I was considering joining the SFBC. Any Thoughts?

[Hari Seldon]

Hi all,
This is my first post. I've just discovered this site yesterday and have been reading many of the postings. I wished I knew about these forums years ago...Great Stuff!

Anyway I have read from many posters how good the Steven Erikson series is and am very interested in reading them. The Science Fiction book Club has all 7 books so I am considering joining so I can get the books. Someone at work told me not to get book club editions because the are edited. Is this true? I'm not a collecter just a reader so I am strictly interesed in the dtories. Are these editions fine?

Thank you.
Tom

 

[j d worthington]

Maybe I'm behind the times here, but... I've never heard anything of such editing going on. Essentially, the only differences between book club and mass market are cost-cutting measures: a different type paper, altering the dimensions of the book, sometimes smaller typeface, narrower margins to allow more text on a page, etc. (Funny thing is, I've got a lot of book club editions that have stood up to wear-and-tear much better than the "better grade" editions of the same book, same period. This is by no means always true, but it has happened a fair amount of time....) I could be wrong, but I believe it would actually be illegal for them to do such editing simply for a book club edition, unless it had been specified in the contract with the writer that this was to be done... and I've never heard of any writer asking for that, either....

I've not dealt with the SFBC in many years now, but my own experiences there were certainly of a positive nature. They aren't likely to be collectibles, but for hardbound copies to read, I'd say it's definitely worth consideration....

 

[littlemissattitude]

Someone at work told me not to get book club editions because the are edited. Is this true? I'm not a collecter just a reader so I am strictly interesed in the dtories. Are these editions fine?

Thank you.
Tom

I suspect that the person you work with was thinking about Reader's Digest Condensed Books, which are edited in that they are condensed down so that four or five books fit in a single volume. My mother got those, four a year, for ages. I wouldn't recommend them now, but they played a very important role in developing my reading ability before I started school. And they did offer good books, albeit in abbreviated form. I read quite a few books there first and went on to really enjoy the full versions.

I've never run across a book club book (Book of the Month Club, Quality Paperback Book Club, and such) that was edited like that. Although unless they've changed a lot, I'd warn that there are pitfalls in joining such book clubs. When I was a member of the two book clubs I just mentioned, you had to let them know that you did not want the top choice of the month. If you forgot to do that, they would send it to you automatically. That being said, I got some good books that way...especially from the Quality Paperback Book Club.

Never was a member of the SFBC, however.

 

[clovis-man]

I first joined the SFBC when I was in high school. We're talking 1950s here. I still have some of the books I got from them then. I always disenrolled. then they would send me a "special offer" and I would get back in. If they're offering you a wad of books to join and those are books you really want, then there isn't a very big downside.

Usually you just have to buy a certain number of books within a year, say 3 or 4. Buy them as soon as you can (assuming you find stuff you want) and then disenroll. Don't worry, they'll be in touch.

I'm not a member anymore, but I still get periodic mailings from them. Some day I may weaken again.

Jim

 

[DeepThought]

Welcome to the chronicles Hari Seldon and good luck with Erikson's A Tale of Malazan Book of the Fallen, It'll rock your world!, it sure as hell did mine!

Cheer's, DeepThought

 

[Hari Seldon]

Thanks everyone! You've all been a great help.

 

[GOLLUM]

Yes, never heard of the Eriskon books being edited and they are worth a look for sure, so go for it!