Why are there no more prints of Vincent Virga's "Gaywyck" -- because Amazon only has used ones left to sell

Question

I'm really intrigued by this novel-- yet I wish to purchase one (preferrably new) at a price that is LESS than $90. It's original price is about $14. So, my question is, who IS this mysterious Vincent? Is he dead? Is that why his books are no longer being published, and cost so friggin much?
http://www.amazon.com/Gaywyck-Vincent-Virga/dp/1555835848/ref=tag_tdp_dp/102-3073778-4060152

I found out it was originally published in 1980-- a classic. That might be why that is. It was republished by Alyson books in 2000. I'm just curious because, although it is a classic, it is not reprinted continually, whereas classics such as those by Jane Austen continue to be printed.

Answer 1

1. The "mysterious" Vincent is well-blurbed at the link in your question. (Was that paragraph not there before? It's there *twice* now.) Clearly NOT a pseudonym, and apparently not dead, since he's working on another novel.
2. There have been at least four editions in softcover; there was also a 1987 Avon and the "collectible" tab at Amazon shows a 1986 overseas edition. That's pretty good for a work that is nowhere near Jane Austen's stature--classic only as a landmark, not as being of classic quality!
3. Some of the used copies at Alibris and Amazon are in quite good condition. Why insist on an absolutely new state if that keeps you from reading it?
4. The copies that are frankly used are only a little more expensive than the average used paperback in the same condition, and presumably that little is because the novel's uniqueness creates a somewhat higher demand. You do pay for finding and shipping when you work online! The only way to get one very much cheaper would be to find it in a local bookstore among the minimally-sorted-used shelves.
5. WHY are you intrigued? I've just read some of the reviews and they are wildly mixed. I myself expected it to be the parody gothic that one of the Amazon reviewers calls it, but was grossly disappointed on that level--and I didn't think it was good taken as a straight (you should pardon the expression) gothic, either. I found the finally-revealed secret to be insanely soap-opera-like. And I'm a gay guy who very much liked Victoria Holt's stuff about the same time!

Answer 2

Odds are that it falls under the "pulp" fiction category. There is a limited run of prints and once it's over, that's that.
More than likely that "author" is a pseudonym for someone else and the book was a trial run to see whether the market would support such works. If no other books can be found and no more prints can be found , it probably was considered a "flop" regardless of the actual quality of the work. I'd suggest trying other sources, Amazon isn't known for it's ability to find out of print material.

1980 doesn't make it a "classic", it simply means it's older.