# Neil Gaiman's bookshelves **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 4, 2009, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-gaimans-bookshelves/508882 "2009-09-04T16:54:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![fortytwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f9ae1b/32.png) [@fortytwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fortytwo)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2009, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-gaimans-bookshelves/508882/21 "2009-09-05T21:39:31Z")
It makes me somewhat dissatisfied with my collection now especially the number of Jack Vance titles he has, although I can beat him on his A E Van Vogt’s. By the look of it (like my own collection) many of those books are second hand, probably the only way to get a lot of those titles nowadays. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2009, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-gaimans-bookshelves/508882/22 "2009-09-05T22:59:05Z")
At least he has big holes in his collection. Of course that’s probably because he’s so busy moving on to the next book that he just doesn’t care… I have to wonder how he buys new books. He’s got a couple of used book stores worth of stock there so he’s got to have something to avoid buying the same book over and over again. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2009, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-gaimans-bookshelves/508882/23 "2009-09-06T01:11:36Z")
Bigger _and_ better organized. I am beshamed. ☹ I think my own style edges more towards the wizard/mad scientist’s study. More than a far share of books, offset by cobwebs, skulls, and scattered lights flickering in the dark between vines of cable. Only one of the skulls is real, to boot. And it’s not even the one wearing a hat. Double ☹ . ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2009, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-gaimans-bookshelves/508882/24 "2009-09-06T01:26:24Z")
> [@Just\_Some\_Guy](#): > > I have to wonder how he buys new books. He’s got a couple of used book stores worth of stock there so he’s got to have something to avoid buying the same book over and over again. Just barely glancing at the photos, a triplicate caught my eye (_The Spirit_, IIRC-- it was yesterday); it couldn’t have been unique. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2009, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-gaimans-bookshelves/508882/25 "2009-09-06T01:35:03Z")
I think you might have spotted different volumes of The Spirit Archives, but that’s just a guess. The only thing I spotted multiple copies of were his own books. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2009, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-gaimans-bookshelves/508882/26 "2009-09-06T01:41:07Z")
You’re right. On second look, there are 4 of them, labeled 1, 2, 3, 4. If he employs a librarian like someone upthread suggested, I’m sure he or she takes care of dupes. ---
**Author:** ![pesch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pesch/32/4925_2.png) [@pesch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pesch)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-gaimans-bookshelves/508882/27 "2009-09-08T03:01:59Z")
He gets a number of books from publishers for various reasons. If you read his blog, he’ll sometimes show you a table stacked with the goodies he’s gotten. ---
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-gaimans-bookshelves/508882/28 "2009-09-08T03:42:19Z")
Gaiman’s got nuthin on this guy: > **[Browse the Artifacts of Geek History in Jay Walker's Library](https://www.wired.com/2008/09/ff-walker/)** > > Nothing quite prepares you for the culture shock of Jay Walker's library [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-gaimans-bookshelves/508882.md?page=1)