"Most publishers seem very reluctant to publish short story collections at all; they bring them out in paperback, often disguised as novels"

In this quote, author John Sladek is revealing his observation that many publishers are hesitant to publish collections of short stories. He suggests that instead, they frequently release them in paperback format and attempt to market them as novels. This could be due to the belief that novels are more valuable and profitable than narrative collections. Sladek's usage of the word "disguised" implies that publishers are trying to hide the fact that the book is a collection of narratives, possibly in an attempt to attract a broader audience. This quote highlights the obstacles faced by authors who specialize in composing narratives and the bias towards books in the publishing market.