Comments on: More on the Club

By: The Infinite Linkness « Torque Control

The Infinite Linkness « Torque Control — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 09:18:03 +0000

[...] Big changes at Bertelsmann’s Book Clubs, including the SF Book Club; see posts by Jonathan Strahan here, here and here. [...]

By: Margit

Margit — Mon, 28 May 2007 15:33:09 +0000

I’ve been a member of the Club for about 30 years, give or take a couple here and there. Like many people, it’s the omnibus editions that keep me coming back. And recently, it’s also been the Club originals. Even though I am now at a stage in my life and career where I can afford any book I want when I want it, I still go to the Club first when I’m trying out a new author (new for me, not necessarily new as in first time published.) There’s a certain – I don’t know – nostalgic comfort in getting a Club edition. I would really hate to lose that.

By: Blue Tyson

Blue Tyson — Mon, 28 May 2007 02:08:37 +0000

Let’s see, it got me my first copy of Rynosseros, and also of Hyperion.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Sat, 26 May 2007 15:12:13 +0000

There’s no doubt in my mind that losing Ellen and Andy will be an enormous blow to the Club, and that it simply has to have a deleterious effect on the operation of the Club. They were both simply too good, too experienced, at what they did. The omnibuses – whether they scooped up Jim Butcher, Charles Stross, or Edgar Rice Burroughs, were too desirable. Still, try to hold the course. Let Bertelsmann know, if you can, how you feel. It’s important. In modern science fiction’s short history, 50 years is a long time, and it’s been an incredibly important institution for many, many readers.

By: Rob B

Rob B — Sat, 26 May 2007 14:49:01 +0000

Here’s some of what I said on my blog last night:

I’ve been a member on and off for about ten years and thought they offered some wonderful things to members and would be annoyed if things with the club would change for the worse. Most recently, I’ve received some of their books to review for SFFWorld.com. Their omnibus volumes alone are what kept me coming back – at the time I bought it, there was no easier way to get The Compleat Dying Earth by Jack Vance. Quite frankly, the cover art by Brom was great, too and the SFBC version was around a couple of years before Tor did their Orb omnibus. I also discovered Sean Russel’s work through the nice River into Darkness duology-omnibus. Thanks to the SFBC, I was able to read all of the (then 5) books of Orson Scott Card’s Alvin Maker series.
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However, the SFBC, especially under the guidance of Ellen Asher and Andrew Wheeler (while I was a member) had the wonderful convenience offering new and classic books and wonderful prices – the 5 for $.01 promotion to join pays for itself in spades.
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I joined at one point and got my (then future) brother-in-law to join so I could get some books as part of the “refer-a-friend” deal and he could enjoy the benefits of membership. A couple of years passed and my membership lapsed. It wasn’t long before I joined again through my brother-in-law so I could sort of repay him. My brother-in-law and I are ten years apart so I thought this was really cool way for us to connect.

It should also be pointed out that the SFBC Blog Andrew Wheeler has been managing has become THE place for virtuall ALL the daily goings-on in the world of Science Fiction and Fantasy