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fglaysher · 02-23-2010, 08:51 PM

Re: Jason Epstein. Publishing: The Revolutionary Future - The New York Review of Books

I fully agree with Epstein's overall perspective on the vast changes that are and will take place both in publishing and our culture. We can only speculate on many of them at this early stage.

I'm puzzled by Epstein's comment that "fiction is almost never collaborative." When was it ever? I can't think of a single book of fiction or poetry, of the first order, in any culture, that was "collaborative." What would it be? Maybe some of the old early epics, Gilgamesh, as he alludes to, very rare. Otherwise, a contradiction in terms...

Despite that caveat, I think it's fair to say Epstein has his finger on the pulse of the Post-Gutenberg revolution more than anyone else, though I think he's undervaluing ebooks, though it's understandable, since he's placed all his chips on the Espresso Book Machine.

I should state I'm slightly biased since I have three books available through his Espresso Book Machine.

Personally speaking, I believe all digitized books and information should be backed up in areas of the world not currently targeted with the installed hardware, and fallible software, the human race has already created, and which is capable of destroying over a billion people... and much of our accumulated knowledge.

My own attempts to understand these transformations, as both a writer and publisher, can be found on my website, if interested:

Publishing in the Post-Gutenberg Age
http://www.fglaysher.com/Post_Gutenberg_Publishing.html

Frederick Glaysher
http://www.fglaysher.com

02-23-2010, 08:51 PM	#36
fglaysher Connoisseur Posts: 86 Karma: 250 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Sony Reader & Aluratek Libre Touch	Re: Jason Epstein. Publishing: The Revolutionary Future - The New York Review of Books I fully agree with Epstein's overall perspective on the vast changes that are and will take place both in publishing and our culture. We can only speculate on many of them at this early stage. I'm puzzled by Epstein's comment that "fiction is almost never collaborative." When was it ever? I can't think of a single book of fiction or poetry, of the first order, in any culture, that was "collaborative." What would it be? Maybe some of the old early epics, Gilgamesh, as he alludes to, very rare. Otherwise, a contradiction in terms... Despite that caveat, I think it's fair to say Epstein has his finger on the pulse of the Post-Gutenberg revolution more than anyone else, though I think he's undervaluing ebooks, though it's understandable, since he's placed all his chips on the Espresso Book Machine. I should state I'm slightly biased since I have three books available through his Espresso Book Machine. Personally speaking, I believe all digitized books and information should be backed up in areas of the world not currently targeted with the installed hardware, and fallible software, the human race has already created, and which is capable of destroying over a billion people... and much of our accumulated knowledge. My own attempts to understand these transformations, as both a writer and publisher, can be found on my website, if interested: Publishing in the Post-Gutenberg Age http://www.fglaysher.com/Post_Gutenberg_Publishing.html Frederick Glaysher http://www.fglaysher.com