Neal Stephenson REAMDE copy editing too bad to sell?

maggotb0y · 09-29-2011, 12:51 AM

Neal Stephenson E-Book Yanked From Amazon
Looks like amazon has actually pulled the latest Neal Stephenson book from their store. The rumor is that this is due to horrendous copy editing. It would be nice to see this bring appropriate attention to this widespread problem.

Quote:

William Morrow/HarperCollins has pulled Neal Stephenson's brand-new book, Reamde, off Amazon after, one would guess, getting tired of hearing about just how many errors there are in the e-book production. (It's not clean.) Now the e-book version is no longer visible at all to U.S. visitors to Amazon, and appears as "unavailable in the U.S." to mobile viewers. (This was first noticed late last night by Macworld editorial director Jason Snell.) Reamde is #36 in books overall on Amazon this morning, so removal of the e-book, even temporarily, is a serious financial choice.

Ron. · 09-29-2011, 12:57 AM

it looks like it's still available to me, I didn't click "buy" to see if it would go through though.

soondai · 09-29-2011, 01:34 AM

What do you expect for 17 bucks?

But seriously, this book was released early, accidently, in the UK about 2-3 weeks ago and the problem was reported to Amazon then.

http://www.reddit.com/r/kindle/comme...a_book_due_to/

I know it's not their responsibility, but seems like they could do a little arm twisting if nothing else.

Flub · 09-29-2011, 01:45 AM

That's weird. I started reading my UK Kindle store bought copy on Monday. I'm only about 100 pages in so far. I've noticed one or two little errors but nothing on the scale that would have me screaming. (Certainly not like the Star Trek book I nearly bought. The free sample for that was terrifying).

Maybe it gets worse further in. I'll carry on and see.

mrbanana · 09-29-2011, 05:49 AM

I'm reading American epub version (Harper Collins) ISBN: 9780062101341. I can't say I've noticed that many spelling errors. I think you kind of get immune to them after a while reading ebooks.

Is it just the Kindle version that has problems, or is the epub edition too? (I only ask because, I vaguely remember there was a problem with the Kindle LOTR ebooks, but not the epub editions, as they were not sourced from the same proofs.)

I love Stephenson's earlier work, but stalled part way through Cryptonomicon and bought but never read the Baroque Cycle. It's on my reading list though. I'm about 40% though Reamde and I'm starting to find it...well, a bit boring and preposterous. I understand why he belaboured the role playing nature of the game early on in the book, but now everyone's running around China and it's page after page of endless description, which tends to make me glaze over. I subscribe to the Elmore Leonard school of writing.

Of course, if the new Jack Reacher book hadn't just come out, and I hadn't just bought it, and it wasn't calling to me, maybe I'd be a bit more patient with Reamde.

Flub · 09-29-2011, 05:53 AM

I'm nearly 200 pages through the UK Kindle edition and I'm seeing no problems.

DiapDealer · 09-29-2011, 06:44 AM

It was still available to me this morning. I bought it because I forgot all about its release date.

Hope to get started on it soon.

poohbear_nc · 09-29-2011, 09:10 AM

I bought the US Kindle version - didn't open it yet - and today Amazon sent me an email announcing they wanted to replace it with a new corrected copy - also claimed the original version had missing content. So anyone who bought the original Kindle copy should be getting emails to authorize a replacement copy.

Daithi · 09-29-2011, 09:19 AM

According to a posting in the review section for the book on Amazon, the ebook version is 'missing content'. This is according to an email sent by Amazon to one of the people who bought the ebook.

I look forward to reading it -- but I'm not paying $17 for the book. Looks like I'll have to try out that new library thing.

------------------
[Edited: Damn poohbear beat me, and it apparently took me 9 minutes to write four sentences.]

elemenoP · 09-29-2011, 09:24 AM

What do you expect from a book that has a typo in the title??

eP

DiapDealer · 09-29-2011, 09:26 AM

I'm assuming I got the corrected version since I bought it this morning.

Lazybones · 09-29-2011, 11:09 AM

I love Stephenson's earlier work, but I couldn't finish Anathem. I saw this one in my local independent bookstore this week, but the $35 cover price killed the deal for me. Likewise $17 is a dealbreaker for an e-book. I'll pick it up once the paperback (hopefully) brings the e-book price down to something more reasonable.

I have been noticing a lot of typos in recent e-books; there were several in A Dance with Dragons. Just goes to show that no matter how prominent the book, there's always a few mistakes that slip through the editing process. Makes me feel a bit better about the gaffes that end up in my own writing, actually.

Phogg · 09-29-2011, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elemenoP

What do you expect from a book that has a typo in the title??

eP

charleski · 09-29-2011, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazybones

I have been noticing a lot of typos in recent e-books; there were several in A Dance with Dragons.

The Harper-Collins ePub was awful.

replica145 · 09-29-2011, 12:51 PM

I got an email from Amazon offering an updated version.

Funnily enough, where it lists the ISBN and almost all books say "E-book" Edition/Version/Whatever it is listed as "EPub Edition". At least in the uncorrected edition, haven't received the new one yet.

09-29-2011, 09:19 AM	#9
Daithi Publishers are evil! Posts: 2,418 Karma: 36205264 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Rhode Island Device: Various Kindles	According to a posting in the review section for the book on Amazon, the ebook version is 'missing content'. This is according to an email sent by Amazon to one of the people who bought the ebook. I look forward to reading it -- but I'm not paying $17 for the book. Looks like I'll have to try out that new library thing. ------------------ [Edited: Damn poohbear beat me, and it apparently took me 9 minutes to write four sentences.] Last edited by Daithi; 09-29-2011 at 09:22 AM.

09-29-2011, 12:51 PM	#15
replica145 Bake 'Em Away Toys Posts: 210 Karma: 1271856 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Dirty Jersey Device: Kindle PW (Books) & iPad 3 (Comics)	I got an email from Amazon offering an updated version. Funnily enough, where it lists the ISBN and almost all books say "E-book" Edition/Version/Whatever it is listed as "EPub Edition". At least in the uncorrected edition, haven't received the new one yet. Last edited by replica145; 09-29-2011 at 12:54 PM.

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09-29-2011, 12:57 AM	#2
Ron. Evangelist Posts: 448 Karma: 864744 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Kindle 3, LookBook, Nook Simple Touch	it looks like it's still available to me, I didn't click "buy" to see if it would go through though.

09-29-2011, 01:34 AM	#3
soondai Guru Posts: 672 Karma: 1109784 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Paperwhite	What do you expect for 17 bucks? But seriously, this book was released early, accidently, in the UK about 2-3 weeks ago and the problem was reported to Amazon then. http://www.reddit.com/r/kindle/comme...a_book_due_to/ I know it's not their responsibility, but seems like they could do a little arm twisting if nothing else.

09-29-2011, 01:45 AM	#4
Flub Groupie Posts: 164 Karma: 70995 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: United Kingdom Device: iPhone, PRS-505, K2i, iPad 64GB+3G, K3, Nexus S	That's weird. I started reading my UK Kindle store bought copy on Monday. I'm only about 100 pages in so far. I've noticed one or two little errors but nothing on the scale that would have me screaming. (Certainly not like the Star Trek book I nearly bought. The free sample for that was terrifying). Maybe it gets worse further in. I'll carry on and see.

09-29-2011, 05:49 AM	#5
mrbanana Enthusiast Posts: 28 Karma: 250536 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: sony 505	I'm reading American epub version (Harper Collins) ISBN: 9780062101341. I can't say I've noticed that many spelling errors. I think you kind of get immune to them after a while reading ebooks. Is it just the Kindle version that has problems, or is the epub edition too? (I only ask because, I vaguely remember there was a problem with the Kindle LOTR ebooks, but not the epub editions, as they were not sourced from the same proofs.) I love Stephenson's earlier work, but stalled part way through Cryptonomicon and bought but never read the Baroque Cycle. It's on my reading list though. I'm about 40% though Reamde and I'm starting to find it...well, a bit boring and preposterous. I understand why he belaboured the role playing nature of the game early on in the book, but now everyone's running around China and it's page after page of endless description, which tends to make me glaze over. I subscribe to the Elmore Leonard school of writing. Of course, if the new Jack Reacher book hadn't just come out, and I hadn't just bought it, and it wasn't calling to me, maybe I'd be a bit more patient with Reamde.

09-29-2011, 05:53 AM	#6
Flub Groupie Posts: 164 Karma: 70995 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: United Kingdom Device: iPhone, PRS-505, K2i, iPad 64GB+3G, K3, Nexus S	I'm nearly 200 pages through the UK Kindle edition and I'm seeing no problems.

09-29-2011, 06:44 AM	#7
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 27,552 Karma: 193191846 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	It was still available to me this morning. I bought it because I forgot all about its release date. Hope to get started on it soon.

09-29-2011, 09:10 AM	#8
poohbear_nc Now what? Posts: 58,885 Karma: 135181808 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	I bought the US Kindle version - didn't open it yet - and today Amazon sent me an email announcing they wanted to replace it with a new corrected copy - also claimed the original version had missing content. So anyone who bought the original Kindle copy should be getting emails to authorize a replacement copy.

09-29-2011, 09:24 AM	#10
elemenoP Wizard Posts: 1,717 Karma: 3790058 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NYC Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Sony 650	What do you expect from a book that has a typo in the title?? eP

09-29-2011, 09:26 AM	#11
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 27,552 Karma: 193191846 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	I'm assuming I got the corrected version since I bought it this morning.

09-29-2011, 11:09 AM	#12
Lazybones Groupie Posts: 162 Karma: 1719250 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Sacramento Device: Kindle	I love Stephenson's earlier work, but I couldn't finish Anathem. I saw this one in my local independent bookstore this week, but the $35 cover price killed the deal for me. Likewise $17 is a dealbreaker for an e-book. I'll pick it up once the paperback (hopefully) brings the e-book price down to something more reasonable. I have been noticing a lot of typos in recent e-books; there were several in A Dance with Dragons. Just goes to show that no matter how prominent the book, there's always a few mistakes that slip through the editing process. Makes me feel a bit better about the gaffes that end up in my own writing, actually.