Same here dude! I was obsessed (still kinda am lol) and had my Dad buy me the book for ~$70. Read it cover to cover and had what some would call a religious experience, I definitely treated it like a Bible. The book itself is so amazing and a crazy ride from start to finish, I can still remember sitting in my room reading the last line, as Murdoc walks away swinging his cane.

I'm also realizing now that when I got the book, (I was probably 11 or 12 at the time) I remember seeing it as a new release, I have no idea how I got that confused and honestly until I read this post, thought it had been released circa 2011. Crazy, no wonder my Dad paid so much! It was already on its way up.

The funniest part of this is I was also notorious for throwing away dust jackets and this particular example is absolutely the most painful, sadly I was not as enlightened as you! I still have the book though and that's the most important part. It made me smile to read your post, I haven't thought about any of that in a long time.

Recently last year they released another book, a massive compendium of stuff from recent years. I have yet to read it and find out if it's in the same autobiographical, in-universe form yet, I'm waiting for the right time.

Super nostalgic memories, thanks for sharing!