(no subject)

[mari4212]

This question popped into my head last night, but I was headed for bed and I decided that sleep was more important than posing it to my flist immediately.

If your favorite author (living, dead, returned from the dead as a zombie) was coming into town, and you could get any three pieces of their work signed by them, who would the author be, and what works would you choose?

Me, I'd go with Mercedes Lackey, and I'd choose three books that I already own: Arrow's Fall, (I've read this book until it was falling apart, and the spine is held together by a piece of medical tape. Yes it is that good.) Storm Warning, (because Karal + Suncats = love) and The Fairy Godmother (one of the best twists on the fairy tale ever).

Comments

[moosewizard.livejournal.com]

omg! Stephen King's The Stand and The Talisman -- which which he collaborated with Peter Straub. O_O;

[mari4212.livejournal.com]

Interesting. I've never really gotten into Stephen King, although I know he's a great writer.

[silverbirch29.livejournal.com]

Hard choice, but I'd have to go with Terry Pratchett as my all-time favourite author.

As for books? Hmmm. The Colour of Magic, Mort and maybe Carpe Jugulum as my third.

[mari4212.livejournal.com]

Terry Pratchett is awesome, and definitely high up there on my list of authors to meet.

If I were doing this with him, I'd pick Hogsfather, Night Watch, and Interesting Times.

[hermionesviolin.livejournal.com]

Am I the only person in existence who has no real interest in having stuff signed?

[mari4212.livejournal.com]

I don't really care one way or another, normally. But I do think of it as a connection to the author, because if you're there while they sign it, you have a chance to babble about how much you liked their work. It's not so much about the signature for me.

[hermionesviolin.livejournal.com]

Yeah, as I was commenting I was thinking, "Well it would be kind of cool to have something signed, 'cause it's a tangible reminder/proof of meeting the person, but . . . ." I'm for the most part not object-oriented, so I'd rather have a real experience than a 5-second interaction in which I come away with an ink scrawl.

[mari4212.livejournal.com]

See, if my favorite author came through town and sat down and talked with me, I have a feeling I'd end up babbling insanely for a while. If I could get beyond that, I'd definitely prefer the meaningful experience.

The other thing is that in a way, I've already had a meaningful experience with the author. I've read her books, and interacted with them. While not everything in the books coincides exactly with her opinions and ideas, her personality inevitably shines through in what she's written. The book signing then becomes a tangible reminder of that interaction, and the books I choose to have signed reflect back on my experiences, say something to her about me.

[hermionesviolin.livejournal.com]

I'm such a control freak that I imagine I would have planned out just what to say like a billion times. I'm honestly not sure what I would say to an author, though. And I think this in part goes back to what you said about the books themselves being an experience/interaction.

Ooh, I like the idea of saying something to an author about that interaction based on which works you want their physical mark on. I can totally see being an author and being really interested to se which works (assuming one is prolific) people choose to have you sign.

[writtenwings.livejournal.com]

For now I'll go with Orson Scott Card -- Ender's Game, Ender's Shadow, and any one of the other books following Ender's Game.

If I'd read three of George R.R. Martin's books, I'd pick him, but I'm working on my second there -blush- I took a huge break in the middle and I've only just picked A Clash of Kings back up.

[mari4212.livejournal.com]

The scary thing is, my copy of Ender's Game is signed by him. A friend of mine got it signed for me when he was in town and I had a dance practice that I could not miss. He's a fun speaker to listen to, something I learned the next time he was in town.

[writtenwings.livejournal.com]

Holy crap. -isjealous- I so need to get out more. The most interesting thing I've done is go to the Renaissance Fair. Not in costume, either. x_x;

[mari4212.livejournal.com]

Ren faires are more fun in costume, believe me.

It wasn't so much adventure, as it was the fact that my bookstore back home is pretty big, and it's got a place for authors to come and talk whenever they come through town on a book-signing tour. Orson Scott Card's come through a few times in the past four years, and I know Tamora Pierce has been there once, but that's about it as far as authors that I know and enjoy.

Actually, the first time OSC came through, I was very upset. It was the dress rehearsal for a dance that I had to do, and I knew I wasn't going to be able to go see him. So one of my best friends went, and she got her copy of Ender's Game signed, knowing that she was going to give it to me.

[writtenwings.livejournal.com]

That was very sweet of her ^_^ And I like Tamora Pierce, as well @_@ I want your bookstore XD

Actually, the national book fair or whatever is in DC very near where I live. George R.R. Martin was at the last one, but I didn't get to go... we don't go into DC for stuff like that often. No parking and my parents don't trust the metro buses. Heh.

So, do you do the Ren fairs every year? Just visit, or do you work there sometimes? I want to work in one someday XD

[mari4212.livejournal.com]

I just visit, although I've been told I'd be an excellent tavern wench.

I love my bookstore.

[ljmckay.livejournal.com]

Wow, just one? That's tough...

I'd probably have to go with Terry Pratchett. Hogfather, Night Watch (which I'm only just now reading!), and...Maskerade. One from each of the major mini-series.

Of course, Madeleine L'Engle would be phenomenal as well. A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Dragons in the Waters, and maybe A Ring of Endless Light? Or Arm of the Starfish.

This is too hard! ;)

[mari4212.livejournal.com]

We really are twins. *points upwards where she just picked out two of the same books for Pratchett, and nearly chose Maskerade as well*

Madeline L'Engle would be wonderful as well, though I'd probably add in one of her nonfiction reflections as well.

[ljmckay.livejournal.com]

:D It's far too hard to choose with Pratchett. I'd really want all of them signed! (I'd love to have all of them, period, really, but signed would just floor me.) The thing about Maskerade, for me, is that it's a Witches book featuring the Watch. And, really, Phantom. It rocks.

Ooh, yes! I read a couple of her Genesis devotionals. Great stuff. She is just amazing. Another one it's impossible to choose for. Because, really, I'd want the whole Time Quartet signed, as well as a couple of my better-liked Austin books.

[mari4212.livejournal.com]

The Genesis devotionals were the ones I was thinking about, actually. A friend of mine lent me his copies before I went away to college last year. In a way it was like reading two texts at once, because he'd highlighted and underlined and made comments in the margins.

I love Maskerade, but there's also the fact that Interesting Times features some truly great bits, parts that won my heart. And anything that has the Librarian in it is of the good.

Actually, I just thought of it, but I'd love to get The Last Hero signed. Come on, that book, with Death petting the kitten?

[ljmckay.livejournal.com]

Oh, cool. I love reading marked-up books, even though I can't ever bring myself to mark one up myself, because they tell you so much about the previous owner. If you know them, it's really neat; if you don't, it's like figuring them out -- like people-watching.

Interesting Times was cool. The Silver Horde always cracks me up. And as far as international stories, I love Jingo, too. The different Dibblers are hilarious.

Ooh, yeah! Hehe. The illustrated ones are so cool. Have you read "Where's My Cow?" I found it at B&N and laughed my head off.

[mari4212.livejournal.com]

I have! I was mall-wandering with a friend and I saw it. I sat down and read it all there. Too perfect. *snuggles baby!Sam*

[ljmckay.livejournal.com]

Yes, baby!Sam is too cute. (It keeps throwing me, in Night Watch, when he refers to "Young Sam".) I love the bit in Thud! where he knows Daddy's "reading" to him, even though he's miles away. Tugs at your heartstrings, that does.

"It says 'Millennium Hand and Shrimp!' It is Foul Ol' Ron! That is not my daddy!" :D