Amazon selling a pirate edition of Clifford Simak's "City"?

carld · 10-10-2012, 05:50 PM

I had Clifford Simak's sci-fi work "City" in hardback years ago and thought I'd give it another read after seeing it mentioned online (might have been here at MR). A quick search of Amazon turned up this copy.

I was surprised to see that the book, which is widely considered a classic, has three 1-star reviews. The reviewers claim that this is an unauthorized "pirate" edition.

So, rather than give my money to possible pirates, I was wondering if anyone knows of a legitimate ebook version?

fjtorres · 10-10-2012, 06:25 PM

Considering the time period when Simak wrote isn't impossible that the early copyrights on the stories that he later combined in the 1952 version might have expired.
It might be a pirate edition or it might simply be a sleezy loophole edition.
(The price is on the high side. Most pirate editions go low on pricing.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_(novel)

twowheels · 10-10-2012, 06:27 PM

Sleazy? If it's out of copyright, what's wrong with publishing it?

AnemicOak · 10-10-2012, 06:48 PM

There is a response to one of the 'pirated' reviews from an M. Logan who claims they have the rights to publish it?

Quote:

We do have the rights to publish this ebook, therefore authorization is not required. If you believe you have information to the contrary, please contact us directly. For legal reasons, we are unable to comment further on this issue.

Do they have the rights? Don't know, I can't really find any info on Gate Way Publishers.

They do appear to be re-pubbing some other oldies (93 results on search) so it's possible they're legit like a few others (like Prologue Books) doing the same thing...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=...oks-Submit.y=3

QuantumIguana · 10-10-2012, 06:55 PM

I don't know if they have the rights or not, but saying they can't comment on why they have the rights raises red flags.

AnemicOak · 10-10-2012, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuantumIguana

I don't know if they have the rights or not, but saying they can't comment on why they have the rights raises red flags.

That's one way to look at it, another is that they choose not to comment about contracts in public, they did invite folks to contact them directly (although I'm not sure how [maybe the info is in the book?]).

I notice Audible acquired the rights to do it as an audiobook so the ebook rights may have been available too.

Not saying it's legit or not legit, but I don't trust a couple of Amazon reviews which could be posted totally on an assumption to be necessarily correct either. From the dates on the reviews I'd think Amazon would have pulled it by now if Gate Way couldn't prove things to their satisfaction (assuming it was reported).

fjtorres · 10-10-2012, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twowheels

Sleazy? If it's out of copyright, what's wrong with publishing it?

There are three versions of CITY. The magazine version was 8 separate stories set in the same timeline. The 1952 novel spliced the stories with a frame. And the 1973 version added a ninth story; Epilog.

The outfit in question might be legally publishing the 8 short stories but without the framing segments it wouldn't really be the "novel" that buyers expect. At that price, I'd call that intentionally misleading = sleazy.

kennyc · 10-11-2012, 08:54 AM

Oh I love that book! And that's the cover on the old paperback version I have.

I don't know about it being a pirate version, Amazon is pretty careful about that.

Thanks for the topic, the memories, the discussion!

piperclassique · 10-11-2012, 02:18 PM

There are five works by Simak on Gutenberg, so at least some of his work is out of USA copyright, at least.

jgaiser · 10-11-2012, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piperclassique

There are five works by Simak on Gutenberg, so at least some of his work is out of USA copyright, at least.

The stories on Gutenberg appear to be short stories that were probably in magazines during a period that copyrights needed to be renewed and weren't. Since Clifford Simak died in 1988, his novels won't become public domain in the U.S. until 2058.

bgalbrecht · 10-11-2012, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgaiser

The stories on Gutenberg appear to be short stories that were probably in magazines during a period that copyrights needed to be renewed and weren't. Since Clifford Simak died in 1988, his novels won't become public domain in the U.S. until 2058.

Actually, most of Simak's work was published prior to 1978, so the copyrights for them (assuming they were renewed) expire anywhere from 2027 to 2074, depending on publication.

jgaiser · 10-11-2012, 07:38 PM

Hmm.. Yeah.. Maybe.. Copyright law in the United States is very confusing.

Here's a very good overview of Copyright in the U.S. as of January 2012

http://copyright.cornell.edu/resources/publicdomain.cfm

carld · 10-12-2012, 12:05 AM

I'm not certain about this book one way or another, but I do find the publisher's post somewhat suspicious. B&N and Fictionwise seem to be selling the same edition as Amazon.

pagansoul · 10-16-2012, 10:17 AM

I believe this is the 8 short stories from the magazine series pasted together to form a book. I have a few pulp novels done this way at the turn of the century.

BenG · 10-16-2012, 10:29 AM

E.E. Smith's "Triplanetary" is the same. The free PG version is the story as it was published in the pulps. The copyright was never renewed for this version.
Later, he revised it a little to tie in with his Lensman series and released it as a book.
The same with his "Skylark of Space", the free versions are the pulp versions.

10-10-2012, 05:50 PM	#1
carld Wizard Posts: 2,698 Karma: 4748723 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Amazon selling a pirate edition of Clifford Simak's "City"? I had Clifford Simak's sci-fi work "City" in hardback years ago and thought I'd give it another read after seeing it mentioned online (might have been here at MR). A quick search of Amazon turned up this copy. I was surprised to see that the book, which is widely considered a classic, has three 1-star reviews. The reviewers claim that this is an unauthorized "pirate" edition. So, rather than give my money to possible pirates, I was wondering if anyone knows of a legitimate ebook version?

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10-10-2012, 06:25 PM	#2
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	Considering the time period when Simak wrote isn't impossible that the early copyrights on the stories that he later combined in the 1952 version might have expired. It might be a pirate edition or it might simply be a sleezy loophole edition. (The price is on the high side. Most pirate editions go low on pricing.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_(novel)

10-10-2012, 06:27 PM	#3
twowheels Wizard Posts: 1,853 Karma: 13432974 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kobo Clara HD, iPad Pro 10", iPhone 15 Pro, Boox Note Max	Sleazy? If it's out of copyright, what's wrong with publishing it?

10-10-2012, 06:55 PM	#5
QuantumIguana Philosopher Posts: 2,034 Karma: 18736532 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2 gen, Kindle Fire 1st Gen, Kindle Touch	I don't know if they have the rights or not, but saying they can't comment on why they have the rights raises red flags.

10-11-2012, 08:54 AM	#8
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,891 Karma: 119230421 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Oh I love that book! And that's the cover on the old paperback version I have. I don't know about it being a pirate version, Amazon is pretty careful about that. Thanks for the topic, the memories, the discussion!

10-11-2012, 02:18 PM	#9
piperclassique A garbling groftpot Posts: 990 Karma: 9234667 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: France Device: Oasis, Voyage, Kobo mini, Samsung tablet, phones, whatever.	There are five works by Simak on Gutenberg, so at least some of his work is out of USA copyright, at least.

10-11-2012, 07:38 PM	#12
jgaiser Omnivorous Posts: 3,283 Karma: 27978909 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rural NW Oregon Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1	Hmm.. Yeah.. Maybe.. Copyright law in the United States is very confusing. Here's a very good overview of Copyright in the U.S. as of January 2012 http://copyright.cornell.edu/resources/publicdomain.cfm

10-12-2012, 12:05 AM	#13
carld Wizard Posts: 2,698 Karma: 4748723 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	I'm not certain about this book one way or another, but I do find the publisher's post somewhat suspicious. B&N and Fictionwise seem to be selling the same edition as Amazon.

10-16-2012, 10:17 AM	#14
pagansoul Fanatic Posts: 509 Karma: 1098204 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Earth Device: iPhone5, iPad Gen3, Kobo, Kindle Fire, Kobo Vox. Samsung Galaxy Tab 7	I believe this is the 8 short stories from the magazine series pasted together to form a book. I have a few pulp novels done this way at the turn of the century.

10-16-2012, 10:29 AM	#15
BenG Home Guard Posts: 4,730 Karma: 86721650 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alpha Ralpha Boulevard Device: Kindle Oasis 3G, iPhone 6	E.E. Smith's "Triplanetary" is the same. The free PG version is the story as it was published in the pulps. The copyright was never renewed for this version. Later, he revised it a little to tie in with his Lensman series and released it as a book. The same with his "Skylark of Space", the free versions are the pulp versions.

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