Could ebook readers revive the short story format?

stoogeswoman · 02-20-2009, 10:34 PM

I've only had my eBookwise 1150 for less than two weeks and already I've downloaded & read several short stories by authors I've never read before. (For example, "Dark Replay" by Mike Resnick - highly recommended if you haven't read it!

)

They're the perfect length for a read on the subway going to/from work! And it occurred to me - if eBook readers really become a staple, maybe that would revive the market for short stories, which hasn't really been "hot" for a long time (except maybe in s/f).

What do you think?

AnemicOak · 02-20-2009, 10:47 PM

I know I read a lot more short stories & novellas on my Reader than I used to in paper.

pilotbob · 02-20-2009, 11:07 PM

It is certainly easier to carry around 20 or 30 short stories on an ebook than in paper.

Matter of fact, the Sherlock Homes Omnibus is 50% short stories. It is nice to read those in the "reading room" and be able to finish one in a short time.

BOb

CleverClothe · 02-20-2009, 11:48 PM

Yes, I read more short stories now. Previously I only bought Year's Best SF, and planned to look into some other anthologies. Now FictionWise has been republishing many individual short stories, which I love. So it is easier for me to find great short stories.

deety · 02-21-2009, 03:10 AM

I think it would really help if short stories from an anthology ended up being sold individually, maybe after some time has passed since their original release. I rarely buy anthologies because of their hit-or-miss nature, so it would be nice if I could get them from the library and then buy my favorites of the stories later on.

sassanik · 02-21-2009, 04:31 AM

I definatly read more short stories now. I like that they are often very inexpensive or free.

Amy

pdurrant · 02-21-2009, 04:35 AM

I hate buying individual short stories. The length of time selecting/buying/downloading the story is disproportional to the time take to read it.

I do like anthologies of short stories, and magazines of short stories. I have subscriptions to Analog, Asimov's, F&SF, JBU* and the Grantville Gazette. I've also bought several anthologies.

But individual short stories? Not for me.

*JBU - Jim Baen's Universe. A relatively new on-line SF magazine http://www.baens-universe.com/

Quote:

Originally Posted by stoogeswoman

If eBook readers really become a staple, maybe that would revive the market for short stories, which hasn't really been "hot" for a long time (except maybe in s/f).

What do you think?

garygibsonsf · 02-21-2009, 04:37 AM

I've certainly found myself I read a lot more short fiction on my Sony now, though in my case I tend to prefer anthologies - I buy a lot more of them than I ever used to in paper, and they work very well in the ebook context. Also, there's a lot of very good original anthologies around these days. John Joseph Adams is one of the most interesting anthologists around in sf and fantasy these days - I have his Seeds of Change anthology, and my eye on several others on sale at www.webscription.net.

I did write on my blog a while back (it was later crossposted at the digitalist.net) that I wondered if short story collections as ebooks might be a very powerful promotional tool for novelists.

HarryT · 02-21-2009, 04:45 AM

I'm not at all sure that the format has ever gone away. Baen, for example, sell numerous short story collections.

Ea · 02-21-2009, 04:54 AM

I read more short stories than I used to. I think has most to do with that there's a lot avaliable via the Internet. Before, when I borrowed a book from et library, it was nice if it didn't 'end too soon', so I preferred long books. Now it's easer to find more, and more diverse, reading matter, so I'm more open to reading short stories han I used to.

AnemicOak · 02-21-2009, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deety

I think it would really help if short stories from an anthology ended up being sold individually, maybe after some time has passed since their original release. I rarely buy anthologies because of their hit-or-miss nature, so it would be nice if I could get them from the library and then buy my favorites of the stories later on.

Penguin has been doing this for a few of their anthologies.

lilac_jive · 02-21-2009, 01:19 PM

I've been reading quite a few more short stories. Some in anthologies and some standalone freebies or cheapies.

Moejoe · 02-21-2009, 02:57 PM

I love short stories. Ray Bradbury's work opened up that world to me and from there I jumped to Eudora Welty, John Cheever, John Collier, Katherine Anne Porter and many more. My hope is that the ebook revolution will re-energise the short story form as it's truly a pleasure to sit down and read a story in one sitting.

stoogeswoman · 02-21-2009, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moejoe

I love short stories. Ray Bradbury's work opened up that world to me and from there I jumped to Eudora Welty, John Cheever, John Collier, Katherine Anne Porter and many more. My hope is that the ebook revolution will re-energise the short story form as it's truly a pleasure to sit down and read a story in one sitting.

I agree! And I'm definitely going to look for more stories by Mike Resnick - someone I'd never even heard of till I read one of his stories last week.

CleverClothe · 02-22-2009, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stoogeswoman

I agree! And I'm definitely going to look for more stories by Mike Resnick - someone I'd never even heard of till I read one of his stories last week.

There are bunches on FictionWise.

02-20-2009, 10:34 PM	#1
stoogeswoman Zealot Posts: 149 Karma: 492 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Reseda, CA Device: eBookwise 1150 and Kindle 1	Could ebook readers revive the short story format? I've only had my eBookwise 1150 for less than two weeks and already I've downloaded & read several short stories by authors I've never read before. (For example, "Dark Replay" by Mike Resnick - highly recommended if you haven't read it! ) They're the perfect length for a read on the subway going to/from work! And it occurred to me - if eBook readers really become a staple, maybe that would revive the market for short stories, which hasn't really been "hot" for a long time (except maybe in s/f). What do you think?

02-21-2009, 04:31 AM	#6
sassanik Guru Posts: 774 Karma: 1211741 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Oregon Device: EB1150, iPhone, Cool-er Purple, Pocketbook 360, Kindle Fire	yes I definatly read more short stories now. I like that they are often very inexpensive or free. Amy

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02-20-2009, 10:47 PM	#2
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	I know I read a lot more short stories & novellas on my Reader than I used to in paper.

02-20-2009, 11:07 PM	#3
pilotbob Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,832 Karma: 11844413 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tampa, FL USA Device: Kindle Touch	It is certainly easier to carry around 20 or 30 short stories on an ebook than in paper. Matter of fact, the Sherlock Homes Omnibus is 50% short stories. It is nice to read those in the "reading room" and be able to finish one in a short time. BOb

02-20-2009, 11:48 PM	#4
CleverClothe Guru Posts: 618 Karma: 493394 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Seattle, WA Device: iRex iLiad, Onyx Boox 60	Yes, I read more short stories now. Previously I only bought Year's Best SF, and planned to look into some other anthologies. Now FictionWise has been republishing many individual short stories, which I love. So it is easier for me to find great short stories.

02-21-2009, 03:10 AM	#5
deety book geek Posts: 51 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: Kindle 2	I think it would really help if short stories from an anthology ended up being sold individually, maybe after some time has passed since their original release. I rarely buy anthologies because of their hit-or-miss nature, so it would be nice if I could get them from the library and then buy my favorites of the stories later on.

02-21-2009, 04:37 AM	#8
garygibsonsf Addict Posts: 321 Karma: 432192 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite	I've certainly found myself I read a lot more short fiction on my Sony now, though in my case I tend to prefer anthologies - I buy a lot more of them than I ever used to in paper, and they work very well in the ebook context. Also, there's a lot of very good original anthologies around these days. John Joseph Adams is one of the most interesting anthologists around in sf and fantasy these days - I have his Seeds of Change anthology, and my eye on several others on sale at www.webscription.net. I did write on my blog a while back (it was later crossposted at the digitalist.net) that I wondered if short story collections as ebooks might be a very powerful promotional tool for novelists.

02-21-2009, 04:45 AM	#9
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I'm not at all sure that the format has ever gone away. Baen, for example, sell numerous short story collections.

02-21-2009, 04:54 AM	#10
Ea Wizard Posts: 3,490 Karma: 5239563 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3\|iPad air\|iPhone 4S	I read more short stories than I used to. I think has most to do with that there's a lot avaliable via the Internet. Before, when I borrowed a book from et library, it was nice if it didn't 'end too soon', so I preferred long books. Now it's easer to find more, and more diverse, reading matter, so I'm more open to reading short stories han I used to.

02-21-2009, 01:19 PM	#12
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	I've been reading quite a few more short stories. Some in anthologies and some standalone freebies or cheapies.

02-21-2009, 02:57 PM	#13
Moejoe Banned Posts: 5,100 Karma: 72193 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: South of the Border Device: Coffin	I love short stories. Ray Bradbury's work opened up that world to me and from there I jumped to Eudora Welty, John Cheever, John Collier, Katherine Anne Porter and many more. My hope is that the ebook revolution will re-energise the short story form as it's truly a pleasure to sit down and read a story in one sitting.