tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29640480.post3684619768724722768..comments2024-03-21T18:54:06.548-07:00Comments on Old Enough to Know Better: eStory EconomicsSteve Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12079658447270792228noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29640480.post-51582391320004167872012-02-18T23:06:45.989-08:002012-02-18T23:06:45.989-08:00Not unreasonable at all -- once you buy it, it'...Not unreasonable at all -- once you buy it, it's yours, and should be. I am just pointing out that ebooks provide a revenue stream for writers that many on them can use. Better for the writer if you buy an old title that way than a used book. Of course that impacts the book reseller negatively. Not necessarily a happy choice either way. <br /><br />I would miss used bookstores if they went away; already miss plenty that are gone. But the times they are a'changin.Steve Perryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12079658447270792228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29640480.post-17059064126784837832012-02-18T22:43:07.885-08:002012-02-18T22:43:07.885-08:00I don't think that is unreasonable though: the...I don't think that is unreasonable though: the author already made money when they sold it the first time, and from then on it is the buyer's property. Used book stores tend to be small businesses that barely keep afloat, so having to track down the copyright holder for each book they sold would be a great burden. One in my home town has been driven out of business by e-books; he specialized in softcover fiction and has lost just enough sales that he can't meet rent any more.<br /><br />Canada has a tax on recording media, hard drives, and flash drives for musicians but not many musicians seem to make much that way. It also has a “public lending right” subsidy to authors when libraries buy their books.<br /><br />I hope that someone finds a way to make short fiction pay again. The current push for fiction to come out in 600 page novels, because that's the largest size that can be bound efficiently and there are very few magazines with very thin margins, isn't a good thing.SMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29640480.post-90205360555122351982012-02-18T15:14:53.830-08:002012-02-18T15:14:53.830-08:00Indeed, instant acquisition is good for authors wh...Indeed, instant acquisition is good for authors who have a piece of the sale. Unfortunately, in the U.S. used books don't put a penny into a writer's pocket, unless you happen to buy it from him or her directly. <br /><br />In some countries, the U.K, I think writers get a bit of money of you borrow their books from the library, but I don't think there are any where they get anything from used books.Steve Perryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12079658447270792228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29640480.post-32877635371433753582012-02-18T14:24:17.201-08:002012-02-18T14:24:17.201-08:00The worst thing is when you find an author and rea...The worst thing is when you find an author and realize they are dead. If Beam Piper came back to life, I think his fans would kill him :)<br /><br />Readers these days are a bit spoiled. It took me 5 or 10 years to complete a Piper collection, and years to find a used Pratchett. Amazon and eBook do encourage impulse purchases, which is good for authors and their heirs.SMnoreply@blogger.com