2022 book releases

Could the reason we have large gaps in 2022 be due to after Coda that authors have to come up with new ideas and then write the novels?

 

No, because most of the novels that would get commissioned these days would probably be in lines unaffected by Coda, e.g. TOS, Discovery, Picard, or during-the-series TNG or DS9 novels like we got last year.

 

Huh? Authors would have to come up with new ideas and then write the novels regardless if Coda were a thing or not.

 

Do you know the reason for the gap in2022?

 

I sure don't but my speculations echo what's already been speculated: everything's moving a little slower due to supply issues, and also they may be evaluating recent sales trends or waiting to make announcements until the release schedule for new shows is a little more firm.

 

I do not.

 

It could be the obvious: Perhaps S&S have determined that the 2021 rate of novel releases isn't financially viable, and so they've cut down.

 

I'd believe that. Anecdotes are not data and all that, but I know that I've cut back my Trek novel purchases over the last two years.

 

This was one of the times I wish an author or someone better in the know would sweep into the thread and say I'm stupid for even suggesting such a thing.

 

It would be really nice if there was a book equivalent to BoxOfficeMojo. Something like BookScan but not ridiculously expensive and also more comprehensive. Obviously there's no infrastructure or central database tracking all book sales but it sure would be sweet information to play with.

 

That's the reason Marvel stopped publishing Star Trek comics abruptly in 1998 -- they discovered they were losing money on the proposition with no way of turning a profit.

 

I gather that book sales have been down across the board due to the pandemic, so hopefully that would be taken into account.

 

Actually general market book sales went up noticeably in 2020, though larger declines in the niches of textbooks and professional books meant that publishing revenues were pretty flat overall.

 

Oh, that's good.

 

Why would ebook sales go down?

 

Less time to read for those who did most of their reading outside the house.

 

Plus with the incredibly uncertain future, people were spending less money.

 

Quoted for truth. Thankfully, in my position I was still able to go to work. But yeah, I do must of my reading during lunchbreak. I know many people that read during lunch or their commute. Not having those moments means they read a lot less.
"Go read at home then". For many people, THOSE are the moments they literally have to things to do; fuck and all. Home is where there are chores. Spouses. Children. Maybe a sport. Social stuff. Or tv shows to catch up on.