Do you realize that the description of the sale says that it is for three books but then lists four books?

[Administrator's note for those of you looking in after January 2008: The "sale" was actually a special subscriber discount on previous books in the series. Because we didn't offer subscriptions until after three Planet Stories books ihad already been published, we wanted to give subscribers the opportunity to pick up those books with the same discount that they would have had if we had offered the subscriptions three months earlier when the line started. This limited-time offer is no longer available.]

Allright, I subscribed. One question, though: Would it be possible to (retroactively) have the subscription start at book #1, instead of #3?

Allright, I subscribed. One question, though: Would it be possible to (retroactively) have the subscription start at book #1, instead of #3?

Do you realize that the description of the sale says that it is for three books but then lists four books?

Dance of Ruin wrote:

Allright, I subscribed. One question, though: Would it be possible to (retroactively) have the subscription start at book #1, instead of #3?

i would like this as well :)

*sigh* Resistance was futile, I was assimilated.

I'm going to need a bigger apartment.

ElmoFromOK wrote:

Dance of Ruin wrote:

Allright, I subscribed. One question, though: Would it be possible to (retroactively) have the subscription start at book #1, instead of #3?

i would like this as well :)

Kind of. Until January 1, Planet Stories subscribers will automatically get the 20% discount on the previous books in the series. You can either add them to your cart at the same time that you subscribe, or order them separately. The discount will be applied automatically during checkout.

Subscribed. Since I stopped reading Forgotten Realms novels, I am constantly looking for new fantasy literature, anyway. It was the offer of, basically, starting the subscription on day one retroactively that got me to subscribe.

One question about the whole thing:

The subscription started with Black God's Kiss, so that means I only have to get The Anubis Murders and City of the Beast, yes? Everything else is included in the subscription.

And on a related matter:
Couldn't you make the same deal for the other subscriptions already on their way? At first, I didn't want to get into GameMastery, but now I'd like to, but I hesitate because I'd have to get several PDFs extra which would be included in a subscription. If I could enter the GameMastery subscription now, buy all the modules I have missed (I wouldn't mind if the deal said that I had to get the whole back log), and get all the PDFs for those, too, I'd subscribe at once.

Is this 20% discount only good at time for previous books of initial subscription setup or can I wait a bit (although before Jan 1) to decide which (probably all) other books I will order?

The retroactive discount will be going away after the 1st of the year, though, so make sure you sign up before then.

Subscribed. Since I stopped reading Forgotten Realms novels, I am constantly looking for new fantasy literature, anyway. It was the offer of, basically, starting the subscription on day one retroactively that got me to subscribe.

The subscription started with Black God's Kiss, so that means I only have to get The Anubis Murders and City of the Beast, yes? Everything else is included in the subscription.

And on a related matter:
Couldn't you make the same deal for the other subscriptions already on their way? At first, I didn't want to get into GameMastery, but now I'd like to, but I hesitate because I'd have to get several PDFs extra which would be included in a subscription. If I could enter the GameMastery subscription now, buy all the modules I have missed (I wouldn't mind if the deal said that I had to get the whole back log), and get all the PDFs for those, too, I'd subscribe at once.

--Erik

KaeYoss wrote:

And on a related matter:
Couldn't you make the same deal for the other subscriptions already on their way? At first, I didn't want to get into GameMastery, but now I'd like to, but I hesitate because I'd have to get several PDFs extra which would be included in a subscription. If I could enter the GameMastery subscription now, buy all the modules I have missed (I wouldn't mind if the deal said that I had to get the whole back log), and get all the PDFs for those, too, I'd subscribe at once.

This is an interesting idea. We'll talk about it at work next week and see if we can work something out. I am certain this will not be forthcoming before the holidays, alas, as our computer team is really busy with a ton of other pressing projects at the moment. But it is a good idea.

Is this 20% discount only good at time for previous books of initial subscription setup or can I wait a bit (although before Jan 1) to decide which (probably all) other books I will order?

Hate to report another problem, but I just put an order in and failed to get the 20% discount on Elak of Atlantis.

Hi!
I subscribed yesterday!!! Just haven't told my wife yet :-)
Anyways, I have a question.
Are you going to be mostly publishing reprints of "classic" matrial or will this series be more and more original stories?
I subscribed for the "Classic" books and not new material that is tied into some Roleplaying-universe. As long as I will be receiving "mostly" classic reprints I will be more than happy to keep my subscription running.
Have you thought of reprinting some of Lin Carter's books? Like the Thongor series? Carter's Sword & Sorcery/ Sword & Planet stories were always a little goofy, but still great fun.
What makes me sooooo happy with this series is that I hate to keep re-reading my old paperbacks from the 60's and 70's. They are in too good of shape to be damaging (but books are meant to be read and not just collected.). So now I have nice reading copies that'll also look great on my bookshelf!
Leigh Brackett needs to be exposed to a new genaration. Her sensibilities haven't become dated and so should still be very accessable to a newer/younger audience .
Sorry for rambling! :-)
Doug

Hate to report another problem, but I just put an order in and failed to get the 20% discount on Elak of Atlantis.

I've fixed that.

Hi!
I subscribed yesterday!!! Just haven't told my wife yet :-)
Anyways, I have a question.
Are you going to be mostly publishing reprints of "classic" matrial or will this series be more and more original stories?

I'd say that 75-80% of the books will be classic reprints, and I don't intend to push the ratios much beyond that for the foreseeable future. The fact that Gygax's books are a trilogy gives the newer material a larger footprint that it otherwise would have.

Have you thought of reprinting some of Lin Carter's books? Like the Thongor series? Carter's Sword & Sorcery/ Sword & Planet stories were always a little goofy, but still great fun.

Leigh Brackett needs to be exposed to a new genaration. Her sensibilities haven't become dated and so should still be very accessable to a newer/younger audience .
Sorry for rambling! :-)
Doug

Thanks for your interest in the line! Please help us spread the word to all corners of the internet, as we'd love to keep printing this stuff forever!

--Erik Mona
Publisher
Paizo Publishing, LLC

Hi!
I have another question.
I have no idea if some stories have more expensive "re-print rights" than others, but have you looked in the the series of KANE stories and novels written by Karl Edward Wagner? These are some of the most amazing Sword&Sorcery stories ever written. They are a fantastic mix of Sword&Sorcery,Horror and Super Science!!
Plus Kane is one of the most interesting/maddening "protaganists" ever written.
I'm overjoyed that you will also be reprinting O.A. Kline! Have you looked into his novel "Maza of the Moon". It is terribly dated in most ways, but it is still one of the most enjoyable books I've read in the past few years.
Who has the rights now for ERB's Venus series?
And I hope thet sales are good enough to keep this series going until you run out of authors to print!
Take care.
Doug

Are the trim sizes of these books the standard 6" X 9" trade paperback size? The description says trade paperback, but I'm naturally suspicious :-).

Are the trim sizes of these books the standard 6" X 9" trade paperback size? The description says trade paperback, but I'm naturally suspicious :-).

Hi!
Who has the rights now for ERB's Venus series?

Doug

The publisher is: Leonaur.

Question:

I just subscribed (1/11/08). What is the first book I will be receiving? I think either "Northwest of Earth" or "The Secret of Sinharat" - but will it be some other?

Which books, then, will I have to purchase individually in order to retroactively acquire the whole set?

Thanks for the help. I love this concept - it's better than a book club.

Question:

I just subscribed (1/11/08). What is the first book I will be receiving? I think either "Northwest of Earth" or "The Secret of Sinharat" - but will it be some other?

Which books, then, will I have to purchase individually in order to retroactively acquire the whole set?

Thanks for the help. I love this concept - it's better than a book club.

You've missed The Anubis Murders, City of the Beast, Black God's Kiss, and Elak of Atlantis. (They're listed in release order on the Planet Stories products page.)

However, we're still running a promotion that allows Planet Stories subscribers who purchase any of those books before the end of the month to get the subscriber discount on them.

Jason-Azze wrote:

Are the trim sizes of these books the standard 6" X 9" trade paperback size? The description says trade paperback, but I'm naturally suspicious :-).

The books are approx. 5-1/4" x 8-1/8"

</nerdy bookbinding talk>

El Skootro

The two books I've bought individually ("Elak Of Atlantis" and "Black God's Kiss") have been excellent — I love Kuttner & Moore but had never read their early sword-and-sorcery stuff.

Most of the other books look great too (how can you go wrong with Leigh Brackett and Michael Moorcock?) ... but WTF is Gary Gygax doing in that list? Reprinting unjustly-neglected fantasy classics that inspired the original RPG inventors is a brilliant idea, but it seems the publishers felt obligated to include books written _by_ RPG designers as well, which is pointless. Being a game designer does not make one a good novelist (any more than being a good novelist makes one a good basketball player), and all the fiction I've read that's based on or inspired by RPG games has been fanfic-level junk, the sort of thing that's given the genre a bad name.

So Paizo, please offer us a "just the good old stuff" subscription to Planet Stories, and I'll go for it.

You should visit the Planet Stories sub-forum here, which is a little way down the long forums list.

And this tread could enlighten you a bit. You'll find a similar opinion/concern as yours being answered by Erik Mona (6th post).

but WTF is Gary Gygax doing in that list? Reprinting unjustly-neglected fantasy classics that inspired the original RPG inventors is a brilliant idea, but it seems the publishers felt obligated to include books written _by_ RPG designers as well, which is pointless. Being a game designer does not make one a good novelist (any more than being a good novelist makes one a good basketball player), and all the fiction I've read that's based on or inspired by RPG games has been fanfic-level junk, the sort of thing that's given the genre a bad name.

-Lisa

Regardless of whether you like his stuff or not, it's hard to deny that Gygax has had more influence on the fantasy genre than practically any author since Tolkien himself. In creating Dungeons and Dragons (which, incidentally, was inspired by many of the older authors we're publishing), he assembled a vision of fantasy that's become pretty much the standard for generations of authors since. The game has inspired (and probably trained, inasmuch as D&D teaches people how to tell stories) legions of authors, and it's difficult to find a good fantasy book these days that DOESN'T automatically include elements of Gygaxian fantasy.

Personally, most of the Beatles songs that I've heard bore me to tears (Buffalo Bill? Rocky Raccoon? WTF?), but I can respect that without them, I wouldn't have most of the music I enjoy. Planet Stories is about publishing the best SF&F, yes, but also the most important and influential works. And for that reason, you can expect to see a few (though certainly not a ton) of Gygax novels to appear in our line.

I hope the other novels continue to meet your approval!

I'd also note that while the other Planet Stories books are uniformly averaging 4-star reviews from our customers on paizo.com, Gygax's The Anubis Murders is currently averaging 4.5 stars. (Yes, I know the sample size is miniscule. If you've read 'em, please review 'em!)

Interestingly enough, the early results seem to indicate that the Gygax books are outselling the other books by a bit. I can tell you that I didn't see that coming. It just shows that taste is something unique to each person.

-Lisa

--Erik Mona

So Paizo, please offer us a "just the good old stuff" subscription to Planet Stories, and I'll go for it.

Being a little surprised to enjoy the book, I'd ask that if you're considering a subscription, abandon your preconceived notions of what you'll expect. I kind of see a subscription like having a friend that recommends books, and every month he has a new one he loves. Of course, he read fifteen books and is just suggesting you read the best of those....

So, even though many of the books aren't ones I'd choose for myself, I think I understand why they're being recommended. And of course, you may still find that one or two are 'stinkers', but I think that, overall (or at least so far), you can trust the judgement of Erik Mona and the Paizo staff.

Hey All,
are my eyes playing tricks on me? Are 3 TITLES coming out in March???
What's with one book every month? I have a subscription and I live in Germany. I'm paying about $18.00 a book including postage.
But, as I stated in another post.. I decided on subscribing so that this project would get the support it deserves. If I took the Amazon route I would be saving about $5 per book. Though this would not guarantee you any advanced sales and I understand how important advanced sales are to a publisher.
One book a month doesn't blow my budget, but 3 books in a month does.
If this is the case then I will mostly likely be forced to cancel my subscription, pick and choose which titles I truly want and go buy them through Amazon.de. If they are even being carried that is. They are not carrying "Elak of Atlantis" (they went and canceled my order saying the title is unavailable).
Is printing in China really so much cheaper than printing in North America??

Take care.
Doug

Printing in China _is_ much cheaper than printing in the US. Basically, if we printed the books domestically we would not be able to produce the line.

Unfortunately, overseas shipping adds a certain unpredictable element to things, and both "Northwest of Earth" and "Almuric" have been delayed by factors outside our control. Both books are currently in America and on their way to us, but I am currently facing the unenviable position of Almuric arriving BEFORE Northwest of Earth, within about two weeks of one another.

"Lord of the Spiders" is pretty much on track, but I may hold it for a week or so to save subscribers from a triple-shot month. After "Lord" things should be fully back to a regular, monthly schedule.

I definitely appreciate your support in subscribing to the line, and I apologize if this causes problems for you. I am trying to get everything straightened out as best I can.

Thanks,

Erik Mona
Publisher

Hi Erik,
thanks for the reply. I'll stick it out and cross my fingers.
But IF I get hit with a triple month and my wife rips a huge chunk out of my butt I'll be flying back to the states and sleeping on your sofa!! :-)

Take care.
Doug

Printing in China _is_ much cheaper than printing in the US. Basically, if we printed the books domestically we would not be able to produce the line.

Unfortunately, overseas shipping adds a certain unpredictable element to things, and both "Northwest of Earth" and "Almuric" have been delayed by factors outside our control. Both books are currently in America and on their way to us, but I am currently facing the unenviable position of Almuric arriving BEFORE Northwest of Earth, within about two weeks of one another.

"Lord of the Spiders" is pretty much on track, but I may hold it for a week or so to save subscribers from a triple-shot month. After "Lord" things should be fully back to a regular, monthly schedule.

I definitely appreciate your support in subscribing to the line, and I apologize if this causes problems for you. I am trying to get everything straightened out as best I can.

Thanks,

Erik Mona
Publisher

Personally, most of the Beatles songs that I've heard bore me to tears (Buffalo Bill? Rocky Raccoon? WTF?)

Also, when exactly did the retroactive 20% discount end? The Planet Stories page says Jan first, but I know it was extended. Was it through the 31st?

Also, when exactly did the retroactive 20% discount end? The Planet Stories page says Jan first, but I know it was extended. Was it through the 31st?

Hi!
Have you all decided how many books are comming out this month? I can't afford a triple shot month. That would blow my budget big time since I'm having the books shipped to Germany. and really P.O. the Mrs.!!!

Take care.
Doug

Hi!
Have you all decided how many books are comming out this month? I can't afford a triple shot month. That would blow my budget big time since I'm having the books shipped to Germany. and really P.O. the Mrs.!!!

Take care.
Doug

I couldn't take it any longer, Lord I was crazed
And when the feeling came upon me like a tidal wave
I started swearing to my god and on my mother's grave
That I would love you to the end of time
I swore that I would love you to the end of time!

Damn I just had to subscribe :-)

I couldn't take it any longer, Lord I was crazed
And when the feeling came upon me like a tidal wave
I started swearing to my god and on my mother's grave
That I would love you to the end of time
I swore that I would love you to the end of time!

Damn I just had to subscribe :-)

-Lisa

Hopefully you won't be prayin' for the end of time, to hurry up and arrive. :)

-Lisa

Just wanted to say that I finished Elak and enjoyed the heck out of it. I think I have most or all of the stories scattered around, but it was nice to have them all in a single collection. Any chance of some L. Sprague de Camp? I'm mostly interested in his Pusadian stories -- short novel The Tritonian Ring and a handful of additional stories set in Atlantis. I'm thinking they'd make a nice single-volume collection . . .

I'm on the fence about adding this subscription to the list. I have yet to read any of the existing line, so perhaps I should hold off 'til after I get a feel for the books that have come out so far. I grabbed Lord of the Spiders and now I see that it's not the first in the Moorcock series, but it was the only one at my local bookseller. Should I read City of Beasts first?

One question that might coax me to pick it up sooner, though is this: do the 20% off and the 15% Pathfinder subscriber discount stack?

One question that might coax me to pick it up sooner, though is this: do the 20% off and the 15% Pathfinder subscriber discount stack?

-Lisa

One question that might coax me to pick it up sooner, though is this: do the 20% off and the 15% Pathfinder subscriber discount stack?

And think of it as D&D. bonuses of the same type do not stack :)

The books are great, and I really like the whole concept. You guys keep coming up with great ideas! However, I do have a comment about value. I would have liked Lord of the Spiders a lot better at $10.99 or $11.99. That book is a bit too short to have the same cover price as the others in the series. I realize the format commands a higher price, but that one was really pushing it.

The books are great, and I really like the whole concept. You guys keep coming up with great ideas! However, I do have a comment about value. I would have liked Lord of the Spiders a lot better at $10.99 or $11.99. That book is a bit too short to have the same cover price as the others in the series. I realize the format commands a higher price, but that one was really pushing it.

James Laubacker wrote:

The books are great, and I really like the whole concept. You guys keep coming up with great ideas! However, I do have a comment about value. I would have liked Lord of the Spiders a lot better at $10.99 or $11.99. That book is a bit too short to have the same cover price as the others in the series. I realize the format commands a higher price, but that one was really pushing it.

Well, you could look at it from the other point of view: our consistent pricing allows you to pick up Northwest of Earth, which clocks in around 380 pages, for the same price.

Best.

I see it as a member sponsorship, like public radio has, only without the pledge drives.

Well, you could look at it from the other point of view: our consistent pricing allows you to pick up Northwest of Earth, which clocks in around 380 pages, for the same price.

Vic wrote:

Well, you could look at it from the other point of view: our consistent pricing allows you to pick up Northwest of Earth, which clocks in around 380 pages, for the same price.

That's a good perspective. As long as the average is about 250 pages, I'll be satisfied. I guess that means you wouldn't consider a lower price on the shorter books?

-Lisa