So I'm reading this 325 page book that I bought at a used bookstore six months ago, really liking it, and I reach page 170.  Page 170 is followed by a second page 123.  Ok, I've seen duplicate pages in a book before, and I just skip ahead to get past them.   But after it reaches the second page 154, it skips to page 203.  In summary, the books has 1-170, 123-154, 203-325.  So I am totally missing pages 171 through 202 - one 32 page cluster. 

Now this is a really interesting book, the nearest two libraries do not have it, the biggest local bookstore does not have it.  I have requested it through interlibrary loan from the other side of my county, which will take probably a week.  Meanwhile, page 203 is just sitting there in my hand, but I don't want to read it.  But I do want to read it.  Arghh...

-Tom Hl.

Drives me nuts. It's never happened to me with a book; but that's one reason I stopped subscribing to Asimov's magazine. I would get half-way thru, turn the page, and there would be page 1 all over again.

My commiserations - hide the defective book so you can't see it :-) I'd drop a letter to the publishers and let them know they have an unhappy customer.

I had something simular happen to me when I was a kid. I was reading The Talisman by Stephen King. I had the book turned over on my desk marking my place and some goof in my class stuck a big wad of gum between the pages and shut the book....OK so its nothing like his story...  ;)

Was reading The Magicians Nephew and ran into something simular....luckly I had 2 copies of the book. Go figure.

In college, I bought a reference book on John Irving's published works, and I really wanted only a couple of certain chapters to refer to in an end-of-term presentation. When I finally got to read through it, the chapters that I needed weren't there -- instead, I had several chapters on BART - the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit system, or whatever it's called. John Irving is one of my favorite authors, so I had intended to keep the book anyway... oh well. The rest of the book is interesting and useful. I'm sure those chapters would have been good too. *sigh* =P

I searched the Random House website, and found instructions to notify their customer service in case of typography or printing error.  So I sent the following email.  I'll let you guys know what sort of response I get.  Thanks for the idea.

Random House Customer Service Department,

Thank you for contacting Random House and for your interest in our publications.

We try to maintain a high standard of quality with our publications, but we do occasionally get errors in a batch. We regret the errors and apologize for any inconvenience caused you.  The error that you describe occurs occasionally at the bindery when a "signature" or group of pages either becomes stuck in the machinery or is shifted to the next book.  It usually only affects a very few copies, so is actually rather difficult for the printer's QC department to catch.  I have processed order [xxxxxxx] for a replacement copy of your book to be sent at no charge to the
address you provided.  Please allow up to 2 weeks for delivery.

Random House Consumer Services

Please note:  We receive a large volume of emails.  In order for us to respond properly to your inquiry, when replying to this email please be
sure to quote previous messages.  If your email client (e.g. aol.com) does not automatically quote the previous message, please use copy and paste to quote the previous message in your new email.  Thank you!

Hurrah for Random's customer service!! And so quick!