As I’ve mentioned before, I’m trying to curtail my rather excessive book expenditure by ensuring that the only books I purchase are second-hand. This is not only a rather cheaper way of working, but I’m also more likely to pick up books by authors unfamiliar to me as there’s less financial risk involved. Yes, investment bankers should look to me in learning how to use money.

Anyway, one of my forays into the secondhand bookshop near Puckle Street, Moonee Ponds resulted in my picking up Blaze of Glory by Michael Pryor. Michael’s name rang a bell, but I hadn’t previously read any of his work. (Wait, it seems I lie–I just checked out Michael’s bibliography, and I read Mask of Caliban when I was about twelve, and thoroughly enjoyed it.)

Given my self-imposed frugality, I was very happy to hear that Michael is rather a fan of the bargains table in the Readings of Port Melbourne:

I love Readings, Port Melbourne. It’s the almost perfect combination of books, music and coffee - plus excellent cakes. Knowledgeable, helpful staff (good ’shelf talker’ staff recommendations), top coverage of off-beat stuff and it has an always tempting bargains table. Gotta love a bargain book!

Word of Honour, the third book in the Laws of Magic Trilogy, of which Blaze of Glory is the first, was released earlier this month. You can view a rather spiffy trailer for it here.

Previous Favourite Bookshop posts: Margo Lanagan; Lucy Sussex; Marshall Payne