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Jodes_Quenthal
Acolyte
14 Posts |
 Posted - 05 Apr 2008 : 04:59:19
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I've done a pretty extensive search for the FG novels and the following novels are extremely rare and expensive it seems.
- Easy Betrayals: Double Diamond Sage Book 8 ... currently no copies for sale on any site or ebay I could find except for one with was $90.00
- Thornhold: Songs and Swords Book 4 (not the Harpers version)... currently going for $30.00 or more on any site I could find.
- Crucible: Trial of Cyric the Mad ... the new cover version .. currently going for over $40.00 on whatever site I could find
Every other book that I know had options to buy at reasonable prices. I've had the best luck with ebay and amazon obviously with out of print books, but let me know what you think.
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May the Realms live on |
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Jamallo Kreen
Master of Realmslore
USA
1537 Posts |
Posted - 05 Apr 2008 : 07:05:45
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I'll take this bait.
The answer is: whatever is most fashionable at the moment. Places like Candlekeep help set the fashions.
Example One: I tried and tried to buy a copy of the Cloakmaster Cycle book Radiant Dragon, and Elaine finally took pity on me and sold me an extra which she had. The authored mentioned it and suddenly people were checking their bookcases and selling them.
Example Two: in part because of the rarity of Radiant Dragon, it was all but impossible to buy a complete set. After I had mine assembled (and a motley assortment they are!), I posted a scroll on which I gave notice of a full set for sale. It sold for a good price and then more and more sellers began offering them until I stopped bother posting them -- the super-rare set of a year ago was now being offered a couple of times a month.
Example Three: the Double Diamond series. Sometimes complete sets will appear on eBay and sell for next to nothing; then, should some noted sage here mention them, the next set offered may sell for three or four times what the last-sold set just did.
The best thing about eBay is that you may find a hard-to-obtain book for next-to-nothing because the seller put it in the wrong category, mis-spelled the title, or just didn't hype it enough. (Or sold it with an auction date ending on a three-day weekend or a major holiday, when people aren't glued to their computer screens.) The other good thing about eBay is that if you are sufficiently patient, you may outlast a seller who has priced a book for more than you are willing to pay. Example Four: a surprisingly rare book is Mel Odom's Under Fallen Stars, Threat from the Sea #2. I read the first book, loved it, bought the third one and the anthology, and could not find the second one anywhere. Finally ONE seller offered a couple of copies for more than I was willing to pay. I watched that book like a hawk, and the price never came down. After three months I made a counter-offer and the seller accepted, figuring that a sale in the hand is better than a never-ending series of eBay relisting fees.
The best thing about Amazon is that one page may list ALL of the available editions of a book, and they can be crazy mad all over the place if there are many sellers. (I just bought a paperback edition of what one would think would be an expensive, scholarly tome. Cost to me? Thirteen cents plus three ninety-nine shipping because I bought the American paperback instead of the British hardback!)
The last three Double Diamond books are very expensive on Amazon. But guess what? If you search eBay carefully, you may find a copy being sold in Australia for next-to-nothing (but with high postage -- and don't even think about buying a book mailed from the UK!). Amazing bargains may be had by searching foreign Amazon sites (e.g., .uk, .fr, .dk, etc.). American servicemen bring ENORMOUS quantities of paperback books with them all over the world. Amazon.dk may have a glut of "rare" books because it was popular at Ramstein Air Base. A book dealer I once knew gave his landlord a list of rare paperbacks to look for when he went to southeast Asia, promising to split the profits of any books brought back and sold. The landlord shipped home CARTONS of books dating back as far as WWII, and whole series of American paperbacks published during the Vietnam War which are usually available only as shabby copies in the USA which were obviously once the property of hippies, but which, having been ex-PX books in Asia, were in near mint condition after twenty or thirty years! The lanlord's cut of the book sales completely paid for his trip to Asia, making any other profits he made on land deals just so much gravy.
D&D is extremely popular in the Armed Forces. If you want to get that last Double Diamond novel, cultivate a friendship with a bookseller in Kuwait or Qatar or Manilla -- they've probably got dozens of copies sitting around. 
By the way, now that I've mention the Threat from the Sea series, watch it pop up all over eBay!
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I have a mouth, but I am in a library and must not scream.
Feed the poor and stroke your ego, too: http://www.freerice.com/index.php.
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Nimriel
Seeker
Sweden
51 Posts |
Posted - 05 Apr 2008 : 09:55:23
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| I actually found Under A Fallen Stars in an swedish used bookstore. And to think I'm always complaining about how hard it is to find out of print books here in the savage frontier. |
Edited by - Nimriel on 05 Apr 2008 09:58:06 |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 05 Apr 2008 : 15:58:51
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quote:
Originally posted by Jodes_Quenthal
I've done a pretty extensive search for the FG novels and the following novels are extremely rare and expensive it seems.
- Easy Betrayals: Double Diamond Sage Book 8 ... currently no copies for sale on any site or ebay I could find except for one with was $90.00
- Thornhold: Songs and Swords Book 4 (not the Harpers version)... currently going for $30.00 or more on any site I could find.
- Crucible: Trial of Cyric the Mad ... the new cover version .. currently going for over $40.00 on whatever site I could find
Every other book that I know had options to buy at reasonable prices. I've had the best luck with ebay and amazon obviously with out of print books, but let me know what you think.
I've recently acquired all of those books for much less than you list. I used to have maybe 90% of the Realms novels, mostly acquired as they were coming out. But then I lost them all to a fire, so I'm now having to rebuild the collection.
I found the entire Double Diamond Triangle Saga on eBay, for about $40, including shipping and handling.
Thornhold I think I gave about $10-15 for. I recently acquired a second, mint copy, so the first one is going to my brother-in-law. I've been working on getting him more into the Realms by giving him books by some of my fave authors, like Elaine Cunningham and the duo of Jeff Grubb and Kate Novak.
Crucible I found in a lot of novels; I think I gave $10-15 for the lot.
Patience is the key when shopping on eBay. I've tried off and on for years to get the Double Diamond books, but they usually went way too high. I lucked out with them this time. One of the books was damaged, but I replaced it by itself for about $4.
The Netheril trilogy is another that seems had to get. But I recently nailed an auction for them -- $17 with shipping and handling, and the books are in mint condition!
I did have a bit of a hard time locating two particular novels, but it was an odd case. I was searching for the original printings, and not the later ones. Spellfire was a novel that underwent some changes after its release, and I was wanting the original version. Crystal Shard had a minor tweak to it done after the Dark Elf trilogy came out; Drizzt was originally over 200, but they changed that when the prequels came out. I'd originally had the version that said he was over 200, so I wanted that one again. The problem wasn't as much the rarity of the books as it was the fact that the newer printings are easier to find, and it's rare for someone to mention in the auction what edition the book is.
The Threat From the Sea trilogy is proving difficult for me to locate, but I'm sure I'll get my hands on it sooner or later.
And then, once I've rebuilt the collection of Realms novels, I get to do the same thing with all the BattleTech novels! 
One thing to look for is novel lots. Many eBay sellers will post anywhere from a handful to 20 or more books in one listing, and sometimes there're some hard to find ones in the lot. I managed to get nearly all (if not all; I've not checked) of the Dark Sun novels by buying a couple of mixed lots of novels.
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Jodes_Quenthal
Acolyte
14 Posts |
Posted - 05 Apr 2008 : 16:53:30
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| Yea, patience seems to be the best advice on amazon or ebay. If you really want a certain book and it's selling too high I like the idea of waiting it out and sending a counter-offer. You really have nothing to lose. Thanks. |
May the Realms live on |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 05 Apr 2008 : 18:05:01
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
And then, once I've rebuilt the collection of Realms novels, I get to do the same thing with all the BattleTech novels!
You might want to look over nobleknight.com when you move onto replacing the older BT novels. They've still got a wide selection of [second-hand] novels in stock for reasonably low prices. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 05 Apr 2008 : 18:40:10
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
And then, once I've rebuilt the collection of Realms novels, I get to do the same thing with all the BattleTech novels!
You might want to look over nobleknight.com when you move onto replacing the older BT novels. They've still got a wide selection of [second-hand] novels in stock for reasonably low prices.
I will definitely keep that in mind. Thus far, I've only replaced the Jade Phoenix trilogy and one or two favorites, like Wolf Pack (That book is why I like the Dragoons!  ). |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2008 : 01:11:23
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It's funny, but most of the FR novels mentioned in this scroll as rare, are books I frequently see on the shelves of my NSFAHLGS. In fact, I've never had much of a problem picking up rare FR books. I can usually almost always find them either somewhere here in Australia, or through online sites like nobleknight.com.
I do have a particular problem finding DRAGONLANCE novels though. At the moment, I'm trying desperately to find copies of the books of the "Dwarven Nations" trilogy to replace my damaged copies. I really wish WotC would re-print them, as it did the books of the "Elven Nations" trilogy.
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Jamallo Kreen
Master of Realmslore
USA
1537 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2008 : 01:37:12
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-OR- You may want to look on eBay NOW. Apropos of my fashion comment, a day after this scroll was started, a complete set of nine Double Diamond books was placed on sale for $25.00!
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I have a mouth, but I am in a library and must not scream.
Feed the poor and stroke your ego, too: http://www.freerice.com/index.php.
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2008 : 09:51:08
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
I do have a particular problem finding DRAGONLANCE novels though. At the moment, I'm trying desperately to find copies of the books of the "Dwarven Nations" trilogy to replace my damaged copies. I really wish WotC would re-print them, as it did the books of the "Elven Nations" trilogy.
Number two and three of these are at the top of my list to. I have gotten hold of almost every other TSR published Dragonlance book, except those two. Irritating to, as Parkinson is the Dragonlance author I enjoy the most. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2008 : 15:37:26
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I used to have the first five Dragonlance trilogies, plus a bunch of scattered novels from other trilogies. When I bailed on the setting, I gave up on acquiring DL novels.
Now I have the Chronicles and the Legends, and I only intend to replace the rest of the Weis-Hickman books. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2008 : 16:40:26
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quote:
Originally posted by Jorkens
Number two and three of these are at the top of my list to. I have gotten hold of almost every other TSR published Dragonlance book, except those two. Irritating to, as Parkinson is the Dragonlance author I enjoy the most.
Heh. My copies were damaged when the Lady K and I moved into our apartment. Since then, they been slowly falling apart, held together with nothing more than string and rubber bands to prevent the pages from slipping out. They really are a miserable sight!  |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6666 Posts |
Posted - 07 Apr 2008 : 00:00:54
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The rarest FR novel would have to be the unpublished "Shores of Dusk" by Mark Anthony - the Drizzt novel that never was.
-- George Krashos
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"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
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Mace Hammerhand
Great Reader
Germany
2296 Posts |
Posted - 07 Apr 2008 : 00:45:38
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quote:
Originally posted by George Krashos
The rarest FR novel would have to be the unpublished "Shores of Dusk" by Mark Anthony - the Drizzt novel that never was.
-- George Krashos
And a shame that is too, cuz I liked "Fires of Narbondel" |
Mace's not so gentle gamer's journal My rants were harmless compared to this, beware! |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 07 Apr 2008 : 01:50:46
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
And then, once I've rebuilt the collection of Realms novels, I get to do the same thing with all the BattleTech novels!
You might want to look over nobleknight.com when you move onto replacing the older BT novels. They've still got a wide selection of [second-hand] novels in stock for reasonably low prices.
Seconded. The prices in the OP are ridiculous.
But who am I to talk? I once paid over $100 for a...no, nevermind, I won't say. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 07 Apr 2008 : 12:04:20
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quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
But who am I to talk? I once paid over $100 for a...no, nevermind, I won't say.
Not even if I say please? |
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Alisttair
Great Reader
Canada
3054 Posts |
Posted - 07 Apr 2008 : 13:28:36
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| Don't get me started on adventure book prices....("hint hint" Bloodstone "hint") |
Karsite Arcanar (Most Holy Servant of Karsus)
Anauria - Survivor State of Netheril as penned by me:
http://www.dmsguild.com/m/product/172023 |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 07 Apr 2008 : 15:28:32
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quote:
Originally posted by Jorkens
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
But who am I to talk? I once paid over $100 for a...no, nevermind, I won't say.
Not even if I say please?
Awww...
Nah...it's pretty shameful, even if I don't regret it. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
Edited by - Rinonalyrna Fathomlin on 07 Apr 2008 15:29:12 |
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Kajehase
Great Reader
Sweden
2104 Posts |
Posted - 07 Apr 2008 : 15:34:37
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quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
quote:
Originally posted by Jorkens
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
But who am I to talk? I once paid over $100 for a...no, nevermind, I won't say.
Not even if I say please?
Awww...
Nah...it's pretty shameful, even if I don't regret it.
Bah, you're a girl, so the answer is easy. It has to be: A Pair of Shoes. |
There is a rumour going around that I have found god. I think is unlikely because I have enough difficulty finding my keys, and there is empirical evidence that they exist.
Terry Pratchett |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 07 Apr 2008 : 16:11:52
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quote:
Originally posted by Kajehase
Bah, you're a girl, so the answer is easy. It has to be: A Pair of Shoes.
You're on the right track, but no--it was something even more frivolous. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
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Jamallo Kreen
Master of Realmslore
USA
1537 Posts |
Posted - 16 Apr 2008 : 20:39:26
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To venture a little off-topic, I would say that the rarest D&D rules book would have to be an AD&D Oriental Adventures with all of the pages still in place with the original binding. Every copy which I have ever seen fell apart shortly after it began to be used. How badly bound were they? An eBay seller sent me a copy as a bonus gift this month and at least thity pages had already come loose. Good book; wretched binding. But I have digressed: your question was about novels. The Sage having mentioned the condition of his books, I would like to know if there is any Realms (or even D&D) novel which is notorious for falling apart, so that an intact copy would be especially valuable? As a non-Realms example, I offer up Trevanian's Shibumi in paperback, every copy of which I have ever owned has fallen apart, and not just from reading. What Realms novels notoriously break apart when read, so much so that even "good" copies rare?
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I have a mouth, but I am in a library and must not scream.
Feed the poor and stroke your ego, too: http://www.freerice.com/index.php.
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 16 Apr 2008 : 20:46:33
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| Well, that's good news; I have a copy of Oriental adventures in more or less perfect condition. Not selling it though. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 16 Apr 2008 : 22:54:50
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I had a copy of that book, in new condition. I got it from TSR's Mail Order Hobby Shop, back in the day. I didn't even have a single loose page.
Unfortunately, that was one of the many volumes of game stuff lost in the fire. I've not gotten around to replacing that one yet.
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 17 Apr 2008 : 01:38:50
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quote:
Originally posted by Jamallo Kreen
But I have digressed: your question was about novels. The Sage having mentioned the condition of his books, I would like to know if there is any Realms (or even D&D) novel which is notorious for falling apart, so that an intact copy would be especially valuable? As a non-Realms example, I offer up Trevanian's Shibumi in paperback, every copy of which I have ever owned has fallen apart, and not just from reading. What Realms novels notoriously break apart when read, so much so that even "good" copies rare?
My copies of Realms of Valor and Elminster: The Making of a Mage [softcover] have slowly been falling apart. The former due to age, and the latter due, mostly, to the fact that I read it time and again after its initial release. I really haven't had much problem with all the other FR novels.
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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SirUrza
Master of Realmslore
USA
1283 Posts |
Posted - 24 Apr 2008 : 05:25:36
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The original hardcover (non-bookclub) version of Cleric's Quintet Collector's Edition has no equal.
$150-$300
That's a copy in good condition with it's cover mind you.
http://product.half.ebay.com/_W0QQprZ174450QQcpidZ252389
The original Black Wolf used to be a retarded price, the reprinting of it has killed it's value though. |
"Evil prevails when good men fail to act."
The original and unapologetic Arilyn, Aribeth, Seoni Fanboy. |
Edited by - SirUrza on 24 Apr 2008 05:30:26 |
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SirUrza
Master of Realmslore
USA
1283 Posts |
Posted - 24 Apr 2008 : 05:28:52
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quote:
Spellfire was a novel that underwent some changes after its release, and I was wanting the original version. Crystal Shard had a minor tweak to it done after the Dark Elf trilogy came out; Drizzt was originally over 200, but they changed that when the prequels came out. I'd originally had the version that said he was over 200, so I wanted that one again. The problem wasn't as much the rarity of the books as it was the fact that the newer printings are easier to find, and it's rare for someone to mention in the auction what edition the book is.
I have the originals of both, the later versions, and the newest versions. Hehe.
www.alibris.com for all your out of print needs. :)
www.half.com is a good way to get books. Put in the book (or the ISBN of the version you want) tell it how much you want to pay, and it will email you when something comes up. It's part of ebay AND independant as well. |
"Evil prevails when good men fail to act."
The original and unapologetic Arilyn, Aribeth, Seoni Fanboy. |
Edited by - SirUrza on 24 Apr 2008 05:34:08 |
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Jodes_Quenthal
Acolyte
14 Posts |
Posted - 25 Apr 2008 : 04:53:35
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| Honestly I suggest you guys to try out www.amazon.com. It's simple and most people know about it, but some of the books listed that people are struggling to find at good prices are selling on it for next to nothing. Someone mentioned the Dwarven Nations trilogy being really hard to find. Amazon.com has each book in the trilogy selling for under 3 dollars as 'very good' to 'like new'. |
May the Realms live on |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 25 Apr 2008 : 07:10:21
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quote:
Originally posted by Jodes_Quenthal
Someone mentioned the Dwarven Nations trilogy being really hard to find. Amazon.com has each book in the trilogy selling for under 3 dollars as 'very good' to 'like new'
Aye, I've see it. Unfortunately, the cost of shipping those books to Australia is more than I can afford at the moment.
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
Edited by - The Sage on 25 Apr 2008 07:10:50 |
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 25 Apr 2008 : 08:18:23
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Jodes_Quenthal
Someone mentioned the Dwarven Nations trilogy being really hard to find. Amazon.com has each book in the trilogy selling for under 3 dollars as 'very good' to 'like new'
Aye, I've see it. Unfortunately, the cost of shipping those books to Australia is more than I can afford at the moment.
Same problem here. I wonder why that series was never reprinted along with most of the other old Dragonlance books.
Just curious, why did Black Wolf go for so much more than other realms books published in the same period? Its not all that interesting and the couple of gaming shops I have actually set my foot in the last ten years have usually carried a copy or two. |
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Xysma
Master of Realmslore
USA
1089 Posts |
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What is the rarest and most expensive FR novel?
