[Sojourn]

Hey folks!

Just want to know if there are any of you who frequent secondhand bookshops. Since I started collecting fantasy novels, I've been in and out of more secondhand shops in the past month than I ever have been all my pre-bibliophilic life. Most of my novels were bought/traded for at secondhand shops, though I only buy 1st edition paperbacks and hardbacks in very good condition. Makes it more challenging. ^_^
So, lemme know what your thoughts are on secondhand bookshops and for those of you who haven't tried them out yet, give it a go. You'll never know what treasures await you there on those musty shelves...

IMHO... ^_^

[Paul_Ashaman]

They are very useful for getting books that are out of print.

[Keyoke]

Agreed, one of the best sources of hard to find books. And, unfortunately, many Fantasy series vanish from the shelves quickly..

Plus, their is something to be said about Fantasy section in a Used Bookstore.. Something special about em. Where I Live (Calgary, AB), the sections are quite large..
Though, I am fortunate that we have a Bookstore that specializes in only Fantasy Novels.. (Www.sentrybox.com)

[Lady Fox]

I go in the used books stores sometimes, but there aren't any good ones for fantasy books where I live in NC, so I rarely find anything that I don't already own.

[Ravenlock]

I think that used book stores are great if you can find what you want. I went to one near me once and they had the entire death gate cycle by wies in really good condition, however I didn't have money to get them. when i went back they were gone. I was really mad i hadn't bought them the first time i was there. Since i only have the one store by me and it isn't very big, something i discovered was the out of print and used book section at barnesandnoble.com It is basically a database of used bookstores. I was able to find some really cool first edition hard back books, and they wern't that much, although some of them were

[Sojourn]

Yes, used books stores are great for finding out-of-print books, or out-of-print editions of current books. With so many novels being in their 10th or more reprinting, it gives me a buzz to stumble across an early edition of a particular novel, like the 1st mass market editions of 'The Sword of Shannara', 'The Silmarillion' and 'Tigana'. ^_^
One frustration I have though is that being in Australia, we get our books quite late, esp if they're from the US, and for a collector like me where priority is important, the US publishers are preferred to the UK ones (which we get). An example is the WoT series, which in the US is published by TOR Fantasy but is an Orbit book in the UK and Australia.

IMHO... ^_^

[Eventine]

I've always bought books brand new, with one exception. When I was about 13 my grandmother took me to a 2nd hand shop where I got a book called "White Gold Wielder".
I was rapped with it, and later went on to read the whole Thomas covenant series. Reading the last book first was a bit of a bummer though.
I just prefer new books for some reason.
Good to see another Aussie posting Sojourn...

[Gooch]

Second hand shops are about all I shop in anymore. For instance, in the Indianapolis Area, I bounce back and forth between 2 different Half Price Bookstores. I love them, and I can always find something to read there. And since I don't really collect books anymore, it's not a big deal. I'm there to read so it works out well. That, and as much as I read, I can't afford to pay $7.99-$8.99 for a paperback and a B&M store!

[Sojourn]

Yeah, discount stores are useful too. I've compiled a list of 2nd hand and discount bookstores around Greater Melbourne, crossing each place as I visit them. Feels like a quest or pilgrimage of some sort. Still got a way to go before I visit all 72+ stores though... wish me luck!

IMHO... ^_^

[Shehzad]

Second-hand stores are about the only places where fantasy is available in our part of the world, plus they're really cheap!! The proper bookstore, unfortunately, fail to carry anything beyond the occasionsal Stephen King novel... Since most people here don't read English novels and fewer still fantasy, there's simply no call for them. Even if they are available, they are damn expensive... Something like a month's pocket money for a paperback and as for hardbacks...