I kind of wonder about whether reprints of book will soon disappear.
Now, with the ability to make these books available to those with ereaders, is there much reason for another press to reprint a book later.
This depresses me as so many things do. I love to see the second cover a book gets. And many of my books are reprints rather than the original version.
What do you think? Will there be any financial payoff for presses who do a hard copy reprint?
13 comments:
Maybe this is where small publishers pick up the slack with reasonably priced collectors editions complete with illustrations and excellent introductions (look at what David Laurence is doing for the books at Stark House; masterpieces). Plus there's always POD where you can print only as many as you need at a time. Obviously none of these editions will make it into the chains. As Kris Rusch noted, chains are stocking fewer and fewer books, making room for video games, etc.
If there are readers for it, I think the book will still be reprinted, but for the mid-list, I think the opportunity to publish your older books via e.g. Smashwords is more realistic. And though I love holding a paper book in my hand, I am more willing to take a chance with a new author if I can get a cheap e-book without shipping costs immediately.
The Worst Case Scenario is that reprinting will be a cottage industry of small presses. And, I suspect, a pricey proposition. The siren call of cheap (or free) ebooks will continue to transform the publishing industry.
I don't see reprints ending any time soon. Of course, they may just be reprints of bestsellers and certain "reliable" authors like Agatha Christie...but that's a separate issue.
Jeff M.
Like Jeff and the rest here I don't see reprints vanishing. It's just that readers want their favorites reprinted and the publishers aren't paying any attention to us. Curt Evans and I put up a continual clamor for certain "forgotten classics" to be reprinted by small presses. Our fervent requests usually fall on deaf ears...or eyes, since we tend to do all this via email.
Congrats, BTW, on you finals placement in the "Watery Grave" invitational writing contest. Since it wasn't it the top three I won't be able to read it at that site. Too bad.
Thanks, John. I will probably try to get it online or in print somewhere.
There are so many books I would like to read if they would just reprint them!!
The picture with this comment brought back memories. I worked in a print shop in the 50's (lead type) and for a newspaper in the earlier days of offset printing but before computers as we know them now.
Maybe all that gives a hint to the answer to your question. In developed countries like ours, a remnant of the old ways will remain. The old ways will not be dominant as they were in their heyday.
In spite of the dreamers (and I'm one of them) the e-book will effing flush the entire ink-on-paper book publishing and reading industry: prints, reprints, librarys, book stores, you name it.
By the way, happy Father's Day to Phil.
Thanks, Rick and I am afraid you are right.
I don't much care about the "print" in reprint, as long as I can get a digital copy. In fact, I think the economics make that medium a lot more likely. I would guess that print and electronic books have the same setup costs, but with e-books you don't have to sink any money into a print run.
I think it will become a cottage industry--but, as noted above, a pricey one. There will still be issues involving rights, payments, etc. Oh well, since even after culling, my tbr pile is well over 300 books, I suppose I have some time left before I have to make the decision to buy an e-reader.
Mine too so why do I keep adding to the pile. Those Nero Wolfe reprints are lovely.
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