Rescuing books from the $1 shelf at the library - and a growing backlog, and of giving up

At my local library, I recently lamented the fact that the Science Fiction section was so small. I hoped that they were all on loan, or at the other local branch, which I haven't yet gone to. But, having noticed the recent posts of @rossfletcher and their seemingly incessant ability to obtain books from the library cheaply, I thought... I wondered, did my local library have a similar program?

The answer was a resounding yes. Instead of painting beautiful streaks of abstract colour and light on them, and creating Art out of paper that would otherwise be destined to sit on the shelf, begging to be taken - I took a bag, and $5, and walked away with a haul of titles that I will be (eventually) reading. Some new, some familiar, and some to chart some new grounds.

So here are my new books, grand total cost: $5! (Mia, the cat, not included)

These books are all inspired by others in my life. @honeydue's post about Jordan Peterson's online university resonated in my mind when I saw the copy of 12 Rules For Life, on the shelf, and I slipped it into my book bag. Not bad for a $1 - probably a few hours of enjoyment in reading the text, but perhaps some deeper insight hidden within its pages that can give me far greater value.

I read Ender's Game earlier this year, but it was a borrowed, digital copy of an audio book. Now I am proud to have a copy that will sit in my home until the end of my days. I have to laugh at the sticker the library put on the cover "New! 2017!" - no, - sorry, It isn't new. It is a science fiction classic, and now it is mine.

Thinking Like a Parrot was an unexpected find. I have a close friend who is very much into birds. I have another friend who has a bird as a pet. Her sister has two birds as pets. Once I finish reading this one, I plan to circulate it to them, before it hopefully comes back to me, so I can share it with my in laws.

To Say Nothing of the Dog is a book I've never heard or read anything about - but with the SF Masterworks publishing arm - I've never read a bad book - so, if I see any more of them in the wild on such library-to-go shelves, I'll be picking them up and adding to my collection. Science Fiction is, after all my favourite reading (and writing) wheelhouse.

To find Asimov in this space was a surprise. I would have have thought that Asimov's books would be permanent staples of any self-respecting library - but finding an omnibus that included two of his novels was a bonus, two for the price of one!

The final book you see here is Infinity's End - which is a compilation of science fiction short stories. It has stories by may different authors, but given that I am writing my own Anthology of stories in this genre, it is probably important for me to read as widely as I possibly can.

But ultimately, I actually need to sit down and chip away at some of the story ideas I have for that Anthology. I have a half finished fantasy saga - and a science fiction story that is about 30% done, and so many others half written.

I have a fear though, that before I get a chance to get into these books, I have another pile of books to get through that sit on my hallway table...

I have given up on Count Zero - it is nowhere near as good as the birthplace of the Cyberpunk genre, Neuromancer. I think I am going to go through the Philip K Dick books first. Then probably read Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep ... again - then get into Hyperion.

My fear about having too much to read is compounded by the fact that I have too many library books on hold - and - I've also given up on finishing the fourth book in Jeff Van DerMeer's Southern Reach series. I'm content with everything I've learned of Area X. I don't need more.