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HH series Hardback only/ WTH?


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Anyone have any information about the HH book series? 30$+ for the hardback is too much for me... Does this mean a lengthy wait for the paperback version of book 23, 24, etc? I e-mailed BL and they were less then helpful in addressing my question/ complaint.

 

Greed is a terrible thing.

 

BSS

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As with most books when first released - it's normal a 6-18 month gap between the main release in hard back and the later general release in paper back, this is further compounded by things like special editions, limited prints and signed copies - but yes it's normally a 6-18 month wait after main release to pick up a book in paper back.

Quote from Black Library on there Face Book page-

 

January will see the release of the 'trade' paperback (a new larger format) of Angel Exterminatus and then the 'mass-market' paperback will be out 6 months later.

 

The new larger format must be like the Space Marine Battle novels.

Okay, I understand that this is normally how a book is released with a 1 year lag between HC and PB, but what I don't like is that the first 22 books were released directly in PB, now BL decides to go HB first in the HH series... It just doesn't feel right.

 

BSS

The worst thing is the Ebook price went up to match the hardback price.

Paying twice as much for 3 or 4 ugly pieces of illustration that breaks immersion and in some cases display images that clash with what's described on the page.

 

Stopped buying from Black Library, instead started "borrowing" the books from my "friends".

I am glad! The BL printer/binder is starting to fall off a bit on their quality. The glue and binding are starting to go the way of Tor paperbacks with splits in the spine and pages falling out after minimal readings. I am stoked about the hardcovers; I can finally move some of my favorites off my pulp shelf onto the more dignified bookshelf.

 

Of course the paperbacks are generally only released after the hardcover sales start to fall off. For some books that is fairly quickly, within a few months; more popular books will continue to be recycled as hardcovers if the sales are high. Martin's Dance with Dragons has seriously been in hardcover for like 2+ years or something. Mad loot son.

Quote from Black Library on there Face Book page-

 

January will see the release of the 'trade' paperback (a new larger format) of Angel Exterminatus and then the 'mass-market' paperback will be out 6 months later.

 

The new larger format must be like the Space Marine Battle novels.

 

Fabulous! Looks like I've got a year to wait until my next HH installment then as I have no intention of wasting money on hardback or trade paperback. I did wonder how long it would be before GW realised they'd missed an opportunity to gouge their customers for yet more money.

Are space marine battles novels any dearer than the regular PB? If they aren't, I'll look at the trade PB, otherwise I'll wait, it's not like I'm up to date anymore anyway

At the moment the Space Marine Battles novels are priced at £8.99

But it looks like they will be going up in price to £9.99 from next year.

But the real bad news is on Amazon the RRP for the new large HH paperback novels is £12.99,lets just hope Amazon has got the RRP wrong.

I don't want to burst anyone's bubble, but most hardcovers are a bare step above a paperback in terms of durability and construction. I'm not a professional publisher, but I took a few bookbinding classes and know the ropes of book construction. If you want a quality book what you need is sewn binding. The stitching holds the paper much better than glue, but more than 95% of books produced are not sewn. Sewn bindings are almost always hardcover, although softcover books the size of codexes are occasionally sewn (especially children's books, as they see a lot of wear). A sewn binding paperback book has a much greater shelf-life than a glued hardcover (pages less likely to fall out unless the book comes under heavy abuse), although the paperback will be more prone to tears and creases on the cover and pages.

 

Paper quality is also something to consider, as paperbacks are most often from pulp (almost like newsprint) which accounts for the yellowing over time (hardbacks usually have somewhat better paper quality).

 

Games Workshop does produce sewn bindings, such as:

-6th edition rulebook (probably other rulebooks, I don't have them available)

-Index Astartes books (paperbacks)

-6th edition Chaos Codex

 

The other codexes I have to hand (5th ed Space Wolves, IG) are glued.

 

Forge World's Horus Heresy: Betrayal, a deluxe edition, has a sewn binding (not all "deluxe" editions from publishers are sewn, it's good to check before purchase, especially at that price).

 

All Black Library books I own (paperbacks, mass market and trade) are glued, and BL hardcovers I've seen are as well.

 

Some great publishers that produce sewn bindings:

-The Folio Society (UK based, can get good 2nd hand prices)

-Easton Press (spendy, leather bindings)

-Everyman's Library

-Library of America

 

If you can find a book you're looking for from one of the above publishers I'd go with them, although their selections are going to run more to the classics or historical works.

 

Back to the OP and to sum up, don't spend the extra money on a BL hardcover if you think by doing so you're getting a vastly superior product. I would only recommend getting the hardcover if you don't want to wait for the paperback.

I am not saying they are indestructible but even poorer quality HC seem to take wear and tear alot better than the cheaper bound/glued paperbacks. I think it is just less stress on the spine itself due to the larger size, especially after multiple readings, taking them to the hot-tub, yadda yadda yadda :lol: I've had plenty of smaller (near paperback) sized glued HCs come apart though. It will just be nice not to have to buy multiple copies of these books. I've had to purchase like 3 copies of nearly every book except Fulgrim, Battle for the Abyss and Deliverance Lost cause I have only read those once. All the rest were split glue and falling pages. Sad face :)
I am not saying they are indestructible but even poorer quality HC seem to take wear and tear alot better than the cheaper bound/glued paperbacks. I think it is just less stress on the spine itself due to the larger size, especially after multiple readings, taking them to the hot-tub, yadda yadda yadda :) I've had plenty of smaller (near paperback) sized glued HCs come apart though. It will just be nice not to have to buy multiple copies of these books. I've had to purchase like 3 copies of nearly every book except Fulgrim, Battle for the Abyss and Deliverance Lost cause I have only read those once. All the rest were split glue and falling pages. Sad face ;)

 

From my perspective, it depends (among other things) on how you treat your books, what sort of climate you live in, and what's important to you about a book. I'm middle of the road on how I treat hardcover and paperback books, neither gentle nor harsh (I crack the spines, etc.) (On the other hand, I treat well-made books with quality bindings with great care, even thought these volumes can stand rougher use). The dust-jacket is the element of a hardcover book both most prone to destruction and most determinative of value, making them in some ways even more fragile than paperbacks. A solid hardcover book with a ripped and bent dust-jacket will usually only be worth pennies. I realize most people buy books without an eye on selling them, but a hardcover book with a tattered dust-jacket still makes a poor showing on the bookshelf.

 

As far as pages falling out of books, I live in a desert climate and this happens about twice as often (perhaps a bit more) for my paperbacks as for hardcovers.

I prefer paperbacks. They're lighter and I often read on the bus or somewhere out so I don't like when a book is too heavy (Damn you, omnibuses!). Also paperback is cheaper, it's an important factor for me. The last thing is that I like my collection to be consistent, I have every HH book in paperback so I won't buy any HC. I even hated when BL changed its logo.... 8 books with an old one, 1 with current, 2 with an old one, the rest with current.... damnation!

Between the Hardcovers, Audio Dramas, eBooks, and 'limited edition' books, I'm not very happy with the way the BL has been going with the HH books.

 

Note to BL: I want to give you money in exchange for books. This becomes difficult when what you are publishing isn't in the form of a book, or you don't print enough so that I can purchase one.

I prefer paperbacks. Also paperback is cheaper, it's an important factor for me. The last thing is that I like my collection to be consistent, I have every HH book in paperback so I won't buy any HC. I even hated when BL changed its logo.... 8 books with an old one, 1 with current, 2 with an old one, the rest with current.... damnation!

 

 

I to prefer the consistancy, so will buy PB,

 

BL knows there are plenty of HH crack whores who will pony up the extra cash just to get the books sooner rather than later. Personnaly thats their choice. Just like people buying limited edition books which then become available a year or two later.

 

their are plenty of better & cheaper books to read if people can be bothered

Umm no. They covered this. on their blog forever and a half ago. All Horus Heresy books except for the exclusive editions will be published in a hardback edition and three months later a paperback edition will be released. Exclusive editions will eventually see a reprint into paperback as part of an anthology. And they are reprinting the older books as hardbacks for those who want them. It does not mean all books will only be in hardbacks. Just because profits are a pain in the butt to come by nowadays doesn't every little new thing or price hike is a corporate conspiracy.
I don't think they were planning on ebooks selling like they did and since they can't lower the prices, the revenue has to be made up somewhere. Also, the e-"novels" are much bigger than the regular 100-page e-"novellas" they started selling so that has to be taken into account as well.
I don't think they were planning on ebooks selling like they did and since they can't lower the prices, the revenue has to be made up somewhere. Also, the e-"novels" are much bigger than the regular 100-page e-"novellas" they started selling so that has to be taken into account as well.

 

Deliverance Lost and other earlier HH books cost £6,50, Betrayal and Angel Exterminatus cost £11,99.

Yeah, both of those books have drawings in them that will be sold with the ebooks. More material means higher price. If you look at the item pages for each one, it says so in the "About this Edition." That's why it says "Title(Enhanced eBook).

 

EDIT: Case in Point. The Flight of the Eisenstein

 

Regular EBook

 

Enhanced Version

 

The regular edition is on page two of the Items Pages.

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