I have only one Planet Stories book so far (The Ship of Ishtar) and I don't know if it's how the other books are or not, but the publication data in that book presents Planet Stories as a magazine, just one filled from cover to cover with one book.
There's no Library of Congress data, just the same fine print I've seen in comic books that begins "Planet Stories is published bi-monthly..." (Of course the comic books listed different titles.)
So I'm wondering, why IS Planet Stories published with magazine publication data instead of having a real book copyright and publication data page?
Is it because Planet Stories is listed somewhere in official records as a magazine? Is it for nostalgia? Is it because magazine publication data takes up less space?
Color me curious.
I have only one Planet Stories book so far (The Ship of Ishtar) and I don't know if it's how the other books are or not, but the publication data in that book presents Planet Stories as a magazine, just one filled from cover to cover with one book.
There's no Library of Congress data, just the same fine print I've seen in comic books that begins "Planet Stories is published bi-monthly..." (Of course the comic books listed different titles.)
So I'm wondering, why IS Planet Stories published with magazine publication data instead of having a real book copyright and publication data page?
Is it because Planet Stories is listed somewhere in official records as a magazine? Is it for nostalgia? Is it because magazine publication data takes up less space?
Color me curious.
Hey Wolf,
Several of our Planet Stories titles have pulp-inspired covers and designs, but let me assure you that they are indeed books, with ISBNs and full distribution with the major U.S. bookstore retailers. "Bimonthly" simply refers to our book subscription program, which all of the Paizo book lines have (and which I encourage you to check out!). There's no specific requirement in publishing for a book to have LoC data listed, though beginning with Piers Anthony's Steppe we have begun to list PCIP Data, which is essentially the same thing and makes it more likely that libraries will order our books. I'm not sure what you mean by a "real book copyright." The one we have listed in each Planet Stories book is indeed quite real. So, in sum, Planet Stories = very *real* books with an occasional pulp-inspired design. :-)
I'd say all of the Planet Stories titles have pulp-inspired covers and designs. :-P (That's kind of the idea, right?)
By "real" book copyright, I just mean the standard page in almost every other book I've ever seen (besides RPG books, for some reason--maybe for space?) that is on the back side of the title page. The one that gives all the copyright information, the LoC data, and also usually says "If you purchased this book without a cover, this book should be considered stolen and has been reported to the publisher as destroyed..." and so on and so on.
I'm not complaining about it not being there, I just never understood why it wasn't there in The Ship of Ishtar and wondered if that was common for the Planet Stories line. I know that information (copyright and reprint data, anyway) is usually printed on the title page of RPG books instead of being on a separate page.
I'm in no way saying Planet Stories volumes don't contain real books, I'm only commenting/asking about the presentation.
Not familiar with PCIP data, but I'll look for it in the next one I get from the line.
I've just started this now, and only realised 30 pages in that the book is not in two-column with line art format. So is PS being revamped again, or is it just a we'll see how each book would be best treated sort of thing?
I've just started this now, and only realised 30 pages in that the book is not in two-column with line art format. So is PS being revamped again, or is it just a we'll see how each book would be best treated sort of thing?
It depends on a number of factors, including what the author prefers. You may see more books in 2-column format, especially if they're the old pulp stories that were originally published that way, but it seems like for newer stuff, a lot of folks prefer the more modern single-column treatment. So we're experimenting!