For Christmas I wanted to buy my teenage nephew copies of some of my favorite books from my teen years. Included in there is Ender's Game, of course. So I set out for the local bookstore. I get to the scifi section, Orson Scott Card books. Low and behold, there are no paper back copies of Ender's Game. Just about every other book by OSC, but no EG. Curiously, there are a stack of hard cover version of the book. Why exactly I'm not sure, since the book has been in print for a while now. And as much as I love the book, it's not worth $18+ when it is available for much less as a paper back.
So I bounce over to the next bookstore down the street, same thing. No one in town has EG in paper back! What the heck! Why reprint a hardcover version of a 20 year old book, other than to scrape an extra $10 off the consumer?
FWIW, I see similar tactics with other books. I've noticed that another favorite author of mine, Harry Turtledove, his last 2 books came out in large form paper back books after the hard cover run was over. So instead of having a $7 paperback version available, you can buy a $15 larger paperback version and make the publisher another $8 if you really want to read the book. Same with the Stephen King book Cell. Its paperback form is larger than a regular paperback and sells for $10 instead of the regular price for paperbacks.
Is this just a scam by publishers trying to bilk a couple extra $$ from the consumer? I think so, and I think it's shameful. Hardcover books are too expensive to buy all the time, paperbacks make it easier to buy and enjoy books.
Incidentally, I found EG in paperback, by accident, on the book shelf at the grocery store. That's a damned shame that you have to shop around to find an affordable book at the grocery store instead of being able to find them in a book store.
PS. I don't blame OSC for this issue. I'm sure he doesn't control marketing details of his books like this, or make policies that pb versions will be removed from shelves in favor of hc versions 20 years after publishing.
Posted by docmagik (Member # 1131) on :
There's a Young adult version of Ender's Game out in paperpack that most "big box" bookstores should have even if they don't have the version you're probably familiar with. The cover shows Ender in the battleroom, and pretty much everything is blue.
And the regular paperback is still very much available:
Still sounds like a frustrating experience, though.
Posted by The Mister (Member # 9619) on :
Yes, this is true of all of the Ted Dekker books as well, as far as I can tell. None of his books are available as small paperbacks. All as large, higher-quality-paper $15 paperbacks. Kind of frustrating.
Posted by Avatar300 (Member # 5108) on :
quote:Is this just a scam by publishers trying to bilk a couple extra $$ from the consumer? I think so, and I think it's shameful. Hardcover books are too expensive to buy all the time, paperbacks make it easier to buy and enjoy books.
It's not shameful, and it's not a scam. They aren't tricking you into anything. If you don't want to pay the price, don't buy the book. Publishers are under no obligation to sell you cheap books. If they're not interested in staying in business they're under no obligation to sell you a book at all.
Posted by DDDaysh (Member # 9499) on :
One thing that is driving up prices is the cost of paper. For using a little bit more paper, they can make a "bigger" paperback book, and sell it at a percentage wise higher price. You don't really think about it, but in the publishing industry, the cost of paper is not trivial.
On the other hand, you can usually find pretty good quality books at second hand shops, or on Amazon. I'm sure publishers aren't thrilled with that, since it cuts into their profits (and probably royalties for authors too) but it is an economic way to purchase books. Often on Amazon, you can buy paper back books for a penny, tack on $3.50 for shipping and you still come out under $4.00. It's a pretty good deal for me, and I've only been upset once by a seller not sending the book, and that time was able to quickly obtain a refund of my money from Amazon. Look into it..
Posted by kacard (Member # 200) on :
So funny - can't win for losing.
Point 1 -- We've received constant complaints for years at signings that hardback copies of Ender's Game were so hard to get. So, TOR came out with a special hardback gift edition. We thought that was great and what people had been demanding for a long time.
Point 2 -- booksellers often tell me that they can't keep enough of the paperback on hand. It sells through just about as fast as they re-order.
So - truly -- there is no ill intent on anyone's part. If you want a paperback -- get your store to reorder and save one for you -- or go to Amazon. They'll get it to you even faster.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
If you buy from Amazon, though, try to use the link here on Hatrack.
Posted by stihl1 (Member # 1562) on :
quote:Originally posted by kacard: So funny - can't win for losing.
Point 1 -- We've received constant complaints for years at signings that hardback copies of Ender's Game were so hard to get. So, TOR came out with a special hardback gift edition. We thought that was great and what people had been demanding for a long time.
Point 2 -- booksellers often tell me that they can't keep enough of the paperback on hand. It sells through just about as fast as they re-order.
So - truly -- there is no ill intent on anyone's part. If you want a paperback -- get your store to reorder and save one for you -- or go to Amazon. They'll get it to you even faster.
I didn't really blame you for this problem. I could see it being an issue of them being out of the book at christmas time in one store, but every store in town? It just seemed fishy to me. And if I was truly with it, I would have thought ahead and tried to order it from amazon or somewhere else. It's just kinda nice to be able to walk into a bookstore and actually buy a book you're looking for.
quote:It's not shameful, and it's not a scam. They aren't tricking you into anything. If you don't want to pay the price, don't buy the book. Publishers are under no obligation to sell you cheap books. If they're not interested in staying in business they're under no obligation to sell you a book at all. [/QB]
I didn't say they were tricking me into anything. I do think it's a marketing ploy to get more revenue out of the paperback run of a book. And I'm not going to buy the book, at least at full price. Which is a shame, because normally I would have, and they are losing a sale.
Posted by Hank (Member # 8916) on :
I don't understand why hard covers even exist for most books. Every book I have in hardback has a broken spine after the very first time I read it. Then the pages start falling out, and the book quickly disintegrates into a pile of paper. And they take up too much room. And I always lose the paper cover.
On the other hand, maybe I should be gentler with my reading material.
Posted by Cactus Jack (Member # 2671) on :
Your power over books seems strange and mysterious, my friend.
Perhaps you are a super villian who is only just discovering his power.
Posted by DDDaysh (Member # 9499) on :
I rarely buy hardcover books either, because they're very heavy to try to read in bed (where I do most of my reading) but occasionally I'm so hooked on a series (*cough* like the Shadow series) that I just HAVE to get it as soon as it comes out, and that means hardcover. Also, occasionally, second hand, the hardcover editions are cheaper than paper back. I take that to mean that no one really ENJOYS read out of hardcover books, but they are nice for display.
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
quote:I didn't say they were tricking me into anything.
You said it was a "scam." "Scam" contains an element of trickery or falsehood.
Posted by B34N (Member # 9597) on :
Odd, I found the paperback in a grocery store???
Posted by stihl1 (Member # 1562) on :
quote:Originally posted by Dagonee:
quote:I didn't say they were tricking me into anything.
You said it was a "scam." "Scam" contains an element of trickery or falsehood.
I said it was a scam. I would even say it's trickery or falsehood. I never said they were tricking me into anything, because I refuse to buy the book. They are tricking other people who do buy the book, because they normally would pay less for a smaller pocket sized paper back book. That is a scam. Especially when 99% of the other books that come out in harcover then are released in smaller sized paper backs. The publisher is releasing the book in a bigger size paperback so they can charge more $$ and make a couple extra bucks. There is no other reason to deviate from the common paper back practice. I could see if it was a special edition, but it's not. It's an attempt to make a couple extra $$ from the paperback release, because the publishers know people wait for the paperback release to buy the book.
My only hope is that people agree with me and refuse to buy the bigger edition paperback books and the scam fails.
Posted by stihl1 (Member # 1562) on :
quote:Originally posted by stihl1:
quote:Originally posted by Dagonee:
quote:I didn't say they were tricking me into anything.
You said it was a "scam." "Scam" contains an element of trickery or falsehood.
I said it was a scam. I would even say it's trickery or falsehood. I never said they were tricking me into anything, because I refuse to buy the book. They are tricking other people who do buy the book, because they normally would pay less for a smaller pocket sized paper back book. And people who normally wait for the paperback usually wait a year for the paperback release, and want to read the book and will buy the book even if it is a couple bucks more. That is a scam. Especially when 99% of the other books that come out in harcover then are released in smaller sized paper backs. The publisher is releasing the book in a bigger size paperback so they can charge more $$ and make a couple extra bucks. There is no other reason to deviate from the common paper back practice. I could see if it was a special edition, but it's not. It's an attempt to make a couple extra $$ from the paperback release, because the publishers know people wait for the paperback release to buy the book. It's also a scam when a publisher stops printing the regular sized paperback book and instead brings out a bigger size book that costs more so they can charge a few extra bucks. I see that all the time as well.
My only hope is that people agree with me and refuse to buy the bigger edition paperback books and the scam fails.
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
Nah, I like them. I'm not fooled at all, and there's no element of trickery.
You decide what you want to buy and not buy, but you have no basis for saying that those who like hardcover or trade paperbacks are being tricked. It's rather condescending, and it's certainly inaccurate for a large number of people.
Posted by stihl1 (Member # 1562) on :
If your only choice is to buy the larger paper back version, when you'd normally buy the pocket sized version like every other book, then it's a scam. If you WANT to pay more money for the book, go right ahead. Most that wait for the paperback are looking to get the book cheaper than the $20+ a hardcover costs. A publisher that puts out a more expensive version of paperback is indeed trying to get more $$ out of you, and imo it's a scam, a trick on those that will not wait for the cheaper book.
And I didn't say people who LIKE harcover or the larger pb format are being scammed or tricked. I said those who don't want to pay more for a book that should be released in the smaller version like any other book, but have no other choice but to buy the more expensive book, are being scammed. If they buy the book. That doesn't mean you're a bafoon or idiot if you buy the more expensive book, it means the publisher is trying to get a few bucks more out of you by not giving you a choice. That's a scam.
Posted by tern (Member # 7429) on :
quote:If your only choice is to buy the larger paper back version, when you'd normally buy the pocket sized version like every other book, then it's a scam.
But that's not your only choice. You have the choice not to buy the book at all.
In fact, the choices you have available are utterly irrelevant to whether it is a scam. Telling someone's grandma that you'll fix her roof for a grand and then leaving town is a scam. You, on the other hand, know exactly what you are getting should you choose to get it, and you will get it if you make that choice.
Posted by stihl1 (Member # 1562) on :
If it's a popular book, one that people want to buy and read, and the publisher only makes that book available in a more expensive paperback book, when every other publisher publishes books in a smaller less expensive format, that is trickery to get more $$ out of you for that book. That is a scam. Whether or not you chose to buy the book. There is no other reason to publish a bigger version and deviate from the norms of paperback publishing, other than to charge more for the book.
Whether or not I chose to buy the book, it's a scam, an attempt to get more than the market value out of the book.
Posted by Lupus (Member # 6516) on :
If people are willing to pay it, then it is the market value. You can't charge more than the market value of a book in the open market. If the price was above market value, then it wouldn't sell.
It is only a scam or a trick if they are really trying to trick you. If the price tag said 6.99 and they really charged your credit card 12 bucks, then I could see your point.
In this case, there is no "trickery." They are offering a product that many people would want to buy, and those people are buying it. A publisher is under no obligation to sell a cheaper version of a book, just because other books come in cheaper versions.
If it is a popular book, maybe it is worth more money. If people are willing to pay more, then why shouldn't a publisher charge that. If in general if people didn't think they were getting a good deal, they would stop buying the book...or check it out at a library.
Using the word scam over and over again won't make it any more true. No matter how many times you make the accusation, it is not a scam.
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
quote:If your only choice is to buy the larger paper back version, when you'd normally buy the pocket sized version like every other book, then it's a scam.
What element of tirckery, fraud, or deceit is there in having a smaller selection of book sizes than you would wish?
And, of course, that wasn't your only choice. You could have ordered online. You could have ordered through the bookstore. You could have bought some other book.
quote:If it's a popular book, one that people want to buy and read, and the publisher only makes that book available in a more expensive paperback book, when every other publisher publishes books in a smaller less expensive format, that is trickery to get more $$ out of you for that book. That is a scam. Whether or not you chose to buy the book. There is no other reason to publish a bigger version and deviate from the norms of paperback publishing, other than to charge more for the book.
I like those larger versions. So at least one other reason would be to satisfy at least one customer - me.
You still haven't stated where the trickery is. You've just asserted that it's there.
quote:Whether or not I chose to buy the book, it's a scam, an attempt to get more than the market value out of the book.
And there is no way to get more than market value out of the book. Market value is what people are willing to pay. Had you bought the book, it would have been because you either could not wait to have it - and hence were willing to pay more for the book NOW - or because you wanted that version.
In either case, market value is exactly what you would have paid.
Posted by Adam_S (Member # 9695) on :
I saw the new hardcover in stores and went "oooooh" and got big eyes. I'll definitely be picking it up soon, it's a lovely presentation. in fact I was going to start a complementary thread about it.
fwiw, EG is a very popular christmas gift, and for a book that sells at a pretty regular rate for the rest of the year, christmas is always a busier season.
Posted by stihl1 (Member # 1562) on :
I guess my point is, paperback books normally come out in regular pocket sizes at around $6 to $7. That book if it came out in that size would be retailing at that price. Instead they put it out at a larger size, and are charging about double for it. I would be curious to see what the increase in cost is to print the larger version, I don't believe it would be that much. Other than the occasional reader, and people who can't see the text in the pocket sizes, I don't think there are any good reasons to print the larger format. Most people wait for the pb release to be able to buy an affordable book, don't want to pay 3 to 4 times that amount for a hard cover book. IMO, there is no good reason to deviate from the normal sizing and pricing conventions than to just be able to get more $$ out of each sale. I think most people who want to read the book will just buy the paperback, since it's still cheaper than the hc version. In which case, the publisher is getting more for a paper back version than they normally would have, and the consumer is paying more.
Say you liked a certain brand of pickles, I mean just loved these pickles, and the producer knew there was a demand for the pickles so they decided to do the same thing. Instead of selling the regular size pickle jar, they came out with a bigger jar that had a lot more juice and dill and air in it, but no more pickles than the normal sized jar, and charged more. People would be forced to buy this jar if they wanted those pickles. Yes, it would be their choice to buy the pickles, and yes they could choose not to buy them. But the fact is, people would buy them, and the producer would be getting more money for the same product because they decided to put it in a bigger package. While it would be seen as a good marketing strategy from the producers view, as a consumer I would see it as a scam to get more $$ out of me for the same product.
IMO, whether it's a hardcover or a pocket size paper back, it's the same product. The industry standard is to produce hc first, then reissue the book as a pocket pb at a cheaper price. You get nothing more with the bigger paper back version, you get no more than bigger words and more paper and a higher price. There is no advantage to the consumer, all advantage to the publisher. Because it is a popular series that they know people will want to read, they have decided to do this to the book. If it was the author's first book published, and they didn't think there would be a demand, they would put it out in regular pb size. IMO that is where the trickery lies, in the fact that it will be in demand and they know people will buy it. Although from their point of view, it's probably a good marketing strategy, in my view as a consumer I see it as them trying to take advantage of the popularity of the book to make an extra buck and get more out of the consumer. I find that disingenuous, particularly because I get nothing more out of the larger version than I would with a smaller version. THe bigger size means more $$ spent, and nothing else.
No one is forcing anyone to buy the book. I didn't buy the book. I hope people don't buy the book so they don't continue to do this. That being said, it's still a ploy to get more $$ for a product that normally retails at a lower price in the industry standard version. IMO, that is a scam.
You may disagree, but that's my view.
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
quote: I don't think there are any good reasons to print the larger format.
Fine. Other people do. The fact that I want such a version means that your imputation of motive - to force people who would buy the paperback if available to buy this instead - is simply wrong and ill-informed.
Your whole pickle analogy ignores one simple fact: if people would pay more for the extra juice and air, they would pay more for the same jar. And once that fact is added to the mix, your main assumption - that the publisher is intending to get people to buy the bigger jar when all they want is the small jar - falls flat on its face.
You also, of course, have ignored the fact that the paperback is still widely available. You've turned the availability of a product you don't want but others do and a particular shortage at a particular time of year into a fictitious scam.
quote:Because it is a popular series that they know people will want to read, they have decided to do this to the book. If it was the author's first book published, and they didn't think there would be a demand, they would put it out in regular pb size. IMO that is where the trickery lies, in the fact that it will be in demand and they know people will buy it.
How is that trickery? People have been asking this question all thread, but all you've done is repeat the assertion.
quote:You may disagree, but that's my view.
Yes, but your view relies on assigning your views to other consumers. It's arrogant. You've asserted over and over that there's no reason to buy the trade paper back, that there's no advantage to the consumer.
That's wrong. There are reasons to buy it. You don't think they're good enough reasons, but others do. Others think there are advantages to owning the trade paperback. Heck, you list one of the best reasons - bigger words - right in your post. Maybe you don't want them. I do, when the book is important enough to me. So yes, a popular book is more likely to get such treatment - precisely because there are more people who want the trade paperback.
Stop turning your market preference into an accusation of trickery. It's insulting and it's wrong - flat out wrong.
Posted by stihl1 (Member # 1562) on :
If my view were wrong, people would buy more expensive books. People don't buy hard cover books because of the price and size. If people were interested in buying bigger books, do you think that publishers wouldn't have caught on to that and started publishing bigger paper back books en masse a long time ago? And given the choice in a pure market situation, do you honestly think people would choose to buy the bigger size, when all other factors besides price are illiminated? I included previously that SOME people will buy larger books for size preference, and larger print. But that segment is a small portion of the book buying public. MOST people would choose to buy the smaller version, for the simple reason there is no advantage to most people to own a bigger, more expensive size. That alone is why people DON'T buy hard cover books. That alone is why every book isn't printed in large and small paper back sizes. Pocket sized books are easier to read and hold, and their pricing is in more people's preferred pricing range.
It's called unit pricing. The price of the item divided by the amount of the item you get. The more of the item you get, the less the unit price is. In the case of the book (and the pickles) you get no more book for the higher price. The story doesn't change, there aren't added chapters, etc. It's the same item whether you buy the larger size or the smaller. And in this case, only the larger size is available.
There is only one paper back version of this book, and that is the larger size book. If they chose to print both small and large, this wouldn't be a problem. But the fact is, the publisher is in control of both the size and price, and they have limited the choices to one size.
It's not about my market preference. It's about the publisher only giving you one choice, and making that choice a more expensive version that in most cases isn't necessary.
And just because you disagree with me doesn't make me wrong. IMO, you're wrong and being a dupe for agreeing with the publisher.
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
quote:There is only one paper back version of this book, and that is the larger size book.
quote:If my view were wrong, people would buy more expensive books. People don't buy hard cover books because of the price and size. If people were interested in buying bigger books, do you think that publishers wouldn't have caught on to that and started publishing bigger paper back books en masse a long time ago? And given the choice in a pure market situation, do you honestly think people would choose to buy the bigger size, when all other factors besides price are illiminated?
You're view is factually wrong - some people like to buy hardcovers or trade paperbacks, even when a mass-market paperback is available. It's factually, verifiably wrong. Publishers have caught on that some book readers - particular of genre and "literary" novels - like bigger book formats.
quote:I included previously that SOME people will buy larger books for size preference, and larger print. But that segment is a small portion of the book buying public. MOST people would choose to buy the smaller version, for the simple reason there is no advantage to most people to own a bigger, more expensive size.
So you're admitting there's a market for these books - people who want them.
quote:It's called unit pricing. The price of the item divided by the amount of the item you get. The more of the item you get, the less the unit price is. In the case of the book (and the pickles) you get no more book for the higher price. The story doesn't change, there aren't added chapters, etc. It's the same item whether you buy the larger size or the smaller. And in this case, only the larger size is available.
Wrong.
quote:But the fact is, the publisher is in control of both the size and price, and they have limited the choices to one size.
Which means they could just raise the price on the smaller book. Yet they don't, even though that would be cheaper for them and generate even more profit if you're analysis were correct.
quote:It's not about my market preference. It's about the publisher only giving you one choice, and making that choice a more expensive version that in most cases isn't necessary.
What is this "necessary" you keep speaking of? There is no "necessary" involved here. Paperbacks could be printed so as to be cheaper to produce than they are now. It's not like
quote:And just because you disagree with me doesn't make me wrong. IMO, you're wrong and being a dupe for agreeing with the publisher.
You have been factually wrong about several things on which you've formed your accusation of trickery. Further, just because you don't value anything other than the words - the feel of the book, the size, the look on the shelf - doesn't mean that others don't. Calling them a dupe for valuing such things is arrogant and wrong.
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
I much prefer hardbacks over paperbacks.
Just sayin.'
Posted by msquared (Member # 4484) on :
I do as well. My collection of hard backs for the authors I like is much larger than the paper back.
Paper back tear and fall apart after only a couple of reading. Hard backs can last years and years.
msquared
Posted by Avatar300 (Member # 5108) on :
Agreed, I think the hardcovers just look better on my shelf, and, as msquared said, they're more durable than paperbacks.
No trickery involved. The publisher is selling a product for which a market obviously exists, and at a price that's clearly advertised.
You can start complaining when they start holding you up at gunpoint in the bookstore and force you to buy the hardcovers.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
I prefer paperbacks personally, but that's also because hardbacks take up far too much space, and given the amount of books we have, it would cause monstrous problems.
But my brother prefers hardbacks. He refuses to buy paperbacks anymore. Can't stand 'em.
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
I like hardbacks. I didn't buy them at all when I was young and poor, but I do buy them now. I'll only buy them for books by author's whose works I love, or when I find them on the discount rack for less than the cost of a paperback. The former is why it makes sense to me that they only release hardbacks for popular books. I suspect it's pretty common to only want to pay the extra money for the good stuff. The latter is evidence of the fact that I find hardcovers intrinsically nicer, all other things being equal. They are higher quality.
stihl1, your posts in this thread are ridiculous and shrill. There is no conspiracy. What the publishers have provided is greater choice, since the paperback and hardback are both available. I have seen the paperback in stores all over the place. (Did you, by any chance, look in the young adult section?) You happened not to be able to find it; oh well, crap happens. But because of that you are arguing for less choice for consumers, as if the absence of hardback versions would have resulted in more paperback copies. That's an unsupported assumption. It's pretty ridiculous for you to argue about a conspiracy to provide you with more choices in pricing and quality, really.
Posted by docmagik (Member # 1131) on :
I don't know what's compelling me to be an apologist for TOR, but in their defense, they've often been known to do the opposite of what this thread suggests--offer the first book in the series at a discount, in order to get people to buy it and want to read the rest of the series.
They did this with Ender's Game just before Ender's Shadow first came out. The book was less than 3 bucks, and it came with a coupon for 5 dollars off Ender's Shadow, making the book essentially better than free--they were practically paying you to buy it.
I took advantage at the time, and bought copies for a group of old high school friends I'd just got back in contatct with, and who had just offered me some emotional support through some pretty hard times. OSC was extremely gracious in signing a whole boxful of the same book, all addressed to different people, at Vrooman's in Pasadena.
Neither Tor nor OSC has any desire to see that paperback become unavailable.
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
If I could choose between a hardback and a paperback without consideration for cost, I'd choose the hardback. I'm not entirely sure how much more I'd pay for a hardback, but I'd consider $18 to be a good value, since newly released harbacks are closer to $30.
Posted by Sibyl (Member # 10079) on :
When I was a kid, paperback books (usually thinner than most now--say 200 pages or less) cost 25-50¢.
Someone mentioned back in the thread the poor quality of cheap hardcovers, that they break at the spine and pages fall out: that is low quality, because the pages are glued in at the edge, like paperbacks, but the better quality (and more expensive) hardcovers, with the pages sewn in as "signatures" (visualize how a "booklet" is put together, then several of them laid next to each other for book thickness) are still available (at a higher price)--probably not as a choice for the same book.
I just looked at the end of my trade paperback edition of "Wyrms", which was handy, and it looks as if the pages in that are in signatures rather than as single glued leaves, but I might be wrong, it could be an illusion. The best way to find out for sure would be to force it open all the way, and even if they were sewn in, it would still damage it, so I'm not going to.
Sibyl
Posted by Survivor (Member # 233) on :
Then that's hardly the "best" way to find out, eh? If you examine the end of the spine carefully you should be able to tell. You can also let the book fall open naturally and try running the corner of a piece of paper along the presumed center of a couple of the signatures, though that only works if you already know what they feel like
I'm fine with not knowing. But then, I prefer e-copies that I can read on my computer.
Posted by Sibyl (Member # 10079) on :
quote:Originally posted by DDDaysh: I rarely buy hardcover books either, because they're very heavy to try to read in bed (where I do most of my reading) but occasionally I'm so hooked on a series (*cough* like the Shadow series) that I just HAVE to get it as soon as it comes out, and that means hardcover. Also, occasionally, second hand, the hardcover editions are cheaper than paper back. I take that to mean that no one really ENJOYS read out of hardcover books, but they are nice for display.
I really enjoy reading from hardcovers, the quality ones with sewn signatures. For one thing, I often read at a table, and a good hardcover will stay open at the right place, lying on the table, without the use of my hands except to turn pages. The glued paperbacks not only need a weight to hold them open (at the moment, my weight is my pruning shears) which obscures some lines of the reading (maybe one could design a special "clip" of coat-hanger wire?), and if you open them enough to stay open by themselves, usually the spine breaks and then you have the pages fall out. Eventually, a much-read mass market paperback does that anyway. A good hardcover is more permanent.
I just made the decision that "Enchantment" is one of my Special "keep forever" (or until I die, anyway) books, and mailed my paperback copy to a friend I know will love it. I ordered a hardcover from Amazon.com (one of their associated sellers, actually: they were out of hardcovers themselves) as a belated Christmas present to myself. This discussion has me on the edge of my chair, though, waiting for it to come: if it's one of the kind with glued-in pages, it won't really be a trade-up from the paperback. It may be that I should have chosen one of the used ones called "library edition"--that may be a code for the difference. They list exactly what condition the used books are in, but don't say which sort the hardcovers are.
Actually, a lot of my paperbacks are "keep forever", but they're a lot harder to keep forever, and a lot harder to reread in pages-falling-out shape. But I couldn't possibly afford to trade-up all of them for hardcover, if the hardcovers of most were even available in any condition, like a lot of my fifties and sixties SF.
Sibyl
Posted by Hookt_Un_Fonix (Member # 10094) on :
If I find I really like a book I buy in hardcover. This I feel is my way of saying thanks tot he author for the entertainment. And I found that the hardcovers do last longer. Some books deserve to be reread and reread. Some are also for show. I have a few hardcovers signed by the authors that I do not read, but they do stir up conversation in my home. I am still trying to time a Card appearance to get a copy of Enders Game signed. I am hoping the release of Empire might spawn a book signing tour, so I can get this done,..hint hint hint OSC if your reading. Denver is a good place to visit lol.
Posted by Sibyl (Member # 10079) on :
quote:Originally posted by Sibyl: I just made the decision that "Enchantment" is one of my Special "keep forever" (or until I die, anyway) books, and mailed my paperback copy to a friend I know will love it. I ordered a hardcover from Amazon.com (one of their associated sellers, actually: they were out of hardcovers themselves) as a belated Christmas present to myself. This discussion has me on the edge of my chair, though, waiting for it to come: if it's one of the kind with glued-in pages, it won't really be a trade-up from the paperback. It may be that I should have chosen one of the used ones called "library edition"--that may be a code for the difference. They list exactly what condition the used books are in, but don't say which sort the hardcovers are.
Well, my book came in the mail, and I couldn't be happier. It's one of those that did _not_ say "Library Edition", but it has obvious (looked at the ends) sewn signatures, and though "used", in even better condition than the seller represented: I've seen "brand-new" books in bookstores that looked more shop-worn. And it's lovely--even to the little butterflies illuminating the chapter heads.
Thank you, whoever is overseeing publication details!
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