Friday, January 12, 2007
Not only has "After the Martian Apocalypse" gone missing from Amazon.com, it seems to be effectively AWOL across the board. E-book editions are available in abundance, but the "real" book has more or less vanished. Barnes & Noble doesn't even stock it in their warehouses anymore.
I know there are copies out there. Probably lots of them. And I know for a fact that there's at least some demand for it -- which might explain why Amazon's sole used copy is going for the absurd price of nearly $80. (I received an email this morning from a reader who wants to buy a copy but can't. Needless to say, this is frustrating for both of us.)
Anyway, I'm making inquiries.
I know there are copies out there. Probably lots of them. And I know for a fact that there's at least some demand for it -- which might explain why Amazon's sole used copy is going for the absurd price of nearly $80. (I received an email this morning from a reader who wants to buy a copy but can't. Needless to say, this is frustrating for both of us.)
Anyway, I'm making inquiries.
7 comments:
Perhaps you should consider republishing though http://lulu.com . They are on demand self publishers, you send them a pdf, your book gets listed on amazon and a copy is printed, perfect bound and delivered as each order is received. There are some problems but it's the way publishing is going, no more warehoused stock.
There's a copy over at abebooks.com for $29.49
Nothing on eBay.
Biblioquest.com has two copies - one for $65.27, one for $137.62
alibris.com has one for $38.54 and one for $87.12 (Australian)
Through bookfinder.com I found one for Aus. $46.22
Amazon.co.uk has a used copy for 13.83 pounds - and one for the colossal 131.10 pounds!!!
Steve
Odd thing is that I have a vague recollection that maybe a couple of months after it came out I looked to see how many copies were on the used book marketplace, just out of curiosity. Looked at Amazon, saw maybe 30 or 40 copies available (undoubtedly some had gone out as review copies), starting at 75 cents (ouch!). I don't think I mentioned it, didn't want to give such discouraging news. But clearly that slack tightened up.
We could speculate that it was debunkers trying to sweep it off the market, but they pretty much ignore you since they don't acknowledge the existence of anyone who is smaller than Hoagland.
Definitely get a full accounting from Paraview, and go over it with a fine tooth comb.
Eighty dollars! Want to buy mine?
Seriously though, what the hell is up with this? I thought it an entirely rational book, sans extreme hypotheses, and containing sure food for thought.
While I hardly consider this conspiracy fodder, it is intriguing. Amazon stocks loads of utter and complete crap which IMO simply cannot sell, as well as arcane volumes which must have minimal sales histories. Why then would your book, which really is well written, well thought out, and stimulation, simply disappear? Even though I myself consider Cydonia most likely a series of natural formations, After the Martian Apocalypse is hardly deserving of such an unjustifiable fate.
Actually, I liked it, and would think it would have steady, if slow, sales.
More senselessness from the world of business, I reckon. Then again, Carol may be right, and you may have been robbed. It has certainly happened many times in the past.
Mac does get pretty good Net coverage, with interviews and things like Paul's symposium. It may be that all that publicity was sufficient to use up all the spare copies available.
What was the original print run?
What was the original print run?
I don't remember. Hopefully I'll know some more about ATMA's whereabouts in a few days. Assuming the Men In Black allow it ;-)
Oh man...and here my copy was a casualty of moving six months ago and I've been delaying buying a new copy! Hope I didn't wait too long...we need answers! ;-)