Difference Between Ace and Roc

[Waylander]

What is the difference between these two publishers? They are both owned by Penguin, and bot publish sci-fi/fantasy, so why are they kept separate and not merged? Do they publish different types of sci-fi/fantasy? Just wondering.

[DiapDealer]

I think Penguin first had Roc, and then a later merger with Putnam brought Ace into the fold. Not sure exactly why they maintained seperate identities, though. Even their Facebook page is combined. Doesn't Roc have a lot of Canadian authors? Perhaps that Canadian influence has something to do with it.

http://www.sfcanada.ca/winter2005/jo...ninterview.htm

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Waylander

What is the difference between these two publishers? They are both owned by Penguin, and bot publish sci-fi/fantasy, so why are they kept separate and not merged? Do they publish different types of sci-fi/fantasy? Just wondering.

Brand Name (at least to us older folk)

Many of my early purchases (I only bought paperbacks) were Ace Doubles with the familiar Yellow/White halves on the spine. Ace (singles) had Yellow spines

DelRey, Baen became a Brand to look for


Bottom line is Good Brands will keep their names when bought and brought into the fold.

Here in the silicon valley, companies get bought for their I. P. (patents). The brand will languish and later, the remains will be sold off, cheap.

[Waylander]

But if there's no noticeable difference between the brands now, as they both publish virtually the same kind of material, why keep them separate?

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Waylander

But if there's no noticeable difference between the brands now, as they both publish virtually the same kind of material, why keep them separate?

Ace is spelled ACE
Roc is spelled Roc

That is the difference.
The content is not the Brand.

Originally, the content may have Made the brand, but that is the past.

Just look around. Companies are dredging up old brands (looks) hoping for a market edge.
Just look at all the 'retro' cars on the market
Names in electronics that were once at the fore, are making appearances again (unfortunately, the products tend to be shadows of their origins).

[DiapDealer]

But many readers aren't even aware of these brands when they buy their books. I couldn't tell you what the "brands" were on any of my recent purchases without going back and looking it up. So who does this branding appeal to or benefit? Authors submitting manuscripts?

[theducks]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

But many readers aren't even aware of these brands when they buy their books. I couldn't tell you what the "brands" were on any of my recent purchases without going back and looking it up. So who does this branding appeal to or benefit? Authors submitting manuscripts?

I guess I m

Ace and DelRey had my kind of SF.
Ballentine was a maybe.
Playboy press was a rare occurrence.

Same with Music. The 'Label' usually matched to peoples tastes

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by theducks

I guess I m

Ace and DelRey had my kind of SF.
Ballentine was a maybe.
Playboy press was a rare occurrence.

Same with Music. The 'Label' usually matched to peoples tastes

Oh, I know the names of many of the publishers and their various imprints. There's just very few that I've ever connected with the authors in their stables or with the purchases in my library. I know I'd find a ton of Ace, Roc, Del Rey, and Ballantine books on my shelves, too. I just wouldn't be able to match an author or title with one of them with any degree of accuracy. Nor have I ever "sought out" new works from <Imprint X>.

Perhaps I'm not representative of most readers? *shrugs*

Would many readers blink if their favorite authors' books were suddenly part of the new "Ace Rocs" imprint's catalog?

[Waylander]

Here's a link to an interview with an editor at Ace and Roc. I was just interested as to why they don't just combine both imprints if they are basically the same, to make a leaner publishing operation, but I suppose that's common sense and traditional publishing doesn't really do that.
http://www.sfcanada.ca/winter2005/jo...ninterview.htm

[DiapDealer]

That link looks strangely familiar.

[tompe]

But they are not the same as he said in the interview. Also two imprints probably will sell more books than one.

[Apache]

Originally Posted by theducks

Ace is spelled ACE
Roc is spelled Roc

That is the difference.
The content is not the Brand.

Originally, the content may have Made the brand, but that is the past.

Just look around. Companies are dredging up old brands (looks) hoping for a market edge.
Just look at all the 'retro' cars on the market
Names in electronics that were once at the fore, are making appearances again (unfortunately, the products tend to be shadows of their origins).

The title of this thread reminded me of an old joke. What is the difference between Iran and Iraq? First man, "It's spelled with an N". Second man, "No it's spelled with a Q".
Apache

[eschwartz]

So apparently Roc books are "edgier".

Can't say I've noticed...

[murg]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

So apparently Roc books are "edgier".

Can't say I've noticed...

Does that mean that you'll get more paper-cuts from them?

[eschwartz]

I have never gotten a paper cut from a single Roc ebook.