Slayers Novels: A No-Go
Bad news... it looks like the rest of the Slayers novels aren't going to be picked up after all.
TokyoPop recently opened up an official forum at their web site. They have a section where you can ask editors questions, and both tarahime and myself had the same idea to post about their current stance on the Slayers novels. In this post, an editor tells us that "there are not enough sales to merit the costs of making the books." They too remain hopeful that a rise in popularity of the series will occur after FUNimation releases its remastered DVDs; it might increase sales of the novels enough for them to license the last nine novels in the series.
The Blu Manga editor also mentions that it's possible that "something can be done for print-on-demand direct orders," where they would "print only the amount of books for which [they] have online pre-orders and then shipping it right out to the buyer, not really putting any on shelves in stores." She says it's just an idea, however, and it might not work... nor may the licensors like it either. Another editor also mentions the possibility of releasing the remaining nine novels in "cheap 3-book omnibuses."
I suggest signing up to the forums to post your own opinions and suggestions on any cost-effective ways you might have for TokyoPop to release the rest of the series. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that the only way we're going to see the rest of the series licensed and translated is to increase sales. :X
TokyoPop recently opened up an official forum at their web site. They have a section where you can ask editors questions, and both tarahime and myself had the same idea to post about their current stance on the Slayers novels. In this post, an editor tells us that "there are not enough sales to merit the costs of making the books." They too remain hopeful that a rise in popularity of the series will occur after FUNimation releases its remastered DVDs; it might increase sales of the novels enough for them to license the last nine novels in the series.
The Blu Manga editor also mentions that it's possible that "something can be done for print-on-demand direct orders," where they would "print only the amount of books for which [they] have online pre-orders and then shipping it right out to the buyer, not really putting any on shelves in stores." She says it's just an idea, however, and it might not work... nor may the licensors like it either. Another editor also mentions the possibility of releasing the remaining nine novels in "cheap 3-book omnibuses."
I suggest signing up to the forums to post your own opinions and suggestions on any cost-effective ways you might have for TokyoPop to release the rest of the series. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that the only way we're going to see the rest of the series licensed and translated is to increase sales. :X