Another Nerd’s Treasure

Driving through the little podunk community that I technically share a zipcode with, I had spotted a bit of interesting scenery. One of the old buildings, abandoned for years, suddenly had a multitude of boxes lining its front and side covered porch area. Posted along the main supports of the porch were neon pink pieces of paper. The had scribbles of writing on them, but nothing that was even remotely legible from a passing vehicle on the highway that passes by it. I was always in too big a hurry to stop and inspect this, not to mention the fact that I never have been the type who is nosy enough to investigate other people’s property without invitation…. but those bright signs….

Well, finally, after a chance trip to the Post Office across the street from said building, we investigated the situation.

And, lo and behold, we were invited…

…invited to help ourselves to Treasure!

While part of me was highly disappointed that such a situation as this even existed (yesterday was a foul day of torrential rain, and I don’t know how long these have been sitting out, but it has been weeks at least), I was also delighted.

Despite the haphazard placement and ill treatment of the tomes, they were in surprisingly good shape. I suspect they are the remnants of some bibliophile’s estate who had the unfortunate luck of not having passed on the book reading bug to a future generation. If I ever find out different, I’ll be sure to share.

Well, the passing of their treasures into the hands of the unappreciative (though they are appreciative enough to share instead of discarding them into the trash, so kudos for that), is my gain.

I managed to sort through the front stoop in about 20 minutes, but the light failed me and I had to get home to lock up the birds, so I could not get through more than a cursory phone-light shine into the ones on the side. I plan to stop by again tomorrow afternoon, however, and give it a more through going over.

My twilight-stalled first pass did bring a sizable boon, nonetheless. I picked up 18 of the most interesting for myself. Many of them are hardback. Some are quite old, which to me is a plus.

Here’s a photo of the ones I grabbed. Titles listed below.

• Guardians of the Flame: The Warriors – Joel Rosenberg (HB) [Science Fiction Bookclub edition]
• Dune Messiah – Frank Herbert (HB)
• Cachalot – Anal Dean Foster (HB)
• The Gulag Archipelago – A. Sozhenitsyn (HB)
• The Bourne Supremacy – Robert Ludlum (HB)
• The Mystery of the Flaming Footprints (Alfred Hitchcock & The Three Investigators) – M. V. Carey
• Robinson Crusoe – Daniel Defoe (HB)
• Grefriars Bobby – Eleanor Atkinson (HB) <—- I looked this edition up… its from 1912!!!!
• The Complete Guide to Heraldry [The authoritative guide to the essential shorthand of history](PB)
• No Enemy But Time – Michael Bishop (HB) [This author is a Georgia native!]
• Wizard – John Varley (HB) [I have this one in trade PB, but HB now!]
• The Mystery of the Talking Skull (Alfred Hitchcock & The Three Investigators) – Robert Arthur
• The Inheritors – William Golding
• The Time Machine (illustrated) – H. G. Wells <— see sample pic below
• Masters of the Fist – Edward P. Hughes <— IT’S A BAEN BOOK!
• CONAN THE INVINCIBLE – ROBERT JORDAN!!!!!!
• Conan The Adventurer – Robert E. Howard & L. Sprague De Camp
• The Big Freeze (Micro Adventure #8) – Jean M. Favors

I am a super-happy camper tonight, and I wish all of you Happy Readers good luck in finding your next Reading Treasures!

Happy Reading!