What's the coolest book you own?

[___]

Ant Farming? That was chainlink's gig, not mine.

[Lady Revel]

I have a first edition Oz book by L. Frank Baum. My aunt gave it to me. It's not the Wizard of Oz, which would be worth a fortune, but the Lost Princess of Oz, which came out much later.....1914ish I think.

But I love it, and would never sell it. It will be handed down in the family.

[Taran Wanderer]

I own signed 1st editions, 1st printings of all SRD's works, but my two proofs of Gilden Fire (only 6 ever made) are my favorites, with the original proofs to the first chronicles a close second, and Sweat Dreams signed by Doanldson and 6 other authors third favorite. If he signs my 1st chronicle proofs in Ft. Lauderdale in March, then they will be the best.

[dANdeLION]

Standing Firm by Dan Quayle. I hope to get it signed one day, too.

[hierachy]

I have a dictionary. IT IS SO COOL!!

It has lots of words in it that I don't know.

[Steve Hurtloam]

I have a really cool old copy of "The Complete Works of Shakespeare". It was my dad's.

He signed the inside cover in 1948. I signed it in 1998.

Hopefully my son can sign it 2048.

[The Dreaming]

Hmm, this really isn't mine, but My dad owns a leatherbound, signed version of the foundation trilogy. His books are essentially also my books. I have read almost all of them. (Covenant being one of them)

[Kerb]

Its good reading about your most favoured books.

I have something like over 500 books and like them all, but special mention goes to:---

* A Cotswold Family, Hicks and Hicks Beach (Mrs William Hicks Beach, 1909) - about some of my ancestors.

* The Dice Man (Luke Rhinehart, 1971)

* Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (Robert Pirsig, 1974)

* The Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean Auel, 1986)

* The Trials of Arthur, The Life and Times of a Modern-Day King (Arthur Pendragon & Christopher James Stone, 2003) - about Arthur Pendragon a great friend of mine, book also autographed.

[Cate]

I have many wonderful books, but I must tell you of one that is very unusual.....I bought it at a used book store in St. Louis about 20 years ago. THE CHOICE, it is a translation of what was found near Beersheba of "Risha's story", on an unknown substance of 367 plates, no known metal or stone, and age undetermined.
Although the language was eventually cracked by linguists, the method of inscribing remains a mystery. Theories are that it was inscribed electronically or by some laser like technique unknown to us.
The story is a similar account to the Genesis of our Bible. There were theories that it may have been the story of a much earlier creation or maybe observation of angelic beings who wrote of our creation, and yet another theory that the plates were brought here from another dimension.
In this account, Adam and Eve are Risha and Kael.
It is a fascinating story and among my most valued books.

[BT Shire]

My most prized books are my hardcover Lord of the Rings and Hobbit with paintings by Alan Lee and The Silmarillion illustrated by Ted Nasmith.

I like all my books, though, especially my vast comic book collection.

[Nav]

I've got a copy of 'Hood and Bismarck' signed by Ted Briggs, the last living survivor of the HMS Hood, that's pretty special.

ooohhhh, that sounds amazing! I'm a huge history buff, "Sink The Bismarck!" was the first historical book I read (when I was around 9) and got hooked.

This book had an accompanying documentary on Channel 4, and is very pretty because of that. It isn't the most in depth piece on the subject, but provides a very nice overview. It seems crazy today to think that the RN would perform a retro fit that compromised the structural integrity of their flagship, idiots.

At Christmas I decided to buy my brother a signed Terry Pratchett book. I soon found one on eBay, but neglected to look at the picture of the title page. It arrived and it said "To Derek, Happy Birthday, Terry Pratchett". Suffice to say that my brother's name is not Derek, and I'm not on birthday present-giving terms with any Dereks either. In the end I found a brand new, non-personalised copy of Going Postal, which pretty much rocked.

[High Lord Tolkien]

And, most important of all, all of my brothers journals. Not sure those would be considered books tho. I have them in a fire proof safe, however, so they would have to be my most important possessions.

What's your brother been up to that his journals have such interest to you?
Secrets?
Like the best place to shoot from a grassy knoll?



My two favorites are hardcover editions of Unfinished Tales and The Silmarillion.
Both have lost thier dust covers(jackets?) years ago and both have severely worn pages from heavy use.
Also both have been left out in the rain so they have that "expanded" feel to them.
Even the food stains left from reading while eating have become familiar to me.

I also got an old Civil War 1912 (?) photo book full of photo's by the photographer Brady.
Red cover, good condition.
I always thought it was valuable and kept it safe.
I recently checked it out on EBay.
Turns out there are 1000s of these suckers left!
It's worth about $35 to $60 depending.
The book has been cataloged by the US gov.
The entire book, every picture and even the exact text can be found online.
Oh well!

[Avatar]

And, most important of all, all of my brothers journals. Not sure those would be considered books tho. I have them in a fire proof safe, however, so they would have to be my most important possessions.

What's your brother been up to that his journals have such interest to you?
Secrets?
Like the best place to shoot from a grassy knoll?

If you really want to know, read the Memorial Thread in the Hall of Gifts.

--A

[The Leper Fairy]

I have a book that is poetically named, "101 pickle jokes"

Some of the jokes could be funny... maybe if you really tried.

Why do gherkins giggle a lot?

They're picklish

Some on the other hand just plain suck

What's green and swims in the sea?

Moby Pickle

The back of the book looks like the back of Jonathan Livingston Seagull except it's a pickle with wings. Below, it says

What's green and soars through the air?

Jonathan Livingston Pickle

I'm sorry for sharing that with you, but you'll thank me someday.

[Myste]

According to the laws of comedy, "pickle" is one of the funniest words ever. It has to do with the sounds of the word--apparently, someone did a study and found that words with the "ick" sound in them are funnier than other words. "P" is also funny. Put them together with an "le" at the end, and voila! Instant joke.

[MsMary]

I'd have to say that my most prized possessions are "The Red Book of Westmarch", which is, for those who don't know, a red leather bound edition of There and Back Again: A Hobbits Tale And The Lord of the Rings: An Account of the Great War of the Ring.

Furl's Fire: I am so jealous.

I just want to say this is not a fair question.

We have many wonderful books in our house, I don't know how to decide which to list.