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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
 Posted - 03 Apr 2015 : 16:33:27
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I'll be finishing The Diabolical Miss Hyde during my lunch break, this day... Next up is another newly-acquired Shadowrun novel, Hell on Water.
I've got an Amazon order scheduled to be delivered tomorrow, and another recently acquired book that I'm eager to get to... So the next three books to read are Heir to the Jedi, The Diamond Conspiracy, and Dead Wrong.
The first is obviously a Star Wars novel; one of the new ones, in the newly revamped continuity.
The second is part of the A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series, a steampunk series I've found quite enjoyable.
The last book is the second book of the The Rho Agenda Inception, a kind of prequel series to the The Rho Agenda. The latter series respins the Roswell Incident and makes it a kind of sci-fi thriller. The prequel books focus on one of the characters from The Rho Agenda: Jack Gregory, a black ops guy with the interesting twist of being host to a supernatural entity that brought him back after he was murdered. |
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DragonReader
Senior Scribe
USA
371 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2015 : 23:19:15
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I finished Small Favor, book #10 in the Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher last weekend and read a few short stories.
Now reading The Swordbearer by Glen Cook. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 04 Apr 2015 : 02:46:42
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Alright, I'm only a few chapters into Hell on Water, and it's already bugging me.
For one thing, the author decided to do the weird 1st person omniscient storyteller approach. This is something that can be handled well, if the 1st person aspect is kept to a minimum -- maybe an interjection every couple of chapters, or so. Instead, the author keeps using the 1st person storyteller, every other page or so, commenting in the present tense on the story activity that's being told in third person and past tense. Something like "I tell you, this character did not like to fight like this. He preferred to fight like that. The fight proceeded. Other stuff happened."
On top of that, it keeps hopping back and forth chronologically, as well -- one chapter is the present, with the characters getting thru their quest. The next chapter is just a few hours before, prepping for the quest. Again, this is an element that can be done well, but jumping back and forth just a few hours is not doing it well.
So I'm not digging this one, at the moment. |
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Edited by - Wooly Rupert on 04 Apr 2015 02:48:32 |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 04 Apr 2015 : 03:06:45
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Alright, I'm only a few chapters into Hell on Water, and it's already bugging me.
For one thing, the author decided to do the weird 1st person omniscient storyteller approach. This is something that can be handled well, if the 1st person aspect is kept to a minimum -- maybe an interjection every couple of chapters, or so. Instead, the author keeps using the 1st person storyteller, every other page or so, commenting in the present tense on the story activity that's being told in third person and past tense. Something like "I tell you, this character did not like to fight like this. He preferred to fight like that. The fight proceeded. Other stuff happened."
On top of that, it keeps hopping back and forth chronologically, as well -- one chapter is the present, with the characters getting thru their quest. The next chapter is just a few hours before, prepping for the quest. Again, this is an element that can be done well, but jumping back and forth just a few hours is not doing it well.
So I'm not digging this one, at the moment.
A poorly handled 1st person narrative can quickly ruin a book for me. |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 04 Apr 2015 : 23:19:24
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| Finished City of Splendors. There was a good story in there somewhere but the 150 pages or so of meaningless filler made it difficult to see. Still enjoyed it though. |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
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Firestorm
Senior Scribe
Canada
826 Posts |
Posted - 05 Apr 2015 : 00:23:05
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Spellstorm.
And Damn am I enjoying it. Lotsa big name mages and a setting like the movie/boardgame clue.
+ Ed sprinkling in lots of lore and tidbits |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 05 Apr 2015 : 15:12:07
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| Starting The Howling Delve by Jaleigh Johnson. |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2015 : 22:28:50
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Alright, I'm only a few chapters into Hell on Water, and it's already bugging me.
For one thing, the author decided to do the weird 1st person omniscient storyteller approach. This is something that can be handled well, if the 1st person aspect is kept to a minimum -- maybe an interjection every couple of chapters, or so. Instead, the author keeps using the 1st person storyteller, every other page or so, commenting in the present tense on the story activity that's being told in third person and past tense. Something like "I tell you, this character did not like to fight like this. He preferred to fight like that. The fight proceeded. Other stuff happened."
On top of that, it keeps hopping back and forth chronologically, as well -- one chapter is the present, with the characters getting thru their quest. The next chapter is just a few hours before, prepping for the quest. Again, this is an element that can be done well, but jumping back and forth just a few hours is not doing it well.
So I'm not digging this one, at the moment.
I finished that book. I was hurrying to finish reading it so I could get on to something better.
The author used another idea that I've only seen once or twice before, but that I've not liked: the plot is carrying objects from point A to point B, and the two points are so close together (12 kilometers, across a bridge) that logic would dictate it's not that much of a challenge.
Of course, having selected that plot, it is then forced to be a major journey. There are gang attacks, monster attacks, a magical attack from a third-party that is never identified (or even worried about, overly much), encounters with a mysterious group of women that seem to be widely respected -- even feared -- for no readily apparent reason, and of course the inevitable double-crosses.
Because of the way the story is told, a lot of the tension that would otherwise be injected into the tale simply isn't there -- leaving a kind of "yeah, so?" attitude with every encounter. Even the attempts at building some sort of interesting group dynamic fall short...
And then, with the final double-cross, it makes the entire thing come across as pointless. Especially when you factor in that the tale's Mr. Johnson is a dude with a serious amount of wealth and political power, and could thus simply use a dedicated, personally loyal courier in a helicopter, instead of having to bring folks from Seattle to Lagos just to carry three small boxes across as 12 km bridge.
A couple of the characters did have some potential to be interesting, but they would need to be handled by another author for this potential to be met.
I try to avoid recommending that people *not* read something, because I think it's important for every person to form their own informed opinion. Usually, I just don't say anything about a book, rather than advise against reading it.
That said, I would only recommend this book if someone really likes the author, or if they're interested in looking into all of the newer releases of Shadowrun books... And likely, in either scenario, I'd still refrain from recommending it.
However, now that I'm done with this one, I've started on Dead Wrong. I'm just 100 pages in, but I'm already enjoying it orders of magnitude better than that last one. |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 07 Apr 2015 : 17:59:27
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Finished The Howling Delve.
Now starting the RAS novella If Ever They Happened Upon My Lair. |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2015 : 14:31:00
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Finished If Ever They Happened Upon My Lair. Enjoyed it and really made me wish RAS would write some non Drizzt/Cadderly books for the Realms.
Starting Crypt of the Moaning Diamond by Rosemary Jones to finish up the Dungeons series. |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2015 : 21:12:19
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...And I'm done with Dead Wrong. I very much enjoyed that one, to the point of staying up way too late last night to finish it. In my defense, I only had 60ish pages left!
Now I'm on The Diamond Conspiracy. |
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Jeremy Grenemyer
Great Reader
USA
2717 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2015 : 21:22:23
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Just started M is for Mystery by Neil Gaiman, The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling and The Quick by Lauren Owen.
Found all of these at a bookstore that charges half price for hardcovers and gives 1/4 back in store credit if you return the book after you read it. Those folks know how to tap into an addiction for books. |
Look for me and my content at EN World (user name: sanishiver). |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2015 : 21:55:26
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quote:
Originally posted by Jeremy Grenemyer
Just started M is for Mystery by Neil Gaiman, The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling and The Quick by Lauren Owen.
Found all of these at a bookstore that charges half price for hardcovers and gives 1/4 back in store credit if you return the book after you read it. Those folks know how to tap into an addiction for books.
I'm near a great used book store that offers some good store credit for books that are turned in. I'll go to local library booksales on the last day when they are running the $5 bag sales and then turn the bags into the used book store for some serious credit. I can usually fit 30-40 mass market paperback into 1 of those bags. Love it! |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
Try Audible and Get 2 Free Audio Books! https://amzn.to/2IgBede |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 10 Apr 2015 : 21:49:11
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| Finished Crypt of the Moaning Diamond. |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
Try Audible and Get 2 Free Audio Books! https://amzn.to/2IgBede |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 11 Apr 2015 : 15:11:49
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| Starting the Citadels series with Neversfall. I was excited to see that this one takes place in Estagund/Veldorn! |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 11 Apr 2015 : 20:25:32
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I finished The Diamond Conspiracy just a few minutes ago -- a 12 hour shift at work, on a Saturday, is rather slow. And since streaming video is now blocked, and I forgot the thumb drive that I'd put some stuff on, I've pretty much just got two things to do between the sporadic calls: read, and set up my new computer. The latter is not a priority and involves a lot of waiting, anyway.
Next up is Heir to the Jedi. |
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3563 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2015 : 04:14:11
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| The Name of the Wind: The Kingkiller Chronicles Day One.......just started it and having a hard time putting it down! |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2015 : 05:32:16
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Next up is Heir to the Jedi.
I'm most of the way thru this one, now... And while it's not bad, it's certainly not great, either. It's set betwixt Episodes IV and V, and told from Luke's perspective. He's just barely feeling his way into using the Force, at this point. And that may be part of why it simply doesn't feel like Luke -- because the small amount of SW fiction I've read was all post-Episode 6, and Luke was a full-on Jedi Master. |
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Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2015 : 01:16:47
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| Reading Elminster's Ecologies Appendix I for my Realms "non-fiction" fix. |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2015 : 04:02:11
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Next up is Heir to the Jedi.
I'm most of the way thru this one, now... And while it's not bad, it's certainly not great, either. It's set betwixt Episodes IV and V, and told from Luke's perspective. He's just barely feeling his way into using the Force, at this point. And that may be part of why it simply doesn't feel like Luke -- because the small amount of SW fiction I've read was all post-Episode 6, and Luke was a full-on Jedi Master.
...And I just finished it. Not bad, just thoroughly underwhelming.
Next up is Libriomancer. I've no idea what I'll read after that. Since that irksome New Year's Resolution a year or two back, I've gotten into the habit of reaching for new stuff more readily than re-reads... But so far this year, I've had very few re-reads, and I'm kinda feeling like rectifying that. |
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Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2015 : 22:05:56
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| Finished Neversfall and I reallllyyyy enjoyed seeing a new area of the Realms. Wish we'd get more novels like this set in exotic places. |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 14 Apr 2015 : 15:36:56
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| Starting Obsidian Ridge. |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
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DragonReader
Senior Scribe
USA
371 Posts |
Posted - 14 Apr 2015 : 16:21:24
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Finished Swordbearer by Glen Cook. I liked the premise and parts were good, but overall it was a let down.
Then I read The Daughter of Odren and Earthsea short story by Ursula K. le Guin. It was quite good.
Now reading Turn Coat by Jim Butcher. |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 16 Apr 2015 : 01:52:06
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| Finished Elminster's Ecologies: Appendix I. Fun stuff loaded with nice tidbits useful for a campaign in the areas described. |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
Try Audible and Get 2 Free Audio Books! https://amzn.to/2IgBede |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 16 Apr 2015 : 15:33:28
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| Starting Van Richten's Guide to the Lich. I've read this one before but always enjoyed the layout and writing style of the Van Richten's guidebooks. Plus the interior art is fabulous. |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
Try Audible and Get 2 Free Audio Books! https://amzn.to/2IgBede |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 16 Apr 2015 : 17:38:20
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quote:
Originally posted by Artemas Entreri
Starting Van Richten's Guide to the Lich. I've read this one before but always enjoyed the layout and writing style of the Van Richten's guidebooks. Plus the interior art is fabulous.
Those books are some of the best supplements we've had, for any edition or D&D setting. And a lot of the material can be used in any setting. I didn't have the original books, but I did get the compiled editions -- the Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium volumes. I got legal pdfs of those, too, back when all of the prior edition pdfs were either free or $4 each. |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 16 Apr 2015 : 18:15:32
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Artemas Entreri
Starting Van Richten's Guide to the Lich. I've read this one before but always enjoyed the layout and writing style of the Van Richten's guidebooks. Plus the interior art is fabulous.
Those books are some of the best supplements we've had, for any edition or D&D setting. And a lot of the material can be used in any setting. I didn't have the original books, but I did get the compiled editions -- the Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium volumes. I got legal pdfs of those, too, back when all of the prior edition pdfs were either free or $4 each.
Van Richten's Guides are completely awesome. For me there is a perfect balance of journal entry writing/regular writing/DM notes ... through in that fantastic Ravenloft artwork and you've got a great supplement.  |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
Try Audible and Get 2 Free Audio Books! https://amzn.to/2IgBede |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 16 Apr 2015 : 18:16:34
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Artemas Entreri
Starting Van Richten's Guide to the Lich. I've read this one before but always enjoyed the layout and writing style of the Van Richten's guidebooks. Plus the interior art is fabulous.
Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium volumes
So are these just combos of the previously released Van Richten's guides or do they have new material in them? |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
Try Audible and Get 2 Free Audio Books! https://amzn.to/2IgBede |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 16 Apr 2015 : 18:49:28
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quote:
Originally posted by Artemas Entreri
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Artemas Entreri
Starting Van Richten's Guide to the Lich. I've read this one before but always enjoyed the layout and writing style of the Van Richten's guidebooks. Plus the interior art is fabulous.
Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium volumes
So are these just combos of the previously released Van Richten's guides or do they have new material in them?
As I recall, they are just combined volumes of the earlier works.
Their appeal for me (aside from the content) was the fact that I'd missed a lot of the individual releases, and it was considerably easier and cheaper to buy the (then-new) combined volumes. |
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Edited by - Wooly Rupert on 16 Apr 2015 18:52:20 |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 16 Apr 2015 : 20:02:29
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Artemas Entreri
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Artemas Entreri
Starting Van Richten's Guide to the Lich. I've read this one before but always enjoyed the layout and writing style of the Van Richten's guidebooks. Plus the interior art is fabulous.
Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium volumes
So are these just combos of the previously released Van Richten's guides or do they have new material in them?
As I recall, they are just combined volumes of the earlier works.
Their appeal for me (aside from the content) was the fact that I'd missed a lot of the individual releases, and it was considerably easier and cheaper to buy the (then-new) combined volumes.
Ahh good to know. I don't own any of them but have 6 of the 8 original Van Richten's guides. |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
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What are you reading? (2014) (and 2015)
Topic Locked
