For us subs, ask yourself if $50 books are worth it to you. That is how much book + shipping ends up costing after the exchange rate. I am a tier 2 sub, and can tell you that the UK hardcovers have a low quality stiff glue that makes reading books harder than standard US editions. As well, I have been tier 2 for 1.5 years, and have no idea when ill make tier 1. Tier 2 subs get no signature, factor that in. We are 2nd tier citizens. To other comments: they replaced a copy of mine that US customs mangled no problem.
I have 2 issues with TBB. One is the crappy binding. It's a normal glued binding when they should be doing some kind of sewn binding. The second is their terms. I read their facts page and they won't replace the book if you get bumped corners or any other damage like that. Not a good look if you ask me.
So many people just care about what the book looks like and they don’t care to like into the binding or type of paper used in a book and how long it will last.
I have learned of TheBrokenBinding sub too late... The Licanius trilogy is my absolute favorite series and I would pay a lot of money for those special editions...
TBB is starting their own press, beginning with Ryan Cahill's OF BLOOD AND FIRE. Now that is a book you don't even need a subscription for and it is beyond beautiful. I was 1972 out of about 2500 last I checked. So, I'll wait and hope all the good books don't get the sub treatment before I become a member. Excellent video.
I’ve heard that! You just know their editions will be amazing! And I actually was able to get my hands on a copy of Cahill’s book!!! Cant wait till they print them!
new to book subscriptions, does it work like you pay the subscription fee and then you have a choice of purchasing? or is the subscription fee guaranteeing you a copy? Saw on their site that said you also have a "skip" option, so would be delighted if anyone could explain to me
Happy to help! So how it works is, you apply to join the subscription(free), when you make it on the list they send an email that lets you join. Next, you pay the first months fee and that cost pays for the first months items! No extra cost. From then on you pay the monthly fee on the first of every month until you want to cancel. Some subscriptions allow you to skip a month or two. TBB lets you skip 1 series a year (which is 3 months back to back). This means you do not have to pay those months.
Personally I think subscriptions are a poor business choice that create false value through scarcity and empowers secondary markets. Any creator doing this is a fool, leaving money on the table through lost sales. Keep books in print and accessible to all. Dont force a customer to pay 5x the purchase price from a speculator where none of that money goes to the creator. Ive never seen a BB sub book but i did buy their Children of Time trilogy. Once it arrived i could see how pretty their presentation is but to my dismay I saw the books are all glue bound not sown. 100% style over substance. I'd definitely have less bling on a book in favour of superior construction. I dont know if their sub books are built better than their general sale books. An unnumbered, unsigned, plain edged book from Folio is a far greater purchase as it wont dry out and crumble apart over the next 10 years. The Broken Binding is an over hyped bubble created through false means. The NFTs of book publishing.
I understand your frustration! However I do think you’re looking at book subscriptions through a negative lens. I think they’ve done a LOT for readers and publishers. They bring awareness and hype to books that might not otherwise have had that. Those who don’t get the subscription but see all the hype wind up going and buying it from a bookstore. As for the quality of the books. Fall a part in 10 years? Nah man. Those can last a lot longer unless you’re sticking them in your attic haha. Also, TBB is a baby bookstore. Only 2 years old and has significantly helped the reading and author community. They have revived amazing fantasy books in ways that publishers have been unable to. And they just launched their publishing house and book 1 will be their highest quality book yet and will in fact be sewn not glued. No idea what “false means” you are referring to because I have their Children of Time set as well and think it is fabulous. No complaints from me. P.S. I do love the folio society but unless it’s a classic book I expect it to be signed when paying that much. Not worth it otherwise.
Glued bindings. No custom art. Paper boards. These books are, unfortunately, mass market quality. Stick with other small time publishers who use better materials.
For us subs, ask yourself if $50 books are worth it to you. That is how much book + shipping ends up costing after the exchange rate.
I am a tier 2 sub, and can tell you that the UK hardcovers have a low quality stiff glue that makes reading books harder than standard US editions. As well, I have been tier 2 for 1.5 years, and have no idea when ill make tier 1.
Tier 2 subs get no signature, factor that in. We are 2nd tier citizens.
To other comments: they replaced a copy of mine that US customs mangled no problem.
I have 2 issues with TBB. One is the crappy binding. It's a normal glued binding when they should be doing some kind of sewn binding. The second is their terms. I read their facts page and they won't replace the book if you get bumped corners or any other damage like that. Not a good look if you ask me.
So many people just care about what the book looks like and they don’t care to like into the binding or type of paper used in a book and how long it will last.
I have learned of TheBrokenBinding sub too late... The Licanius trilogy is my absolute favorite series and I would pay a lot of money for those special editions...
I'm the 100th subscriber :)
wish you 1000times more. Cheers
A nice, informative, and well summed up vid! Was looking exactly for something like this and came across your channel. Subscribed!
TBB is starting their own press, beginning with Ryan Cahill's OF BLOOD AND FIRE. Now that is a book you don't even need a subscription for and it is beyond beautiful. I was 1972 out of about 2500 last I checked. So, I'll wait and hope all the good books don't get the sub treatment before I become a member. Excellent video.
I’ve heard that! You just know their editions will be amazing! And I actually was able to get my hands on a copy of Cahill’s book!!! Cant wait till they print them!
And thank you for the complement! I appreciate that! I’m glad you liked it
I'll say that for that specific trilogy I think the binding quality was lacking but they're still gorgeous
How often are you able to get their sub books in general sale? Does it even get to general sale? Is it sold out very quickly once it does?
I finally made it!!!!🙌🏼🙌🏼
Love it! Thanks for the breakdown
So glad you liked it! And of course!
new to book subscriptions, does it work like you pay the subscription fee and then you have a choice of purchasing? or is the subscription fee guaranteeing you a copy? Saw on their site that said you also have a "skip" option, so would be delighted if anyone could explain to me
Happy to help! So how it works is, you apply to join the subscription(free), when you make it on the list they send an email that lets you join. Next, you pay the first months fee and that cost pays for the first months items! No extra cost. From then on you pay the monthly fee on the first of every month until you want to cancel. Some subscriptions allow you to skip a month or two. TBB lets you skip 1 series a year (which is 3 months back to back). This means you do not have to pay those months.
Personally I think subscriptions are a poor business choice that create false value through scarcity and empowers secondary markets. Any creator doing this is a fool, leaving money on the table through lost sales. Keep books in print and accessible to all. Dont force a customer to pay 5x the purchase price from a speculator where none of that money goes to the creator.
Ive never seen a BB sub book but i did buy their Children of Time trilogy. Once it arrived i could see how pretty their presentation is but to my dismay I saw the books are all glue bound not sown. 100% style over substance. I'd definitely have less bling on a book in favour of superior construction. I dont know if their sub books are built better than their general sale books.
An unnumbered, unsigned, plain edged book from Folio is a far greater purchase as it wont dry out and crumble apart over the next 10 years. The Broken Binding is an over hyped bubble created through false means. The NFTs of book publishing.
I understand your frustration! However I do think you’re looking at book subscriptions through a negative lens. I think they’ve done a LOT for readers and publishers. They bring awareness and hype to books that might not otherwise have had that. Those who don’t get the subscription but see all the hype wind up going and buying it from a bookstore.
As for the quality of the books. Fall a part in 10 years? Nah man. Those can last a lot longer unless you’re sticking them in your attic haha.
Also, TBB is a baby bookstore. Only 2 years old and has significantly helped the reading and author community. They have revived amazing fantasy books in ways that publishers have been unable to. And they just launched their publishing house and book 1 will be their highest quality book yet and will in fact be sewn not glued. No idea what “false means” you are referring to because I have their Children of Time set as well and think it is fabulous. No complaints from me.
P.S. I do love the folio society but unless it’s a classic book I expect it to be signed when paying that much. Not worth it otherwise.
Broken binding is second to none. Videos and pictures do not do these special editions justice. Do yourself a favor and just hit up the waiting list.
Glued bindings. No custom art. Paper boards.
These books are, unfortunately, mass market quality.
Stick with other small time publishers who use better materials.