In the past couple of years I've turned into something of a book collector, fantasy specifically of course.
And it's all Pete's fault.
A couple of years ago I received a package in the mail out of the blue, which turned out to be a signed and numbered hardcover copy of The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson that Pete had sent me for my birthday. It was an amazing gift, a signed and numbered copy of my favourite book by my favourite author. After that I figured, "Hell, if I have one I might as well look for more". So now I have all of Sanderson's first edition hardcovers signed. The Mistborn trilogy, Warbreaker, Elantris, all of em.
More recently I was browsing a used bookstore near my girlfriend's home, where I stumbled across both of Peter V Brett's books in first edition hardcover AND signed, plus Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss signed as well for damned sweet ass bargains. Turns out the shop owner is a convention freak, and takes all kinds of books (especially fantasy) with him to get signed by any and all authors he can find. So of course I bought them.
But now I have a dilemma. I then had the SECOND Rothfuss book signed, but not the first. So I look online for signed hardcovers of Name of the Wind. There's the same cover-art style as Wise Man's Fear, which is not the first edition, for $100 or so, then one of the two different first edition cover-art styles for, at least, $500 or so. Either one was a lot to me. $100 for a signed non-first edition (meh) or 5 times that for a signed first edition, which is much more rare and unique and awesome. A couple of days ago a signed first edition crops up on ebay for (after taxes and shipping) just under $300. A lot, but more than $200 cheaper than the next cheapest that I had found.
The Scottish blood in me could never turn down a bargain
While browsing used bookstores I also would come across hardcovers of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. Not signed, or first edition, but I don't necessarily have the same affection for it as I do others. More importantly, the first 10 books of the series I had in softcover, the three most recent in hardcover. I'm somewhat OCD when it comes to things like this, especially when it comes to books, but the fact that I had two different formats for the same series always bugged me. Further into the past I planned on just getting softcovers for the most recent books (a cheaper investment). Then I got into Sanderson, who took over for the series, and I started stumbling across hardcovers in used bookstores for not much more than a new paperback would cost. So now I've collected all but three of the Wheel of Time books in hardcover as well, with three more on the way via online.
Next in my sights is the Sword of Truth series. It's not nearly as high in my eyes as works of fiction or fantasy, but considering my history with it and the official forums it will always hold a special place in my heart. I got a hardcover of Faith of the Fallen for $2 during a booksale, and due to similar circumstances as with the Wheel of Time series, I had the final three books in hardcover already. Used bookstores, from what I've seen, tend to have a lot of his books... even the more rare cover art styles of Goodkind's earlier years. Perhaps because he's somewhat fallen from grace, or something else. Either way I'll be on the hunt to fill out that whole series in hardcover as well.
After that, probably Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen series, 10 books in all. I don't think North America ever really had his hardcovers in readily available supply - I know the bookstore I work at never carried the hardcovers, though they were available to order for $50(!)+ - but they were somewhat available with cover art more in a style I find appealing, and were more readily available in the UK with some filtration back here.
After that I'll have all the bigger series I like in at least hardcover editions, my most favourite signed as well. The hunt through small bookstores and online has become a fun hobby of mine.
Has anyone else done the same sort of thing?