The final part of "The Strain" trilogy is now availble on Kindle
but I can't seem to find an illegal torrent of it. I also can't get hold of the new album by The Answer.

Both these things are annoying as I don't want to actually pay for the stuff I like. But I fear I may be forced to. Unless of course, I wait until bekcyletters has finished with her hard copy of the book and then borrow it. Or, beat her up and take it off her before she's read it.

Also, Gonz, riddle me this:
www.amazon.co.uk/Night-Eternal-Strain-Trilogy/dp/0007319525/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005E88I2K/ref=s9_simh_gw_p351_d0_g351_i1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=14JH0R0SWK4DYZ34R2D1&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=467128533&pf_rd_i=468294

The first is the hardback version of a new book retailing for £9.99.

The second is the Kindle version of a new book, retailing for £9.99.

Where is your brave new world of cheap affordable books because you don't have to pay for the printing costs?
(Bazongaloid, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 10:43, 7 replies, latest was 13 years ago)

kindles fucking suck
burn all the kindles

if you want the book for free, go to the library.

next problem, please.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 10:44, Reply)

The printing costs are practically nothing.
It's the editing costs that make up most the price.
(PsychoChomp, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 10:44, Reply)

Meh, maybe true
but from the consumers point of view, selling a "non-existant" version of a book at the same price as a physical bundle of paper feels like a massive con.
(Bazongaloid, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 10:49, Reply)

It is a massive con
but that's retail innit.
(PsychoChomp, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 10:51, Reply)

Pretty certain it works on the principle of being able to sell things for more money than they cost to produce
Is that a con?
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 10:52, Reply)

You could think of it as a nonexistant version, or you could consider it an indistructable version.
Once you've bought it, you can never break it, you'll always have a copy, for life.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 10:53, Reply)

but it's not tangible
there's no pleasure in touching it, smelling it, seeing it stacked on your shelf and remembering you haven't read it in a while, or stumbling across it in a bookshop when it's something you would never normally look twice at but getting hooked on the first page, or spending an hour or more just wandering around choosing books... kindles can never ever replace that.

and if they kill off the bookshops because people would rather get stuff cheaper (we're talking a few quid for a book here, it's not like they're saving hundreds of pounds a pop) or for free, that entire massive pleasure will disappear.

sad times.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 10:57, Reply)

There is great pleasure in reading it
and I can carry the complete works of a number of great writers in one very small leatherbound device.

What I object to is the ludicrous price we are currently expected to pay for digital media. It's like the publishing industry has learnt absolutely nothing from the way the bottom fell out of the recorded music industry due to bad pricing.

The sad thing is though, musicians can go on tour and make money selling merchandise, and author can never do anything like that.

But equally, I suppose, Charles Dickens made his money serialising his books in newspapers, it's only recently that authors have been able to sell millions of books and then never work again, and the same applies to musicians.
(Bazongaloid, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:00, Reply)

very very few authors can do that
j k rowling was the first person to make a million just from books alone, not film rights etc. one of the publishers who came to lecture on my oxford course told us that the average author in the uk earns £4,000 per annum.

kindles are just not as tactile as books. if you spend all day looking at a computer screen, why would you want to get out another computer screen on the way home/out to the pub. and you simply can't browse the same way.

then you look at all the knock-on effects of bookshops closing - all the staff; the landlords who won't get paid rent; the high streets losing yet another good shop; the kids who simply won't get the same love of books as we did..... urgh. BURN THE KINDLES.

this being said, ebay/amazon was probably the beginning of the end, when people started flogging them. and i buy them from there. which is kind of hypocritical. but still. BURN THE KINDLES.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:03, Reply)

I imagine that peple writing pulp fiction such as James Patterson and Dean Koontz
make quite a lot of money, because they keep churning out lots of novels and people buy them. Which is reasonable, you keep producing something people want and you are rewarded.

But I don't see why any author should expect to be able to live on the proceeds of just a few books. And the same goes for musicians. If you can keep producing good quality stuff that people want to buy then brilliant, you can make your money, but if you expect to live off the proceeds of two albums then I'm actually pleased the business model has changed to prevent that.
(Bazongaloid, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:11, Reply)

but that was always the case
digital books haven't changed that, they've just made it much harder to get a deal in the first place because the publishers are much more under the cosh. and the author gets paid a lot less.

anyone who loves literature would have been nearly weeping after the lectures we sat through. eg: the future of publishing lies mainly in chick-lit and vampire fiction, with pet biographies coming up unexpectedly on the rear. the best way to make money is... to be picked up by tesco, who take on about 10 books a month. since when did tesco dictate great literature? and if your first book sells brilliantly but the second doesn't, you most likely won't get a shot at a third. it's a very harsh business.

the whole thing sucks.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:13, Reply)

I think you're wrong in believing that there was once some great "golden age of literature"
When you look back at "Classics" such as Dickens, Bronte, Tolstoy etc. They were all writing over a period of a century, or more, and there will have been loads of other books published during that time that nobody remembers, probably because they were shit.

And it's the same now, there are still some fantastic books being published, but there is also a lot of shit. But nobody in 150 years is going to remember the shit.

In twenty years time I bet Harry Potter isn't all that popular at all, because with the benefit of hindsight people will notice that after the 4th book the quality declined massively as no editor appeared to have the balls to stand up to JK Rowling.
(Bazongaloid, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:21, Reply)

Oh shit I'm actually agreeing with Al. I need to go offline.

(Reverend Fister "a disciplined fuckwit", Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:15, Reply)

Also, Kindles and Readers aren't computer screens, they use an "e-ink" system
which is totally different, doesn't tire your eyes, looks just like a printed page.

Reading stuff on backlit stuff like an ipad or a phone, that's just a bit daft I reckon
(Bazongaloid, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:12, Reply)

my dad's got one, i hate it
i read so quickly that i am constantly flicking the page and it makes my eyes tired. i don't care if it's psychosomatic, i hate the kindle!
( rachelswipe with a fork, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:14, Reply)

This chap talks about how ebooks
will put literacy out of the reach of a lot of people who are poor

seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com/390067.html
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:02, Reply)

interesting read.

( rachelswipe with a fork, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:05, Reply)

Definitely makes a point worth considering
people tend to forget that there are a lot of people out there who ebooks are useless for if they don't have anything to read them on
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:08, Reply)

also it turns them from being something even the kids whose families can afford it can collect
and enjoy opening and reading to just another computer thing.

plus parents are never going to buy one each. so kids will end up sharing, or more likely one of them never getting a look-in/not becoming interested.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:10, Reply)

Yeah I read that
I kind of agree, to an extent, but the main way to combat that, is through Libraries.

But because less people use libraries they are viewed as a pointless waste of money and their funding gets slashed. Which puts free books out of the hands of people who can't afford any other way of obtaining them.

That's the real crime, it's not the rise of Kindles that's to blame.
(Bazongaloid, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:08, Reply)

Yeah I linked to it on facebook
a few weeks back.

I'm not saying Kindles are to blame, I am saying though that books are still an important part of our society and far more easily obtainable than a free ebook reader is
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:10, Reply)

Why is that any different to the medium of music, telivsion or films, yet people still get them via digital distribution.
In my mind, they're not replacing printed media, but suplimenting it. I still buy magazines and books, and I still buy digital versions. Sometimes I want to be able to open up my ipad and have something there-and-then, and sometimes I want to pick up something printed. Depends on my mood.

If it does kill off bookshops, and ignoring the fact that online stores are doing more damage, then it'll be because the public find the digital copy more favorable to buy. But for the reasons you said, that's why they'll always still have book shops.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:08, Reply)

And there are other advantages to digital too.
I could produce work that people will read and possibly buy, anyone can with digital, because the investment is so much less and the buisness model doesn't require shelf space. It's giving an opertunity in that respect that wouldn't happen without it.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:10, Reply)

but will they?
waterstones is the only main high street retailer left, and compare that to 10 years ago. and waterstones' value has just been slashed by about £150M!
( rachelswipe with a fork, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:10, Reply)

The kindle is only, what, 2 years old? You can't blame the demise of the highstreet book shop on Kindle when the decline has been going on for a lot longer.
I think it's more to look to society, look at the riots and how waterstones was the only retail that wasn't touched.

Look at WH Smiths, they've adapted to the market, and without adapting, that's where we get failure.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:16, Reply)

WH Smiths don't really sell books anymore
they sell them as a small overpriced mainstream collection.
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:17, Reply)

Huh? I don't think I've been to one where at _least_ 30-50% of their space wasn't dedicated to books.

( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:41, Reply)

That can't be right Chompster
A physical book not only needs to be printed, but stored, transported, held in stock, sold/packed/posted by real-life people, whereas Kindle books are just magically transmitted through the ether.

I fail to see why the costs should be the same, or even remotely close.

Once folk get wise to free torrenting of Kindle books then the prices will plummet, just like it did with CDs.
(Reverend Fister "a disciplined fuckwit", Thu 13 Oct 2011, 10:51, Reply)

yes and then people like me who are just edging close to a book deal
which means they can give up their 15 hour a day working job to move to hollywood and make it into a film and marry bradley cooper are going to have it all snatched away.

it's almost like the entire world didn't think about ME and MY LIFE PLAN when choosing to get stuff for free instead of paying for it.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 10:52, Reply)

If you just send us all a tit-gaz we'll all promise to buy your book*
*when it's down to 50p in Bargain Books
(Reverend Fister "a disciplined fuckwit", Thu 13 Oct 2011, 10:58, Reply)

you'll all be in it

( rachelswipe with a fork, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:06, Reply)

In your tit-gaz?
I was down in dat der London last week, you should have given me a shout. You'd need to have knowledge of my Facebook profile and use Photoshop now though.

Checked out Charlotte Street/Fitzrovia a couple of times. Pretty good, and easy walking distance from the hotel! Cheers.
(Reverend Fister "a disciplined fuckwit", Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:21, Reply)

most welcome!

( rachelswipe with a fork, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:42, Reply)

I don't think so, you can't read 20 books in the bath, you can do that with music.
I don't think any more books will be read than currently if the price drops dramatically.
(PsychoChomp, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 10:57, Reply)

I didn't say anything about people buying more books
I said they would get them more cheaply (i.e. free) from elsewhere.

However, people would be more likely to take a punt on an author if they could pick up a copy for (say) a couple of quid rather than £9.
(Reverend Fister "a disciplined fuckwit", Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:00, Reply)

Check your gazzes

( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 10:49, Reply)

Awesome, thank you very much.
I'm stunned though, that the lead single "Piece by Piece" isn't actually included on the album, only in the "deluxe" edition. Fortunately I already have a copy of it on a CD I got with Classic Rock.
(Bazongaloid, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 10:52, Reply)

That's a bit fucking weird.

( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 10:53, Reply)

Because the expense on a book is not the phsyical paper but the words that are written.
If the author got more money, then I'd agree, but I'm not entirely sure they do.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 10:53, Reply)

Ooh I read the first one of those
it was alright. Didn't know more had been published
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 10:54, Reply)

Yeah, it's not a great literary masterpiece
but it's a fun a pretty gripping story. Especially if you like end of the world type stories.
(Bazongaloid, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 10:56, Reply)

I love end of the world stories
I felt it was extremely clumsy in a lot of places, but it was interesting and I'd definitely read the next one
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 10:57, Reply)

That looks like my kind of read.
*sticks on wishlist*
( girlinthehole, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:03, Reply)

I can send you the first two as epubs if you like?

(Bazongaloid, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:05, Reply)

Thanks for the offer Al but I prefer paperbacks : )
I'm old fashioned.
( girlinthehole, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:07, Reply)

i love you

( rachelswipe with a fork, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:11, Reply)

I just love handling books and the smell of them.
I love the bookcovers and often look at them sporadically while reading.
( girlinthehole, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:16, Reply)

You can have my paperback copy if you want
I picked it up for about £2
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:13, Reply)

Ooo! thanks for that : )

( girlinthehole, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:15, Reply)

Not a problem
I'll stick it in the post if you want, or you can wait til next bash whenever that is
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:16, Reply)

Send it second class. There's no rush.
I'll gaz you my address. Thanks again.
( girlinthehole, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:17, Reply)

Found and packaged
it was lying next to the Origin of the Species down the side of my sisters bed
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:26, Reply)

There is VAT on ebooks & not on printed ones. Which doesn't help.
I love my kindle.
( Fucking hell Jeff I am not a robot, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:05, Reply)

fuck your kindle, dude
fuck ALL the kindles
( rachelswipe with a fork, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:07, Reply)

The best thing is that I can read & turn pages with one hand whilst holding the baby with the other

( Fucking hell Jeff I am not a robot, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:14, Reply)

sorry battered, but I've chosen not to contribute to this thread

(Quinton had to abandon other account as i broke it, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:32, Reply)

Glad to have been a help here

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 11:39, Reply)