Collectible Books that Others Love (but you secretly hate) - and vice versa

[biomieg]

'Just for shit & giggles' as some of my Anglophone friends here would say. The title is pretty self-explanatory. A little tongue-in-cheekness is allowed, of course. But be honest!

Which collectible King books that everyone seems to love just don't do it for you? And which books that no one likes make your heart beat a little faster?

Everybody loves them but I've always been majorly underwhelmed by the shiny limited editions that Cemetery Dance produces, especially those gaudy lettereds in their satin-lined boxes. Too much fluff! And - blasphemy! - I hate the gift edition of IT, simply because I can't get past the fugly brown slipcase! I'm not a collector of limited editions but I've owned a few and to me the best ones are the understated editions like Dolan's Cadillac, Six Stories, The Plant and 'Salem's Lot.

I love those old, plain proofs that most here don't even consider collectibles because they look like nothing on your bookshelf. And I'll take my boring UK Night Shift over a 'coffin' Stand any day. There you have it!

Who's next?

[Merlin1958]

Faithful

What absolute drivel. This book was meant to be burned by everyone who is not a Red Sux fan and even a few who are. I have!!! 86 years and suddenly you discover a spiritual aspect? You suck, move on!!!! 27 Championships, baby!!!! Take your place in line, which is waaaayyy down the line!!! You sold "Babe Ruth" to finance "No, No, Nannette"!!!! LOL LOL LOL

[Patrick]

I think FAITHFUL is cool, even though I've never read it. I don't claim to be a fan of the team. I just like underdog success stories.

On a side note, I don't get why Bill is such a sore loser.

Spoiler:

I have a hard time with the cost of the S/L of DANSE MACABRE because it just doesn't look like I'd be getting much for the market price, so I don't own one.

[Merlin1958]

I think FAITHFUL is cool, even though I've never read it. I don't claim to be a fan of the team. I just like underdog success stories.

On a side note, I don't get why Bill is such a sore loser.

Spoiler:

I have a hard time with the cost of the S/L of DANSE MACABRE because it just doesn't look like I'd be getting much for the market price, so I don't own one.

Patrick, you know I love and respect you, but you have to admit you saw this coming, right?

Spoiler:

[Patrick]

Yes, I figured those emoticons were likely headed my way.

On topic:

A couple books I love that I know are disliked by some: SECRETARY OF DREAMS, Volumes I & II. I think these S/L's are really cool. Chadbourne overload and all.

[Merlin1958]

Yes, I figured those emoticons were likely headed my way.

On topic:

A couple books I love that I know are disliked by some: SECRETARY OF DREAMS, Volumes I & II. I think these S/L's are really cool. Chadbourne overload and all.

I really treasure the SOD books as well.

[jonahwriter]

I tend to love collecting personally-inscribed (and not to me) signatures more than S/L's, even though I know S/L are more collectible. I like S/L's but I prefer personally inscribed, and especially inscriptions that are lengthy or funny or unique. I also have a thing for collecting signed damaged/old books for cheap, not in collectible quality, and fixing them up a little. I also agree with biomeg - I think the old proofs look better than the S/L "coffin" Stand.

[Robert Fulman]

Six Stories. I don't get why people go so crazy for a paperback.

[Robert Fulman]

As for favorites, I live Grant's black traycase editions. My favorite limiteds are Prime Evil, Black House, and The Crow (not SK). I get more satisfaction out of my Black House SL than I do out out my Talisman SL, and the Dark Tower SL I want more than any other is LSOE. I love things that tell a story; one of my Black House SLs was owned by Peter Straub, and I have an issue of Castle Rick that was sent to Donald Grant. I have the first book ever published by DMG, a bibliography of Edgar Rice Burroughs, inscribed by the author (Henry Heins) to Robert E. Briney, who was also a fantasy/sf bibliographer and wrote an introduction to a later DMG book. The Burroughs bibliography contains a letter from Heins explaining that the book would be delayed (again) because Mr. Grant couldn't get his act together. I like connections, bits and pieces that fit together, even if they only have meaning to me. I love my copy of DT III with a drawing of a rose in it, probably more than my DT III SL. Last night I bought a Dameron sketch on ebay; the seller had it listed as "unpublished", but I recognized it as a prelim for one of the paintings in a Grant book (either Kull or Face in the Abyss), and I love that this hobby gives me a fun way to apply my skill for remembering bits of trivia.

[The Library Policeman]

Old NEL and FUTURA paperbacks simply for nostalgia reasons. Standing as a teenager in the horror section of John Menzies News Agents looking at the King paperbacks really gave me a buzz when I was 14. Choosing one to buy was even better! Collecting these old, worthless books with the cool covers again is really pleasurable for me

[jonahwriter]

Old NEL and FUTURA paperbacks simply for nostalgia reasons. Standing as a teenager in the horror section of John Menzies News Agents looking at the King paperbacks really gave me a buzz when I was 14. Choosing one to buy was even better! Collecting these old, worthless books with the cool covers again is really pleasurable for me

I do this too! The original UK paperback of "IT", the hardback UK omnibus of Misery/The Shining/Carrie, and the UK paperback of "Gerald's Game" with the little cabin in the woods on the front and the line "Words are his power" - the editions I first read in other words as a kid and teen, massive nostalgia!

[Randall Flagg]

Most others probably don't get thrilled by them, but I really like all three editions of "Dolan's Cadillac". Though really just glorified chapbooks, I just love the covers, the paper stock, even the fonts.
I hate the S/L Gunslinger. ~$5K and it (other than 1 page) is the same as the trade.

[JasonUK]

I was so unimpressed by the signed editions of Subterranean Press' THE GREEN MILE that I sold both. The limited was nice but was way overpriced and the lettered did nothing for me - cloth bound and a tiny piece of original art - big whoop! To paraphrase Edmund Blackadder - a lettered edition not bound in leather is like a broken pencil...pointless.

[George at C-Springs]

Hello. My name is George, and I'm an addict. I'm addicted to remarques (every book should have one), proofs, and S/Ls. One of my favorite books is an ex-library edition of Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption. I write inside my trades and paperbacks every day as I'm reading them, and have done so for most of my life, they act like a diary. I don't like pre-printed autographs; I just don't see the point. The same goes for liver, brussel sprouts, okra, and collard greens.

[AKC]

The Talisman S/L....blah.

Looks like it belongs on the table at a nursing home......

[Cook]

Except for a duly notated dedicated fundraiser..... remarque's in 1st/1st trade editions feel so wrong to me.
Don't get me wrong, some are "very" nice but please save the remarque for the specialty publisher gift editions.

[becca69]

I love my personalized SK books although I know that most prefer flat signed. I'm not fond of owning paperback books (except arcs), although the art is usually cool - someday I might pick up the Bachman books but I won't be happy about it. Finally, I think the S/L Gunslinger is way overpriced for what it is. I have a 2x signed first in fine condition that I'm just as happy with.

[Frankie]

and the Dark Tower SL I want more than any other is LSOE.

One of my favorites too. The oily silver effect on the traycase is beautiful, and Whelan is a badass.

[stroppygoblin]

My pet hate is that damned (Shining/'salem's Lot/Night Shift/Carrie) omnibus edition. Why does it rate being in the 1st edition listing when no other omnibus editions get included?

[tippy4]

Except for a duly notated dedicated fundraiser..... remarque's in 1st/1st trade editions feel so wrong to me.
Don't get me wrong, some are "very" nice but please save the remarque for the specialty publisher gift editions.

I have no problems with remarques in trade editions, but for me, any remarque done in a book that was not illustrated by the artist adding the remarque is something I dislike......ok hate.

I am fine with Michael Whelan doing a remarque in a 1st trade edition of The Dark Tower, or Ned Dameron doing one in a 1st trade edition of The Waste Lands, but would hate a Bernie Wrightson Remarque in a 1st trade edition of From a Buick 8 (even if he was the illustrator of the GE and SL), or a Glenn Chadbourne remarque in a GE of Doctor Sleep. I also don't want Vincent Chong putting a remarque in my 1st edition of The Shining....but would be fine with Dave Christensen since he was the cover artist (I had to look that up....the catalog is my friend).

I don't like pre-printed autographs; I just don't see the point.

I am right there with you. I don't own a single King book with a facsimile signature (I don't count Pet Semetary, which has an embossed signature on the cover).

[Lot guy]

The signature on the cover of Pet Semetary isn't real? But the guy on Ebay assured me it was

[tippy4]

Same with the signatures in the back of my Talisman paperback.

[jonahwriter]

The only pre-printed aka facsimile autograph I like is the one in the UK "Christmas Gift" limited edition of DOLORES CLAIBORNE. I don't know, it looks more "real" - maybe because it's in blue ink on a bookplate? But yeah, don't see the point in them.

[carlosdetweiller]

I only had to give this topic about one second of thought (or less). Without a doubt my most hated S/L that some really like is Secretary of Dreams. IMO, that was a book that never needed to be published. The only other book that had less need to be published was.....wait for it.......Secretary of Dreams, Vol. 2. All the stories had been published elsewhere and the artwork......well, to me it is somewhat juvenile. I have never made it all the way through reading even one story. Honestly, IMO, it is just inane.

On the other hand I really like the Grant editions of The Talisman and Prime Evil. Not sure why they get dissed sometimes. The artwork in both really makes it for me. Lots of different artists....all with talent.

[DoctorZaius]

I really don't care for the LSOE and the WTTKW limited editions. I really would have preferred them being done in a similar size and fashion to the rest of the Dark Tower series. They just don't fit in with the rest!