/lit/ - Literature

>How does /li/ choose the editions of their favourite books?
I do most of my reading digitally (pirating ebooks so I don't have to spend money on them), but I get physical editions of books I really like, books I use for reference/re-read over and over, or books that have lots of footnotes/pictures that don't render well on an e-ink reader. I try to buy nicer hardcovers, mainly because they last longer and look nice on a shelf, and I also try to get editions that combine several stories or works into one, mostly just to save space. I really love the Library of America editions because of these two reasons

>Yes, I am aware LOTR would not be worthy for /lit/
This is stupid; anybody who doesn't believe that LOTR qualifies as literature is a pretentious faggot who doesn't read and is using the word "literature" incorrectly
The thing about LOTR is that the never editions are better because the first several printings and editions were full of errors (even editions as late as 2003 had errors: off the top of my head, my paperback 2003 edition had several errors, mostly smaller things like Gandalf saying "Ah's well yes?" instead of "All's well, yes?" and missing quotation marks. If you're going to buy a nice hardcover edition, I'd recommend getting something more recent; I know the black paperbacks were revised and published in 2012, and the Reader's Companion set was in 2014; I'm not sure what other more recent editions exist though

>>19025392
>LOTR would not be worthy for /lit/
Your personality is bad. Weirdly preemptively trying to avoid being shit on, trying to fit in but not knowing that everyone likes LOTR. Why did you write your post like that? Would you get an edition you don't like if everyone suggested it? You are a dishonest person.

I actually ordered pic related at least the one coming out in october
I'll do an unboxing when I get it

Anything with Alan Lee on the cover

>>19025392
i bet you order your books by color too, fucking woman

>>19025535
Good answer.

>>19025392
What's your budget? Do you want an all in one edition? Who's your favorite artist?
It's not that difficult.

>>19025392
I always chose the free public domain version for Kindle

I was at the value village today and they had a hard cover o divine comedy and a nicer don quixote than my shitty one, and it took everything in me not to go full on consoomer and buy them. only reason i didnt was because im too poor to buy shit

anyone else know that feel? its probably the only benefit of buying new, because you can get a nice edition that you like rather than gambling with a thrift shop

im wondering if i should have gotten the divine comedy because im extremely suspicious of my copy because its only 250 pages long and end every other edition i see is large

>not buying multiple editions

ngmi

>>19025590
Yes, I do fuck women. How could you tell

>>19025435
>>19025440
>this is your mind on YA

>>19025895
based af

>>19025472
I was planning on pre-ordering myself and now I'm not so sure. What made you choose it? I have been told the paper/binding is probably not good quality, as in the latter prints of the newer books from Harper Collins.

>>19025535
I personally prefer the original Tolkien drawings and apparently this one has them:
"This one-volume hardback edition contains the complete text, fully corrected and reset, which is printed in red and black and features, for the very first time, thirty colour illustrations, maps and sketches drawn by Tolkien himself as he composed this epic work. These include the pages from the Book of Mazarbul, marvellous facsimiles created by Tolkien to accompany the famous ‘Bridge of Khazad-dum’ chapter. Also appearing are two removable fold-out maps drawn by Christopher Tolkien revealing all the detail of Middle-earth".

>>19025858
I feel your pain

>>19025895
Ngggggh. As far as I know, the best edition (regarding binding/paper/overall quality) is the Folio Society one you have over there (of the "normal" editions one can get, being around the ultra-deluxe-rare-hand-made-in-first-born-skin editions is difficult to make a review)

>>19025628
Tolkien himself, which why I picked this one with his art.
I'd rather have various volumes for reading even though one volume "looks nicer", which is a con in this one (also Tolkien had art for the three volumes, I seem to remember, a three volume-edition could feature those different covers) but a single volume, if the quality of the binding/paper is not good enough, could be even worse.
My budget is set around getting this edition and not the deluxe one which is around twice as much and the differences are not clear besides looks and a slipcase.

>>19025392
This one

>>19025392
Visually. I liked the 50 anniversary edition (usual without a box, black), so I ordered it. I'm quite satisfied.
When I decided to buy HOME I chose this luxury (plus delivery to my country, it's wildly expensive):
https://www.tolkien.co.uk/products/the-complete-history-of-middle-earth-deluxe-boxed-set-edition-christopher-tolkien-j-r-r-tolkien-9780008259846/
During transportation, the box was damaged, it doesn't matter to me - this is the part that looks into the wall,
and I don't like the print quality in some places, as if they were printing from a photo-copy, the letters are blurred.. I think for that kind of money, I have the right to be finicky (first time using this word).

I now buy paper books on two occasions. Or as a collector - in the case of Tolkien. Or if the book is not available in digital form at all, in which case I do so that it becomes available afterwards, hehe.
There are now too many books and too little space..

>>19025392
This is your brain on materialism. And what's even worse, these fancy "deluxe edition" books are cheaply glued together just like any old paperback. Stop caring about the physical object.

>>19025392
Unironically ask this question on the subreddit r/tolkienbooks, many Tolkien autists willing to help there

>>19027209
Does it bother to anyone else that they cut off two rings? The original artwork had the three elven rings, not just one.

>>19027291
>https://www.tolkien.co.uk/products/the-complete-history-of-middle-earth-deluxe-boxed-set-edition-christopher-tolkien-j-r-r-tolkien-9780008259846/

The quality of the books is what's been discussed. I want a book I can check over and over and over. If your point is I should get a cheap paperback until it is destroyed and then get another one, then... then it is a fair point, to be honest.

>>19027209
Why? I think the only differences with the other set are the box, colour, the leather and cloth and the raised spine. I don't know if the binding/paper itself is better and that's usually what breaks down.

>>19027284
I think this is the last book I'll ever get, but it is also the only book I have to go back and forth to check again again little details and remind me of a bit of lore I forgot, which is the only reason I don't just have it as a digital book. I have it in other language as well but the translation lacks quality so I want the original.

>>19027355
>I have to go back and forth to check again again little details and remind me of a bit of lore I forgot, which is the only reason I don't just have it as a digital book.
By the way, it is better to do this on a completely digital copy with PDF search. This edition is for a leisurely, attentive reading "by candlelight".

>I have it in other language as well but the translation lacks quality so I want the original.
Yes, Tolkien should be read in English, there is nothing to add.

>>19027423
As someone who has read Tolkien two other languages and English, I can confirm.

>>19025472
Anon, where can I follow that unboxing, I'm quite interested

>>19027345
>Why?
Cause it looks nice. If you don't care about that just buy the $10 mass market paperbacks

>>19025392
>Yes, I am aware LOTR would not be worthy for /lit/,
/lit/ respects Lord of the Rings.
One of the reasons it’s such an incredibly well known and beloved book is because Tolkien is just about the only author to ever make literary fantasy

>>19025392
That cover is the equivalent of the minimalist blade runner poster.

>>19025895
I wonder if Tolkien and the Great War is good, and not a bunch of made up bullshit a la David Day.

>>19025895
>>19027905
I kneel

>>19025440
the funny thing is you just know OP will just take this as "oh ok, so I have permission to post about LOTR now" instead of actually learning anything

>>19025392
It's one of the things I care the least about in life

>>19028276
Good, you better practice for the upcoming Amazon ® adaptation.

>>19027562
>Tolkien is just about the only author to ever make literary fantasy
Holy pleb. Read Dunsany.

>>19027345
You could also say the semi-deluxe edition only has better quality paper and printing and the 30 Tolkien illustrations over a £5 paperback. It will be the luxury edition for a while so at worst you will always find a fanboy to sell, with a profit if it is not (often) reprinted.

>>19025895
I didn’t even know JRR wrote that many books

>>19028500
True, but for me the important part are precisely quality paper and printing. Anyway my post you were replying to was wrong, apparently the deluxe edition has other stuff, but they are a secret: "contained within are special features unique to this edition"

>>19028500
FSC “forest-friendly” paper, actually.

>>19029969
the book claims to have translated from the red book of westmarch, yet the cover is turquoise
curious

>>19029969
Mine are green.

>>19031973

>>19027193
>"This one-volume hardback edition contains the complete text, fully corrected and reset, which is printed in red and black and features, for the very first time, thirty colour illustrations, maps and sketches drawn by Tolkien himself as he composed this epic work. These include the pages from the Book of Mazarbul, marvellous facsimiles created by Tolkien to accompany the famous ‘Bridge of Khazad-dum’ chapter. Also appearing are two removable fold-out maps drawn by Christopher Tolkien revealing all the detail of Middle-earth".
Does it include the (((lost))) chapters where Frodo fucks Sam with the rest of the hobbits joining in for an orgy, and Gandalf identifying as a trans rainbow colored wizard, and the BLM orcs who literally did nothing wrong?

>>19032010
>Gandalf identifying as a trans rainbow colored wizard
that was saruman

>>19025392
My favorite editions are digital, because then I could split them up, comment, highlight, add hyperlinks to those comments which send me to relevant sections, chart it out, make a concept map.
Back this up or even share it to someone else.

>>19025392
The one with a nice cover.

>>19025392
>he doesnt own 3 completely mismatched editions picked up from charity shops

you'll never make it consumer boy

>>19027905
>Tolkien and the Great War is good

I'm reading it rn and it's really good anon

>>19027731
except it is Tolkien's original artwork

>>19028354
weird interpretation of that post

>>19032632
based man of the future

>>19033953
Those are not as common around the world as you think they are.

>>19032632
I'd love to do that but I read my digital books in my e-reader, and reading on a computer screen makes my eyes hurt.

>>19032032
underrated post

>>19025392
>How does /li/ choose the editions of their favourite books?
>Is it available in physical copy right in front of me?
>Does it cost less than 3 euros?
>Does it cost less than 5?

>>19032010
meds

>>19033953
My Dark Tower series is like this

>>19037081
at least you can highlight and comment on most e-readers!