No ebook for the next Stephen King

[silvi]

This decision by SK's publishers reminds me for some reason of the U2 single, The Fly, on release in the UK for a very short term only (3 weeks I think), so it shot to number one in its first week of release. Had this single been on release for longer, perhaps there wouldn't have been such a rush to purchase and no number one spot.

Here we have a straight-to-paperback novel by SK which will not be available as an ebook until some undefined date in the future.
So, I guess that the thinking is that ebook readers will rush to buy the paperback. Hardback readers will also rush to buy the paperback. The straight-to-paperback format will then be hailed as a success.

Personally, although I was once an avid fan of SK, as I read more, I began to criticise more and some novels I found rather lacking in novelty (Cell springs to mind, but there are a couple of others). I am still always interested in checking out a new SK novel, but I think I'll wait, either for the eventual ebook, or availability at the local library.

[Sydney's Mom]

You can't say he is flip-flopping. After he supported ebooks, he has been consistent in not-supporting them. He tried windowing to increase the number of paper books sold (Under the Dome). That actually worked, because the price got so low it was ridiculous. Now that windowing has an anticompetitive/DOJ price fixing scent, he is pretending there will be no ebook, a la Potter.

Well, I didn't buy the last one, because under Agency Pricing it was ridiculous ($18.99). Reserved it through my local library, and read it during a weekend. Saved money and no wrist pain!

[spindlegirl]

Every time I have read Stephen King, it has been from borrowing at the library. I so far have not yet bought any of his books because the few I have read are not ones I can see myself wanting to keep.

At least, from what I have read, he is not one of those authors who is opposed to libraries, given that at least in my library, the J-K-L shelves are 75% his books :-)

[Xanthe]

Seems stupid not to release both versions at the same time. Paperback lovers will buy it in that format and ebook lovers will buy it in that format. If a person who only reads ebooks really wants a copy now then they will get it on the dark net because it will be up as soon as the paperback is released, and SK will have lost a sale.

[stonetools]

I think this hyperventilating is a bit much. First of all, Stephen King's first responsibility is to himself and his family. His goal , rightly, is to maximize the income derived from his works. To do so, he's experimenting with various options-hardcover first, paperback first, ebook first. Whichever option makes the money is the option he'll choose going forward- and should choose, IMO. It's a business decision, that's all.
I notice that nobody bitching about the decision is offering any reason why King should forego income to fit their convenience. I note too that nobody here is giving him kudos for embracing the (ebook only) "Single" form. A Stephen King short story was one of the first fiction Kindle Singles and it quickly shot to the top of the rankings, validating the form.Since then he has published at least one more "Single" , thus helping to establish the form.
Now I think people should take a chill pill in light of the above. But bitch on, if that's what floats your boat.

[vaughnmr]

You've got it a little backwards, don't ya. He's giving up income by sticking to paper. Probably with the same results Rowling had.

[spindlegirl]

Authors are free to release their works in whatever form they please. It's their work. Their customer base is free also, to say whether they are happy with whatever model.

I'm neutral on it, because I am neutral about SK's works. They're ok, but a few more library loans may give me more of an educated opinion.

[vaughnmr]

Originally Posted by spindlegirl

Authors are free to release their works in whatever form they please. It's their work. Their customer base is free also, to say whether they are happy with whatever model.

I'm neutral on it, because I am neutral about SK's works. They're ok, but a few more library loans may give me more of an educated opinion.

I'm curious, does his publisher allow ebook library loans, or does he block that also.

[spindlegirl]

Originally Posted by vaughnmr

I'm curious, does his publisher allow ebook library loans, or does he block that also.

I've seen "The Stand" and several others available from my public library in ebook format. I've chosen most of the time to borrow the printed book because there was a shorter queue.

[vaughnmr]

The publisher is "Hard Case Crime", but I have no way of telling if they will allow library usage. Publishers are funny about stuff like that, claiming to be the vanguard of our literacy world, then blocking access to books. I wonder how successful they will be.

[stonetools]

A simple Google search:

Hard Case Crime is dedicated to reviving the vigor and excitement, the suspense and thrills—the sheer entertainment—of the golden age of paperback crime novels, both by bringing back into print the best work of the pulp era and by introducing readers to new work by some of today's most powerful writers and artists. Determined detectives and dangerous women...fortune hunters and vengeance seekers...ingenious criminals and men on the run...Hard Case Crime novels offer everything you want from a great story, all in handsome and affordable editions.

LINK

IOW, this is a niche publisher dedicated to bringing out paperback novels ONLY. OK, time to move on folks. Nothing to see here.
King is experimenting with a paperback only publisher. This says nothing whatover about his feelings on ebooks.

[voracious71]

This isn't a big deal for me. I still buy the occasional DTB here and there, so I'll just pick this up in paper format.

And yes, SK will lose some sales but the man has sold thousands( perhaps millions) of books. I doubt it will make a difference to him.

OT, but I really enjoyed 11/22/63.. Couldn't get into Under the Dome though...

[voracious71]

Originally Posted by spindlegirl

Every time I have read Stephen King, it has been from borrowing at the library. I so far have not yet bought any of his books because the few I have read are not ones I can see myself wanting to keep.

At least, from what I have read, he is not one of those authors who is opposed to libraries, given that at least in my library, the J-K-L shelves are 75% his books :-)

Have you read the Dark Tower series? I have that in paper because I enjoyed it so much.

[Joykins]

Originally Posted by crich70

J.K. Rowling held off on going to ebook format as well and look how many illegal torrrents of the books got out onto the net. I'd hate to guess how many millions of dollars she lost by holding off on embracing the technology though to be fair it wasn't as advanced as it is now back in the 90's when her 1st books came out. Ur is an interesting story I agree. Would be nice to have those special Experimental options on my Kindle.

Stephen King is probably one of the few other authors that could pull off his own equivalent of Pottermore though...hm.

[Andrew H.]

Originally Posted by vaughnmr

You've got it a little backwards, don't ya. He's giving up income by sticking to paper. Probably with the same results Rowling had.

SK is worth $400 million dollars. I really don't think that he cares too much about losing 10% or so of the income from a book he's doing for a niche publisher.

Hard Case Crime specializes in doing "pulp-style" stories, and they give their paperbacks appropriately lurid pulp-style artwork.

Like these:








You can't really pull off that style in an e-book, unfortunately.

SK likes pulps and probably just thought it would be nice to support a publisher like this, even if he isn't maximizing his current income.

And I do like the covers.