Physical vs. Digital vs. Premium

Cid

Is there any difference between the contents of physical, digital, and premium books? If so, how do I find out the differences for each title? I am planning to read Slayers, but I don't know which version I should go for.

Geezer Weasalopes

@cid Digital and physical shouldn't have a difference in content.
Premium Digital, however...
Well, the difference varies from volume to volume; click on the 'Buy from J-Novel' option and it will list what those differences are for that volume.
Sometimes it's just higher quality images, that may or may not be enticing.
I think on occasion there may be images that aren't included in the regular edition at any resolution.
Other times...it's bonus stories that you otherwise won't come across in English translation.

There's also that with digital straight from J-Novel, when corrections are made to the text of already published volumes, you're informed that there is an upgraded version available for download.

myskaros

You can also see a list of all the premium bonuses (if there are any) here on this thread:

https://forums.j-novel.club/topic/305/premium-e-book-bonus-contents-list

Specifically for Slayers, the physical edition is a 3-in-1 omnibus, in case that affects your decision. You can check out some photos of it here:

https://twitter.com/SlayersevoR/status/1419729188593012745
https://twitter.com/SlayersevoR/status/1419729394290024460

Geezer Weasalopes

@myskaros said in Physical vs. Digital vs. Premium:

You can also see a list of all the premium bonuses (if there are any) here on this thread:
https://forums.j-novel.club/topic/305/premium-e-book-bonus-contents-list

Turns out that's way more comprehensive than what shows up if you check the individual volumes; they weren't listing the premium content at all in the individual listings early on, and retrospectively adding that info is, quite rightly, way down their list of priorities from a cost/benefit perspective.

Jon Mitchell

Slayers is kind of a special case
as ~~@Weasalopes~~ @myskaros mentions the physical in this case is an omnibus- it isn't only an omnibus - it's a collector's edition hardcover omnibus- and you'll pay a premium price for it. (about $30US for each omnibus- which comes out to $10 a volume. Premium electronic credits are $6, or the Kindle ebooks of slayer are about $7)
if you want this for your bookshelf - hardcover is the way to go. I LOVE reading hardcovers, especially if on quality paper, with good illustrations etc. YOUR MILAGE MAY VARY.

if you are not a collector of hard copies of books - and want to read on your tablet/phone/pc - buying premium credits from JNC is the best option. It costs less than kobo/kindle/BN, you get the most content, (JNC direct editions include whatever bonus content @myskaros links to above) buying premium credits form JNC - also gets you a DRM free version that is portable across platforms .

so buy physical online (or order from your local indie bookseller!) - if you prefer an 'on paper' reading experience (and a nice addition to the contents of your bookshelf) or premium credits from JNC if you prefer digital. I cannot think of a compelling reason to buy kindle edition from bezos and company unless you have a gift certificate or don't own a pc (to manage your ebooks via calibre or similar program etc.)

edited to correct attribution

Geezer Weasalopes

@jon-mitchell said in Physical vs. Digital vs. Premium:

as @Weasalopes mentions

as @myskaros mentions

Fixed that for ya!

Jon Mitchell

@weasalopes
oops - I edited to correct

ephidiel

@jon-mitchell Slayers is getting an Omnibus?

Jon Mitchell

@ephidiel
yup you can order via Bezos- or BN or wherever (or ask your local indie bookseller to get for you)
I'm in favor of the latter - support small/local biz and all that

side note -I just realized that the algorithm (?) at Bezos and co. tags Slayers as a children's book - I wonder if that mis-categorization has anything to do with the censorship some LNs have been getting - in general these are not 'chapter books' for 8-12 year-olds