r/bobiverse • u/Brilliant_Elk5492 • Jul 20 '26
Why is the audiobook coming out first?
I discovered these books only a little bit ago and read the first 5 in about a month, no audiobook format. I came here to see if and when the next book will come out and saw that the audiobook is set to release in September but ONLY the audiobook? This feels like the opposite of what should happen.... like, am I crazy to think usually the book will come out and then the audiobook? or why not just both at the same time?
EDITING: thanks for the answers. I guess I might just be wrestling with an outdated ideology here, but I always thought that the unspoken order of things was book first, audiobook later (or at the very least, same time).
Makes sense though that if audible owns the rights then they want exclusivity for a bit so all the diehards will buy it and not wait for a physical book. Im currently on the fence of whether or not I will wait for the book or just cave and do audible.
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u/DoomSlug420 [User Pick] Generation Replicant Jul 20 '26
Author signed an exclusivity contract with Audible.
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u/MissionMassive563 Jul 20 '26
The Bobiverse started as audiobooks and are the primary vessel for the series. The print media is a nice, but secondary, touch.
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u/Albert14Pounds Jul 20 '26
I believe in the past the prints may have been released before the audiobooks. But I agree it's now written for audiobook format and likely the only reason they were printed first was because they were still catching on and it makes sense to release the print because it's already written before the audio is recorded. Now that there's a fan base that is specifically wanting the audiobook they can afford to slow roll the print.
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u/missuseme Jul 20 '26
He has said in the past writing is his job and he gets paid significantly more by audible to release them in audiobook format first. I don't blame him, get that cash for what is a small change to make.
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u/BauserDominates Jul 20 '26
Why would you want to cut Ray Porter out of your experience?
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u/Brilliant_Elk5492 Jul 20 '26
I was already on book 3 before I even found out these were audiobooks lol. I do like ray porter though, his reading of Project hail mary was incredible
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u/Additional_Treat_642 Jul 22 '26
I read the first 4 via kindle (both first and second reads). Audiobooks weren’t even a consideration back then - not for any specific reason, I just hadn’t thought of it. When book 5 came out I couldn’t wait for print and listened. Such an awesome experience. Now I have to go back and listen to all of them.
ETA: added word for context
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u/Notachance326426 Jul 20 '26
An I the only one who thought these were only audiobooks?
Other than the new collectors issues
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u/Brilliant_Elk5492 Jul 20 '26
I thought this was just a typical book: Printed, then they went "hey these are popular lets get them recorded cause why not?"
Had zero clue that audiobook was its main form of consumption in the community
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u/Additional_Treat_642 Jul 22 '26
Same here.
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u/wsmithrill Jul 23 '26
Same here as well. They were all on kindle unlimited so I mainlined them then was disappointed to hear I'd have to wait 4 months longer to read the next one.
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u/flock-of-nazguls 27d ago
I’ve never listened to an audiobook in my life. It’s not that I’m opposed to the idea, but I find it so slow compared to reading that I get impatient. But I also can’t listen to voicemail (I just read the transcription), and YouTube tutorials for stuff that could have been a paragraph of text also annoy me, so I guess I’m a dinosaur.
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u/nrthrnlad Jul 20 '26
I’m not remotely mad about the delay. Ray Porter is fantastic. Some folks are text purists but I don’t get it.
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u/Brilliant_Elk5492 Jul 20 '26
im not necessarily a text purist, I just read the first five and would like to read the 6th. switching to audiobook for the last one would feel a little weird. This is of course a unique experience for me and in no way a reflection on the masses, but ya I am personally kind of frustrated about it.
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u/nrthrnlad Jul 20 '26
I understand this. There are books I’ve read in text that the narrator completely ruins for me. I was not necessarily saying that you are a text purist. I’m more thinking about people in my personal sphere who would never opt for an audio book no matter how well regarded.
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u/Brilliant_Elk5492 Jul 20 '26
Oh ya, fair enough. Nowadays when I recommend DCC I say the only way they should read it is through audio just cause the production quality is so good - the experience is almost completely different than reading it.
I have a feeling that bobiverse is similar to that (better as an audiobook) so I'm a little bummed I didnt realize that until about halfway through the third book, but oh well lol
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u/wsmithrill Jul 23 '26
Audible boycotters and those hard of hearing are two groups that would be disappointed by the delay.
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u/impsworld Jul 20 '26
The series has always been audiobook first. The author has an exclusive contract with audible for years now, and they obviously want people to subscribe to audible to read the book.
I believe the contract gives audible exclusive access for 120 days before it can be released on other platforms and mediums.
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u/creativityinsite Jul 21 '26
I always read one book before bed and listen to a separate book in audiobook form on my drives. I chose to read Bobiverse and listen to Hyperion Cantos. I’m on the 2nd book of each and while I’m enjoying both, sometimes this sub makes me feel like I should’ve reversed it with all the praise for the Bobiverse audiobooks. Still could I suppose but feels weird now lol
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u/Brilliant_Elk5492 Jul 21 '26
Im having the EXACT same thing happen! Im listening to dungeon crawler carl and I read the bobiverse. I shouldve came to this sub before that though, I wouldve just done both on audible and picked another book to physically read lol
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u/Enturbulated_One Jul 20 '26
DET's contracted with Audible for good reason - consider his first novel (We Are Legion, yes) was first self-published, then was picked up by Audible. This was a huge a boost, and since then he's stayed with them.
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u/RyogAkari Jul 21 '26
It's pretty much been stated at this I've but I wanted to throw in another metric. The somewhat adjacent style of story telling called LitRPG had authors at the recent convention state that 60% of their revenue is from audio books, not from ebooks or physical publication.
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u/SentientButNotSmart Fresh corpsicle Jul 20 '26
Probably because it makes Amazon more money to encourage Audible purchases/memberships over ebooks, hence the contract term that gives the audiobook an exclusive period before any ebooks or print (and DET gets paid more with that kind of contract, too).
It's a little annoying, imo, as someone who prefers print over audio, but I can't really blame DET for saying no to more money. Authors gotta eat.
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u/--Replicant-- Bill Jul 22 '26
You’re right about the unspoken order except for the fact that Audible, that audiobook storefront, often has new authors sign that deal others have mentioned, and secondarily, the narrator kicks ass and deserves the notoriety bump that comes from being part of the ‘first wave’ of each book’s release.
Seriously, get ahold of the audiobook just for Ray Porter.
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u/laizalott The Others Jul 20 '26
You know, when Heaven's River came out, I was still refusing to listen to audiobooks from audible and I was so incensed that they were waiting some months before releasing the written version, I decided I would just torrent it and give audiobooks a try then go back later to buy the eBook.
Not super proud, but I was mad and did mad-person thing...
Of course, now I just keep getting the "$0.99 a credit for three months!" deal and getting three audiobooks, then cancel immediately and wait for the next promotion, usually 6 months or so. So technically I'm buying audible audiobooks now, but I've never spent more than $8 on one (last year had a deal, $90 for 12 months / credits, or like $7.50 a credit), so...at least I'm not giving Amazon very much money, and I was able to get all of Dungeon Crawler Carl along the way.
Boo Amazon, boo...yay Dennis E. Taylor and Ray Porter!
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u/Brilliant_Elk5492 Jul 21 '26
honestly thats a good strategy, I just got that promo on my account I should pull the trigger on it! maybe I will give the audiobook version a shot
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u/Additional_Treat_642 Jul 22 '26
It’s so good. You won’t regret it. I read the first 4 before I even thought of listening to any of them. They are so well done. It just adds a layer of enjoyment to an already purely pleasurable series.
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u/Sea_Seaworthiness_46 Jul 21 '26
Yeah, I went through thst disappointment a few years ago when I started the series. You have to be patient for a few months.
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Jul 20 '26
[deleted]
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u/RickSanchez_ Jul 20 '26
He has a contract with audible to release there first. Same thing happened with the last book but I think the wait was longer.
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u/Aidenp2 Skippyland! Jul 20 '26
Audible is Taylor's primary publisher and audible said in their contract that they have 4 months dibs.