Joe Abercrombie to sell enhanced ebook

[Hatgirl]

Back in May, fantasy author Joe Abercrombie asked what his readers would want in an enhanced ebook, or if they even wanted one at all.

He has just announced on his blog that as well as the paper book, audiobook and regular ebook version of his new novel, The Heroes, he will also be selling an enhanced ebook for between £20 and £30 that includes:

• Full Text of The Heroes
• Unabridged Audiobook of The Heroes, narrated by Stephen Pacey
• Introduction by the author
• Afterword by the editor
• In depth behind-the-scenes interview with the author (in text, audio, and possibly video), covering genesis of the idea for the book, influences, discussion of the six central characters, the writing process, the revision process from plan to completion, the importance of maps, the development of the cover
• Five maps showing the battlefield, and unit positions at the start of each day of the battle
• A dramatis personae
• A 20,000 word planning document, with rough early plans, character sketches, and more detailed plans for each part
• Several chapters presented at varying stages of revision, annotated by the author to illustrate the editing process
• Cover file – all the briefs, sketches, and rough versions of the different elements of the cover, and of the combined cover, hopefully with some commentary from the award-winning artists and designer
• Author biography
• Links to other interviews and relevant websites and blogs
• Archive of all blog posts during the writing and editing period
• In due course, I hope we’ll be able to add The Fool Jobs, a short story featuring characters from The Heroes, though that may not be available until later in 2011

Interesting. Pricey, but you certainly get bang for your buck. And the basic book will still be available as an epub/Kindle download for a cheaper price.

[Stevo]

Joe Abercrombie is a great author. His fantasy novels are dark and gritty. He pretty much made me rethink how I look at fantasy novels. With that being said, this looks real interesting, even with the high price tag...

[Worldwalker]

Sounds like a Collector's Edition to me.

Y'know, I wonder if they could sell more of them if they called them that? It works for computer games. *looks at big boxes on shelves* Too well, in fact.

[meromana]

It worked really well for popular movies, too. Think about Collector's Edition DVDs of Harry Potter movies or Disney classics like Snow White & Cinderella. In addition to the movie, you'd get some games, cut scenes, interviews with the writers and actors, behind-the-scenes footage, etc.

I think he may really be onto something.

--Maria

[SlowRain]

I've never heard of him before, let alone read his books, but this sounds like a good idea, especially considering the regular e-book will also be available. I like people who give the customer choices.

[Lastblade]

Reading Best Served Cold, and it is very good. will definitely support him.

[Richey79]

Originally Posted by Hatgirl

Pricey

Sounds like it would be competing with collectors'-edition box DVDs or collectors'-edition video game in terms of value-for-money. http://www.destructoid.com/civilizat...n-178634.phtml @ $99.

Not really my thing (the words are all I want from a book), but it's nice to see the ebook getting more care taken over the illustrations and presentation than the pbook for once. When you think about how much entertainment you're getting for each $ (US keyboard layout ), it competes pretty well with other forms of entertainment.

Interesting that you'll be paying for him to write an extra short story later on: seems like a first step towards a model where the writer asks for money from her fans to finance the next part of a series. I think this definitely represents one possible way forward for writers.

[afa]

Originally Posted by meromana

It worked really well for popular movies, too. Think about Collector's Edition DVDs of Harry Potter movies or Disney classics like Snow White & Cinderella.

Or, indeed, the Extended Editions of The Lord of the Rings.

I love Abercrombie's books, and applaud him for doing something different to encourage people to spring for ebooks.

As others have said before, such special editions work for DVDs and games, so why not books? Yes, £20 is not cheap, but as Abercrombie himself points out, audiobooks themselves go for as much.

[Ravensknight]

While my personal economics would prevent me from getting this, I definitely know I would interested in this idea for some of my Fave Authors...

[speakingtohe]

Maybe he should sell it on a cd or labeled SD card with a case or binder to hold all his other works. Collectors like to be able to nicely display collections