Stu wrote:
I'm sure it does depend on your local postal operators, though -- my rural NZ post contractor is pretty good (and a nice guy, to boot).

Surely this is part of the problem. Disgruntled underpaid and overworked post workers in my area throw stuff around, don't knock on doors and leave packages out in the open rather than a few inches further ahead under the roof (so you know what happens if it rains). I cannot change the sociopolitical situation but I've learned to either buy second-hand and customize shipping or return to Amazon and BD several times until one copy arrives undamaged by lucky chance.

Morinehtar wrote:

Stu wrote:
I'm sure it does depend on your local postal operators, though -- my rural NZ post contractor is pretty good (and a nice guy, to boot).

Surely this is part of the problem. Disgruntled underpaid and overworked post workers in my area throw stuff around, don't knock on doors and leave packages out in the open rather than a few inches further ahead under the roof (so you know what happens if it rains). I cannot change the sociopolitical situation but I've learned to either buy second-hand and customize shipping or return to Amazon and BD several times until one copy arrives undamaged by lucky chance.

Yeah, local situation must have a huge impact. Where I am, the same guy (an independent contractor) covers our area for courier post (NZ Post), Fedex, DHL, etc. I think it makes a difference when you know your post guy to say hello to (and it is the same guy for many years). It is only one leg of the journey, but that's one less leg for things to be tossed around uncaringly.

I'm interested to get the views of anyone who has read the "official" version of Aotrou and Itroun, and also the Serbian/English version.

So far, my feeling is that the Serbian/English version is a far more enjoyable read. The HarperCollins version is - as usual with the official books - overburdened with dry padding. Do I really need a footnote to tell me what a Phial is or what Reave means? Really? Do we have to footnote commonly known words, now?

The HarperCollins release also has the Corrigan Poems, of course, so it is worth having both. If I only had to have one, it would be the Serbian edition (with its sometimes clumsy English).

One of these books is a product, and the other is a labour of love. They are both worth having, mind.

Well, the Facsimile Hobbit that I'm planning to use to make my 2nd impression turned up from Book Depository. Still marked as "I" and identical to the other first impressions. Not sure if this means that BD got more firsts in stock or if the 2nd impression didn't get a numberline change (would not be the first time)/

Did they switch printing to China?

Morinehtar wrote:
Did they switch printing to China?

Like I say, the book I receeived is identical in every respect to the first one, so it isn't clear whether it is a second print from the same printers without the "I" being changed to a "2" or if BD are still supplying from the first print run. Until anyone spies one with a "2", I don't think we will know.

Well, my replacement Aotrou and Itroun arrived from BD, and this time made it through in perfect condition. It is still a first impression, unlike Kullervo, which went to 2nd impression pretty much right away. Not sure if this implies less popularity or a larger print run.

I have three copies of AI; first two from SpeedyHen had dustjacket damage. They were really good at sending the replacements. The third copy was hand wrapped in tissue paper by one of the customer service team! :)

BH

I notice that a paperback version of Jemima Caitlin's illustrated Hobbit is coming out in September 2017, but have no idea why Amazon are calling it "The Colour Illustrated Hobbit"

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Colour-Illust ... collsguid-21&linkCode=osi

Maybe because people tend to think of paperbacks as being monochrome, so they are driving home that it is in colour? Just a guess, but can't see it being anything more than that.