson? Let me know. The Van Vogt was in print in the USA and can be found second hand, though it is in more demand these days. It should be in print and its absence is baffling.

[@GypsyRoSesx]

@@outlawbookselleroriginal​​⁠​​⁠I don’t want to skip any of the books but I skipped Williamson because I can’t get ahold of it either second hand (in New Zealand) or as an ebook. New Zealand is a science fiction book desert unfortunately. For now I’m reading what I can find and will later turn to overseas purchases. I’ll definitely read “Clash By Night,” as I loved Fury!

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

@@GypsyRoSesx -Best of luck finding both! I'm re-reading a bit of 'Fury' currently.

[@JerryPascoe-i4n]

Informative as always, thnx. I enjoyed dragon in the sea, but it read more like spy fiction than sf tbh. By the way, what causes 'lean' on book spines in the first place ? And what do you use to remove adhesive from covers? cheers.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Lean is caused simply by bad handling by the books' original owner, mostly during the reading process and sometimes exacerbated by storing volumes too tightly.

[@bookdork]

I've been thinking of asking you to consider doing a video called something like "If You Only Read One Book By..." And then you said that about Poul Anderson. I would love to dip into people you like, like Silverberg, Stableford, and Priest. I feel like I need a jumping on point with some of the authors I'd like to try but when I'm shopping I don't know what to pick to get started. Is that something you would consider doing?

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Very much so, great idea, I will start thinking about it- funnily enough, I've been thinking about doing one which would have been 'I've read everything by...' (as unlike many SF booktubers-though not all of course- I;ve read the entire oeuvres of many of the classic SF writers and contemporary ones)- so this idea has turned it on its head. Give me a week or two...thanks!

[@bookdork]

That’s wonderful. I can do this for some main stream authors based on my years of reading and bookselling but not with SF authors. I’ll look forward to seeing what you come up with

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

@@bookdork -Though you could, of course, just look in my book '100 Must Read Science Fiction Novels'. The challenge on this for me is sorting through thousands of books, many of which I have to move many others to get at the ones I'd focus on so it may take a while longer....

[@waltera13]

I was just thinking about *exactly* this situation & you at the last Library Bookstore sale I attended. ( Bear with me) Storytime: They complain that they don't have enough SF books for demand, but put almost all of the SF MM paperbacks out on the 3/$1 cart. The Shop manager knows me & lets me look through the back log of 3/$1 pb boxes - excellent on the 50% off members preview. So as I look through a bunch of authors that I had always seen previously as second or third rate (based upon years of 2nd hand bookstore delving) I *also* had to ask myself "how likely is THIS author to show up on an Outlaw Bookseller video next month with a redemption of sorts from Steve saying 'these three are brilliant'?" The long & short of it is I bought the "Med Series" omnibus, and even the very questionable looking Gordon R Dicksons. Then you posted this haul & I just don't feel like I know squat about authors anymore w/o revisiting ALL of them!

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Something to remember is that this channel is quite expansive, as I'm still looking into corners I feel I've neglected, since the history of Genre SF from 1925 to the early 1990s- and never mind before or since (except of course there was effectively no Genre SF before 1925, when the term was coined and the first magazine dedicated to the genre was launched) - so it's part of my lifetime's study and reflection on SF. It's way too easy to stick to popular books- even though many of them are excellent- because SF is an Outsider genre, an Outlaw genre- and a genre which is about looking beyond the obvious. I hope to continue encouraging everyone who watches to forget about 'Dune' and what have you and look under the rocks, into the shadows and beyond their vision....

[@waltera13]

@@outlawbookselleroriginal I must confess, I'm not *really* sure I know what your response means - I presume it means MY response was not as clear outside my head as in. ;) Except a few - How could you pass up Ariosto? after all . . .

[@waltera13]

@@outlawbookselleroriginal But yes, your channel is Large; It contains Multitudes!

[@angusmckeogh659]

Absolutely agree with you on Dune. Massively overrated. The only benefit of finishing the first book and not really liking it is I don't have to read on in the series. As an aside, I wish our books in the States had these great covers.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Totally agree. People new to SF would do well to ignore 'Dune', 'Foundation' and Arthur C Clarke and move straight into Silverberg, Dick and Ballard.

[@psychonaut56]

Dune is something you need to discover when you're 12, I think. It's a trippy phantasmagoria in a big shaggy monster format. Ballard himself was dismissive of it; next to novels like Crash it does indeed look like kid stuff. Even as a kid I was bothered by the clunky prose and pseuo profundities. But the grandness of its vision still shines through. Next to this heady brew, a lot of sf still looks like pale fare..

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

@@psychonaut56 -Funnily enough, I was around 12-14 when I first read 'Dune' and initially DNF'd it- it seemed very badly written compared to the Wells, Wyndham, Dick and Orwell I'd already read. ...and as you say, compared to Ballard...no comparison!