This post was written in October 2024 as the first of two related posts. I planned to publish both posts in November 2024. I had to wait because the second post contained proprietary images that had not at that time been shared outside of Edelweiss, which is a site used by publishers to list their catalogs. I didn't want to get into trouble by sharing proprietary images. I delayed publishing the posts until the images were finally released to public view.
We need good news on the series books front. When we get good news, series book fans gripe and moan about how it's not the way they want it to be. It never changes.
I've mentioned before that we have now entered at least the beginning of the end of series book fandom. We might be further along than we realize.
I'm one of the younger series book fans, and I'm 52. I'm younger, but I'm not young. I feel it's worth quoting something I wrote on Facebook on October 21, 2023:
Earlier today in a post outside this group, I made an observation about eBay. Series books in general (with notable exceptions like the Three Investigators) are not selling very well at this time. I have seen scarce books priced very reasonably go unsold in recent weeks. I have seen some of these books relisted multiple times.
I hope this has more to do with inflation and the rising cost of living than anything else. My fear is that series book fandom has passed the beginning of the end, and fewer people are interested in collecting the books. If this has started to happen, then it is due to the average age of series book fans.
I have always been one of the younger collectors. Back when I first came online I was just 24. You would think now that I'm 51 that I wouldn't be one of the younger collectors. And yet, I still am one of the younger collectors, even though I'm not young. Around 60% of the membership of this group is older than me.
Here is the breakdown of group membership by age:
18-24 1%
25-34 7%
35-44 14%
45-54 19%
55-64 26%
65+ 32%
I'll be blunt: Many series book fans will pass on in the not-so-distant future. Our fandom will transform dramatically in the coming years.
Let's talk about the current situation. Nancy Drew is the only series with new titles ongoing ever since its inception in 1930. The Hardy Boys series, until 2023, was the only other series with new titles ongoing since its inception in 1927. The Hardy Boys Adventures series, the current incarnation of the Hardy Boys, is currently in hiatus, and we can't be certain that it will return.
[Note from February 2025: I have believed for over a year that the Hardy Boys Adventures series has been cancelled. Since we've heard conflicting information, I've kept my statements open-ended. However, it's now nearly certain that the series is done. It's been over two years since the last book was published. Nothing shows in the pipeline on Edelweiss. I very much doubt that we will ever see another Hardy Boys Adventures book.]
The Happy Hollisters and Judy Bolton series are currently in print. The first 10 Three Investigators books are back in print. I think that's it. All other series are out of print except for the print-on-demand copies of books in the public domain.
We need series back in print and offered by major publishing houses. The Happy Hollisters, Three Investigators, and Judy Bolton series are not offered by major publishing houses. This means that their reach is limited since their publishers don't have the large footprint of the major publishers.
In June, I shared photos of the shelves at Barnes & Noble. There were very few Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books in stock. I checked that same store again on October 26. This is what they had.
While better than in June, the selection is still rather poor. Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys are not in demand in new copies. The older books remain in demand, and they are popular at secondhand book stores. Eventually, that will change as well.
If any other series could go back into print by a major publisher, then youth would be exposed to those books. Any exposure to youth can help extend the longevity of our hobby. We want the books to be available to youth. Editions offered to youth might not appeal to us in their presentation, but that is unimportant. We want the books to appeal to youth, and we want them to be read by youth.
This is of utmost importance. The books need to be available to youth.
I reflected on the situation after I visited Barnes & Noble on October 26. My thoughts went something like this: It's too bad that the Random House reissues of the Trixie Belden series went out of print. If those books were still in print, then at least a few more of our vintage series books would be available to the public.
It's really interesting that my thoughts went in that direction. Just one week later, I learned that Random House plans to reprint the first four Trixie Belden books in new paperback editions with new cover art. This is GREAT news! I will provide details in my next post and will also include my thoughts regarding the rather negative reaction of the fandom.
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