I saw a thread about alternatives to Amazon for fantasy and sci fi books. Unfortunately I saw this post a little late and realised no one had mentioned this indie book store.
Link: https://www.thebrokenbinding.co.uk/
Other than Waterstones I've been buying from these guys over the past year when they mysteriously popped up on Instagram and Twitter, quickly becoming hugely popular, due to their excellent customer service and active and quick responses via social media. Although they don't have as big of a selection as other online bookstores, they more than make up with their selection of signed, numbered and special editions. They also frequently have authors come in for personal signings. They're just about to start a subscription service which I'm planning on joining!
If you're also looking for another UK based bookstore than does special and numbered editions check out: https://www.goldsborobooks.com/
I’ve really been fantasizing about leaving lately and I want to know my options lol.
Recently I've been thinking about the manner in which the bookstore I work at has been stocking Martin's titles over the years. When I first started working at Barnes & Noble (in February 2004) we only had 1 copy each of the first 3 books of the ASOIAF series (and only in mass market format). I don't recall paying them much attention, and oddly enough I don't even remember the release of FEAST FOR CROWS (I must have seen it on the bestseller bay at some point, I presume). Starting around 2006 I began to notice customers often coming in and asking if A DANCE WITH DRAGONS was out, which is when I first began to pay attention to the series. Then, when A DANCE WITH DRAGONS did finally come out, I remember that in the week prior to its release, when we had all the boxes in the receiving room, one of my co-workers would hang around back there after his shift was done and read the book before it was officially released. Even though his consensus was "It wasn't worth it" I was fascinated by such obsession and decided to eventually read them myself, though that wasn't until 2013 (and after I had seen the first season of the show).
Anyway at the height of the show's popularity the bookstore I work at had close to 2 big bookcases devoted to Martin's work. Aside from the hardcover, trade paperback and mass market versions of the main series (plus the Tv tie-in covers), we had the box sets, the WORLD OF ICE AND FIRE book, the maps book, THE WIT AND WISDOM OF TYRION LANNISTER, the graphic novels, plus many of Martin's older non-ASOIAF related books (many of which were being re-published with new covers), and books that Martin had edited, like the WILD CARDS series. And that's not even mentioning all of the merchandise related to the TV show (DVDs, board games, POP figures, and so on). I remember one point (probably around 2015) where we were getting massive numbers of Martin's books on a daily basis. But then around 2019, following the show's end, it began to slowly trickle off, to the extent that now weeks can go by without us getting one new Martin book delivered.
Last night after we had closed I was sprucing up the fantasy section and was kind of shocked when I noticed that our Martin section has now shrunk down to 2 and a half shelves, and mostly all just the mainline ASOIAF books (and with some of those, we don't even carry the hardcovers anymore). And while there's still some books like FIRE & BLOOD and the Dunk & Egg one we no longer have titles l
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The Scum Villain's Self Saving System, Heaven Official's Blessing, and Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation are the three gay Chinese fantasy romances that have achieved an extreme level of success, Grandmaster in particular with live action and anime adaptations, merchandise, games, etc.,
Enough that a publisher (Seven Seas Entertainment) finally licensed official English translations for all three works and is actually doing a very big physical release.
Reading options for these kind of works are often limited to unofficial fan translations online, so it's pretty wild that they are being displayed prominently in major bookstores including Barnes and Noble.
Just a really interesting and possibly watershed moment for fantasy publishing in the US, this is not the kind of content that historically gets physical releases at all, much less rolled out nationally across a mainstream bookstore chain like B&N.
Release announcement: https://twitter.com/gomanga/status/1470770473411788808?t=t6xaLo5xeNAWuLychz3TzQ&s=19
SVSSS
>This hilarious story of a man reborn as a villain in a fantasy novel series who ends up romancing the male protagonist is now in English, for the very first time.
>Half-demon Luo Binghe rose from humble beginnings and a tortured past to become unrivaled in strength and beauty. With his dominion over both the Human and Demon Realms and his hundreds-strong harem, he is truly the most powerful protagonist...in a trashy webnovel series!
>At least, that's what Shen Yuan believes as he finishes reading the final chapter in Proud Immortal Demon Way. But when a bout of rage leads to his sudden death, Shen Yuan is reborn into the world of the novel in the body of Shen Qingqiu--the beautiful but cruel teacher of a young Luo Binghe. While Shen Qingqiu may have the incredible power of a cultivator, he is destined to be horrifically punished for crimes against the protagonist. The new Shen Qingqiu now has only one course of action: get into Luo Binghe's good graces before the young man's rise to power or suffer the awful fate of a true scum villain!
HOB
>Born the crown prince of a prosperous kingdom, Xie Lian was renowned for his beauty, strength, and purity. His years of dedicated study and noble deeds allowed him to ascend to godhood. But those who rise may also fall, and fall he does--cast from the heavens and banished to the world below.
>Eight hundred years after his mortal life, Xie Lian has ascended to godhood f
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Hi all, I’m a new bookseller and I was wondering if there’s a limit on how much we can buy with our discount/how often we use it? I wanted to do some Christmas shopping at my store but I don’t know if it’s discouraged since those items wouldn’t be for myself
I had a great time today exploring the Abids Book Market. This is just a personal observation (not saying its a fact) but I felt the booksellers were really helpful and well spoken there. They won't hesitate to recommend other book vendors or stores if they don't have a book you are looking for.
Some may help at Koti too but the ones at Abids were just really good. It was fun and refreshing to visit!! Maybe we should hold the next subreddit meetup there xD
Okay, okay former bookseller here (I’ve worked part time at a bookstore for nearly all my adult working life. Books = happiness): One thing I have to point out is the “I Just Read a Book Feeling” everyone who reads the BOM all the way through and is a TBM talks about. This is literally just the same good feeling people get from reading any kind of book. I’ve noticed that people who feel it especially strong for the BOM are typically men who might be more inclined to read a newspaper or a magazine. Or like…the latest political tell-all from a right winger like Candace Owens. Or women who go onto media checker sites to make sure the books their reading are not explicit I.e. sexually activating in any way.
Avid readers get that rush of pure adrenaline mixed with a huge tasty dollop of dopamine after reading a good book, you know a book that GOT them. Here are some examples of those: Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Brandon Sanderson books, Red Rising, Where the Crawdads Sing, etc. you know the mega bestsellers who attract readers across nearly every age category.
Why is the BOM so successful at, in the moment, making people feel the adrenaline dopamine high? The repetitive rhythm in which it’s written. Don’t be fooled, the rhythm and style of this storytelling is quite addictive and excellent at piggy backing on biblical methods of storytelling to unlock that inner whatever within the brain that sometimes goes “good story, bro.”
However, avid readers of narrative storytelling find the BOM dull and repetitive and extremely untenable as a “story” to get behind because they can read critically and subconsciously know that the BOM is hat-rock drivel a-la Bible verses style.
So, I’m conclusion your TBM BOM is true people, likely aren’t big readers and love the BOM so much because it tricked their brain and gave them a dopamine rush.
I’m a new-ish bookseller (started about a month and a half ago) and I remember reading through some posts here when I first started and seeing some people talking about booksellers being able to access some ARCs online. Is this still a perk, and does HR access or the handbook have any instructions to sign up if so? Haven’t had anyone at my store mention it and I don’t really see info about it anywhere lol.
- I take PayPal.
- Shipping - Included on media mail items over $75.
- Shipping - Otherwise PM me your zip and I will get you a quote.
- I will ship internationally.
- I will almost always have your item(s) to the post office the next day after purchase.
- Please note that USPS is slow right now and it may take some time for a package to get to you.
MANGA
| Title | Volumes | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A.I. Love You | 1 | $2 | |
| A.I. Love You | 3 | $3 | |
| A.I. Love You | 4 | $2.50 | |
| A.I. Love You | 5 | $2.50 | |
| A.I. Love You | 6 | $2.50 | |
| A.I. Love You | 7 | $5 | |
| A.I. Love You | 8 | $45 | |
| Anima | 3 | $0.25 | Beat up |
| Angel Sanctuary | 1 | $1 | |
| Arisa | 4 | $1 | Ex-library |
| Big O, The | 1 | $15 | |
| Bleach | 1 | $5 | |
| Bleach | 2 | $9 | |
| Bleach | 3 | $4 | |
| Bleach | 4 | $3 | |
| Border | 2 | $1 | |
| Border | 5 | $4 | |
| Chobits | 4 | $3 | |
| Chobits | 6 | $3 | |
| Chobits | 8 | $3 | |
| Chrono Crusade | 2 | $1 | |
| Complete Aranzi Hour, The | 1 | $1 | |
| Crying Freeman | $35 | ||
| Dance in the Vampire Bund | 1 | $16 | |
| Dance in the Vampire Bund | 2 | $1.50 | |
| Demon from Afar | 4 | $7 | |
| Disgaea | 1 | $2 | |
| Disgaea 2 | 1 | $3.50 | |
| Disgaea 2 | 2 | $4 | |
| Dreamin' Sun | 1 | $3 | |
| Eagle | 3 | $4 | |
| Eagle | 4 | $5 | |
| Earthian | 4 | $20 | |
| East Coast Rising | 1 | $1 | |
| GTO | 3 | $50 | |
| GTO | 4 | $18 | |
| GTO | 5 | $32 | |
| GTO | 6 | $13 | |
| GTO | 7 | $35 | |
| GTO | 8 | $9 | |
| GTO | 9 | $20 | |
| GTO | 10 | $45 | |
| GTO | 1 |
Hello book lovers of reddit!
I've recently started my dream job in a bookshop, and over the next few years I'd love to broaden my horizons in terms of fiction reading. I'm naturally drawn to books with rich and enticing world building elements, so often find myself in the realms of Fantasy and Sci-Fi, but I'm aware there's so much more out there for me to explore!
I'm compiling a reading list for myself from across all areas of fiction, with a mix of classic and contemporary titles, and I'd love to hear your book suggestions to help me put it together! What are your 'must read' books that I should add to my list? Are there any books that you feel define their genre? Any advice would be hugely appreciated
If you like the job, why? I don't mean that in a condescending way, I'm genuinely asking as someone who was actually happy with the job last November when I started, and had felt positively about it for the majority of that year. Lately though, I feel dead inside whenever I clock in, and it's not like anything happens, the mere act of just being here instantly ruins my day. I think the pay is awful, customers are almost entirely bad people, our CEO's so far up his own ass he has to "consider" raising pay, our computers, Bookmaster, and the PDTs are complete garbage to work with, and the hours are so high and so frequent I practically have no life anymore, and for minimum wage?
I miss loving my job, I really do. Am I just doomed to be jaded here? I'd love other perspectives.
I am specially looking for an update on the traditional book placement model in local bookstores. With covid and bookstores being shuttered, and a lot of buying moving online, have genre distinctions fully stood their ground? There also seem to be a lot more crossovers nowadays, and not just in the YA space. These get packaged into the book's dominant genre, but is that how publishers (and booksellers) are still thinking when acquiring?
Hi there everyone, I'm a prospective technical writing/entry-level writer trying to crawl my way into the technical writing space. I am a new graduate (a degree in Creative Writing), with an internship sort of related to technical writing (A publishing/editing internship with a major literary agency), and some job experience in customer service via bookselling at Barnes and Noble (Christmas is truly frying my brain right now). I am struggling to break into the industry (I do live in a major city, though I don't know if the type of city matters), and because my brain doesn't work as a regular human, I'd like to inquire about the next possible steps. Should I be attempting to join the STC, and drop the money for the certificate? Should I be learning important skills like Madcap Flare and coding languages? Should I be eating living sea anemones? Please, any amount of direction would be super appreciated, and thank you again for all of your time.
I've been reading Pat Roger's The Poet and the Publisher (2021) and in a number of excerpts from pamphlets Berwick upon Tweed is explicitly specified as seemingly a unique town. Any particular reason why Berwick upon Tweed is considered different to England and Wales in terms of booksellers?
https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/q3cm59/local_bookstore/
