E-books are more than a publishing platform—they’re a *whole new literary Form

[Tony1988]

The article uses the term "Dead Tree" books. Why not just say paper books??? I always find the DT term kind of obnoxious.

[Phogg]

Originally Posted by Tony1988

The article uses the term "Dead Tree" books. Why not just say paper books??? I always find the DT term kind of obnoxious.

That is the intent.

It pokes fun at the green agenda, since many of those who embrace such have been realy loathe to adopt electronic books over paper, and decried the manufacture of evil electronic devices early on. To counter them, nerds and geeks from across the political spectrum began using the dead tree term everytime one would normally say "paper."

[Rtturvwsxmavpduc]

Originally Posted by stonetools

I agree that its more accurate. But its less exciting!!!!!

it's... a contraction of it is

[Tony1988]

Originally Posted by Phogg

That is the intent.

It pokes fun at the green agenda, since many of those who embrace such have been realy loathe to adopt electronic books over paper, and decried the manufacture of evil electronic devices early on. To counter them, nerds and geeks from across the political spectrum began using the dead tree term everytime one would normally say "paper."

Ahh I see. But couldnt the greenies just counter and say that the environment is being hurt just as much by plastics and metal deivces clogging up the landfills? All the materials are recycleable of course so their argument wouldnt hold much water. Except that they now are supporting the death of trees by still reading paper books of course. Gotta love the irony of it all.

Edit: Here are a list of articles that debate the issue. http://www.ecolibris.net/ebooks.asp

Seems either one can be greener for a user based on reading habits.

[Giggleton]

Originally Posted by Hamlet53

How so? I am serious. Just what about the delivery as a digital file to be viewed on an e-book reader, or for that matter just a tablet or computer monitor will greatly change how one thinks about literature?

Before the advent of the digital I thought of books as static. That is no longer the case. In some sense the container, wood pulp/wood oil? does not make any difference into our understanding of literature, but in another sense the container or method of delivery matters quite a bit.

For instance we are able to rapidly consume, alter, and reupload a text for another's consumption. What does this mean when we think about the creator of a text?? Should we even be thinking about a text's creator at this point?

Let's move forward 50 years, strong AI is capable of determining which parts of which digital texts are most enjoyable to homo sapiens and is able to produce literature which many people find to be quite enjoyable.

[stonetools]

The only sort of new literary genre here is the nonfiction article between magazine length ( say 20 pages ) and book length ( say 100 pages). What would be a good name for such a form ? My suggestions:

1. Nonfictionella
2. Bookette
3. Journalle

Any other suggestions from the forum?

[DiapDealer]

Any other suggestions from the forum?

Essays, Memoirs... Propaganda?

[stonetools]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Essays, Memoirs... Propaganda?

Well, an essay is by definition a short composition, so that fails. A memoir is generally thought of as a book, although it doesn't NEED to be. Propaganda? May be too broad. Lots of brief propaganda out there.

I like fictionella best of all, but I think bookette will win, or maybe just single, as in Kindle Single, since the majority of items in the genre are published as Kindle Singles.

[Rob Lister]

Originally Posted by Phogg

No. That carries on the tradition of p0orly typed coppies with the carb0n papersmeared .

Phogg wins this thread.

This literary format, while not new, ushers in the return of the Dime Store Novel that itself ushered in the era of pulp fiction, which we enjoy today to a lesser extent.

[librarianchat]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I thought the "whole new literary form" meant multimedia books--interactive content, video and audio, etc. How are books with fewer pages a "whole new literary form"?

Exactly. I was on board with this if it meant the addition of voiceovers into picture books, etc.

[Kumabjorn]

Originally Posted by Phogg

That is the intent.

It pokes fun at the green agenda, since many of those who embrace such have been realy loathe to adopt electronic books over paper, and decried the manufacture of evil electronic devices early on. To counter them, nerds and geeks from across the political spectrum began using the dead tree term everytime one would normally say "paper."

Huh, i always thought that DTB (Dead Tree Books) was a sarcastic rip-off from DTP (Desk Top Publishing).