A Protest

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prufrock21

prufrock21

Well-Known Member
Jun 2, 2011
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The Caribbean
While perusing the book stall at Walgreens, I noticed a paperback copy of King's Revival. I opened it and was shocked at the small type and the narrow margins. I thought that this must surely be a mistake or an ill-intentioned joke. I'm near-sighted so I imagined myself using a magnifying glass to read it. Which is ridiculous. Why would the publishers do this to Stephen King?

The book was by Pocket Books and came out 2014. I looked at the other books and found a copy of Brad Thor' s Act of War, also by Pocket Books. I opened it expecting to find the print equally small, but it wasn't. I could read it very well.

So, what's the deal, Pocket Books? You got something against the King?
 
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GNTLGNT

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
87,651
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prufrock21 said:
While perusing the book stall at Walgreens, I noticed a paperback copy of King's Revival. I opened it and was shocked at the small type and the narrow margins. I thought that this must surely be a mistake or an ill-intentioned joke. I'm near-sighted so I imagined myself using a magnifying glass to read it. Which is ridiculous. Why would the publishers do this to Stephen King?

The book was by Pocket Books and came out 2014. I looked at the other books and found a copy of Brad Thor' s Act of War, also by Pocket Books. I opened it expecting to find the print equally small, but it wasn't. I could read it very well.

So, what's the deal, Pocket Books? You got something against the King?
Click to expand...
....I wonder about the original page count from one to another.....probably a cost-saving measure on printing for the company.....
 
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prufrock21

prufrock21

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Jun 2, 2011
2,956
12,657
The Caribbean
GNTLGNT said:
....I wonder about the original page count from one to another.....probably a cost-saving measure on printing for the company.....
Click to expand...
Page count was similar. The Brad Thor book came out in 2012. In 2 years Pocket Books cut print block size, bigger margins and smaller type. As a cost-saving measure they made the King look bad. A travesty.
 
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kingricefan

kingricefan

All-being, keeper of Space, Time & Dimension.
Jul 11, 2006
30,011
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Spokane, WA
GNTLGNT said:
....I wonder about the original page count from one to another.....probably a cost-saving measure on printing for the company.....
Click to expand...
prufrock21 said:
Page count was similar. The Brad Thor book came out in 2012. In 2 years Pocket Books cut print block size, bigger margins and smaller type. As a cost-saving measure they made the King look bad. A travesty.
Click to expand...
Page count doesn't matter, it's the word count that does. King's book probably has way more words in it, and the publisher decided to save on the costs of the book by making the words smaller.
 
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Doc Creed

Doc Creed

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Nov 18, 2015
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I bought a copy of Firestarter at a drug store once. The pages were printed with nearly no outer margins on many of the chapters. The words were nearly cut off the page. Very uneven throughout. It almost appeared as if a child bound this book in their garage using a dull paper cutter, lol.
 
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blunthead

blunthead

Well-Known Member
Aug 2, 2006
80,755
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Atlanta GA
Doc Creed said:
I bought a copy of Firestarter at a drug store once. The pages were printed with nearly no outer margins on many of the chapters. The words were nearly cut off the page. Very uneven throughout. It almost appeared as if a child bound this book in their garage using a dull paper cutter, lol.
Click to expand...
Did the idea of a dull paper cutter excite you?
 
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Blake

Blake

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Feb 18, 2013
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Revival by Stephen King. All the latest books I've bought of his have been really good with regard to font size and good quality for the price. As I'm getting older I get a bit ****ty if I have to squint to read. I think they published his books before with smaller type than now.
 
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skimom2

skimom2

Just moseyin' through...
Oct 9, 2013
15,683
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kingricefan said:
Page count doesn't matter, it's the word count that does. King's book probably has way more words in it, and the publisher decided to save on the costs of the book by making the words smaller.
Click to expand...
Bingo. It's a rare thing when I bother with newer paperbacks. Tiny print, shoddy paper, terrible glue--the pages come out so easily!
 
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muskrat

muskrat

Dis-Member
Nov 8, 2010
4,518
19,564
Under your bed
I have a hard time finding any new mass market PBs anymore. I know they're out there, like the crappy little section at Walmart, but ugh, buncha mass market crap no one should wanna read. But I'm always on the lookout for the oldies, at yer Goodwills and Flea Markets and what have you. Most of them old ones have itty bitty print (and smell like granny's attic).
 
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kingricefan

kingricefan

All-being, keeper of Space, Time & Dimension.
Jul 11, 2006
30,011
127,446
Spokane, WA
skimom2 said:
Bingo. It's a rare thing when I bother with newer paperbacks. Tiny print, shoddy paper, terrible glue--the pages come out so easily!
Click to expand...
I haven't bought any new paperbacks for years now. I usually wait to find them at a thrift store or used book store. Save my money for the King hardbacks when they come out.
 
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