What do you think about books ONLY being published as an audio book?

[BlackAmericanoNoSugar]

An author that I like has had a new book out recently. Audible sent me an email to suggest it to me, but I thought that I would rather read it than listen to it. I couldn't find it as a book anywhere and it turns out that he has only released it as an audio book.

As far as I can tell (three chapters in) there's no reason that it couldn't also be a regular book/ebook, it's not in play form and there is a single narrator (him who was Merlin, he has a lovely voice). I'm enjoying it in audio form, but I'm not sure how I feel about having the choice of format made for me.

It's The Worldship Humility by R R Haywood. His Extracted trilogy was excellent (I read it in Kindle format), so I was on the lookout for more by him.

Seems very odd. Why would they want to limit their audience like that

It's very expensive to produce actual books - hence why they're so expensive to buy. Some publishers and authors have made the decision to only publish on line as it's so much cheaper for customers to buy so they sell more. If they sell well on line they do sometimes then take the decision to publish in paperback.

Well that's kind of rubbish for those of us whose hearing isn't good enough to enjoy literature this way. I'd miss a lot and be tired out from having to focus to hear.

I can understand why an author/publisher would opt for ebook only GinisLife, especially for sci fi readers who are less likely to insist on physical books, but not why they would go for audio only. Surely it can't be that much more effort to also publish an ebook.

I did think about that MrSlant. I would be a bit peed off if I had a hearing issue because I'd been waiting for a new book by this guy.

I work in publishing so might be able to shed some light.

Audible are trying to increase their market share in audiobooks, and having audible-first content means that people will subscribe to the platform just to get a book they want. He is clearly an Amazon-published author (rather than being published by a traditional publishing house) and they often test content on their own authors, who are savvy because they market their own books.

By bringing a series author (who has a loyal following) out in audio, they hope the fans will sign up to a subscription. Sci fi and fantasy does really well in audio so they are clearly testing to see if loyal people will sign away £8 a month on an author they trust! I bet the book will follow in ebook soon.

To add, it is really expensive to produce a decent audiobook too - it usually takes four full days of studio time, and often the hire of the studio, then the sound editing process, and that is on top of the book editing.

Many have an actor who reads too, rather than the author themselves, which is another chunk of cash! It is more expensive to produce an audiobook than an ebook.

I guess he was a good candidate for this marketing strategy ibuilt. An established author would probably be reluctant to limit themselves to an audio only launch of a new book. As far as I know this guy was self published up until this book, but had a rapidly growing readership and was probably willing to do a deal in order to have the Audible marketing dept behind him.

I can see how audiobooks appeal to lots of people who can listen to them when they get work done, but I'm not a huge fan of the idea. I'm always reading. I'm visually impaired with mild hearing loss that will progress, and have read Braille all my life. Because it involves actively moving my fingers whereas audio does not, I tend to zone out more with audio. (Funnily enough, in a university course I took once, my lecturer had us read an article and then watch it, and I was the only one of the students to find the reading much more helpful).

I can't 'do' audiobooks. I tend to zone out and my mind starts wandering. I'm no good with talk-radio or podcasts either.

Yep hard of hearing hear and think that doing this you excluding a lot of people potentially Abd at risk of alienating readers I would be annoyed about having something I should still be able to enjoy Taken away from me. I have accepted music is never going to be the sane but to the. Have book taken away is abit if a kick in the teeth especially when hearing problems can be so isolating (sorry if I sound dramatic )