why SHATNER BOOKS sell

[RobertScorpio]

Since Pocket books does not release this info, we can not be sure. this is all speculation on my part...but its very simple to connect the dots as to why i think he outsells any other Trek author..

First off though; are his books the best, is he the best author. No, even I will not say that. I have my favorites; Duane--Cox--Mack and others. But I do find Shatner's books entertaining. And I, probably like most of you, believe his involvement with the creation of the books is small;Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens write these books..also favorites of mine.

But this thread is about the ability to get your product out there so people know its out there to be bought. And no other TREK auther, NO OTHER, has Shatner's ability to go on national TV, letterman-leno-conan-regis, heck everywhere, to PR his book. And Books, like record albums, depend on the ability to get your product out there. That is why old farts like Barry Manilow can still top the record charts; the guy is everywhere when his albums come out. So is Shatner when his new books do.

Again..his books are not the greatest, but to me they are light fun. But, unfair or not, Shatner is an ICON in the media world who just happens to have the tag 'star trek author' in his resume; no other TREK author can make that claim IMO. And for that reason alone, his books have, in my humble opinion, out sold the other Star Trek books. Economics 101.



Rob
Scorpio

 

[Ensign_Redshirt]

So, basically it's name recognition...

 

[Baldus885]

Shatner's books sell because the Reeves-Stevenses are pretty good authors.

 

[Saul]

Also people who were pissed at Kirk been killed get to see the Hero's continuing adventure written by none other then the man who played him and knows him best.

 

[Therin of Andor]

I... believe his involvement with the creation of the books is small; Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens write these books

Then you'd be wrong. In numerous interviews, Shatner and the Reeves-Stevens have described Shatner's writing process. Shatner narrates the plot, all the action scenes and Kirk's dialog, into a dictaphone. Then a secretary types up the manuscript draft. Shatner tinkers with it, sends it to the Reeves-Stevens, who expand on the other characters' participation, write linking passages/chapters, and ensure the trivia and tech is correct, send it back to Shatner, who makes new changes, etc. then it's off to the Pocket editor, and Paula Block (at CBS Consumer Products).

But this thread is about the ability to get your product out there so people know its out there to be bought. And no other TREK auther, NO OTHER, has Shatner's ability to go on national TV, letterman-leno-conan-regis, heck everywhere, to PR his book.

Shatner doesn't do too much promotion for his ST books. His name on the cover (note: in recent ST hardcovers, Shatner's name has been bigger than the book's title) and his photo on the back cover, do most of the point-of-sale advertising.

his books are not the greatest, but to me they are light fun.

Which makes them accessible to more general ST and Shatner fans than some other ST novels. But that lightness makes them less appealing to other ST novel readers.

Shatner is an ICON in the media world who just happens to have the tag 'star trek author' in his resume; no other TREK author can make that claim IMO.

Calling themselves an "icon", you mean? I dunno, I think that Bjo Trimble could rightly call herself a ST icon: "the woman who saved Star Trek", she's often called. She wrote the "ST Concordance" and "On the Good Ship Enterprise".

Leonard Nimoy is the author of "I Am Not Spock" and "I Am Spock", and he's also a ST icon. So far he hasn't felt the need to write ST fiction.

 

[Broccoli]

The reason the Shat books sell well (or did...it seems like the last one didn't do as well as TPTB would have hoped), is the fact that Shatner is the author. The casual fan who wouldn't delve into Trek novels would be more inclined to buy one that was written by Captain Kirk. If Nimoy or even maybe Stewart wrote a Trek novel, I am sure they would sell too.

 

[slappy]

Also people who were pissed at Kirk been killed get to see the Hero's continuing adventure written by none other then the man who played him and knows him best.

Why do people assume Shatner knows Kirk the best? Yeah he played him and played him very well. He knows the acting choices he made and that's great. However, I'd argue that tons of people know the character just as well if not better. Kirk wasn't exactly complicated. I personally know trivia about Kirk in and out that even Shatner doesn't.

 

[pookha]

Shatner's books sell because the Reeves-Stevenses are pretty good authors.

yes, if the book were not fun interesting reads they wouldnt sell beyond the first one.

but also people were pissed at the manner ok kirks death.

as to why the last one didnt sell as well as the others.
to me the highpoint was presever and the next two after it just were not as good.
i also wonder if people got cautious when they only show shatners name on the last one.

 

[Loupjo]

The quality of Shatner's books are not outstanding although at the same time they are not bad either but of course the fact that Shatner wrote these makes them more recognizable and probably more attractive to the casual star trek watcher who comes across the Trek books in a store. This casual watcher sees a whole bunch of books including one written by a name he recognizes. No wonder that is the one the casual watcher will buy. Being well known makes it easier to sell books usually.

 

[indranee]

as someone said upthread: name recognition.

 

[Broccoli]

i also wonder if people got cautious when they only show shatners name on the last one.

Shatner was the only author listed on the first six books. The final four listed the Reeves-Stevens as well (albeit in a smaller font size).

 

[Therin of Andor]

Shatner was the only author listed on the first six books.

You're talking about dustjacket, but libraries and shops use the title page to catalogue books and the Reeves-Stevens have always received their due credit on the title page.