The Hunger Games Series Paperback/Publishers Are Lame

[Strycher]

Like any good writing monkey, I thought I'd check out the HUNGER GAMES since it's super popular right now and I read several reviews that praised its plot.

The first book, HUNGER GAMES, is available in paperback. The second book CATCHING FIRE and the third book MOCKINGJAY are only available in hardback.

Paperback editions where released and about a month ago they where available at Wal-Mart. I found today that now only the hardbacks are sold at B&N. And Wal-Mart. And BooksaMillion.com. And Scholastic.com.

If I want to read the HUNGER GAMES trilogy, I will have to order it from the UK, or pay a lot of extra cash here for the hardcovers.

And this is where I say: Publishers are lame.

So, now I'm going to a buy some paperbacks second hand from Amazon. It's too bad, since you know, I was going to give the publisher and the brick and mortar bookstore my money.

Am I too cynical?

[kyle]

You know, your local library may be able to help you out.

[izanobu]

Nah. Though I read them all on my Kindle. :)

I tried to buy the extended Return of the King recently. Both places near me that sell dvds were out of copies. One said they could order it for me and it would take a couple weeks. The other said they had more copies coming in and it would be there in about 5-7 days.

So I went to Amazon. And ordered it for dollars less than the stores were selling it (I'd been willing to pay a little more to have it *right now*) and it arrived the next day (was supposed to be free 2 day shipping, but I got my order in early in the morning).

So maybe I'm jaded, too. I was willing to support my local stores right up to the point they couldn't give me what I want.

[Sai]

If I want to read the HUNGER GAMES trilogy, I will have to order it from the UK, or pay a lot of extra cash here for the hardcovers.

This seems like the definition of a 'first world problem.'

[Grayson Morris]

If I want to read the HUNGER GAMES trilogy, I will have to order it from the UK, or pay a lot of extra cash here for the hardcovers.

This seems like the definition of a 'first world problem.'

Indeed. I think the proper attitude toward first-world problems is humble gratitude that they're the kind we're having (which doesn't negate our right to see them as problems).

[Strycher]

This seems like the definition of a 'first world problem.'

I was mostly just irritated that although paperback copies are available the publisher has pulled the copies from retailer shelves in an effort to force people to buy the hard cover because they know with a movie coming out the demand will be high.

I think that behaving with this prickish attitude in various business practices is a major factor in why the publishing industry is losing stability. And why Amazon will probably win. Publishers complain about loss of profit while simultaneously providing poor customer service.

I was not trying to sound whiny, but I thought it was relevant writers and thought I'd see if anyone else had an opinion.

In fairness, Sai, every single post on these threads that has even a modicum of complaint to them is unequivocally first-world problems. I'm assuming you have never lamented a missed submission, a delayed response from an editor, nor expressed concern that you may or may not have what it takes to achieve your writing goals.

The entire concept of writing and publishing is a luxury and thereby any discussion on these subjects is lavish. Not sure how my post is different from any other post about publishing's industry standards.

[Grayson Morris]

In fairness, Sai, every single post on these threads that has even a modicum of complaint to them is unequivocally first-world problems. I'm assuming you have never lamented a missed submission, a delayed response from an editor, nor expressed concern that you may or may not have what it takes to achieve your writing goals.

The entire concept of writing and publishing is a luxury and thereby any discussion on these subjects is lavish. Not sure how my post is different from any other post about publishing's industry standards.

Well said.

[Sai]

This seems like the definition of a 'first world problem.'

I was mostly just irritated that although paperback copies are available the publisher has pulled the copies from retailer shelves in an effort to force people to buy the hard cover because they know with a movie coming out the demand will be high.

I think that behaving with this prickish attitude in various business practices is a major factor in why the publishing industry is losing stability. And why Amazon will probably win. Publishers complain about loss of profit while simultaneously providing poor customer service.

I was not trying to sound whiny, but I thought it was relevant writers and thought I'd see if anyone else had an opinion.

In fairness, Sai, every single post on these threads that has even a modicum of complaint to them is unequivocally first-world problems. I'm assuming you have never lamented a missed submission, a delayed response from an editor, nor expressed concern that you may or may not have what it takes to achieve your writing goals.

The entire concept of writing and publishing is a luxury and thereby any discussion on these subjects is lavish. Not sure how my post is different from any other post about publishing's industry standards.

Yeah, you're right about the pulling the paperbacks off the shelves in order to make extra bucks off the hardcovers is a dickish move and not very good business practice (after all, the end result in your case was that you took your business elsewhere). I've never ran into that problem personally but I would probably let a manager know that I wasn't pleased with how they did business.

And you're right, people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones (who the hell would want to live in a glass house anyway? You could never just lounge around naked). Sure I've complained about trivial shit. Though I disagree with you about writing being a luxury (publishing maybe ;) ) but that's another topic (that could make for an interesting thread perhaps). Discussing the failure of brick and mortar stores to make themselves an appealing option to customers is an interesting topic, and I'll try not to derail the thread anymore from that.

[Strycher]

I wrote the publisher. Asking to speak to a manger while you have a two-year old in tow, when you're literally going to every store that sells novels in town, is an excellent way to get Gatorade in your hair and tiny Batmobile tracks on your face.

ETA: Clarity.

[Sai]

I wrote the publisher. Asking to speak to a manger with a two-year old in tow when you're literally going to every store that sells novels in town is an excellent way to get Gatorade in your hair and tiny Batmobile tracks on your face.

Geez, the book store managers in your town sound crazy.

[Strycher]

It's true, my whole community is really a day care.

[soulmirror]

Ha! Us and our 'First world problem' ... back in the day, if you were in the USSR you probably didn't dare write anything beyond 'speculative' about how great the workers' utopia would be ('Even more perfect than today!') ... and you'd have to assume that a waylaid submission was late because it was still making the rounds thru the KGB / secret thought police.

And among the Khmer Rouge horrors, even to reveal that you COULD read and write betrayed that you were 'infected by intellectualism' and it was the re-education camps for you (if lucky) ... or a nameless mass grave (if not).

Preach on! In big parts of the world, "hunger" is no "game" etc ...

[gower21]

Glad I got them all on Kindle before the big movie hababaloo. I think you could lend them out for one time. I traded them with a friend who let me read one of the Amanda Hocking trilogies in exchange.

Library is good, so is a used book store...but I never remember those things when I want a book now. And our nice "local bookstore" never will carry anything popular. It's like that episode of Portlandia where the two hippy ladies in the feminist bookstore won't let a college student get a book because it doesn't really preach the feminist best practices.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ohk-Ey01c9k

That clip pretty much sums up my local book seller experience. I'd LOVE to support a local business, so hopefully some day one will be able to survive in our area.

[Jess]

Glad I got them all on Kindle before the big movie hababaloo. I think you could lend them out for one time. I traded them with a friend who let me read one of the Amanda Hocking trilogies in exchange.

Library is good, so is a used book store...but I never remember those things when I want a book now. And our nice "local bookstore" never will carry anything popular. It's like that episode of Portlandia where the two hippy ladies in the feminist bookstore won't let a college student get a book because it doesn't really preach the feminist best practices.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ohk-Ey01c9k

That clip pretty much sums up my local book seller experience. I'd LOVE to support a local business, so hopefully some day one will be able to survive in our area.

Well, at least they have 'Ethel the Aardvark Goes Quantity Surveying.'