: I figure that collecting starts out with discovering something you like, wanting to find more, and then striving to seek out as much as possible.

: The people who delve deeper are building an elaborate tribute, if you will, to something they love. And the process of collecting -- research, cataloging, caring for the objects, and (of course) the hunt itself -- can yield an additional delight of its own, without detracting from the underlying ardor.

: I suspect that what one feels to be a complete collection will be a function of the nature of the attraction, the desire to create this sort of tribute, and how much energy one is willing and able to invest in the process. The sense of completeness is thus, rightly, in the eye of the beholder. Paradoxically, the true "completist" is playing an open-ended game, and would probably be at a loss if it ever came to an end.

Hi, Irene! ;) [Norton bibliographer and general rabid fan/answerer of all/most questions pertaining to Andre Norton/etc.]

: For myself, and I imagine many others, the seed lies with a delight in Andre Norton's writings when I was young. This delight continued into adulthood, and then came the realization that I now had the means to actually own her books. At some point, I passed into the tribute stage, seeking out paperback firsts, and found I enjoyed the process of collecting. More recently, I started to actively collect hardcovers. I have elected, however, to confine myself to book titles authored by Ms Norton -- for whatever reason, that's what feels right, what I care about. And what's inside the covers remains at the heart of it all.

Welcome to the message board! I like your style and look forward to hearing [lots] more from you in the future. What are some of *your* favorite Andre Nortons, and why?

Jerrie, fan of intelligent and articulate Andre Norton fans