New Mass Market cover reprints...derailed?

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Astro Toaster

Member
Apr 5, 2018
10
41
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Oh man, I picked an awful time to start collecting these. I've got about 4 of the Mass Market Paperbacks, and 5 of the Trade paperbacks. Do I just go with the trade and forget the Mass Market? The Mass Markwt Paperbacks are really hard to find anywhere. I actually like the new cover art, but several of the Trade Paperbacks still seem to have the old artwork, which I thought was abysmal. Gah! So frustrating...
 

Shimonhead

Active Member
Mar 20, 2017
39
169
Oh man, I picked an awful time to start collecting these. I've got about 4 of the Mass Market Paperbacks, and 5 of the Trade paperbacks. Do I just go with the trade and forget the Mass Market? The Mass Markwt Paperbacks are really hard to find anywhere. I actually like the new cover art, but several of the Trade Paperbacks still seem to have the old artwork, which I thought was abysmal. Gah! So frustrating...

I would absolutely recommend ceasing all attempts to collect the MMPs and focus solely on the Trades. The MMPs have been abandoned, and are virtually impossible to find now anyway, so like me you'd just have an unfinished collection.

I've had to buy everything twice now, as I'm also collecting the twice-as-expensive trades in hopes they release all of the books that already had an MMP release with the new covers, plus most of the ones that didn't.

Oy vey.

Most of the trades with the old artwork will eventually be re-released with the new artwork we are collecting under the Gallery house.

Use this link to sort the Trade release schedule as Amazon releases them on a monthly basis: Amazon.com: stephen king gallery books: Books


The new Trades started with From a Buick 8: A Novel
Nov 14, 2017 on Amazon
 
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Astro Toaster

Member
Apr 5, 2018
10
41
42
Thanks for the advice! It looks like it'll be the trades for me, then. I really hope they re-release the older trades with the newer covers - it already looks like it might be happening with Christine, but I'm not sure. Amazon sent me the older version even though the listing had updated artwork. I thought about contacting the publisher, but I kind of expect to be ignored. Their (S & S) stock is on backorder - so maybe the covers on this new run are being updated? Fingers crossed.
 

Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
61,289
239,271
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Oh man, I picked an awful time to start collecting these. I've got about 4 of the Mass Market Paperbacks, and 5 of the Trade paperbacks. Do I just go with the trade and forget the Mass Market? The Mass Markwt Paperbacks are really hard to find anywhere. I actually like the new cover art, but several of the Trade Paperbacks still seem to have the old artwork, which I thought was abysmal. Gah! So frustrating...

My first post, and there's a spelling error... Must. Reign. In. OCD. Tendencies...

I had to go check (thought you spelled abysmal wrong but you didn't) - that's not a spelling error - that's a finger fumble!

:)

Welcome
:snowman:
 

Astro Toaster

Member
Apr 5, 2018
10
41
42
Ha ha - thanks. ;-D

On the subject, finding images like this one on the internet just rubs salt in the wound...

IdyfDu5.jpg


Oy vey, indeed.
 

Moderator

Ms. Mod
Administrator
Jul 10, 2006
52,243
157,324
Maine
Thanks for the advice! It looks like it'll be the trades for me, then. I really hope they re-release the older trades with the newer covers - it already looks like it might be happening with Christine, but I'm not sure. Amazon sent me the older version even though the listing had updated artwork. I thought about contacting the publisher, but I kind of expect to be ignored. Their (S & S) stock is on backorder - so maybe the covers on this new run are being updated? Fingers crossed.
If you go to post #59 in this thread, you'll find the list which Scribner provided me. Unless something changes, these are the only MMPs being published this year.
 

Shimonhead

Active Member
Mar 20, 2017
39
169
Thanks for the advice! It looks like it'll be the trades for me, then. I really hope they re-release the older trades with the newer covers - it already looks like it might be happening with Christine, but I'm not sure. Amazon sent me the older version even though the listing had updated artwork. I thought about contacting the publisher, but I kind of expect to be ignored. Their (S & S) stock is on backorder - so maybe the covers on this new run are being updated? Fingers crossed.

Let me save you some time and trouble...never contact the publisher directly. The "help" person you will speak to has no idea what the publishing plans are or will be, and has no way to actually contact the people who do in the inner core of Simon & Schuster. Dead end from every angle.

The closest you can get to that inner core is Ms. Mod here in the forum who has a contact there and has already posted their reply to this inquiry a page or so back.

As for the covers... one of the stupidest things I have discovered about book cover art is that the same ISBN number can be used for a book version, and have two or more artwork editions associated with it. Also, several sub-houses under S&S (Gallery, Scribner, etc) release the same book several times in different editions, each with a different cover art scheme. Many books with the cover we want is listed as in stock, but you actually get one with the same ISBN but a different cover.

You have to really dig in to every release version and format on amazon and weed out if the book with the cover you want is actually available in stock. Cross-referencing release dates, publishing houses, actual pictures of the book you want (not stock photos) taken by and posted by the sellers on eBay, Amazon Used and Abe Books to make sure it even exists yet and if so, that it has the cover you want.

It was a nightmare for me as I was a sucker so many times and returned so many books when I started collecting. Now finding what I want is second nature to me and I can weed the real from the waste in minutes. It seriously is a learned skill and should be taught in college as a credit course :D
 

Dana Jean

Dirty Pirate Hooker, The Return
Moderator
Apr 11, 2006
53,634
236,697
The High Seas
Let me save you some time and trouble...never contact the publisher directly. The "help" person you will speak to has no idea what the publishing plans are or will be, and has no way to actually contact the people who do in the inner core of Simon & Schuster. Dead end from every angle.

The closest you can get to that inner core is Ms. Mod here in the forum who has a contact there and has already posted their reply to this inquiry a page or so back.

As for the covers... one of the stupidest things I have discovered about book cover art is that the same ISBN number can be used for a book version, and have two or more artwork editions associated with it. Also, several sub-houses under S&S (Gallery, Scribner, etc) release the same book several times in different editions, each with a different cover art scheme. Many books with the cover we want is listed as in stock, but you actually get one with the same ISBN but a different cover.

You have to really dig in to every release version and format on amazon and weed out if the book with the cover you want is actually available in stock. Cross-referencing release dates, publishing houses, actual pictures of the book you want (not stock photos) taken by and posted by the sellers on eBay, Amazon Used and Abe Books to make sure it even exists yet and if so, that it has the cover you want.

It was a nightmare for me as I was a sucker so many times and returned so many books when I started collecting. Now finding what I want is second nature to me and I can weed the real from the waste in minutes. It seriously is a learned skill and should be taught in college as a credit course :D
Nice info, thanks for your input!
 

Astro Toaster

Member
Apr 5, 2018
10
41
42
Let me save you some time and trouble...never contact the publisher directly. The "help" person you will speak to has no idea what the publishing plans are or will be, and has no way to actually contact the people who do in the inner core of Simon & Schuster. Dead end from every angle.

The closest you can get to that inner core is Ms. Mod here in the forum who has a contact there and has already posted their reply to this inquiry a page or so back.

As for the covers... one of the stupidest things I have discovered about book cover art is that the same ISBN number can be used for a book version, and have two or more artwork editions associated with it. Also, several sub-houses under S&S (Gallery, Scribner, etc) release the same book several times in different editions, each with a different cover art scheme. Many books with the cover we want is listed as in stock, but you actually get one with the same ISBN but a different cover.

You have to really dig in to every release version and format on amazon and weed out if the book with the cover you want is actually available in stock. Cross-referencing release dates, publishing houses, actual pictures of the book you want (not stock photos) taken by and posted by the sellers on eBay, Amazon Used and Abe Books to make sure it even exists yet and if so, that it has the cover you want.

It was a nightmare for me as I was a sucker so many times and returned so many books when I started collecting. Now finding what I want is second nature to me and I can weed the real from the waste in minutes. It seriously is a learned skill and should be taught in college as a credit course :D

Thank you so much for this - it's incredibly helpful. Hopefully I can use this thread as a resource moving forward. It's nice to know I'm not alone in my collecting priorities. :0:
 

Shimonhead

Active Member
Mar 20, 2017
39
169
Thank you so much for this - it's incredibly helpful. Hopefully I can use this thread as a resource moving forward. It's nice to know I'm not alone in my collecting priorities. :0:

Here is another extremely helpful webpage to use as a cross-referencing tool with the other sites I mentioned for finding info on the releases of the books with the exact cover art you are looking for...using Christine as an example: Title: Christine
 

Astro Toaster

Member
Apr 5, 2018
10
41
42
Argh! I pre-ordered the new Scribner release of Full Dark, No Stars because it had updated cover art on the sales sheet. Just received it today, and... it's the same old artwork. :ohnoes:

I guess I'll have to wait and see what might show up at my local Barnes and Noble? I wish there were more options for purchasing books in person these days...
 

Shimonhead

Active Member
Mar 20, 2017
39
169
I should have posted not to be fooled by that sales sheet pic...I almost ordered it too, but noticed the sales sheet had a Gallery artwork pic, but a Scribner release house. After cross-referencing all the sales sites, none had the Gallery House or artwork.

Rule of thumb...If the trade release house is not Gallery, the art will not be what we want.
 
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Astro Toaster

Member
Apr 5, 2018
10
41
42
I figured as much. It's strange how the titles are divided up between Scribner and Gallery Books; I can't find any method to their madness. It seems that in the end, the 'runt of the litter' - Pocket Books - always gets the good end of things, art-wise. :rolleyes: