a "Writer's Tale" tale

[dbskyler]

So I finally went to buy RTD's "The Writer's Tale" (more because I'm interested in the writing process for Doctor Who than because I'm interested in how RTD writes), but after a long wait, Amazon.com has now informed me that they can't get the book! How hard can it be to get the book? I can get it myself from Amazon.co.uk -- well, assuming they'll mail overseas, but it looks like they will. Other American bookstores are having the same trouble. BBC America says the book is "unavailable" as well. Come on, guys, there's no "region 1" vs. "region 2" issue with a book! The British version is fine! It's still in English! If things are occasionally spelled "ou" instead of "o," I think I can deal.

So now the question is, should I go ahead and order it from England, and pay the international shipping? Or should I wait until my upcoming trip to England and buy it there? Sometimes it's nice to have a book to read while you're traveling, but I don't want to be lugging around anything too heavy.

Comments

[thisbluespirit]

All I can say is it *is* a very heavy book! Plus, I'm not sure how easy it is to find in shops at the moment. I haven't looked, but... *thought derails* Sorry I just thought that if anywhere would have it, it would probably be the amazing Waterstones on Gower Street... when you are in London, if you are a bibliophile at all, Charing Cross is bookshop central, of course, but about two thirds of the way up Gower Street is a Waterstones that also contains a floor with remainders and a floor with second hand books. It has staircases that only seem to connect with certain parts of the building, so it is about the only mainstream bookshop I know of anywhere that fits the 'genteel black hole that knows how to read' definition. (Mind you, the crazy one with books piled up EVERYWHERE in complete disregard of access, health and safety etc that I saw in Cheltenham was worth the trip there...)

Sorry, it is a very heavy book. If Amazon cannot oblige, what about other websites, or even Ebay? Sorry, you've probably looked, but, personally, I wouldn't want to be weighted down with that thing. You could fit at least five other paperbacks in, if not more without it...

ETA: And, yes, I think it's worth the read. There are deleted scenes and things from scripts, and certainly the process of writing for something like that is fascinating. (When it comes to RTD, I sit on the fence: I think he's a brilliant screenwriter, who sometimes writes things that I think are silly. Or worse. But we are all so protective of DW. It's so much more than any one person, Doctor, or era, I suppose. I have to say, even though I have problems with much of his stuff, I don't think anyone else would have made its return the success it has been.)

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you told me, because I assumed the book would be easy to get there. I'd love to wander into some London bookstores, but I'd hate to be looking for a book that's hard to find! If it's also heavy, I think those are two great reasons to buy it through the internet instead.

Ebay scares me, but you prompted me to take a look for curiosity's sake, and there are some sellers. However, they all seem to be shipping from Australia! I think I can get it quicker and cheaper from Amazon.co.uk.

It sounds like you and I have very similar views on RTD, so I'm glad you enjoyed the book -- that's a very strong indication that I will like it too!

[thisbluespirit]

I've seen it in plenty of book shops, but I think less so now - and I suspect it'll get rarer now he's not the DW producer/writer.

:-)

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

OMG YOUR ICON!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*covets*

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

To respond to what you actually said, I was actually hoping the book would get discounted now that RTD's not King of Doctor Who anymore. I never expected it to get hard to find!

(And now I'm off to redscharlach's journal to snag the icon . . . :D

[thisbluespirit]

Hee. I had to have the icon once I saw it! :-) (And with one of these, you don't need to ask 'who made it?' do you?)

Could easily go in the bargain bin as well, yes, true. I haven't been in many bookshops lately (*sigh*) and I wouldn't have been looking for that. That type of thing though - non-fic TV tie-ins - tends to be really random as to whether anything is in stock for a show, and what it is.

[pitry.livejournal.com]

Waterstone's have this good "check availability" feature on their website. It's not 100%, I think, but from taking a look at it, it looks like most shops no longer have it :|