The idea is that the cost of goods for one large book is only slightly more than one medium book. Obviously, it s more cost effective for the publisher to produce an omnibus, but there s a delicate balance of cannibalizing sales. That s one of the fun elements of publishing economics that cause marketers and operations staff to endlessly feud. Meanwhile, the first two Chalker novels become The Dancing Gods, Part One . Good luck finding them now.
Publishing is fickle.
As Chalker points out on his web site though, there is apparently some demand for the books. In Exactly 100 Words Joe and Marge are a trucker and reluctant hitchhiker who mysteriously travel from this world to Husaquahr, a world past the Sea of Dreams where magic works. There, untouchable by that world s evil forces, they help master sorcerer and comic foil Throckmorton Ruddygore stabilize the world. Their choices are to return to our world or stay in this new world as talented neophytes. They choose to settle, giving up some of their humanity in exchange for a position of trust to one of the universe s most powerful creatures.