Made Two Observations in a B&N Last Weekend

[Dave Scarpa]

Made my way into the local B&N store first time in a long time, first I noticed just how small the Trek section had gotten from the glory days. Second I had a chance to pick up in my hands several of the novels I have purchased for my Kindle. Now I'm not a young pup anymore at the tender age of 51, but first thing I noticed is how small and faint the size of the font in these dead tree editions are. There is no way I could spend any length of time reading these. Just to compare I checked several of my older novels and the print, while still small seems much darker. Am i just and old fart with bad eyes now are is this really the way it is now ?

 

[Reanok]

The new Startrek novels do have smaller type and aren't as large print as the older novels.It takes me a lot longer to finish reading the paperback books.I'm reading Startrek Voyager Protector the type setting is really small and takes me longer to read an entire chapter. I like the stories I just wish Pocket books would use larger types setting for the Startrek books.

 

[Corran Horn]

There's been a weird thing happening with the quality of the physical versions lately. Event within the books of "The Fall" series there's such a difference in physical quality between books. Some feel flimsy, others 'normal'. It's unfortunate.

 

[2of1million]

You're not alone. Since I started reading ebooks(3 years ago), I can't manage to pick up a paper book. Too hard to hold, tiny print and of course, no light! I sure love my Kobo Glo.

 

[vegaslover62]

I have absolutely no problem with the current books. Zero problems whatsoever.

 

[Sxottlan]

Two of my local B&Ns have one shelf devoted to Trek. A third has just half a shelf anymore.

 

[Christopher]

The reduced presence of Trek novels in brick-and-mortar bookstores is largely because Trek fans were early adopters of online book-buying. It doesn't mean people are buying fewer Trek books, just that they're buying fewer of them in physical stores.

 

[Jedi_Master]

At my local chain bookstores, the shelf space taken up by ALL print books has shrunk significantly. The first section is all e -readers, the middle is taken up by stacks of toys and board games, the "new books" section is several shelves with the releases turned front cover forward so that they take up more shelf space, the magazine section has been severely truncated, etc.

I guess we could call that "progress".

 

[JD]

The reduced presence of Trek novels in brick-and-mortar bookstores is largely because Trek fans were early adopters of online book-buying. It doesn't mean people are buying fewer Trek books, just that they're buying fewer of them in physical stores.

Yeah. Obviously people are still buying them, since several of the novels released over the last 2 or 3 years have been NYT Bestsellers.

 

[Therin of Andor]

the "new books" section is several shelves with the releases turned front cover forward so that they take up more shelf space

The books are turned front cover forward because people do judge books by their covers.

 

[Reanok]

Barnes& Nobles has about one or 2 shelves full of Star Trek books in the store last time I looked for new startrek books.They have more Starwars books and other scifi and fantasy books on the shelves before you notice the Star trek books on a lower book shelf.

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

Well, it may not have anything to do with ST books not selling as well as they used to, but it probably has a lot to do with ST books not being released as often as they used to. I remember when direct-to-paperback releases were coming out two-per-month, and hardcovers were coming out at least two-per-year.

 

[ATimson]

Barnes& Nobles has about one or 2 shelves full of Star Trek books in the store last time I looked for new startrek books.They have more Starwars books and other scifi and fantasy books on the shelves before you notice the Star trek books on a lower book shelf.

There's more Star Wars books available to shelve. As far as I know, all of the adult novels are still in print currently (though with Episode VII that's likely to change); whereas most of the older Trek books are no longer available.

 

[Masiral]

Barnes& Nobles has about one or 2 shelves full of Star Trek books in the store last time I looked for new startrek books.They have more Starwars books and other scifi and fantasy books on the shelves before you notice the Star trek books on a lower book shelf.

There's more Star Wars books available to shelve. As far as I know, all of the adult novels are still in print currently (though with Episode VII that's likely to change); whereas most of the older Trek books are no longer available.

Yeah, they must be still in print, because I still see copies of the Thrawn trilogy in stores, and that came out 20 years ago.

 

[Scout101]

There's been a weird thing happening with the quality of the physical versions lately. Event within the books of "The Fall" series there's such a difference in physical quality between books. Some feel flimsy, others 'normal'. It's unfortunate.

Agreed. And it's not every book, but kinda random. Not sure if it's a conscious thing book to book, or books produced by different printing facilities, or what, but HUGE difference in quality from book to book.

The newest VOY book, Protectors, is an extreme example. Feels VERY shoddy in your hands, and doesn't even have the strength to hold itself upright, just folds around your hand. Some have been more flimsy than others, but this has been the worst in a while...

 

[Enterprise is Great]

My copy of Protectors is nice and solid feeling. But yeah some releases lately are so flimsy a soft breeze could blow it out of your hands.

 

[Scout101]

Hmm. Several different printing houses working to different standards, or did I just get a bad batch? Mine came from Amazon, so no idea where it started its life...

If I hold the spine on mine horizontally, the rear cover is pointing to about 5 o'clock. Half afraid of damaging it before I can finish reading, it's so bad.