Any chance of getting these into planet stories? They are sometimes hard to find in new paperback form. I order scifi for a public library, and I would like to order a new set. I understand from Wikipedia that the first 5 volumes are no longer copyrighted in the U.S.

Any chance of getting these into planet stories? They are sometimes hard to find in new paperback form. I order scifi for a public library, and I would like to order a new set. I understand from Wikipedia that the first 5 volumes are no longer copyrighted in the U.S.

It's something we've considered repeatedly, and it's not out of the question, but it's kind of a dicey proposition for us, as those books have been reprinted so heavily... in general, we prefer to bring back books that folks haven't heard of but should, rather than try to go toe to toe with major publishing houses over the same public domain books. So we'll see!

Good to know you are at least considering it. Thanks.

It's something we've considered repeatedly, and it's not out of the question, but it's kind of a dicey proposition for us, as those books have been reprinted so heavily... in general, we prefer to bring back books that folks haven't heard of but should, rather than try to go toe to toe with major publishing houses over the same public domain books. So we'll see!

Any chance of getting these into planet stories? They are sometimes hard to find in new paperback form. I order scifi for a public library, and I would like to order a new set. I understand from Wikipedia that the first 5 volumes are no longer copyrighted in the U.S.

If it's okay for me to say here, you can get the series from the Science Fiction Book Club collected in 4 volumes.

Thanks for the tip. I might consider this for myself, but the library has specific vendors we can order from. They do look pretty good, though.

William Simpson wrote:

Any chance of getting these into planet stories? They are sometimes hard to find in new paperback form. I order scifi for a public library, and I would like to order a new set. I understand from Wikipedia that the first 5 volumes are no longer copyrighted in the U.S.

If it's okay for me to say here, you can get the series from the Science Fiction Book Club collected in 4 volumes.

SFBC - Barsoom

The first few books are in the public domain and are thus available in a variety of formats, including free online from Project Gutenberg, and in several print editions including from Barnes & Noble books. That means that B&N is VERY unlikely to pick up an edition from us, which means that said book would probably not be profitable.

Also, we can't get the Burroughs estate to return our calls, so there's that too.

I AM personally rereading/reading for the first time this series at the moment. I'm about halfway through the second book, Gods of Mars, which is pretty damn good.

The first few books are in the public domain and are thus available in a variety of formats, including free online from Project Gutenberg, and in several print editions including from Barnes & Noble books. That means that B&N is VERY unlikely to pick up an edition from us, which means that said book would probably not be profitable.

Also, we can't get the Burroughs estate to return our calls, so there's that too.

I AM personally rereading/reading for the first time this series at the moment. I'm about halfway through the second book, Gods of Mars, which is pretty damn good.

I thought the first three formed a terrific story. The rest of the series was quite good, but please for the love of all that's holy... stop at book 10.

Well there's always Carson Napier...

I'll just wait patiently for Pathfinder fiction on the red planet ;-)

I think you're selling Skeleton Men of Jupiter short; it's not that bad. John Carter and the Giant of Mars, on the other hand, is horrendous, but it was mostly, if not wholly, written by ERB's son, not the Master of Adventure himself.

Erik Mona wrote:

The first few books are in the public domain and are thus available in a variety of formats, including free online from Project Gutenberg, and in several print editions including from Barnes & Noble books. That means that B&N is VERY unlikely to pick up an edition from us, which means that said book would probably not be profitable.

Also, we can't get the Burroughs estate to return our calls, so there's that too.

I AM personally rereading/reading for the first time this series at the moment. I'm about halfway through the second book, Gods of Mars, which is pretty damn good.

I thought the first three formed a terrific story. The rest of the series was quite good, but please for the love of all that's holy... stop at book 10.

It's been several decades since I read John Carter of Mars. I'll grant that Skeleton Men of Jupiter probably isn't awful, but John Carter and the Giant of Mars is the first story in the book.

One is tainted by the presence of the other. Opening the book is just too risky.

I think you're selling Skeleton Men of Jupiter short; it's not that bad. John Carter and the Giant of Mars, on the other hand, is horrendous, but it was mostly, if not wholly, written by ERB's son, not the Master of Adventure himself.

mark logan wrote:

<snip>

I thought the first three formed a terrific story. The rest of the series was quite good, but please for the love of all that's holy... stop at book 10.

Agreed. :-) It does taint the book. Far preferable to just reprint Skeleton Men on its own and let Giant of Mars languish in obscurity.

It's been several decades since I read John Carter of Mars. I'll grant that Skeleton Men of Jupiter probably isn't awful, but John Carter and the Giant of Mars is the first story in the book.

One is tainted by the presence of the other. Opening the book is just too risky.

Given he was/is so popular, you are also competing with a huge number of used paperbacks.

All the rest of the Barsoom series is online at Project Gutenberg Australia, too.

http://www.gutenberg.net.au/sfproject.html

I was recently rereading these. I did not know his son wrote that one book about the Giant but I realized right away it was not ERB.

There is a not well edited version available on Amazon right now in hard cover in 6 or 7 volumes.

I liked Skeleton-Men of Jupiter and wanted to reprint it in a sword and planet anthology. That's the query we haven't been able to get a response from the estate on.

Oh, well.

I liked Skeleton-Men of Jupiter and wanted to reprint it in a sword and planet anthology. That's the query we haven't been able to get a response from the estate on.

Oh, well.

If Planet Stories did a non-subscriber edition of John Carter of Mars, I would love it. I have read the whole series. There is definitely a declining quality as you go from the first few to the last few books, but I notice whenever I look at any of my Burroughs stuff that it is always a selection of editions. It would be nice to have a full set, all with the same publisher and general look.

I would, however, prefer to have my Planet Stories subscription stay out of the "common" stuff and continue to add to great books I have never read (or even perhaps heard of).

Part of the challenge is walking that thin line between "here's some awesome stuff you probably haven't read" and "utterly unprofitable".

I'd love to do a collection of Neil R. Jones's Durna Rangue story about a 25th century drug and vivisection space cult, for example, but I suspect initial orders from the trade would come in at about 400 copies, and the line would take a swift turn toward the rubbish bin.

This is, in part, why it is so important that the line get more subscribers. They act as a sort of bulwark that assures us of at least covering our costs and makes it a lot easier to take quirky risks.

I urge all interested parties to subscribe to Planet Stories.

I would buy the Paizo version of John Carter series in a heart beat. That is a no brainer for me.

I have mixed feelings about Planet Stories doing ERB's Mars books. I loved the books (especially the early ones), but I don't want the series to publish a bunch of titles that are readily available in other editions, especially since this would mean that fewer hard-to-find titles would make it to print. If Planet Stories ever became successful enough to publish two books a month, then I would love to see these in Planet Stories editions.

Part of the challenge is walking that thin line between "here's some awesome stuff you probably haven't read" and "utterly unprofitable".

I'd love to do a collection of Neil R. Jones's Durna Rangue story about a 25th century drug and vivisection space cult, for example, but I suspect initial orders from the trade would come in at about 400 copies, and the line would take a swift turn toward the rubbish bin.

This is, in part, why it is so important that the line get more subscribers. They act as a sort of bulwark that assures us of at least covering our costs and makes it a lot easier to take quirky risks.

I urge all interested parties to subscribe to Planet Stories.

Well, I subscribed (again) to the Planet Stories line a few days ago. I figure that a book every other month would be a doable read, despite me having a few (hundred) books that are waiting to be read just in my house. Plus, I am trying to support this line since it is such an awesome idea. I will eventually pick up the books that I am missing sometime or another. Thanks for doing this Erik and the rest of the Paizo crew!

And thank _you_ for subscribing!

And thank _you_ for subscribing!

You can repay me by helping me get even with Cosmo for putting Explosive Runes on my copy of my Wayfinder! ~wicked smile~

~grins~ I am glad that I can help out. I have been planning to subscribe for a while now.

I have mixed feelings about Planet Stories doing ERB's Mars books. I loved the books (especially the early ones), but I don't want the series to publish a bunch of titles that are readily available in other editions, especially since this would mean that fewer hard-to-find titles would make it to print. If Planet Stories ever became successful enough to publish two books a month, then I would love to see these in Planet Stories editions.

I agree. Barnes & Noble is putting out an omnibus of the first 3 books (with Tom Yeates art) very soon. Brackett, Merritt, Wellman and others are FAR more in need of publication.