Transparent Cash Grab: James Clavell's Shōgun is now two books

Cactus Chef · 02-29-2024, 04:25 PM

No doubt spurred by the recent Hulu/FX series, James Clavell's Shōgun is making the e-book rounds again. This time, however, the publisher has opted to split it into two books:

https://www.amazon.com/Shōgun-Part-...dp/B0CLKYXY4C/

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CLL23RXM

"It was too long to read as one book!" they said. Well, that may be true, but if you were planning to read the whole thing anyway, you now get to pay double the price for the convenience of a pre-built bookmark at the midpoint.

Plus, I hope you weren't still hoping to get that old *one-book* edition from Amazon, Kobo, etc, because those editions have all been pulled from the store. I can still see it in my Kobo purchase history, but trying to pull up the page itself shows it's no longer available:

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/shogun-1

Sirtel · 02-29-2024, 04:50 PM

Heh. I still have an one-volume edition, bought from Google Play in 2017 (probably no longer available there, as you said, but can't be bothered to check). So I don't see myself ever splurging on those new money-grabbing editions. They can stuff them you-know-where.

ZodWallop · 02-29-2024, 05:05 PM

As a kid, I remember seeing the hardcover in our house as two books. But if I remember correctly, they were two books together in a slip case.

Like you, I bought the one volume ebook (for the outrageous price of $2) back when it was available. Now I get a cute picture of a dog when I try to look at the product page.

I do remember Clive Barker's Imajica was published as a fat book, then split and is now again available as a single book. I'm sure Shōgun will do the same.

BTW: The new miniseries looks beautiful, but I haven't seen much in the previews that I remember from the book. Maybe my memory is hazy.

ucfgrad93 · 02-29-2024, 05:08 PM

Read the one book paperback when I was much younger. Currently have the one book edition for my Kindle.

DrNefario · 03-01-2024, 05:43 AM

It's not that unusual to split books that are over 1000 pages. We had it with some of the Stormlight Archive and Song of Ice and Fire books when they went to paperback, here in the UK.

Is it actually weird that long books are the same price as short books?

Anyway, it does look like we still have the single-volume edition of Shogun here. Not only that, but it's 99p on the kindle store at the moment. (I bought it in 2015, apparently.)

SomeSteve · 03-01-2024, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrNefario

Anyway, it does look like we still have the single-volume edition of Shogun here. Not only that, but it's 99p on the kindle store at the moment.

James Clavell - Shogun (complete in one volume). £0.99 at Amazon UK and Kobo UK.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shogun-Firs...dp/B00D3J2QKC/

https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/shogun-1

€1.19 at Amazon Germany.

https://www.amazon.de/Shogun-First-N...dp/B00D3J2QKC/

drofgnal · 03-01-2024, 06:34 AM

I can see splitting a paperback into two volumes. I remember my brother reading it as a paperback in one volume. By the time he got through with it is as kinda destroyed. But why split an ebook into two volumes. It’s not like it makes it easier to carry around… This is just a money grab.

I’ve read multi volume series that were sold as one book for kindle. It wasn’t any harder to carry it around. Lol.

Apache · 03-01-2024, 06:40 AM

I had the paperback version and read it multiple times. Actually, I still have it and it is still in decent condition. I also have the eBook version and have read it. Why would anyone want to buy a book that ends in the middle of the story? I have to second the money grabbing motion.
Apache

DiapDealer · 03-01-2024, 09:36 AM

It needed to be two (physical) books. Same with Sacajawea by Anna Lea Waldo. When they were released in paperback, I remember thinking how obscene they looked with their half-moon spines and rounded front edges all splayed out on coffee tables. Yuck.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apache

Why would anyone want to buy a book that ends in the middle of the story?

Genre serial series lovers seem to gobble that sort of thing up all the time.

I agree that splitting books previously published as single physical volumes into multiple ebooks is a blatant cash grab, though.

andyh2000 · 03-01-2024, 12:36 PM

Still available as one ebook in Overdrive libraries (in the UK anyway).

Andrew

JSWolf · 03-01-2024, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andyh2000

Still available as one ebook in Overdrive libraries (in the UK anyway).

Andrew

In the US as well. There's a Random House & A Blackstone version.

Brianrh · 03-01-2024, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Heh. I still have an one-volume edition, bought from Google Play in 2017 (probably no longer available there, as you said, but can't be bothered to check). So I don't see myself ever splurging on those new money-grabbing editions. They can stuff them you-know-where.

Just got what I think is the single volume edition from Google Play in the UK for £0.99.

JSWolf · 03-01-2024, 05:02 PM

Given the size of Shōgun and that it was done with Velum, it was rather easy to edit to make it look good.

The_Enobee · 03-01-2024, 05:39 PM

I also noticed they split the audiobook on audible (US) into two parts. I can still access the 53 hr 33 min single audiobook I bought years ago, but it's only available for purchase now in two volumes.

milo132 · 03-03-2024, 11:51 AM

Is this still available

02-29-2024, 04:25 PM	#1
Cactus Chef Guru Posts: 682 Karma: 8196132 Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: East Coast, United States Device: Kobo Sage, Kobo Clara HD, Galaxy Tab S5e, Kindle 4th Gen	Transparent Cash Grab: James Clavell's Shōgun is now two books No doubt spurred by the recent Hulu/FX series, James Clavell's Shōgun is making the e-book rounds again. This time, however, the publisher has opted to split it into two books: https://www.amazon.com/Shōgun-Part-...dp/B0CLKYXY4C/ https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CLL23RXM "It was too long to read as one book!" they said. Well, that may be true, but if you were planning to read the whole thing anyway, you now get to pay double the price for the convenience of a pre-built bookmark at the midpoint. Plus, I hope you weren't still hoping to get that old one-book edition from Amazon, Kobo, etc, because those editions have all been pulled from the store. I can still see it in my Kobo purchase history, but trying to pull up the page itself shows it's no longer available: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/shogun-1

03-01-2024, 06:34 AM	#7
drofgnal Wizard Posts: 1,432 Karma: 10519918 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Ipad Pro/Kindle Oasis 3/iPhone 13 Pro Max	I can see splitting a paperback into two volumes. I remember my brother reading it as a paperback in one volume. By the time he got through with it is as kinda destroyed. But why split an ebook into two volumes. It’s not like it makes it easier to carry around… This is just a money grab. I’ve read multi volume series that were sold as one book for kindle. It wasn’t any harder to carry it around. Lol. Last edited by drofgnal; 03-01-2024 at 06:38 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
James Clavell's Shogun $1.99 on Kindle	WillAdams	Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links)	18	03-03-2019 12:59 PM
James Clavell "Shogun" on sale	Deskisamess	Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links)	2	07-17-2017 11:25 AM
Western Hendryx, James B: The Gun Brand. v1. 22 Feb 2013	crutledge	Kindle Books (offline)	0	02-22-2013 12:55 PM
Western Hendryx, James B: The Gun Brand. v1. 22 Feb 2013	crutledge	ePub Books (offline)	0	02-22-2013 12:53 PM
Shogun - James Clavell - not epub?	Gravitas	Sony Reader	8	05-29-2009 12:03 PM

02-29-2024, 04:50 PM	#2
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,994 Karma: 243829945 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	Heh. I still have an one-volume edition, bought from Google Play in 2017 (probably no longer available there, as you said, but can't be bothered to check). So I don't see myself ever splurging on those new money-grabbing editions. They can stuff them you-know-where.

02-29-2024, 05:05 PM	#3
ZodWallop Gentleman and scholar Posts: 11,499 Karma: 111164374 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Space City, Texas Device: Clara BW; Nook ST w/Glowlight, Paperwhite 3	As a kid, I remember seeing the hardcover in our house as two books. But if I remember correctly, they were two books together in a slip case. Like you, I bought the one volume ebook (for the outrageous price of $2) back when it was available. Now I get a cute picture of a dog when I try to look at the product page. I do remember Clive Barker's Imajica was published as a fat book, then split and is now again available as a single book. I'm sure Shōgun will do the same. BTW: The new miniseries looks beautiful, but I haven't seen much in the previews that I remember from the book. Maybe my memory is hazy.

02-29-2024, 05:08 PM	#4
ucfgrad93 Wizard Posts: 2,372 Karma: 9026681 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Colorado Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2nd Gen	Read the one book paperback when I was much younger. Currently have the one book edition for my Kindle.

03-01-2024, 05:43 AM	#5
DrNefario Wizard Posts: 2,227 Karma: 12029046 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: UK Device: Kindle, Kobo Touch, Nook SimpleTouch	It's not that unusual to split books that are over 1000 pages. We had it with some of the Stormlight Archive and Song of Ice and Fire books when they went to paperback, here in the UK. Is it actually weird that long books are the same price as short books? Anyway, it does look like we still have the single-volume edition of Shogun here. Not only that, but it's 99p on the kindle store at the moment. (I bought it in 2015, apparently.)

03-01-2024, 06:40 AM	#8
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,306 Karma: 90981752 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	I had the paperback version and read it multiple times. Actually, I still have it and it is still in decent condition. I also have the eBook version and have read it. Why would anyone want to buy a book that ends in the middle of the story? I have to second the money grabbing motion. Apache

03-01-2024, 12:36 PM	#10
andyh2000 Avid reader Posts: 897 Karma: 6543210 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: UK Device: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 / Kindle Paperwhite / TCL Nxtpaper 14	Still available as one ebook in Overdrive libraries (in the UK anyway). Andrew

03-01-2024, 05:02 PM	#13
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,782 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Given the size of Shōgun and that it was done with Velum, it was rather easy to edit to make it look good.

03-01-2024, 05:39 PM	#14
The_Enobee Enthusiast Posts: 26 Karma: 937562 Join Date: Jul 2023 Location: Oregon Device: PaperWhite SE (12th Gen), Kobo Libra Colour	I also noticed they split the audiobook on audible (US) into two parts. I can still access the 53 hr 33 min single audiobook I bought years ago, but it's only available for purchase now in two volumes.

03-03-2024, 11:51 AM	#15
milo132 Banned Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2024 Device: android	Is this still available