Hello Gentle Reader
Last month I actually had an introduction written, but the with the new layout with blogger.com, it did not get posted, and when I realized my human error, I thought it would be too late to actually post it, and therefore it was not posted with the corresponding Review itself. However life is all about making mistakes and learning from those mistakes, and not making those same mistakes again. Repeating the same action continuously and expecting results to vary is, the definition of stupidity.
With the rise of Kobo, Kindle, and e-readers in general, everyone is either on one side or the other. Many speak out in favour of them. Most of these readers, general middle class readers, who read a lot of Daniele Steel, Nicolas Sparks, Nora Roberts, and other authors that can put out a novel every six months. However younger people also have these devices, because it’s one of those in fashion desires in a technological age. Personally in my opinion if I wanted to read off of a computer screen, I would go to my computer and read off of it. Either way it does not change the fact that the device is out there, and in order for print material to be placed in competition with it, I think prices should be lowered. There just is no justification, to charge one thirty dollars for a hardcover book.
The author of “English Monster,” the first in what is suspected as a series – had found on a forum that someone was hoping to get a link to a pirated version of his book “English Monster,” to which Mister Lloyd Shepherd had confronted the person in a rather diplomatic fashion. However through the course of their discussion, with the one who wanted to have the pirated copy of the digitalized book, it left the author rather confused. But he did notice was the kind of “information is free,” “publishing houses are greedy,” pseudo-anarchist arguments, but after continual discussion started to learn that the author just kind of like was what everyone else was saying: “I want it, and I want it for free.” Which the author points out puts himself and other authors in a mess, or a difficult position, because they work hard on what they do, and if they are getting no finical support or some exchange for what they are producing they cannot go on and write. Which of course then means there are no more books – which in my opinion this “I want it, and I want it for free,” business, is just as greedy as the publishing houses. Yet the author himself was not content with the answers, that the specific person after his book was given. So he posted a new thread, and asked others what was the reason for this “free ride,” or “free loading,” attitude, that they thought that they deserved.
Many have said that it was nice to carry on vacation – not a lot of books to carry around (but what does that have to do with illegal downloading?) another was it was free sampling, and was great for publicity; others would go and say that all information deserves to be free. But maybe the real question is, if all information should be free, on whose dime should it be free? However the author found himself that many of the people resented being called freeloads. They claimed to have bought as many books as before, and that the forum and website simply allowed sharing and discussion. Kind of like when people lend books out to friends, and family.
Where do I stand on the matter? It’s hard to say. To sample and to discuss is one thing. But to give out stuff for free, that people push their hardest into, is not right. That’s like slavery and if people are not paid for their work, they cannot continue with their work. Some authors who are well established like Paulo Coelho, Neil Gaiman, Margaret Atwood, Nora Roberts, Danielle Steel, Nicolas Sparks, and others, then of course they can afford it, but to up and coming authors they might as well put the pen away and not even bother with it.
However it’s just the beginning of a problem or the first step into coming into a understanding of how to deal with it, and the best course of action to take.
Thank-you For Reading Gentle Reader
Take Care
And As Always
Stay Well Read
*And Remember: Downloading Books Illegally is Thievery and Wrong.*
P.S. Gentle Reader for some reason uknown to myself the words "Sample," Free," and "Support," are underlined and highlighted in grey. Please ignore these words, if clicked on they will take you to an ad.
