Invalid/Duplicate/Blank Editions: Hex

[Drace]

The following editions of the book Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt are all either duplicates or invalid editions created by the Goodreads bot screwing up. They’ve all been added quite a few times, so superlibrarians need to handle it. (This thread is not completely covering every single invalid edition, but I am hitting on the ones that are obviously wrong.)

1. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... – Duplicate of existing paperback edition. Needs to be merged with actual paperback edition: Hex (ISBN 9780765378811)

2. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... – edition created by Goodreads bot importing secondhand seller on Amazon. Needs to be marked invalid.

3. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6... – blank edition, needs to be deleted or merged with a more popular edition.

4. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... – blank edition, needs to be deleted or merged with a more popular edition.

5. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... – blank edition, needs to be deleted or merged with a more popular edition.

6. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... – completely unrelated book from a different author, created by importing secondhand Amazon seller, needs to be marked invalid.

[David]

Please number your request in the future .

#1: there was a cover change done in the past against policy. I undid the cover change and now the covers are not the same and should not be merged. If you can find a target edition, I can merge it.

#2: I don't see a target edition with this exact cover so I cannot merge it. Maybe you can find one.

#3: Done

#4: It's not blank, it has a cover. You did not provide a target with an identical cover so I cannot merge it.

#5: Done, marked invalid since it was not shelved.

#6: Done

[Drace]

Numbering added.

1. No offense meant by this, but the reversion to the cover art that you made on the paperback edition was incorrect. The first edition US paperback edition of the book has the word Hex written in red text, and the first edition US hardcover has it written in blue text. Unless I’m mistaken, the edit that you made was switching the cover art from the red text paperback version, which is the correct cover art and should be there, to the blue text hardcover edition, which is not correct for this paperback edition of the book.

For additional proof of this cover art difference and that the change needs to be reverted, you can type in the ISBNs of each edition (9780765378804 for hardcover, 9780765378811 for paperback) on Abebooks and see the difference in results that it brings up. Looking at the See All Formats and Editions page for the book on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/HEX-Thomas-Old...) also shows off the same cover art difference, and the Amazon reviews for the book also contain photographs showcasing the differences between the two covers. I can also provide links to further visual evidence if needed.

2. The fact that the book contains an alphanumerical ASIN (which is only used on Kindle editions, Audible editions, secondhand Amazon seller listings, and some physical audiobooks) and is listed as being published 186 years before the book was actually published is proof enough that it’s incorrect though, isn’t it?

3. Thank you for your help.

4. This uses the red text cover art of the paperback edition, so once the paperback cover art is changed to the correct red text version, it can be merged with the paperback.

5 & 6. Thank you once again for your help with these, it’s much appreciated.

[David]

1. This is a matter of policy. We don't change covers, especially not if they were active for six years. If someone else changes a cover, we revert it. I don't think the evidence you showed is convulsive enough to break policy over it. You can always contact support and ask them to do it.
2. The only way to remove an edition which was shelved is to merge it with an edition of identical cover. Since none exist, I cannot remove it.
I deleted the release year which was obviously bogus.

[Drace]

I feel like there really should be an addition to the policy clarifying that changes can be made in situations where there's solid proof that the cover art is incorrect or there's an obvious mistake, especially with the Goodreads bot constantly wreaking havoc on the site.

Would third-party photographs of the hardcover and paperback editions of the book showcasing the text color difference be conclusive enough?

[David]

We will need a reliable source saying the paperback was never published with the blue cover. Usually, that means someone from the publisher or the author.