One of the first books that I do remember buying on my own was "Splinter of the Mind's Eye," by Alan Dean Foster. It was, if I remember correctly, the first Star Wars book. I got it from the Science Fiction Book Club when I was in sixth grade and I remember bringing it to school, and friends asked if there were any pictures. I had to say no, but it didn't hit me then that of course there weren't any pictures...there hadn't been a movie made from the book! Also, it came out just after "Star Wars" and before "The Empire Strikes Back" (episode V), so it has nothing to do with any of the movies.