Support group for people who enjoy (spend too much money on) signed limited books

[bsaenz24]

When my wife tells me I spend too much money on signed limiteds, I offer to go to a support group for people who spend too much on signed limiteds, as long as their membership brochures come in a signed limited format.

Hi, my name is Brad, and I buy books.

Hi Brad.

I have not bought a book in 4 days.

(Polite applause)

[njhorror]

My name's Stephen.

I haven't bought a book in 6 months.

Well, okay . . . I haven't bought a book in 3 months. I haven't had any money, but when I get some I'll just go binge buying like you wouldn't believe. Silly shit, anything. Numbered, signed, draw a dick in it, I don't care.
I'll BUY it!

So, maybe if someone would sponsor me I won't fall back into those habits.

and lend me twenty five bucks. NO, it's for a TRADE hardcover!!!!

[Tito_Villa]

I try so hard nt too buy too many but there are so many good deals & what if someone else buys the damn thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111

[srboone]

(A gaunt and angular fellow gets up from his chair, noting with a smirk of satisfaction that no one really seemed he was there in the first place. He clears his throat dramtically...)

Hello, my name is Squire.

And I'm a fine-book-aholic. I like signed/limiteds, leather-bound books (not necessarily signed) and nice-looking trade hardcovers. I once failed to catch a expensive crystal bowl an ex-girlfriend dropped because I was more concerned with hanging onto my brand new 1st print trade HC of The Dark Half by Stephen King (it had just been released). I look back on that day and ask if I would do anything differently, and...no, I wouldn't.

Anyway, I hadn't bought a book in 2 weeks and was really doing well, but then last Friday, I ordered an artists' edition of Little Sisters of Eluria from DMG. I'm concerned that I'm going to start ordering Traycased editions and Lettered editions soon (while I've avoided this temptation, I have to admit, I never knew what one was until April of 2010. I did order MHB's Deluxe edition of The Howling--it's only numbered, but in roman numerals).

I kicked my alcohol, smoking and gambling addictions (those groups meet down the hall), but I'm afraid this one might be harder to do...(cold turkey would be hard and cool turkey would be disastrous here, no offense to that great and eminent junkie Henry Dean...)

(After he sits down, the other people present look at each other in confusion, each wondering who they had been listening to...)

[bsaenz24]

Hello squire.

Good call on the ex-girlfriend's bowl vs the book. Unless the crystal bowl was was a really really really limited edition (like a 1 of 1), I say save the book every time. Plus girlfriends never last anyway. They either become a wife (if they forgive you for breaking the bowl) or they become ex-girlfriends in which case it's WAY better to have saved the book. Either way, the book is saved!!!

[srboone]

(Tall and Angular looks over at the group leader, a look of astonishment on his face. A long moment is taken, not for (melo-)dramatic purposes, but for T&A to take in what has just happened.)

Hello, Brad. Thank you for your words of support. The ex-girlfiend is an addiction I beat also; I just stopped acquiring girlfriends--obvious, really. Any way, this group seems different from the others down the hall. I don't think anybody here really wants to get better. I like that. I think I'll stay.

(As T&A surveys the room, the others seem to be noticing his prescence along with Brad. The smirk that was once on his face has become a smile.)

Ka.

[Martin]

Hello, my name is Martin and I haven't bought a book today. OK but in my defense the book I bought yesterday was only the limited edition and it was only $60.00, that all while they still had the deluxe, $995.00, edition available. I credit myself with great restraint. My wife does not agree. Early on when this hobby (addiction) began my wife saw it as a passing phase and politely asked when I would 1) Slow down 2) Sell some of my purchases. A couple of times I made the mistake of taking her with me into the rare book room at Powell's books, even proudly commenting when I saw a book selling for much more than I had paid for the same book, this was always followed with 'You should sell yours!'. For reasons I feel I do not need to explain I no longer take my wife me into the rare book room at Powell's. In what I feel is a rare compromise I no longer buy many trade editions, choosing instead to read the books from the library. I continue to buy limited editions and yes I do read my limited edition books, of course I do this while treating them like my children, I must add that those are my wife's words not mine. My wife has also has compromised, for which I do appreciate. She no longer begins each entry into my den with the question 'When are you going to sell some of these books!' She instead has begun offering suggestions about how we can display some of my books in other rooms in the house, I suggestion I will need to take her up on soon since the den is simply over capacity.

Thanks for allowing me to be part of your little group!

[bsaenz24]

the book I bought yesterday was only the limited edition and it was only $60.00, that all while they still had the deluxe, $995.00, edition available. I credit myself with great restraint.

You are a model of inspiration!!

[srboone]

Welcome, Martin. Thanks for sharing. I left my house and went to the movies when I openned the email about yesterday's Limited Edition announcement. I think of my books not as children, but as my harem. Available for my use at anytime; I have my favorites, those that I reread completely, I have those that have read, but still like to revisit certain episodes in them. I guess it depends on POV. i still haven't purchased the $60 version. I probably would have if I hadn't ordered LSoE on Friday.

I second Brad's sentiment.

[peteOcha]

Hi my name is Peter.

I buy books because I have to. What I mean is that I need them to be on my shelf, for me to read and look at. Whenever I see an email from Cemetery Dance in my inbox my heart beats faster and with shaking hands I click on the email, thinking, "Will I have enough money to get this? Is this something by Stephen King? Whatever it is, ME WANTS IT!!!!!

Sorry, got a bit carried away, will stay clear of caps lock abuse and excessive exclamation points. It's just that it's been too long since I bought a new book. Maybe 2-3 weeks. Well, I did pick up the Early Reader's program bit, but I don't have those books yet so it's not the same. I'm not doing so hot money wise and all now, with a 10 month old baby boy, I just don't have the cash to get everything i would want. So I guess that's a good thing or else I would spend it all on books...(I know, it's not a good thing, but that's what I tell myself, so shhhh.) My wife doesn't mind, at least not yet.

So, where's the donuts and coffee?

[srboone]

Hi, Pete!! Glad you could make it!

[TerryE]

My name is Terry and I'm a book buyer. It's been one day since I bought a limited edition. I ordered Granta 117 today, but that doesn't come out until November, and it's not a signed limited, so that doesn't count, right?

When I was in high school I saw an ad in F&SF for a new Stephen King book that was going to come out called Eyes of the Dragon. It would be limited to 1000 copies and you had to write in to enter a lottery to win the opportunity to spend $100 for this new book. That seemed like a ton of money for a Book! for pete's sake. But part of me loved the idea of having something that only that few people could have, and it was a Stephen King story I otherwise wouldn't be able to read. But I didn't have the cash & didn't see the point. I was very happy several years later when the book was released to the mass market and I didn't feel so left out. Then I heard of this book called the Dark Tower which the library couldn't seem to find. After that the limited edition intrigued me even though I couldn't afford them. Or know where to find them. Then I discovered Betts Bookstore in Bangor which specialized in Stephen King merchandise and rarities. The rarities were still out of my range, but I now knew where I could get them. Then about 10 or 15 years ago they had an ad for a new King limited called Six Stories. But it was $60 or $80 for a paperback and that seemed like too much. A few months later when I had the money the book was nowhere to be found, then I discovered it on e-bay for several hundred dollars. That made up my mind that I had to start buying these limiteds when they came out. I'm so happy I was able to get the Centipede Press verion of 'Salem's Lot when it was released. (FYI, in the late 80s I worked for a comic book mogul and found out he had 2 copies of Eyes fo the Dragon. I even got to see one of them while moving furniture in his office one day. 20 years after that I finally made the plunge and got a copy from veryfinebooks during a sale )

My recent King is fairly complete and I've got some signed books by Straub and Bradbury. I got in on the ground floor with Joe Hill and have most limiteds by him. My pride however is my Neil Gaiman collection. I've been reading his work since his first American comics work and have most books, anthologies, and signed limiteds by him. One of these days I'll be able to afford a lettered edition of something.

Like the rest of you, others around me don't understand, especially the wife. "You have to stop buying books." "There's no room for what you have." "Why don't you throw them away (or I'm going to box them up and give them away)" [Oh the horror of those words] I really don't have any vices and this money is much better spent than on drink, drugs, or gambling.

I found the coffee and donuts, but didn't someone say something about the "Bible" edition of The Stand being around here someplace.

[divemaster]

I use my gambling addiction to pay for my book addiction! I collect Stephen King S/L editions. I'll buy a book and then hit the casino to win enough money to cover the cost.

Plus I drink.

[jester05jk]

I use my gambling addiction to pay for my book addiction! I collect Stephen King S/L editions. I'll buy a book and then hit the casino to win enough money to cover the cost.

Plus I drink.

That might be one of the most awesome things I've ever read.


My addiction has gone to the point where I will only eat ramen noodles twice a day to save up money for a new(or old) book I want.

[peteOcha]

Mmmmm.... Ramen.....