Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums - View Single Post - Rumblings (and Ramblings) at Madeline's -- JANUARY 2008

Teresa Edgerton · 28th November 2007, 03:41 AM

No need to apologize for jumbling my topics. I'm only numbering my entries so that if I want to find something I said a while ago I can find it. Responses are welcome at any point. And, in fact, I thank you for your thoughts on this matter.

I don't think I like the idea that people could buy the book and eventually not be able to access it as their readers become obsolete. (This fear may be exacerbated by the fact that I can't read some of my own computer disks from a few years ago.) It certainly doesn't seem like readers will be able to hand ebooks on to their children and grandchildren, the way that you can with a printed book. Although I know that many people don't reread their books at all, and that a lot of them don't last to be handed on. Especially not mass market paperbacks, which can degrade very quickly. I was just going through a box of old paperbacks, and some from the 60's and early '70s are already falling apart because the binding is disintegrating. (Then again, I have some paperbacks that are much older that are in better shape.)

And they don't seem to be any cheaper than mass market paperbacks -- although, as I think I said someplace, I can see how it will be a lot cheaper for people ordering books from overseas. I buy books from amazon.co.uk sometimes, when I can't get them here, and the price of shipping keeps me from doing it more often.

Taking a more careful look at my last royalty statement for The Hidden Stars (when the statement first came, all I did was look at the line where it said that they owed me money, and that was good enough for me), I see that I get a much larger percentage on the ebooks than on the paper books. But so few have sold compared to the traditional format, that's a minor consideration. No signs of a Cory Doctorow type success as yet.

So while I am very glad that the books will be available to people who might not otherwise be able to buy them or read them, the idea that the book may disappear forever a lot more quickly still makes me sad. Even if I did end up making a lot more money if ebooks really caught on. If it was only about the money, I would have taken up a more lucrative profession long ago.

All in all, my reactions remain mixed.

28th November 2007, 03:41 AM	#62 (permalink)
Teresa Edgerton Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: California Posts: 4,446	Re: Rumblings (and Ramblings) at Madeline's -- Entry #8 PUBLICATION DAY! pg. 4 No need to apologize for jumbling my topics. I'm only numbering my entries so that if I want to find something I said a while ago I can find it. Responses are welcome at any point. And, in fact, I thank you for your thoughts on this matter. I don't think I like the idea that people could buy the book and eventually not be able to access it as their readers become obsolete. (This fear may be exacerbated by the fact that I can't read some of my own computer disks from a few years ago.) It certainly doesn't seem like readers will be able to hand ebooks on to their children and grandchildren, the way that you can with a printed book. Although I know that many people don't reread their books at all, and that a lot of them don't last to be handed on. Especially not mass market paperbacks, which can degrade very quickly. I was just going through a box of old paperbacks, and some from the 60's and early '70s are already falling apart because the binding is disintegrating. (Then again, I have some paperbacks that are much older that are in better shape.) And they don't seem to be any cheaper than mass market paperbacks -- although, as I think I said someplace, I can see how it will be a lot cheaper for people ordering books from overseas. I buy books from amazon.co.uk sometimes, when I can't get them here, and the price of shipping keeps me from doing it more often. Taking a more careful look at my last royalty statement for The Hidden Stars (when the statement first came, all I did was look at the line where it said that they owed me money, and that was good enough for me), I see that I get a much larger percentage on the ebooks than on the paper books. But so few have sold compared to the traditional format, that's a minor consideration. No signs of a Cory Doctorow type success as yet. So while I am very glad that the books will be available to people who might not otherwise be able to buy them or read them, the idea that the book may disappear forever a lot more quickly still makes me sad. Even if I did end up making a lot more money if ebooks really caught on. If it was only about the money, I would have taken up a more lucrative profession long ago. All in all, my reactions remain mixed.