Odds and ends moving toward end of odd day

[kinzel]

OH right... The real world.

I've been catching up on things so slowly I'm falling behind.

See me point to the water in the basement for this -- for the first time in about 5 years the basement floor went from dampish to puddles. I *did so* bring the books into the house and put them all downstairs...into the basement. They are on risers and pallets, of course, but having to walk around the wet spots makes packing outgoing SRM and PIN trip-support orders that much harder.

Speaking of SRM, my eyes are sometimes bigger than they should be. While bopping about the Meisha Merlin warehouse I kept seeing all the boxes of books I thought I might have room for. Books not our own. Books people would love to buy, if only they could get their hands on them.

Particularly sirenic were several cases of Hellspark by Janet Kagan. If you've been around us when we've talked about books for writers... you've heard us mention Hellspark. If you've been around us when we talked about books we have more than one of, you've heard us mention Hellspark... and so, when the rental truck developed an odd little empty spot, just *there* as boxes went in, it was no doubt destined that several cases of Hellspark should fit therein. As far as I can determine, they may be the last such books in captivity. As time permits (see catching up slowly, above) these books may make it to the SRM catalog. That is, unless enough people tell me ahead of time that *they* want copies of Hellspark.

In passing, odd notes from the trip. Rather than hope I'll recall them later and expand each into the proper size and space, I'll throw them out now...

About AMTRAK -- I find much to like about AMTRAK, which served me well this trip. However, if anyone cares, I think it appalling that on the Boston to Washington portion of the trip AMTRAK's corps of canteen dining stocks very expensive pastries for consumption by passengers. I was wondering why *so* expensive after I purchased one... until I saw that the item in question was admitted to contain three portions... Does no one sell single portion pastries betwen Boston and DC?

Driving back I was thankful for sound that was not the truck-on-seams sound made famous by vans. Luckily, the Budgetmobile had a radio and so kudos to WJZZ as well as WROQ which gave me early assistance in the trip. Also, the stations of Virginia Public Broadcasting and Maryland Public Broadcasting, and toward the end of the trip, I depended on I-95 Classic Hits ...and who knew so many radio stations call themselves the same thing?

Gas on the trip was... expensive, varying between $2.67 (one lucky fill-up) and $2.98 a gallon. Me, I am not one to like a $50 fill-up.

Meanwhile, since I traveled coach-class on the Boston-Washington portion of the AMTRAK run, I found myself needing to invent something for entertainment since the kids running up and down the aisle 4 times an hour, each time with an different snack in hand, were not much amusement. Very early in the trip I saw a deer stand in the woods.

Wait. That's not a deer in the woods, standing. No, nor was it a shop where one would buy a deer. It was not a pose or movement meant to recall a deer, as say crane might recall a crane, or a swan a dive, but not a bar... So I made a list of "stand" related questions while avoiding watching the kids run through junk food like it was going out of style.

Do you shoot dogs from a hot stand? Which Christmas tree stand do you think of -- the one that sells or the one that holds the tree? Would a one night lay be more comfortable than a one night stand? is a home stand related to a one night stand? Would a squid buy ink? A pipe stand and a stand pipe are related by what? Do standing committees engage in one night stands? Where did I see Custard's Last Stand, anyway?

Anyhow, words are words, and sometimes they can keep you from going stir crazy.

Comments

[patchwork-prose.livejournal.com]

Oh, I do SO want a couple copies of Hellspark! How do I go about getting my hands on them?

Sympathies on the water in the basement. Been eight years since that happened to us. Lost several boxes worth of SF books, though, last time it did. Water started pouring in just about the time the electricity went out (no sump pump?). :sigh:

[havocthecat]

I already own Hellspark. I adore Hellspark. I take very good care of it. Very, very good care of it.

There really was no point to this comment, except for my desire to glee over the fact that Hellspark is a seriously rocking novel.

[magda-vogelsang.livejournal.com]

I'd love a copy of Hellspark.

[magda-vogelsang.livejournal.com]

In fact, if I could get it by May 5th I'd like a second copy to give as a birthday present to the friend who gave me PIN for my birthday several years ago.

[paw3pals.livejournal.com]

I also would appreciate a new copy of Hellspark. My original is falling apart.

Glad to see you're caught up enough from your trip to be falling behind.

[orlacarey.livejournal.com]

How much is Hellspark? And what do I need to do to get a copy? I've never heard of it before but I'm willing to go on your recommendation.

[(Anonymous)]

http://www.korval.com/hellspark.htm

[klingonguy.livejournal.com]

Speak to me of Hellspark.

is this a hardbound edition? what printing? what price?

Speak, I pray thee.

[oneminutemonkey.livejournal.com]

I too am intrigued by what you say, good sir. Do go on. This "Hellspark" may be the thing I have always desired yet never been able to vocalize.

Or it could be a really good book.

Either way, it sounds like you've aroused interest.

[kinzel.livejournal.com]

Hellspark ...

well, the list price is $12; since it's a first printing from 1998 i guess we'll go with that price till they're gone. I think I have around 50 copies.

[elektra.livejournal.com]

Put me down for a copy of Hellspark. Janet Kagan is a favorite.

Single portion?

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

I suspect that they consider the average serving for an American to be three portions. Just supersize it.

[star-gazersusan.livejournal.com]

This I have experience with; having lived in a damp basement for far too long. If the basement is going to be damp for any extended length of time. You're going to want to move those boxes out or much much higher. Even on a pallet the damp will just seep in as if you left it in a pudlle. Trust me - I know.

[kinzel.livejournal.com]

The basement has ... a working drain in one corner, a dehumidifier going full blast, and the heat up; after all we've just been through the equivalent of hurricane. Generally this is a dry basement... it merely takes a Nor'easter right at the end of snow melt season to dampen things for a bit. We'll be OK RSN.

[trolleypup.livejournal.com]

Hellspark! Whee! Another one of my "pusher books"...which is pretty twisted since there isn't much of anywhere for the new reader to go.

Put me down for 1-4 as is available.

[morgie.livejournal.com]

What everyone one else has pretty much said. *beam*

[patknuth.livejournal.com]

Years ago (about 1989), a women at a trade-a-book store told me I would really like Hellspark, and she was right. That very worn copy went into the box of books I mailed to Germany to keep me company while I was waiting for my household goods to arrive. I have one copy of the trade paperback, but I'd like to buy another copy - or maybe even 2. Wouldn't want them to get damp in the basement.

p.s. I checked spelling during preview and got these suggestions for Hellspark
Hell spark, Hell-spark, Hells park, Hells-park, Helsinki, Flyspeck, Holistic

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

Most of those make some kind of sense, but Flyspeck? I suppose it does have sp and k in it, but that's quite a typo.

[keristor.livejournal.com]

I have one signed copy of Hellspark trade paperback, but I'd love another as a "reading copy" (and possibly to loan out).

Here in the UK petrol (unleaded gasoline) is around US$6.90 per US gallon at present (91p per litre), diesel around 20 cents higher. If I fill up my tank it comes to almost 50 pounds, that's close to $100. Of course, we aren't driving such a long way (we run out of land after 600 miles or so)...

[kinzel.livejournal.com]

Well... what can I say ... the truck mileage was 1481 miles; they'd "allowed me" 1487 on the trip. I've driven on longer trips, just not in a rented truck sucking ghastly ghobs of ghasoline.

I think I pushed the distance envelope a bit because they would have had me going absolute shortest superhighway route... and me, I avoid driving through New York City, and I avoid driving around/through the so-called "mixing bowl" in the Virginia/DC area. Did I mention they would have charged me 78 cents a mile per mile over the "allowed" distance? Gorblimey.

My trip took me through some lovely countryside and up several mountains; in one lovely spot I could see a vista dozen of miles wide unfolding almost below me as the crosswinds shook the truck and tried to persuade it to the side of the expressway closest to the vista. All in all, a good drive -- the one day I got in 732 miles, in a series of fwoops rather than in one swell. IIRC.

[orlacarey.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I just placed two orders (going to two different addresses).