[gozu]

See, my wife just landed a part-time job at our local Borders and she is allowed to borrow 2 books at any time. Of course, there is a catch: she can only borrow hardcovers .
While I do read other genres occasionally, I am strongly partial to sci-fi books (and ,to a lesser extent, fantasy).
Here is a LINK (http://www.bordersstores.com/mystores/editprofile.jsp?addStore=91&action=search) that allows you to search her store's inventory (isn't the Intarweb wonderful?)


PLEASE DO NOT SUGGEST A BOOK IF IT IS NOT HARDCOVER OR IS NOT AVAILABLE AT HER STORE! Use the link and search the store inventory first.

Thank you for your time

Gozu

[Daneel]

Had a quick look and I see that they have the "Robot Trilogy: The Caves of Steel, The Naked Sun, The Robots of Dawn" in hardcover. I would definately recommend these books to any science fiction reader, assuming they had not already read them.

As an added bonus they come in one hardbound cover and, therefore, should only count as one choice!

[Mugwump]

Hmm ... so the books I buy from Borders could well be 'second hand'?

Splendid!

[Colonel Worf]

You don't mean to tell me that some of the stuff that comes from there has been used??!

Dan Simmon's Ilium would probably be a good choice.

[Kamakhya]

This is a rather shocking revelation. I've heard of employee discounts, but actually allowing an employee to read a book before selling it is pretty bizarre. Don't they realize that it is a cardinal sin to read a hardcover? :eek:

OK, I'm sort of kidding as I do read my hardcovers. But, really, many collectors wouldn't dream of cracking open their new hardcover and instead wait for the sofcover to come out.

That said, I can't be bothered to search the site for you. Most of the recent new releases that I can think of off the top of my head are parts of series. I recommend trying stuff at random. You may discover a new author you really like and it's not like you have to pay for it or anything. :)

[FicusFan]

I have to say that the same policy is also in force at Barnes & Noble. I have friends who work there and they have offered to let me 'borrow' any hardcover that I want, via their ability to take them home and return them. The books have to come back in like new condition, if not I don't know if they charge the employee or not - never asked.

I would suggest that you wander through the SF/F hardcover section in your wife's store and pick books that way. If you prefer SF/F you must have favorite authors, and you may see one on the shelf with a new book.

I would also second Ilium by Dan Simmons.

You could also get hold of Locus magazine for this month. They have there 2003 recommended reading lists out, and most of the books listed are still in Hardcover.

[gozu]

Originally posted by Daneel
Had a quick look and I see that they have the "Robot Trilogy: The Caves of Steel, The Naked Sun, The Robots of Dawn" in hardcover. I would definately recommend these books to any science fiction reader, assuming they had not already read them.

As an added bonus they come in one hardbound cover and, therefore, should only count as one choice!

Isaac Asimov's "I, Robot" was actually the first sci-fi book I ever read. The three books you mention were read by me shortly afterwards :)

I will definitelyt try Ilium, thanks for the suggestion.

About the lending thing: Of course, the books have to be in pristine condition to be returned. The manager in charge examines them before returning them to the shelves. I am not quite sure why the store allows this but I have several theories:

1- reducing employee theft ("shrinkage).
2- Employees who take advantage of the policy *will* end up buying (either voluntarily or because the book is damaged) hardcovers.
3- word of mouth? If an employee likes the book, he might tell his friends/relatives/colleagues about it and it might result in increase sales for the store.

In any case, you do realize that regular customers can return books for any reason within 30 days. So the employees borrowing are just a drop in the ocean.

If you are now worried about buying a "second-hand" hardcover book, just examine it before you buy it. Doesn't take more than a few seconds. I, for one, don't care at all. I treat the books I buy like crap and they end up stained by food or whatnot. As long as the book is readable and no pages are torn off, I will enjoy it just the same :)

Keep the suggestions coming please!

[Duraccione]

Originally posted by gozu
Keep the suggestions coming please!

On the link you gave I've read that "The witches of Karres" hardcover reprint is out in july 2004: that's a very nice space opera of the golden age by James Schmitz and I strongly suggest it. :)

I treat the books I buy like crap and they end up stained by food or whatnot. As long as the book is readable and no pages are torn off, I will enjoy it just the same :)

(While getting an heart attack by reading that) :eek: :eek: :eek: Books are relics one hasn't to damage while reading...I don't even crack them open, just the least to read the whole page... :cool:

[Colonel Worf]

That kind of shocks me that you can return a book within 30 days. I bet a lot of people buy expensive books, read them, and then return them...

[Mugwump]

Just to return to Hobbit's statement about there being a lack of Heinlein in the UK, I must say that Borders in Liverpool had a massive selection on display when I visited this afternoon - quite surprising really.

They also had pretty much all of the Gollancz Collectors Editions which was an even bigger surprise as I rarely see more than one on the shelves of even specialist SF bookstores.

That said, all the time I was looking at Peter F. Hamilton’s Pandora’s Star, I was thinking: some member of staff might have had his mitts on this for a week …