Black Company Back in Print!

I haven't seen this news posted anywhere, but I had a look recently on Tor's website, and noticed, to my surprise, that the entire 10 book Black Company series was available again as single volumes. This is Glen Cook's most popular series, and Tor had let the individual books go out of print, other than the first eponymous release (for those wanting to try the series out cheaply) and Water Sleeps (the 9th volume, which I had assumed would soon follow the rest into being unavailable). In their place, the company has been releasing omnibuses, with the first three books in the first collection, and the next three in the second one. The thrid collection is due in around two weeks, and the final one in January (see earlier posts to read about both).

As the later Black Company volumes went out of print, they began to become expensive on secondary markets such as e-bay, and next to impossible to find in used bookstores. I had thought Tor wanted this, as it would drive up interest in the omnibus versions. The first two collections have proven extremely popular (the first is on its 6th printing in under two years), and the next two will likely sell well too. (The Raymond Swanland covers have helped draw in casual readers, to go by comments I've read online, even if Cook has stated that he doesn't like Swanland's art!)

I'm now confused as to why and how Tor has reprinted the out of print Black Company individual books. I know that Cook has expressed displeasure at not having them available, perhaps they wanted to placate him. Water Sleeps now lists for $1 more than its original and long-standing price, but the others sell for the same cover price as they did 5 years ago and more. So my guess right now, until I learn otherwise, is that most of these books haven't been "reprinted." Rather, they've been made available as Print on Demand titles, printed from computer files (instead of set type) in versions that are roughly 80-90% as nice as conventionally printed mass market paperbacks. If this is the case, it will be most noticeable in the covers, which will have a pixelated quality and a lack of depth in the art. Further, if these are POD editions, they will probably be sold only online, via Tor's website and vendors such as Amazon.

Regardless of the specifics, this is a cause for rejoice for the many who have been desperately trying to complete their Black Company collections for the past couple of years. I'm lucky to have bought the books years ago, when they were readily available. But those who are interested in these individual volumes are advised to get them while they can. These new copies turned up quite suddenly, and perhaps they'll disappear equally quickly. Carpe the Diem!

Thought for the day: Better luck this weekend to the CSU Volleyball team, after today's first home loss in two years! Go Rams!