I've ordered a copy of this book from Biblioz.com.au - should be here any moment. I have been hanging out to read this book since I was in Year 7 at high school and my art teacher told me all about it. At that stage I knew of Kurt Vonnegut so the idea of Farmer's book hooked me instantly - but you can't find a copy in Australia for love or money. I remember having to pinch myself when I found a copy of Barnstormer in Oz in a local 2nd hand store - that's how rare they are Down Under.
Slight digression: has anyone heard a story about the first edition of Venus having an optical illusion printed on the fly-leaf which stated that Kilgore Trout was the author; then, when you turn the page there's a message saying "This book is not by Kilgore Trout", and you turn back to the fly-leaf only to find that Philip Jose Farmer's name magically appears? I'd love to know if this is fact or just urban myth, but this story is part of my original fascination with the book which has lasted for 20 years (and I still haven't even read it!)
