I'd like opinions please! Some members of my family complain about the number of Star Trek novels I have, I just can't sell any of them. How long do you all keep Star Trek novels? James
I don't sell books, or part with them otherwise, other than the odd extra copy I've given away to friends. The whole idea seems strange to me. I was brought up with a notion of books being something special, and a book collection being something that stays with you and that you keep adding to as you make your way through life. My father handled it that way, and when he passed away I inherited his own sizable collection, which I cherish as a reflection of his developing interests through his years. I occassionally pick one up and read it, and that always reminds me of something ebooks so far don't usually provide: The physical object opens a connection to past readers with every little chink in a page, or coffee stain, etc.
Do to a lack of space 99 percent of my books are in a tote in the garage. I would never part with them. I had envisioned a bookcase full of books. Sadly, again, no room. Plus now add the invention of the kindle, which is where all my books (except Titian novels as I have every book not Typhon pact) will go. If I ever have a room I will be on amazon buying used books.
Most Star Trek fans keep them forever. I know I intend to. If you family is pressuring you to sell them, tell them the way I had to, to mind their own business. Hey, you could have a stack of XXX porn on your shelf but you don't? They should be thankful for that. If YOU want to get rid of them I suggest donating them to your local library. They will be happy to take them.
^ Well, that's harsh. Living together does require compromise, "mind your own business" can't always win the day. I'd suggest trying instead to make them understand how important the books are to you, if they are.
I have one copy of every single Star Trek novel published(upward of 400), and they're taking up four bookcases in my den. Coming up pretty quick, I'm going to need another one.
about ten years ago i had a problem with too many Trek novels. i donated half to my local library and traded the other half...for more Trek novels. right now my Trek novels take up three or four shelves on a rather large bookcase.
If you have no choice but to get rid of them, do us writers and our publisher a favor: stage a massive Star Trek novel book-burning, and call your local TV news stations to come and record it. Make a big show of accusing us of peddling anti-American, left-wing, socialist propaganda, then douse the pyramid of books (make sure to leave empty space inside for air flow) with lighter fluid and set them ablaze. The resulting bump in public awareness and the cachet of seeing our books up in flames ought to boost sales and help us steal a few spots on the bestseller list from the Star Wars books.
You know, it's crazy, but it just might work . . . Just our luck, though, the media will carelessly report that it was Star Wars books that were burned!
Then someone will try to correct the story; someone else will ask, "What's the difference?" And some smartass will answer, "There isn't any."
It's not strictly on-topic, but as a morale booster for our attention-seeking author friends: Star Wars might beat Trek in the bestseller lists, but I'm willing to bet it's the more satisfying audience to write for ... An acquaintance of mine is likely among the top 10k of programmers on the planet in terms of expertise and skill, and commands a salary that reflects that, along with a string of high-ranking positions in some of the biggest technology companies in the industry (currently, Intel). And one of his favorite past times is eating up TrekLit novels in great numbers. Sure, that's still just one sale per book, but I imagine there must be more like him buying the line - Star Trek's popularity among the highly educated and skilled probably does extend to the novels. It has to be satisfying to know that you've got readers who will appreciate when you go the extra mile on a book.
I have never gotten rid of any of my Star Trek books. I do get rid of other books (so Star Trek can then take over more of that bookcase).
I got one that I'm waiting for to get better. Does that count? Or for me to get worse. COTS. Sorry. I like her and the way that she writes but like I said, I'm just waiting for the story to get better. She might have missed, IMO. I feel terrible now. Forget it. I take that back.
I had no choice but to get rid of my collection of approximately 300 Star Trek books shortly after I got married and moved into a smaller apartment. I had read them and although I regret selling them for next to nothing at Half Price Books, I know that someone else will eventually get enjoyment from reading them. I just didn't have the space anymore but now that I have my Kindle, I'm slowly rebuilding my collection.
With all the electronic devices in existence today which people can use to read books, are real books going to go extinct?(In a manner of speaking!) James