29 years to finish a book...

Twenty nine years... That's how long it took me to read the final paragraph of Frank Herbert's sci-fi novel "Helstroms's Hive"...

It was the summer of 1978, and I was working a summer job at Philmont Scout Ranch in the Sangre de Cristo mountains of North-Eastern New Mexico. I had a lot of free time on my hands that summer, so I read a lot... mostly science fiction.

I don't remember why I picked up a copy of "Helstrom's Hive". Most likely it was because Frank Herbert was also the author of the highly regarded "Dune" series. Unlike Dune... "Helstrom's Hive" is very forgettable and has been out of print for a very long time.

Back to the summer of '78... I had made it to the last chapter of the book when I was interrupted by some passing hikers. I set down my book, did whatever it was that I needed to do, and when I returned my book was gone.

Since the summer of '78 I've periodically browsed used bookstores looking for a copy of "Hestrom's Hive"... but I never found one. I won't say that I was obsessed by the desire to finish the book, but it was a bit nagging in an on-again-off-again fashion.

Finally, last month, I broke down and found a used copy on Amazon.com. I ordered the book... I read the book... and now after 29 years I read that last paragraph.