Free books

Arkady · July 2013

Before I go to the charity shop, does anyone need book three of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, A Storm of Swords (in two volumes)? I find myself with a spare copy. Because I had to replace them as they were a different edition to the others in the series so had unmatching cover art which sets off my OCD.<br><br>Yes, I'm a nerd, but the offer is there.<br>

Mirandola · July 2013

Me me me. Are you around today?

Arkady · July 2013

This evening, yes. PM on its way.

Idoru · July 2013

I've got the most recently published one somewhere if you want that too. I can't remember what number it's up to - about 56?<br>

Arkady · July 2013

Now now, it's only five (in seven volumes in the UK).<br><br>I'm not sure the English language has the vocabulary to encapsulate the extent of my passionate, obsessive geekery for those books.<br><br>Books four (A Feast For Crows) and five (A Dance With Dragons) should not be read as published though. It makes for a far more satisfying read if you use a combined reading order: http://boiledleather.com/post/25902554148/a-new-reader-friendly-combined-reading-order-for-a<br>;

miss annie · July 2013

He did an event at the Tower of London last year, some of my colleaugues went to dinner with him. They report that he is gruff but charming and was fascinated by the Tower and especially the ravens.

vetski · July 2013

Was vaguely tempted to say 'yes please' before I remembered how much Book 1 annoyed me. The story's fine, it was his editor I wanted to kill by about page 134!

ADGS · July 2013

It's not a UK/US thing, it's hardback/paperback. <i>Storm of Swords</i> and <i>Dance with Dragons</i> wouldn't physically hold together as single paperbacks. <div><br></div><div>I quite like having mismatched editions - makes me feel more like I have a grand old library that's seen out the generations.</div><div><br></div><div>Speaking of the Tower, don't they have the life-size dragon skull now? I happened upon that on Charmouth beach while holidaying last week, by pure chance. Quite a sight.</div>

Detritus · July 2013

One set of high fantasy I can't get into.

miss annie · July 2013

I have occasionally had the privilege of working on some of the same prop making projects as Dave, the chap who made the skull. He is a genius.

Arkady · July 2013

@ADGS: Not so old boy:<br><br><img src="http://i.imgur.com/ERlAz.jpg"><br>And here are the US and UK paperback editions next to each other, with the hardback on the right:<br><br><img src="http://blog.coop.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/120801_DanceofDragons.jpg"><br>

Arkady · July 2013

And, seeing as you asked, here is my bookshelf of lovely matching UK paperbacks:<br><br><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3725/9374998907_83d4c7ebde_k.jpg"><br>

miss annie · July 2013

It's to do with the printer that his UK publisher uses. They won't print hefty books like this over a maximum number of pages as one volume, and their retainer contract won't allow them to take it to another printer. A lot of those fantasy soap operas are published as huge books in paperback, so there's no technical reason why it couldn't be done.

ADGS · July 2013

<span style="font-style: normal;">OK, I bow to the more expert knowledge on the printing matter - and admittedly, I've not seen a UK hardback of </span><i>Storm of Swords</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> in the wild. But </span><i>Dance with Dragons</i> was definitely one UK hardback, then two paperbacks, so the 'seven in the UK' thing won't hold either, at least not without qualification.

krappyrubsnif · July 2013

Arkady, is that your sword and cannonball? I am getting seriously worried about you now.

miss annie · July 2013

Only now Krappy?

Arkady · July 2013

Everyone needs a plan for the zombie apocalypse, right?<br>

Idoru · July 2013

Yes, yes they do, and bullets are only going to last so long. <br>

Arkady · July 2013

Right. I'm planning to rig your shredder up to some solar panels and use it as a last line of defence.<br>

miss annie · July 2013

Is it Morrison's in Holloway Rd that Charlie Higson recommends as the best place to hole up in the case of a zombie apocalypse? Anyway, we're all going to die of Plague now because of the infected squirrels.

Mirandola · July 2013

Miss Annie, It's Waitrose.

ADGS · July 2013

Holloway Road Morrison's would have its own advantage come the zombie apocalypse, in that it wouldn't seem any different to usual.

Mirandola · August 2013

I quite like that Morrison's.

vetski · August 2013

Me too. Meat's pretty good.

Locrinus · August 2013

Buy a digital book reader, free books galore (both legally and, er, alegally)<br>

vetski · August 2013

Or just read Project Gutenberg books online, I've had a few very late nights recently because I just couldn't put the laptop down!

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