Lurker Below wrote:I recently acquired a copy of Andre Norton's novel Quag Keep. I have never read it and wanted to for thirty years (has it really been that long?). The copy that I received appears to be a hardback first edition, first print and is NOT a book club edition. It has the book cover in a Mylar jacket and appears unread. Neither the endpapers nor the jacket have been clipped, nor are there any remainder or ex libris marks. The book is perfect bound (glued binding, an oxymoron) and creaks when opened. I am afraid that the pages might come loose if I read it.My question is, do I save it and buy a reading copy, or do I read it as it was meant to be read and not worry about it? I would really like Grodog's and Badmike's comments. Any others are welcome too.LB
Lurker Below wrote:Thanks Jason. After I posted my question, I thought I should have added your name to the list of people I was hoping to get answers from, based on what I have read on your blog. Still hoping for more bits from early fanzines.The copy of Quag Keep that I have seems to be in better condition than the one on eBay. ** expired/removed eBay auction ** Mine doesn't have the fraying on the edge of the dust jacket and is clearly unread. I think $40 is overpriced, but it is good to know that replacements exist. Like I said, mine is in unread condition. My only reason for concern is the tendency for perfect bound books to fall apart if the glue has lost its resiliency. The way it creaked when I opened it startled me, so I put it away. I think I will keep it put away and buy a reading copy. Anybody here have one? I also received a copy of Return to Quag Keep in the same purchase. I'll post a review when I get through my current backlog of books (about fourteen years).LB
FoulFoot wrote:As an interesting bit of trivia -- here's a letter that Gary Gygax sent to Ms. Norton while she was beginning to write Quag Keep. I had the original letter (before I sold my collection), but sadly, the mentioned cassette tapes were not with it.
FoulFoot wrote:My guess has always been that the map wasn't "stolen"... it was given to Andre along with whatever else they gave her for her novel research.