Some are critiquing the 18%. As someone who has authored a technical book with a similar caliber publisher, I can confirm that it’s on the generous side. Though

Some are critiquing the 18%. As someone who has authored a technical book with a similar caliber publisher, I can confirm that it’s on the generous side. Though typically there would be some form of book advance (few k) and copy editing included as well. The thing is, the the technical literature industry is kind of like venture capital. Publishers will throw a lot of things against the wall and whatever sticks will net them enough of a return to cover the rest. It can cost upwards of 50-100k to produce a book and most of them tend to flop. It’s really hard to understand which ones will flop as well, unless you have intimate domain expertise and can judge the technology and the community around it as well. At that point however, you may as well write the book yourself.