I realize the main Powell’s Used Book Store isn’t in the Lloyd District.  I realize they sell new books, too.  When I think of Powell’s, though, I think of used books.

When I want to buy a new book, I think of Barnes & Noble or Kindle.

Settling on a science fiction adventure, I decided on a specific book instead of browsing. I wanted the first of eight Sten adventures, called, “Sten.”  I’ve owned it before, so I didn’t want to buy it new, but “just in case,” I looked up the price on Kindle.  $9.99.

What?

That’s more than the price of a brand new paperback in the store. isn’t it?  The novel has to be at least ten years old.  Probably, thirty.  Remind me why I got a Kindle?  Cheaper prices, right?

They aren’t that much cheaper.

Sometimes I forget what I’m supposed to be doing.  I’m writing about Powell’s, not ranting about Kindle.

Anyway, I wanted to see how much “Sten” was at Powell’s.  I’m sure I could find out by telephone or on the web, but I wanted to visit the store.   If I make a purchase, Alan Cole and Chris Bunch (the authors) won’t make any royalty on a sale at Powell’s.  Sorry, guys.   See if you can make the e-book version cheaper than a paperback.

I could catch the Max light rail by the Lloyd Center, ride it for free, but where did I get off?  Tri-Met maps are lousy.  Instead of a normal map, they have a weird map that looks like Future Art.  You have to know where you are going to get off in order to get off there.   Just give me a regular map with the Max route laid over it.

Does mass transit want new riders?  They say they do.

Maybe I should figure out how to create the map.

I rode the blue or red line and got off one stop past Pioneer Square, then I walked along 10^th (north) and ran right into Powell’s.

Did I find it on a map?  No.  I made an informed guess.

“Sten” cost $4.50 or $4.95.  I bought the cheaper version.

It’s a big used book store.  I need to go back because there were four floors, rooms called the gold room and the blue room and I don’t know how many colored rooms and there was too much to find and I was looking for a writers group and the folks at the information kiosks couldn’t help and I forgot the little book that I take notes in and…

I’ll go back.

I promise.