Hardcover: 448 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Release date: May 1, 2012
Cover price: $17.99
Upon visiting the Barnes & Noble a week, or so, ago, I noticed a lovely display for Paolo Bacigalupi's second YA novel Drowned Cities. In dealing with doctors, et al. lately I forgot that it was coming out this month. So I was, of course, drawn to it like a magnet. I picked up a copy to thumb through and realized that it was actually a SIGNED first edition of the book. Yep, sure enough, if I'd read the display I would've seen the phrase "signed first editions." I guess B&N (or perhaps the publisher) is catching on that more and more people are starting to collect books.
Well, I nabbed a copy (I even considered nabbing two copies, but thought better of it). I noted that they had 7 copies remaining. I then walked around the corner and saw another 10 copies stacked on the floor (as our B&N tends to do with overstock). Curiously, I flipped through these copies to see if they were signed. Nope, no signatures.
I couldn't find any other information on how many books Bacigalupi signed for the publisher, or even the print run estimates for Drowned Cities (although I'm guessing it's on the high side).
As of the date of this post, prices over at Amazon and AbeBooks are listing for between $22 - $72 (for signed firsts).
Bacigalupi did a book tour in early May (stops listed at his Web site). Those store may have signed copies. I also found signed copies at Logos Books and Records.
Note, Subterranean Press will be releasing a limited edition of 300 signed copies this summer (price: $125).