Baen Universe Closing

wayspooled · 08-06-2009, 10:00 AM

Been waiting for one of the Baen regulars to post about this but haven't seen anything.

I think this is a real shame. I hope they change their minds or plans. I think the Baen efforts have been admirable and for the benefit of ebook readers and readers in general. Quite sad to hear this.

story here - http://www.locusmag.com/News/2009/08...ter-april.html and here http://baens-universe.com/articles/Universe_Closing

Dr. Drib · 08-06-2009, 10:15 AM

I'm in agreement with you on this. Sad to see them close.

Don

Xenophon · 08-06-2009, 11:06 AM

Waaaah!

wayspooled · 08-06-2009, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xenophon

Waaaah!

Yeah yeah.. me too..

Bad as the news is, I think this just means the magazine service, nothing about Baen publishing thank goodness.

Morlac · 08-06-2009, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wayspooled

Yeah yeah.. me too..

Bad as the news is, I think this just means the magazine service, nothing about Baen publishing thank goodness.

still not a good sign generally. Glad that they are being proactive about it and handling it as an orderly shutdown -- shows what I think is a continued concern for their authors and general ethical business sense.

Anyone have any insights into the financial health of Baen in general? I'm about to buy an ereader in large part because I've reached critical mass in the number of ebooks I'm buying -- and they're almost all from Baen! I'd hate to get a reader and then have my supply cut off!

AnemicOak · 08-06-2009, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morlac

Anyone have any insights into the financial health of Baen in general? I'm about to buy an ereader in large part because I've reached critical mass in the number of ebooks I'm buying -- and they're almost all from Baen! I'd hate to get a reader and then have my supply cut off!

I'd hardly read anything into Baen's financial health due to them shutting down this project.

igorsk · 08-06-2009, 11:36 AM

Jim Baen's Universe was a separate venture from Baen Books. They were only related by persons of Eric Flint, Mike Resnick et al.
I don't think Baen Books themselves are in any trouble. They keep putting out great books every month. Actually, it seems one of the biggest gripes they have now is that S&S gives them too few monthly slots, that was probably the reason David Weber did Safehold series with Tor.

weateallthepies · 08-06-2009, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morlac

still not a good sign generally. Glad that they are being proactive about it and handling it as an orderly shutdown -- shows what I think is a continued concern for their authors and general ethical business sense.

Anyone have any insights into the financial health of Baen in general? I'm about to buy an ereader in large part because I've reached critical mass in the number of ebooks I'm buying -- and they're almost all from Baen! I'd hate to get a reader and then have my supply cut off!

I think it's more a sign of the slow decline of the paid-for short fiction magazine. Lots of short fiction magazines now publish online with no direct cost to the consumer relying on advertising and donations so something like this has a hard time competing particularly with the tiny readership for this small corner of the genre.

I love short fiction and buy more magazines than I can read but I know I'm in a dwindling minority.

Greg Anos · 08-06-2009, 02:55 PM

Sad to see it closed, I was an initial subscriber, and have the complete set. They just couldn't get enough subscribers to make it viable.

End of an era, really. Jim Baen was always trying to get a quality short fiction periodical going for 30 years. First Destinies, then Far Frontiers, then New Destinies, and finally Baen's Universe. There never was quite enough customers to keep them going. Now that Jim's gone, I don't think you'll see the likes of these again. You may not have liked the editorial slant, but the quality was always there....

Adios Universe, y vaya con Dios...

Over · 08-06-2009, 04:47 PM

I guess short stories (fiction or not) aren't mainstream enough.

bbusybookworm · 08-06-2009, 07:27 PM

I'm really sorry to hear this.

I only became aware of Universe a few months ago, when Looking for more of Eric Flints Column, and ended up subscribing immediately.

Still I'm glad that they are planning well in advance, to allow the Magzine to go out with a band instead of withered down to nothing.

I'm also happy to hear their offer of All Issues Past and Future for $30 which I definitely think is a complete steal, and will take advantage off as soon as possible.

Tom Swift · 01-23-2010, 08:48 AM

I had never heard of this service until today but I can't find any mention anywhere if I can download the magazines in ePub format for my Sony Reader. The site has not been updated much and they still show Gem reader format but no mention of anything more modern. Anybody know if I can read the magazine on my Reader easily? I guess I can use Calibre but if I have to, which is the best format to convert?

weateallthepies · 01-23-2010, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Swift

I had never heard of this service until today but I can't find any mention anywhere if I can download the magazines in ePub format for my Sony Reader. The site has not been updated much and they still show Gem reader format but no mention of anything more modern. Anybody know if I can read the magazine on my Reader easily? I guess I can use Calibre but if I have to, which is the best format to convert?

Volumes 3 and 4 of the magazine specifically have 'Sony' format to download which I'm guessing is lrf or epub.

The previous volumes have html, lit, mobi, pdf, rtf, rocket so should be easy enough to convert is Sony reader doesn't read any of those.

Tom Swift · 01-23-2010, 05:42 PM

Thanks. That's what I was looking for.

JSWolf · 01-23-2010, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weateallthepies

Volumes 3 and 4 of the magazine specifically have 'Sony' format to download which I'm guessing is lrf or epub.

The previous volumes have html, lit, mobi, pdf, rtf, rocket so should be easy enough to convert is Sony reader doesn't read any of those.

Sony format is LRF.

08-06-2009, 10:00 AM	#1
wayspooled Crab In The Dark Posts: 486 Karma: 2328180 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Device: Tablet PC until a 10" comes out that I like	Baen Universe Closing Been waiting for one of the Baen regulars to post about this but haven't seen anything. I think this is a real shame. I hope they change their minds or plans. I think the Baen efforts have been admirable and for the benefit of ebook readers and readers in general. Quite sad to hear this. story here - http://www.locusmag.com/News/2009/08...ter-april.html and here http://baens-universe.com/articles/Universe_Closing Last edited by wayspooled; 08-06-2009 at 10:02 AM.

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08-06-2009, 10:15 AM	#2
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 44,736 Karma: 55645321 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One	I'm in agreement with you on this. Sad to see them close. Don

08-06-2009, 11:06 AM	#3
Xenophon curmudgeon Posts: 1,481 Karma: 5748190 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Redwood City, CA USA Device: Kobo Aura HD, (ex)nook, (ex)PRS-700, (ex)PRS-500	Waaaah!

08-06-2009, 11:36 AM	#7
igorsk Wizard Posts: 3,442 Karma: 300001 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Belgium Device: PRS-500/505/700, Kindle, Cybook Gen3, Words Gear	Jim Baen's Universe was a separate venture from Baen Books. They were only related by persons of Eric Flint, Mike Resnick et al. I don't think Baen Books themselves are in any trouble. They keep putting out great books every month. Actually, it seems one of the biggest gripes they have now is that S&S gives them too few monthly slots, that was probably the reason David Weber did Safehold series with Tor.

08-06-2009, 02:55 PM	#9
Greg Anos Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,247 Karma: 35000000 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Pocketbook	Sad to see it closed, I was an initial subscriber, and have the complete set. They just couldn't get enough subscribers to make it viable. End of an era, really. Jim Baen was always trying to get a quality short fiction periodical going for 30 years. First Destinies, then Far Frontiers, then New Destinies, and finally Baen's Universe. There never was quite enough customers to keep them going. Now that Jim's gone, I don't think you'll see the likes of these again. You may not have liked the editorial slant, but the quality was always there.... Adios Universe, y vaya con Dios...

08-06-2009, 04:47 PM	#10
Over Wizard Posts: 1,462 Karma: 6061516 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cascais, Portugal Device: Kindle PW, Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2", OnePlus 6	I guess short stories (fiction or not) aren't mainstream enough.

08-06-2009, 07:27 PM	#11
bbusybookworm Tech Junkie Posts: 1,027 Karma: 10080 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Earth Device: iPad, MotoXStyle, OnePlusOne	I'm really sorry to hear this. I only became aware of Universe a few months ago, when Looking for more of Eric Flints Column, and ended up subscribing immediately. Still I'm glad that they are planning well in advance, to allow the Magzine to go out with a band instead of withered down to nothing. I'm also happy to hear their offer of All Issues Past and Future for $30 which I definitely think is a complete steal, and will take advantage off as soon as possible.

01-23-2010, 08:48 AM	#12
Tom Swift Addict Posts: 250 Karma: 1232346 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Macau Device: Kindle Oasis (plus lots of older devices)	I had never heard of this service until today but I can't find any mention anywhere if I can download the magazines in ePub format for my Sony Reader. The site has not been updated much and they still show Gem reader format but no mention of anything more modern. Anybody know if I can read the magazine on my Reader easily? I guess I can use Calibre but if I have to, which is the best format to convert?

01-23-2010, 05:42 PM	#14
Tom Swift Addict Posts: 250 Karma: 1232346 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Macau Device: Kindle Oasis (plus lots of older devices)	Thanks. That's what I was looking for.

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