Fred, I have not used Kindle, nor am I likely to use it, but out of print books have become a scandal. Anything that brings those books back into availability is good. My misgivings about Kindle have to do with yet another intermediate step, that is, with increasing complexity. The current system (basically, industrial society) is collapsing because of excessive complexity... and the printed book is an old technology that has proved its value. Once I have the book, no change in technology will make it obsolete, and I need no experts to fix anything. I open it and I read it. And, importantly, I can give it away and sell it.
I am sure some or all of these considerations went through the head of many people at Bouchercon. But if you have out of print books, it's great to have them back and be able to make some money. That is the key question today: nobody wants to pay for any content.
Best,
mrt
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