In progress and on hold

[kinzel]

Some things are in progress and some things are on hold. Imagine that.

First, I have news from the SRM Publisher ISP about a kernel panic and Plesk issues. Lucky us. I've not had reliable email there for several days. This is not useful since I have been trying to mail out LUC2 late notices from there... and I've been getting mail from the printer at that address too. If you're trying to reach me and can't, please be patient.

Elsewise, today's trip to Augusta confirms that we *can* get a relatively short run, high quality mass-market sized paperback from our local supplier. What we can't do is get the short run at prices competitive with the 5000 copy minimums most printers expect for that size books. I can start with a 600 copy press run... if we can sell the book for around $10.

So... seriously: I'm asking you, readers most of you, would you pay $9.99 for a mass market sized copy of Liaden Universe Companion Volume 1, produced on a 60 lb paper which is much more opaque, whiter, and thicker than "standard mass market" paper. We can do a full-color cover, though the people who saw our mock-up liked the high-white with some spot color cover. This is a way to try to get/keep LUC 1 in print without needing financing and a huge warehouse. If we can make this work we may be able to do some of those other anthologies I've mentioned in the last couple months as well.

Comments

[havocthecat]

Yep, I'd buy at least one copy. Maybe more.

[zola.livejournal.com]

Would do so with pleasure.

[keristor.livejournal.com]

$10 is 5 pounds sterling, that is way lower than the cost of most mass-market paperbacks (typically 7.99 these days). Even adding in the extra shipping to the UK. I'll have 2.

[reedrover]

Yes. I'd buy at least two.

[angela-n-hunt.livejournal.com]

I'd pay $20 for that book. Or at least buy two or five.

[drammar.livejournal.com]

I too would buy several at that price.

[pmrabble.livejournal.com]

The LUC2 late notice did make it to Minnesota.

[sraun]

Lucky you - it hasn't gotten to me yet.

[(Anonymous)]

Burton from MO\ontreal

I would take a LUC2 mass market copy for $10 ($11.50 CAD). It's slightly more pricey than other similar paperbacks.

No notification on LUC2 progess from SRM yet in Montreal.

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

I would.

[green-knight.livejournal.com]

I would, with pleasure, as I hate trade paperbacks. They are just too hard to handle, and I am much more reluctant to read them, regardless of the quality of the contents.

mass market LU 1

[(Anonymous)]

I would be very cautious about purchasing LU 1 at the price quoted. Most of us fans have already purchased the volume. New customers are going to compare your costs with the average new paperback at $7-8, and conclude it is a bad deal. If you have a waiting list of customers clamoring for LU 1, this investment would be worthwhile. Otherwise, I would recommend focusing your resources on LV 2, where a market is ready made, rather than a re-issue.
Jean E

[jelazakazone.livejournal.com]

We already have the LUC1 in trade paperback size, but if you did LUC2 in this version, we'd be very interested. We also prefer mass market size to trade.

[rahaeli.livejournal.com]

Honestly, $9.99 isn't all that much more expensive than what I'm already paying for mass-market paperbacks -- and those are crap quality.

(Insert rant about the publishing industry here.)

[painoarvokas.livejournal.com]

Personally, I don't have a need for a new copy of the LUC1 (I not only have the trade paperback, but I also have the e-book Unibuses), but I might want to get copies for certain friends who I occasionally gift with good foreign books. For that use case, the 10 dollar cost would not be an issue, especially when the postage to Finland is in the same order of magnitude.

[bekel.livejournal.com]

I think $10 for LUC1, given the increase in quality of the paper AND the higher contrast between the text and the paper, is very reasonable. Those of us with low vision issues really appreciate those small details.

I also have the trade paperback and the e-books from Baen, but I have family members and friends who _need_ copies. ;)

$9.99 MM

[(Anonymous)]

The problem with the $9.99 MM is when you add in postage that's the equivalent of a HB from Amazon when you order $25 worth that qualifies for free shipping.

Re: $9.99 MM

[kinzel.livejournal.com]

Perhaps I haven't been clear enough.

The choice is mass market paperback or having the book unavailable.

Steve

The trouble is --

[alfreda89.livejournal.com]

Evryone I've turned on to the Liaden Universe(tm) has either the chapbooks, or the chapbooks and the trade/hardbk. I would probably buy one for my nephew, who is seriously into fantasy, in hopes of luring him to Korval.

Re: The trouble is --

[lamia9.livejournal.com]

While having the chapbooks is satisfying, sooo much more satisfying to have a weighty book. Not to mention the chapbooks keep falling out of my bookcase. Please make LUC1 available--I'll pay $9.99. Or even more.

Re: The trouble is --

[alfreda89.livejournal.com]

Clearly, we should be petitioning for a bookslip cover for our chapbooks!

Genius!!!

[sraun]

I'm a completist - I'll buy at least one!

[(Anonymous)]

Cost is relatively unimportant. I'd buy LUC1 and LUC2.

[(Anonymous)]

HI Steve. I'm a faithful lurker and have almost everything you guys have written but would be glad to buy a copy to continue to support excellent storytelling!

[ixixlix.livejournal.com]

I'd buy at least one, so I could have a tote-around-in-the-purse version. The hardcopy LUC #1 is too heavy for casual toting.

[orlacarey.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure. Already having both the trade paperback version and the electronic version I doubt I'd be willing to buy a mass market version for that price. On the other hand I'd probably steer other people your way for them.

[filkferengi]

I'd definitely buy it, & definitely recommend it [enthusiastically]. It's a lot of quality for the price, in more ways than one.

Yes on the 9.99 copy of LUCV1

[(Anonymous)]

Hello, this is my first time posting, though I am a devoted fan from the moment I purchased Partners in Necessity from the Science Fiction Book Club. I would be happy to purchase LUCV1 at ten or even twenty dollars. Somehow, the pressures of life mandated that I miss the first run of that collection. Please continue your heroic efforts.

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

Yes, of course.

[lornastutz.livejournal.com]

with the prices of paperbacks anyway, I'd pay the $10.
Lorna

[kk1raven.livejournal.com]

The price isn't that much higher than most new mass market paperbacks and it doesn't seem unreasonable for a better quality book.