Does anyone have a good reason to shop a science fiction book to publishers, when I could just sell print-on-demand and keep all the rights?

Before you decide, I think a reality check is in order. The odds of getting a book published are extremely slim. I actually found this link when looking for the answer to how many book submissions actually get published.

Out of the slush pile, one publisher accepts 10 books in 4,000. Another magazine accepts 40 stories out of 40,000. Agents take from 1% to 5% of authors who submit to them.

Seventy percent of books published do not earn back the advance. And either way, if you self publish or get lucky enough to have your book accepted by a big publisher, it will be up to you to do the marketing.w.

It's not just about printing, it is the entire distribution and marketing that makes the difference. Yes, you can print it yourself, but are you going to bring versions to all US bookshops? Are you going to take the risk of not selling all, and having to take all the unsold items back?

The publishers are there for a reason, and they usually deserve their pay.

Publishers have the money and resources to make your book shine!

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.