[Palfrey]

I almost bought A Dance With Dragons yesterday. I don't normally buy hardcovers since they cost more and take up more space. Which makes me wonder; why are we still making the things? I can see hard covers being good for libraries because they're more durable, but otherwise... All they do is cost more and take up more space! Would anyone miss them if we stopped making them? Opinions?

[Sonja Ravenscroft]

At the risk of sounding like a cynic-they keep making them because people keep buying them. Now I don't know the numbers if they've decreasing in sales-up here a book comes out on Hardcover, and sometimes in less than a month there are stickers that are 30, 40, 50 percent off on the books.

I think as ebooks and electronic book technology becomes more prevalent, we well see the demise of hard/softcover books-but that will be because people don't buy them anymore.

I think it would be safe to say that if everyone tomorrow just "stopped" buying hardcovers, they wouldn't be published-but people still buy them: I think it's more a generational thing: I think Boomers and Xers (of who I belong) are still buying the hardcovers, buy Y and Millenials (who are just starting to get into book buying age) aren't not buying them as much, instead, internet, ebook and (surprisngly) Manga/tradepaperback graphic novels are the way to go for them

[Loerwyn]

If you don't like them, or see the sense in them, don't buy them ;)

I suspect that hardcovers are largely still made because they're something we're so used to. Aside from being more durable, they do look better on a shelf and I find them easier to read around the halfway point (I find it the same with the hardcover-sized trade paperbacks, as their binding method makes them easier to open at that stage, whereas I worry about creasing/cracking MMPBs), but they're also more prominent on a shelf. If you take a shelf on a bookstore and arrange it like many do (i.e. mix the different formats), the hardcovers stand out simply due to their size. I also feel that the paper and the printing methods are of a higher quality, which means the book just feels better. If you compared, say, a Tor US paperback to the hardcover, the difference in quality is staggering.

I'd miss them, though. I do like hardcovers, but I'd buy larger books (Such as Sanderson's Way of Kings) in MMPB format only.

[Sonja Ravenscroft]

If you don't like them, or see the sense in them, don't buy them ;)

I suspect that hardcovers are largely still made because they're something we're so used to. Aside from being more durable, they do look better on a shelf and I find them easier to read around the halfway point (I find it the same with the hardcover-sized trade paperbacks, as their binding method makes them easier to open at that stage, whereas I worry about creasing/cracking MMPBs), but they're also more prominent on a shelf. If you take a shelf on a bookstore and arrange it like many do (i.e. mix the different formats), the hardcovers stand out simply due to their size. I also feel that the paper and the printing methods are of a higher quality, which means the book just feels better. If you compared, say, a Tor US paperback to the hardcover, the difference in quality is staggering.

I'd miss them, though. I do like hardcovers, but I'd buy larger books (Such as Sanderson's Way of Kings) in MMPB format only.

I agree about the reading aspect of it-and (for my taste, some mileage may vary) I really like special hardcover versions of "classics" like A Lord Of The Rings Omnibus, or Moby Dick (of which I have one of those fancy "gold" trim pages with the sewn in ribbon book mark-one of those "greatest books" collections-it's a nice keepsake).

[Loerwyn]

A Lord Of The Rings Omnibus.
Argh! Lord of the Rings is a single novel! It's not a trilogy! Don't make me get my pitchfork! :p

[Sonja Ravenscroft]

Argh! Lord of the Rings is a single novel! It's not a trilogy! Don't make me get my pitchfork! :p

I know it's a single novel, but darn it they insist on selling the books as installments! I used the term Omnibus (incorrectly probably) because I've had too many people, when I refer reading LOTR as "which one"? So it's become a defense mechanism.

You can put down the pitchfork, I know LOTR is ONE STORY :D

[Palfrey]

At the risk of sounding like a cynic-they keep making them because people keep buying them.

... because they don't want to wait months for the paperback.

[JimF]

I almost never buy hardcovers because mainly I'm cheap, and I find a MMPB an easier format to read and take on the go.

I will occasionally buy Hardback or trade PB if they are closeouts, used or on sale.

Jim

[Westsiyeed]

I sometimes buy a hardcover, especially if it's an all-time favourite and I want the longevity a hardcover brings.

I also find myself knowingly falling into the trap of having to buy hardcovers of new releases as that's all that's available - eg recently Embassytown, Vortex, Wise Man's Fear.

But usually if I have a choice it will be softcover due to price.

[Asimovking]

I almost bought A Dance With Dragons yesterday. I don't normally buy hardcovers since they cost more and take up more space. Which makes me wonder; why are we still making the things? I can see hard covers being good for libraries because they're more durable, but otherwise... All they do is cost more and take up more space! Would anyone miss them if we stopped making them? Opinions?

I wouldn't miss them at all. However they would make an effective weapon against an intruder.