I was checking on Amazon to see when a book I pre-ordered would be published. The book is THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET'S NEST by Stieg Larsson and is the 3rd book in his amazing Millenium Trilogy.*
But what is so silly is that in order for me to read the American version of the novel, I would have to wait until May 25, 2010. But the novel has been available in the UK since October 2009. And on the same page that tells me that I have to wait until May, I am also given the option to order it from the UK. So that's what I did. It may cost more than what I would have paid for a hardcover US version but it is still cheaper than the US list price even with the shipping from England.
This isn't the first time I've encountered this. I've bought the entire series of John Flanagan's exciting teen adventure/fantasy series, THE RANGER'S APPRENTICE being the first, from Flanagan's native Australia. As of today, there are only 7 of 9 published in the US.
I wonder when American publishers will realize that book buying no longer stops at the US border. Avid readers no longer have to wait to read the next book in a series at the time the US publisher wishes to oblige us. We can as easily click the 1-Click button on Amazon for the non-US version.
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*I'll write more about the trilogy once I've read the third book.
