Quote:
Originally Posted by NatCh
That's the Trade Paperback (TPB) you're referring to. It ain't new, by the way, I've got one here that was published in the 1977 (cover price of $4.95, if anyone's interested).
The "normal" paperbacks are called Mass Market Paperbacks (MMPB), if I recall correctly.
All that being said, I share your view that the MMPB is the norm for paperbacks, and I don't usually like the TPB's either, with the occasional rare exception.
Baen's prices are usually $4~$6 (for those who don't know) so they're below the MMPB and way below the TPB prices.
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JSWolf isn't referring to TPBs, but rather to a new variant on MMPB that started filtering in to the market around 2006 or so. The first one I remember seeing was Stephen King's
Cell
They are about the same width and thickness as a standard MMPB but stand an inch and a half to two inches taller, and the prices start at $9.99 US rather than $6.99/$7.99 US for traditional MMPBs. Unlike traditional TPBs they don't have the same aspect ratio as traditional MMPBs or hardcovers.
I think they're an absolute ripoff and should never have been released. Unfortunately they stacked the odds by using the form to initially release major authors and bestsellers only.