Q: What is the Science Fiction Book Club?

The Science Fiction Book Club (often called "SFBC" for short) is a mail-order membership bookseller operating in the US and Canada. Our website gives more details, but, in general, people join the club by taking a very generous introductory offer (five books for a dollar each as I write this), and then are required to buy a set number of additional books over a future period (four books in two years, as I write this).

The SFBC was founded in 1953 by Doubleday, and is currently part of the Bookspan family of bookclubs.

Q: Who can join the SFBC?

Anyone over the age of eighteen with an address in the USA or Canada. (APOs and FPOs do count; we're happy to sign up members with those addresses.) If you're younger than that, we'll need the membership to be in the name of a parent, guardian, or trusted adult.

Q: How could I join the SFBC?

The easiest way would be by clicking here, choosing the five books you want, and filling out the other information necessary -- such as your address. You could also e-mail us (customerservice@sfbc.com) to ask for a membership recruitment catalog to be mailed to you, or call us at (717) 918-BOOK (2665) Monday through Friday, 8 A.M. to 8 P.M., EST.

Q: Why would I want to join the SFBC?

There's no one else surveying the fields of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and associated areas and choosing the best and most popular books for you to buy on a monthly basis. If you're interested in SFF, we're the ones with the experience, expertise, and love of the field to steer you towards books you'll love.

Also: our prices are generally 40-50% off publisher's editions, and some books have regular prices as much as 65% off of retail prices.

And we do a number of exclusive omnibuses (such as Wizard for Hire or The Elric Saga, Part I), completely original anthologies (such as the World Fantasy Award-winning The Fair Folk), and other special projects, such as our ongoing 50th Anniversary Collection.

So we offer the best books in the field, at the best prices, including a number of things you just can't get anywhere else.

Q : Do I have to send back a card every month?

Members do need to reply to their monthly Selections, but that's easier than ever in the age of the Internet. You can accept or decline your Selections in a few seconds on our website, so you never have to mail another postcard to us if you don't want to. Conversely, if you prefer not to use the website for whatever reason, you still can order books and deal with your Selections by mail.

Reposted 4/2/07 at 1:28 PM; please leave any additional questions in the comments.