Yes, it does most of the time. Pretty outrageous. However, since most of these are out of print, they're coming from 3rd party sellers.
Time till Paperbacks are getting out-of-print?
- Thread starter Kopernikus
- Start date
Yeah, I did know about that CD but I do like to have a hard copy of these ones. Good thing is, I've got time on my side as it'll be some time until I get to these novels. However, prices do not seem to be getting cheaper.
^I find that the only way to avoid some of the high shipping prices, at least when it comes to ebay, is to try and get multiple books from minor sellers (not the power sellers) who will combine the shipping charges. Being from Canada as well, I know exactly what you mean when it comes to high shipping charges 
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^Ugh, and what's an even greater pain (especially with Amazon) is the huge number of sellers that refuse to ship here altogether. I mean, seriously! How much added time and effort does it include? I can't imagine charging an extra 10 bucks for a book wouldn't cover it.
When acquiring the entirety of the New Frontier books, I resorted to B&N which doesn't charge as much as Amazon.com Marketplace. Also, I have to say, Abebooks has been the best source for getting out of print stuff for a reasonable price. So many booksellers turn to them. And if all else fails, look at the bookseller which is selling on Amazon.com and order from their home site. Like ordering straight from Thriftbooks rather than bothering with Amazon in the first place.^I find that the only way to avoid some of the high shipping prices, at least when it comes to ebay, is to try and get multiple books from minor sellers (not the power sellers) who will combine the shipping charges. Being from Canada as well, I know exactly what you mean when it comes to high shipping charges
Basically, never buy a book on Amazon marketplace that charges more than a buck. And of course never ship from Amazon.com to Canada.
It involves going to the post office, filling out customs forms, and waiting in line to mail it, instead of just dropping it in any mailbox on the street.
In know the UK Amazon has high prices for both book 3 and 4 of that series. In the end I managed to find a copy of Cathedral on there for just over £8 so more reasonable prices can appear at times.
And I managed to snap up book 4 for £1 off ebay!
I don't think I would of ever started reading New Frontier if I'd had to pay $20 a book.
I picked up the first 13 regular series paperbacks (Through 'Gods Above', and then also nabbing the Captain's Table book 'Once Burned' and the Double-Helix book 'Cold Wars' for around $28 dollars at a used book store. I was later able to locate the Gateway's book 'Cold Wars' and so far, (other than 'NF:Treason' - because the initial release's format was ridiculous), I have all of them.
Maybe I was was just lucky, but I can't fathom paying more than cover price on a paperback novel, EVER.
I picked up the first 13 regular series paperbacks (Through 'Gods Above', and then also nabbing the Captain's Table book 'Once Burned' and the Double-Helix book 'Cold Wars' for around $28 dollars at a used book store. I was later able to locate the Gateway's book 'Cold Wars' and so far, (other than 'NF:Treason' - because the initial release's format was ridiculous), I have all of them.
Maybe I was was just lucky, but I can't fathom paying more than cover price on a paperback novel, EVER.
Like any collectible, ST novels are worth precisely what someone is willing to pay at any given time. Not too many ST books by Pocket are actually "rare", because they print heaps of 'em, and it seems they are popular enough that they don't have to pulp the remainders too often, but keep them in warehouses at least till the print run sells out.
The Internet has made the second hand book sellers more savvy about the wants and needs of readers, and what some impatient readers are willing to pay for an out-of-print book they can't find.
I've seen ST novels that Amazon sellers are asking $0.01 for, and the same book can go in a convention auction for 50+ dollars. And vice versa.
Depends on what you collect. In the late 1980s I paid $30 for a paperback published in the 1950s with a cover price of 35 cents (Beyond the Night by Cornell Woolrich). That's probably the highest percentage increase over cover price I've paid, but I've spent more than that on collectible paperbacks since then.
^Fair enough, my gross blanket statement was rather shortsighted.
Collector's items and I have a strange and mutually antagonistic relationship. I love to collect things, but I'm not good about paying crazy prices for the honor of ownership. Likewise, I don't assume that my collection will ever be worth more than what I paid for it in the first place (or even less taking into account regular depreciation.)
That said, I am aware my particular foibles are not the collectors norm and should probably appologize.
I didn't mean to criticize anyone else's habits or behavior, I was just talking about my own particular quirks.
Collector's items and I have a strange and mutually antagonistic relationship. I love to collect things, but I'm not good about paying crazy prices for the honor of ownership. Likewise, I don't assume that my collection will ever be worth more than what I paid for it in the first place (or even less taking into account regular depreciation.)
That said, I am aware my particular foibles are not the collectors norm and should probably appologize.
I didn't mean to criticize anyone else's habits or behavior, I was just talking about my own particular quirks.
No apology necessary, I didn't read your post as criticism of anyone else. Just saying, some books really are more rare than others, and if there's any demand for them, it'll take a lot of work to find a cheap copy.