<<In 2020 will a list like this be unable to thrive on
the shared experience of having been able to easily read the
more obscure authors of today?>>
It's an unpleasant but likely scenario. In fact, many books
don't even stay in print long enough to be appreciated. The
other day I was looking for a nonfiction book, a truly
excellent effort, only to find out that this title, published
in late 1999, is already out of print and not likely to
reappear. I contacted the author, who expressed bitterness
that her effort is out of sight so soon. I suggested to her
that she sell the book herself, in .pdf format, but that
cannot be done without a legal tangle. She was kind enough to
make me a photocopy, though.
I think authors will eventually have to turn to
self-publishing, or better said, to keeping works available
in electronic form or publish-on-demand when publishers let
them go. I think Lawrence Block is doing that, as is
Constantine (his fine novel Upon Some Midnights Clear is
available for download in .pdf for $5, which is a fair
price). The technology is there, and it does away with
inventory.
Regards,
MrT
=====
"Don't just do something, sit there!" Thich Nhat Hanh
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