New Stephen King e-book delayed (List price $35)

olddumbguy · 10-23-2009, 01:09 AM

Link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091021/...s_stephen_king

Quote:

By HILLEL ITALIE, AP National Writer Hillel Italie, Ap National Writer – Wed Oct 21, 2:57 pm ET

NEW YORK – The latest weapon in the publishing price wars: Stephen King.

Scribner announced Wednesday that the digital edition of King's "Under the Dome," a 1,000-plus page novel, would not be released until Dec. 24, virtually the end of the holiday season and a month after the hardcover.

E-books have already been delayed for Sen. Edward Kennedy's "True Compass" and Sarah Palin's "Going Rogue" as publishers try to prevent the cheaper digital editions from taking sales from hardcovers, which, until recently, cost more.

"Given the current state of the marketplace and trends in digital book pricing, we believe that this is the most appropriate publishing sequence for this particular 1088 page work of fiction," said spokesman Adam Rothberg of Scribner's parent company, Simon & Schuster.

The article goes on to discuss pricing...

olddumbguy · 10-23-2009, 01:11 AM

Well, this really pisses me off. I had no intention of buying the hardcover, just the ebook, likely from the Sony book store. And I've been really looking forward to this. Hell, I haven't read a paper book in over a year.

Now I don't know what I'm going to do.

CleverClothe · 10-23-2009, 02:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by olddumbguy

Well, this really pisses me off. I had no intention of buying the hardcover, just the ebook, likely from the Sony book store. And I've been really looking forward to this. Hell, I haven't read a paper book in over a year.

Now I don't know what I'm going to do.

Write the publisher a letter, make it very clear that you are only interested in an ebook and pissing you off is not healthy for their bottom line.

sianon · 10-23-2009, 03:23 AM

MMM the recent publication of Steig Larrsons "the girl who kicked the hornets nest" was similar, three weeks after publication, the e-book version is still not available. This was one that I did by in paper back as I was extremely keen to read it. I can't think of any other author where I would do so. Publishers certainly seem keen to kill of the one area of their business that is experiencing growth.

Crowl · 10-23-2009, 06:09 AM

Another book that seems to be dodging an ebook edition is the latest in the Hitchhikers Guide series because clearly a sci-fi novel that sort of even has an ebook as a character is totally the wrong choice for a digital edition.

Dylrob · 10-23-2009, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crowl

Another book that seems to be dodging an ebook edition is the latest in the Hitchhikers Guide series because clearly a sci-fi novel that sort of even has an ebook as a character is totally the wrong choice for a digital edition.

I wonder if this would be the case if Douglas Adams were still with us today?

Hellmark · 10-23-2009, 12:58 PM

If Adams were still alive, I am sure that there would be an ebook. Dude was a serious techie, and was known for it.

dougbiss · 10-23-2009, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellmark

If Adams were still alive, I am sure that there would be an ebook. Dude was a serious techie, and was known for it.

Makes me want to make a "Don't Panic" screen-saver for my Kindle.

I'm sure he'd be turning over in his grave, if he weren't such a firm disbeliever in the afterlife.

Kali Yuga · 10-23-2009, 03:26 PM

Perhaps I'm wrong, but last I checked the publishers can't dictate the price of books to the retailer. If the retailer wants to lose money on a title, the publisher can't do anything about it as long as the retailer pays the wholesale price. So the list price will be $35, but the retailers may charge $10 or $15 or so for it.

E.g. The Lost Symbol ebook has an official list price of $30; Amazon, Sony and B&N all sell it for $10.

Sounds like business as usual, with an article whose author has never paid attention to those prices on the webpage with the strikethrough.

TallMomof2 · 10-23-2009, 04:40 PM

Mr. King's hardback will be available as an ebook within days of it's release or sooner. You'll just have to look for it in dark places.

$35 for an ebook is absolutely ridiculous especially since it's a lease not a purchase.

DawnFalcon · 10-24-2009, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by olddumbguy

Now I don't know what I'm going to do.

Lots of people won't share your uncertaincy. Did someone say "Darknet"?

(Not me, I don't read King anyway)

bbqncigars · 10-24-2009, 06:34 PM

Thank gawd for Baen. They do it like it should be done. Ebooks cheaper and earlier than dead tree versions. The Advance Reader Copies are even earlier, though the final version may differ a bit.

Sporadic · 10-24-2009, 09:02 PM

It's not going to be $35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen King

Kindle pricing for Under the Dome
Posted on: October 22nd, 2009 11:55:00 am

Dear Constant Readers,

Please don't believe the press reports that the e-book reader price for Under the Dome will be $35. This was the result of confusion from a press release from the publisher, what Big Jim Rennie would call a clustermug. It is true that you cannot order the book as an e-download until December 24th, but the physical book, which is a beautiful thing, you can pre-order for less than $9--so who's better than us?

Steve

Solicitous · 10-24-2009, 10:16 PM

I would personally prefer the option of paying the same price for the ebook as the hardcover provided that (a) they are released at the same time, and (b) the price of the ebook drops to where it originally going to be had the ebook been delayed 1 month from release. Kind of a premium paid by the buyer for having it at date of release.

Then again in my ideal world the hardcover and ebook would be released together on the release date and each priced accordingly.

desertgrandma · 10-24-2009, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sporadic

It's not going to be $35

I would have to reply....

Dear Mr. King. Do you really believe stalling the release of the ebook version will increase paper book sales that much?

Many of us who want your book want it in ebook form OR paper version....not necessarily both.

You do realize it will be out there in darknet form almost immediately after publication? That many, in protest will get it there? Or wait for the library copy?

Sincerely......just another ebook fan........

but thats just me.

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10-23-2009, 01:11 AM	#2
olddumbguy Member Posts: 13 Karma: 272 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SoCal, USA Device: Kindle 3, HTC EVO, iPad, Sony PRS-505, Sony PRS-700, Ipod Touch	Well, this really pisses me off. I had no intention of buying the hardcover, just the ebook, likely from the Sony book store. And I've been really looking forward to this. Hell, I haven't read a paper book in over a year. Now I don't know what I'm going to do.

10-23-2009, 03:23 AM	#4
sianon Addict Posts: 352 Karma: 572 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Melbourne Device: Sony 500, Bebook, Kindle, Eco reader Drs and soon the Archos 9	MMM the recent publication of Steig Larrsons "the girl who kicked the hornets nest" was similar, three weeks after publication, the e-book version is still not available. This was one that I did by in paper back as I was extremely keen to read it. I can't think of any other author where I would do so. Publishers certainly seem keen to kill of the one area of their business that is experiencing growth.

10-23-2009, 06:09 AM	#5
Crowl Wizard Posts: 1,340 Karma: 1160346 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Southport, GB Device: Kindle Voyage, PW Signature edition	Another book that seems to be dodging an ebook edition is the latest in the Hitchhikers Guide series because clearly a sci-fi novel that sort of even has an ebook as a character is totally the wrong choice for a digital edition.

10-23-2009, 12:58 PM	#7
Hellmark Wizard Posts: 2,549 Karma: 3799999 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: O'Fallon, Missouri, USA Device: Nokia N800, PRS-505, Nook STR Glowlight, Kindle 3	If Adams were still alive, I am sure that there would be an ebook. Dude was a serious techie, and was known for it.

10-23-2009, 03:26 PM	#9
Kali Yuga Professional Contrarian Posts: 2,045 Karma: 3289631 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Kindle 4 No Touchie	Perhaps I'm wrong, but last I checked the publishers can't dictate the price of books to the retailer. If the retailer wants to lose money on a title, the publisher can't do anything about it as long as the retailer pays the wholesale price. So the list price will be $35, but the retailers may charge $10 or $15 or so for it. E.g. The Lost Symbol ebook has an official list price of $30; Amazon, Sony and B&N all sell it for $10. Sounds like business as usual, with an article whose author has never paid attention to those prices on the webpage with the strikethrough.

10-23-2009, 04:40 PM	#10
TallMomof2 Kindlephilia Posts: 2,017 Karma: 1139255 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Snowpacolypse 2010 Device: Too many to count	Mr. King's hardback will be available as an ebook within days of it's release or sooner. You'll just have to look for it in dark places. $35 for an ebook is absolutely ridiculous especially since it's a lease not a purchase.

10-24-2009, 06:34 PM	#12
bbqncigars PDA dino Posts: 80 Karma: 1527072 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Iowa, USA Device: Palm IIIx, Rooted NC, Voyages(2)	Thank gawd for Baen. They do it like it should be done. Ebooks cheaper and earlier than dead tree versions. The Advance Reader Copies are even earlier, though the final version may differ a bit.

10-24-2009, 10:16 PM	#14
Solicitous Wizard Posts: 1,434 Karma: 1525776 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: TAS, Australia Device: Astak Pocket Pro (Black), 2 x Kindle WiFi (Graphite), iPod Touch 4G	I would personally prefer the option of paying the same price for the ebook as the hardcover provided that (a) they are released at the same time, and (b) the price of the ebook drops to where it originally going to be had the ebook been delayed 1 month from release. Kind of a premium paid by the buyer for having it at date of release. Then again in my ideal world the hardcover and ebook would be released together on the release date and each priced accordingly.