Note 11 - Senior Notes and Credit Facilities - Senior Notes and Credit Facilities Balances (Details) (Parentheticals)		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
		Apr. 30, 2018		Oct. 31, 2017		Feb. 01, 2018	Jan. 11, 2018	Dec. 01, 2017
The 9.50% 2020 Notes [Member] | Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[1],[2]	9.50%		9.50%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	[1],[2]	Nov. 15, 2020		Nov. 15, 2020
The 2.0% 2021 Notes [Member] | Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[1],[2]	2.00%		2.00%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	[1],[2]	Nov. 01, 2021		Nov. 01, 2021
The 5.0% 2021 Notes [Member] | Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[1],[2]	5.00%		5.00%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	[1],[2]	Nov. 01, 2021		Nov. 01, 2021
The 10.0% 2022 Notes [Member] | Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[1],[2]	10.00%		10.00%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	[1],[2]	Jul. 15, 2022		Jul. 15, 2022
The 10.5% 2024 Notes [Member] | Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[1],[2]	10.50%		10.50%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	[1],[2]	Jul. 15, 2024		Jul. 15, 2024
The 7.0% 2019 Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage						7.00%
The 7.0% 2019 Notes [Member] | Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes and Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[1],[2]	7.00%		7.00%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	[1],[2]	Jan. 15, 2019		Jan. 15, 2019
The 8.0% Senior Notes Due 2019 [Member] | Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes and Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[1],[2]	8.00%		8.00%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	[1],[2]	Nov. 01, 2019		Nov. 01, 2019
Thirteen and a Half Percent Senior Notes Due 2026 [Member]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		13.50%				13.50%	13.50%
Thirteen and a Half Percent Senior Notes Due 2026 [Member] | Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes and Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[1],[2]	13.50%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	[1],[2]	Feb. 01, 2026
Five Percent Senior Notes due 2040 [Member]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage						5.00%	5.00%
Five Percent Senior Notes due 2040 [Member] | Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes and Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[1],[2]	5.00%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	[1],[2]	Feb. 01, 2040
The 11.0% 2017 Amortizing Note [Member] | Senior Amortizing Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		11.00%	[1],[2]	11.00%	[1],[2]			11.00%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	[1],[2]	Dec. 01, 2017		Dec. 01, 2017
Senior Exchangeable Notes Due 2017 [Member] | Senior Amortizing Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	[1],[2]	Dec. 01, 2017		Dec. 01, 2017
Senior Unsecured Term Loan Credit Facility Due 2027 [Member] | Senior Unsecured Term Loan Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	[1],[2]	Feb. 01, 2027

[1] "Notes payable" on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of April 30, 2018 and October 31, 2017 consists of the total senior secured, senior and senior amortizing and senior exchangeable notes shown above, as well as accrued interest of $38.5 million and $41.8 million, respectively.

[2] Unamortized debt issuance costs at April 30, 2018 and October 31, 2017 were $16.6 million and $16.1 million, respectively.