rereading Lensman series using current books

[Lynn McGuire]

I am thinking about rereading the Lensman series using dead tree books.
But, I guess that I lost all of my Lensman dead tree books in the Great
Flood of 1989.

So, I found this 4 lb monster on Big River: "The LENSMAN Super Pack
(Positronic Super Pack)" by E E Doc Smith for $34.99. Pricey. Heavy.
1,182 pages in a 6 inch by 9 inch trade paperback.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/151546086X/

"Collected together in one binding for the very first time are all six
Lensman novels and the final book of Lensman short stories for 7
complete books with over eleven hundred pages and six hundred thousand
words of pulse-pounding science fiction adventure. This epic space opera
covers more than 3000 years of human evolution and their desperate fight
for freedom."

"Included are:
Triplanetary
First Lensman
Galactic Patrol
Gray Lensman
Second Stage Lensmen
Children of the Lens
The Vortex Blaster"

Any advice on procuring a new Lensman series of books in dead tree form ?

Thanks,
Lynn

[Michael F. Stemper]

I am thinking about rereading the Lensman series using dead tree books. But, I guess that I lost all of my Lensman dead tree books in the Great Flood of 1989.
So, I found this 4 lb monster on Big River: "The LENSMAN Super Pack (Positronic Super Pack)" by E E Doc Smith for $34.99.  Pricey.  Heavy. 1,182 pages in a 6 inch by 9 inch trade paperback.

Not really that expensive. Since it would normally be seven books makes it
equivalent to five bucks each.

Any advice on procuring a new Lensman series of books in dead tree form ?

Patiently frequent used book stores for several years? (Assuming that when
you say "new" you mean "new to you" rather than "not previously read".)

[Ted Nolan <tednolan>]

Post by Lynn McGuire
I am thinking about rereading the Lensman series using dead tree books.
But, I guess that I lost all of my Lensman dead tree books in the Great
Flood of 1989.
So, I found this 4 lb monster on Big River: "The LENSMAN Super Pack
(Positronic Super Pack)" by E E Doc Smith for $34.99. Pricey. Heavy.
1,182 pages in a 6 inch by 9 inch trade paperback.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/151546086X/
"Collected together in one binding for the very first time are all six
Lensman novels and the final book of Lensman short stories for 7
complete books with over eleven hundred pages and six hundred thousand
words of pulse-pounding science fiction adventure. This epic space opera
covers more than 3000 years of human evolution and their desperate fight
for freedom."
Triplanetary
First Lensman
Galactic Patrol
Gray Lensman
Second Stage Lensmen
Children of the Lens
The Vortex Blaster"
Any advice on procuring a new Lensman series of books in dead tree form ?
Thanks,
Lynn

I don't have any advice on this edition, just that it's important to get
the right version of _Triplanetary_, which is sometimes hard to tell on
Amazon. I would assume that explicitly doing a Lensman omnibus would
get it right..

If you're looking for less expensive, the old Pyramid paperbacks should
still be readily available, and if you want hardback, the SFBC did a two
volume omnibus "Chronicles Of The Lensmen" back in 1999 that is probably
available used somewhere.

[Lynn McGuire]

Post by Ted Nolan <tednolan>

Post by Lynn McGuire
I am thinking about rereading the Lensman series using dead tree books.
But, I guess that I lost all of my Lensman dead tree books in the Great
Flood of 1989.
So, I found this 4 lb monster on Big River: "The LENSMAN Super Pack
(Positronic Super Pack)" by E E Doc Smith for $34.99. Pricey. Heavy.
1,182 pages in a 6 inch by 9 inch trade paperback.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/151546086X/
"Collected together in one binding for the very first time are all six
Lensman novels and the final book of Lensman short stories for 7
complete books with over eleven hundred pages and six hundred thousand
words of pulse-pounding science fiction adventure. This epic space opera
covers more than 3000 years of human evolution and their desperate fight
for freedom."
Triplanetary
First Lensman
Galactic Patrol
Gray Lensman
Second Stage Lensmen
Children of the Lens
The Vortex Blaster"
Any advice on procuring a new Lensman series of books in dead tree form ?
Thanks,
Lynn

I don't have any advice on this edition, just that it's important to get
the right version of _Triplanetary_, which is sometimes hard to tell on
Amazon. I would assume that explicitly doing a Lensman omnibus would
get it right..
If you're looking for less expensive, the old Pyramid paperbacks should
still be readily available, and if you want hardback, the SFBC did a two
volume omnibus "Chronicles Of The Lensmen" back in 1999 that is probably
available used somewhere.

I saw the SFBC "Chronicles Of The Lensmen" on Big River. $46 and $49
for new books. 2 lbs each. $7 and $11 for used ones.

https://www.amazon.com/Chronicles-Lensmen-Triplanetary-Lensman-Galactic/dp/1568658044/

Thanks,
Lynn

[Christian Weisgerber]

Post by Ted Nolan <tednolan>
I don't have any advice on this edition, just that it's important to get
the right version of _Triplanetary_, which is sometimes hard to tell on
Amazon.

Is there more than one? I mean, has the original non-Lensman
_Triplanetary_ ever been re-published?

An omnibus re-edition of the original versions from _Galactic Patrol_
to _Children of the Lens_ would be something, because, frankly, the
added material feels just extraneous: _Triplanetary_ is a very
square peg in a round whole, _First Lensman_ is weak sauce, and
_The Vortex Blaster_ is essentially unconnected.

And, as I think Dorothy once pointed out, explaining the Arisia/Eddore
conflict right away is essentially a spoiler for the main storyline
where our heroes originally peeled the onion of evil layer by layer
without knowing where it would lead.

[Ted Nolan <tednolan>]

Post by Christian Weisgerber

Post by Ted Nolan <tednolan>
I don't have any advice on this edition, just that it's important to get
the right version of _Triplanetary_, which is sometimes hard to tell on
Amazon.

Is there more than one? I mean, has the original non-Lensman
_Triplanetary_ ever been re-published?
An omnibus re-edition of the original versions from _Galactic Patrol_
to _Children of the Lens_ would be something, because, frankly, the
added material feels just extraneous: _Triplanetary_ is a very
square peg in a round whole, _First Lensman_ is weak sauce, and
_The Vortex Blaster_ is essentially unconnected.
And, as I think Dorothy once pointed out, explaining the Arisia/Eddore
conflict right away is essentially a spoiler for the main storyline
where our heroes originally peeled the onion of evil layer by layer
without knowing where it would lead.

The magazine version of _Triplanetary_ is on Gutenberg (as is the
original _Skylark_), which means it ends up in various low-cost
ebooks on Amazon.

As an aside, just looking again, it appears pretty much *everything* is
on Gutenberg.

And just in general: Publication order is ususally the right order to
read a series in.

[Michael F. Stemper]

Post by Ted Nolan <tednolan>

Post by Christian Weisgerber
An omnibus re-edition of the original versions from _Galactic Patrol_
to _Children of the Lens_ would be something, because, frankly, the
added material feels just extraneous: _Triplanetary_ is a very
square peg in a round whole, _First Lensman_ is weak sauce, and
_The Vortex Blaster_ is essentially unconnected.
And, as I think Dorothy once pointed out, explaining the Arisia/Eddore
conflict right away is essentially a spoiler for the main storyline
where our heroes originally peeled the onion of evil layer by layer
without knowing where it would lead.

One needs to remember that she considered that a good thing.

Post by Ted Nolan <tednolan>
The magazine version of _Triplanetary_ is on Gutenberg (as is the
original _Skylark_), which means it ends up in various low-cost
ebooks on Amazon.
As an aside, just looking again, it appears pretty much *everything* is
on Gutenberg.
And just in general: Publication order is ususally the right order to
read a series in.

As long as one uses the publication date of the novel version of _Triplanetary_,
that will work. The magazine date gives different results. Of course, if you
read the magazine version, you don't encounter the spoilers.

[Paul S Person]

On Thu, 25 Apr 2024 15:55:17 -0500, Lynn McGuire

Post by Lynn McGuire
I am thinking about rereading the Lensman series using dead tree books.
But, I guess that I lost all of my Lensman dead tree books in the Great
Flood of 1989.
So, I found this 4 lb monster on Big River: "The LENSMAN Super Pack
(Positronic Super Pack)" by E E Doc Smith for $34.99. Pricey. Heavy.
1,182 pages in a 6 inch by 9 inch trade paperback.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/151546086X/

A small monster. Consider
<https://www.amazon.com/Flashpoint-Anniversary-Omnibus-Geoff-Johns/dp/1779509774/ref=sr_1_1?crid=5LGNVW1X9RP8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Lys_S-w8DoTuveGgLndzqMH0ls06OPCk2z7HHzCn2yRtHmKlAvXJscpduTL4OgQ6vo5cGKEHDMFRvj7X3p9uLa07FuBqXlVar1CFKV0Q_8gW1b6ykVmttKL4xVAP1VBWnpa1RpPLlbiEkJNW5zfM2E6E4Y4XdLVSZeogYyO93XdtViwVARPvPe-xIxz8Dk9ic0ugwP6Fg3nPY-C2HhzQpQO0KIE7Ilqzt3zE8S-LVig.sp7IgVm5yzCp7Ao6Y_qNVAPRas74fE1HcFdO0oxAAq4&dib_tag=se&keywords=flashpoint+omnibus+10th+anniversary&qid=1714146011&sprefix=flashpoint+om%2Caps%2C300&sr=8-1>
/Flashpoint: The 10th Anniversary Omnibus/. This is a hardcover, so it
costs a bit more. It also weighs in at 8 lb. That's a bigger monster.

These things appear to be coming out more now. Or maybe I'm just
noticing them more.

[Ted Nolan <tednolan>]

Post by Paul S Person
On Thu, 25 Apr 2024 15:55:17 -0500, Lynn McGuire

Post by Lynn McGuire
I am thinking about rereading the Lensman series using dead tree books.
But, I guess that I lost all of my Lensman dead tree books in the Great
Flood of 1989.
So, I found this 4 lb monster on Big River: "The LENSMAN Super Pack
(Positronic Super Pack)" by E E Doc Smith for $34.99. Pricey. Heavy.
1,182 pages in a 6 inch by 9 inch trade paperback.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/151546086X/

A small monster. Consider
<https://www.amazon.com/Flashpoint-Anniversary-Omnibus-Geoff-Johns/dp/1779509774/ref=sr_1_1?crid=5LGNVW1X9RP8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Lys_S-w8DoTuveGgLndzqMH0ls06OPCk2z7HHzCn2yRtHmKlAvXJscpduTL4OgQ6vo5cGKEHDMFRvj7X3p9uLa07FuBqXlVar1CFKV0Q_8gW1b6ykVmttKL4xVAP1VBWnpa1RpPLlbiEkJNW5zfM2E6E4Y4XdLVSZeogYyO93XdtViwVARPvPe-xIxz8Dk9ic0ugwP6Fg3nPY-C2HhzQpQO0KIE7Ilqzt3zE8S-LVig.sp7IgVm5yzCp7Ao6Y_qNVAPRas74fE1HcFdO0oxAAq4&dib_tag=se&keywords=flashpoint+omnibus+10th+anniversary&qid=1714146011&sprefix=flashpoint+om%2Caps%2C300&sr=8-1>
/Flashpoint: The 10th Anniversary Omnibus/. This is a hardcover, so it
costs a bit more. It also weighs in at 8 lb. That's a bigger monster.
These things appear to be coming out more now. Or maybe I'm just
noticing them more.

Maybe it's easier to republish when they can just source the text
from Gutenberg?

[Paul S Person]

Post by Ted Nolan <tednolan>

Post by Paul S Person
On Thu, 25 Apr 2024 15:55:17 -0500, Lynn McGuire

Post by Lynn McGuire
I am thinking about rereading the Lensman series using dead tree books.
But, I guess that I lost all of my Lensman dead tree books in the Great
Flood of 1989.
So, I found this 4 lb monster on Big River: "The LENSMAN Super Pack
(Positronic Super Pack)" by E E Doc Smith for $34.99. Pricey. Heavy.
1,182 pages in a 6 inch by 9 inch trade paperback.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/151546086X/

A small monster. Consider
<https://www.amazon.com/Flashpoint-Anniversary-Omnibus-Geoff-Johns/dp/1779509774/ref=sr_1_1?crid=5LGNVW1X9RP8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Lys_S-w8DoTuveGgLndzqMH0ls06OPCk2z7HHzCn2yRtHmKlAvXJscpduTL4OgQ6vo5cGKEHDMFRvj7X3p9uLa07FuBqXlVar1CFKV0Q_8gW1b6ykVmttKL4xVAP1VBWnpa1RpPLlbiEkJNW5zfM2E6E4Y4XdLVSZeogYyO93XdtViwVARPvPe-xIxz8Dk9ic0ugwP6Fg3nPY-C2HhzQpQO0KIE7Ilqzt3zE8S-LVig.sp7IgVm5yzCp7Ao6Y_qNVAPRas74fE1HcFdO0oxAAq4&dib_tag=se&keywords=flashpoint+omnibus+10th+anniversary&qid=1714146011&sprefix=flashpoint+om%2Caps%2C300&sr=8-1>
/Flashpoint: The 10th Anniversary Omnibus/. This is a hardcover, so it
costs a bit more. It also weighs in at 8 lb. That's a bigger monster.
These things appear to be coming out more now. Or maybe I'm just
noticing them more.

Maybe it's easier to republish when they can just source the text
from Gutenberg?

That may be, and would explain some Kindle omnibuses -- not those that
are clearly composed of other collections [1], but those composed of
individual books -- but the topic here is really heavy physical books.

I can say from experience that an 8-lb book can reasonably be
described as "hard to handle without dropping and so damaging it --
and the dust cover definitely needs to be removed while it is being
read".

[1] This can only be determined when examination of the overall table
of contents shows the same titles appearing multiple times.