ATD first editions (WAS Re: Mason & Dixon 1st ed. hardbacks...)

[robinlandseadel at comcast.net]

Yes, those numbers are typical. Stephen King novels and other genre fiction like Janet Evanovich or Nora Roberts have a comparatively short shelf life as Hardbound books, swiftly moving to QP and then MM (quality paperback and mass market). The "rollout" of these blockbusters follow the same rules as horror films: try get to as many eyeballs as quickly as possiable before the spell wears off, and get these titles into as many stores as possiable, in real big quantities. If "Against the Day" becomes the event of the season, you can bet more copies will make their way to big box retailers. But, seeing as Mason & Dixon ended up on the remaindered piles (got four copies from that heap, now sitting on shelves in my storage shed) and that Pynchon has a justified reputation for "difficulty", don't expect the upcoming novel to move in Dan Brown quantities. It just ain't gonna happen, not at a wrist spraining/brain breaking 1100 odd pages.
 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Tim Strzechowski" <dedalus204 at comcast.net>
> Yesterday, I went to the Borders near my house and, while I was there, asked 
> the manager if they had the editions of AtD in the building yet.  He said 
> yes and, after looking on the computer, said they were starting with only 20 
> copies.
> 
> The newest Stephen King novel started this week with over 60 in stock.
> 
> Since I know nothing about the publishing business, are such low starting 
> numbers typical?  I guess J.K. Rowling is the only one blessed with 1000 
> editions on day one.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> > ....are plentiful, especially remaindered copies that
> > have been marked as such, but...I talked with a book
> > collector and seller today who told me he's holding
> > onto a dozen pristine M&D 1st editions, he figures
> > they will be worth plenty in another decade or so when
> > most of the rest have faded away.
> >
>