[Drakonslair]

So what book formats do you tend to buy/read? Mostly I buy Mass market paperbacks but occassionally Ill pick up a Hardback or Trade Paperback if I really want the book in question. Recently Ive also been reading some ebooks but I havent actually bought any just got free downloads from www.gutenberg.org which has most of the classics.

[Archren]

I had to click all of them, including "Other" since I realized that I also buy graphic novels from time to time. I also tend to purchase MMPs and Trade Paperbacks as a preference, but I'll buy hardcovers if I really want to read the book. And I read a significant amount of nonfiction, and there your only option is often hard cover.

[Miriamele]

I like to buy mass markets if I'm going to get a whole series of books (cuts down significantly on cost) but if there's something I really want, especially if it's a standalone book, I don't mind getting a hardcover. In fact I probably have more hardcovers than anything else. A lot of them I bought on ebay so they didn't cost me too much. They look nice on my shelf. Trade paperbacks are also nice--I like the feel of them in my hands. Not too much fantasy comes in trade though, I've noticed.

Basically I'm not too picky. The story's the thing; the book's format is secondary.

[Duckbutter]

i agree on buying the hardback if you really want it mir' for i have done the same thing with Fool's Fate... glad i did... however dont know what i will do with the book? i actually might have to trash it.

I really, however, love an author, who, throughout his series can maintain what he has put into the first (series wise). For it is disappointing to begin a good book just to find it going nowhere on the third or fourth. Also books that use phrases and wording as used as a reader would "expect" or as derived from a screenplay (book from movie or inspired from ) are not appealing. they just seem "cheesy"

i guess the ideal situation would be for an author (in regards to a series) to write a story, separate it, and sell it as he wants. because at times authors begin and forget before they finish.

[Crow]

Mass Market Paperback because I'm poor.

[Eventine]

I usually try to buy mmpb, especially when I'vef already got books in a series that are in the same format.
In the Australian market, very few authors are released in hb. Generally, we'll see an initial trade release followed by mmpb.
For some of my more preferred authors I'll buy the trade before waiting for the mmpb. Recent examples are Jeff Vandermeer, Janny Wurts, China Mieville and Greg Keyes.
For my absolute favourites I'll fork out for the hb. The only one I've bought recently was Donaldson's Runes of the Earth.

[Pyrdwein]

Ever since trade paperback has become more common I find I enjoy it a great deal on larger books, such as Erikson's Malazan Tale of the Fallen, or A Song of Fire and Ice by Martin. Looking at my bookshelf its a pretty good indicator as to how much I like the series, I buy almost everything in mass market, so if its in trade paperback I really liked it. I even went so far as to rebuy the first two books by Martin in trade paperback, and gave away my mmp copies. On the other hand I HATE hardcover, and basically refuse to buy them now. I'll just wait until mass market if necessary.

[intensityxx]

When I was buying mostly "literary fiction" I bought only trade pbacks and hardbacks. But when I came back to sff, the longer books made trade pbacks and hardbacks too heavy, a strain on my hands when reading for long periods. Now I opt for mmpb, and because they're cheaper I feel like it's okay to crease the spines somewhat. Also hardbacks are *crap* the last few years; the quality is really really terrible for most of them in the US.

[Mithfânion]

Archren,

Graphic novels are, in my experience, usually in trade paperback format so that's not reall an "other" format is it? It's just fewer pages.

[kray3]

Hardcover's are preferred, followed by Trade Paperbacks then MM Paperbacks.

And Other, for the occasional Audiobook.