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| The Videssos Cycle | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jul 2 2008, 11:42 AM (602 Views) | |
| SladeJack | Jul 3 2008, 09:05 PM Post #16 |
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The Grand SladeJack
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"That probably means that the more recent series (191 especially) did better overall sales than did the Videssos books." I thought it might be because he's thought of as an AH writer as opposed to a fantasy writer. However the presence of the Derlavai books casts doubt there. Even laying that fact aside, your suggestion still makes at least as much sense as mine. Maybe Guy could shed some light on this. He used to manage a bookstore. "That's just a guess of course--I have no evidence, or even Evidence to back that up." There's always Evidence available for the making-up! |
| When you wipe your ass, make sure you wipe it really well. | |
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| Makkabee | Jul 5 2008, 11:13 AM Post #17 |
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Count
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Ever since I read the original Videssos Cylcle I thought a conflict with Marcus's Videssian and Namdalener grandsons as protagonists would make a good sequel. Since he had cousins in conflict featured in the second novella in Opening Atlantis it's less likely that he'll return to the theme, but not impossible. HT doesn't have a reputation for recoiling in horror from the notion of repeating himself. I'd also really like to see a story set in ancient times, when Videssos started on its march towards empire. |
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| The Guy from Fiji | Jul 6 2008, 10:03 PM Post #18 |
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Bullshitter
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I'll just chalk that one up to sheer mental laziness.
I would imagine sales being the overarching reason. The Cycle books have continuously been in print for years. The Time of Troubles books were out of print for a hell of a long time, then they were released in a two volume set. The second volume didn't even make it into paperback (that takes some pretty shitty sales numbers, my friends). As for Krispos, for the longest time Book I was in print, but not II or III. But now it's in a single volume, and if people are seeing it still on shelves months after its release means that its doing okay (I would ballpark that for an average sized B&N it is selling a minimum of one every 3 months). |
| Sic Temper Molemannis! | |
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| SladeJack | Jul 6 2008, 10:19 PM Post #19 |
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The Grand SladeJack
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One every three months? Wow, that doesn't sound like much. Then again, I'm not in "the biz." |
| When you wipe your ass, make sure you wipe it really well. | |
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| MapleLeafs4Ever | Jul 6 2008, 10:25 PM Post #20 |
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Landowner
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That's per store. How many bookstores in the US? And not just B&N but I'm sure there are other chains, independents and Amazon. |
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| SladeJack | Jul 7 2008, 12:27 AM Post #21 |
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The Grand SladeJack
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Well I didn't think you could sell one copy somewhere every three months and still be doing well, but it seems low for the average-sized B&N. |
| When you wipe your ass, make sure you wipe it really well. | |
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| Makkabee | Jul 7 2008, 04:02 PM Post #22 |
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Count
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Rereading Krispos Rising now, I'm struck by some references HT makes to earlier/later works. Discovering stuck-up noble Komitta Rhangavve's probable ancestor was a mother of pearl salesman who got his arm broken for cheating at dice was a pleasure, for instance. HT's also pretty good about avoiding major continuity errors in the Videssos books too. I don't remember a big one until Bridge of the Separator. |
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| SladeJack | Jul 7 2008, 04:30 PM Post #23 |
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The Grand SladeJack
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That's the nice thing with many-generational stories: screw around with incongruities among people's ancestries and descendants. That's one reason I enjoy Edward Rutherfurd. |
| When you wipe your ass, make sure you wipe it really well. | |
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| MapleLeafs4Ever | Jul 7 2008, 10:25 PM Post #24 |
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Landowner
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Ah, I see what you mean now. I thought you were talking about low sales for HT and his royalties and justed wanted to point out that one every three months in one store would probably mean over a thousand and perhaps two thousand per month total. Not best seller list but not too shabby. |
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| SladeJack | Jul 7 2008, 11:32 PM Post #25 |
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The Grand SladeJack
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When I'm feeling more motivated I'll look up how many B&N stores are in this country and run an average. Yeah, I guess it would be none too shabby, though, for a book that's been in print a while. |
| When you wipe your ass, make sure you wipe it really well. | |
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| The Guy from Fiji | Jul 8 2008, 09:04 AM Post #26 |
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Bullshitter
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My estimate was based upon the formula we would use when scanning a section. In most sections you have two basic categories; your standard list and your local list (I forget the official names). Standards are more than just the 'Pillars of Literature.' Some of HT's basic stuff would be considered 'standard,' like TL-191 and World War. Stuff that does pretty decent over the long haul (for it's particular section). All stores will keep a copy or two unless they receive special dispensation to alter their list. Local lists are based upon what does well in that particular store and within the 'neighborhood' of stores. Example: When I worked at the B&N in St. Paul we had one of the (proportionally) largest sections of Judaica in the company. Most stores try to scan each section once a month (operative word: 'try'). If a local list book hasn't sold any copies for a couple months chances are it will be sent back to the warehouse. And if there are twenty copies and the store has only sold two in the last three months, 3-4 will likely stay on the shelf and the rest sent back. Each region has a guy who spends his entire day pouring over stats to create the optimum lists for each store in their region. Plus individual stores have some control over their lists. |
| Sic Temper Molemannis! | |
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| Makkabee | Jul 8 2008, 10:17 AM Post #27 |
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Count
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Makes sense -- Minneapolis-St. Paul has a pretty healthy Jewish community. |
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| SladeJack | Jul 8 2008, 01:03 PM Post #28 |
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The Grand SladeJack
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Anticipating customer demand never was my strong suit. |
| When you wipe your ass, make sure you wipe it really well. | |
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9:15 AM Jul 11