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HarperCollins

HANDHELD HISTORY HC Lost in Cult - FOC PREORDER

HANDHELD HISTORY HC Lost in Cult - FOC PREORDER

Regular price $40.00 USD
Regular price Sale price $40.00 USD
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Preorder shipping — your order ships together

Estimated release: October 7, 2026. Orders containing preorder items ship after the final item in the order is released and received. The shipping charge at checkout covers one combined package, not separate release-date shipments. Place separate orders for items you want shipped sooner. Publisher release dates may change.

FOC PREORDER

HANDHELD HISTORY HC

Solicitation:
Businessmen fiddling with calculators inspired Gunpei Yokoi to conceptualize the Game & Watch. A Handheld History is inspired by the forty-year portable gaming empire that spawned from those LCD screens. Brought to you in partnership with Retro Dodo—the internet’s leading retro gaming site—A Handheld History is an explorative jaunt through the systems and games that defined the legacy of portable systems. Less of a historical account and more of a poignant, introspective adventure across decades of gaming memories, this book will reconnect you to that long car trip full of Tetriminos, Mewtwos, and discarded AA batteries before speeding ahead to our contemporary days of OLED screens and blockbusters in your backpack. Handheld gaming is a cornerstone tenet of the industry, one that has spawned communities who exchange Miis on the subway and Pokemon on the playground. Friendships were made in this pocket of the medium, and it ought to be celebrated loudly, proudly, and across hundreds of beautifully-assembled pages of art and essays. Featuring words from Jason Bradbury, Janet Garcia, Jeff Grubb, Mike Diver, Larry Bundy Jr., Ashens and many more incredible voices, this is an unmissable ode to the gaming device that you keep close to your heart—right in your jacket pocket. A Handheld History takes both a historical and personal look at the world of handheld gaming, in a way that no other book has done to date. While there have been books that cover individual consoles, or strive to chronicle every single game released for a platform, no video game book has sought to look at the broad cross section of handheld history like we are doing, whilst also hearing from the very people whose lives have been affected by these devices. Also a first is our selection of writers from across the industry, both big and small. From our foreword by self-professed gadget geek (and former host of TV series The Gadget Show) Jason Bradbury, to a history of what might be considered the precursor to the modern handheld market in the Auto Race by Kotaku founder and Polygon co-founder Brian Crecente, you know that the people guiding you through this history really know their stuff. Other big names involved include:Mike Diver (GAMINGbible)Kevin Kenson (YouTuber)Janet Garcia (KindaFunny/MinnMax/IGN)Alex Olney (NintendoLife)Larry Bundy Jr. (YouTuber)Ashens (YouTuber)Jeff Grubb (GiantBomb)Alongside well-written pieces on the history of key and interesting handheld consoles from across their history, we also include retrospectives for important games, as well as essays detailing subjects such as the push for diversity in gaming, using consoles like the Nintendo Switch in education settings, the difficulties faced by game collectors in Brazil, how handhelds are a great entry point into gaming for those who can’t afford home consoles, the impact of growing up with handhelds, finding a community through the PlayStation Vita, and many more besides.

Preorder Information

  • Cutoff: Lunar FOC closes 09/07/2026.
  • Payment and cancellations: Payment is required upfront. Orders cannot be cancelled after FOC because quantities are locked with the distributor.
  • Condition: Books are expected to arrive new and unread. Minor manufacturing or distributor shelf wear can occur; contact us promptly with photos if your copy arrives materially damaged.
  • Release date: Release dates are estimates and may change. Your order will ship after the item arrives from the distributor.
  • Fulfillment: Books are inspected and packed securely before fulfillment. If an item is damaged, shorted, or unavailable, we will try to replace it first. If no replacement is available, that item will be refunded.

Item Details

  • Publisher: HarperCollins
  • Cover price: $40.00
  • FOC date: 2026-09-07
  • Release date: 2026-10-07
  • Writer: Lost in Cult
  • Artist: Lost in Cult
  • Cover / variant: Lost in Cult
  • UPC / ISBN: 9780008598174

Final cover art, creators, and release details are subject to publisher updates.

Returns and Refunds:
See our Returns and Refunds page for full policy details.

Materials

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Know before you order

Your Bandicoot preorder guide

A quick, plain-language guide to payment, timing, condition, and what happens if plans change.

Order cutoff
Sep 07, 2026
Estimated release
Oct 07, 2026

What is a preorder?

It reserves an item before its official release and before it is physically in our hands. Ordering early gives you the best chance of securing a copy when demand is high.

When do I pay?

Payment is collected at checkout. We use paid orders to reserve inventory and set our quantity with the publisher, distributor, or supplier.

What does FOC mean?

Final Order Cutoff is the deadline for comic shops to lock their quantities with the distributor. Once that cutoff passes, your copy has been ordered specifically for you and the order becomes final.

Are release dates guaranteed?

No. Dates come from publishers and suppliers and can move without notice. Your order stays active, and we will fulfill it after the item arrives.

When will my preorder ship?

We inspect and pack preorders after the distributor shipment reaches us. Tracking is provided through the checkout platform when it is available.

What if my order includes other items?

Preorder timing can delay a package that also contains in-stock items. Place separate orders when you need available items to ship sooner.

How are comics prepared?

New comics are inspected before fulfillment. Standard-size issues are bagged, boarded, and packed with protective materials appropriate for the order.

What grade is guaranteed?

Preorder comics are guaranteed to be 9.0 or better unless the listing says otherwise. We carefully inspect each copy, but we cannot guarantee a specific higher grade such as a 9.8 because minor printing and bindery variations can occur on brand-new books.

Will the final item match the preview image?

Publishers and manufacturers sometimes provide early artwork or prototype images. Final trade dress, packaging, colors, accessories, or other details may change before release.

Can I cancel or change my preorder?

Contact us as soon as possible. Comic preorders cannot be cancelled after FOC, and other preorders cannot be cancelled after quantities are locked with the supplier.

What if the item is damaged, shorted, or unavailable?

We will look for a replacement first. If we cannot secure one, we will refund the affected item to the original payment method.

What if the publisher cancels the item?

If the publisher or supplier cancels an item and no replacement is offered, we will refund that item.