Second Life Forums Archive - What's up with paperbacks?

Ananda Sandgrain

+0-

Join date: 16 May 2003

Posts: 1,951

06-03-2006 17:24

I just picked up the paperback edition of Song of Susannah, and realized that when I put it next to The Wolves of the Calla it was half an inch taller! OMG! I am totally discombobulated. Paperbacks have been basically one size - one size! all of my life, and the life before that too. What are my bobules to do?

_____________________

Siobhan Taylor

Nemesis

Join date: 13 Aug 2003

Posts: 5,476

06-03-2006 17:43

From: Ananda Sandgrain

I just picked up the paperback edition of Song of Susannah, and realized that when I put it next to The Wolves of the Calla it was half an inch taller! OMG! I am totally discombobulated. Paperbacks have been basically one size - one size! all of my life, and the life before that too. What are my bobules to do?

I hear you... I got first releases of the first 3... hand painted inserts, the works... then I got Wizard and Glass and it all fell apart... now, I've given up trying to match them.

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Devlin Gallant

Thought Police

Join date: 18 Jun 2003

Posts: 5,948

06-04-2006 00:51

There is a specific term for the size of the paperback you got, but I forget what it is.It is an earlier release by the publisher than the standard printings. Maybe a 'Trade" copy? Anyone?

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I LIKE children, I've just never been able to finish a whole one.

Siobhan Taylor

Nemesis

Join date: 13 Aug 2003

Posts: 5,476

06-04-2006 01:03

From: Devlin Gallant

There is a specific term for the size of the paperback you got, but I forget what it is.It is an earlier release by the publisher than the standard printings. Maybe a 'Trade" copy? Anyone?

lol nah, maybe they're a set size, but 99% of the others I have seem to be random. I just used that set as an example since Ananda'd mentioned it (and it appears to be required reading for these forums, lol)...

The point is moot anyway... I seem to be buying most books now in electronic form. 30 novels on a memory stick in my PDA is a lot easier just to fit in my bag than even a single paperback.

_____________________

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nimrod Yaffle

Cavemen are people too...

Join date: 15 Nov 2004

Posts: 3,146

06-04-2006 01:19

Am I too young to know what this thread is about? I get the feeling I am. >_>

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"People can cry much easier than they can change."
-James Baldwin

Siobhan Taylor

Nemesis

Join date: 13 Aug 2003

Posts: 5,476

06-04-2006 01:42

From: nimrod Yaffle

Am I too young to know what this thread is about? I get the feeling I am. >_>

Sizes of paperbacks, and as a side issue, Stephen King's Dark Tower cycle.

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Starax Statosky

Unregistered User

Join date: 23 Dec 2003

Posts: 1,099

06-04-2006 04:32

You will now have to replace all your old paperbacks with the new format. Your old ones are no longer compatible with your bookshelf.

Seraph Nephilim

and the angels will weep

Join date: 28 Jan 2006

Posts: 255

06-04-2006 08:21

Another thought: there are two types of paperbacks usually printed: the standard size and "trade" paperbacks, which tend to be a bit larger, non-standard in size, and priced somewhere between a regular paperback and a hardcover.

Ananda Sandgrain

+0-

Join date: 16 May 2003

Posts: 1,951

06-04-2006 09:15

I realize print is old fashioned, but check out a bookstore sometime. What I'm referring to is a new "standard" size for paperbacks. I haven't found any information about it on the web other than rants.

"Trade" paperbacks are fine. Actually, there is a very common, standard size for those which is about an inch larger in each direction than the pocketbook format.

For some reason, after like 50 years of having the same size, a publisher or a few have all of a sudden decided to make theirs a half inch taller. When I got home I realized that actually they'd started with Wolves of the Calla, but half the new release paperbacks in the store felt like they had been cut wrong.

Anyone heard of an explanation? I haven't found one yet. I tend to shy away from orthodoxies but these new books are a blasphemy.

_____________________

Lorelei Patel

was here

Join date: 22 Feb 2004

Posts: 1,940

06-04-2006 12:36

There are two flavors of paperback: trade and mass market. Mass market are the smaller-sized ones, usually on cheaper paper.

Trades are larger and can come in many sizes, though 6 inch x 9 inch is probably the most common.

Trivia courtesy of my job in a book warehouse about 10 years ago.

_____________________

============
Broadly offensive.

Ananda Sandgrain

+0-

Join date: 16 May 2003

Posts: 1,951

06-04-2006 13:00

I realize there are more than one size of standard paperbacks, my point is that the pocketbook, or mass-market size, has been changed.

Upon further examination, the aesthetic and philosophical implications are even more disturbing.

The classic size of both mass-market and trade paperbacks approximates the Golden Rectangle. This is the ratio in which one side of the rectangle is 1.618... times the side of the other, and has been considered a most pleasing shape ever since the time of the ancient Greeks.

Your typical paperback is about 4"x6.75", giving a ratio of 1:1.6875. While not exactly on the mark, it is close.

But.

The new mass market size is 4"x7.5", leading to a ratio of 1:1.8125. Now that is just way off. These heretical publishers are defying centuries of tradition in everything from stationary to playing cards to architecture.

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Tod69 Talamasca

The Human Tripod ;)

Join date: 20 Sep 2005

Posts: 4,107

06-04-2006 13:30

Hey, does this apply to PDF files??

Aliasi Stonebender

Return of Catbread

Join date: 30 Jan 2005

Posts: 1,858

06-04-2006 14:12

It may be for the simple prosaic reason - in the case of King books - that he's simply one wordy guy; they need to make the book a bit more lengthy to reduce page count, perhaps?

I know The Stand's reason for being cut, originally, was due to binding issues, of all things...

_____________________

Red Mary says, softly, “How a man grows aggressive when his enemy displays propriety. He thinks: I will use this good behavior to enforce my advantage over her. Is it any wonder people hold good behavior in such disregard?”
Anything Surplus Home to the "Nuke the Crap Out of..." series of games and other stuff

Gerami Fizz

That Guy

Join date: 15 Jun 2005

Posts: 88

06-04-2006 21:13

As I recall, The Song of Susannah felt like it was almost padded, paperwise. Isn't it the shortest of the series, save maybe the first?

Also, whoa! I had no idea there were this many Tower fans hiding in SL.

What's up with paperbacks?
Ananda Sandgrain +0- Join date: 16 May 2003 Posts: 1,951	06-03-2006 17:24 I just picked up the paperback edition of Song of Susannah, and realized that when I put it next to The Wolves of the Calla it was half an inch taller! OMG! I am totally discombobulated. Paperbacks have been basically one size - one size! all of my life, and the life before that too. What are my bobules to do? _____________________
Siobhan Taylor Nemesis Join date: 13 Aug 2003 Posts: 5,476	06-03-2006 17:43 From: Ananda Sandgrain I just picked up the paperback edition of Song of Susannah, and realized that when I put it next to The Wolves of the Calla it was half an inch taller! OMG! I am totally discombobulated. Paperbacks have been basically one size - one size! all of my life, and the life before that too. What are my bobules to do? I hear you... I got first releases of the first 3... hand painted inserts, the works... then I got Wizard and Glass and it all fell apart... now, I've given up trying to match them. _____________________ http://siobhantaylor.wordpress.com/
Devlin Gallant Thought Police Join date: 18 Jun 2003 Posts: 5,948	06-04-2006 00:51 There is a specific term for the size of the paperback you got, but I forget what it is.It is an earlier release by the publisher than the standard printings. Maybe a 'Trade" copy? Anyone? _____________________ I LIKE children, I've just never been able to finish a whole one.
Siobhan Taylor Nemesis Join date: 13 Aug 2003 Posts: 5,476	06-04-2006 01:03 From: Devlin Gallant There is a specific term for the size of the paperback you got, but I forget what it is.It is an earlier release by the publisher than the standard printings. Maybe a 'Trade" copy? Anyone? lol nah, maybe they're a set size, but 99% of the others I have seem to be random. I just used that set as an example since Ananda'd mentioned it (and it appears to be required reading for these forums, lol)... The point is moot anyway... I seem to be buying most books now in electronic form. 30 novels on a memory stick in my PDA is a lot easier just to fit in my bag than even a single paperback. _____________________ http://siobhantaylor.wordpress.com/
nimrod Yaffle Cavemen are people too... Join date: 15 Nov 2004 Posts: 3,146	06-04-2006 01:19 Am I too young to know what this thread is about? I get the feeling I am. >_> _____________________ "People can cry much easier than they can change." -James Baldwin
Siobhan Taylor Nemesis Join date: 13 Aug 2003 Posts: 5,476	06-04-2006 01:42 From: nimrod Yaffle Am I too young to know what this thread is about? I get the feeling I am. >_> Sizes of paperbacks, and as a side issue, Stephen King's Dark Tower cycle. _____________________ http://siobhantaylor.wordpress.com/
Starax Statosky Unregistered User Join date: 23 Dec 2003 Posts: 1,099	06-04-2006 04:32 You will now have to replace all your old paperbacks with the new format. Your old ones are no longer compatible with your bookshelf.
Seraph Nephilim and the angels will weep Join date: 28 Jan 2006 Posts: 255	06-04-2006 08:21 Another thought: there are two types of paperbacks usually printed: the standard size and "trade" paperbacks, which tend to be a bit larger, non-standard in size, and priced somewhere between a regular paperback and a hardcover.
Ananda Sandgrain +0- Join date: 16 May 2003 Posts: 1,951	06-04-2006 09:15 I realize print is old fashioned, but check out a bookstore sometime. What I'm referring to is a new "standard" size for paperbacks. I haven't found any information about it on the web other than rants. "Trade" paperbacks are fine. Actually, there is a very common, standard size for those which is about an inch larger in each direction than the pocketbook format. For some reason, after like 50 years of having the same size, a publisher or a few have all of a sudden decided to make theirs a half inch taller. When I got home I realized that actually they'd started with Wolves of the Calla, but half the new release paperbacks in the store felt like they had been cut wrong. Anyone heard of an explanation? I haven't found one yet. I tend to shy away from orthodoxies but these new books are a blasphemy. _____________________
Lorelei Patel was here Join date: 22 Feb 2004 Posts: 1,940	06-04-2006 12:36 There are two flavors of paperback: trade and mass market. Mass market are the smaller-sized ones, usually on cheaper paper. Trades are larger and can come in many sizes, though 6 inch x 9 inch is probably the most common. Trivia courtesy of my job in a book warehouse about 10 years ago. _____________________ ============ Broadly offensive.
Ananda Sandgrain +0- Join date: 16 May 2003 Posts: 1,951	06-04-2006 13:00 I realize there are more than one size of standard paperbacks, my point is that the pocketbook, or mass-market size, has been changed. Upon further examination, the aesthetic and philosophical implications are even more disturbing. The classic size of both mass-market and trade paperbacks approximates the Golden Rectangle. This is the ratio in which one side of the rectangle is 1.618... times the side of the other, and has been considered a most pleasing shape ever since the time of the ancient Greeks. Your typical paperback is about 4"x6.75", giving a ratio of 1:1.6875. While not exactly on the mark, it is close. But. The new mass market size is 4"x7.5", leading to a ratio of 1:1.8125. Now that is just way off. These heretical publishers are defying centuries of tradition in everything from stationary to playing cards to architecture. _____________________
Tod69 Talamasca The Human Tripod ;) Join date: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 4,107	06-04-2006 13:30 Hey, does this apply to PDF files??
Aliasi Stonebender Return of Catbread Join date: 30 Jan 2005 Posts: 1,858	06-04-2006 14:12 It may be for the simple prosaic reason - in the case of King books - that he's simply one wordy guy; they need to make the book a bit more lengthy to reduce page count, perhaps? I know The Stand's reason for being cut, originally, was due to binding issues, of all things... _____________________ Red Mary says, softly, “How a man grows aggressive when his enemy displays propriety. He thinks: I will use this good behavior to enforce my advantage over her. Is it any wonder people hold good behavior in such disregard?” Anything Surplus Home to the "Nuke the Crap Out of..." series of games and other stuff
Gerami Fizz That Guy Join date: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 88	06-04-2006 21:13 As I recall, The Song of Susannah felt like it was almost padded, paperwise. Isn't it the shortest of the series, save maybe the first? Also, whoa! I had no idea there were this many Tower fans hiding in SL.

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What's up with paperbacks?