Book and TV giveaway #1

[jack]

Before I move house again, I need continue getting rid of books I don't want.

1. Charity shop

Most are going to a charity shop. Any recommendations for which, if not I'll just pick whichever is most convenient?

2. Give away books I actually think you should read

The following books I recommend, but are duplicates or I don't want myself. If you want them, even a tiny bit, and you're in Cambridge, they're yours. Feel free to give them away again afterwards :)

• Cryptonomicon, Neal Stephenson. Best book ever written if you're me, full of second-world-war crypto nerds and morphine addicted sergeants standing around talking about philosophy if you're not.
  
  
• Snow Crash, Neal Stephenson. Probably the most story-like Neal Stephenson.
  
  
• Ethan of Athos, Bujold. Almost everything Bujold's written is awesome. This one is stand-aline in the same universe as Vorkosigan. About a obstetrician from a planet of men who falls in with secret agents, but very good.
  
  
• Vor Game, Bujold. Second Miles book, if you liked Warrior's Apprentice, this is the second, and also the second most space-opera-y, the later books, while even better, tend more towards characters and politics.
  
  
• Case of Need, Michael Crichton. Before Crichton got too ambitious for his own good, he wrote several books which had to be interesting. This was his first serious novel, a detailed but straightforward medical drama.
  
  
• Speaker for the Dead, Orson Scott Card. Equally good to Ender's Game in a different way. Warning: the sequels after this point get increasingly bad. If you want to read it without giving money, even second-hand, to OSC, here's your chance :)
  
  
• Grunts, Mary Gentle. Orcs get their hands on automatic weapons. Doesn't manage the good/evil reversal thing as well as I'd like, but is generally regarded as one of the best at it.
  
  
• Huck Finn, Mark Twain. Mark Twain is a genius who can make even "slavery and poverty are bad" into an entertaining story.
  
  3. Give away perfectly functional stuff I don't want any more
  
  CRT TV. Not a popular choice any more, but if anyone in Cambridge wants it, I can bring it round. If not, is anyone or anywhere likely to want this or should it go straight to the tip?
  
  Functioning ink-jet printer with a small amount of ink (I think, it may be dry). I've replaced it with a laser printer, but if you want an ink-jet, I'm happy to give it to you.

Comments

[hilarita]

I'd quite like both Stephensons, if they're not already spoken for. We may be able to effect a transfer at the pub at some point?

[gerald_duck]

Drat — beat me to it. (-8

I'll make a reserve offer to take them off jack's hands if for any reason this falls through.

[jack]

Yep, not likely, but if not you're welcome. (Have you read them? You're welcome to borrow my non-duplicate copies if you want to read them, but I assume you have, you just want your own copy.)

[jack]

Nope, that's fine. Will you be at the Carlton on Thurs? I've been too busy recently, but IIRC it's Kirsten's birthday so I'll make an effort to be there.

[hilarita]

I should be there on Thursday, barring disasters.

[jack]

Oops, something's come up, but I may try to pop in briefly.

[hilarita]

Thanks for delivering books. I shall read them shortly.

[pseudomonas]

I'd recommend Oxfam; they're experienced at selling books and price them sensibly, also I approve of their work. The Burleigh street shop has a back entrance that you can drive a car up to. You can get a gift aid code from them, you might need to do that in advance of turning up.

[ceb]

I would give the Mark Twain a good home. Should be at the pub this week...

[jack]

Are you sure? I think your to-read pile is a towering dark mass that's beginning to devour the world, and you can get this one in e-book for free. But I do like giving you books :)