Backlist conversion slowing down? - Page 5

mbovenka · 06-06-2014, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calenorn

On the other hand, that's new cover art, and not a bad depiction of the protagonist, at that.

True. The description of the book is odd, though. The first line is correct as far as the plot of 'Nine Princes in Amber' goes, and then it skips to 'this seventh installment...' and the plot of 'Blood of Amber'...

I don't know what to make of it.

Greg Anos · 06-06-2014, 02:16 PM

I suspect it's legit. Offering the first book of a series of 5 (or 10) depending on how you figure it...) at a reduced price is a common marketing tool...

pwalker8 · 06-06-2014, 03:18 PM

They seem to be offering a new group at the beginning of the month for the last several months. I assume it's legit. Kind of odd that Madwand came out before Changling though.

pwalker8 · 06-06-2014, 03:24 PM

The publisher is ibooks (just bought all three), same as the publisher for the others, so I assume it's legit. It would be very bold if it wasn't legit and one would assume that the Zelazny estate would have noticed in 3 months.

jhowell · 06-06-2014, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

I suspect it's legit. Offering the first book of a series of 5 (or 10) depending on how you figure it...) at a reduced price is a common marketing tool...

I'm still a bit suspicious. If you examine the expanded view of the cover it appears to be a scan that wasn't cleaned up very well. It also has an Orbit (UK publisher) logo. I downloaded the free sample and it jumps from the cover right in to the book with no copyright info or other introductory material.

pwalker8 · 06-06-2014, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhowell

I'm still a bit suspicious. If you examine the expanded view of the cover it appears to be a scan that wasn't cleaned up very well. It also has an Orbit (UK publisher) logo. I downloaded the free sample and it jumps from the cover right in to the book with no copyright info or other introductory material.

You might have a point. All the other ebook available on Amazon are listed in the publisher's website and probably what one might call Zelazny's less popular books(Dream Master, Isle of the Dead for example). The Amber book isn't listed and is one of Zelazny's most popular books. I'll let you all know if it gets pulled.

pwalker8 · 06-07-2014, 12:25 PM

Just as an update, there is now a review that says that it doesn't appear to be legit. The reviewer says that he contacted Zelazny's son, who doesn't think it's legit. I raised the issue with Amazon's online support. She claimed that Amazon got the rights to sell the ebook. We will see what happens. I'm sure that if the reviewer did contact Zelazny's son and it's not legit, then the rights holder will contact Amazon with a take down notice fairly quickly. I've taken a quick look at the ebook and it seems to be fairly good quality.

As a follow up, Amazon sent me an email saying that the e-book is authorized and that the publishers did give them written permission. If so, then that's great. If the Nine Princes in Amber doesn't get pulled and the Guns of Avalon comes out this time next month, then my conclusion will be that everything is on the level and I've going to be a very happy camper indeed!

jhowell · 06-07-2014, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwalker8

Just as an update, there is now a review that says that it doesn't appear to be legit. The reviewer says that he contacted Zelazny's son, who doesn't think it's legit. I raised the issue with Amazon's online support. She claimed that Amazon got the rights to sell the ebook. We will see what happens. I'm sure that if the reviewer did contact Zelazny's son and it's not legit, then the rights holder will contact Amazon with a take down notice fairly quickly. I've taken a quick look at the ebook and it seems to be fairly good quality.

As a follow up, Amazon sent me an email saying that the e-book is authorized and that the publishers did give them written permission. If so, then that's great. If the Nine Princes in Amber doesn't get pulled and the Guns of Avalon comes out this time next month, then my conclusion will be that everything is on the level and I've going to be a very happy camper indeed!

I still don't believe that it is a legitimate e-book. I purchased the book from Amazon and looked it over. It contains no publisher or copyright information. It appears identical to the version that was circulating on newsgroups years ago.

Edit to add: The book has only ASCII characters, straight quotes only, italics in the print edition are missing, etc. The metadata shows it was produced using MS Word.

Greg Anos · 06-07-2014, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhowell

I still don't believe that it is a legitimate e-book. I purchased the book from Amazon and looked it over. It contains no publisher or copyright information. It appears identical to the version that was circulating on newsgroups years ago.

Edit to add: The book has only ASCII characters, straight quotes only, italics in the print edition are missing, etc. The metadata shows it was produced using MS Word.

<Shrug> Heinlein's Beyond This Horizon was authorized but also was missing itialics and special characters....

pwalker8 · 06-07-2014, 08:32 PM

I believe that some authors have used pirated ebook versions as a starting point for their ebook release. All I can say is that I did my due diligence and was assured that it's legit. As I said before, if it isn't legit, I'm sure that Amazon will get a take down notice soon enough. In that case, I rather doubt that whomever put it up will see a dime of money.

06-07-2014, 12:25 PM	#67
pwalker8 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,196 Karma: 70314280 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Pro, iPad mini, Kobo Aura, Amazon paperwhite, Sony PRS-T2	Just as an update, there is now a review that says that it doesn't appear to be legit. The reviewer says that he contacted Zelazny's son, who doesn't think it's legit. I raised the issue with Amazon's online support. She claimed that Amazon got the rights to sell the ebook. We will see what happens. I'm sure that if the reviewer did contact Zelazny's son and it's not legit, then the rights holder will contact Amazon with a take down notice fairly quickly. I've taken a quick look at the ebook and it seems to be fairly good quality. As a follow up, Amazon sent me an email saying that the e-book is authorized and that the publishers did give them written permission. If so, then that's great. If the Nine Princes in Amber doesn't get pulled and the Guns of Avalon comes out this time next month, then my conclusion will be that everything is on the level and I've going to be a very happy camper indeed! Last edited by pwalker8; 06-07-2014 at 02:39 PM.

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06-06-2014, 02:16 PM	#62
Greg Anos Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,492 Karma: 37057604 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Pocketbook	I suspect it's legit. Offering the first book of a series of 5 (or 10) depending on how you figure it...) at a reduced price is a common marketing tool...

06-06-2014, 03:18 PM	#63
pwalker8 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,196 Karma: 70314280 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Pro, iPad mini, Kobo Aura, Amazon paperwhite, Sony PRS-T2	They seem to be offering a new group at the beginning of the month for the last several months. I assume it's legit. Kind of odd that Madwand came out before Changling though.

06-06-2014, 03:24 PM	#64
pwalker8 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,196 Karma: 70314280 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Pro, iPad mini, Kobo Aura, Amazon paperwhite, Sony PRS-T2	The publisher is ibooks (just bought all three), same as the publisher for the others, so I assume it's legit. It would be very bold if it wasn't legit and one would assume that the Zelazny estate would have noticed in 3 months.

06-07-2014, 08:32 PM	#70
pwalker8 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,196 Karma: 70314280 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Pro, iPad mini, Kobo Aura, Amazon paperwhite, Sony PRS-T2	I believe that some authors have used pirated ebook versions as a starting point for their ebook release. All I can say is that I did my due diligence and was assured that it's legit. As I said before, if it isn't legit, I'm sure that Amazon will get a take down notice soon enough. In that case, I rather doubt that whomever put it up will see a dime of money.