Them might be fightin' words, in some circles (though I don't necessarily advocate for either position).
What are you reading?
- Thread starter Bone2pick
- Start date
Them might be fightin' words, in some circles (though I don't necessarily advocate for either position).
Nah, he would have had to be as empty as Bateman to have all those brands roll so continuously off his fingers. Must have had a stack of GQ and society papers bigger than he was next to the typewriter. Still research even if it's contemporary.
This talk of aging badly... I've just read (well, listened to on Audible) The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. It wouldn't get published today. Mysogyny writ large on every page. And it's quite right that it wouldn't; we've moved on as a society. At least, I hope we have.
That being said, I don't regret it. Indeed, it's the first time I can say I've enjoyed Heinlein. Tightly-written with a unique voice, a compelling story, and morality that does ask questions of the reader. Placed against its historical context - the Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the concept of never-ending revolution - it's a really fascinating book. It's an insight into the psychology of a period of time, and although some of the attitudes are jarring it's a book that couldn't be written today. Read as a modern publication, it has aged badly. But viewed as a historical classic it flies in the face of that idea.
That being said, I don't regret it. Indeed, it's the first time I can say I've enjoyed Heinlein. Tightly-written with a unique voice, a compelling story, and morality that does ask questions of the reader. Placed against its historical context - the Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the concept of never-ending revolution - it's a really fascinating book. It's an insight into the psychology of a period of time, and although some of the attitudes are jarring it's a book that couldn't be written today. Read as a modern publication, it has aged badly. But viewed as a historical classic it flies in the face of that idea.
They've all aged badly: Heinlein, Clarke, Asimov. Just not interesting anymore. Bradbury not so much because he had a knack for characterization and his ideas are still-thought provoking.
A couple of years ago, I decided to reread The Moon is a Harsh Mistress because I vaguely recalled enjoying it in high school or college. I didn't make it past the third page. The change in my taste was the culprit since obviously the writing hadn't changed.
I recently read a claim that children's classics are only classics because they are old, and that children should be presented with new books instead of things like (ugh, said the influencer) A Little Princess. Having just reread that book for the umpteenth time during the holidays, I rather took umbrage at her denigration of the same.
Of course perhaps the best way to get a child to read a classic is to tell him or her DO NOT READ THAT OLD BOOK; IT WILL ROT YOUR SOCIAL CONSCIENCE. The only reason on God's green earth that I read Gone with the Wind at the age of 12 was because my father forbade me to so much as take it out of our bookcase. I checked it out of the library and sneaked it into my room instead.
I recently read a claim that children's classics are only classics because they are old, and that children should be presented with new books instead of things like (ugh, said the influencer) A Little Princess. Having just reread that book for the umpteenth time during the holidays, I rather took umbrage at her denigration of the same.
Of course perhaps the best way to get a child to read a classic is to tell him or her DO NOT READ THAT OLD BOOK; IT WILL ROT YOUR SOCIAL CONSCIENCE. The only reason on God's green earth that I read Gone with the Wind at the age of 12 was because my father forbade me to so much as take it out of our bookcase. I checked it out of the library and sneaked it into my room instead.
Huh?
A co-worker recommended Matt Dinniman's "Dungeon Crawler Carl" series and I requested it from the library. Couldn't stop laughing at the story so I requested the entire series and...of course, they don't have them #1 available now and #2 in order. I bought what I thought was the 2nd book and read it (oops, it was the 4th book!) and I was at Chapters today to get the entire series (20% off sale) and...all of the books are hardcovers and like $45 - $52 EACH!!!
FFS!!! I don't mind authors making money but $50 each book when there are like 10 books in the series?!?!? That's $500 bucks on books!!!
FFS!!! I don't mind authors making money but $50 each book when there are like 10 books in the series?!?!? That's $500 bucks on books!!!
When I was in 4th grade, there was nearly no sci-fi books available in country. The lucky classmate who had an access was retelling the stories to the rest of us for free.
Exactly.
defaux
May contain traces of purple
Active Member
Member
New Member
Winner: February Short Story
Winner: January Short Story
Winner: December Short Story
Winner: August Flash Fiction
Why God gave us libraries. Though I can totally relate to the library having all but the final book in a series. Been there on more than one occasion.
I'm currently listening to Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik on audiobook, because the library didn't have it when I read the first 2 books last year.
Pfffttt....like most people have a conscience these days. Though on the other hand, maybe morality is just a convenient rationalizing of things and none of that really matters anyway.
Any recommendations for space horror novels? It seems a bit thin out there.
I'm currently reading The Hematophages by Stephen Kozeniewski. Good stuff. Monster / corporate dystopia fusion sci fi.
I'm currently reading The Hematophages by Stephen Kozeniewski. Good stuff. Monster / corporate dystopia fusion sci fi.
For what is potentially years of work, that seems more than fair.
Sure, authors should get paid for their work, but at that price....how accessible are the books?
I'm working 5 part time jobs and living with family. Lots of my family + friends are also struggling with the costs of living these days. I know some people are visiting the local food bank.
If authors/publishers price their books like this, they're not going to have a large audience, because people won't be able to afford the books and by the time they're available in softcover (and cheaper) people may have lost interest.
I could see ONE book costing $50 but when it's a series and ALL the books are $50......customers can't afford it.
I wish there was a medium ground. Like...why hardcover??? Why not softcover, cheaper and more accessible? Let the hardcovers be for the premium customer and let the poor customers have an affordable alternative.
So let's say he takes a year to get that book to publication. That's a year he's earned no income from it, and spent his time to do it for free. How many copies of that book do you think he sells a year, and of that $50, how much does he get? Let's say he sells ten thousand. He makes 15% royalty, which is already at the upper end. The author then gets 15% of $50 = $7.50 per book, not taking into account any discounts, and assuming he gets 15% of all sales. 10,000 books a year = $75,000. More likely nearer $50,000. Not such a great return now, for a year of your time. Take off tax, and that's potentially less than a burger flipper.
And this is *if* he sells 10,000.
How Much Can an Author Expect to Make on Their Book? — Mary Adkins
I can’t tell you how many times I googled “how much money does an author make per book” before getting a book deal, myself. It’s such a black hole. It also varies tremendously... So while I can’t give you a specific answer for how much money you will make per book, let me start with the basics.
maryadkinswriter.com
Last edited:
If people can't afford to buy books, the author will make $0. Most hardcover books, including those of Dinniman, fall in the $20-30 USD range. I assume the $50 price is in different currency?
I am not a fan of hardback books, especially giant 500-1000 page tomes. They're too heavy to hold comfortably as well as expensive. I prefer trade paperbacks, the version most often found in bookstores.
I am not a fan of hardback books, especially giant 500-1000 page tomes. They're too heavy to hold comfortably as well as expensive. I prefer trade paperbacks, the version most often found in bookstores.
That's Indigo brick and mortar just charging too much I think. Maybe if it's my favourite author ever? Even then I'm not big on collecting [hardcover].
Allegedly $29 CAD on Amazon for the hardback (no. 1). $21 CAD paper. $5.00 CAD Ebook. The physical prices will vary on there though. No. 2 is also $5.00 ebook, but its physical prices are higher than no. 1.
Last edited:
Canadian currency.
I'm also a fan of paperback books but they're not available yet - the 1st book might be, but not the others.
I don't understand the calculus that publishers/authors use. Sure, they make more per book if it's hardcover but it comes at the expense of less sales. Paperback, more sales but less per book.