In just two days, "The Hobbit" became popular,

But it didn't fire enough to be read by everyone.

Many adult men prefer the suspenseful "No One Survives", which is more hearty to read, and has a greater sense of substitution and urgency.

It can only be said that the target audience of each book is different.

But even so, the reputation of "The Hobbit" will definitely get better and better, and sooner or later it will surpass Professor James's "Persona of the Antique Dealer",

Professionals in the publishing industry predict this because they understand the advantages of long-form serialization over short-form collections.

It was predictable that Cambridge would lose the bet.

There was also an unexpected point that the "Seaside Magazine" sold exceptionally well.

……

Strand,

"Seaside Magazine", Editor-in-Chief's Office.

The editor-in-chief, Herbert, was sitting behind his desk, his hands on the desk, his fingers interlocked, his thumbs circled around each other, absentmindedly listening to the clerk's report,

And in the southwest corner, Doyle also sat curled up there.

It was quiet in the room,

The voice of the clerk alone:

"So far this week, we've sold 64,072 copies. It is worth noting that Monday's supplement was sold out in its entirety, and prices are now unusually high in the second-hand market, with even a pound per copy sold. ”

Herbert nodded calmly and looked at Doyle,

"Arthur, did you hear that?"

Doyle looked up,

His eyes were bloodshot, as if he hadn't slept for days.

Moreover, he has a scruffy beard and a raunchy appearance, looking like a cave man on the top of the mountain, and if he were not wearing a shirt and trousers, no one would think that he is from the civilized world.

Herbert looked helpless,

"Didn't you hear about our sales this week? 64,000 ...... Hmmm......"

Sixty-four thousand?

Herbert also showed a surprised expression,

He looked at the clerk,

"You just said we sold more than 64,000 copies? Isn't this a record-breaking? ”

As soon as these words came out, Doyle sat up straight.

The clerk nodded again and again,

"Yes, but that includes the nine thousand copies of Monday's supplement."

9,000 minus ......

"That's a record-breaking! If I'm not mistaken, the last time I sold more than 50,000 copies was when The Hound of the Baskervilles was just beginning to be serialized. ”

Herbert still had the same shocked expression.

The atmosphere in the editor-in-chief's room was eerie, so quiet that you could hear a pin dropping.

After a while, Doyle squeezed out a smile that was more ugly than crying,

"I didn't expect it to be like this."

It is true that Lu Shi wrote a book review with a dancing villain in the Manchester Guardian and defeated Doyle,

Looking at it from another perspective, it is also a kind of advertising.

As the saying goes, "black and red are also red".

From the perspective of sales, "Seaside Magazine" even has to thank Lu Shi,

It's outrageous.

The corners of Herbert's mouth twitched slightly, and he said to Doyle: "You see, we didn't lose, we even won. The Scotsman certainly didn't have such high sales. ”

The clerk on the side listened funny,

People's "The Hobbit" is fantasy, and Holmes compares it with others, isn't this Guan Gong vs. Qin Qiong?

What's more, "The Hobbit" has just started to be serialized, and there is no fan base.

This is a clear example of bullying.

Doyle apparently thinks so too,

He shook his head,

"Herbert, you don't have to comfort me."

This time "The Dancing Villain", from the plot to the trick, Doyle is full of confidence,

In order to suppress Lu Shi, he even played a lot of off-board tricks.

But the result?

Lu Shi only used that sentence: "I cracked the code." Your faithful friend, Lu. ”

One move to solve the battle.

Doyle couldn't help but sigh deeply: "Alas......"

Herbert looked at him like this, one head and two big,

If Doyle quits halfway, what will happen to the next serialization?

As editor-in-chief, he couldn't let Doyle be so decadent.

He said, "Arthur, you are so selfish. ”

Doyle's face darkened,

"I'm selfish!?"

The two stood up suddenly, facing each other,

They all blushed like bulls about to get angry.

The clerk looked left and right, worried that the fish in the pond would be affected, so he quickly pushed the door and slipped out of the room, not forgetting to close the door when he left.

There were only two people left in the room.

Herbert couldn't help but snort coldly,

"I say you're being selfish for a reason. I ask you, has Sherlock Holmes ever lost until now? ”

What does this mean?

Doyle was puzzled,

"How can you not lose? Whether it's "Bohemian Scandal" or "The Dancing Little Man," Holmes doesn't ......"

Herbert interrupted with a wave of his hand: "I'm not talking about the plot, but about the outside. ”

Doyle was speechless.

Indeed, Holmes has not lost until now.

In terms of sales, "Seaside Magazine" has been very stable, and after "Four Signatures", everything that has been serialized by Sherlock Holmes has never been 40,000 copies.

This is an extremely frightening statistic.

And Sherlock Holmes still has a large number of fans, and almost everyone in London has heard of his name.

So in terms of fame, Sherlock Holmes is undoubtedly one of the most successful characters of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Herbert waved his hand into the air,

"How much did The Scotsman sell on Wednesday?"

“……”

No one answered.

Doyle reminded angrily: "Your subordinates are gone." ”

Herbert noticed that the clerk had already left, and couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.

Doyle said, "Okay, okay, I know what you're trying to say." Indeed, the Scotsman could not sell 25,000 copies, and was no match for Sherlock Holmes. ”

Herbert saw Doyle regain his self-confidence, and then he was relieved,

"You know that, too?"

Doyle snorted coldly,

"Actually, when people compare Sherlock Holmes to 'The Hobbit,' Holmes has already lost."

Herbert waved his hand and said, "What is not comparable?" You just have to create. ”

If only it were so easy to adjust your mindset.

Doyle sighed silently.

He knew Lu Shi because of Lu Shi's literary criticism of Sherlock Holmes.

Therefore, from the very beginning, he was more or less hostile to Lu Shi,

It's good now, the hostility release has failed, and you can only use sales to talk about masturbation and self-deception, which is really not the mind and bearing that a British gentleman should have.

Herbert also understood what his friend was thinking,

He walked over, patted Doyle on the shoulder, and said, "You don't have to underestimate yourself. ”

Doyle looked up,

"How?"

Herbert smiled,

"Don't forget that the unit price of the "Waterfront Magazine" is several times higher than that of the "Scotsman". So, you are a double crush of sales and sales to Lu, and it's all like this, what reason do you have not to be confident? ”

Doyle knew that there was some truth in what the other party said,

But he still can't pass the level of the dancing villain,

"But ......"

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Herbert: "Nothing good 'but', you are just better than Lu." ”

This way of speaking is particularly like brainwashing.

Doyle clenched his fists,

"You're right, I don't have to think about what I have."

Saying, take a deep breath,

"I've actually conceived of the following short stories, one of which is "Six Bust Busts of Napoleon", and I think that "The Dancing Man" is a good opportunity to take advantage of the victory and break the sales record of Seaside Magazine."

Herbert came in interest,

"Is there a finished draft? Give it to me by next week if you can. ”

(End of chapter)