Any idea why Arthur Hailey and Michael Crichton ebooks are so few? - Page 2

jlmwrite · 02-25-2011, 01:40 PM

There are plenty of books -- many past bestsellers -- that you might be amazed aren't available in e-format from the publishers. For whatever reason, they don't see it as cost effective to scan in older titles.

Remember Lisa Alther (of 1970s "Kinflicks" fame)? How about Earl S. Thompson's scorching '70s bestseller "Tattoo", and its predecessor "A Garden of Sand"? Of course not; you can't even find these new in the brick-n-mortar stores, and can be rare at online retailers.

How about Herman Wouk's "Marjorie Morningstar"? "City Boy" is available in e-format, but not that. I can't find anything by Lawrence Sanders in e-format either. As noted in earlier posts, many of Arthur Hailey's books are missing, as is much of Tom Wolfe's work. I mentioned all of these books specifically as they are some of my old faves; I can't even begin to list everything I want but isn't available. I'd pay B&N or Amazon double to get most of them!

Now I do know some of these are available from dedicated folks out there scanning/OCRing their own copies of boos, which is why Micheal Crichton and Arthur Haily are out there on sites that shall not be be named -- just not legal copies of them. If the publishers were really smart, they'd pay some of these dedicated folks to do what they are going to do anyway...

Blue Tyson · 02-25-2011, 10:13 PM

Crichton is an odd one if that is true - but do people still read Hailey? Wouldn't be top of my list as a publisher to convert as a publisher unless sales were still big?

Compared to say, Jurassic Park or Prey or whatever.

Critteranne · 02-25-2011, 10:29 PM

I remember buying Hotel and Airport in ebook format several years ago, even though I had read them in paperback years ago. I don't remember the format. It was either Microsoft Reader or eBookwise.

Maybe the sales weren't all that hot (because ebook readers weren't hot enough at that time), so his publisher didn't want to bring out ebook editions for the newer readers.

JSWolf · 02-25-2011, 10:38 PM

Roots is an eBook. I have it on reserve from the library.

GlenBarrington · 02-26-2011, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bill_mchale

I don't have any idea about Hailey, but I would guess that in Crichton's case, it probably has to do with when he died. He died near the end of 2008, just when ebooks were really starting to break into the main stream. I expect with a lot of his older novels, including Jurassic Park, that it might not be clear if the ebook rights are held by the estates or by the publisher. Probate issues can take years to resolve. I expect most if not all of his novels will end up there eventually.

--
Bill

Yep! just about the time they slip into public domain!

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02-25-2011, 01:40 PM	#16
jlmwrite Zealot Posts: 143 Karma: 13398 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Golden, Colorado Device: Samsung Tab S8.4, Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge	There are plenty of books -- many past bestsellers -- that you might be amazed aren't available in e-format from the publishers. For whatever reason, they don't see it as cost effective to scan in older titles. Remember Lisa Alther (of 1970s "Kinflicks" fame)? How about Earl S. Thompson's scorching '70s bestseller "Tattoo", and its predecessor "A Garden of Sand"? Of course not; you can't even find these new in the brick-n-mortar stores, and can be rare at online retailers. How about Herman Wouk's "Marjorie Morningstar"? "City Boy" is available in e-format, but not that. I can't find anything by Lawrence Sanders in e-format either. As noted in earlier posts, many of Arthur Hailey's books are missing, as is much of Tom Wolfe's work. I mentioned all of these books specifically as they are some of my old faves; I can't even begin to list everything I want but isn't available. I'd pay B&N or Amazon double to get most of them! Now I do know some of these are available from dedicated folks out there scanning/OCRing their own copies of boos, which is why Micheal Crichton and Arthur Haily are out there on sites that shall not be be named -- just not legal copies of them. If the publishers were really smart, they'd pay some of these dedicated folks to do what they are going to do anyway...

02-25-2011, 10:13 PM	#17
Blue Tyson Blue Captain Posts: 1,595 Karma: 5000236 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Australia Device: Kindle Keyboard 3G,Huawei Ideos X3,Kobo Mini	Crichton is an odd one if that is true - but do people still read Hailey? Wouldn't be top of my list as a publisher to convert as a publisher unless sales were still big? Compared to say, Jurassic Park or Prey or whatever.

02-25-2011, 10:29 PM	#18
Critteranne Guru Posts: 810 Karma: 23183490 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: MD Device: Kindle, iPad	I remember buying Hotel and Airport in ebook format several years ago, even though I had read them in paperback years ago. I don't remember the format. It was either Microsoft Reader or eBookwise. Maybe the sales weren't all that hot (because ebook readers weren't hot enough at that time), so his publisher didn't want to bring out ebook editions for the newer readers.

02-25-2011, 10:38 PM	#19
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,792 Karma: 146391129 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Roots is an eBook. I have it on reserve from the library.

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