Book Sale A Fantasy Lover’s Fantasy

By Nancy K. Crevier

Readers whose hearts beat faster when they see titles like Dune, Fahrenheit 451, Hyperion, Sphere, The Martian Chronicles, and The Invisible Man will be extraordinarily happy to know that the Friends of the C.H. Booth Library Annual Book Sale has a bumper crop of science fiction and fantasy books for sale this year.

Julie Starkweather, volunteer chairperson for the book sale’s sci-fi/fantasy collection for the past several years, said that this year the Friends have received donations exceeding 2,000 paperbacks and more than 500 hardcover editions of some terrific science fiction and fantasy reads.

“Readers will find books by Mercedes Lackey and Ann Bishop, to name just a couple,” she said, and series that include the Forgotten Realms, Star Wars, and Star Trek novels. In addition, the library took in a large donation of older British science fiction literature. “Theses are authors from the 1950s and 1960s that we generally did not see in the US,” said Ms Starkweather, “but which will be greatly appreciated by anyone who loves this genre.”

Shoppers at the gigantic July 12 to 16 book sale held at Reed Intermediate School on Trades Lane will find all of the science fiction, fantasy, and fictional paranormal books grouped together this year. Like all of the other collections, they are alphabetized and knowledgeable staff will be on hand to help navigate the rows and rows of books. This year, unlike previous years, young adult science fiction and fantasy  will be found in the same collection as for adults.

“I don’t think there is a particular age group that love science fiction, and with the popularity of the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings series, we are seeing a lot of younger readers in this area. It’s very obvious to me that more and more people are reading science fiction and fantasy than they used to,” Ms Starkweather said.

For the past three years, books in the science fiction and fantasy collection have sold out, so she recommends not waiting for one of the latter days of the sale. “Most of these books sell on the full price days anyway, and with the book sale not being held over a long holiday weekend this year, we’ll probably see more buyers on Saturday and Sunday this year,” warned Ms Starkweather.

The books are all copies in good condition at excellent prices, so for fantasy readers who fantasize about a big pile of books to get them through the hot summer days, rise and shine early for the 33rd Annual Friends of the C.H. Booth Book Sale.

An admission fee of $10 from 9 am to noon, and $5 from noon to 5 pm  to the Book Sale is charged only on Saturday, July 12. The sale continues Sunday, from 9 am to 5 pm; Monday, half-price day, from 9 am to 7 pm; Tuesday, $5 bag sale, from 9 am to 7 pm; and Wednesday, free day, from 9 am to 1 pm. Book donations for the sale are accepted at the C.H. Booth Library up to July 12. For pick-up of book, CD, or DVD donations, contact a Friends’ member at the library at 426-4533.