The new print-on-demand trade paperback of Vast just showed up at Barnes & Noble. Vast was the first book I ever considered reprinting on my own, so this is a long-awaited moment, but it’s puzzling too.

The list price I set for the book in US markets is $13.95, which is on the low end for a book of over 450 pages. I can do this because the printer allows a 20% “discount.” This means the wholesale price is only 20% less than the list price. For most books in bookstores, the discount is 45% to 55%, leaving a lot more room for the bookstore to make a profit–which is why you’ll never see my print-on-demand books in physical bookstores. They simply can’t make a profit on it**.

Anyway, Vast has debuted at BarnesandNoble.com with a 28% discount off the list price, meaning you can buy it for $10.04. Given that B&N will owe the printer $11.18 for every copy they sell, this seems unwise, and I don’t think it will last long.

I’ll admit I’m confused and a little concerned, but you aren’t going to find the book cheaper than this until and unless it makes its way to used book stores.

Find Vast, at BarnesandNoble.com

Books 1 - 3 of The Nanotech Succession now available in new trade paperback editions. With thanks once again to Bruce Jensen for the cover art!

**Some booksellers, like Powell’s Books, get around the low discount by offering the books at a cost higher than the list price. I don’t have the price showing on the book. I think this is why they can do this. Of course this still doesn’t mean the book will actually be in the store.