My new "First edition" copy of Fight Club
Hi guys,
Long being a convert of the film, when I finally had a little bit of money to spare and the time to read it, I bought a "first edition" copy of Fight Club from a seller on eBay.
Even though a new edition was freely available in my local bookshop, I did this because I wanted one specifically free of imagery from the successive film.
Now, I'm not under the illusion that what I bought was a first print of the first edition (probably a third print or something). However, when it arrived, I had to ask myself something I never had to before, i.e. "Is there such a thing as a counterfeit book?"
If you take a look at the photos I've taken of it at the link below (it's not a link to malware, I promise - just to a picasa web album) you can see that the pages look as though they were cut with a child's scissors. And even worse, the widths of the pages are all messed up, meaning that I can't even easily flick through my long-awaited copy of Fight Club.
https://picasaweb.google.com/106767610834940907262/FightClubFirstEdition...
Of those of you who have this edition, could you tell me if this is normal?
I'm thinking I should return it. Please let me know what you think guys.
Ryan.
Deckled.
Can i Ask what you dropped on this book? And look at the copyright page. There will be a slew of numbers and a first edition should start with 123456 so on and so forth.
As your attorney, my advise to you is to start drinking heavily(er).-Tuffy
If you're referring to the rough cut pages, yeah that's normal. I also wondered if I got a bad copy. But it's just the Fight Club, ish is rugged.
I got one on Amazon for about 15 FRNs a few years ago. But if you live in California, you gotta pay tax on that ish now.
"They sold you hippies grunge, hip hop, now liberty activism."
Hey guys,
Thanks so much for all of your replies. They've really helped.
@Tuffy, I've now included a picture of the copyright/ISBN page at the same link:
https://picasaweb.google.com/106767610834940907262/FightClubFirstEdition...
The ISBN is 0-393-03976-5.
@Noah, I dropped $17.10 on this book, not including P&P:
http://cgi.ebay.ie/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150543409300&ssPageNam...
I'm not at all worried whether about what edition of the book this is, just the quality of the pages. However, as we're talking about it, I can't find a number similar to 123456... anywhere.
But to sum up, it's turning out as though the rough pages are indeed intentionally printed that way in a style called "Deckled". Personally I think it's fucking annoying, as it doesn't allow you to easily flick through the book, or turn the page!
But I suppose at the same time it doesn't warrant returning the thing.
Thanks again guys 
.
Yeah, it's not a bug, it's a feature.
Anyway, my book-binder friend says that it's done for "aesthetic" reasons now since, using modern mass-production methods, it is no longer cheaper, faster, or easier to leave the pages rough.
This is why we can't have nice things.
https://picasaweb.google.com/106767610834940907262/FightClubFirstEdition?feat=directlink
See that 8 9 0 at the very bottom? That's the remnants of a print line.
8th printing sir.
Anyway, my book-binder friend says that it's done for "aesthetic" reasons now
FUCK deckled pages. For reasons already outlined. Hate it.
That's not unusual in book club editions and in a few other cases. There's a specific name for pages cut in that manner which I can't remember just now, but I'll ask a friend of mine who's book binder if no one else throws it up here in the meantime.
Really, you should put up a picture here of the copyright/ISBN page. We could give you a lot more info from that.
Lastly, I'll advise you (as will likely every post after this) that there has thus far only been a First Edition of Fight Club, but many, many printings.
Still, always nice to have a hardcover, and that would be my preferred artwork as well.
This is why we can't have nice things.