Rumblings (and Ramblings) at Madeline's -- JANUARY 2008

[Erin99]

Re: Rumblings (and Ramblings) at Madeline's -- Entry #8 PUBLICATION DAY! pg. 4

Sorry this reply kind of jumbles your topics. I've been away for a bit and hadn't seen this thread, but I really wanted to reply...

So for those who write, or who have thought about writing, if this has or will or might happen to something you've written, how did/do/would you feel about it, and why?

My first reaction is that electronic books seem so ephemeral compared to print. Even though the paper in paperbacks deteriorates pretty quickly, it seems to me that it only takes a key-stroke and an e-book is gone. At least if someone gets tired of a printed book they're more likely to hand it on or sell it to a used-book store, where it will still exist, rather than just throw it away. But maybe people keep e-books longer? Maybe they have the capacity to store vast e-book libraries? Or do they clear out the old books to make room for the new? I am very ignorant on these matters.

Can/do people lend e-books to friends, and maybe win the writer new readers? (Good for the writer.) What about the possibility of people making multiple free copies and distributing them to everyone they know? (Bad for the writer.)

I maybe in the minority here, but I think ebooks are a good thing. People like my mum, who can't read traditional printed books for whatever reason (e.g., ill-health), now have an affordable, easy way of keeping up-to-date with their favourite authors. In fact, I think it's such a good idea that I wish more publishers would release their titles as ebooks.

As for the security concerns... yes, determined people can "hack" the security and therefore share the work, but I don't think there's truly any secure method of preserving your books' copyright. I mean, if you recall, because Rowling didn't offer ebooks legally, within hours of releasing each book people had scanned in the entire novel - that's scanned in, by hand, over six hundred pages! - and converted it into an ebook to share. Now wouldn't the author - and the publisher - have benefited by selling it online instead?

As to what formats are secure, *.lit (Microsoft's own ebook format) is the most easily hacked, I think, and therefore stands more chance of being copied and distributed illegally. However, should your ebook be available in a *.pdf which is DRM (digital rights management) enabled, hackers will have a harder time copying your work. Although, as with everything these days, it's not possible to stop a determined person.

Now if you wonder what, exactly, DRM is, it's a type of encryption for your ebook. It varies depending upon the publisher, although usually it means whoever downloads and purchases your book will only be allowed to read it (after "activating" the ebook) on up to five PCs/ebook readers. This may sound like a lot, but bear in mind that people buy new machines, reformat their hard drives and reinstall their operating systems, upgrade their ebook software, or buy a second machine - and each of these uses up one "activation", as it's called.

With DRM you can view the ebook as many times as you want - so long as you don't install the ebook (which means "activating" it and switching on its security features) more than five times. If the user did try to install it in a sixth place, the ebook would no longer open and they could only ever read the novel using pre-existing copies that have already been activated. With this method you can't "share" the ebook with friends, or else you would lose all your remaining chances of activating the ebook (I hope this is making sense).


As to people having vast ebook libraries, yes, that's true. And as you say, the user can merely press a button to delete your book. However, most ebook websites allow you to download unlimited copied of your purchases. (It just means that once all their five activations are used up, the downloads are useless.)


In my opinion, seeing as people will go to any lengths to steal your work and distribute it illegally, anyway, so people can read it on their PCs, why not offer this option legally, which will benefit the author. Plus, as I mentioned, people who can't read traditional books will not be excluded from reading your work.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

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.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Re: Rumblings (and Ramblings) at Madeline's -- Entry #8 PUBLICATION DAY! pg. 4

ENTRY #9

After an exhausting holiday season and an unhealthy most of January, I find my brain cells and my emotions gradually stirring to life ... and, as so often happens, that means I have allowed myself to get worked up over something.

For my latest rant, therefore, you may go here:

http://www.sffchronicles.co.uk/forum/43468-the-demise-of-english-a-call-to-arms.html#post1039450

In other news, and very thrilling news it is, I have just this weekend signed a contract with an exciting new publishing house who will be reprinting the Green Lion Trilogy. Details to follow.

 

[daphling]

Re: Rumblings (and Ramblings) at Madeline's -- Entry #8 PUBLICATION DAY! pg. 4

Reprinting the Green Lion Trilogy? That is so fantastic. I picked up a copy of A Child of Saturn when I was 13, back in 1990 (wait, did I just reveal my age? Remember when books were 3.50?) and it just captured me completely. I loved the intensity of the characters and their emotions, the exquisite writing, and the escapism of that world. Every time I've moved (as an anthropologist, I go to quite a few places!), I've brought those books with me. They're getting quite yellowed, so I can't wait for the new reprints! What are you thinking in terms of re-designing the covers?

 

[Giovanna Clairval]

Other foreseeable reprints?

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Re: Rumblings (and Ramblings) at Madeline's -- Entry #8 PUBLICATION DAY! pg. 4

What are you thinking in terms of re-designing the covers?

Since I'm not the publisher, I have only as much input as they are willing to allow when it comes to designing the covers. We have had some preliminary talks about Child of Saturn, and at that point it seemed like we had at least one idea in common (Teleri hiding in the shadows), but what they finally decide will probably depend on conversations with the artist.

I don't remember if we discussed the other two books. As far as The Work of the Sun goes, just about anything would be better than the existing cover. (When I was writing it, I always thought it should be Ceilyn and the griffon, but there I had no input at all.)


Giovanna, Goblin Moon should be available in a few months. It would have been sooner, but health problems intervened. The Gnome's Engine has been scanned, but there are all these other projects to be completed before I even think about going further on that one.

 

[Jeremyf]

Re: Rumblings (and Ramblings) at Madeline's -- Entry #8 PUBLICATION DAY! pg. 4

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.)

There is a difference between DRM and non-DRM ebooks. DRM ebooks are tied to specific hardware, software and/or licensing servers of some sort. Most ebook DRM schemes have failed after a short time, leaving purchased ebooks orphaned and eventually unreadable. The longest lasting (and not coincidentally, the least restrictive) ebook DRM scheme that I am aware of is Palm Reader/Peanut Press/ereader. They have lasted about 10 years now, although the company has changed ownership several times. A person who buys a DRM ebook, such as yours would not reasonably expect to be able to read it 20 years from now.

ebooks without DRM , however, can be read on many kinds of hardware with many different kinds of software. When formats change they can be easily migrated. The marginal cost of keeping an ebook that is not plagued by DRM is much lower than the cost of storing paperbacks and ebooks don't degrade with time.

Hard drive prices are currently running at about $100 for 500GB. A hard drive usually lasts about 3 years. A typical ebook takes up about 1MB of memory. That means it costs about $0.00007/year to store. Double that, assuming a backup copy, and its around $0.0001/year, one one-hundredth of a penny. When I get a new computer or hard drive, it takes less than a second to transfer a 1MB file. Compare this to paperbacks. My paper books take up a significant fraction of my apartment, the cost of which is much more than $0.0001/year for the space a book takes up. When I move, boxing up my paper books takes considerable time and effort. Moving them generally involves alot of heavy lifting and carrying. Putting them back properly in order takes considerable time. In short, the cost in money, time and effort to keep ebooks over time is much lower and can reasonably be expected to continue getting even lower.

Mass market paperbacks tend to degrade over time. I have one paperback left that's over 50 years old. I store it in a bag. That's the only way to keep the yellow crumbling pages together, because the binding won't do it anymore. In recent years this problem only seems to have gotten worse. Of course, paperbacks that are read frequently tend to fall apart faster. Ebooks are digital and don't degrade over time.

Ebooks are subject to being lost through mishap, hard drive failure for example. DRM-free ebooks can be backed up with offsite backups making the probability of losing them essentially zero. Paper books can also be lost to mishaps such as fire or flooding. Paper books can't reasonably be backed up short of purchasing multiple copies.


I have around a thousand legally purchased or obtained ebooks with no DRM. I fully expect to be able to read any of them for the rest of my life and to pass them down to my children, my children's children and their children's children. DRM ebooks can be expected to last several years. Massmarket paperbacks can be expected to last several decades. DRM-free ebooks can be expected to last until the end of time, or at least until the end of our civilization.

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.

Price remains a problem, for both ebooks and paperbacks.

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.

Cory Doctorow sells his ebooks without DRM. Other DRM-free ebook sellers from publishers such as baen's webscripion.net at have reportedly done quite well according to Eric Flint.

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.

Books are not paper and ink or papyrus or vellum or parchment scrolls or any other format in my opinion. They are the words being communicated from the author to the readers. ebooks are still books.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I'm so sorry to take so long responding to your post, Jeremy! Somehow, it automatically went into moderation. Until I became a Super Moderator -- not long ago -- I couldn't even see moderated posts, and I expect that none of the other supers have stopped by my forum since you posted here.

It wasn't until right now that I noticed the little icon, and immediately read and approved your post.

I have around a thousand legally purchased or obtained ebooks with no DRM. I fully expect to be able to read any of them for the rest of my life and to pass them down to my children, my children's children and their children's children.

I guess we'll have to wait and see whether you'll still be so comfortable reading things off a screen in twenty years or so. It can be hard on the eyes for some of us old folks.

It seems to me that there are people who are in love with the technology and convenience of e-books, and people for whom the traditional format fits their needs just fine. I doubt that either side is going to be able to convince the other of anything. We each have our own needs and expectations, aside from the story itself. There is room enough in the world for paper books and e-books, but if one format wipes out the other, some people are going to be unhappy.

 

[Jeremyf]

I guess we'll have to wait and see whether you'll still be so comfortable reading things off a screen in twenty years or so. It can be hard on the eyes for some of us old folks.

I'm no spring chicken now. I would like to note that all non-DRM ebooks can easily be displayed in high contrast large print format. It's not so easy to find many printed books in large print format.

It seems to me that there are people who are in love with the technology and convenience of e-books, and people for whom the traditional format fits their needs just fine. I doubt that either side is going to be able to convince the other of anything. We each have our own needs and expectations, aside from the story itself. There is room enough in the world for paper books and e-books, but if one format wipes out the other, some people are going to be unhappy.

I love both formats. I own many many more printed books (including yours) than I can count. In my lifetime I've read and given away or donated many more printed books than I currently own. I would guess that for every ebook I've read in my life, I've probably read at least 10 printed books. I would never want to see printed books disappear. In an ideal world, I would like to see a non-DRMed ebook copy included with every printed book purchase. Then I would have all the advantages of both.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

It's not the size of the print, or the contrast. It's something else that tires my eyes.

But your idea of issuing a book in both formats is a good one.