Don't buy Devils by Joe Abercrombie from Amazon

JSWolf · 05-13-2025, 02:11 PM

If you are a fan of Joe Abercrombie and are planning on buying his new book, The Devils, don't buy this from Amazon. This has a number of full page hi-res graphics and Amazon is known to play games with graphics. Chances are you'll get reduced size recompressed graphics. The graphics other then the cover are BW. So that won't be a problem.

Buy this in ePub and you'll get the graphics are they are intended to be. Plus, you won't have an issue removing the DRM if you buy from Kobo, eBooks.com, or Google Play Books.

Also, buy purchasing the ePub you get it without DRM where if you purchase via Amazon and get a KFX, you will have DRM.

The Old Man · 05-13-2025, 05:31 PM

Downloaded the sample from Amazon. The first few pages had graphics. This was said in the sample:
“The author and publisher have provided this e-book to you without Digital Rights Management software (DRM) applied so that you can enjoy reading it on your personal devices.”
I have not looked at the entire book, only the Sample, loaded in the Apple Kindle app.

Dazrin · 05-13-2025, 05:47 PM

The author and publisher may not have DRM, but Amazon puts their own in. There are ways to get books you purchase from Amazon without DRM, but they are dwindling. It's very frustrating in that regard.

Sirtel · 05-13-2025, 10:43 PM

Bought mine from Kobo. Looking at the images in the calibre editor, though, I don't see that many, only five or so (mine is the Gollancz edition).

Dr. Drib · 05-14-2025, 09:25 AM

Why is the Amazon.com files size so huge (24.4 mb) with only five B&W full-page illustrations and one full color illustration?

What is the size of the Kobo [UK?] edition?

j.p.s · 05-14-2025, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Why is the Amazon.com files size so huge (24.4 mb) with only five B&W full-page illustrations and one full color illustration?

KFX is considerably bloated compared to KF8 and EPUB.

Dr. Drib · 05-14-2025, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.p.s

KFX is considerably bloated compared to KF8 and EPUB.

I knew it was bloated - but that much?

j.p.s · 05-14-2025, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

I knew it was bloated - but that much?

I don't know. I think the largest size is for files delivered to apps which might get full sized images. The only way to know for this book is for people to buy the various forms, unpack them, and publish the results.

But JSWolf is correct that high quality images supplied by publishers get seriously degraded by amazon. And the method is ham fisted, An already artifact ridden highly compressed image will get compressed even more, image dimensions get reduced even when the image gets ruined as a result, and a single line of text rendered as a high resolution image is delivered intact.

Sirtel · 05-14-2025, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

What is the size of the Kobo [UK?] edition?

6.54 MB.

DiapDealer · 05-14-2025, 03:00 PM

If, however, you just want to read the damn thing... buy it wherever you like. There's probably spoilers in those ridonkulously oversized images anyway.

Apache · 05-14-2025, 07:34 PM

I have never understood the need for images in a book. For me, my imagination works just fine.
Apache

The Old Man · 05-22-2025, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apache

I have never understood the need for images in a book. For me, my imagination works just fine.
Apache

Except for maps, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd needs a picture of the murder room and Dickens original illustrations are nice to see.

JSWolf · 05-22-2025, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Why is the Amazon.com files size so huge (24.4 mb) with only five B&W full-page illustrations and one full color illustration?

What is the size of the Kobo [UK?] edition?

The US ePub version is 22.8MB. It is from Tor.

The cover is 1447x2200 at 1.2MB (color)
The backad is 1650x2190 at 459.7KB (color)
endpapersBACK is 2300x1702 at 4.7MB (color)
endpapersFRONT is 2300x1702 at 4.1MB (color)
pg2 is 1517x2301 at 2.1MB
pg96 is 1514x2299 at 2.1MB
pg236 is 1514x2299 at 2.2MB
pg384 is 1514x2300 at 2.6MB
pgvi (map) is 2100x1555 at 2.3MB
The title is 1457x2200 at 490.2KB

So there at 7 hi-res images that are not the cover, title page, or advert.

This list does not include the two other low-res images.

DiapDealer · 05-22-2025, 03:36 PM

That's way too many images for a work of fiction--at any res. A couple of fleurons should suffice.

JSWolf · 05-22-2025, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

That's way too many images for a work of fiction--at any res. A couple of fleurons should suffice.

Those are not section break images.

05-13-2025, 02:11 PM	#1
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,484 Karma: 145863170 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Don't buy Devils by Joe Abercrombie from Amazon If you are a fan of Joe Abercrombie and are planning on buying his new book, *The Devils, don't buy this from Amazon. This has a number of full page hi-res graphics and Amazon is known to play games with graphics. Chances are you'll get reduced size recompressed graphics. The graphics other then the cover are BW. So that won't be a problem. Buy this in ePub and you'll get the graphics are they are intended to be. Plus, you won't have an issue removing the DRM if you buy from Kobo, eBooks.com, or Google Play Books. Also, buy purchasing the ePub you get it without DRM where if you purchase via Amazon and get a KFX, you will have DRM. Last edited by JSWolf; 05-13-2025 at 08:15 PM.*

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05-13-2025, 05:31 PM	#2
The Old Man Fanatic Posts: 546 Karma: 1337413 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Keene, New Hampshire Device: iPad Mini	Downloaded the sample from Amazon. The first few pages had graphics. This was said in the sample: “The author and publisher have provided this e-book to you without Digital Rights Management software (DRM) applied so that you can enjoy reading it on your personal devices.” I have not looked at the entire book, only the Sample, loaded in the Apple Kindle app.

05-13-2025, 05:47 PM	#3
Dazrin Wizard Posts: 2,726 Karma: 75825105 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: PDXish Device: Kindle Voyage, various Android devices	The author and publisher may not have DRM, but Amazon puts their own in. There are ways to get books you purchase from Amazon without DRM, but they are dwindling. It's very frustrating in that regard.

05-13-2025, 10:43 PM	#4
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,368 Karma: 238915017 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	Bought mine from Kobo. Looking at the images in the calibre editor, though, I don't see that many, only five or so (mine is the Gollancz edition).

05-14-2025, 09:25 AM	#5
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,394 Karma: 59504381 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	Why is the Amazon.com files size so huge (24.4 mb) with only five B&W full-page illustrations and one full color illustration? What is the size of the Kobo [UK?] edition?

05-14-2025, 03:00 PM	#10
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,511 Karma: 204127028 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	If, however, you just want to read the damn thing... buy it wherever you like. There's probably spoilers in those ridonkulously oversized images anyway.

05-14-2025, 07:34 PM	#11
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,272 Karma: 90000484 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	I have never understood the need for images in a book. For me, my imagination works just fine. Apache

05-22-2025, 03:36 PM	#14
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,511 Karma: 204127028 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	That's way too many images for a work of fiction--at any res. A couple of fleurons should suffice.