1992 I think, I was in Robertsons ( a huge bookshop in Central Sydney) during their annual sale. They had a huge pile of books about 4-5 feet high all going for $AUD 1 (about 60 cents USD). There was a collection of 3 Vlad novels entitled Taltos the Assasin. Bought it on spec based on the blurb, hooked ever since. MArk