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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!wlcrjs!rhesmith
From: rhesmith@wlcrjs.UUCP (Richard H. E. Smith II)
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: Re: True Names Re-release
Message-ID: <501@wlcrjs.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 24-Jan-85 05:38:14 EST
Article-I.D.: wlcrjs.501
Posted: Thu Jan 24 05:38:14 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 25-Jan-85 07:09:46 EST
References: <356@topaz.ARPA>
Reply-To: rhesmith@wlcrjs.UUCP (Richard H. E. Smith II)
Organization: chi-net, Public Access UN*X, Chicago IL
Lines: 34
Summary: 

In article <356@topaz.ARPA>
    @RUTGERS.ARPA:AXLER%Upenn-1100%upenn.csnet@csnet-relay.arpa writes:
>     Like many readers of sf-lovers, I've been awaiting the re-release of
>Vernor Vinge's "True Names", one of the best novels about computers, hackers,
>and artificial intelligence.  Last night, I spoke with Bob Walters, who did
>the cover and interior art for the new edition, and he provided me with the
>following news:
>     The book, complete with an afterword by Marvin Minsky, was scheduled for
>an October release, and was so announced in Publisher's Weekly and other
>trade magazines.  However, due to various foulups at BlueJay Books and/or
>St. Martin's Press (BlueJay's distributor), it was not actually released until
>late December or early January.  Despite this, Jim Frenkel, BlueJay's editor-
>in-chief, did not revise the book's copyright date to read 1985.
>     Many bookstores, including the major chains such as WaldenBooks, Crown,
>and Dalton's, have a buying policy which prohibits the purchasing of "old"
>releases unless they are either proven sellers or specially-ordered by the
>customers.  "True Names", because of its '84 copyright, is considered as "old"
>even though it never reached the shelves...

I remember this as excellent stuff, and I'm surprised that Walden/Dalton
don't remember that it was a stong Hugo contender (nominated, did not win)
in '82.  Then again, what do they know.

Unfortunately, these stories of "...foulups..." only confirm the rumours
that BlueJay's financial backing may not be holding up.  The word has
always been that Frenkel started BlueJay with, shall we say, less than
adequate capitalization.  We'll see.  Meanwhile, if you like their stuff,
go buy it, so they can manage to do more.


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Dick Smith						..ihnp4!wlcrjs!rhesmith