tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post7217075836298581634..comments2024-03-25T11:29:25.356-04:00Comments on Existential Ennui: LB Score: Hit Man by Lawrence Block; Signed First Edition (Morrow, 1998)Nick Jones (Louis XIV, the Sun King)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17716508525331235684noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-35851585320014718272012-08-23T13:59:28.846-04:002012-08-23T13:59:28.846-04:00Honestly, I'd always prefer an unsigned vintag...Honestly, I'd always prefer an unsigned vintage 60's paperback without a signature to some later edition Westlake signed at a bookshop, along with maybe a thousand others just like it. To me, that sense of history--not to mention style--is irreplaceable. But I'm still happy to have these two first-edition hardcovers with his autograph. <br /><br />As to ebooks, I'm finally giving in--the law of supply&demand sometimes makes getting a physical edition of a book I want to read--first edition or not, signed or not--just too dear. Like it's impossible to get a cheap copy of "Jimmy the Kid"--I assume because both Dortmunder AND Parker fans want that one. <br /><br />Downloaded the Kindle app for my iPad. It'll help me spackle some holes in my collection, and save space, and all that. And I'd still rather have a tatty old paperback. No matter whose hands it passed through. Just so long as they washed them first. ;)<br /><br />Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00271250698430923736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-35810902805234532372012-08-23T12:56:13.209-04:002012-08-23T12:56:13.209-04:00BG: It surprises me too that there's still a l...BG: It surprises me too that there's still a lot of Westlake that's OP. I suspect that will be changing over the next year or so though, at least insofar as ebooks go. Oh, and by the way, I can guarantee you're gonna love the next post.<br /><br />Sexton: That, in turn, reminds me of a story I heard about Stephen King sometimes signing his own books when he's browsing in bookstores and then putting them back on shelves again for unwitting shoppers to find...<br /><br />Chris: Westlake did sign a hell of a lot of books, especially later ones (earlier ones are less common, and more expensive). But a signed book is a signed book: for me, a book which has actually been in the author's hands is something to be prized, no matter how may others of his/her books have also passed through his/her hands. And that's also, incidentally, where a physical book will always have an ebook beat.Nick Jones (Louis XIV, the Sun King)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17716508525331235684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-73757472300553780222012-08-22T07:01:38.468-04:002012-08-22T07:01:38.468-04:00At this point, the only Blocks I've read are &...At this point, the only Blocks I've read are "The Girl With the Long Green Heart", which is about grifters, and "Killing Castro", a very early novel he published under a pseudonym--which bears the marks of an unpolished talent, and was still compulsively readable. <br /><br />Still a whole lot of Westlakes to get to--plus I'm starting to read Peter Rabe--plus plenty of other things--but Mr. Block is on my list.<br /><br />Btw, does this mean that my signed copies of "Smoke" and "The Ax" that I picked up for a song at the soon-to-be-defunct book shop Partners&Crime would be worth more if I covered up the signature? <br /><br />Oh never mind. ;)Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00271250698430923736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-33517358206483501472012-08-22T02:21:48.387-04:002012-08-22T02:21:48.387-04:00The thing about the signature reminds me of that s...The thing about the signature reminds me of that story concerning pulp writer Michael Avallone. Amongst the obituaries written by his friends and colleagues, there is a true story about Avallone coming round to a fan's house and discovering a complete set of his books on the shelves. He grabbed a pen and leapt towards the shelves, but was stopped by the fan who cried 'Don't sign them...they're worth more that way!"Sextonblakenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-3516201667051291742012-08-21T23:42:40.340-04:002012-08-21T23:42:40.340-04:00I've been a Lawrence Block fan for a long time...I've been a Lawrence Block fan for a long time but was never interested in these Keller stories/books until now. So thanks.<br /><br />On a related note, I am almost finished with Tucker Coe. Block is great with making his extensive backlist available in various electronic formats. It would be wonderful if some out of print Westlake could be made available the same way.Book Gluttonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14569975755798562829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-87064477828556599672012-08-21T13:35:10.187-04:002012-08-21T13:35:10.187-04:00Thank, Jason. I suspect I'll be doing the same...Thank, Jason. I suspect I'll be doing the same! And yep, I've seen mention of a new Keller from a multitude of sources.Nick Jones (Louis XIV, the Sun King)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17716508525331235684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-34607157804011374622012-08-21T13:18:59.593-04:002012-08-21T13:18:59.593-04:00Love the Keller series. Picked HIT MAN up three or...Love the Keller series. Picked HIT MAN up three or four years ago and was so impressed I quickly snapped up the rest. I'm envious that you've still got the others to read - they're all excellent. I didn't realize a fifth one's on its way - superb news!Jasonnoreply@blogger.com