Weird promotion practices

[F. King Daniel]

The novelization of STXI was on the New York Times bestseller list. I'm sure if those four sequel novels had been released they would have made a far bigger impact than TOS novel #257.

The number of novels released per-year was halved in 2005, after the demise of Rick Berman's Star Trek. It has nothing whatsoever to do with STXI.

 

[BillJ]

The novelization of STXI was on the New York Times bestseller list. I'm sure if those four sequel novels had been released they would have made a far bigger impact than TOS novel #257.

The number of novels released per-year was halved in 2005, after the demise of Rick Berman's Star Trek. It has nothing whatsoever to do with STXI.

I don't think the novels based on the new universe would have sold that much better. They would've been placed with the regular Trek novels and only the people actually looking for (which is a small number) them would have found them.

There is no shame in admitting Star Wars just plain sells better, Lucas has avoided the over-saturation that has plagued Trek products since the early-mid 90's. Guess that's the difference between a creator owned property and a property controlled by a corporation.

 

[kkozoriz1]

There's also fewer books because Pocket cut the number of titles they publish in half.

Considering the quality of some of those books, a wise decision.

Because Pocket would cut back on the number of books they sold even if they were selling well if they thought the quality wasn't up to snuff.

If they were selling, they'd be selling them.

 

[kkozoriz1]

The novelization of STXI was on the New York Times bestseller list. I'm sure if those four sequel novels had been released they would have made a far bigger impact than TOS novel #257.

The number of novels released per-year was halved in 2005, after the demise of Rick Berman's Star Trek. It has nothing whatsoever to do with STXI.

You're sure they would have, are you? And what are you basing that on exactly? A gut feeling? Marketing research? Reviews based on copies smuggled out of the editorial offices in the dead of night?

You will notice that the novel count hasn't gone back up under XI either.

 

[F. King Daniel]

The STXI-related comics (Countdown, Nero) outsold IDW's regular Star Trek stuff. I believe we covered this in the Treklit forum, kkozoriz1.

The novel count hasn't gone up because STXI fans don't necessarily want to read about Captain Dax of the USS Aventine, or Captain Riker of the Titan. They want to read about Chris Pine's Kirk and Zach Quinto's Spock. You may have also blinked really hard and missed the recession.

 

[BillJ]

The STXI-related comics (Countdown, Nero) outsold IDW's regular Star Trek stuff. I believe we covered this in the Treklit forum, kkozoriz1.

Which are still small when compared to Star Wars.

The novel count hasn't gone up because STXI fans don't necessarily want to read about Captain Dax of the USS Aventine, or Captain Riker of the Titan. They want to read about Chris Pine's Kirk and Zach Quinto's Spock. You may have also blinked really hard and missed the recession.

The only way the Trek XI books would've outsold the regular ones, is if they had books ready when the film premiered. Waiting a year killed any momentum they could have gotten from Trek XI.

 

[kkozoriz1]

The STXI-related comics (Countdown, Nero) outsold IDW's regular Star Trek stuff. I believe we covered this in the Treklit forum, kkozoriz1.

The novel count hasn't gone up because STXI fans don't necessarily want to read about Captain Dax of the USS Aventine, or Captain Riker of the Titan. They want to read about Chris Pine's Kirk and Zach Quinto's Spock. You may have also blinked really hard and missed the recession.

And yet IDW has just cut back on their Trek line as well. Boy, that new movie is really helping keep Trek alive, isn't it?

And you're saying that the XI fans only want XI and yet the people that enjoy most of what has gone before are the ones that don't have an open mind, gotcha.

It's funny how the recession didn't seem to hurt the movie itself. I guess the people who went to it really were just looking for nothing more that a summer popcorn action flick. The rest of the franchise sure isn't seeing any interest.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Which are still small when compared to Star Wars

So what? This isn't about Star Wars at all. They've been leagues ahead for ages and ages.

Boy, that new movie sure is helping keep Trek alive, isn't it?

With two more films on the way, I would say yes, very much so. As far as the tie-ins go, they've been around in one form or another for 40 years. If IDW's line crashes and burns (and with titles like "Leonard McCoy: Frontier Doctor" who can blame people from staying away?), someone else will come along eventually.

And you're saying that the XI fans only want XI and yet the people who enjoy most of what has gone before are the the ones that don't have an open mind, gotcha.

What's open mindedness got to do with it? STXI isn't the same as old Trek. You wouldn't expect all Dark Knight fans to like Adam West's Batman, would you? Or every TNG fan to unconditionally like DS9 or Enterprise?

 

[kkozoriz1]

What's open mindedness got to do with it? STXI isn't the same as old Trek. You wouldn't expect all Dark Knight fans to like Adam West's Batman, would you? Or every TNG fan to unconditionally like DS9 or Enterprise?

And yet when a fan expresses a dislike of any part of XI you're right in there calling them down. Funny how that goes, isn't it?

 

[ST-One]

Boy, that new movie is really helping keep Trek alive, isn't it?

They are still going to produce another movie, if I'm not mistaken.

 

[F. King Daniel]

And yet when a fan expresses a dislike of any part of XI you're right in there calling them down. Funny how that goes, isn't it?

There's a big difference between not liking a movie and making big baseless acusations like "Star Trek is dying". What I think you mean to say is "the Star Trek I loved is dying" (that goes for the post-Destiny novels, too). I know the feeling - I was a huge Stargate fan until SGU showed up and turned it into a feeble BSG rip-off. Shit happens.

And I'd hardly call it "calling them down" when I point out that most of STXI's sillier aspects have happened before, sometimes (like in the case of the mirror universe) to a much larger extent.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Boy, that new movie sure is helping keep Trek alive, isn't it?

With two more films on the way, I would say yes, very much so.

TWO more?

 

[M'Sharak]

Boy, that new movie sure is helping keep Trek alive, isn't it?

With two more films on the way, I would say yes, very much so.

TWO more?

The principals were all contracted for three movies (and you knew this perfectly well,) so yes, two more. Why the big surprise act?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

The principals were all contracted for three movies (and you knew this perfectly well,)

No, I didn't.

In any case, ST XIII is not being thought of right now (XII is the only one actually being worked on). Also, just because the cast are *contracted* for three movies doesn't mean that's what we'll eventually GET.

Look at the Bond franchise, for example. MGM is in so much financial trouble that we may never see another Bond film, even though Daniel Craig is contracted for more...

Also, actors can still quit or otherwise opt out of their contracts, can't they? They may get sued for breach of contract, but in the end, actors can't be forced to do films they honestly no longer want to.

 

[BillJ]

The principals were all contracted for three movies (and you knew this perfectly well,)

No, I didn't.

In any case, ST XIII is not being thought of right now (XII is the only one actually being worked on). Also, just because the cast are *contracted* for three movies doesn't mean that's what we'll eventually GET.

Look at the Bond franchise, for example. MGM is in so much financial trouble that we may never see another Bond film, even though Daniel Craig is contracted for more...

Also, actors can still quit or otherwise opt out of their contracts, can't they? They may get sued for breach of contract, but in the end, actors can't be forced to do films they honestly no longer want to.

I'm sure there are all kinds of 'outs' in a contract that is like what is described above. I like to think of in in sports terms... 'they've agreed in principal to be in three films'.