So, I have to ask, why do publishers do the two books in one binding thing? I don't get it.
A few years ago, I picked up a book called "Harmony" in Dollar Tree that was the first three of the Homecoming books all bound together. Then today, I was talking to someone who told me they were reading "Ender's War". When I googled it, it's "Ender's Game" and Speaker bound together.
Why? What is the motivation here? It seems like you'd sell more books if you didn't do this kind of thing. Besides, the different titles are confusing.
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
A lot of people buying books would only buy the first one if they bought them separately. For a relatively small markup (as shelf space, even virtual shelf space, is one of the biggest expenses in a book), the publisher can sell two books together (provided people are interested *enough* in the sequel to not mind the markup over the first book).
Posted by Stone_Wolf_ (Member # 8299) on :
Ender's War (horrible title) is a book club book...I most often see the "two for one"s in book club offers.
I own it by the way...worst [url= http://www.saltmanz.com/pictures/Cover%20Scans/Book%20Covers/Ender%27s+War.jpg.php]pic[/url] of Ender on the cover ever!
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
I love omnibus editions.
Posted by Stephan (Member # 7549) on :
I like them. If you bought the first three homecoming books for $1, I wouldn't complain too much.
I found the same type of book that had the first three Alvin books at a used book store for $5.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
I dislike them, but own many of them, mostly book club books that I bought used.
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
I've actually got both of the omnibus editions of the Homecoming series - and when I got them signed, even Mr. Card said "Wow, you don't see these every day..." Posted by DDDaysh (Member # 9499) on :
quote:Originally posted by Stephan: I like them. If you bought the first three homecoming books for $1, I wouldn't complain too much.
I found the same type of book that had the first three Alvin books at a used book store for $5.
I wasn't complaining. I knew what I was getting when I bought it, and I actually owned all three of the books already, but it was at Dollar Tree and worth the dollar just for the novelty of it! (I actually got a hard cover of "Knife of Dreams" the same way.)
I was just a little curious as to why the printers would have bound it in the first place, since it actually seems inefficient - especially if you change the title, since someone just browsing wouldn't immediately recognize the book. I guess the book club thing makes sense though.
Posted by Strider (Member # 1807) on :
I used to have an account with the Science Fiction Book Club. A lot of my books are those two in one or three in one additions. That includes the previously mentioned Ender's War, also the first three Alvin Maker books, the first three Foundation books, most of Saberhagen's Book of Swords and Lost Swords series, and a bunch more as well. It was a cheap way to get books when I was a teenager (or at least the cheapest way I knew of back then).
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
The only compilation hardback I own is The Last Herald-Mage, composed of Magic's Pawn, Magic's Promise and Magic's Price. While I don't have have the luxury of slipping it my back pocket and reading while I'm about, I do enjoy the massive tome. I suppose my only argument against compiled copies is when they do not compose the entire series, I once saw a book simply titled The Vampire Chronicles but it stopped at Tale of the Body Thief.
Posted by Pegasus (Member # 10464) on :
I got hooked on Card with the Ender's War book, although I agree it is a little weird.
Posted by odouls268 (Member # 2145) on :
quote:Originally posted by Carrie: I've actually got both of the omnibus editions of the Homecoming series - and when I got them signed, even Mr. Card said "Wow, you don't see these every day..."
He had the same response when I gave him an original copy of the August 1977 issue of Analog to sign (first appearance of the original Ender's Game short story.)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)