one FRICKING shelf
- Thread starter RobertScorpio
- Start date
^ One B&N in particular here as been amazingly supportive of us. We've had three book signings there (all of which exceeded their expectations) thanks to the CSM's efforts. Contrast that with a local Borders, where Kevin has a friend he's known since grade school working on staff, who wouldn't give us the time of day.
Huh, I would have thought that with the Stargate franchise still going strong you would see alot more than that. Sometimes it baffles me how stores decide what to and not to order.
^ They decide based on what sells. If they're not stocking something, it's because they've determined that there's little to no demand for it.
If you want Stargate or Trek or whatever books at your local store, don't just walk out and go looking elsewhere when you don't see it on the shelf. Tell a customer service rep to order you a copy the next time you want one. They track that sort of activity, too, and if they notice a trend in special orders, they may decide to order an extra copy or two for the shelves, and things go from there.
Admittedly, this may not cause any great shift in the larger chain stores. However, if it helps them retain a loyal customer, you can bet an independent bookstore will get whatever it is you're looking for, and make sure the next book in whatever series is there for you in the future.
If you want Stargate or Trek or whatever books at your local store, don't just walk out and go looking elsewhere when you don't see it on the shelf. Tell a customer service rep to order you a copy the next time you want one. They track that sort of activity, too, and if they notice a trend in special orders, they may decide to order an extra copy or two for the shelves, and things go from there.
Admittedly, this may not cause any great shift in the larger chain stores. However, if it helps them retain a loyal customer, you can bet an independent bookstore will get whatever it is you're looking for, and make sure the next book in whatever series is there for you in the future.
^ I've actually seen two different Stargate paperback novels in my local Duane Reade drugstore.
I've never seen any sort of Stargate novel here, so at least Trek is doing better than that - although it's true that in the bookshops here, there are generally only one or two Trek books (if that; a big change from ten years ago) and a whole heap of Star Wars. Both, however, are put to shame by the shelf space given to Discworld.
SFF sections in the bookshops I frequent are holding steady or gaining ground - it seems to be a popular genre.
SFF sections in the bookshops I frequent are holding steady or gaining ground - it seems to be a popular genre.
Me too. Sure, the hardcore Trek Lit fans order online but how to attract the casual viewer withought browsable books - with a captain on the cover.
But it is quite depressing to see Star Trek outnumbered by Star Wars and other series.
Perhaps it is due to big difference between how LucasArts treats its books and out Paramount treats its own. Aren't SW books considered canon?
I doubt that has anything to do with it. The fact of the matter is that, for better or for worse, STAR WARS has always been much more of a mass phenomenon than STAR TREK. The SW movies are among the top-grossing films of all time; even at the height of its popularity, STAR TREK has never been the cultural phenomenon that STAR WARS is.
(Don't get wrong. I love Trek, which has a long and distinguished history in pop culture. It's one of the greatest sf tv shows of all time. But, in terms of sheer numbers, STAR WARS has always been more popular.)
It has nothing to do with canon. SW books sell better than ST books because everyone on Earth has seen a STAR WARS movie . . . even the ones that aren't very good.
*sigh*
This is very true...
FWIW, though, I was inspired by this thread to check out a smaller Coles bookstore here in Winnipeg today, where ST and SW were running about equal at around a shelf and a half.
I may also try the "local author trick" (perhaps paired with some Canadian Pride for The Shat) and see what happens...
I enjoy browsing at the bookstore too, but I actually prefer to pre-order the Star Trek books (or any other series I know I want) online. The prices are better and it's conveniant. And usually the book in question arrives on my doorstep days before it hits the shelves of my local bookstores. I've read articles about them working on ways to expand the browsing experience online, and I'm all for that...but it is fun to wander around the bookstore and get lost in new items for a few hours.
One question. Star Wars books sell better than Trek books. How well do you think Star Wars books would sell, if the author decided to kill Princess Liea? Then give you a goofy follow up dealing with how the others grieved for her? Perhaps Star Wars doesn't let their authors kill off major characters in books that are not even about that character. Who ever thought that was a good idea is an idiot.
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNONCEMENT: Not this fucking thread too
...please go to one of the various Janeway threads or the Full Circle thread to bitch about her death. You're new here and you may not realize, but if you read past posts in this thread you will see that this is the place to complain about our local book stores and their obvious disdain for trek-lit. Not every thread is about her...
Actually, they killed off fan favourite Chewbacca to great controversy - and, IIRC, improved book sales.
Is it that bad,with so few ST shelves wherever you guys are from???
Cuz in the city ('bout half an hour train ride from where I live) theres Books Kinokuniya (a bookshop from Japan) where theres usually 2 and a half (sharing with Star Wars Books) shelves,with the latest Trek books.Borders' range is okay,and they have those thick Trek books and those Starcharts,but have less Trek books.
Cuz in the city ('bout half an hour train ride from where I live) theres Books Kinokuniya (a bookshop from Japan) where theres usually 2 and a half (sharing with Star Wars Books) shelves,with the latest Trek books.Borders' range is okay,and they have those thick Trek books and those Starcharts,but have less Trek books.
See, I knew I was on the wrong planet. I have not once seen any Star Wars movie. I've seen maybe about 10 minutes worth of one of them once at some family's house when I was little. I've said for about 4+ years now that one day I will watch all of them to see what all the fuss is about, but I have yet to do that. And someday that day may come. I'm not in any particular hurry though.
I admit I was shocked the other day to discover that my next door neighbors had no idea who "Yoda" was. Of course, they're in their eighties, but even still . . . .
NEVER
? Wild...I don't think i've never met any trek fans who haven't seen at least one of the SW movies. I'm a trek guy first, and always have been, but the original SW trilogy is quite good. Especially Empire...Similar threads
