Why no hardcovers?

[Dave Monroe]

On Wed, Jun 27, 2012 at 9:49 AM, Paul Mackin <mackin.paul at verizon.net> wrote:

> Bekah--Your preference for quality soft covers when available reminds me of
> the 1973 release of GR.  An order of magnitude more people must have bought
> the soft cover than the hard, which helps explain why collectors pay more
> for the latter.  (other reason is the softs fall apart--mine sure did) But
> what I'm wondering is who made the decision do it this way.  It was an
> unusual way to go. Was it an experiment to see the bottom line effect?  Did
> TP have a role?  Don't suppose anyone knows, but I do wonder.

There were only 5000 copies of the hardcover printed.  The paperback
1st ed. was released simultaneously.  Viking's decision, one would
assume.