Mystical & Magical System of the A.'.A.'. ... vote!

[Jim Eshelman]

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

We have enough copies of The Mystical & Magical System of the A.'.A.'. in stock for about one more year (at current sales rate). That means that, late this year, we will be deciding what we want to do about republishing it next year.

There are several options. I thought I'd let all of you weigh in. The vote isn't binding, but I'm interested in what you have to say on the matter.

Here are some of the options:

1. Print it just exactly the way it is - hardcover, same large-size format
2. Print it in the same large format, but go to paperback
3. Redesign the book for the 6" x 9" format used for Visions & Voices - presumably paperback but conceivably hard cover

If we go to paperback, we will still get the best binding we can - it's not the same as the hardcover binding, but far better than the binding on most paperbacks on the market today. Also, though we would expect the paperback cost to be significantly less than hard cover, we won't know what either price will be until we spec the book and bid the job.

There will not be new content, and I do not anticipate significant changes. Since we will be going over every page, I'll read every page and make any small adjustments that strike me, but nothing serious. If we reformat to 6" x 9" these could be a little more extreme, because it's not just a matter of shrinking the pages - it's a matter of redesigning the whole thing, so every page gets a new layout and I'm likely to make adjustments (small trims or small adds) to support the layout here and there.

And I may not have thought of all the considerations that would interest you... so I'm throwing it out for voting and discussion. Thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

[Avshalom Binyamin]

IMHO, the two columns in the current edition are good at keeping one from losing one's spot while reading a potentially confusing subject.

[Jim Eshelman]

Thanks for the input - did you vote above?

[Avshalom Binyamin]

I did just now.

(To self: see, Mr. Neptune-conjunct-ascendant, forcing yourself to choose ONE thing on your own isn't so bad... )

[Archaeus]

I went for the smaller hardcover, so it fits in neatly with my other books, (virgo sun).

Also I travel a lot and small is good.

[Ankh]

I voted for Print it just exactly the way it is - hardcover, same large-size format.

I would also like to suggest making it available on Kindle.

[Jim Eshelman]

I voted for Print it just exactly the way it is - hardcover, same large-size format.

I would also like to suggest making it available on Kindle.

I'd love to do Kindle editions. There's one primary problem: Kindle doesn't recognize any variant fonts. Anything in Greek or Hebrew, for example, would be washed out to the English character strokes that made those characters. I could, of course, do a separate edition that just transliterated all of those, and we could overcome most of the other technical problems (extensive footnotes etc.) - but the conversion software really leaves much to be desired for anything other than straight text, and all of our books have much more complicated typography.

Nonetheless, this subject is under periodic discussion. There will come a time...

So far, I'm seeing a trend to stay with the large size format. This surprises me - I thought people would be eager to get it to a more standard book size. Nonetheless, if this trend continues as strongly, it will save me at least a couple of months of work, because we will probably go back to press without any modifications at all.

[mojorisin44]

I've grown to appreciate the large format. It isn't as portable as some other books, but it lays down vary well and I appreciate pages staying in place.

[Jim Eshelman]

I've grown to appreciate the large format. It isn't as portable as some other books, but it lays down vary well and I appreciate pages staying in place.

Do you mean pages not falling out, or the book laying open easily?

If the former - I wouldn't publish it in any size without quality binding. If the latter - does Visions & Voices lay open for you sufficiently?

But I do see "keep it the way it is" solidly moving out in front.

[Ash]

93.

It won't let me vote, but I'd vote for the current design.

93, 93/93.

[Jim Eshelman]

It won't let me vote, but I'd vote for the current design.

That's strange. I even enabled the right to REvote, so it should let you vote (or change your vote) even if you've already voted.

Are you using some variant browser?

EDIT: I just tested your permissions, Ash, using both IE and Chrome, and don't get voting buttons either way. I'll try to figure out why. (Anybody else not getting voting options?)

[Avshalom Binyamin]

In case it's of any diagnostic assistance: I don't see any revote option. (using Chrome)

[Jim Eshelman]

In case it's of any diagnostic assistance: I don't see any revote option. (using Chrome)

You should just be able, when coming to the thread, to change the bubble you've picked.

[Avshalom Binyamin]

It takes me straight to the results, with no radio buttons. (I don't need to revote, just supplying diagnostic info)

[Jim Eshelman]

It takes me straight to the results, with no radio buttons. (I don't need to revote, just supplying diagnostic info)

Thanks. Maybe the revote isn't working. I'll check that later. (In that case, Ash's scenario would be explained by his having already voted. Ash? - His permissions are the same as everybody else's.)

[mojorisin44]

Do you mean pages not falling out, or the book laying open easily?

I mean that the book lays open very easily and makes it easy to keep your place. None of your books from the publications I have had any problem with pages falling out.

I love the style of the binding with V&V though as well and the book stays in place fairly well as well. I'm a bit torn - but, I lean towards the same format as a preference.

[Jim Eshelman]

Thanks for taking the time to give input, everyone. (Which doesn't mean the topic is closed. Keep voting! It will be a few months before we start working on this.

Mojorisin, it makes me smile to have the binding appreciated. It's a real point of pride for me (and for the team in general) that we meet that standard. I personally feel about a well-made book much as I feel about a piece of fine art or a holy relic - it's a real pleasure to have it in my hands and to enjoy it. So we make the kinda stuff we'd like to own.

[DavidH]

I love the last hardback version you did, but I'd really like to see a Kindle version also! I'd buy both!

[Angel of Death]

Thanks for taking the time to give input, everyone. (Which doesn't mean the topic is closed. Keep voting! It will be a few months before we start working on this.

Mojorisin, it makes me smile to have the binding appreciated. It's a real point of pride for me (and for the team in general) that we meet that standard. I personally feel about a well-made book much as I feel about a piece of fine art or a holy relic - it's a real pleasure to have it in my hands and to enjoy it. So we make the kinda stuff we'd like to own.

I tried to vote other, and was told I was an invalid.....


I have yet to read this book, ( just can't violate copyrights....)

I collect books, rare and out of print, old and new. It used to be part of my job as an archivist to repair books, and it was always such a shame to send a book to be rebound, or worse to be fit to a box, because of poor binding in the first place.

I personally think that the book should be available in two formats. It would appear to me that this text would be either used like a dictionary, becoming dog eared, and well worn, in which case the book should be masterfully bound, with thick quality paper, gold edged, with a proper dust jacket, or better yet, box. Leather, nice and classy, and able to withstand the tests of time. Quality through and through....pricey.....for Avery good reason.
The other format would be a scholastic edition, made available with the intent on getting as many copied out as possible. Like a 6. X 9 paperback.

I don't know your current format, but I would think having adequate gutters, and possibly some room, blank pages at the end of each chapter for notes is a nice touch. I also wish that more of my frequently used books had bookmarks ( those pretty silk ribbon manufactured into the binding are nice touches).

[Jim Eshelman]

I personally think that the book should be available in two formats.

An interesting idea, for which I thank you. It may be, though, that this isn't economically feasible. (It's the cost of publishing two books at once, and then competing with ourselves. Our business model is mostly recouping from the most recent book to fund publication of the next one.) Were we a large, heavily-funded publishing house, I think your solution would be perfect, and I'm willing to accept a $100,000.00 endowment from anyone, for which i will write the nicest letter of thanks and include a receipt for the tax deduction.

I don't know your current format, but I would think having adequate gutters, and possibly some room, blank pages at the end of each chapter for notes is a nice touch.

Current format is standard oversized (essentially 8.5" x 11"), with generous gutters for the binding. Blank pages at the end of the book are determined by how the page count falls against signature size. (That is, we don't pay extra to add blank pages, but make use of them if they appear - at present there are 4 blank pages at the end.) I don't think I want to inflate cost by adding blank pages at the end of each chapter.

I also wish that more of my frequently used books had bookmarks ( those pretty silk ribbon manufactured into the binding are nice touches).

I added a built-in book-mark to the deluxe edition of 776 1/2 - we went all out on the physical design of that. My recollection, though, is that the cost was negligible (I might be remembering wrong), so ... you may have just given me an idea ... if it's that little, we might just start adding them routinely. I'll toss that around.

[Gemini]

93-
i had trouble voting as well.....so i will do so here. i vote to keep mmaa just as it is...masterful!
however, if it be possible a smaller 6x9 could be nice for on the go, traveling etc. finding i refer to it often.
93-

[Jim Eshelman]

i had trouble voting as well.....so i will do so here. i vote to keep mmaa just as it is...masterful!
however, if it be possible a smaller 6x9 could be nice for on the go, traveling etc. finding i refer to it often.

If you had to pick one size or the other (not both), which would it be?

PS - What browser are you using?

[Ash]

93.

I've been out of the loop of this thread for a little while

Jim - I'm using Safari. (I'm on a Mac - I don't trust running music software on anything else!) When I try to vote, it just says: "The submitted form was invalid. Try submitting again." I tried it with Firefox and it brings me to the results window without letting me vote.

It's not a big deal from my end, but I was just letting you know it occurred.

93, 93/93.

[Jim Eshelman]

Has anyone running Internet Explorer had trouble voting?

[Bereshith]

Several books of the larger size stack better in a backpack than several of the smaller, fatter books. fwiw.