(See what I did with that title up there?)So Cemetery Dance just published Blockade Billy, a new novella by Stephen King. I bought it. Cost me $32 total. Possibly the most money I've ever paid for what is a very short story. (I may have paid more for Dean Koontz's Book of Counted Sorrows, which was a ridiculous waste of money thanks to half the book consisting of Dean being all cutesy.) I figured Blockade Billy was worth paying for, though, as it was to be published in such a small quantity—10,000, which is only small by King standards, really.
But then things changed.
I've never been a serious book collector. I have my favorite authors, and I'm perfectly fine with their mass market releases. Hell, I'm equally fine with the looked-down-upon "Book Club Editions." I don't go for the pricey limited editions. I just read what I can get my hands on and hopefully for cheap money. If I can grab a collection by an author, I'll do that instead of hunting down all the individual publications those stories originally appeared in. I just want the stories, you know.
With music I'm a little different, a little more obsessive. I own over 7,000 albums—mostly CDs, some vinyl, and a handful of rare demos on cassette. But still, I'd rather have an album with bonus tracks than that version plus the regular version. It gets a little annoying when there are bonus tracks for Japan, then different bonus tracks for Europe and, as seen more recently, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and so on. It sucks, quite frankly. I'd rather one album with all those songs. I understand the purpose behind all the bonus tracks, even though I think it stinks, and I empathize with the collector mindset and those that need every version of certain albums. But I don't need everything, whether books, movies, or music...
Which is why it irritates the hell out of me that I bought the limited edition of Blockade Billy.
After about nine million e-mails from a ridiculously excited Cemetery Dance (and don't get me wrong here, I'm happy for them—it's a big deal and they should be excited), what was once limited to 10,000 is now into its second Cemetery Dance pressing—for libraries, it is said, and sans baseball card and slipcase—and it's out, or coming out, in a variety of e-formats. Lonely Road Books is also publishing signed deluxe editions—limited and lettered—later this summer. (I imagine those were always planned, though, as Richard Chizmar, owner of Cemetery Dance, is part owner of Lonely Road; and they're always very pricey and very limited anyway, and cater to an extremely small group of collectors.) Plus, in May, there will be an audiobook and trade edition hardcover released by Simon & Schuster, with an album equivalent literary bonus track, "Morality," originally published on-line by Esquire last year.
So I want that version! Which means I'll probably sell this first pressing of Blockade Billy at some point. To make it more enticing for sale, I've purchased the slipcase—at $23.95, including S&H—that will ship sometime in the future. Add to that the original cost of the book and we're at a nickel under $56—for a book I can't read until May because I don't want to damage it. And then I'll pay even more money, likely bringing Billy's damage to about $70, probably more.
This is a selfish rant, I know, but I am happy everyone will now be able to read the story. I was just hoping limited, you know, meant limited.
I sigh.
My bank account weeps.
Goodnight, you all all all all all all all all...
8 comments:
Poor Ken. :(
Yes, unfortunately that happens a lot. A lot, a lot. I'm sure it's not to frustrate buyers or anything it's more to make it a needed item. (Which is super cool btw for them having a signed copy and stuff... not to rub your eyes into it or anything... and back to my point :) )
There is a possibility that you can get all of your money back, don't despair. Have you tried selling it through Harvest Books? Or what about a used book site where you can set your own price? Working in a bookstore I have a couple of names on hand if you'd like me to get them for you. People do it all of the time and while it's not going to be a limited edition anymore it's still a first print. Could catch a fair deal if you know the right spots. Let me know if you want the names, I'll pick em up the next time I'm at work.
And albums are so cool. I wish I had the money to be a music aficionado. Kudos to you my friend.
Yeah, a lot of people are pissed that it's going to be re-realeased, then re-re-leased, and on and on. But it figures it'd happen being that it's King. Too bad. I like limited-edition books. I buy quite a few of them and they're slowing crowding out my mass markets. Sorry to hear you're regretting it, Ken. But I don't blame you. It's a bum deal there. Hopefully you can sell it and make your cash back.
I understand why it was done, but I'm still going to whine about it! Haha. Limited editions of anything suck for the average fan, really. I've just been on a King kick lately, so I bought it. Had I known the demand would be so high that more pressings would follow, I'd have waited.
I'm sure I'll be able to sell it and make my money back. This post is a purely selfish rant. Haha.
Hopefully Cemetery Dance uses the money made to finally publish some of their long-delayed novels.
Dude, it's your blog gotta rant somewheres, might as well be here :D
I'm the same way with films. I have a large DVD collection and I get fuming mad when some companies decide to double or triple (or more) dip on some titles. Invariably, subsequent releases will have something - new extras, a better print, restored footage, remastered, etc - that I will want, thus forcing me to buy the film again. George Lucas, I'm staring at you, you SOB.
Haha. I know. It sucks! Record labels were doing that a few years ago. They'd release an album, then six months to a year later would come the "deluxe edition," and it would include a bunch of exclusive bonus tracks plus an extra DVD of a live concert, or a documentary, maybe some music videos. Pissed me off!
Roadrunner Records was the biggest label doing it. I stopped buy their regular releases and just downloaded them. When the deluxe edition came out, I bought that.
They've stopped doing this so frequently, though, so I imagine I wasn't the only one opting for the initial download, or maybe some were downloading the bonus material from the deluxe edition. It's too bad these companies fail to realize that if they put out a good, reasonably priced product, people will buy it. Sure, people will steal it, too, but they would regardless, even if it cost a penny. However, these companies shouldn't be pushing people to steal, people that otherwise would do no such thing.
And publishing companies will learn that lesson, too, when they start charging hardcover prices for e-books. It'll happen.
By the way, anyone click on the title to this post? I love that wolf! Haha. The old school cartoons were so much better, man, man, man, man, man.
Despite the fact that there's a second printing of 10,000 copies, which will all go to the library market, and the fact that there's 500,000 copies of the trade edition coming in May, the hardcore King collectors know, and appreciate, that the FIRST EDITION was limited to 10,000 copies, of which 97% (according to the publisher) have sold out in record time. Once the first edition goes out of print--and it will, in a matter of days--the price will go up. The rule of thumb is 100%, so your $25 book will likely be worth $50, or more. Only time will tell how much higher, if any, that it will go.
If you just want to read the story, buy the Scribner edition. But if you want a well-made book that'll hold up for ages and be a collectible (instead of a faux collectable, which far too many publishers are selling--i.e., promoting something as collectible when it really isn't), then get the Cemetery Dance edition before they sell out.
Cemetery Dance has limited each customer to three copies. A wise investor will buy three and salt them away. Stocks go up and down, but the small runs of King's books have historically gone up. Small supply, high demand: you do the math.
Don't poop on my selfish rant with sensibility! Haha. =)
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