Galleycat asks: Why are E-Books So Expensive? As I understand it the major publishers have decided the stick to the current model and match edition prices. So if a book is currently in Hardback, it’s the Hardback price and if it’s a Paperback, then it’s the Paperback. I can see how this reflection makes everything less confusing but I’d love to see some benefit for those people that opt for e-books. Special editions with short stories, sample chapters from the next book, early releases, omnibuses, or something to give them the edge over the physical copy as in a lot of peoples head the the publisher is saving on printing, transport, storage, pulping, returns, etc.
Dear Author has some thoughts as well. I don’t know if I agree with most of them but DRM is an interesting issue. And I can see pluses and minuses to having and not having it. I’d prefer to have them DRm free. In fact I’d happily pay a subscription to give me access to a wide range of ebooks – something like LoveFilm were I could bookout two to three books at a time. I know Libraries can lend out ebooks so why not pay for them too? There is some great thoughts in the comments of that post to. Please go look if you’re interested in e-books.
Also from Galleycat, Harper Collins has signed up three books from their virtual slush pile and community feedback site, authonomy.com. The books were Miranda Dickinson’s romantic book Coffee at Kowalski’s, Steven Dunne’s detective story The Reaper, and Lynne Barrett-Lee’s real life story, Never Say Die. All three authors sold world rights as well.
Though Andrew Lownie comment:
This is not strictly true. My agency submitted Never Say Die by Melanie Davies and ghosted by Lynne Barrett-Lee in the normal way. The fact the authors had put it on Authonomy may have helped in Collins’s decision but the editor was only aware of the script being on Authonomy after the submission.
So take it with a pinch of salt. It might be a good way of getting free critiques – though from the glance I’ve had of authonomy.com you might get what you pay for…
Big Dumb Object directs me to The Day the Saucers Landed a Illustrated an Short Story/Poem by Neil Gaiman and Jouni Koponen. It uses Microsoft’s Infinite Canvas.
Reading Matters points me to an article in the guardian about Scandinavian Crime Fiction. I still don’t know where to start with Henning Mankell. Any suggestions? The first one doesn’t have an e-edition. There’s plenty more to find out about too.
Anyone want to know more about SF criticism might want to read this post on Torque Control.
Of Blog answers the question: Why I Blog.
Also from Of Blog the BSFA Award Finalists. Seems like a strong pack for Best Novel. Anyone want to place any bets?
Highlander’s Book Reviews isnt’ too fussed on one of my favourite series. Sob.
Abbaddon Books don’t get mentioned too often but Liz has a review of The Clockwork King of Orl by Mike Wild which, ‘takes place across the breadth of Kerberos, a land littered with the discarded and forgotten remnants of the long-vanished and enigmatic dwarven and elven races’ and Liz will, definitely be adding any of Kali’s subsequent adventures to my ‘get this, read this’ list’
Bookgeeks has a review of The Ninth Circle by Alex Bell. Simon says,’ ‘it’s not a book I know how to classify – is it fantasy? Horror? I suspect that if one has to pigeon-hole The Ninth Circle, it would be as urban fantasy’ Alex’s next book Jasmyn is out in June – the cover has a similar style. Does anyone know if it’s a sequel?
Adventures on Reading has a post called 16 Book I’m Looking Forward to in 2009. Stick me down for The City & The City by China Mieville and The God Engine by John Scalzi.
Unbound has the first review I’ve seen of Accidental Sorcerer by K. E. Mills (AKA Karen Miller also has books two and three of Godspeaker out this month), ‘as the book progressed and her characters were well developed and consistent, their personalities leading the plot’ sounds fun.
And there endeth the RSS feeds.
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