Why Not A "Strange New Worlds" Style Tech Manual?

[ed629]

Re: Why Not A "Strange New Worlds" Style Tech Manu

Posted by Dayton3:

Posted by Marco Palmieri:
Two years ago I looked into doing a fan-oriented tech book, the idea being to collect a variety of well-executed speculative ship designs in a single volume. Even came up with a title for it: Visions of Starfleet. Seemed like a fun idea. Couldn't make the numbers work.


Edited for clarity.

Was "Visions of Starfleet" envisioned as a color publication?

If so, why not consider a black and white publication? After all, the ST:TNG tech manual did well enough didn't it?

Here's a possible answer

Posted by Marco Palmieri:
Two years ago I looked into doing a fan-oriented tech book, the idea being to collect a variety of well-executed speculative ship designs in a single volume. Even came up with a title for it: Visions of Starfleet. Seemed like a fun idea. Couldn't make the numbers work.


Edited for clarity.

But if color wouldn't work, which would only add a small amount to the cost, how could a black and white even be considered now, when every new tech manual or publication that has come out after the TNG Manual was in color?

But if that didn't answer your question, check here.

 

[GodThingFormerly]

Re: Why Not A "Strange New Worlds" Style Tech Manu

Posted by Marco Palmieri:
The cost paid to writers and illustrators is only part of the equation. The high production costs remain.

Purely out of transient curiosity, may one ask if Simon & Schuster imprints are manufactured in North America or in overseas zero-wage sweatshops?

TGT

 

[Garrovick]

Re: Why Not A "Strange New Worlds" Style Tech Manu

Posted by The God Thing:
Purely out of transient curiosity, may one ask if Simon & Schuster imprints are manufactured in North America or in overseas zero-wage sweatshops?

TGT

Looking at my last "Time to..." book, it says Manufactured in the United States.

Looking at the latest "TNG Companion", it says Printed in the U.S.A.

Just examples from two books I could reach without getting out of my chair.

 

[Scott Butler]

Re: Why Not A "Strange New Worlds" Style Tech Manu

^ I believe the books are printed in the US, otherwise there wouldn't be the oft-complained-about delay in the books reaching foreign markets.

I'm not sure the proliferation of tech info on websites is that much of a factor. The novels sell quite well, after all, despite the widespread availability of fanfic online. The two main reasons for this would apply equally to tech books: having the info in a spiffy book that looks good on a shelf rather than a stack of printouts, and the higher quality of professional work.

For me the arguement over the "non-fiction" Trek books boils down to this: A couple of years ago Pocket published Star Charts, a wonderful book full of beautiful maps, the kind of thing you could pore over looking for a particular star, comparing the locations of various planets. It was cheaper than many other "nonfic" books, only $14 instead of $25 or $30. It was as good a publication in its field as the original Encyclopedia, the TNG Tech Manual, and the DS9 Companion are in theirs. As reported by one of the editors in an earlier round of this thread, it failed commercially. Despite being realatively inexpensive and visually stunning.

That was the nail in the coffin for me. Clearly the problem is not that Pocket is producing sub-par content, or producing shoddy books, or charging too much. There just isn't a market right now. If the TNG Tech Manual or the Encyclopedia came out now, they wouldn't sell either.

Scott Butler

 

[Dayton3]

Re: Why Not A "Strange New Worlds" Style Tech Manu

In my opinion "Star Charts" was junk.

No offense intended. Hell I bought it and thought it was beautifull and still do.

But it was like most of Trek today on screen. Beautifully done but largely lacking in content or context.

About all Star Charts amounted to was pretty swirls of color on glossy paper.

That is one thing I've hated about so many of Pockets offerings. Visually striking but lacking in interesting or worthwhile content. Starship Spotter had the same problem.

What I don't get is this.

ST:TNG Tech Manual was in black and white.

It sold well.

DS9 Tech Manual, Starhip Spotter, Star Charts were all in color.

They sold less well.

So why the assumption that future tech publications need to be in color on glossy paper?

Isn't the exact reverse indicated?

 

[rafterman1701]

Re: Why Not A "Strange New Worlds" Style Tech Manu

Not going to pay for fan work when it's on the net for free...

 

[golakers]

Re: Why Not A "Strange New Worlds" Style Tech Manu

Posted by Scott Butler: Clearly the problem is not that Pocket is producing sub-par content, or producing shoddy books, or charging too much. There just isn't a market right now. If the TNG Tech Manual or the Encyclopedia came out now, they wouldn't sell either.

Scott Butler

Exactly.

Dayton3 - the TNG Tech Manual sold so well because in Trek was at the height of its popularity in the early 1990s. Shit, it made the cover of TIME magazine.

The bottom fell out of the franchise.

It's just like the baseball card market. The companies make better quality baseball cards today than they ever did during the "golden years" of the 1980s. However, no amount of quality can make up for the fact that the market just isn't there anymore.

Perhaps, Trek will make a pop culture comeback once again and tech manuals will be published again. Until then...enjoy what you've got.

 

[KRAD]

Re: Why Not A "Strange New Worlds" Style Tech Manu

ST:TNG Tech Manual was in black and white.

It sold well.

DS9 Tech Manual, Starhip Spotter, Star Charts were all in color.

They sold less well.

So why the assumption that future tech publications need to be in color on glossy paper?

Isn't the exact reverse indicated?

You know, while he was a brilliant mind, and had a huge influence on the way we in Western Civilization think, Aristotle had some really wacked-out ideas. One was that women were inferior to men because their brains were smaller than men's.

My favorite, though, was the fact that he put alligators and trees in the same category because they're both green. An argument that makes about as much sense as the one quoted above.

As for your dismissal of the very solid content inside Star Charts, all it tells me is that you really don't undertand either astronomy or cartography.

 

[Dayton3]

Re: Why Not A "Strange New Worlds" Style Tech Manu

Posted by KRAD:

ST:TNG Tech Manual was in black and white.

It sold well.

DS9 Tech Manual, Starhip Spotter, Star Charts were all in color.

They sold less well.

So why the assumption that future tech publications need to be in color on glossy paper?

Isn't the exact reverse indicated?

You know, while he was a brilliant mind, and had a huge influence on the way we in Western Civilization think, Aristotle had some really wacked-out ideas. One was that women were inferior to men because their brains were smaller than men's.

My favorite, though, was the fact that he put alligators and trees in the same category because they're both green. An argument that makes about as much sense as the one quoted above.

As for your dismissal of the very solid content inside Star Charts, all it tells me is that you really don't undertand either astronomy or cartography.

Really? All it tells me is that you don't know how to put out a decent trek technical publication.

Though I guess by the weak sales you already knew that.

 

[KRAD]

Re: Why Not A "Strange New Worlds" Style Tech Manu

Really? All it tells me is that you don't know how to put out a decent trek technical publication.

You know, I wrote an entire reply to this, but I just deleted it, having recalled that I have better things to do with my life -- like watch paint dry. Besides, it's not going to do any good except as a rhetorical exercise, since Dayton will just go away and then come back in a few months and ask the same questions again. What's the point?

 

[Dayton3]

Re: Why Not A "Strange New Worlds" Style Tech Manu

Posted by KRAD:

Really? All it tells me is that you don't know how to put out a decent trek technical publication.

You know, I wrote an entire reply to this, but I just deleted it, having recalled that I have better things to do with my life -- like watch paint dry. Besides, it's not going to do any good except as a rhetorical exercise, since Dayton will just go away and then come back in a few months and ask the same questions again. What's the point?

No offense KRAD, but you came into MY thread and insulted my idea.

I didn't follow you somewhere and insult you.

You can post here all you want and go with the "I'm a professional. I know what I'm doing and you don't all you wish".

But the fact remains that here, you are just another guy on a bulletin board who has an opinion.

As do I.

Cheers.

 

[SlaveOfSeven]

Re: Why Not A "Strange New Worlds" Style Tech Manu

Posted by Dayton3:
Really? All it tells me is that you don't know how to put out a decent trek technical publication.

Though I guess by the weak sales you already knew that.

1 warning for trolling, Dayton3.

Although this warning is attached to the post from which the quote was taken, that was merely the straw that broke the camel's back. Your repeated posting of these threads, hostile attitude in them, and refusal to accept the answers given to you by the editors seems calculated to aggravate and frustrate them. I don't believe you have any genuine desire to discuss this topic or get answers to your questions, rather I think you're just doing it to bait the editors, hence the warning.

If you wish to discuss the warning, feel free to start a thread in MA.

Closing thread.